‘It makes no difference’, you say to me As you slurp your cola with a plastic straw. Tugging and pulling, an oil spill into an ocean, As the dark effervescent liquid invades your mouth. I watch your attempt to suck out every drop, Carrying on trying when there is nothing left. Because lids and straws…
An Inspector Calls Character Analysis: Mr Birling
Mr Birling from An Inspector Calls is undoubtedly the most self-centred character. Priestley has allowed us to see his ironic, false views and how he is unable to change for the better. By understanding the wrongs of this character, we can understand the main purpose of Priestley's play. Mr Birling's initial influence on many of…
Top 5 Young Adult Thriller/Mystery Novels With Twist Endings
There has been a tremendous development in thriller and mystery novels for young adults over the past few years. A good novel in these genres has a riveting storyline, peculiar characters, and (of course) the much-loved thriller/mystery plot twists. Whether it is a serial killer or a supernatural mystery, all of the following books have…
Book Review: Frozen Charlotte by Alex Bell and Optional Ending Explained
Frozen Charlotte is an astonishing horror novel filled with thrilling twists and turns that play on your mind. This young adult book is spooky and chilling the entire way through, almost to the point of giving me nightmares! Terrifying Victorian china dolls? You bet! The book was fast-paced and endlessly engaging; I read the entire…
Writer’s Tips: How to Create Effective Characters In 5 Key Steps

Characters can either make or break a writer's story. Poorly developed characters or personalities which are at odds with an author's intentions can turn an amazing story into an absolute chore for readers to delve through. This has happened so many times, where I have come across potentially fantastic plots that have been ruined by…
Book Review: Heartstream by Tom Pollock and Optional Ending Explained
A tense and astonishing young adult thriller, Heartstream is a book that is not short of action and secrets revealed from characters' pasts. If you are a fan of twists and turns or are looking for a book like the famous TV show Black Mirror, then this may be the book for you. The way…
Book Review: Good Girl, Bad Blood and Optional Ending Explained
I was mesmerised by Good Girl, Bad Blood from start to finish. It was a thrilling read without a dull moment. I would go as far as to say that I enjoyed it better than Holly Jackson's first novel, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. The reason is this: the clues for the disappearance were…
An Inspector Calls Character Analysis: Who was the Inspector?
The inspector from An Inspector Calls is a peculiar character shrouded in mystery. He is at the very centre of the action that takes place in the play and his role is hugely important in this. He has various purposes, represents several themes, and has an interesting persona. Therefore, understanding the character of the inspector…
One of Us Is Next: Summary and Ending Explained
One of Us Is Next is the exciting sequel to the first novel One of Us Is Lying. It was a thrilling read I'm sure many would agree. Here is the summary and a separate Ending Explained section to answer any questions readers may still have about the novel. Feel free to also check out…
Should I dnf a book? Top 5 reasons to ditch the book

The question almost every reader has asked themselves. Should I carry on reading this book or is it time to throw it in the dnf (did not finish) pile? If you're even asking yourself this question then clearly there's something about the book that you're not too pleased with. But sometimes dull books become more…