As I hinted at in an earlier ramblings I’m going to be making June a month for all the books which are currently on my kindle TBR. These are a real mix of books that I either picked up when they were on sale or free via newletters and from giveaways, I want to try and get these cleared so I can go into the second half of the year with a clean slate! There will not be a particular order that I will read them in, but if there are any which you like the look of, keep checking back to see my reviews! They all go back to the heart of the blog in that they mainly lie in Dystopian, so for those that have been a little disappointed by all the fantasy going on, this will be a month for you!
Into the outside by Lynda Engler: When the mutants’ survival is threatened, will Isabella risk it all for the man she hardly knows or stay underground protected?
Fifty years ago the Earth died. The Earth is now a fertile but dangerous jungle world. Wildlife has prospered although often in oddly altered forms. Survivors live in underground shelters waiting generations for the environment to become safe enough to emerge. Above ground, the radiation and poison has mutated the few humans that are left, but they do their best to survive for the 20 to 22 years they might live before the toxic planet or disease kills them.
16-year-old Isabella has grown up believing mutants are sub-human, stupid and would eat every shelter person if they had the chance, until she spies a wandering mutant tribe through the glass bottom swimming pool that is her shelter’s only light source. Isabella is fascinated by them, but it’s their 17-year-old leader, Malcolm, who truly captivates her – ebony skin, straw-colored hair, rippling muscles, four fingers on one hand and six on the other. Night after night she sneaks out of her shelter to watch the tribe, dressed in her grandfather’s chemical/radiation suit. When Malcolm discovers her, they are wary of each other at first but eventually become friends and then lovers. Isabella finally leaves the safety of her shelter to follow Malcolm into the perilous Outside.
Isabella knows the government plans to exterminate the mutants once it is safe for the shelter-folk to come Outside, and she expects radiation and disease, but no one in the tribe is prepared for cannibals!
Isabella’s family mourns for their lost daughter, knowing that she will die Outside, but Grandfather refuses to search for her. Even if they found her, he knows that she will not return without the mutants, and he will not allow them into the shelter. But everything changes when her brother, Luke, learns of Colonel Ericssen’s deadly plan for the mutants. Luke defies their grandfather and leaves the shelter to track down Isabella and warn her of the threat she knows nothing about. But he is no more prepared for the dangers Outside than she is. Hunted and finally captured by the military, Luke must escape their grasp, find Isabella, and save her life.
Battling the cannibal Eaters, taking on orphan children and trying to convince mutant tribes about the dangers they must prepare for makes Isabella question her decision to leave her shelter. She dreamed of making a difference in the lives of those Outside, but now she isn’t certain has the courage and strength do it
Infection by M.P. McDonald: The countdown to the end of the world begins silently.
No one realizes there’s a deadly illness spreading like wildfire until it’s too late. With few symptoms, victims literally drop dead after a brief surge of energy. Within days, it tears through the population of the United States.Now, faced with the very real possibility of extinction of the human race, Cole Evans has only one chance to save his family and survive: a safe haven on an isolated, hard to reach island.Can he convince his brother that the danger is real and that there’s enough space for his family as well?But can they all reach the island before the lights go out for them…forever?
Z-Minus by Perrin Briar: Once infected, the virus shuts down organs, kills nerve impulses and even reprograms the way we think. The virus becomes us.
But the process takes eight hours.
If you only had eight hours left to live, what would you do?
For Chris Smith, that decision has been made for him. He’s infected, and returns home to find the rest of his family undead or missing, save his youngest daughter Maisie. He’s never been much of a father, but can he make up for it now in the final few hours of his life and find somewhere safe for her to survive?
Andromeda by Amy Bartelloni: Ten years after a pandemic swept the globe, survivors were forced into factions and camps in order to survive…
Jade and Sera are two orphans who have found refuge in a government camp. It is there where Jade falls in love with a young soldier, Anyon. But Anyon has his own secrets, carefully guarding a past that involves Sera. But before Jade and Anyon admit their feelings to each other the camp is attacked and they’re separated.
Jade knows to lead Sera to Albany, the last free camp in the east, but the road is dangerous.
Not only must they dodge pockets of infection, but they are threatened by drifters and gangs. When they arrive in Albany, they find it deserted.
Anyon and his friend Malachi are close on their heels, but not close enough. The Provisional Government is on a mission, and no one is quite prepared for what lies ahead…
Counteract by Tracy Lawson: Ten years after a pandemic swept the globe, survivors were forced into factions and camps in order to survive…
Jade and Sera are two orphans who have found refuge in a government camp. It is there where Jade falls in love with a young soldier, Anyon. But Anyon has his own secrets, carefully guarding a past that involves Sera. But before Jade and Anyon admit their feelings to each other the camp is attacked and they’re separated.
Jade knows to lead Sera to Albany, the last free camp in the east, but the road is dangerous.
Not only must they dodge pockets of infection, but they are threatened by drifters and gangs. When they arrive in Albany, they find it deserted.
Anyon and his friend Malachi are close on their heels, but not close enough. The Provisional Government is on a mission, and no one is quite prepared for what lies ahead…
There may be more to be added but these one’s I will definitely be reading and adding reviews for if they are 3*’s and above for me!
What’s on your TBR for June?
The Candles: These are all absolutely stunning, glittery wonders! They all smell amazing and my room now smells fabulous from getting them open to describe them. Solstice Night: The theme of ACOFAS is the lead up to the solstice celebration in Velaris and this candle is fragranced with Raspberry, Myrrh and Cloves and is a beautiful lilac colour with vibrant purple glitter. Wolf’s Den is an almost suede coloured candle with the most amazing glitter which looks brown at first sight but when you hold it into the light it shines with oranges and pinks – just amazing. Void & Hope refers to one of the more heartbreaking moments in the book and is frangranced with Winter Jasmine, Neroli and Ginger, this is a stunning light blue candle decorated with darker blue glitter. In contrast Illyrian Traditions refers to one of the more light hearted sections and as the boys play in the snow, as does this with a cream coloured candle with a dusting of almost snow like glitter with a fragrance of Snow, Cyclamen and Trees. Court of Dreams is actually one of my favourite fragrances (which is strange is normally i’m not a fan of vanilla) but the mixture of Grapefruit and Pomelo citrus with it really cuts through the vanilla which I usually find sickly. The candle is an off white with a mixture of black and silver glitter – it will also sit quite nicely with the Winter Court candle I got in the Winter Wonderland box. Lastly is Rainbow of Velaris which references the artistic quarter where Feyre felt most at home and is scented with Blackberry, Sweat Peas and Night, it’s a beautiful pale blue candle with light purple glitter which gives the candle an almost swirly effect. I was disappointed not to get the actual “frost and starlight” candle they designed but it doesn’t detract from the wonderful array I received.
The bookish bits: The main item in this box was a Rhysand and Feyre mug, it’s a simple design with a purple background – it’s really lovely and whilst I’ll never likely use it as a mug, it will make a lovely display piece. A gorgeous silver bracelet with the Night Court insignia (which is all the more amazing as I know they make all the bookish items themselves) and also 2 book marks and a print. The quotes selected for the book marks are “To the blessed darkness from which we are born and to which we return” and “I love you more than my territory, more than my crown” and one of my favourite from the book adorns the print “You were born on the longest night of the year. You were meant to be at my side from the very beginning”
Paperbacks and Pinot 