A Torch Against the Night (Ember Quartet, book 2)

By Sabaa Tahir

Blurb: 
Elias and Laia are running for their lives. After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire.

Laia is determined to break into Kauf—the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison—to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars’ survival. And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom.

But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against Laia and Elias. The pair must fight every step of the way to outsmart their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the merciless Commandant, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene—Elias’s former friend and the Empire’s newest Blood Shrike.

Bound to Marcus’s will, Helene faces a torturous mission of her own—one that might destroy her: find the traitor Elias Veturius and the Scholar slave who helped him escape…and kill them both.

Review: 
A Torch Against the Night starts straight after where the first book left off. It has Elias and Laia finishing their escape from Blackcliff and heading to Kauf to rescue her brother from prison. Meanwhile we now have Helene’s perspective as she has been set on the mission to hunt down Elias. 

One thing I must note that I really enjoyed about this book was how much Elias and Laia time we had. Unlike the previous book, these two had far more scenes together. So that’s, a positive. 

I have to say I didn’t enjoy this book anywhere near as I loved the first one. This one was quite slow and repetitive. It was starting to lose my attention, whereas I couldn’t put down the first book. I feel this book though is more of a filler book for the next one. It’s just to get the plot rolling for book 3. So I still have hope that book 3 will be better. 

Overall, I am giving the book 4 stars. It was close to getting 3 stars at times but I think the ending really helped turn that around. I was drawn back into the story at that point. I’m still looking forward to Reaper at the Gate.

*SPOILERS*

I think the main thing that caused me to not like this book as much as the previous was that some scenes felt like they were dragging. For example, Elias and his poisoning. Elias is poisoned quite early on in the book by his mother the Commandant. The fact that he is slowly dying is dragged on throughout the whole of the book. He was giving 6 months to live and suffers from traumas and seizures constantly. I understand it was part of the storyline to get his character to take the role he gets at the end of the book. However, I just got bored of him being useless.

Another thing I hated with the Elias storyline was him visiting The Waiting Place. I just didn’t find those scenes interesting and were just filling space in the book. I’d rather just have cut them all out if we could but that wouldn’t have solved Elias coming back from the dead.

Something I enjoyed in this book was Laia exploring her invisibility magic. Laia was able to teach herself to use it on demand and it's starting to play a big role in the book. I suspect this magical ability to become more and more useful as the series continues. 

I will also say that I also enjoyed the appearance of Cook again. I thought after book 1 we wouldn’t see anymore Cook but then we do. Cook is trying to protect Laia by communicating with Helene where Elias is on the exchange of Laia being safe. Cook seems a bit wild in this book compared to the last. As she climbs buildings and leaves odd riddles. Although she is still demanding. 

In this book, Elias and Keenan finally meet. It’s interesting to see Laia’s love interests collide. I really love how much they hate each other. If it isn’t already obvious, Elias has always been my pick for Laia. Therefore, I’m loving the Keenan hate. 

Another character I didn’t expect to return from but should have was Afya Ara-nur. She had a very minor scene in the first book where she owed Elias a favour. Now Afya needs to pay up by helping them get to Kauf. Her minor role has become an almost major role. She is quite an interesting character.

A whole new character we got to finally meet was Elias’ adoptive mother, Mamie Rila. We have heard of her but haven’t got to really meet her until this point. Mamie is asked by Afya to help with Elias and Laia’s escape to Kauf. We can see how Mamie is such a caring person and is willing to sacrifice anything for her adopted so or her tribe. She’s a very inspiring character.

The most devastating scene was when Izzy was killed. She was my favourite character. I do admit it made the story more interesting and helped with the rating of the book. As the timing couldn’t have been better as Izzy was happy and she was developing a love interest. But it doesn’t mean I’m not really sad about it. I did get cheered up to see her as a ghost talking to Elias about getting closure. That gave me closure as I believed it was intended to do. 

One scene that really disappointed me and wished didn’t happen was when Laia sleeps with Keenan. I was disappointed before we found out more about Keenan but then got further disappointed after that stuff (more on that later). I just don’t think they are a good match and the first time should have been with Elias.

Now onto the Keenan stuff. Laia gave Keenan her armlet that she always touches. She shouldn’t have done that it was all she had left from her parents and he’s a snake that deserves nothing. After she does this is when we learn the truth about Keenan. Keenan doesn’t exist; he is actually the Nightbringer. Who was there to manipulate Laia to give him the armlet. This just made everything Laia did so much worse. But I’m glad she has the full availability now to pursue Elias. 

However, there is one big issue. Elias is now The Soul Catcher. This was the deal he had to make in order to live and save Darin. This means he can’t just live a normal mortal life anymore. The book ends with him, Laia and Darin in a cabin. Anytime Laia and Elias try something the forest gets mad and they have to stop. So the frustration of their relationship continues… for now. 

A scene I thought really spiced things up to get it to the 4 star rating was Helene’s family being executed right in front of her face and her sister Livia being forced to marry Marcus. It just took Helene’s storyline in a whole new interesting direction for the next book.


Harper is set to spy on Helene while she pursues Elias. Harper I quite like as a character, I realised he was involved deeper than just as a spy quite early on in the book. I assumed it was because he fancied Helene. But it turns out he was trying to get to know Elias through Helene, as he is half brother. Again this is something I look forward to more in the next book.

Quote: 

'You are a torch against the night—if you dare to let yourself burn.'

- Cain, A Torch Against the Night

Rating: 4 runes out of 5

written by Lauren

A Torch Against the Night (Ember Quartet, book 2)

By Sabaa Tahir

Blurb: 
Elias and Laia are running for their lives. After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire.

Laia is determined to break into Kauf—the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison—to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars’ survival. And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom.

But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against Laia and Elias. The pair must fight every step of the way to outsmart their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the merciless Commandant, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene—Elias’s former friend and the Empire’s newest Blood Shrike.

Bound to Marcus’s will, Helene faces a torturous mission of her own—one that might destroy her: find the traitor Elias Veturius and the Scholar slave who helped him escape…and kill them both.

Review: 
A Torch Against the Night starts straight after where the first book left off. It has Elias and Laia finishing their escape from Blackcliff and heading to Kauf to rescue her brother from prison. Meanwhile we now have Helene’s perspective as she has been set on the mission to hunt down Elias. 

One thing I must note that I really enjoyed about this book was how much Elias and Laia time we had. Unlike the previous book, these two had far more scenes together. So that’s, a positive. 

I have to say I didn’t enjoy this book anywhere near as I loved the first one. This one was quite slow and repetitive. It was starting to lose my attention, whereas I couldn’t put down the first book. I feel this book though is more of a filler book for the next one. It’s just to get the plot rolling for book 3. So I still have hope that book 3 will be better. 

Overall, I am giving the book 4 stars. It was close to getting 3 stars at times but I think the ending really helped turn that around. I was drawn back into the story at that point. I’m still looking forward to Reaper at the Gate.

*SPOILERS*

I think the main thing that caused me to not like this book as much as the previous was that some scenes felt like they were dragging. For example, Elias and his poisoning. Elias is poisoned quite early on in the book by his mother the Commandant. The fact that he is slowly dying is dragged on throughout the whole of the book. He was giving 6 months to live and suffers from traumas and seizures constantly. I understand it was part of the storyline to get his character to take the role he gets at the end of the book. However, I just got bored of him being useless.

Another thing I hated with the Elias storyline was him visiting The Waiting Place. I just didn’t find those scenes interesting and were just filling space in the book. I’d rather just have cut them all out if we could but that wouldn’t have solved Elias coming back from the dead.

Something I enjoyed in this book was Laia exploring her invisibility magic. Laia was able to teach herself to use it on demand and it's starting to play a big role in the book. I suspect this magical ability to become more and more useful as the series continues. 

I will also say that I also enjoyed the appearance of Cook again. I thought after book 1 we wouldn’t see anymore Cook but then we do. Cook is trying to protect Laia by communicating with Helene where Elias is on the exchange of Laia being safe. Cook seems a bit wild in this book compared to the last. As she climbs buildings and leaves odd riddles. Although she is still demanding. 

In this book, Elias and Keenan finally meet. It’s interesting to see Laia’s love interests collide. I really love how much they hate each other. If it isn’t already obvious, Elias has always been my pick for Laia. Therefore, I’m loving the Keenan hate. 

Another character I didn’t expect to return from but should have was Afya Ara-nur. She had a very minor scene in the first book where she owed Elias a favour. Now Afya needs to pay up by helping them get to Kauf. Her minor role has become an almost major role. She is quite an interesting character.

A whole new character we got to finally meet was Elias’ adoptive mother, Mamie Rila. We have heard of her but haven’t got to really meet her until this point. Mamie is asked by Afya to help with Elias and Laia’s escape to Kauf. We can see how Mamie is such a caring person and is willing to sacrifice anything for her adopted so or her tribe. She’s a very inspiring character.

The most devastating scene was when Izzy was killed. She was my favourite character. I do admit it made the story more interesting and helped with the rating of the book. As the timing couldn’t have been better as Izzy was happy and she was developing a love interest. But it doesn’t mean I’m not really sad about it. I did get cheered up to see her as a ghost talking to Elias about getting closure. That gave me closure as I believed it was intended to do. 

One scene that really disappointed me and wished didn’t happen was when Laia sleeps with Keenan. I was disappointed before we found out more about Keenan but then got further disappointed after that stuff (more on that later). I just don’t think they are a good match and the first time should have been with Elias.

Now onto the Keenan stuff. Laia gave Keenan her armlet that she always touches. She shouldn’t have done that it was all she had left from her parents and he’s a snake that deserves nothing. After she does this is when we learn the truth about Keenan. Keenan doesn’t exist; he is actually the Nightbringer. Who was there to manipulate Laia to give him the armlet. This just made everything Laia did so much worse. But I’m glad she has the full availability now to pursue Elias. 

However, there is one big issue. Elias is now The Soul Catcher. This was the deal he had to make in order to live and save Darin. This means he can’t just live a normal mortal life anymore. The book ends with him, Laia and Darin in a cabin. Anytime Laia and Elias try something the forest gets mad and they have to stop. So the frustration of their relationship continues… for now. 

A scene I thought really spiced things up to get it to the 4 star rating was Helene’s family being executed right in front of her face and her sister Livia being forced to marry Marcus. It just took Helene’s storyline in a whole new interesting direction for the next book.


Harper is set to spy on Helene while she pursues Elias. Harper I quite like as a character, I realised he was involved deeper than just as a spy quite early on in the book. I assumed it was because he fancied Helene. But it turns out he was trying to get to know Elias through Helene, as he is half brother. Again this is something I look forward to more in the next book.

Quote: 

'You are a torch against the night—if you dare to let yourself burn.'

- Cain, A Torch Against the Night

Rating: 4 runes out of 5

written by Lauren

I Hope You Get This Message

By Farah Naz Rishi

Blurb: 
Seven days. Seven days. The Earth might end in seven days.

When news stations start reporting that Earth has been contacted by a planet named Alma, the world is abuzz with rumors that the alien entity is giving mankind only few days to live before they hit the kill switch on civilization.

For high school truant Jesse Hewitt, though, nothing has ever felt permanent. Not the guys he hooks up with. Not the jobs his underpaid mom works so hard to hold down. Life has dealt him one bad blow after another — so what does it matter if it all ends now? Cate Collins, on the other hand, is desperate to use this time to find the father she’s never met, the man she grew up hearing wild stories about, most of which she didn’t believe. And then there’s Adeem Khan. While coding and computer programming have always come easily to him, forgiveness doesn’t. He can’t seem to forgive his sister for leaving, even though it’s his last chance.

With only seven days to face their truths and right their wrongs, Jesse, Cate, and Adeem’s paths collide even as their worlds are pulled apart.

Review: 
I saw this book was included in a book box and it was when I was reading a contemporary book so it interested me a lot but I don't think I had the money for the box so I downloaded the ebook a while ago and have only just got round to reading this book.

Up until 70% this book was going to be rated 3 stars, but because things started slotting together it became 4 stars.

This book is told in 3 main characters aspects of the end of the world. The alien planet Alma has gave a warning to planet Earth that they only have 7 days to live before they take over.

At the start of each day we read a small section of the discussions between the Scions about taking over Earth which was quite good because you can see how their opinions differ from one another and see their actual reasons for why they want to take over the planet. 

So onto the actual characters, there is Jesse, Cate and Adeem. I don't think I actually hate or dislike any of these characters, maybe the side characters. I disliked Ivy just because she seems like a two faced bitch.

So Jesse suffers with depression, his father left him as far as I'm aware and went to California or something. His father left him and his mother with money troubles and they struggle to pay rent, bills and put food on the table. Jesse steals food to feed his mother who is constantly working to pay the bills and rent. Jesse then tries to come to terms with his father leaving and opens the shed and use his machines to keep hope within earth and he earns money as he want his mother to stop worrying.

Cate has a mother who suffers with schizophrenia and she doesn't really live a life. So when her mother is taking into hospital she starts to live her life and makes a bucket list. Ivy is her best friend by the way she treats Cate really annoys me.

Adeem is a Muslim and his sister came out to his family and she left many years ago without saying anything because she was ashamed. He is really upset that she left and that his family hasn't been the same since.

So that's like an inside to each of the characters and we follow them throughout the 7 days of the end of the world. They try to improve their lives and make changes to allow them to feel like they are whole again by the time the world ends.

I feel that the story didn't develop at all but then at the same time, I don't think I really expect it to because it was more an adventure of what these 3 people did their lives when they find out they have a short period of time left in their lives. I really hope I would try to make peace like some of these people. The only thing I would have liked more information about in this book is about the Scions living on planet Alma and why they truly wanted it and how they came to this conclusion. 

Like I say this book got 3 stars till approximately 70% and the reason for this was because it just seemed to be quite slow and it was repetitive obviously the characters developed slightly but nothing drastic to make me really love the story. But once it hit 70% when things started piercing together and how these characters played a part in each other's lives even though they were from different states it just felt amazing. The first moment I started realising this was the moon necklace.

I'd recommend this book if you want to see how people cope in the end of the world scenario, and if you like contemporary. I wouldn't say it was really a sci-fi book though it was just a tad hinting at it. But overall, it was well written and an amazing story with little hidden details and with the ending I just feel complete but also sad at the same time. Once you've read it you will understand.

Favourite Character: Jesse

Read: 28/03/20 - 01/04/20

4 stars out of 5

Written by Sammie

I Hope You Get This Message

By Farah Naz Rishi

Blurb: 
Seven days. Seven days. The Earth might end in seven days.

When news stations start reporting that Earth has been contacted by a planet named Alma, the world is abuzz with rumors that the alien entity is giving mankind only few days to live before they hit the kill switch on civilization.

For high school truant Jesse Hewitt, though, nothing has ever felt permanent. Not the guys he hooks up with. Not the jobs his underpaid mom works so hard to hold down. Life has dealt him one bad blow after another — so what does it matter if it all ends now? Cate Collins, on the other hand, is desperate to use this time to find the father she’s never met, the man she grew up hearing wild stories about, most of which she didn’t believe. And then there’s Adeem Khan. While coding and computer programming have always come easily to him, forgiveness doesn’t. He can’t seem to forgive his sister for leaving, even though it’s his last chance.

With only seven days to face their truths and right their wrongs, Jesse, Cate, and Adeem’s paths collide even as their worlds are pulled apart.

Review: 
I saw this book was included in a book box and it was when I was reading a contemporary book so it interested me a lot but I don't think I had the money for the box so I downloaded the ebook a while ago and have only just got round to reading this book.

Up until 70% this book was going to be rated 3 stars, but because things started slotting together it became 4 stars.

This book is told in 3 main characters aspects of the end of the world. The alien planet Alma has gave a warning to planet Earth that they only have 7 days to live before they take over.

At the start of each day we read a small section of the discussions between the Scions about taking over Earth which was quite good because you can see how their opinions differ from one another and see their actual reasons for why they want to take over the planet. 

So onto the actual characters, there is Jesse, Cate and Adeem. I don't think I actually hate or dislike any of these characters, maybe the side characters. I disliked Ivy just because she seems like a two faced bitch.

So Jesse suffers with depression, his father left him as far as I'm aware and went to California or something. His father left him and his mother with money troubles and they struggle to pay rent, bills and put food on the table. Jesse steals food to feed his mother who is constantly working to pay the bills and rent. Jesse then tries to come to terms with his father leaving and opens the shed and use his machines to keep hope within earth and he earns money as he want his mother to stop worrying.

Cate has a mother who suffers with schizophrenia and she doesn't really live a life. So when her mother is taking into hospital she starts to live her life and makes a bucket list. Ivy is her best friend by the way she treats Cate really annoys me.

Adeem is a Muslim and his sister came out to his family and she left many years ago without saying anything because she was ashamed. He is really upset that she left and that his family hasn't been the same since.

So that's like an inside to each of the characters and we follow them throughout the 7 days of the end of the world. They try to improve their lives and make changes to allow them to feel like they are whole again by the time the world ends.

I feel that the story didn't develop at all but then at the same time, I don't think I really expect it to because it was more an adventure of what these 3 people did their lives when they find out they have a short period of time left in their lives. I really hope I would try to make peace like some of these people. The only thing I would have liked more information about in this book is about the Scions living on planet Alma and why they truly wanted it and how they came to this conclusion. 

Like I say this book got 3 stars till approximately 70% and the reason for this was because it just seemed to be quite slow and it was repetitive obviously the characters developed slightly but nothing drastic to make me really love the story. But once it hit 70% when things started piercing together and how these characters played a part in each other's lives even though they were from different states it just felt amazing. The first moment I started realising this was the moon necklace.

I'd recommend this book if you want to see how people cope in the end of the world scenario, and if you like contemporary. I wouldn't say it was really a sci-fi book though it was just a tad hinting at it. But overall, it was well written and an amazing story with little hidden details and with the ending I just feel complete but also sad at the same time. Once you've read it you will understand.

Favourite Character: Jesse

Read: 28/03/20 - 01/04/20

4 stars out of 5

Written by Sammie

A Torch Against the Night (Ember Quartet, book 2)

By Sabaa Tahir

Blurb: 
Elias and Laia are running for their lives. After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire.

Laia is determined to break into Kauf—the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison—to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars’ survival. And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom.

But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against Laia and Elias. The pair must fight every step of the way to outsmart their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the merciless Commandant, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene—Elias’s former friend and the Empire’s newest Blood Shrike.

Bound to Marcus’s will, Helene faces a torturous mission of her own—one that might destroy her: find the traitor Elias Veturius and the Scholar slave who helped him escape…and kill them both.

Review: 
I feel in a way that this book was a let down compared to An Ember in the Ashes. I wasn't so into this one compared to the first but I still think that the story is worth the read for sure.

This whole book is about Helene hunting down Elias and Elias's journey with Laia to save her brother. This is the part that dragged the book down to 4 stars, I just felt the journey to the prison was so long winded and that it really could have been cut shorter. 

I understand that there were key moments throughout this journey but there should have just been less in between bits, if that makes sense. In a way I felt events were just repeating themselves and I'm sure if I skipped a few chapters, I really wouldn't have missed much.

Throughout this book I feel Helene is discovering more about herself and what she thinks is the best but then she also discovers her weakness as a mask as the Emperor is using it a lot and so is the Commandment. Overall, I think Helene is quite a strong character and I really enjoyed reading her point of view of the story because you could pinpoint when she started to believe in herself so others would actually take her seriously. 

Laia also developed a hell of lot throughout this book, we discover more about her ability of disappearing. We also learn more about her feelings towards other characters and their consequences. I think Laia is also quite a strong character but she just seems to do everything on impulse and doesn't really think of the next step.

The main part when they get closer to the prisoner and actually inside the prison is really well described and I liked this part of the book, because obviously this is where most of the action happened. I feel like the description of this scene was quite accurate and allowed a full picture in my head with how each of the scenes played out. I also liked how certain thing started to play out and started to be uncover different little things about certain characters. Which means that's the third book is going to be pretty awesome because loads of things have been uncovered.

I'd definitely recommend this series if you love adventure, friendships and twists.

Favourite Character: Helene

Read: 20/01/20 - 20/03/20

4 stars out of 5

Written by Sammie

A Torch Against the Night (Ember Quartet, book 2)

By Sabaa Tahir

Blurb: 
Elias and Laia are running for their lives. After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire.

Laia is determined to break into Kauf—the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison—to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars’ survival. And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom.

But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against Laia and Elias. The pair must fight every step of the way to outsmart their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the merciless Commandant, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene—Elias’s former friend and the Empire’s newest Blood Shrike.

Bound to Marcus’s will, Helene faces a torturous mission of her own—one that might destroy her: find the traitor Elias Veturius and the Scholar slave who helped him escape…and kill them both.

Review: 
I feel in a way that this book was a let down compared to An Ember in the Ashes. I wasn't so into this one compared to the first but I still think that the story is worth the read for sure.

This whole book is about Helene hunting down Elias and Elias's journey with Laia to save her brother. This is the part that dragged the book down to 4 stars, I just felt the journey to the prison was so long winded and that it really could have been cut shorter. 

I understand that there were key moments throughout this journey but there should have just been less in between bits, if that makes sense. In a way I felt events were just repeating themselves and I'm sure if I skipped a few chapters, I really wouldn't have missed much.

Throughout this book I feel Helene is discovering more about herself and what she thinks is the best but then she also discovers her weakness as a mask as the Emperor is using it a lot and so is the Commandment. Overall, I think Helene is quite a strong character and I really enjoyed reading her point of view of the story because you could pinpoint when she started to believe in herself so others would actually take her seriously. 

Laia also developed a hell of lot throughout this book, we discover more about her ability of disappearing. We also learn more about her feelings towards other characters and their consequences. I think Laia is also quite a strong character but she just seems to do everything on impulse and doesn't really think of the next step.

The main part when they get closer to the prisoner and actually inside the prison is really well described and I liked this part of the book, because obviously this is where most of the action happened. I feel like the description of this scene was quite accurate and allowed a full picture in my head with how each of the scenes played out. I also liked how certain thing started to play out and started to be uncover different little things about certain characters. Which means that's the third book is going to be pretty awesome because loads of things have been uncovered.

I'd definitely recommend this series if you love adventure, friendships and twists.

Favourite Character: Helene

Read: 20/01/20 - 20/03/20

4 stars out of 5

Written by Sammie

Sorrow Patch (Untitled Series, book 1)

By Zion Blue

Blurb: 
In the once-tranquil village of Dwerry, change is stirring the air.

One soul touched by magic can feel it coming.

In this forgotten land lost to time, Patch’s peaceful, quiet, joyful life is about to turn into one adventure after another.

Recent events in the Creeper Forest have left Patch with terrible dreams and the nagging conviction that a supernatural force is trying to warn him about dire things to come.

Meanwhile, in the South Lands beyond Dwerry, a steely-eyed King Lucent sets his sights on something he wants from the village—and expects to have, whatever the costs.

Step into this wondrous realm of soldiers reborn and the fearsome Sorrow Man in a tale that will leave you shocked, saddened, and hungry for more.

Sorrow Patch, an epic adventure like no other, welcomes you on this mystical journey.

Review: 
I have rated this book honestly just like every other book I read, but because I was requested to review it by the author, I will try to give it a bit more of an insight on why I have gave the book this rating. The main reason is I feel like this book is missing so much and it can be developed into a greater book if only the author had a better editor/proof reader/beta reader. Please don't kill me if you're one of those people, it's just what I feel.

I will start with the main characters, Patch and Ctain. I feel like we are missing so much about their background, how they really ended up being stepbrothers, their true feelings towards each other growing up and their activities together. We were thrown into their  relationship and then all of a sudden they are great enemies. I just feel like we are missing something maybe that's just me. 

It's like Patch and Becka's relationship as far as I was aware they were just friends, they get reunited and then they're having sex. Like I'm so confused. I understand where the author wants to go with these relationships but I feel like there's a huge chunk of the bunk missing and this could easily be filled by developing these relationships. Even if it's stupid mundane tasks like dealing with the farms together or playing in fields or chasing animals. It would also be nice to see more of the relationship between the Grandfather and Patch.

Now onto the actual story; at the beginning; I really didn't feel like it was flowing that well and it was like a stop start journey, with no smoothness to it. Scenes kept changing and so did the feelings between the characters. There seems to also be a few problems with the story or at least areas where it can be developed, for instance when Patch is recovering and the sorrow man is in the room that he shares with Ctain but with Patch screaming it doesn't wake Ctain up so he can see the sorrow man but it fetches his Grandfather. 

Another thing is that Patch trains with the sorrow man for 2/3 years. It only seemed like it was weeks at most. I felt we could have went into more detail about the training. We could have also followed Ctains point of view or even Becka since both of them were with the King. We could have seen what life was like for them after this whole disaster with Dwerry.

I did actually really enjoy the concept of this story and I understand what the author was trying to get across but the parts that I have mentioned are the parts that let it down with my eyes.

I do like the characters within the book but I would just like the friendships to merge together, so I can get a better feel for the book. I feel like the reason I've truly gave this rating is because I can see the potential and I have hopes that the author gets far.

Favourite Character: Patch

Read: 16/04/20 - 19/04/20

2 stars out of 5

Written by Sammie

Sorrow Patch (Untitled Series, book 1)

By Zion Blue

Blurb: 
In the once-tranquil village of Dwerry, change is stirring the air.

One soul touched by magic can feel it coming.

In this forgotten land lost to time, Patch’s peaceful, quiet, joyful life is about to turn into one adventure after another.

Recent events in the Creeper Forest have left Patch with terrible dreams and the nagging conviction that a supernatural force is trying to warn him about dire things to come.

Meanwhile, in the South Lands beyond Dwerry, a steely-eyed King Lucent sets his sights on something he wants from the village—and expects to have, whatever the costs.

Step into this wondrous realm of soldiers reborn and the fearsome Sorrow Man in a tale that will leave you shocked, saddened, and hungry for more.

Sorrow Patch, an epic adventure like no other, welcomes you on this mystical journey.

Review: 
I have rated this book honestly just like every other book I read, but because I was requested to review it by the author, I will try to give it a bit more of an insight on why I have gave the book this rating. The main reason is I feel like this book is missing so much and it can be developed into a greater book if only the author had a better editor/proof reader/beta reader. Please don't kill me if you're one of those people, it's just what I feel.

I will start with the main characters, Patch and Ctain. I feel like we are missing so much about their background, how they really ended up being stepbrothers, their true feelings towards each other growing up and their activities together. We were thrown into their  relationship and then all of a sudden they are great enemies. I just feel like we are missing something maybe that's just me. 

It's like Patch and Becka's relationship as far as I was aware they were just friends, they get reunited and then they're having sex. Like I'm so confused. I understand where the author wants to go with these relationships but I feel like there's a huge chunk of the bunk missing and this could easily be filled by developing these relationships. Even if it's stupid mundane tasks like dealing with the farms together or playing in fields or chasing animals. It would also be nice to see more of the relationship between the Grandfather and Patch.

Now onto the actual story; at the beginning; I really didn't feel like it was flowing that well and it was like a stop start journey, with no smoothness to it. Scenes kept changing and so did the feelings between the characters. There seems to also be a few problems with the story or at least areas where it can be developed, for instance when Patch is recovering and the sorrow man is in the room that he shares with Ctain but with Patch screaming it doesn't wake Ctain up so he can see the sorrow man but it fetches his Grandfather. 

Another thing is that Patch trains with the sorrow man for 2/3 years. It only seemed like it was weeks at most. I felt we could have went into more detail about the training. We could have also followed Ctains point of view or even Becka since both of them were with the King. We could have seen what life was like for them after this whole disaster with Dwerry.

I did actually really enjoy the concept of this story and I understand what the author was trying to get across but the parts that I have mentioned are the parts that let it down with my eyes.

I do like the characters within the book but I would just like the friendships to merge together, so I can get a better feel for the book. I feel like the reason I've truly gave this rating is because I can see the potential and I have hopes that the author gets far.

Favourite Character: Patch

Read: 16/04/20 - 19/04/20

2 stars out of 5

Written by Sammie