The Book of Days by KA Barker Published by Pan Macmillan Australia on September 2014
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Steampunk, Young Adult
Pages: 400
Source: My copy
Amazon • Amazon UK
Goodreads
Most people believe the best way to forget someone is to throw them down a well. Or lock them in a room with eight keys, or bury them at a crossroad in the thirteenth hour. But they're wrong. The best way to forget someone is for them never to have existed in the first place.
When sixteen-year-old Tuesday wakes from sleep for the first time, she opens her eyes to a world filled with wonder - and peril. Left only with a letter from the person she once was, Tuesday sets out to discover her past with the help of her charming and self-serving guide, Quintalion.
Along the way she runs into mercenaries, flying cities, airships, and a blind librarian. But what is her connection with the mysterious Book of Days - a book that holds untold power...
Tuesday wakes up in the Unreality House with no memory of her past. She is given clothes and supplies to make her way in the world and told to forget about finding out about her previous life, but she’s desperate to find out who she might have been before ending up in the keeping house. Her companion Quintalion is keeping quiet, on that at least. What dark secret was she trying to cover up, even from herself?
Argh, it’s taken me so long to get to this review, and it’s partially because I loved this book but found it hard to put my finger on why. It’s quite whimsical, bizarre in places, even. It’s also quite brutal and even sad at times.
This world is a richly detailed Steampunk fantasy world, complete with flying cities and cannon-laden airships. There’s a strange and slightly disturbing bad guy, Stirling, and several friendly and bad-ass companions met along the way.
I think the main thing that gave this book a little extra spark is that the relationships between the characters are just brilliant. The snark, the humour and the friendships are so well written that I was sad to leave them all at the end of the story. I really hope there’s some more stories on the way for Tuesday, Quintalion, Hester and Jack, because I love them!
One thing is for sure, and that’s that this is a brilliant debut book from Kiralee Barker, and also one of my favourite reads of this year. More please!
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Anni
Anni lives in Brisbane, Australia with her young family. She loves everything fantasy and science fiction and believes sleep is really very underrated.
Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out
This didn’t suit me but I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Angelya
I can imagine the style’s not for everyone.. I just found it great!
Emily @ The Loony Teen Writer
I loved the world in this one – and especially Quintalion! He was so awesome. I did get a bit bored in the middle, though, which is sad…still, I really want to read the next one! 🙂
Emily @ The Loony Teen Writer recently posted…The contemporary YA Books I’m looking forward to in 2015
Angelya
Yes, Quintalion was the best <3
Joy @ Thoughts By J
Oooh how interesting! I love steampunk/fantasy, but Ive heard missed reviews for this book. Glad you enjoyed it so much Angelya xx
Joy @ Thoughts By J recently posted…Book Review: Saga Volume 1 (Saga #1-6) by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples
Angelya
Oh, if you like steampunk and fantasy then you should def give it a try! I hope you enjoy it Joy!
Rochelle Sharpe
I’m so glad you enjoyed this one. I really liked it too. It did have great relationships and I’d like to read more about these characters as well. I’ll be looking forward to miss Barker’s next book.
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Nicole
I really enjoyed this one. Steampunk isn’t necessarily my thing, but like you, I really enjoyed the relationship that developed between the characters. I hope there’s more!
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