Alba in bookland

Title: Age of Iron
Author: Angus Watson
Published: September 9th 2014 by Orbit
Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Bloodthirsty druids and battle-hardened Iron Age warriors collide in the biggest epic fantasy debut release of 2014.

LEGENDS AREN'T BORN. THEY'RE FORGED.

Dug Sealskinner is a down-on-his-luck mercenary travelling south to join up with King Zadar's army. But he keeps rescuing the wrong people. First, Spring, a child he finds scavenging on the battlefield, and then Lowa, one of Zadar's most fearsome warriors, who's vowed revenge on the king for her sister's execution.

Now Dug's on the wrong side of that thousands-strong army he hoped to join - and worse, Zadar has bloodthirsty druid magic on his side. All Dug has is his war hammer, one rescued child and one unpredictable, highly-trained warrior with a lust for revenge that's going to get them all killed...

It's a glorious day to die.

*First of all, I'd like to thank Clara at Little, Brown for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review and inviting me to take part in the Blog Tour.*

Review: In the last year, I have been reading mainly women's fiction, so recently I decided to start reading more genres again. After enjoying a couple of crime books, I was offered this book to review and I was told if I had enjoyed Game of Thrones, I would like it. I had read the three first books of Game of Thrones in a row a couple of years ago and I am planning to go back to the series soon. Anyway, I went for it and I am glad I did. I took me a while to get into the story, basicly because I am not very good with names and I was a bit lost with the characters at the beginning, but after that I was hooked.

The main characters of this epic story are Dug, an old mercenary with exceptional skills with his hammer, Lowa, who used to be King Zadar's favourite, and now has become his worst enemy, and Spring, a little girl that is too smart and knows too many things for her age. We follow their story, first separetely and then together, around the south of England. The story flowed well, the chapters focused in different characters, not only the main ones, so you got a wide view of the story with insights to different towns, sides of the battle and costums and traditions.

It was really interesting to read about how the Iron Age in England might have been, as it is a not well known era. We know a lot about the Romans but not about their opponents. I am very intrigued to find out how the story is going to continue in the second book of this trilogy as I expect that the Romans are going to finally arrive at England.

Also I would say the book is equally funny as horrifying so if you offend easily or just don't like gore descriptions of decapitations, cannibalism or arena fighting, just don't go for it. In my opinion, all this fits in the story perfectly. As do the blood-thirsty druids and their dark magic. So for an epic fantasy packed story with a strong female lead, go to this book.

Well written and enthralling, Age of Iron is an excellent debut for Angus Watson, one you don't want to miss. I'll keep my eyes open for his future work.

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Title: Damsels in Distress
Author: Laura Kenyon
Published: August 26th 2014
Amazon| Amazon UK

Blurb: The Desperately Ever After series takes a whimsical look at our most beloved fairy tale princesses several years after true love’s kiss. With laughter, wine, and a new take on old-fashioned chivalry, these friends see each other through life’s trials one secret at a time. Set in a fictional realm based on New York City, the books sprinkle fiction with elements of fantasy and encourage readers to rethink everything they know about happy endings.

After watching her fairy tale go up in flames, Belle is finally starting over. With a baby on the way, a business to run, and a new love interest she just can’t shake, things are finally looking up. That is, until she learns her independence might revive broken curses the world over. Could “happily ever after” really mean staying with her unfaithful husband? Or will Belle and her steadfast friends find another way?

Meanwhile, Dawn still longs for the life she had three centuries earlier—before her sleeping curse ended in two kids, an unfamiliar era, and a husband she barely knows. So when the childhood sweetheart she believed to be dead resurfaces, she must suddenly choose between the past she once wanted and the present she never knew she did.

As both women struggle between love and obligation—between what's right for the world and what's right for the heart—they fail to see a great danger brewing in the capital. One that could change everything forever.

With the wit of authors like Jennifer Weiner, the vision of ABC’s Once Upon a Time, and the imagination of Gregory Maguire's Wicked, Damsels in Distress picks up where the original tales left off—and twists them every “witch” way.

*First of all, I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: Damsels in Distress is the second book of the Desperately Ever After Series. I loved the first book (you can read my review here) and I had great expectations for this one. But do not worry! Laura Kenyon doesn't disappoint at all. DiD has the same flirty and witty style and keeps the same spark from its predecessor.

Our beloved princesses are back with more drama, love triangles, fertility problems, new love interests and a lot more laughs. I was a bit worried that one of my favourite characters from the first book, Cinderella, was away on her second honeymoon. However, as the book focuses more on Dawn and Snow's stories and troubles, you don't miss Cindy that much! These girls are a great gang and I love how they stick together.

After a great debut novel, Laura brings her magic back to continue with her fun, adventure-packed tale that will leave you wanting more for sure. Something big is going to happen in thoses kingdoms in the next and last installment of the series and I cannot wait to know what! I have been thinking for some days now, how our beloved girls will overcome all the trouble going on on their lifes and kingdoms and when you are still thinking about the book after finishing it, that's a sign that it totally captured you. If you still haven't started this fabulous series, I don't know what you are waiting for! Bring the magic and get lost in this special version of NY.

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The lovely gang at Carina UK have organised an amazing competition to celebrate Rebecca Raisin's book The Bookshop on the Corner. Together with My Independent Bookshop and hive.co.uk, they are giving away some fantastic prizes. Here you can find what you have to do:

I also created my own independent bookshop called Alba's little bit of bookish heaven, that you can visit to have a look at some of my favourite books.

Now, I would like to talk about how my dream bookshop would be. Books are a big part of my life and always have been. I remember when I was a kid, I used to refuse to go to sleep until my mum read me at least two or three books. In fact, at my parents place, my dad's office has a huge bookcase filled with all my children books, I think there are hundreds of them.

When it comes to bookshops, I love the really old ones that have that incredible book smell. Where you can get lost for hours browsing row after row of books. It always fascinates me when they have a "treasures" section, where they have first editions or really rare books. If I had money I would build myself a huge libray, yes, like the one from Beauty and the Beast, where I would collect all kind of books and show them like in a museum.

So if I had to design my own bookshop, I would definitely have a "treasures" section. I would spend hours going to second hand bookshops and browsing the Internet to find the most precious books to show there. Another must would be an area with comfy couchs and cushions where people could just sit and read for a while and escape the real world.

I would also love to offer tea and coffee and some home baked goods, because there's nothing better than enjoying a warm cup of tea and a delicious scone or cupcake while reading. Also, I would like to organise a book club so once or twice per week we could meet to discuss our latest reads. I'd love to invite lots of authors to have signings and discussions with them. I think I am getting a bit carried away here, but it's my Dream bookshop, isn't it?

Last but not least, I would have a huge area or even a whole floor dedicated to children books. As I said, I loved books when I was a child, even when I couldn't read them, I would spend hours looking at the pretty images. In my bookshop I would have hundreds of colourful books for the kids to read, look or just play. I would have readings and even small shows and representations so kids could discover the wonder of reading.