'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!

Sound (Solid #3) by Shelley Workinger

Release Date: 01/11/12

Publisher: Createspace

Pages: 218

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults

Genre: Fiction/Sci-fi/Romance/Suspense

Synopsis: Clio Kaid's had one crazy summer.

After learning she was one of a hundred teens who were genetically modified before birth, she and the others departed for "camp" at a classified military site.

Besides discovering her own special ability, uncovering a conspiracy, and capturing a killer, she's also forged new friendships, found love, and managed to lose them both.

With no answers and the end of summer closing in, Clio's terrified of going home more lost than when she arrived.

Will she finally find everything she's been looking for?

My Review:

Wow! I think this wraps up the Solid trilogy perfectly. Though I have to admit that those looking for a cut and dry answer to every question will find themselves at a loss, though for me I found that this series wasn't about knowing everything and this makes it much more realistic as in life we never really get all the answers to everything we face.

What I found particularly fascinating is the difference between the lessons that are learned in this book compared to some others. Often you get the main characters forced to do the right thing even if it hurts people, in this Clio is encouraged to do the opposite in more than one situation. Even when she knows that she should push issues, she slowly learns to back down so as to let things unravel at there own pace. I love a book with a different take on life; there are far too many cliche stories out there.

The fact is people aren't polished and perfect and it's great to see a bunch of characters who mess up as much as your average person.

I loved the chemistry between Clio and Jack and it was great seeing how there relationship developed. It got me thinking...what would it be like to have a clean slate with someone you thought you'd messed up with? I think We'd all love that. For those who have missed Bliss, Miranda and Co they are all back and it was like meeting up with old friends again after a long time apart. I love Bliss to bits and even Miranda got my attention with her softer side in this installment rather than her confronting attitude and I loved seeing her love struck.

The ending really grabbed my attention with it's suddenness and excitement and I read the last few chapters so fast they flew by...but that epilogue! Why? It's killing me and I really want to know what will come of those last few pages. I really really hope I find out at some point because I want to know! *stamps feet like a child*

All in all this has been a fun trilogy with some twists and turns that kept me guessing. The bad guys in this book and the previous ones were always so unsuspecting and I found myself taken by surprise in each book, and it was no different in this one. As much as i'm sure Clio and Co love the excitement I think it'll be nice for her to have some peace and quiet and not be attacked by random nut cases...though I have to admit it would be interesting to find out what happens to them all in the future and have some light shed on that epilogue :)
Brilliant :)

Girl Parts by John M Cusick

Release Date: 01/06/11
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Pages: 240
Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Sci-fi/Fiction/Romance

Synopsis: David and Charlie are opposites. David has a million friends, online and off. Charlie is a soulful outsider, off the grid completely. But neither feels close to anybody. When David's parents present him with a hot Companion bot to encourage healthy bonds and treat 'dissociative disorder', he can't get enough of luscious red-headed Rose - and he can't get it soon. 


Companions come with strict intimacy protocols, and whenever he tries anything, David gets an electric shock. 
Severed from the boy she was built to love, Rose turns to Charlie, who finds he can open up, knowing Rose isn't real. With Charlie's help, the ideal 'companion' is about to become her own best friend. 


My Review:  Do you know someone who won't shift from their computer? Do you know someone who just doesn't get on with people? Hand them this book, it's a valuable lesson in why it's important to talk to actual people and why people need other people.  The irony being, that it's a robot that teaches the two boys in this how to feel, and boy does she do it well.


Rose was by far my favourite character though closely followed by Charlie. David annoyed me though I have to admit even he learned a lot from his experience with Rose as he did change in some respect by the end of the book.  
Rose's voice is honest, innocent and very earnest and though she's the robot in all this, I can't help but think that she was perhaps the most human in how she behaved, especially after the incident with David part way through.


Though there are some valuable lessons to be learned about sex (and it's meaningfulness) in this book, the main focus is emotional attachment and it was wonderful seeing Charlie learn to how to form a connection with Rose and opening up a bit more, which really does beg the question...Just because Rose is a robot, does that make her feelings any less real? My personal opinion would be she is as real as the two boys, but I'll let you decide that for yourself.
I really really hope there's a second book because the way this ended will really bug me a bit if I don't find out what happens after the end of the book. Cliffhanger alert :)

Mercy by Rebecca Lim

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal Romance/Sci-fi/

*Note: May contain mild spoilers. But nothing that will ruin your enjoyment*

Mercy was one of those books I had stored on my Kindle for a very long time and just didn't get around to reading. One of my problems is that I go through phases of reading certain types of books and at that time I was just sort of going out of my paranormal phase. I'm glad I waited because this book is incredible and I would have hated to have read this with a slightly disinterested mind. Anyway, here's a bit more info for you.

Mercy wakes up to find herself in the body of another, as has happened to her countless times before, though she still struggles to get used to it each time.  This time, she wakes up in the body of Carmen and is slightly puzzled as to why since each time she wakes up she's supposed to help said person with problems they may be having, but Carmen appears to have a decent life.
After getting to grips with where she is though, it becomes apparent that maybe Carmen isn't the one who needs her help and that maybe it's the family she is staying with whose daughter; Lauren, vanished. Especially in need of help is Ryan, Lauren's twin who refuses to except that she is gone and is determined to find her.
Coupled with this, Mercy is starting to remember things, things from before she fell so far from Heaven and why it happened. And is the man in her dreams who claims he loves her really the one to trust?

So taking into account my synopsis I know a lot of people will be thinking: 'not another fallen angel story!' well, this one is so different and so, as I've previously mentioned, absolutely incredible. Not only is this a stunning romance but it is also a fantasy/sci-fi with some serious twists to be unravelled and a dark mystery that will keep readers guessing to the very end.
I have huge respect for Mercy and though part of me should be horrified that she hijacks people's lives, I really didn't feel that, especially as the story progresses and Mercy really starts to investigate Lauren's disappearance.  What Miss Lim has managed to do with this book is weave an engrossing tale of 'The Fall', mixed with an unusual romance across three people (without a physical third person) and tell a gripping and horrifying mystery story that even has a: 'I never saw that coming' moment.

The elements of Mercy's past aren't suddenly 'info dumped' either, they are carefully told at the correct points in the story so that myself, as a reader, could make sense of them and so that they linked with ease into the general storyline. As for Mercy herself, I guess I did wonder if she did do something truly bad but honestly can we call her evil for doing something in the name of love and loyalty? Sometimes people mess up, angels included and to me she more than redeems herself with what she does in this book.

The mystery element of the story is incredible and the reasoning for the disappearance was so original, weird and yet utterly believable as I can so imagine some psycho out there doing what the bad guy in this does. Such is the world we live in. Sadly. In relation to that, the link to finding out who the kidnapper was, was equally clever and the link was so obviously there, yet I couldn't see it until it was pointed out right at the end. Simply Genius.
And you may be wondering about the romance? Well it's not overbearing. It's subtle, not 'at first sight' and built on a lot more than attractiveness, this is especially important considering Ryan is falling for an Angel in  Carmen's body. It does beg the question: do we fall in love with a person as we see them or as we know them? Would you know if your wife/husband/boyfriend/girlfriend, suddenly swapped their consciousness? It'd be nice to think so. Falling in love with someone you can't actually see, I think that would make it a stronger bond in some way, then your sure your falling for the person, not the outer shell.

Anyway, I digress. You'll understand it better if you read the book, and I urge you to do so.
This is a wonderful book and when your done with this one, you can then go on to read the next in the series; Exile. I know I will be!

The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Sci-fi/Fantasy/Fiction

Having read I Am Number Four quite a while ago and having mixed feelings about it I was a bit  apprehensive when I picked up the next in the series.  What actually happened is that this turned out to be a lot better than the first in the series.  There was a lot less wordiness in this book, and the action starts from page one, probably because, as a second book, there's no need for the introductions and preamble needed in the first book.  Before I go into detail, here's a brief synopsis for you, as told from the the POV of Number Seven:

"I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened in Ohio. John Smith, out there, on the run. To the world, he's a mystery. But to me . . . he's one of us.

Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us—if we all still believe in our mission. How can I know? There are six of us left. We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another . . . but our Legacies are developing, and soon we'll be equipped to fight. Is John Number Four, and is his appearance the sign I've been waiting for? And what about Number Five and Six? Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams? The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine? The girl who may be strong enough to bring the six of us together?

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio—and failed.

I am Number Seven. One of six still alive.

And I'm ready to fight"


I'm glad this was told from a couple of different points of few as it meant as a reader, I didn't have to wonder what was happening to John and Co whereas I was also able to learn what was happening with Number Seven and Co.  This particular style of writing, in my experience, can either work really well or it can fail. The danger being that the plot becomes confusing. This wasn't the case however, and each character and setting was so distinct that it wouldn't have been possible to confuse them, even if you tried too.


I have to admit, the events with Number Six, John and Sam were probably a lot more exciting and heart-pounding than Number seven's story, but I love a change of scene and hearing the story develop from Number Seven's point of view was fascinating. Plus, one of the biggest twists in the story happens around Seven and I could never have seen it coming even if I had tried to think of the most weird and impossible twist ever.  
Back with John, Sam and Six, there was also some back-story for Number Six which was awesome because she was always a bit of an enigma in I Am Number Four, so it was fascinating to hear about how she came to be where she was and what she went through to get there.


I can't really say much about the events throughout the novel without spoiling things, but I will say that there's a lot of new people, the story comes together more and there's enough fighting in this to make action fans bounce in their chairs while reading.  For the romance lovers out there, there's a quite a bit of love going on, and not where you might think either, as well as some heartbreaking potential betrayal that will leave you stunned and a little sad. 
I will let slip that there's a lot more insight into the Mogadorians lair and I can definitely say that if it were real, I would not be going there, not even if you paid me.


The ending is, as always, a wonderful cliffhanger that will leave you dying to read book number three. Much to my annoyance, I have no idea when this is released. So I shall have to wait along with the rest of the world. I'm pretty certain it'll be worth the wait.

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.

Predators of Darkness: Aftermath by Leonard D. Hilley

Target Audience: Adults
Genre: Horror/Sci-fi/Dystopia

I'd like to start by thanking Mr Hilley for asking me to review his novel and for allowing me to publish my review on my blog. I will now go on to say that this is a brilliant read and definitely one for lovers of sci-fi and horror, oh, and talking cats!
Before going on I'll give you a brief spoiler-free synopsis and I am also going to warn that this book contains content of an adult nature and some bits that some teenage or younger readers may find upsetting.

Following a missile strike, the inhabitants of Pittsburgh now live in the research center hiding from monsters that now stalk the streets. These creatures known as Shifters are able to change shape at will and get stronger feeding off other creatures. Daniel, the leader of the group of survivors discovers that Pittsburgh is fenced off and that nothing is as it seems leading them all to question whether the Shifters were an accident or whether they were placed there on purpose.

This book struck me as very different from a lot of other horror/sci-fi novels I have read in my time and it really took me by surprise. I am going to be honest and say that It took me a few chapters to get into it and there was a strong macho air about the story (for example, women fighting to be with the men they wanted and men fighting to be at the top of the pecking order) but this was a minor niggle for me and it didn't take anything from the plot.  The story moved quickly and without any jumping around, which was a relief and I was reading very fast towards the end as the pieces came together and everything made complete sense.

There were some instances that had me absolutely horrified and scared out of my skin. I have a very active imagination so anything I read I can picture very clearly and the thought of monsters running around eating people and humans becoming monsters terrified me to no end.
The writing is very well done and I couldn't help but imagine how these people were living and I had a strong sense of claustrophobia just reading about the living conditions.

On a character front I have to say that there are a lot of them but only a few are looked at closely. Those few including Daniel, Lucas, Dr Helmsby, Julia, Johanna and a few others, the rest of them are touched upon but aren't focused upon as much.
On the Shifter side of things very few of them are focused on and  I can't say who or what without spoiling the plot for those who haven't read it, so I'm keeping my fingers away from the keyboard in that area.
The thing I liked the best in this book though...the talking cat! Yes, there's a talking cat called Morton! This alone is a reason to read this book, he's awesome :-)

Anyway, in all seriousness, if you love your sci-fi, horror and a dash of romance and some truly creepy and scary scenes definitely give this a read. I will definitely be reading the next in the series.

Inside Out by Maria V Snyder

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Sci-fi/Dystopia



After waiting quite a while, Outside In finally appeared in the UK bookstores so I snatched it while I could. Was it as good as it's prequel? NO! It was much BETTER!!!  I don't know what it was, but despite the fact the first book was very tense, this was even more so.
There were so many twists and turns and accusations thrown around by the characters that I didn't know which way to look next!

Outside In is set a little while after Inside Out. Trella is part of a committee along with several others, but Inside is still restless and a lot of the citizens still see themselves as uppers and scrubs. As unexplained incidents continue to happen, and Trella gets caught up in the middle of it all, it soon becomes clear that there is an outside  force at work, and they want to come in.

I loved the tension in this book and it kept me so strung out that I couldn't put it down and with so many different things happening I found it impossible to judge what was happening next, who was causing what problem and who were the good guys and bad guys.  At one point I even thought Riley might have been up to something!
Maria's writing ability is second to none and she is an incredible story teller. So few authors have had me so all over the place when reading a novel and yet I still had no desire to flick to the back and find out the what happened in the end. In some books this may have been a bad move and have caused a loss of interest, but in 'Outside In' it just creates more tension and pulls you deeper into the story. I lost count of how many times I guessed wrongly who was behind the sabotage (much to my annoyance because I love to guess right!)

The characters stayed very true to form in this novel, but having said that there was still some development. I got to see Trella making changes, bad guys doing good things and apparent good guys being bad guys (I won't say who since I pride myself on being spoiler free!)
I also managed to go from hating Dr Lamont to loving her which is odd for me; I'm a pretty stubborn person and to do a complete opinion change on a character take a lot of persuasion, but having said that, she does redeem herself pretty well.
Trella and Riley also face challenges  and I found it fascinating to watch how they both changed by the end of the novel, both for the better and I'd definitely consider the ending amazing. Whether it's happy or not, well I'll leave that for you to decide, but I loved it.

If you like science-fiction, romance, exploring tunnels, being sneaky and a great thrill-ride of a novel then give this a go, but make sure you read 'Inside Out' first or it won't make sense!

Settling by Shelley Workinger (ARC received from author)

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Sci-fi/Fantasy/Romance

After reading Solid I eagerly anticipated the release of Settling so when I was asked to review it by Shelley I jumped at the chance, especially after the dramatic ending to Solid.
Needless to say I was not disappointed and it more than lived up to it's predecessor, if anything it was even better :-)

Settling continues where Solid left off. The students at the camp are still left reeling from the betrayal they suffered in the first book but are bravely trying to get on with things while trying to discover what the effects are of the experiments that were done to them as well as taking on summer jobs around the army camp (some of which were pretty awesome).
The peace is soon shattered as strange events once again occurring and a new threat emerges that throws everything out of balance, and Clio and her friends are once again in danger, but the question is; from who?

I loved this book from beginning to end and, unlike a lot of sci-fi, this book manages to keep the kids in a sense of reality. If there's one thing that I find truly intriguing it's that midst all the amazing abilities and extraordinary events, these kids are still talking about their favourite bands, falling in love and celebrating July 4th like everyone else in America.  The contrast between the the surreal and the real is truly amazing!
In relation to this, the realism of the characters is exceptional and no character is perfect. In this novel cracks emerge and I got to see different sides to characters that I thought I knew pretty well with hilarious and sometimes sad consequences.

If I'm honest, Clio was definitely the one to stun me in this novel and I felt horrible for her at the end (I can't post anymore without spoiling anything, so just read it!). I will say that I am thoroughly annoyed at the harshness and judgmental attitudes of some of the other characters, and I found myself thinking about an old proverb about sins and casting stones.
The characters, in general though were very captivating. Bliss was her usual flighty self, Jack was very cute and loving, Miranda her usual, unusual self and Gareth was just funny. Also we have some new characters and greater focus on some older unvisited characters which, all in all, leads to a wonderfully diverse and interesting bunch!

I can't say what perhaps was the most interesting part because it will spoil the plot, but I will say that things get complicated for Clio, very complicated! There are some incredible revelations regarding the abilities and experiments that were done and I can't wait to find out more so at this moment I am dying to read Sound. I need to know what happens next!
Anyway, this is an exceptional work or sci-fi, romance, mystery and murder and it is not to be missed. If you haven't read Solid, please go and do so and then read this because your missing out!



Also, for those who aren't aware, I am also participating in Shelley's blog tour and I will be posting an interview with her on the 21st June, please check it out!

Solid is available from Amazon now: Solid Kindle Edition or in the USA Solid Kindle Edition (USA)
Settling will be available from July 4th 2011

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Sci-fi/Dystopia


I'd heard raving reviews about this novel for so long and it took me ages to get a copy. It wasn't until I was going bowling in Ashford that I happened to drop by the Waterstones in there, and found it sitting on the shelf. I mean, I was on a 'book buying ban' but it was looking at me, and I couldn't stop myself :-)
Anyway, it does, for the most part, live up to the hype and i found myself eerily entranced reading this as well as horrified in certain instances.
It was so captivating, for example, events would be pretty steady and then some tragedy would suddenly pop out of no-where and make me feel like I'd been kicked in the gut.

But before I go any further i'll give a brief synopsis, just to give you an idea.
Life As We Knew It is set in modern times and the world is about to watch a meteorite crash into the moon, seemingly with no side-effects. Focusing on Miranda and told from her point of view in the form of a journal, this novel describes the events that occur after the moon is knocked closer to earth, and the tragedies that unfold, changing life on earth forever.

The actual blurb on the book is short and too the point, which, is definitely a good thing as it leaves a lot more to the imagination before you read it, which is very important when it comes to the surprise factor.
It isn't just the shock/surprise factor that this book has down to an art, but the author has managed to create a tense environment through Miranda's diary entries. As in the way of a teenager, some of her diary entries are very angst ridden and might seem selfish, but then I remembered that she's living in a changed world and dealing with unusual circumstances.

The only issue I really had with this novel was the lulls in the story. Sometimes, it would seem to drag in parts and certainly some of the entries did tend to ramble a little and maybe it's just me, but I guess I have difficulties with that type of writing style, but it hasn't put me off enough not the read the next in the series, as this is a truly extraordinary novel.
Moving swiftly on, I found the atmosphere truly electric reading this, I could almost picture some of the things as they happened and each and every disaster that occurred made me feel like I'd been kicked, and each death made me feel like my stomach dropped a few inches inside of me.
One disaster in particular really cut me deep and I found myself fighting tears, I won't say what happened, but the worst part was the character was in and out like a yo-yo, yet it still took me by surprise.

I will say that the tension never seemed to break at all whilst reading this, it was terrifying at times, and the fact that this could actually happen is insanely scary.
Anyway, I'll finish this review and say that this is a really really good read. The ending is very well done as well and it gives, not exactly closure, but some sense that things might get better.
Anyway, go read it!

Angel by James Patterson

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Fantasy/Sci-fi

Ok, so you can call me sad if you wish but I got this book in the post and I started reading it when I got in from work at approximately 6.00pm. I finished it at 8.51pm (give or take a few minutes from start and finish time). Either way, I plowed through this book in less than three hours.
Why is this such a big deal? Because as much as I've loved all the books I've read recently, I simply could not put this down until I finished it, It grabbed me and wouldn't let go.
I've been a fan of the Maximum Ride series for a long time now and I have to say this is an amazing addition to the series. Anyway, I'll go into a bit of content review now, but I am NOT posting spoilers!

The events in Angel take place a short time after Fang's sudden departure in the previous novel. Max is still heartbroken, Dylan is still well and truly in love with Max and Angel is (surprisingly) being a very well behaved child as the flock pick up the pieces and recover at Max's Mother's home.
They don't get long though as, before you know it, some other big threat is on the rise and Max's flock and Fang and his new gang are pushed together to try and save the lives of more innocent people.

I'm pretty sure everyone who's hooked on this series is aware how the last installment ended and I'm pretty sure a good 80% of you may be wary of reading this because of the ending. You really shouldn't be. It isn't what i expected, or the route I expected the story to take, but it's so amazing and honestly, it's better than I wanted it to be.
The story itself is exciting, adventurous and full of so many twists and turns and 'wow' moments you won't be able to put it down.
For those wondering, there are some pretty nice romantic moments and the one teaser I will leave on here is that for those who love the romantic story line, this may be hit or miss for you, depending on how you view the events that happen. But that's all I'm saying in that respect, I will not spoil this for those who haven't read it, because it truly is amazing to let it all unfold yourself.

The characters themselves are our usual suspects, but with some truly amazing new characters including, some not so knew ones that I haven't seen in ages, which took me by surprise, yet they all blended perfectly and to be honest, each and every character, proved to be important to the plot.  That's one of the many things I love about these books; Patterson has this amazing ability to give his characters life and meaning with ease, so much so you feel like you'd already know them if you met them in real life.

As well as the romance, adventure and fantastic characterisation there is also some witty humour going on throughout, and yet some equally heartbreaking parts that will have you reaching for the tissues, and some parts that are in-between (sounds impossible but it is very true!)
The simple truth of the matter is this book is fantastic. It's moves along at a fantastic pace and will take you from the USA all the way to Paris while sitting in the comfort of your own home!  From plots to destroy the world, to teenage romance, to some truly tear-jerking moments, this is one read you should not miss.

Inside Out by Maria V Snyder

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Dystopia/Fantasy/Sci-fi

Inside Out grabbed my attention on so many levels, not just because of the insanely unique storyline, but also because of the way it made me feel by reading it. Now usually, i'll say a book made me feel happy, sad, or made me laugh, or something along those lines. In this case, the imagery and the events are so well written, i felt claustrophobic!
Just the thought of being stuck in Inside had me shudder, mainly because i hate small spaces, but regardless of that this book is so descriptive I easily imagined the world Trella was living in and nothing could have prepared me for the revelations at the end.

Trella is a Scrub, one of many people living in the lower levels of inside and brought up to do manual labour, waste, cleaning and other such tasks. Like all the other scrubs, she does her job and keeps to herself, not caring much about anyone. Or at least she tries to, that is until a prophet claims to know how to get Outside and her friend Cogon gets her to listen to him. One small trip to prove the prophet wrong leads Trella into a dangerous series of events and starts a rebellion so huge it has the power to change Inside forever, as she tries to find a way to Outside.

If I had to pick only one thing to praise any of Maria's books it's the quality of world building and the characters. Very few authors can describe a world so well that you can almost imagine the rigid shape of Inside, the smell of the air and imagine the way in which the lower levels are treated like cattle. I could easily picture Trella climbing through pipes and ducts and I loved the sense of excitement and tension as the story progressed and she relied more and more on her hidey holes and escape routes, the feeling of being cornered and trapped a huge theme in this novel.
And it wasn't just the themes and surroundings, it was the actual world. Sex is only for producing children, babies snatched from their parents, ridiculous punishments for silly mistakes and very cruel pop cops. To say i was left horrified in some instances was an understatement. Yet don't let that depress you, there is a lot of uplifting moments, friendships and loyalty throughout to balance out the more saddening parts of the novel.

As for the characters, the most amazing thing is that all of the characters in this book are flawed to some extent. Now don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with perfect people, but since people aren't perfect I prefer characters to be at least a little flawed. Trella, despite being a wonderful hero makes mistakes and messes up frequently, yet this did not take away anything from her character. To me it was a wonderful reminder that those who make a big difference are often imperfect. It's a comforting thought.
With regards to the other characters, I have to admit I have never seen such a varied and colourful cast as I have in this book.  Whether it's the bad guys or the good guys, there's no doubt that a lot of thought went in to        each and every one of them.
Cogon was a personal favourite of mine and I loved his positive attitude and his willingness not to give up, he was a big force behind Trella whenever she nearly gave up, and more than often he sacrificed a lot to keep her safe, the ultimate mark of a true friend.
The two Tech-No's Logan and Jade-Anne were wonderful as well and i absolutely loved there rebellion among the recycling, it takes re-using broken goods to a whole new level and some of the things they invented  were completely awesome and really made me wish I could have them.
Broken Man was a character that, at times, drove me nuts. He could be so helpful at times but at others just annoying and making stupid mistakes (such as hacking things before he's supposed to!) Ultimately though he was a great guy, even if he did make rather annoying demands at times (maybe I just have a problem with bossy people).
My other favourite character was Riley. Confident, loving and open minded, he was definitely the Ying to Trella's Yang, and she would never have been able to do what she did without his help. And the romance between himself and Trella was beautifully written and utterly believable. And I will never think of sheep in the same way again, because whenever I do I think of Sheepy :-)

Overall I have to admit I loved this novel and I will most definitely be reading the sequel; Outside In.
If I were to sum up this book in a five words I would describe it as exciting, inspirational, romantic, pulse-racing and utterly fantastic.
Maria has once again written a truly amazing and awe inspiring work of fiction.

Solid by Shelley Workinger (Review request from Author)

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Sci-fi/Fantasy/Romance

Solid is only the third book i have read this year but i can tell it's going to be one of my fast favourites. The story is original, well written, intelligent, romantic, exciting and very moving in parts and i have to thank author Shelley Workinger for sending me a copy to review.
In summary, Solid takes place on a type of army base where a group of 100 teenagers who were all the subject of a genetic experiment are gathered together to help uncover what was done to them.  What unravels is well-woven story of science, friendship and love, along with a healthy dose of conspiracy and murder mixed in, all of which make of an engaging and addictive read.

One of the first things i noticed about this book was that it was very character driven, which i really loved. The events that take place, especially near the end, certainly wouldn't have unraveled the way they had if not for the tight knit friendship of Clio, Garrett, Jack, Bliss, Miranda and finally Alexis (who i think is awesome by the way, i love tech nerd). If there was one aspect i loved it was that every person had a role to play, from the quiet, shy and stressful Bliss to the Bossy Miranda who at points certainly got on my last nerve.
Clio was very sarcastic and funny and i found myself laughing out loud on many occasions whilst reading this book despite the seriousness of the novel at times. Garrett was another funny guy, and he really did make me laugh so much.
Jack had his funny moments too but was definitely the thinker of the group and certainly helped to pull plans together when everyone else was struggling with what to do next and his relationship with Clio was just beautiful.
As for Alexis, she really was amazing, and i loved her intelligence and loyalty, not to mention the fact she is a fellow tech nerd! I love tech nerds!

With regards to their abilities that were a result of the genetic experiment were also very cool. I won't go into any detail because i don't want to ruin the surprise when you find out for yourself!  Lets just say there is definitely one ability that i would love, and it would be extremely handy in certain situations. There are a lot of reviews that are comparing the super power element to the x-men, but i wouldn't quite go that far, mainly because in Solid, there is a certain lack of knowledge around the abilities, and the teens in the novel are kept in the dark for quite a while.  I can see some similarities, but really, Miss Workinger is worthy of her own place in the science-fiction/Fantasy genre, because this really is an original and stand-out novel.

The romance side of it was sweet and not over-bearing. I love  a bit of romance in a novel, but i also hate it when it takes over the plot when it clearly isn't meant too. The Jack/Clio relationship was perfectly told throughout and never once did i find it too over the top. And the surprise that Jack has for Clio...awwwwww i want someone to do that for me! Totally brilliant!

As for the ending it was truly fantastic. As a person who dislikes books that have predictable endings, i have to admit i loved that fact that i didn't guess the ending at all. I was left gob-smacked by what had actually taken place and when the full truth was revealed i was honestly surprised.  Although not a cliffhanger by definition, it has still left me wanting to read the next book immediately, and i will do as soon as possible. A brilliant example of original science-fiction in a time when it really is hard to find an original novel.

The Broken Lake by Shelena Shorts

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Sci-fi/Romance

Shelena shorts once again blends an amazing love story with riviting sci-fi in a totally captivating narrative that won't let you go until the final page! Unlike the first in the series there's a lot less action and the main theme of the story revolves around destiny and fate and the power to change it. As usual here is a brief summary of the main plot:

Wes and Sophie are still dealing with the aftermath of the events that took place at the end of the last book. Sophie still has her arm in a cast and the police are investigating whether Wes injected Andy with the cold blood serum. On top of all this, both of them are trying to change things so Sophie doesn't die when she's nineteen like in all her other past lives. They are so consumed with changing the future that they fail to notice much in the present.

The relationship between Wes and Sophie is still as strong as ever and it was fun watching them do new things in their attempt to change fate, although the final one was probably a little bit silly, especially as it caused so much trouble. The love between them is truly beatiful to read about and i loved the few chapters before the end, relationship wise i mean.

There are new characters in this, but they aren't randomly dropped in and each is connected to various events that occur, alhough they aren't obvious from the very beginning. The most intriguing by far is Chase, whom i hated with a passion until the last chapter or so when i felt very sorry for him.

The story typically ends on a cliffhanger and the last 100 pages are a build up to a situation that is rather tense and ever so slightly creepy. This cliffhanger though is very unexpected and i never saw it coming in the slightest.

In short, this adventure into sci-fi, intrigue and romance will keep you hooked until the end which will then ultimately leave you desperate for the next in the series.

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Target Audience: Young Adults/Adults

Genre: Sci-fi/Romance/Horror

There's a lot of hype surrounding this novel and while it was very very good, its wasn't my favourite sci-fi/fantasy book of all time. Having said that, there is plenty to be said for it's originality.

My main complaint was the pace of the plot, especially at the beginning but it did slowly pick up, and in the last 100 pages or so, there was so much happening and so much action that i couldn't put the book down. As usual i'll start with a recap...

John is a seemingly ordinary boy at first glance but is in fact an alien from a planet called Lorien. Along with eight other talented children and there guardians, they were sent to earth to be saved from the invasion of their home planet by vicious creatures called Mogadorians. The problem is that the Mogadorians are hell bent on destroying those that escaped them, the only plus side is that they have to kill the children in the correct order because of a charm, and John (number four) is next.

I expected the this to be more tense and highly strung because of the story line, but for the first part of the novel it moved very slowly. There was a lot of scene setting and the past of Lorien, John and his guardian Henri came about steadly which admittedly was a bit of a relief in some respect because potentially this book if not done properly could have been major information overload, but as i've already mentioned, the pace was a little too slow.

The characters themselves were an interesting mix. It made a change to have a hero who was capable of making selfless and brave decisions but was also equally capable of being a bit of an idiot in some cases acting with a lack of thought.Henri, his guardian was a brilliant character and i loved the scenes between him and John, and some of them really sent the message of the importance of family and what it truly means.

As undoubtably, John considers Henri as his father, Sarah was also awesome, although i have to admit, she was guilty of what im now calling 'Irrational Acceptance Syndrome'(this means that said person hears something extraordinary about someone and just shrugs and goes ok without having an odd or otherwise weird reaction).

Her love for John was sweet and the focus, for once, was on the emotional aspect of attachment and love, as opposed to sex, which is all to often the norm in teen books at the moment.What i loved about the supporting characters such as Sam and Sarah is that they all got the chance to show how brave they were and it was nice to see the 'normal' people play a role in saving the day.

But my all time favourite character was...Bernie Kosar. That dog is so sweet and the most adorable and brave character in the book. I fell in love with that dog right at the beginning and i loved him still at the end! Never underestimate animals!

With regard to the general story, there were some amazing twists and some of the things that were revealed about Lorien and the Mogadorians were purely amazing.When the aciton really did kick off at the end of the book i have to admit i was majorly impressed and some of the events that occur had me stunned and turning the pages so fast because i was desperate to find out what happened next.That's not to say there's a lack of emotional impact because i sobbed through several pages and i'm not ashamed to admit it, as it was truly one of the most emotional endings i have ever read.

As with most good series, this one is no exception in ending in some form of cliffhanger, but not the sort that will leave you infuriated and immediately wanting to know what happens next, which i'm sure will be a relief to most people.Anyway, give this book a go, it's full of aliens, romance, snow, evil creatures and an adorable doggy!

The Pace by Shelena Shorts

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Sci-fi


There were two main reasons i loved this book, the first was originality and the second was the romance. At first i honestly didn't see it standing out and it seemed set to be a good romance, but then Shelena did the thing i wish all authors did...she breathed new life into the paranormal romance genre and added a unique twist that i found utterly compelling.

I'll start with the originality concept because in all honesty, i did not see the plot going where it did. For a start the characters themselves were orginal. Yes, they fall in love, but for once they had realistic reactions to extraordinary events. For example, on finding out about Wes's immortality, Sophie practically faints. I applaude her for this, it's what any normal girl would have done, or else ran screaming. Thank you for a normal reaction for once, really it was a blessing! Also, Wes's reactions were good to, but not so obvious as to ruin the plot twists that were to come and i found this story way more believable than twilight (don't get me wrong, i loved twilight, but on finding out your bf is a vampire you would not just calmly carry on!)

I also loved the scientific twist to the story and how these things all came together rather seamlessly, and thats what i love about a good dose of science-fiction, there's always a little bit of truth and fact, however small it may be.

With regards to the romance, it was beautifully done. There wasn't some foolish teen falling head over heals based on a first meeting, but rather a build up before feelings are finally confessed, and i found their romance sweet and endearing, as opposed to over-bearing and constant. I also admired Sophie's courage in the face of all the things that happen and how understanding she is, i wish i had her patience with things, i really do. With regards to Wes, i thought he was awesome, and i couldn't help but feel for the situation he was in, how it must have felt for him to suffer as he had, and because there was a lot more explanation to the immortality area of the book, i was able to understand him a lot better

Fantastic, romantic and compelling are a few words to describe this, and i could go on forever singing it's praises, but i'll just ask you to read it because it is brilliant!

iBoy by Kevin Brooks

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Sci-fi/Thriller/Romance

This is the first book i've read by Kevin Brooks, and it caught my attention because i'm a bit of a computer nerd and the idea really made me curious, curious enough to take a chance on a book by an author i'd never heard of before. I now think i'll be reading more of his books, because his writing quality is excellent!

As well as having enough tech jargon in it to satisfy the biggest computer genius in existence, it was also an emotional, riviting and ultimately beautiful story about love, life and morality.I was hooked from start to finish and i felt really tied to the characters and i found myself questioning; do we have the right to meddle in things? Does anyone? And can any of us ultimately predict the consequences of our actions?

I'm still left pondering these questions and more, and the ending is left pretty open, not in an unfinished way, more in a 'think for youself' kind of way. And i loved how the main characters were left at the end, i closed the book feeling relatively happy, yet feeling a bit of sadness for both Tom and Lucy.

Action packed, thoughtful, emotional and, i have to warn readers, contains some distressing events, this is a book you won't forget for a long time. A shining star among all the young adult novels around, and i can't praise it any higher if i tried.

Flood by Stephen Baxter

Target Audience: Adults

Genre: Apocalyptic Fiction/Sci-fi
                               ***CONTAINS SPOILERS***

If i'm being honest, this book scared the crap out of me, not just because of all the flooding but because of the cause. Although global warming is stated often as a cause for flooding, it isn't the main one in this disaster novel, it is something much more frightening.

Basically, it's based on the idea of underground oceans trapped under the mantle, and should these waters be released then...Oh dear, you better start heading for high ground, thats if there's any ground actually high enough...

The story follows four main characters who were held fugitive for years; Lily, Piers, Helen and Gary. It then goes on to describe how each of these people come to cope when the waters begin to rise, often in terrifying detail.

I found the general story both frightening and heartwarming at the same time. In some cases, people are pulled closer together due to the disaster and in other cases the horrific side of human nature comes to light in ways most of us just don't want to see.

Although a lot of people die (obviously) during the course of the novel it is the tragedies of the main characters that hit me the hardest, some of which were so unexpected i felt a bit shocked. One such example is that by the end of the book Lily has watched nearly all her family die, and she isn't the only one to suffer in such a way. Yet, the fact that she continues along all the same, highlights the human will to survive at all costs, even when things seem hopeless.

Some sections of the book are very slow and take time to develop, but the good parts of the book more than make up for it. One of the creepiest parts for me, is when a submarine sends a camera down to a flooded Britain and the landscape gets described as it looks under water. One word: Eerie.
Towards the end of the novel i was stunned by how many people had managed to survive a global disaster of such a scale, and it's in this where the message of hope is more evident, and in the strange ways that the new generation have adapted to cope with all the water. All i can say is i loved the end, in a bittersweet way, because i knew it was coming but it still managed to shock me when it did.

Give this a go, it really is an awesome book, with so much action, emotion, hope as well as disaster and even some very interesting science for those who like that kind of thing!