Book Reviews

Uptown Oracle Reads… Tall Oaks

Harry is missing from Tall Oaks. Everyone has their secrets, but whose is connected to the missing child? A thriller surrounded by the average people you find in small town living. With so many secrets, anybody could be a suspect. Tall Oaks is a mystery novel first, yet there’s a strong focus on the characters.…
Uptown Oracle Reads… The Idea of You

The Idea of You follows Lucy as she struggles to have a baby, and to be a stepmother. As a woman who has always wanted her very own baby, her troubles rip holes in her otherwise perfect life. When her stepdaughter arrives, she starts to doubt even herself. Within the first chapter I realised this…
Uptown Oracle Reads… All That Remains

All That Remains is a dystopian horror following Kyle, Tim and Sara 13 years after the apocalypse. After finding young girl Kaylee, they need to get to Oak Ridge to protect themselves and maybe save the world. There’s normal reanimated human zombies, but also other monster like creatures that roam the earth. All That Remains…
Uptown Oracle Reads… The House of Mountfathom

Family, adventure and magic. A perfect combination for this middle grade book. The House of Mountfathom is set in Ireland during times of unrest. The Driochta, always peacekeepers, must choose a side to survive. My favourite aspect was how alive the house felt as it was so full of magic. The House of Mountfathom seemed like…
Uptown Oracle Reads… The Undying

The Undying is an apocalyptic thriller and was sold as similar to The Walking Dead. Jeanie and Ben, two American tourists must get to the Arc de Triomphe as it’s, supposedly, a rescue point. On the way, they find two of their friends and a newly born baby. The Undying could have been so good. The…
Uptown Oracle Reads… City of Heavenly Fire

The final book in The Mortal Instruments Series, City of Heavenly Fire, meets expectations. It wraps up the story nicely, with a fast plot and a good continuing focus on characters. At 600 pages, City of Heavenly Fire is the longest book in the series. I think this was needed as the majority of this…
Uptown Oracle Reads… Moroda

As we traipse the countries and cities of Linaria following a band of unlikely comrades, we’re introduced to magic, dragons, and a foe leading a trail of destruction in his wake. Moroda and her allies must find a way to save Linaria before the war destroys them and everything around them. One of my favourite…
Uptown Oracle Reads… A Mathematical State of Grace

A Mathematical State of Grace is a book which is basically what 16 year old’s dream of about their crushes. We start with Grace, a genius who spends her brain power on being infatuated with Vincente. A boy who pays no attention to her unless he needs help with his homework. This review will contain…
Uptown Oracle Reads… Royal Bastards

Action, magic, betrayal, romance… What more could you ask for from a YA fantasy? Royal Bastards not only delivers, but manages to pull it off as unpredictable. Starting this book I didn’t really get into it straight away. I didn’t really like Tilla, our main protagonist. Consequently, it’s in her POV, so I wasn’t quite…