I Read, Therefore I Blog

The Blurb On The Back:

An inexperienced grafter. An obsolete spaceship. And against them, the might of the Grand fleet. Orry Kent might just be in over her head.

Orry’s father is the best conman in the quadrant, targeting the decadent ruling families of the Ascendancy, running elaborate heists with Orry and her brother Ethan before disappearing without a trace. This time should be no different.

But then Orry goes off-script and everything falls apart. Less than an hour later the Count’s spoiled grandson is dead and Orry’s on the run, accused of a murder she didn’t commit.

Turns out, the pendant Orry stole was crafted by the Departed, the ancient civilisation who left this universe aeons ago, taking most of their secrets with them. But she’s not the only one who wants it. It doesn’t take ruthless space pirate Morven Dyas long to track her down, and when she’s unexpectedly rescued by loner Jurgen Mender and his aging spaceship, Dainty Jane, Orry knows there’s only one thing left to do.

It will take all of Orry’s powers of persuasion to get Mender to agree to her plan, especially when even she can see the madness of pitting an inexperienced young grafter, a space-dog long past his best and an obsolete spaceship against the Grand Fleet, space pirates – and the alien Kadirans, who are getting bored with the long, uneasy truce with humankind …

But what other choice does she have?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Dominic Dulley’s SF thriller (the first in a series) is billed as HUSTLE meets FIREFLY but while the SF concepts are interesting (especially relating to spaceships and space warfare), the plot was far too predictable, I was unconvinced by the aristocratic societal structure and the dialogue lacks zing and while Orry is an inexperienced grifter, that doesn’t explain the daft choices she makes in the book or her naivety when convenient to the plot.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

When Semira discovers a diary written by Hen, a girl living over one hundred years ago, she finds the friend she has been desperately seeking. A friend who reaches through time to bring not just comfort but inspiration to be brave, to fight for her place in the world, and maybe even to uncover the secrets of her own past …

Writing the diary changed one girl’s life. Reading it changes another’s.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Gill Lewis’s dual contemporary and historical novel for children aged 9+ is a beautifully judged affair that combines women’s rights, the treatment of refugees and animal rights in a well-balanced novel filled with courage and sadness and understanding and which is all the better for its bittersweet ending and the fact that it doesn’t offer pat solutions to difficult problems.

THE CLOSEST THING TO FLYING was released in the United Kingdom on 7th February 2019. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

They were the Amazing Telemachus Family, who in the mid-1970s achieved widespread fame for their magic and mind reading act. That is, until the magic decided to disappear one night, live in front of millions on national television.

We encounter this long-forgotten family two decades on, when grandson Matty, born long after the public fall from grace, discovers a little magic in himself and begins to suspect his hugely deflated, heavily indebted family truly are amazing.

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The Verdict:

Daryl Gregory’s historical fantasy novel is a whimsical, entertaining affair that has a real Wes Anderson wistful vibe to it. Although some of the plot twists are predictable, there’s still a lot of enjoyment to be had from the skill Gregory displays in unveiling them and I especially liked Irene who’s been forced to be the grown up in the family) and the troubled Buddy who is plagued by knowledge he cannot share.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Follow these steps for guaranteed happiness.

That’s what the machine said.

But how far would you go to be happy?

Happiness is Pearl’s job. As a technician working with the revolutionary Apricity device, she runs tests to determine what will improve people’s mood. But her teenage son, Rhett, is a sensitive boy who has forged an unconventional path through adolescence. If only Pearl could persuade him to run an Apricity assessment … but what if she doesn’t like what she finds?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Katie Williams’s literary SF novel is a thought-provoking look at technology, the search for happiness and people’s desire to be told what to do and whose plot revolves around the relationships between its characters. However, some storylines are left unresolved while others have only a weak resolution and the Apricity technology is largely unexplored as a concept such that the book isn’t as satisfying as it could have been.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

If you can change your thinking, you can change your life.

Positive thinking – and positive actions – can bring about significant shifts for the better in many areas of your life. But what are the practical steps to achieving an optimistic outlook?

Over 100 tips and techniques for thinking positively in every situation.

Following on from her bestselling book Positive Thinking, personal development expert and bestselling author Gill Hasson distils the power of positive thought into practical activities and suggestions that will really help you think and act positively. IN the Positive Thinking Pocketbook, you will learn to:

- Recognise negative thinking and make the shift towards positivity;
- Transfer positive thinking into positive action and outcomes;
- Avoid getting stuck in negative patterns by making positivity a habit;
- Employ positive thinking to manage feelings in difficult situations.

Positive thinking is a skill anyone can learn. The Positive Thinking Pocketbook can become your constant companion as you work towards confidence and optimism in your everyday life. For any situation needing a dose of positivity, flip through these pages and find a technique, activity or suggestion to inspire you and propel you forward.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Gill Hasson is a UK-based personal development expert and in this useful pocket guide to positive thinking she sets out what negative thinking is, why it’s damaging and includes exercises and practical techniques for recognising negative thoughts and countering them. Particularly good is that Hasson recognises how difficult positive thinking can be, which I found easier to engage with than American writers who generally suggest you’re not trying.

POSITIVE THINKNG POCKETBOOK was released in the United Kingdom on 4th January 2019. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Discover the stories behind 20 of the most infamous unsolved murders of the last century, including the Black Dahlia, the Zodiac Killer and the JonBenét Ramsey case.

Crime scenes, crucial witnesses and persons of interest are clearly and concisely presented, along with essential details and clues.

Examine the evidence and decide for yourself who could have done it?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Amber Hunt is an award-winning crime reporter and host of the podcast Accused and Emily G. Thompson is an investigative reporter and runs the Morbidology website. In this superficial, poorly laid out and ultimately disappointing true crime collection, they summarise 20 unsolved murders – some notorious (e.g. the Black Dahlia murder) and others less well known (e.g. the Hinterkaifeck Murders) – to provide cheap titillation to arm chair detectives.

UNSOLVED MURDERS: TRUE CRIME CASES UNCOVERED was released in the United Kingdom on 7th February 2019. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Politics in the twentieth century was dominated by a single question:

how much of our collective life should be determined by the state, and what should be left to the market and civil society?

Now the debate is different:

to what extent should our lives be directed and controlled by powerful digital systems – and on what terms?

Digital technologies – from artificial intelligence to blockchain, from robotics to virtual reality – are transforming the way we live together. Those who control the most powerful technologies are increasingly able to control the rest of us. As time goes on, these powerful entities – usually big tech firms and the state – will set the limit of our liberty, decreeing what may be done and what is forbidden. Their algorithms will determine vital questions of social justice. In their hands, democracy will flourish or decay.

A landmark work of political theory, Future Politics challenges readers to rethink what it means to be free or equal, what it means to have power or property, and what it means for a political system to be just or democratic. In a time of rapid and relentless changes, it is a book about how we can – and must – regain control.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Jamie Susskind is an author, speaker and barrister and in this accessible, thought-provoking and timely book (that has comprehensive footnotes) he sets out the threats and benefits that rapidly advancing technology bring to the political arena and what it means for democracy and society but while the book is strong on explaining the political theory and technology and the issues and options they throw up, it’s light on solutions.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

”I think about everything I’ll miss if they tell me I’m going to die … my mum, my dad, my sister, cookies, TV shows I’ll never get to see the end of, the starry sky on a full moon, my grandparents, my grandpa’s lasagne, kissing Victor, Victor’s eyes, Victor’s voice, Victor’s smell, Victor’s hands … Victor.”

This is a story about cancer with a happy ending. It’s about life, love and, especially, hope.

For the past few years, a teenage girl has endured many hospital treatments, wearing a bandanna, people giving her ‘that look’, and her dad’s embarrassing jokes with the nurses. But she’s also fallen in love.

Now she’s on her way to the hospital, where they’re going to tell her how much time she’s got to live.

A few years ago, author India Desjardins met a young girl with leukaemia who asked her to write a story about cancer with a happy ending. This is that story.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

India Desjardin’s YA graphic novel (illustrated by Marianne Ferrer and translated from French by Solange Ouellet) is a touching counterpoint to the ‘sick lit’ genre that focuses on the emotional and physical impact of cancer but also highlights that cancer is not always a death sentence and while I think the ending is a little manipulative, the illustrations are beautifully done and the story hangs together well.

A STORY ABOUT CANCER (WITH A HAPPY ENDING) was released in the United Kingdom on 31st January 2019. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

One love, Two love,
I Love, You love.

A celebration of love and happiness from the Cat in the Hat and other Dr Seuss favourites, based on the original classic stories.

The perfect gift for someone you love.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

This is a gift book tie-in collection of extracts from Dr Seuss books, all relating to the theme of love and clearly aimed at the Valentine’s Day market and includes classic Dr Seuss illustrations of characters such as the Cat in the Hat and Thing 1 and Thing 2 but it’s an obvious cash in and as such, for true Dr Seuss fans only.

LOVE FROM DR SEUSS was released in the United Kingdom on 24th January 2019. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

My name is Omar.

I have a huge imagination.

I hate marshmallows.

And this is the first book all abut me!

You might not know me yet, but once you open the pages of this book you’ll laugh so hard that snot will come out of your nose (plus you might meet a dragon and a zombie – what more could you want?).

My parents decided it would be a good idea to move house and move me to a new school at the same time. As if I didn’t have a hard enough time staying out of trouble at home, now I’ve also got to try and make new friends. What’s worse, the class bully seems to think I’m the perfect target.

At least Eid’s around the corner which means a feast (yay) and presents (double yay). Well, as long as I can stay in mum and dad’s good books long enough …

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Zanib Mian’s illustrated humorous book for children aged 9+ (the first in a series) has a fun main character, good family dynamics and I loved the fact that Islam is incorporated into the story in a way that’s informative without being the point of the book and while Nasaya Mafaridik’s illustrations weren’t complete in the ARC I received, I liked what I saw and the use of different text design really helps bring the story to life.

PLANET OMAR: ACCIDENTAL TROUBLE MAGNET will be released in the United Kingdom on 18th April 2019. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the ARC of this book.