'Til The World Ends by Julie Kagawa et al

Publication Date: 29/01/13
Publisher: Harlequin Luna
Pages: 368
Genre: Fantasy/Sci-fi
Target Audience: Young Adults

Synopsis:
Dawn of Eden by Julie Kagawa:

Before The Immortal Rules, there was the Red Lung, a relentless virus determined to take out all in its path. For Kylie, the miracle of her survival is also her burden—as a doctor at one of the clinics for the infected, she is forced to witness endless suffering. What’s worse, strange things are happening to the remains of the dead, and by the time she befriends Ben Archer, she’s beginning to wonder if a global pandemic is the least of her problems...

Thistle & Thorne by Ann Aguirre:

After a catastrophic spill turns the country into a vast chemical wasteland, those who could afford it retreated to fortresses, self-contained communities run by powerful corporations. But for Mari Thistle, life on the outside—in the Red Zone—is a constant struggle. To protect her family, Mari teams up with the mysterious Thorne Goodman. Together, they’ll face an evil plot in both the underworld of the Red Zone and the society inside the fortresses that could destroy those on the outside... for good.

Sun Storm by Karen Duvall:

Sarah Daggot has been chasing storms since she was a child. But after the biggest solar flares in history nearly destroy the planet, she becomes a Kinetic, endowed by her exposure to extreme radiation with the power to sense coming storms—in the cosmos and beyond. And she’s not the only one. Sarah believes the Kinetics are destined to join forces and halt the final onslaught of the sun. She’ll vow to keep trying to convince the one missing link in their chain of defense, the enigmatic Ian Matthews, up until the world ends.

My Review: I usually avoid collections because there's always at least one story in them that makes me want to tear my hair out or slam my face against a wall. Sadly, this collection was no different. But I'll start with the positives.

Dawn of Eden:

I was thrilled with Dawn of Eden and I found it a unique insight into the world of The Immortal Rules before Ali's adventure begun.  Kylie made a sympathetic  caring, yet tough protagonist and I was pulled into her story and her reasons for fighting the Red Lung Virus without much trouble.  
The story even took a romantic turn and featured a cameo from a pretty important character from The Immortal Rules. 
The ending was pretty well done, which is usually difficult with a Novella and overall, with this story, I was very impressed. Not only did it give additional background on the vamps and Red Lung Virus, but also an insight into how difficult life was during the breakout. 

Thistle and Thorne
I was really surprised with this novella. I have books by Ann Aguirre on my to-read list but have yet to read any of them; needless to say this will have to change very soon because she is an exceptional writer.
Mari and Thorne made a brilliant twosome and I really hope Miss Aguirre writes a full book based on these characters because I really want to know what happens after this novella ends, especially as it ends with the suggestion that there is more to come.
There is a little tinge of romance in this, but very little and the plot and action certainly takes centre stage.  The post-apocalyptic background is well thought out, and so different from most others I've read since I've never read anything about a chemical spill before.
Overall, this is a cleverly written novella but with quite a bit of violence and gore though not without the emotional undercurrent with the characters which make them feel more human.

Sun Storm
This is unfortunately the short story that let me down and by this point I was actually pretty hopeful that all three stories would be made of win. Don't get me wrong, the idea of solar flares and the end of the world is realistic enough, but what failed to capture me was the idea of developing powers when hit by the sparks from these flares. Having said that, It's no more unbelievable than zombies I guess so I gave it a chance.
When I got to a certain part half way through though, I thought the following: 'that could never happen in a million years' even my huge imagination has a limit and it reached it. Having said that, some people may take to it though to me it seemed a bit silly.
Character wise, though I loved Sarah, Ian just didn't gel with me and I didn't really feel his relationship with Sarah. Add what felt like a much too rushed ending and when I finally finished I was ready to admit that I didn't personally enjoy it.

All in all for the first two stories this is worth reading, but honestly, I did not get on with the third. Having said that, I'm sure some people will disagree with me. Give it a go when it's released!

Pantomime by Laura Lam

Publication Date: 5/2/13
Publisher: Strange Chemistry (Angry Robot)
Pages: 392
Genre: Fantasy/Fiction
Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults/Adults

Synopsis: R. H. Ragona’s Circus of Magic is the greatest circus of Ellada. Nestled among the glowing blue Penglass—remnants of a mysterious civilisation long gone—are wonders beyond the wildest imagination. It’s a place where anything seems possible, where if you close your eyes you can believe that the magic and knowledge of the vanished Chimaera is still there. It’s a place where anyone can hide.

Iphigenia Laurus, or Gene, the daughter of a noble family, is uncomfortable in corsets and crinoline, and prefers climbing trees to debutante balls. Micah Grey, a runaway living on the streets, joins the circus as an aerialist’s apprentice and soon becomes the circus’s rising star.

But Gene and Micah have balancing acts of their own to perform, and a secret in their blood that could unlock the mysteries of Ellada.

My Review: The main problem with writing this review will be doing so without spoiling the main secret within Pantomime, but I have to do so because I won't spoil this book for anyone. 

This is so much more than a fantasy and it deals with issues that a lot of people won't even consider in there lives, let alone seriously think on or debate. 

Having said that this book also struck a personal cord with me because I know someone who is pretty alike to Gene in more ways than one and this perhaps led me to think more deeply of the issues in this book than I more normally would have.

Gene and Micah's journey is both harrowing, emotional and truly incredible. The magic of the circus comes to life in all it's beautiful brilliance, making the dark side seem even more shadowy in comparison.

Micah and Gene's story was beautiful told and I have been left longing for another book so I'm hoping to God that there's a sequel. There were so many twists, turns and unexpected events that I was left breathless and I wanted so much to be in that Circus swinging from the trapeze
I've been left with so many questions. But most forward in my mind is this: What is inside those Penglass domes? I really want to know. It's killing me not knowing. Maybe that's the curious child in me :)  

And what will become of Micah and Gene?! Ah why must I be tortured so? Maybe I'm being a bit dramatic. But go read this when it's out. Totally amazing. I am in awe of the author and her writing talent. She hasn't just written a book, she has a created a magical world, fascinating characters and broached subjects in this book that few have dared and she totally nailed it. Brilliant.

Oblivion (The Power of Five #5) - Anthony Horowitz

Release Date: 4/10/2012
Publisher: Walker
Pages: 672
Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Fantasy/Horror/Thriller/Fiction

Synopsis: Having escaped from Hong Kong, the five gatekeepers - Matt, Pedro, Scott, Jamie and Scarlett - are scattered in a hostile and dangerous world. As they struggle to re-group and plan their next move, the malevolent King of the Old Ones gathers his forces in Oblivion: a desolate landscape where the last survivors of humanity must fight the ultimate battle.

My Review: Wow. Well I'm not even sure where to begin with this book. I waited years to read this and though I sort of guessed  part of the ending correctly, it was no less of a shock when it happened.  I bawled my eyes out  and I felt immensely sad for two characters in particular though there was a happier epilogue to soften the blow.
It was a little disconcerting at first, what with the jumping between Jamie/Holly, Matt/Lohan, Pedro/Scott and Scarlett/Richard and it took some serious getting used too, and that was just the gatekeepers and there companions. There were also some POV shifts to those behind the enemy lines too, but by the end these all came together brilliantly with no loose ends.

The research done for this book must have been immense because, whether the characters were in Rome, Naples, Brazil, Cairo or Antarctica, the descriptions were vivid and very easy to picture. Oblivion was especially well planned out; I could almost feel the empty coldness in the Old One's fortress while I was reading and imagine the swarms of enemy soldiers in the final battle.

Was I happy with the twists and turns? I'd say I was even if I would personally have preferred a happier ending for all involved. Poor Richard is all I have to say, I really felt for that man, and I wouldn't have wished what he was forced to do on any one (lets just say the mystery of the Inca's Knife is revealed). Having said that it wasn't doom and gloom all the way to the end and I have to admit if there was one character I was proud of it was Matt. He proved himself to be strong and determined despite being weighed down with knowledge he should never have had to carry. Scott also impressed me, though I wanted to slap him on several occasions near the middle of the book.

When it came to the epilogue I was hoping for some  relief or maybe just some hope, which is actually what I got. I loved the epilogue and it did provide some sort of closure and I shed a few happy tears whilst reading it, and it was also nice to have a bit more explanation of the dream world too.
All in all I was very impressed with the ending to this series. it was an emotional, frightening and thrilling ride and i'm sure certain scenes from this book will haunt me for a very long time (and no, I'm not exaggerating).  I don't know how Horowitz will match this with what he writes next but I hope he gives it a good go.

Uses for Boys - Erica Lorraine Scheidt

Release Date: 15/01/13
Publisher: St Martin's Griffin
Pages: 240
Target Audience: Young Adults/Adults
Genre: Fiction/Romance

Synopsis: Anna remembers a time before boys, when she was little and everything made sense. When she and her mom were a family, just the two of them against the world. But now her mom is gone most of the time, chasing the next marriage, bringing home the next stepfather. Anna is left on her own—until she discovers that she can make boys her family. From Desmond to Joey, Todd to Sam, Anna learns that if you give boys what they want, you can get what you need. But the price is high—the other kids make fun of her; the girls call her a slut. Anna's new friend, Toy, seems to have found a way around the loneliness, but Toy has her own secrets that even Anna can't know.

Then comes Sam. When Anna actually meets a boy who is more than just useful, whose family eats dinner together, laughs, and tells stories, the truth about love becomes clear. And she finally learns how it feels to have something to lose—and something to offer. Real, shocking, uplifting, and stunningly lyrical, Uses for Boys is a story of breaking down and growing up.

My Review: There's no real way to describe this novel without using the following word: Harrowing. Because that's exactly what this book is. There's not one particular point or event that makes this novel shocking but rather the book as a whole.  And if you're sensitive to underage sex, rape, neglectful parents and abortion then maybe you should give this book a miss.  However, if you have a strong stomach and you're not easily scared off then this is an eye opening, lyrical, shocking and yet oddly uplifting and hopeful read.

I wouldn't trade places with Anna even if all the money in the world were offered to me. Part of me was infuriated that she could keep making bad decisions and treating herself so poorly, but it's hard not to sympathise for her and the situation she finds herself in. I wouldn't wish her predicament on any young woman.  It saddens me to know that this  definitely happens in real life and that there are 13 to 16 year old girls out there having sex, being used and neglected, but sadly it is true that it happens. Sadly, girls like Anna are not just works of fiction.

It did made me wonder how many of those so called 'sluts' at school are actually very lonely girls who, like Anna, have gotten confused and forgotten and used boys and sex as a means of escape from life. 

It isn't all doom and gloom though and there's some important lessons to be learned from reading this; you can change your life. You can find happiness and love and you don't need to be with another person to be happy either, sometimes the person who can make you happiest is yourself.

I wanted to scream at some of the boys Anna meets because some of them were absolute jerks and knowingly took advantage, others were just as lost as her and I felt sympathy for them too. I disliked Anna's mother with a passion, and I think she wrote the guidebook on 'How to be a Bad Parent' and I hated the fact she left Anna alone so much.

Overall this was a well written and emotive story, written in a way that was almost poetic. The only fault I could find  was that I would have loved to have known more of what happens to Sam and Anna after the the story ended. The ending was very abrupt and a little confusing, but other than that an enlightening  shocking and eye-opening read. Many thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this before the release date.

A Hope Springs Christmas by Patricia Davids

Release Date: 13/11/12
Publisher: Harlequin (Love Inspired)
Pages: 224
Target Audience: Young Adults/Adults
Genre: Amish Romance/Romance

Synopsis: Amish widow Sarah Wyse does not see wedding bells in her future. Still, she can’t think of a better way to spend the Christmas season than helping her handsome, shy neighbor Levi Beachy find a wife. But once
the single ladies of Hope Springs start visiting his buggy shop, Levi sends the town’s eligible men Sarah’s way. Neither expects to find love—but with help from the close-knit community, they just might mend each other’s broken heart.

My Review: This is only the second Amish/Christian romance I have read and I have to admit I will definitely read more of them. In a world where love is complicated and filled with a lot of betrayal and pain it's refreshing to read a heart warming romance that is purely based on the feelings involved.  

Having said that, that wasn't the only reason I like reading these sorts of romances. I find there's something comforting about reading about a lifestyle that is much more people focused. In a world of technology it is too easy to forget the people in our lives and forget to talk to them (face to face, not via facebook!) and it was nice to read about such a lovely community where people help each other out during bad times and are always there to lend a hand as opposed to just looking out for themselves.

The romance was beautifully written, it unfolded at such a natural and gentle pace and nothing between Sarah or Levi felt forced; the chemistry was perfect between the two of them. The hesitation for Sarah, after losing her first husband was believable and Levi's commitment to Sarah throughout everything was heartwarming. 

With a beautiful supporting cast of friends, families and a warm and cheerful sounding town, Hope Springs has made my list of 'fictional places i'd love to visit'. Whether you're reading about the tension between Sarah and Levi, the crazy matchmaking going on between characters or about the Twin's ridiculous pranks this book will keep you engaged. 

One final thing I will say about romance novels, is yes, you do know the ending. And yes, if we thought about it we all know who will end up with who by the end of the novel, yet this doesn't take away any of the enjoyment. The reason being is that it isn't the ending that surprises you, but the journey the characters take to get there, and Levis' and Sarahs' journey is not one to be missed. 

The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #1) by Julie Kagawa

Release Date: 02/11/12

Publisher: Harlequin

Pages: 416

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults

Genre: Faerie/Fantasy/Fiction

Synopsis: Don't look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.That is Ethan Chase's unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he'd dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister's world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

Review: Loved, loved, loved this! I fan girl screamed when I got approved to review this on Netgalley.  It was great seeing everything from Ethan's perspective and just as great seeing what had become of Meghan and Ash in the years that they've been in the Iron Realm.

The Lost Prince doesn't just revisit the ordinary Fey and the Iron Fey but also draws on the Forgotten Fey that were mentioned in The Iron Knight, something I was very intrigued about at the time. The plot unravels pretty fast and I was reading furiously fast towards the end of the book just to find out what happens.

Ethan proved to be a charming, infuriating, fascinating (and hot) protagonist and when teamed with the 'take no crap' Kenzie, they made a great team and though I did suspect that there was something Kenzie was hiding from the beginning, I was still surprised when I found out what it was. 

I was also left feeling deeply sorry for Ethan with everything he had gone through because of his ability to see the Fey and try as he might to avoid them he ends up smack in the middle of trouble all over again. I also however, admire how resilient he is without ever truly losing touch with his emotions...oddly enough he reminded me of a certain Winter Prince from the Iron Fey series. :)

This review wouldn't be complete if I didn't mention Keirran...if you don't remember the echoes of that name from The Iron Knight from when Ash was being tested then it will certainly mean something to you by the end of the book. As for what he does and what happens to him, I guess that will have to wait until the next book.

Speaking of the end of the book, I was pretty much screaming in frustration that I have to wait ages for the next book.  But hey, I'm sure It'll be worth the wait and I can't wait to find out what happens to everyone. I can't write with much more detail because I don't want to spoil anything. But Iron Fey fans: Go forth and read this when it's released! Also, Grimalkin is in it and Puck!!!!!!!!!!!!

While I'm Still Myself by Jeremy Mark Lane

Release Date: 10/01/12

Publisher: Tate Publishing

Pages: 78

Target Audience: Adults/Older Teens/Young Adults

Genre: Fiction/Short Stories

Synopsis: A passionate December love affair. The meeting of an unexpected traveller. The consequences of protecting a young new acquaintance. A journey into an unknown past. 

In the stories of While I’m Still Myself, Jeremy Lane eloquently describes the life changing impact of the brief encounter, showing that life and love are not shaped by an entire lifetime, but by the fleeting moments with unexpected people in unexpected places

My Review: I'd like to thank Mr Lane for asking me to review his book and for being patient with my very busy work schedule and insane amount of books on my to-read list :)

Well, where to start! I really liked this collection of shorts and they will stick in my mind for a long time to come.

Mr Lane focuses on some sensitive topics including Racism, Drug addiction, Child abuse and Mental Illness and considering each story is limited to around 10 pages(ish) they have a certain depth to them, similar to that of a  longer novel.

One story that particularly made me gasp was the story of the girl who runs away from home to live her life as much as she can as she's in fear of becoming mentally ill like her mother. The last paragraph stopped me cold with it's conclusion because despite my over-thinking brain, I simply never saw it coming and believe me, you probably won't either.

Each story was poignant in it's own way and I took something from each one. I think I'll definitely be looking out for more books by Jeremy Lane because there is no doubting that he is a skilled writer with the ability to write engaging and thoughtful stories without the need to babble. Genius.

Smoulder by Brenna Yovanoff

Release Date: 05/01/12

Publisher: Simon and Schuster UK

Pages: 363

Target Audience: Older Teens/Young Adults/Adults

Genre: Fantasy/Fiction/Romance

Synopsis: Everything is made of steel, even the flowers. How can you love anything in a place like this? 

Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. Life for her is an endless expanse of time, until her brother Obie is kidnapped—and Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible. Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to the vast streets of Earth, where everything is colder and more terrifying. With the help of the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne glimpses into his dreams, discovering clues to Obie’s whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in her way. But she also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be.

This second novel by rising star Brenna Yovanoff is a story of identity, discovery, and a troubled love between two people struggling to find their place both in our world and theirs.

Note: This book is also known as 'The Space Between'

My Review:  I've read quite a few books with angels and demons in them so it takes something special to really sparkle and stand out for me. This book did just that!

I loved the realism mixed with that air of fantasy and I found it believable that Hell (Pandemonium) could well be the way it's described in this book and I found myself terrified by some of the characters in a way I never have been before.

Daphne and Truman's relationship was frustrating at first. With neither of them knowing truly what it means to love and trying to navigate their own feelings, it was hard to understand what was happening between them. Then as the danger increased and a scary 'thing' called Dark Dreadful starts chasing them, they really start to latch on to one another and everything kicks off both action wise and emotionally too.

With regards to Dark Dreadful, I think if she/it were real I would pretty much cower in the corner. If this book ever becomes a movie, well urgh, I will not be eating during it!

As already hinted at, there are some pretty disgusting moments though luckily they don't go into too much detail and the relationship storyline more than makes up for it. 

Near the end of the book had me in floods of tears for so many reasons and wow, when it does end you might be in tears for other reasons too, and there are some pretty epic twists. 

If you haven't read anything by Miss Yovanoff yet, go do so. You're missing out :)

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Dystopia/Romance/Fiction

OMG, this book had me laughing, crying and a bit inbetween, but a lot of the time I was just terrified and utterly fascinated by the world that Miss DeStefano has created, and it isn't one I would personally like to live in. Some people who have already read this may disagree with me, but I think I value my freedom too highly.

Set in a world where genetic engineering has gone wrong, in which men only live to aged 25 and women to aged 20 before they die of a horrible virus. Terrified that the human race will die out, young girls are taken as brides or are kidnapped for the sole purpose of marriage and children. Rhine is 16 when she is kidnapped and married to a wealthy man named Linden and although he treats her kindly she longs to be free to find her brother; Rowan. Can she really escape the mansion that has become her prison and be with the servant Gabriel, who she has feelings for before time runs out?

As I've previously mentioned, I had so many mixed emotions about this book and I remember clearly in one chapter that begins with: 'Jenna was right...' I was in floods of tears (though I won't post spoilers by saying why!)  In contrast, some instances left me laughing, including the fact that of all the things an 18 year old girl would ask for, she asks for a trampoline...awesome.
On a more serious note, I found the setting of the novel to be very claustrophobic and I really felt for Rhine (who at one point wasn't even allowed a window open). I could never live in a house where I wasn't allowed to walk where I wanted, choose what I wanted to wear or even breath in the night air through an open window.

I've read a lot of reviews about this book and a few people have said that they would be content with the pampered lifestyle. After reading this, I can safely say I wouldn't be, in fact, I think I'd go crazy and fling myself through the closed window and onto the previously mentioned trampoline :-) I totally empathise with Rhine and throughout the novel I was routing for her to escape both Linden and his father (who I hate by the way).
I think the other thing that creeped me out was the 'experiments' carried out by Linden's father. I still don't know exactly what these entail and part of me is dreading the day I find out, although maybe the truth isn't as bad as my imagination.

Relationship wise, I loved the bond that Rhine slowly developed with her Sister Wives and the sense of kinship was rather wonderful towards the rear end of the novel. To me though, I saw them only as sisters rather than sister wives, simply because of how close they were. Jenna was probably my favourite simply because of how matter of fact she was and yet she was still there for Rhine when she needed her. Cecily, on the other hand, is a prime example of why 13-year-old's are too young for marriage and children and I shall say no more in-case I spoil something.
The relationship between Rhine and Linden was a bit strange, but I still liked it to a certain extent, but not as much as her relationship with Gabriel.  I did like the forbidden love aspect between Gabriel and Rhine and how they were willing risk so much for freedom and to be together; being a romantic, I loved how their story developed.

I could go on forever, but if I do I know I will end up posting spoilers so I'm going to stop there. This is an emotive, thought provoking and slightly terrifying novel that will, at times, chill you to the core and yet at other times really warm your heart.

Ambasadora by Heidi Ruby Miller

Target Audience: Older Teens/Adults
Genre: Sci-fi/Fiction/Romance

First of all I'd like to thank Heidi for allowing me to review her book for her and for asking me to do an honest review :-)
I'll start, as usual, by giving a brief synopsis of the general story:
Sara Mendoza  lives in a world where feelings and especially love is seen as an emotional fallacy and people are encouraged to have multiple partners in order to have more children. Infertility is seen as the ultimate shame, a caste system rules everyone and those who can't bear children are often encouraged to commit 'honorable suicide'.   Having grown up with these beliefs Sara knows no different until she is captured and tortured and ends up caught up in events that she never could have imagined happening.

I was a bit torn about this novel and there are a few reasons why, so bear with me while I explain my reasoning for my rating.
First of all I will say that the world building and the sheer imagination that went into this is incredible. It's been a long time since I've read about such a vastly detailed and completely different world in a sci-fi novel and I was fascinated by it. However, I felt there were a lot of new terms and ideas used in a short space of time and I felt slightly overwhelmed and a bit lost whilst reading it.
I'm aware that other readers did not have this problem though, so I guess that this is more down to the individual reading it.

Secondly, because of the sheer amount of new terms, places and concepts, I found a little difficult to follow the plot at times, especially with some of the chapters jumping to a different place and focusing on a different character. It would make me stop and have to think about what had just happened and what was now happening. Having said this, it was different reading about so many unique places, people and ideas and I found myself torn between wonder and outrage at some of the things that happen throughout the novel.

Some of the concepts for example, having multiple partners, I found really weird and I don't think I could live in a world like that, I mean I'd get insanely jealous if my partner had another 3 wives. But that's what is done well in this book, because you can tell that to most of the characters this is perfectly normal and for a lot of people there are no emotions involved in that sense.

The characters themselves are incredibly vivid though my opinion on them is once again divided as I found that I'd meet a character and not see them for a while despite having learned quite a bit about them and this threw me off a little bit or a character would be mentioned lots then hardly seen.
On the other hand, the attention to character detail is fantastic and I feel like I know Sara and Sean like best friends because of how descriptive Miller is in this book.
I loved Sean and Sara, they were fantastic and one of the best duo's I've read about in a while, although I flinched at some of the things they both had to go through and felt myself disgusted at what happens to Sara part way through the novel.
As for the bad guys? Well I'm not going to spoil anything so I will just say that they're very evil and I was hard pressed to decide who I hated more; Faya or Simon as both gave new definition to the term 'bad guy' in so many different ways.

I will summarise by saying that although I had a few issues with a few areas this is a great example of sci-fi that will give anyone's imagination a run for their money. The writing quality is brilliant, characters are vivid and if you're looking for a bit of sci-fi escapism, yet still with a hint of realism and a healthy dose of romance, then most definitely give this book a read.

Damn You, Autocorrect! by Jillian Madison

Target Audience: Older teens/Adults
Genre: Humour

Ever sent a wrongly worded text? Made a complete fool of yourself sending an SMS? Well your not alone, read this book, it's hilarious.
Containing a collection of the funniest and most ridiculous ill-sent texts in the history of that wonderful spelling correcter known as auto-correct, this will have you snorting your drink out of your nose (so please stay away from anything fizzy!)
From the rude to the pure hilarious, this book contains them all, from weird exchanges with friends to cringe-worthy conversations with parents. Some of these are so bad, I'm pretty sure the senders of these messages could not have lived it down :-)

This is for anyone who has ever humiliated themselves by not checking there texts before sending, and it is a lesson well learned. Oddly enough, after reading this I sent an amusingly stupid text of my own thanks to auto correct! ( I will not be putting what I wrote on here, it's just too embarrassing!)
Anyway, if your having a truly crap day pick this book up, have a giggle and let everyone watching you think you've gone slightly nuts! Go on, you deserve it!

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Fiction/Romance

As with Gabrielle's novel Elsewhere, she once again manages to take a compliated and sensitive issue and deals with it tactfully and yet with a wonderful humourous tone that i found refreshingly different.

Naomi's voice is different and so funny, that at times i found myself laughing out loud despite the somewhat serious nature of the plot.

In summary, Naomi is a teenager with your average teen life. She's popular, has a gorgeous boyfriend, a bestfriend and an active social life. Then an ill-fated flip of a coin results in her taking a tumble down the stairs, and when she wakes she has no memory of things such as who her boyfriend is, her best friend is, that her parents are divorced or that she's having sex with afore mentioned boyfriend.

 

The above plot may sound like the set-up to either an emotional depressing ride or some comedy sketch show, depending how you look at it. To me, it was rather a mix of both. Naomi's reactions were humorous in the most part and the consequences to her memory loss were sometimes very sad.

On the flip side, some of her memory loss gave way for second chances and i loved the fact that she essentially got the chance to start again in some aspects of her life and repair some damage from before.
This book to me represented so much more than a work of teenage fiction, and is actually more of a love story of various different sorts, with lessons in forgiveness, second chances and hope for the future.

Naomi herself was an instant like for me, she's funny, sarcastic at times and healthily emotional. Her response to her memory loss, instead of being overly sulky was very mature because, as she put it, she can't change it from happening, and her willingness to move on was astoundingly mature for a teenager.
Will was awesome, and his character reminded me a little of the book Just Listen by Sarah Dessen, what with the messages in music he kept giving Naomi.

James was also another standout character, and i loved how Gabrielle dealt with her portrayal of mental illness, it was done sensitively yet without patronisation.

In honesty, this has been one of my favourite reads. Beautifully written and with a writing style that will grab the attention of the most reluctant readers, this is a must read for fans of young adult fiction.

The Dead by Charlie Higson

Target Audience: Older Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Horror/Dystopian

If you thought that The Enemy was very gory and frightening then this will terrify the hell out of you. Initially i thought this continued from the first in series, but it is actually a different set of kids from a different area, trying to escape to London, but a year before the events of the The Enemy. Don't get me wrong, the books are intertwined and things overlap slightly with some characters from the first novel appearing in this one, but in different ways.

In summary, The Dead is about a group of children who are at a boarding school in Kent at the time the infection starts and it begins with a flashback to the very start of the infection, with a youtube video, which to me served as a stark reminder of the modern time it't set in. Shortly after the outbreak, the boys at the school realise that there only chance is to leave their school and look for safety. Eventually, they decide on London and then the most terrifying, gory and emotional story i've read in a long time, begins.

If this one thing that makes these books so enthralling, it's the characters as well as the plot and Mr Higson is once again, not scared to kill off main characters. This in itself adds to the emotional impact when bad things happen. I found myself getting attached to characters only for them to die, and this really made me feel like my heart had been twisted and on one particular occasion i found myself in floods of tears.

The actual events roll along nicely and i loved how simply growm-up these children were in the face of disaster. Ultimately this book does score one for the kids of the world, showing them in a capable and responsible light, as they manage to get by without adults. Having said that, there is a bit more interaction with the adults in this novel and you get to find out a lot more about the infection and what causes some to get it, some not to and why different people react differently to the disease. The idea is very plausible and the setting is so modern that the possible realism of it scares me to a certain extent.

My favourite characters were Ed and Jack, i loved there complex friendship and how much they both change over the course of the novel. The way they dealt with things was very grown up and extraordinarily mature, probably even more mature than the adults if there were any sane ones left. I thought the story came together nicely at the end and it linked perfectly with the first book, this is most definately a must have for fans of the first book and of survival horror!