EVENT RECAP: An Evening with Alice Oseman!

It’s no secret that I absolutely adore the work of Alice Oseman. They are easily one of my favourite authors, and I Was Born for This might just be one of the most read books on my shelf at this point. When I found out that Alice was going to do a mini-tour and Manchester was one of the stops, I just had to get a ticket! 

i wore my hand-painted jacket of course

Since I don’t get to visit Manchester very often, I went pretty early on in the day so I could visit some bookshops. My favourites are the Gay Pride Bookshop and Queer Lit. They have such a fantastic range of diverse books and you should definitely check them out if you’re in the area. 

Alice came by to quickly sign a few things at Queer Lit, so I was able to pop back there before the event and picked up a signed copy of my favourite Heartstopper volume, the third instalment! After that, I walked around to the venue to see where the entrance was because I’d never been there before, and I found someone queuing by the main door. Even though there was an hour before doors opened, I thought I might as well just stay there. I’m so glad I did because I met some wonderful fans who showed up just after.

I’ve spoken before about how much my anxiety messes with my ability to get out to events and signings, so to find fellow fans who were lovely and welcoming made the day even more memorable. Everyone was up for talking about why they love Alice’s stories and how they discovered them in the first place. I also loved seeing the diverse set of fans that came out to show support - there was no specific age-range that dominated the audience. 

The host for the evening was the lovely Joel from fictionalfates. He did such a fantastic job of asking all of the right questions, and we could see how much it meant to him to be asked to take part in the event.

Alice had a chat about Hearstopper in general for the first half of the evening, talking about the growth of the comic and, of course, the love for the Netflix adaptation that graced our screens back in April. Alice also spoke a little about the future for their career. After the final volume of Heartstopper is released to the world, they want to take a hard-earned break! But the only other thing they’ve been thinking about for the future is a potential sequel to I Was Born For This. Needless to say, I’m very on board with that plan. 

The second half of the event included audience questions. I didn’t get to submit a question because they had to be typed into a box during the ticket-buying process, and I was so stressed about actually securing the tickets that I didn’t put anything in the box. Oops. But it was exciting to hear what everyone else had asked! 

One of the questions Alice answered was about their advice to aspiring illustrators, something I kept a keen ear out for as a fellow artist. They recommended to simply draw what you love rather than focusing on what you feel like you should be drawing. 

When asked about their recent favourites, Alice said they’re loving Disney Dreamlight Valley at the moment. They’re also reading the ARC for the new novel by Allison Cochrun, which they’re particularly excited about since The Charm Offensive is one of their favourite stories! 

Alice was asked what her favourite musical moment was in the Heartstopper TV show, since the soundtrack is so adored by all of us. They said that Nick and Charlie’s snow day was the best, and they loved how it came across on screen. 

I’m thrilled I had the opportunity to see Alice in person after being one of my favourite writers for so long. It was just such a joyful experience and I’m thankful to everyone involved for making it such a memorable day!

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REVIEW: The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas

Pages: 416

Format: Paperback

Publisher: Macmillan

Genre: Fantasy, Mythology

Release Date: September 6th 2022

As each new decade begins, the Sun’s power must be replenished so that Sol can keep traveling along the sky and keep the evil Obsidian gods at bay. Ten semidioses between the ages of thirteen and eighteen are selected by Sol himself as the most worthy to compete in The Sunbearer Trials. The winner carries light and life to all the temples of Reino del Sol, but the loser has the greatest honor of all―they will be sacrificed to Sol, their body used to fuel the Sun Stones that will protect the people of Reino del Sol for the next ten years. 

Teo, a 17-year-old Jade semidiós and the trans son of Quetzal, goddess of birds, has never worried about the Trials…or rather, he’s only worried for others. His best friend Niya―daughter of Tierra, the god of earth―is one of the strongest heroes of their generation and is much too likely to be chosen this year. He also can’t help but worry (reluctantly, and under protest) for Aurelio, a powerful Gold semidiós and Teo’s friend-turned-rival who is a shoo-in for the Trials. Teo wouldn’t mind taking Aurelio down a notch or two, but a one-in-ten chance of death is a bit too close for Teo’s taste. 

But then, for the first time in over a century, Sol chooses a semidiós who isn’t a Gold. In fact, he chooses two: Xio, the 13-year-old child of Mala Suerte, god of bad luck, and…Teo. Now they must compete in five mysterious trials, against opponents who are both more powerful and better trained, for fame, glory, and their own survival. 

Don’t you just love it when one of your most anticipated reads of the year lives up to your expectations? ME TOO. And thankfully, The Sunbearer Trials was one of those rare, special books for me. After falling in love with Cemetery Boys a couple of years ago, I’ve been eagerly anticipating Aiden Thomas’ next book. Reading the blurb and seeing the cover art only made me surer that I was going to love it. 

This book is set in an alternative world to our own in which selected teenagers born of diosas must compete in the Sunbearer Trials every ten years, with the last-ranked becoming a sacrifice to help keep their world stay protected. 

The characters in this story are just so fun. I loved getting to know all of them, even the ones that weren’t too friendly. But our main character, Teo, is such a joy to read about! He gets dragged into the trials unexpectedly and takes it all on the chin, doing his best to get through each day and ignore the prejudice of the other competitors who don’t believe that he deserves his place in the trials. 

I adored learning about the diosas and their children, getting to know the ins-and-outs of how their world works and their views over the course of the story. Xio was also an interesting character and I’m excited to see what happens with him in the next book. 

• Incredible fantasy world. It’s a world that’s very much like our own, with social media and normal school education for most people, except there are dioses that are accepted in everyday life. 

• Trials that will leave you on edge. They provide just the right amount of action and suspense. I was biting my nails every time the rankings were revealed! 

• Mother of all plot twists. Prepare yourself for the unexpected! 

This is easily a new fave and I cannot wait for the second book in the duology. I’m both nervous and excited to see what awaits the characters after that ending! If you want a fantasy that’s a perfect mix of action and humour, definitely pick this one up next.

Royal Rating: 

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REVIEW: The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester by Maya MacGregor

Pages: 352 

Format: Hardback

Publisher:

Boyd Mills Press 

Genre:

Mystery

Release Date:

May 3rd 2022

TW:

Homophobic Abuse

Buy the Book: Book Depository

In this queer contemporary YA mystery, a nonbinary teen with autism realizes they must not only solve a 30-year-old mystery but also face the demons lurking in their past in order to live a satisfying life.

Sam Sylvester's not overly optimistic about their recent move to the small town of Astoria, Oregon after a traumatic experience in their last home in the rural Midwest. 

Yet Sam's life seems to be on the upswing after meeting several new friends and a potential love interest in Shep, the pretty neighbor. However, Sam can't seem to let go of what might have been, and is drawn to investigate the death of a teenage boy in 1980s Astoria. Sam's convinced he was murdered--especially since Sam's investigation seems to resurrect some ghosts in the town. 

Threatening notes and figures hidden in shadows begin to disrupt Sam's life. Yet Sam continues to search for the truth. When Sam discovers that they may be closer to a killer than previously known, Sam has a difficult decision to make. Would they risk their new life for a half-lived one?

You know when you start a book and immediately connect with it? The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester was one of those books for me. Within a few chapters, I just knew it was going to be a favourite. It follows Sam as they move to a new town following an incident with their classmates. But what Sam doesn’t know it that they’re moving into the former house of Billy, a high school student from the 80s who died under mysterious circumstances.  

As someone who loves unsolved mysteries, Sam and their new friends unravelling the secrets of Billy’s death was a perfect plot for me. I loved slowly getting to learn about both Sam and Billy through the course of the story, and there was a creepy atmosphere to the events that gave it almost a fantasy-like element.

God, I love Sam so much. Their relationship with their father is exactly the type of parent-child relationship we need to see more of in YA. They worked through problems together and built such a mutual respect for one and other.

Even though he’s not alive when the story is set, Billy still has such an impact. As a fellow Bowie fan, Billy’s admiration for him made such a lovely little detail, and I loved the focus on the music that Billy loved. Getting to know him makes his death all the more tragic.

• Found family. Sam goes from a toxic environment in their old town to finding a group of people to love and support them in this new town. It made my heart all fuzzy to see their relationships grow.

• Mystery. So many plot twists to keep you hooked here! I was suspicious of absolutely everyone at one point or another.

• Healing. The core of this story is Sam’s growth, and them learning to move on from the past. I love stories with a beautiful message behind them.

This was a book that I grew to love even more with each chapter. With a diverse cast of characters and an epic mystery to resolve, there isn’t a dull moment to be found. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a story that has creepy vibes without being a horror.

Royal Rating:

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EVENT RECAP: An Evening With Cassandra Clare

You don’t have to look too far around my bookish platforms to know that the Shadowhunter Chronicles are a huge part of my life as a reader. The Mortal Instruments was one of the first series that really pulled me into YA fantasy and encouraged my descent into the online book community. For over a decade, Cassandra Clare’s novels have been a constant for me. 

I’m lucky enough to have met Cassie twice before. The first time was back in 2012 and it was my first ever book signing so I was absolutely petrified. The second time was during the promotion for the City of Bones movie, which was a much bigger event. I had a wonderful time at both events, so when I found out Cassie was returning to the UK this year and visiting a city nearby, I just knew I had to go! 

Chester is one of my fave photography spots

The event took place in the Storyhouse Theatre in Chester, one of my favourite cities. If you ever get a chance to visit, then you’re in for a treat. Before the talk started, I was able to pick up my exclusive copy of City of Gold, which is absolutely gorgeous. 

My seat was quite near to the back, but I still had a perfect view of the stage. There was even an adorable cardboard cutout of the characters featured in The Last Hours, which is the series Cassie was focusing on during this tour. 

The atmosphere was so welcoming, and everyone was making conversation with each other before the talk started. As someone with social anxiety, it’s always great when I’m in an environment I feel relaxed in, and I was able to chat to the people around me. 

The first half of the event was an interview with Cassie, discussing the series and what may possibly happen to the characters in the final book. She also spoke about her inspiration when it came to locations and fashion within the story. 

During the second half, she answered questions submitted from the audience and online viewers. Cassie also spoke a bit about her upcoming adult novel, Sword Catcher. If I wasn’t sold on it before, I definitely am now. Hearing her describe the story left me desperate to read it because the concept sound so fascinating. Needless to say, I’m excited for it to be released! 

After the event, there was an opportunity to take a picture with Cassie in a Covid-safe way, using a book-like structure for The Last Hours, which I absolutely adored! It’s such a fun way to take a memorable picture. We were also given signed bookplates for Chain of Gold. 

I’m so glad I was able to meet Cassie again. I’m just starting to dip my toes back into book events post-pandemic, and this was organised in a way that helped me feel safe and kept my anxiety at bay. Here’s to hoping I get to make it to more events this year!

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EVENT RECAP: Wirral Kids Book Fest

On June 5th, us bookworms in the North got to enjoy the first ever Wirral Kids Book Fest, hosted by Bear Hunt Books with the help of Wirral Unplugged. As soon as I found out the festival was happening, I knew I had to sign up as a volunteer! I've never been able to travel to a book festival before, so with one happening right on my doorstep I was determined to help out as much as I could. 

i helped arrange the tables of books we had for sale on the day and of course i created a little Heartstopper section

The festival took place in the fabulous Bloom Building in Birkenhead, with the profits from food and drink bought on the day going to the mental health charities that the building works with. 

The first slot for the day was a reading of Fantastic Frankie by Jess Rose. I was the not-so-glamorous assistant who turned the pages! We then had some activities for the children, alone with some balloon creations for them to play with.

The next event was for Tsunami Girl by Julian Sedgwick, who gave a fascinating talk about the place and people that inspired the story. I also ended up being the person who volunteered for his little trick at the end! The talk got me super interested in the story so I purchased a copy of the book and got it signed afterwards.

The next event for the day was a joint talk with Vasti Hardy and James Nicol. They set up a table filled with props that connections to their books, and invited people up to select one. It was fun to hear about what inspired their characters and stories. 

We ended the day with a chat from neurodiverse author Emily Kenny, talking about her debut novel The Extraordinary Adventures of Alice Tonks. There was a fun section at the end for people to create their own hero or villain for a story. 

I'm so glad I decided to volunteer. As anxious as I am, I was less of a mess than I expected to be so I'm proud of myself for being able to help out. It's exciting to finally be having book events close to home, and I can't wait for next year! 

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EVENT RECAP: An Evening With Simon James Green

From the moment I first picked up Noah Can't Even back in 2017, I've been an avid fan of Simon James Green's novels. I can't recommended them enough to literally every reader I come across. I've said it time and time again, but his books are ones I desperately wish I'd had back when I was in high school, but I'm so happy that teenagers today get that opportunity. 

With how little I manage to travel, I've never been able to make it to any of Simon's events or signings before, so I was over the moon when I found out he'd be stopping by my favourite local bookshop, Bear Hunt Books! I even ended up painting a little window display for the shop to celebrate. 

For the event, we got given a fascinating presentation from Simon that covered a range of LGBTQ+ topics such as a brief history on Section 28 and discussions about how even though we've come a long way, we still have so much more we need to do. We also spoke about the recent pushbacks Simon has faced after being banned from giving a talk at a Catholic school. 

I got the chance to chat with Simon and get some books signed after the presentation. I showed a lot of restraint and only took three books with me to the event, something my shoulder is immensely thankful for. But I absolutely had to take my beloved copy of Noah Can't Even, and my personal favourite You're The One That I Want, which was my top book of 2021. Simon also kindly signed the tote I painted of the cover last year!

My copy of Gay Club! was already pre-signed signed from the preorder, but it was given the adorable Gay Club stamp!

I had such a fantastic evening and I'm utterly grateful to Simon for being so lovely, and to Bear Hunt Books for making it happen. It was my first book event since pre-pandemic times so it was great to get back out there! 

Bear Hunt Books has signed copies of Simon's books available in store, so pop in if you can!

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REVIEW: Gay Club! by Simon James Green

Pages: 432

Format: Paperback

Publisher: Scholastic
Genre:  Contemporary
Release Date: May 5th 2022

Buy the Book: Bear Hunt Books

Barney's a shoo-in for his school's LGBTQ+ Society President at the club's next election. But when the vote is opened up to the entire student body, the whole school starts paying attention. How low will the candidates go to win? Buckle up for some serious shade, scandals and sleazy shenanigans. It isn't long before it's National Coming Out Day - for everyone's secrets!

But when the group faces an expected threat - and a big opportunity - can the club members put politics aside and stand united?

Simon James Green is the award-winning author of a number of beloved LGBTQ+ YA novels, including NOAH CAN'T EVEN, HEARTBREAK BOYS and YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT. Perfect for fans of GLEE, HEARTSTOPPER, and BOYFRIEND MATERIAL

Me, here to yell about how much I love the latest Simon James Green novel? Shocking, I know. As someone who is always screaming from the rooftops about how much I adore Simon’s novels, it’s a surprise to absolutely no one that Gay Club! was one of my most anticipated stories of the year. I immediately dropped everything once my copy popped through the letterbox. 

The concept of having a race for the president of an LGBTQ+ society was something that drew me in as soon as I read the blurb, especially since I’m constantly searching for stories that openly discuss the wide range of sexuality and gender labels. Gay Club! gave me everything I was looking for and more.

Our main character, Barney, is the definition of a cinnamon roll. I admired his determination to make everyone feel part of something, and his speeches throughout the story completely warmed my heart. The back and forth between Barney’s competitor, Bronte, and one of his best friends, Maya, provided the lovers-to-enemies-to-reluctantly-working-together trope that I needed. Bronte and Barney’s race for president lead the humour-filled drama in the first half of the story.

Danny Orlando was a particular favourite character of mine. As the popular footballer in the school, I adored his more complicated journey throughout the story and felt so proud of him by the final chapter. He’s a perfect example of how confusing it is to figure out who you are and what you stand for.

• TWISTS AND TURNS. When I say I couldn’t predict a single thing in this story, I mean it! I genuinely had no idea what wild and hilarious event would occur next.

• CHARACTERS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH. These characters are going to stay with me for a long time. It’s impossible not to love their friendship group. Where’s my squad who cooks food for each other during weekly movie nights?

• IMPORTANT MOMENTS. Whilst Gay Club! is filled with the comedy writing we’ve come to expect from Simon, there are scenes that provide a harsh reminder of how far we still have go when it comes to acceptance. There’s a particular scene during a game of football that broke my heart because it’s all too real for so many young queer people.

I can’t stress enough how important stories like this one are in helping young people to feel like they belong. My expectations were high, and yet it still managed to go above and beyond! With such a fun cast of characters and packed full of inspiring messages, Gay Club! is easily my favourite read of the year so far.

Royal Rating:

 

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