LET'S TALK ABOUT: Fantastic Beasts

When Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was announced I was sure it would ruin a franchise I love. How wrong I was.

When I saw the film I fell in love with Newt and his world. It was great to see life beyond Hogwarts, and some of Dumbledore's backstory. 

I now own four Fantastic Beasts books: one screenplay and three versions of the Comic Relief textbook. It’s not everyone's cup of tea, but Fantastic Beasts is everything I could want as an adult who grew up with Harry Potter. I can't wait to see what's coming next.

LET'S TALK ABOUT: Feminism

Feminism. Important to some, and a dirty word to others. If you type “feminism definition” into Google, you get this:

However, feminism means different things to different people. It depends on what is important to them.

To me, feminism is the right to walk safely in the streets, without fear. It is the right to live without the expectation that I will do a man’s bidding. It is the right to live and work without derogatory comments based on my gender. 

Most of all, feminism is the right to be free.

What does feminism mean to you?

LET’S TALK ABOUT: The Sin Eater’s Daughter

I have a confession: until recently I had little interest in reading The Sin Eater's Daughter. I've never been into fantasy so I didn't give it much thought.

I've just finished the trilogy in fourteen days, and LOVED it. I was on the edge of my seat until the last moment. Twylla and Errin are incredible, and got the story they deserved.

Melinda Salisbury is a literary wonder. The TSED trilogy pulled me in and wouldn't let me go. I loved (and hated) the characters, and was emotionally destroyed by the end. Never judge a book by its genre.

LET’S TALK ABOUT… The Spinster Club for #IWD2017

It's International Women's Day, so it's time to celebrate my favourite feminist reads: Holly Bourne’s Spinster Club series. For anyone who hasn't read it, the series follows Evie, Amber and Lottie as they navigate their way through life, love and feminism.

I love this series with every part of me. Not only is it a wonderful and funny read, I learnt so much from it. The way the girls deal with the challenges they face is inspiring, and I learnt so much about being a feminist. If there's one series I want to recommend to every girl today, it's this.

LET'S TALK ABOUT... YA Book Prize 2017: The Shortlist

On Thursday the YA Book Prize announced their shortlist for 2017, and here it is!

Image courtesy of the YA Book Prize Twitter. 

What an amazing list we have this year. I've read five and have another three on my TBR, but I couldn't begin to guess who will win. It's brilliant to see a more diverse list of authors shortlisted, particularly following controversy with other shortlists.

Paper Butterflies and Beautiful Broken Things are easily my favourites here, but there is so much talent on the shortlist that it's hard to say who win. I can only wish all the authors (and the judges) the best of luck!