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Review: The Golden Specific (The Mapmakers Trilogy #2)

Tuesday 28 July 2015
Author: S.E. Grove
Edition: Viking ARC
Released: 14th July 2015
Series: The Mapmakers Trilogy #2
Pages: 528 approx.
Links: Goodreads | Author's Website | Buy the book!

**MINOR SPOILERS IN SYNOPSIS BUT SPOILER FREE REVIEW**

It is the summer of 1892, one year since Sophia Tims and her friend Theo embarked upon the dangerous adventure that rewrote the map of the world. Since their return home to Boston, she has continued searching for clues to her parents’ disappearance, combing archives and libraries, grasping at even the most slender leads. Theo has apprenticed himself to an explorer in order to follow those leads across the country—but one after another proves to be a dead end.

Then Sophia discovers that a crucial piece of the puzzle exists in a foreign Age. At the same time, Theo discovers that his old life outside the law threatens to destroy the new one he has built with Sophia and her uncle Shadrack. What he and Sophia do not know is that their separate discoveries are intertwined, and that one remarkable person is part of both.

There is a city that holds all of the answers—but it cannot be found on any map. Surrounded by plague, it can only be reached by a journey through darkness and chaos, which is at the same time the plague’s cure:
The Golden Specific.

After having loved the first book in this series with all my heart and soul, I was very excited to receive the sequel at the beginning of this year (YES, I read it that long ago and am only getting around to reviewing it now *le sigh*). It ended up being another great instalment that has only deepened my love for the world S.E. Grove has created.

Even though I didn't love it as much as I did the first one, I was still completely enthralled in the world building. I simply can't get over just how complex and utterly fantastic it is. It's just so damn interesting and I HAVE NO CLUE AS TO HOW S.E. GROVE MANAGED TO COME UP WITH IT! I loved that we continued meeting new characters as well and how different sub-plots were introduced. And that magical quality was still weaved into each page.

However, I did find it confusing at times simply because of how complex the whole story is in itself and even though it felt like a lot happened in this book just like the first, there just wasn't enough tied up from the previous book for my liking. However, there's only one more book coming out now in the series and I'm sure that'll do the job just fine!

Overall, another highly enjoyable and enthralling edition to The Mapmakers Trilogy. I'm really surprised it isn't more popular!

FOUR TOADSTOOLS TO THE GOLDEN SPECIFIC!
Huge thanks to the author and publishers for sending this to me! :D

Happy Reading,
Rachel xoxo


I NEED YOUR HELP: Uni Prep?

Sunday 19 July 2015
So I'm off to uni this year (September) to do English Literature and I was just wondering if anyone has any recommendations of books that would prepare me for the kinds of books I'll be reading for the course? Just cause I'd like to feel even just a little bit pre-prepared if you know what I'm saying. If anyone has even any kind of advice for me about the type of course I should be expecting or even just about how to survive uni in general, it'd be much appreciated as well. ^.^

I HOPE TO BE BACK TO BLOGGING PROPERLY SOON. STICK WITH ME.

Love you all.

Happy Reading,
Rachel xoxo