A Poem By A Friend

So now and then I get shown amazing pieces of art that I feel obligated to share with the world and here is the latest I absolutely love! Do comment and tell the budding poet what you think!

 

Tell me dear mind

Tell me dear mind

What caused you to turn?

What made you a traitor

Who’d watch me burn?

Your alliance with emotion

Both turned against me

A trust suddenly broken

To a state I could not see

Was it my mother

Who bore me to term?

Or my father

Who raised me with concern?

Was it my brother

Who slighted and teased?

Or was it my friends

All to ready to leave?

Was it my teachers

Cold and unattached?

Or was it my love

Whom I just couldn’t catch?

Was it my doctor

Who prescribed without thought?

That caused me to think my life was for naught

Tell me dear mind

What I did to deserve

The sleepless nights,

The functioning on reserves

I’ll scramble together the pieces of me

To fill up the cracks and find harmony

Tell me dear mind is it plain to see?

That simply you were only protecting me

 

By Miss Wellstead

An ode to writing

My art is not in colours

Nor is it humble melody

I cannot hold a starlit note

Or dance a prance to set you free

 

But my art can capture oceans

And stars amongst the sky

It burns away the pain

It’s with you till you die

 

With ink and paper I stay true

A little note from me to you

Well placed words and a bleeding heart

My bitter sweet art will tear you apart

 

LVN

Book Review: All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

SPOILER ALERT- References to the plot that cannot be unread.

I have read an uncountable amount of novels in my 22 years, and in that vast selection, one can find a rather varied range of literature surrounding mental illness and suicide. If you are new to my blog, then you  won’t be aware of my own debilitating mental  illness. But it is because of my own experience with Borderline Personality Disorder and my mothers experience with Bipolar disorder that I am so intrigued by the troubled mind and the literature that can come from it. Something I undoubtedly do when reading these types of novels is compare my own experiences and emotions with the main characters that possess the mental health problems. I am constantly in search of a novel with a protagonist/antagonist that feels and sounds like myself. All The Bright Places‘ Theodore Finch is by far the closest I’ve come to a reflection of myself, and because of this, it is now in my top five favorite novels of all time.

The story surrounds seventeen year old’s Theodore Finch and Violet Markey. Although they had previously never really crossed paths at school, they meet quite unexpectedly on the top of their school bell tower, both in the mood to jump. Violet is suffering the horrendous grief of losing her sister in a car accident less than a year previously and Theodore is both suffering and enjoying the strange places a mentally ill mind can take you. After Finch saves Violet from becoming another suicide victim, they strike up a chaotic and often beautiful friendship which later becomes more romantic in nature. The more time Violet spends with Finch, the more she starts to see the world through his eyes, taking another brave step each day. It soon becomes apparent that Finch is saving Violet from herself, re-awakening her will to live, meanwhile suffering the blows of his own abusive father and neglectful mother. As time passes, Violet starts to see that she is not the only one in need of saving, but is clueless on how to stop Finch burning himself on his own fiery soul. In the end we as a reader realize that Finch’s story is not going to go on as long as Violets and it does eventually come to a watery end, leaving Violet once more alone in the world, now missing the two people she loved the most.

All The Bright Places is written in two points of view, Finch’s perspective and Violets. In my opinion, Finch’s is by far the most intriguing. His view upon the world is far different to that of Violets who still lives a relatively normal existence. But in comparison, shows up just how different Finch’s mind really is and in turn, reminds me of how different my own thought processes can be to that of other individuals. Finch has a unique perspective on the world which is both gothic and inspiring. He sees and understands all that is bad and cruel within the world, but because of this, has a better understanding and penchant for all that is good. He lives to experience the world in all its chaotic wonders. Violet is drawn to him because of his ability to feel, the way he is in touch with himself and the things around him. This novel is written in such a way that it is both brutal and honest. Jennifer Niven has not written this novel with judgement in her tone, only honesty and understanding. She highlights the good, the bad and the ugly sides of life living with or beside someone with mental illness, something many authors neglect to do, often creating only one perception of this life. I recommend anyone that lives with a person with mental illness to read this novel, if for nothing other than trying to understand the thought process of someone like us. It may be hard for someone who has the illness discussed in the novel (Bipolar) or of similar symptoms to read, I myself have felt my mood deplete somewhat at the realization of what could’ve been and what is lost in the death of a person similar to me. But for those with simply curious minds, this is the novel for you, to see and understand a whole new perspective on the world.

 

 

 

 

By Lauren Victoria Noding

Book Review: A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

Well, well, well. I was not disappointed.

This is supposedly the last of the ACOTAR trilogy by Sarah J Maas although she mentions at the back of the novel that more will come in the land of Prythian. I’ve avidly followed Feyres journey in the world of Prythian, but this novel undoubtedly tops the lot of them.

A Court of Wings and Ruin surrounds the beautiful and powerful High Lady of the Night Court, Feyre Archeron. In the first we met our protagonist as a young human who trades her freedom to protect her family. Finding herself on the other side of the mystical wall in the land of the Fae, she meets Tamlin who later turns into quite the pain in everyone’s backside. In this novel, the finale, she plots with her mate Rysand to bring down the King of Hybern who, using a mystically powerful cauldron, has waged war on Prythian. She helps her mate and High Lord of the night rally allies, bringing the courts together and a few creepy beasties to slay the dreadful King. In doing so, she nearly breaks herself once more to save those she loves. But with the help of her newly turned Fae sisters, a beautiful and powerful being from another world named Amren and some super hot Allyrian men, Hybern doesn’t have a chance….or does he?

I couldn’t stop reading from start to finish, I was dragged into the world of Prythian and was not allowed to leave until I had finished the entire novel. Needless to say, I read it rather quickly. The thing I have loved about this series from the beginning, is that Feyre is not a perfect person. She is beautiful, sure, but she does bad things and she makes many mistakes. It’s why I personally connect with her so well. I find her intriguing and multi-dimensional, filled with anger, hate, love, jealousy, anxiety and all the other things that make up a human being (even if she’s now Fae). And I love that in her chaotic world, she still knows what’s important, family and your friends. No matter what, she sticks by those she loves and it’s a commendable trait that we could all learn from. Rysand is also such a multi-dimensional character, I love that no matter what, he gives Feyre the choice to be and do as she wishes, regardless of his fear for her safety. He loves her enough to respect her decisions and back her to the end of the earth, instead of forcing her to be something she’s not. Swoooooon.

The characters are by far the strongest point within these novels, they are all so well characterized and just so damn lovable. The plot itself is filled with twists and turns, there were many moments I stopped breathing and thought I might need an ambulance by the end of it. Well done Maas, you succeeded in giving me a cardiac arrest. I now have a vein pulsing from my forehead that will not leave, I am that shaken by the entire experience.

Love

Lauren_V

Book Review: Dangerous Skies by Brian James

When I read a novel, I look out for five main things: complete immersion into a different place, characters that I would like to meet, a nicely paced plot that keeps me wanting to know more, a little bit of excitement that makes my heart beat faster and a sense of gratification, that I have learnt and experienced something new. ‘Dangerous Skies’, the first novel by Brian James has all of these things and more.

The novel sets itself up in the middle of war-torn London, WW2 is in full swing and bombs’ are falling left, right and center. Children are disappearing from Alan’s classroom as more and more families are hit by the devastating blitz. Alan and his best friend Tommy hardly know what to do with themselves, until a peer named Wilkie gets them into deep trouble. The two best friends are coerced into joining a young gang of miscreants and outcasts, led by teenage Duggie who somewhat reminds me of a young Fagin. They are tasked with the illegal and dangerous job of scavenging goods from bombed out homes. As the boys become more and more tangled in Duggie’s illegal activities, they realize that the bombs aren’t the only thing they should be
afraid of. It’s a heart-warming story of courage, bravery and doing the right thing no matter how scared you might be.

Although the relatively short novel is considered to be in the middle-grade age
group, the language and themes are somewhat older in my opinion. What makes it younger is the age of the young protagonist, Alan. But in honesty, anybody of any age could enjoy this novel. In fact I made my grand-mother read it and she cried with pure joy at how nostalgic the wonderful little novel is. The cockney slang and the pure strength of will that the characters possess reminds me of why I am proud to have been born in such a wonderful city. It is utterly beautiful from start to finish. Even if you aren’t normally fond of
war stories or younger novels, I can guarantee you will enjoy the sheer pluck and courage of these young heroes. I’ll also note that the story is based on Brian James’s real-life experiences as a young lad growing up in blitzed London, and that somehow makes this novel all the more enchanting, adding an authenticity that money couldn’t buy.

Love,

Lauren_V

You can buy this novel at: Amazon

Book Review: Melody’s Key by Dallas Coryell – Prepare for the feels.

Flickr@BenCurrington

Prepare for the emotions guys, here’s my latest review on Melody’s Key by Dallas Coryell.

“His eyes settled on her…piercing green embers of flame that revealed the ferocity of his pain and passion, yet still shrouded him under veils of ever-deepening mystery that made every ounce of her ache to unravel him.”

I don’t read romance novels very often because I often find them overly clichéd, badly written and generally disappointing. Melody’s Key COMPLETELY DEFIED MY EXPECTATIONS. I couldn’t tare through it quick enough, the plot is beautiful, meaningful and utterly breath-taking. Not to mention the LYRICS, OH MY THE LYRICS, you’ll be a ball of happy tears. It’s Dallas Coryell’s debut romance novel that would probably be considered Young Adult although I think anyone of any age would appreciate it.

It follows the story of beautiful, intelligent and frankly under-appreciated Tegan Melody Lockwood. A girl living in scenic Lymington in her family’s manor house, now a holiday retreat for many. Tegan is talented in many ways, she can sing, create music, paint and has a wonderful gift for seeing the beauty in things. But unfortunately, her family struggle desperately to make ends meet, so much so, it stops her from following her dreams and attending a prestigious art school. Tegan decides to get on with her life, helping her family run the holiday business over the long summer holidays, until someone unexpected decides to check in. Enter Mason Keane, an extremely good-looking pop star trying to escape the world and the media’s watchful eye. He’s hurting and completely alone, broken by his record company and the worlds expectations of him. It was hate at first sight. Tegan detested him, but she soon started to see the sad, loyal and talented man who laid beneath the ‘popstar’ persona. They eventually get closer, realizing they have far more in common than Tegan first thought. But Tegan and Mason have pasts that they want to forget, things that threaten the blossoming of their passionate love. Will Mason find the key to Tegan’s heart?

Utterly beautiful, the characters are so real, I feel like I know them personally. I think anyone that’s ever been in love or even felt alone, can relate to Coryells masterpiece. The writing is lyrical and dreamy, mixed in with song lyrics to die for. For a debut novel, Coryell has really outdone himself and I hope he continues writing, if only so I can cry and turn into an emotional wreck once more. All though there are some grammatical errors that could easily be fixed, the novel is a bible of love with a soul like no other. If you want to read a romance novel that will actually make your heart beat faster, Melody’s Key is the novel for you.  It’s been tried and tested on my stony heart, if it can crack that then it can crack yours!

You can buy the book here: Amazon Melody’s Key

To find out more about the author, please visit:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dallascoryell

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DallasCoryellMusic

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DallasCoryell

Love

Lauren_V

Book Review: Kiss of Fire by Rebecca Ethington

Magic Curves@Flickr:Bousure

Book Review: Kiss of Fire by Rebecca Ethington (Imdaline series)

Truth be told, when I first saw the cover for this novel, I thought ‘Oh god, another cheesy vampire love story’ but I will happily admit I was SO wrong. First released in 2012, this debut is just power packed and totally gripping. Not to mention the e-book is currently COMPLETELY FREE. Honestly, you’d be stupid not to read it.

The story tells of young teenager Joclyn Despain, beautiful, shy and reclusive. As a child she was marked by an unknown creature and suffered a long period of time in a coma before she finally awoke. Her parents split and her mother went to work at the billionaire LaRue’s home as head chef. There young Joclyn met her best friend and would be lover Ryland LaRue, finally she feels like someone notices her. Going forward a few years to the modern-day, Jocyln and Rylands friendship starts becoming more, but their difference in status threatens to tear them apart on a regular basis. It’s around this time that strange things start happening around Jocyln, her wayward father makes contact and warns her of a terrible fate and her own growing power. It’s not long until Joclyn becomes completely consumed by a world she never thought existed. In a world of magic, Joclyn realises she holds far more power than she ever thought, her mark separating her from the rest. Ryland risks his life to defend her against evil and becomes caught in its snare. So Jocyln and her new magical companions fight to save him before it’s too late and Ryland is lost forever.

Copyright of Rebecca Ethington

Although the young-adult love story remains true to the fictional form, the magical aspect is completely original and I love it. Ethington builds such an enthralling world with so many exciting possibilities, and the love between Joclyn and Ryland is so intense and beautiful – “And locked inside me somewhere, I will always be waiting for you.” – you just can’t put the book down. It’s a bit slow to start with and takes a while for the truths to be revealed, but the build-up just intrigues you more, you feel so overwhelmed with happiness when Joclyn finally realises what’s going on around her. Once you get the point of unveiling, it becomes action packed and extremely intense. The characters are so loveable, I just wish I could meet them all.

To find out more about the series go to: http://www.rebeccaethington.com/books/imdalind-series/kiss-of-fire/

Love

Lauren_V

Book Review: Rebel of the Sands. Join the rebellion with me if you dare!

 

Book Review: Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

Fun fact: If I was a Djinn, I’d be able to control fire whilst simultaneously reading five thousand books. Now that’s out of the way, WHY ON EARTH HAVE I ONLY JUST READ THIS BEAUTIFUL THING. I’m talking about the FANTASTIC debut ‘Rebel of the Sands’ by the lovely Alwyn Hamilton. It’s a young-adult fantasy read, published earlier this year and set to be the first of a trilogy, of which the next is due to be released very soon!

It’s the story of gutsy Amani, a girl who just wants to get out of her sandy, patriarchal town like any young, under-appreciated gunslinger. When trying to find a way out of Dustwalk and her horrific uncle’s grasp, she crosses paths with handsome stranger Jin. He’s on the run from the Sultan and his army, and she’s trying to run from the life that is expected of her. Together they journey across deserts and mountains, finding out more about themselves than they knew capable. But with the fantastical Djinn nearly non-existent and all magical beings being slowly decimated by mankind and the Sultan, Amani knows that her world is only going to get worse, no matter where she runs too. Magic wants to take back the desert and Jin shows her a cause worth fighting for, but Amani struggles to accept everything she is and everything she could be, the key to the rebellions victory. Amani has to decide whether to fight against the injustice all around her or make a run for the hills and start a new life, the only thing she’s ever wanted.

When reading this novel, I really took note of Amani’s strength of will and the inner conflict she faces when determining her future. She’s a really gritty character that doesn’t really follow the stereotype of your average young adult heroine, she’s a complicated person with a pretty rough past but she just doesn’t let it phase her, life’s tough and she deals with it, she doesn’t sit back and whine her way to the end.

Although a romantic spark ignites between Amani and Jin, unlike many YA novels, it’s not the central plot line. It’s about doing what’s right, standing up for those that can’t and accepting who you are, even if it goes against everything you thought was normal. In addition to these themes, there’s so much MAGIC! Bucket loads of magic. You’ve got the Djinn, Buraqi, Skinwalkers, Nightmares and more! Not to mention some charming characters, an exhilarating adventure and a beautiful use of language. This is a definite must-read, for young adults and adults alike in my opinion. Everybody deserves to go on an adventure like this.

To find out more about the novel, please visit: http://rebelofthesands.co.uk/

Love

Lauren_V

Book Review: Half Bad by Sally Green

Hey guys, now that I’ve finished my second year of university, I can get back to writing my reviews! Please check out my most recent review on the young adult novel Half Bad by Sally Green!

http://www.writingtimes.co.uk/book-review-half-bad-by-sally-green#.V2mR1YMVYnQ.twitter

Thanks everyone!

Book Review: The Sin-Eaters Daughter by Melinda Salisbury

FlickrUser@Photo In Art

Book Review: The Sin-Eaters Daughter by Melinda Salisbury

The Sin-Eaters Daughter is an unexpected mind boggler. With twists and turns you simply don’t see coming. Okay, so I saw one twist coming, but the majority were completely, jaw drop worthy shocks. A relatively new writer on the scene, Melinda Salisbury’s first novel shows great promise for an exciting trilogy. If you’re a fan of the ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Throne of Glass’ franchise, you’ll definitely enjoy The Sin-Eaters Daughter. As far as young-adult fantasies go, it’s dark and filled with intriguing characters. “… and the world holds it’s breath…” couldn’t be a more appropriate line for the entire novel.

The novel follows the life of young Twylla, the ward of a rather vicious queen in the kingdom of Tregellan. In the queens court, Twylla plays the role of  Daunen Embodied, quite a prestigious religious title, except she has to kill people with her poisonous skin. All though Twylla is aware of the queens cruelty and tricks, even she isn’t prepared for the secrets her new guard reveals for her, changing the course of her life and that of the kingdoms. Lief is Twyllas newest guard and offers her more than knowledge, he offers her hope for a different life. But if something seems too good to be true, it usually is, a lesson young Twylla learns over and over again. But with a big impact on the fate of her kingdom, she struggles to choose between what she wants for herself and what might be best for her people.

With cheeky guards, handsome princes, cruel queens and meddling gods, this story has something for everyone. It’s gripping, with a well thought out world, filled with it’s own folklore and politics. Twyllas mind is filled with emotion, confusion and first love, three things many young people can relate too, which is why I know young adult readers are going to love her. Although there are many adult themes within the novel, it’s a relatively easy read and fun to follow. There are some really thoughtful and mind-blowing concepts in there to get your head around so read closely.

By Lauren Noding