Book Reviews

Uptown Oracle Reads… No Ordinary Star

In 2525, Humans no longer need to sleep or eat, they have small tablets for that. The Clockmaster summons the ‘perfect’ soldier to the North Pole as the Great Clock needs fixing. When there he comes across the girl, an outsider, and they must work together to ensure peace. No Ordinary Star is the first…
Uptown Oracle Reads… Clockwork Prince

Clockwork Prince is the 2nd book in the Infernal Devices Trilogy. The Shadowhunters and Tessa are searching for Mortmain before he unleashes a demon/automaton army. Clockwork Prince avoids the middle book slump that a lot of trilogies endure. The first book was good but this book was definitely better in my eyes. One of the…
Uptown Oracle Reads… Clockwork Angel

Clockwork Angel is the first in a trilogy of books. This series is a prequel to The Mortal Instruments, also written by Cassandra Clare. Tessa traveled to London to live with her brother, when he appears missing she is captured. Saved by Will, Tessa lives within the institute with the Shadowhunters helping to find Nate,…
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…