Almost To Die For by Tate Hallaway

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Horror/Fantasy/Romance


***Contains Spoilers***

I loved this book a lot, it was funny, had a writing style that i love, twisted the usual approach to vampire fiction and included some pretty awesome wicca stuff as well. My only complaint, and it is one that impacted my overall rating, was that the ending seemed a bit rushed but i'll get back to that later in the review.

To summarise, Ana is turning 16 and is part of a coven of witches. On her birthday she is supposed to take part in innitiation in order to become a true witch. Ana is dreading it because she's never once been able to use magic and so knows she will fail. But nothing prepares her for the shock that she is infact only half witch...and half vampire. And not just any half vampire, but a princess.

One of the main reasons i liked this so much was it's original take on vampires and the fact everything got turned on its head. Instead of some misunderstood creature who claims to be innocent, they admit they are technically from a demon world (and are demons) the difference being is that the blood drinking isn't supposed to end in death.

There were other things turned on there heads to. Instead of the cliche vampires/werewolves fighting, it turned out to be vampires and witches and there were perfectly good explanations for it too, rather than simply 'just because they hate one another'.
A complex story between the two races is told and yet as a reader i could still see how someone from both sides would be of great benefit., rather than being on either side.

The characters were wonderfully complex as well. Ana made a refreshing change from your usual heroine, with her down to earth attitude and reasoning. For example, when confronted with a situation in which she knows she might cause harm, she walks away. And i loved her ability to think for herself and do what she wanted, despite others opnions.
Bea was another fave of mine, which is odd because she had her bitchy moments. This i found to be more realistic also. She was clearly a good friend to Ana, but no friend is flawless, and watching her behave like a bitch sometimes just added to the realism of her character.
No one, after all, likes a perfect person!
Nik and Elias were interesting as Ana's love rivals, but i have to admit i prefer Elias, as i find Nik to be a bit of a mysterious dark horse, not knowing where he stands. Elias on the other hand tends to be more straighforward, although only the sequels will tell i guess!

Ana's relationship with her mother was another point of interest for me. At times Ana's mother could seem really attentive and doing everything for her daughter, but other times she just seemed like she was up to something else, and i really didnt like some of the things she did to try and get Ana onside.
It is obvious that she cares for Ana and that she has her best interests at heart, but still, watching her and Ramses (Ana's father) argue over her destiny was a bit like watching a soap to some extent.
At one point i wanted Ana to tell them both to shut up and butt out and to let her make her own decisions, and i wasn't disapointed with how Ana handles everything, proving herself to be a very strong and capable person.

Finally i come to the ending. I have to be honest and say i loved this book but the ending was rather rushed. After such a brillaint beginning and middle and everything happening at a decent pace, i was surprised and found it odd that everything would be resolved in a few pages towards the end. I also find it difficult to believe that the leaders of the witch and vampire sides (who are both very strong willed by the way) would just go, ok lets have a truce.
This might all be leading to something in the second novel, but i dont know that so im basing my judgement on how i see things now. Having said that, part of the ending took me completely by surprise in such a way i laughed and was left quite stunned.

Overall though a really funny, romantic, original and pacey thrill ride of a novel.

Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James

Target Audience: Young Adults/Adults
Genre: Fiction/Suspense/Romance/Horror


***Contains Spoilers***

I'm likely to ramble by reviewing this because this book is simply amazing in so many different ways, albeit heartbreaking, tear-jerking and utterly gripping as well.


I found this book different to so many others i have read, in several ways. One of which was that the author revealed major things that happen before they occur by flicking across different points in time. This, in so many other novels, would probably ruin the plot, but in this it works, adding to the tension and drama as you know that ultimately Katherine will have a her world torn apart.


Another aspect that i found interesting was when the perspective changed and the main character was telling the story as if she was no longer part of herself, stressing how painful the event that occured was for her, that she had to distance herself. I noticed the tone change instantly, and it was one of the chapters that had me in tears.


The characters themselves were utterly compelling to follow, especially Katherine as we learn more about her past and her relationship with her sister and parents, both before and after her sisters death. I found it truly heartbreaking reading the recount of her sisters brutal death, and as i have younger sisters of my own, i found it even more horrifying to read what happened to Rachel. By the end of the novel i was awed at her resiliance, she endures heartbreak after heartbreak and in the end still takes a chance on love, and that i think is a very beautiful and hopeful message.


With regards to Alice, despite the fact she appears nice at the beginning i still got the impression she was up to something, but never imagined the conclusion that came about. The major plot twist surrounding her part just never even occured to me until it was revealed and i was stunned.
However, despite how evil she is, as a reader i am forced to admit a lot of it backfired. If Alice hadn't meddled, Katherine would never have met Phillipa, Mick or Robbie and she might never have been able to finally get through to her mother and repair their distant relationship. So, although Alice does destroy so much and is ultimately 'Evil' her actions do end up causing some good.


Having said that though, she did re-define evil for me and i was left gobsmacked at the levels to which she stooped on some occasions, i had no idea people could be so callous and cruel with such ease.
Although, it is important to bear in mind, Alice too was suffering and we get a sense of that, and even her victims realise this and end up pitying her rather than hating her in the end, and it makes you wonder, how many evil people could have been changed and saved from themselves if someone had simply tried to get through to them before they become a lost cause?


One things for sure, this novel will prompt you to consider some deep questions about the nature of good and evil, especially as Alice never seems to consider her actions as evil, more justified than anything else. I do feel compelled to warn readers, this book does contain some extremelly upsetting and disturbing events that will effect different people on different levels.
I cried my eyes out, i was shocked, horrified and yet oddly touched by some of the happier and beautiful aspects of the novel.
This isn't overall depressing and there is definately an expression of moving on and hope towards the end and at various points throughout. And to me, i got a sense of an overall message that life does go on, that we can choose to either give up or continue despite what happens to us, and we all have choices to make, but it is up to us what we make of them.

A truly eye-opening and touching novel from a very talented author.

Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Horror/Paranormal Romance


***Contains a Few Spoilers***

First of all if you haven't read My Love Lies Bleeding don't read the rest of this review, ok?...





Ok, so after the end of My Love Lies Bleeding with Helena now Queen, Solange now a vampire, we pick up about a week after Isabeau saved them all from Lady Natasha (the bitch of a vampire who tried to kill Solange!). In my opinion ending the last book with introducing Isabeau made perfect sense and going into her and Logan's POV was a stroke of genius and i loved the differing view points.

Before i go into what i loved about it however, i'll explain why it didn't grab my full five stars. The main reason was that there didn't seem to be as much of an adventurous plot in this, and the mysterious goings on, attempts to attack Solange and a failed assisination didn't seem to grab me as much, but this i think is because it was seen from Isabeaus and Logans POV and they were busy else where most of the time. I know this was necessary, but i like a good pacey adventure and more battles etc and there wasn't as much in this. I felt the main theme was Isabeau and Logan's relationship.
Right...the above point, while it did make it seem a bit slower wasn't all a bad thing at all, and i do think it added a lot of understanding to the races that got very little page time in the last novel.

Learning about Isabeau was fascinating, and the flashbacks to the French Revolution were brilliant, especially as this is something i know so little about. I found myself completelly absorbed by this flashbacks because i wanted to know more, and i could really imagine the horror of that time, it was written really well.
Logan, on the otherhand, there wasn't as much to learn as a lot of the family were covered in the last novel. However, it was interesting to realise why he's so different from his brothers and also how quickly he falls for Isabeau. Considering how many centuries apart they were born, i just love how the idea of fate can bring two people together (that's because i'm a soppy romantic!)

I was also happy that the characters from the first novel weren't forgotten, there were frequent mentions of Lucy, Nicholas, Kieran, Solange, Helena and Liam. If they'd been left out i would have been very annoyed as Lucy is one of my favourite characters of all time, she's just so weird, i'd get along brilliantly with her if she were real!

Anyways, all in all a wonderful installment and i can't wait until the next in the series. And hopefully Nicholas won't be locking Lucy in any more cupboards!

The Dark Goddess by Sarwat Chadda

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults/Adults
Genre: Fantasy/Horror

***Contains Some Spoilers***

Ok, so at first i thought: How the hell is Sarwat Chadda going to top the genius that was Devil's Kiss? The answer, i'm not sure, but he managed to.

As with the last book, this follows Billi SanGreal as she deals with those that are deamed unholy (werewolves, vampires etc) only this time she's dealing with the heartache of killing her soulmate Kay with her own sword to save the lives of many. If that wasn't enough to deal with, three months after his death she finds herself embroiled in a plot that may cause the death of the whole world if it comes to pass. In an effort to prevent the disaster occuring, she travels to Russia in search of a goddess dead set on cleansing the planet with a volcanic winter.

I'm going to take an easy way in writing this review and list the reasons i love it because if i try to write an mini essay i know i'll miss something:

1. Plot - as with his first book the plot is inventive, and despite the sheer number of books involving werewolves, vampires and the like it still manages to stand out. For one, the werewolves aren't drop dead gorgeous nice guys, yet neither are they bad-guys and even the really so called enemies are multi-faceted and not straight forward evil. It's difficult to explain, yes there's evil in the book, but for once, as the reader, i got a very good explanation as to why (rather than your standard 'she/he is just an evil person') This aside, it also makes for a complex story, with more than one plot line running throughout the story. In some cases, multiple plots make for a confusing mix, yet in this case, they all merged and blended seamlessly making for a beautifully told adventure story with more than a smattering of horror.

2. Genre - With most books there seems to be one over-riding genre, but i found this wasn't the case with this book. Yes, the main element is paranormal/horror, but i also found this to be a comprehensive adventure story with a hint of romance.

On top of that, there was also Billi's search for resolution within herself as she tried to come to terms with the trauma she suffered months ago, these parts of the text made for emotional moments for me as a reader as she slowly learns to move on.

The horror aspect of it was quite gruesome at times, and so i'd warn against young teens reading it, as some of the death/fighting scenes had me exclaiming outloud. (My sister thought i was nuts when i started yelling 'Yuck, that's disgusting' rather loudy, especially since she was trying to read The Reckoning!)Having said that though, personally i love a good horror novel, and it wasn't the most graphic i've read by a long shot!

3. Characters - I think i've already mentioned a lot about Billi but i did discover a lot more about her. She demonstrates a more steely side in this book, with her determination to not feel and just get the job done. This made it all the more amazing watching her overcome the barriers she's put around herself, and also watching her learn to feel again for others.

Her relationship with her father was another interesting development since now i know he doesn't hate her and now there trying to built their relationship again.
This was one of the things i was wondering how it would be done as it would have been unrealistic for Arthur and Billi to be all hugs and cuddles constantly, and thankfully that wasn't what happened.
Arthur's affection for his daughter is obvious now that he isn't being all cold towards her to toughen her up, and i found their relationship realistic as they try to make up for lost ground and put things right.
Having said that Arthur still has his moments, but i love the references he now makes to Billi's mum, about how alike they are, now that he's not avoiding mentioning the past.

The other stand out characters for me were Ivan who, in his own way, is just as troubled as Billi and so similar he was the perfect person to make her face up to things and come to terms with the demons in her life, i thought he was awesome.

Vasilisa was brilliant too, even though she was missing for a good proportion of the novel, she was still eerily present with the all the references that were made to her, and she bacame a major figure in the events that occur towards the end.
The two main enemies: the dark goddess herself and the werewolf pack are much more multi sided than in a lot of the book's i've read, prompting the question, is anyone completely evil? The answer i won't reveal, needless to say you'll make your own mind up whilst reading it.

4. Ending - What can i say? It's not the ending i was expecting, and that's all i'm saying, apart from this: It will leave chills running down you spine.

Brilliant book, Full Marks :-)

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

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


***Contains Some Spoilers***

Ok, so at the risk of annoying other fans of stephenie meyer (bare in mind i am one myself please) i have to admit i didn't like this as much as books one to four, and there are probably several good reasons for this.

The first of which is probably because when all is said and done the ending was inevitable. Bree was going to die. For those who have read Eclipse (and even those who haven't just by looking at the ittle) we all know she dies at the end.

This probably wasn't a problem with a lot of people, but for me i find it hard to grow attached to characters that i know are going to meet an untimely end, not to mention it takes away the surprise element of the story.

I've read a lot of books where a main character dies and i didn't dislike the book, simply because it was a shock and so made me feel for them, as opposed to Bree where i saw it coming and just felt kind of sad, like there was no point.


The second was probably my frustration at the lack of use of the character Diego. I think so much more could have been done with him and his relationship with Bree, and so i felt the story fell a little flat with regards to his character. It was hard to gauge the bond between him and Bree when it was started and over so quickly, which brings me to my third point...


It was short. Now i get it was supposed to be, but if more had been done about Bree and Diego it would have been a little bit longer, and i'd probably have found their relationship a lot more believable and relatable. On the other hand, there were several redeeming things that i loved:


- Hearing confirmation about the volturi and what they were up to was a brilliant idea. Although most fans will have realised that they hate the Cullens, i personally had no idea that they wanted Victoria to succeed. Wow, they really are a nasty bunch of vampires!

- I loved Freaky Fred, he was awesome, and i really would love a novel about what happens to him. At the same time, i do really feel sad that Bree will never meet up with him.

- The idea itself was pure genius. I found it interesting seeing things from a newborns perspective and i was amazed at the lies they were told to keep them in order, it was fascinating.
As a result i now feel sorry for the whole bunch of 'murderous' vampies from Eclipse. It really wasn't their fault. Anyways, there were some good ideas in this book and some interesting things were revealed, but overall it was not one of the my favourite reads.

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

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


***Contains a few Spoilers***

I have to admit that when i first started reading this, the prologue really got me stuck to it, and it really was a fantastic start (and very reminiscent of Little Red Riding Hood) but then i have to confess, i found it a bit slow going. Don't get me wrong, by far this book is not a bad novel, in fact for the most part i really liked it, but i did feel that the first part of the book dragged a bit.
In my case, i thought i could sense what conclusion the author was coming to (and i turned out to be right) but she drew it out a lot more than was necessary, and i found it a bit frustrating that in some instances it seemed like the hunting wolves cycle was being repeated an awful lot. Anyways...now i have that bit said, i'll now go on to tell you exactly why i gave this book four stars when i was clearly annoyed by a few things:

1. The characters were original and inventive. I loved the relationship between Scarlett and Rosie. Clearly devoted to one another and yet torn by their differences, watching them struggle to make their own choices made for fascinating and heart-warming reading, as they discover just what they might have to do to stay sisters. (You'll understand once you read it). Silas was another character i loved, and his divided loyalties between being Scarletts hunting partner and Rosie's boyfriend was wonderfully described and explained, and i have to admit he sounded amazing ;-).

2. The plot itself was very unique. Once the story took off, i have to admit i was captivated by the plot and the idea behind it.
After Rosie and Scarlett realise what the wolves are after and what marks that thing as unique (trying not to spoil things here) the story really takes off and i couldn't put it down.
I personally believe that the slow start was due to the fact it was a first in a series and the characters have to be set up (a pain but necessary unless you want readers to get very confused), and because of that, i have to commend Jackson Pearce for her inventive and original story.

3. Unique blend of genres. I find it unusual that i've commented on this as usually it's not something i think about, but i have to admit i had trouble classifying this as a particular genre, because the truth is it has elements of romance, horror, fantasy, legend, family drama and it's all wrapped up as an original and modern fairytale.
There's literally something for everyone (including people who like cats!)

So i'll now summarise. Although the beginning was a bit slow, i have to admit this is genuinely good read with a captivating and inventive plot that will activate the imaginations of the most un-imaginative people in existence. The characters are Kick-ass and are't afraid to get into trouble to do the right thing. I will most definately be reading the sequel!

The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood

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


***Contains Spoilers***

The Poison Diaries is best described as a romantic historical and gothic thriller/fantasy. Why? It has all the elements of romance, history and a fantasy world but manages to be as pacey and breathtaking as a thriller, with some twists that left me stunned.

A warning to all who read this, if your looking for a 'they lived happily every after' ending, then don't look for it here because you won't get one (you really should have paid attention to the spoilers warnings!) It's not doom and gloom, but the romantics (like me) may feel a little sad at the end.

With regards to the characters, i loved Jessamine, she was plucky, outright and i truly loved her attitude and her devotion towards her work and to Weed. When she fell ill i actually cared, which goes to show how much i got attached to her. In Weed's case, i wasn't sure at first. His strange relationship with plants took a bit of getting used to, but once the truth came out and he learned to be more human i really took to him. Jessamine's father, however, he was one of the most complicated characters to date, lets just say he's part of a major twist in the story, and i never saw it coming at all. I was stunned!

On the romance side of things, Jessamines and Weed's relationship develops beautifully and the length that Weed will go to for Jessamine was inspiring. The love between them was clear as day, and i found their relationship refreshingly different from others i have read in books. I'm not sure what made it different, maybe because it was historical, or maybe because it wasn't set in a high school as a lot of teen romances are. I just found it a nice change for it to be set in the British countryside, surrounded by beautiful wild plants, instead of bitchy teen girls and guys.

Plot-wise, i found it riveting, complex and completely absorbing. The descriptions of the plants and gardens were beautiful, and the idea of plants having thoughts and being able to think intelligently (as well as plot and plan!) was simply fantastic. There were many lessons to be learned in this. What would we be prepared to do for the ones we love? What things are we capable of when we want something badly? Are we really a sound judge of what is poison and what isn't? These among many are just some of the questions i tried to answer, but never really came to a conclusion on a personal basis, but then it's something that now has me thinking.

The ending was brilliant, and i'd love there to be another book, not because it seemed unfinished, but simply because i would love to know what happens next. What happens to Weed? What Will Jessamine do now? Questions that aren't necessary, but me being me, i'm just very curious. Anyways...

The Chaos: Numbers 2 by Rachel Ward

Target Audience: Teens/Adults
Genre: Thriller/Fantasy



***Contains Spoilers***

I always struggle to right a review for those books that have a huge impact on me, and this is no exception.
Realistic, emotional, hard-hitting and a concept that left me shocked to the core, this is a book i will never forget.

Adam, Jem's son, has inherited her ability to see the dates of people's deaths when he looks in their eyes. Also, like Jem, he struggles everyday with it, trying not to look people in the eye and when he does clock a number he jots it down in his notebook. Why? Because he realises that thousands of people in London have the date 1st January 2027, and he also knows that something awful happens on that date that will kill a lot of people.
At the same time, Sarah, a girl at the school Adam goes to, is planning to run away from her abusive father to give her and her unborn baby a chance of a better life. She to, however, has her own curse. Sarah has a recurring nightmare in which a boy takes her baby and runs through a fire, during the disaster that is yet to come. The problem, She thinks Adam is that boy...

I loved the plot of this book, it was electric, alive and so compulsive i literally couldn't put it down, i read it in one day.
Some of the themes that Rachel tackles are so sensitive, i was impressed by how well she dealt with them. Among many, there is suicide, child abuse and drugs, and thats just a few.
One of the most striking themes for me however, was that of destiny and how in control we actually are. Can Adam change the the future? Will lots of people in London die? Can the numbers be altered?
By the end of the book, all these questions are answered fully and a lot more besides, in an exciting and terrifying roller coaster of a thriller novel.
As well as all the high-octane action and terror, there's also a bit of romance, and i loved how Adam's and Sarah's relationship came together so perfectly. It wasn't forced or rushed and the pace was believable.

With regards to the characters, i loved Adam and Sarah, they were believable, easy to understand (especially with regards to language), and i couldn't help but admire their resiliance at the amount of bad things that happen to them. Adam's fighting spirit as he tries to tell London what's going to happen was infectious and i wanted to cheer him along.
In Sarah's case i couldn't help but marvel at how she pulled herself out of a horrifying and degrading homelife to give birth to a baby and then struggle along as a single mum (at least until she meets Adam). Her overwhelming protectiveness for her daughter, Mia, was beautiful to read about and it read so realistically.
Val, Adam's grandmother, was also another standout. As Adam's sole guardian, she is strong, witty and an incredibly strong woman. And towards the end of the book, she plays a very important role that i will never forget, ever. Personally i think that her actions at the end of the book define so much about destiny, death and choices, and it really made me feel that we are in control, no matter how unlikely it seems at some times in life.

To conclude, my overall opinion is that if your looking for a light, easy read, don't read this. However, if you want a meaningful book about issues that matter, a plot that will leave you breathless, a romance that will make your heart race and an incredibly emotional ending that will leave you speechless, then this is most definately the book for you. But do bear in mind that however much darkness and death there appears to be, there is also light and life, something that will be very clear by the end of the novel.

The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan

Target Audience: Teens/Adults
Genre: Fantasy/Horror

***Contains Quite a Lot of Spoilers***

I don't know why but i always struggle to write reviews the most about books i truly love, and this is no exception. I'm going to try and do this in a structured, logical way, but if i start babbling, just know it's because i love it so much :-)

To summarise, The Demon's Covenant picks up where The Demon's Lexicon left off, but a little time has passed and things seem to have settled down a bit, that is until Mae discovers that Jamie is in contact with the new leader of the Obsidian Circle, Gerald. Fearing that her brother is being led down the typical magicians path of the murder of innocents in order to obtain greater magical abilities, she contacts Alan and Nick, asking for their help. Alan says he'll come, but you can clearly tell that there's something else going on with them in the background, and when they get there, events get more complicated and sinister, in which the brothers may end up against each other.

One of the most interesting parts for me, were the diary entries made by Alan's father, regarding his days bringing up both Nick and Alan. With Nick's insistency that he can never be human, i found his reaction to some of the diary entries rather contradictory to the point, and i wonder if that was the point. Is Nick more human than he realises? After finishing the novel, i honestly think so, his response to Mae on the roof during the final part of the Diary entry suggests, to me, that he's feeling a lot more human than he was before. Also, towards the end of the novel when he's holding Mae, that too was a major turning point, and took Nick and Mae's characters to a level i hadn't seen before, that along with Mae's confession to herself, had me literally in tears. It was well handled and extremelly emotional.

Alan, in my opinion, had more character in this book. Seeing him make awful decisions and taking so much crap, just to keep Nick alive was heart-breaking, the fact that he knows the decisions he makes hurt others and he can't justify it,yet he just can't lose or leave Nick.
I also knew, from the phone call that Mae made to Alan that something occured between Nick and Alan that upset Alan greatly, and although you find out what this is, you don't witness it. I actually liked that, it was made all the more poigent when Nick describes it later, seeing how much it affected them both, yet their both still together despite whats happened. This called into quesiton so many definitions of the meaning of a family that it made me consider a lot of things, another theme that is stronly re-itterated throughout. Is family to do with blood? is it being with someone and caring about them? or is it much deeper than that, a bond that goes beyond something that can be defined by words? The message i got was that blood is irrelevant (as i took from the difficulties in Mae's family and her mother) but rather, if you really care for someone, wether blood related or not, they are still your family. This to me was emphasised by the fact that a demon (who apparently can't love) still calls Alan his brother.
While on the subject of families, i feel i should mention the relationship between Mae/Jamie and their mother Annabel, as this definately made for one of the main focus points of the novel.
It wasn't blindingly obvious until about halfway through, but by the end, i have to admit, i was left stunned, i never saw what happened coming at all. Needless to say though, Mae and Jamie learned a lot about their mother that neither were aware of, and with regards to that, the growing closeness between Annabel became bittersweet towards the end. (when you read it you'll see why)

With reagards to Jamie, i found his role a lot more pronounced in this book. He grew up a lot and made a lot of tough decisions, and some of the scenes between him and Nick were the funniest ever, and i loved how protective of him Nick became (more evidence to me of Nick's progression into humanity!) Also, watching Jamie's situation with Gerald was fascinating. Clearly torn between his feelings and doing what is morally right, Jamie struggles a bit, but ultimately comes out on top as the bigger person, and i have to admit i really love his character now.

Finally i come to Mae, i'm not sure where to start to be honest. For the most part, it seemed she was torn between Nick, Alan, Jamie and her want to be normal Vs her love of the Goblin market. Stuggling with three guys she likes (Alan, Nick and Seb) she has a tough time of it, and i found where her heart ended up a sort of cruel twist of fate, although one i wanted to happen (because i'm strange like that).
She also displayed some very mature behaviour, making difficult decisions, (not to mention risky ones) left me shocked by how much she'd grown up since The Demon's Lexicon, and i admired her selflessness that she displayed on several occasions despite all the other things going on in her life.
As for her human lessons with Nick, i found those really fascinating, hearing the way she described emotions was interesting and reading about Nick trying to master them. It really does pose the question; What does it mean to be human? A question, as the reader, i was left to conclude for myself. It was even more fulfilling when at the end, Nick takes the initiative in displaying his learned human gestures. i have to admit, i cried on several occasions where those two were concerned.

Okay, so more generally. I LOVED this book (so much so i put loved in capital letters). The plot was twisty and had so many turns i was left stunned on several occasions. The relationships between the characters were complicated and very beautiful. I love a nice complicated romance as well, so reading about Mae and Nick/Alan/Seb was moving, especially when you consider who she realises she loves at the end.

There's no doubt about the fact that this book is both dark and tragic in equal amounts, but there's also no denying that light, love and the importance of family aren't there to balance it out. This is a story that's as much about hope and love as it is about despair and hate, and it's that balance that makes this book so amazing, and quite honestly, i can't wait to see what Sarah Rees Brennan writes next, because she really has outdone herself. Miss Rees Brennan, you are a genius, please keep writing as i really want the next book :-)

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud

Target Audience: Kids/Teens
Genre: Fantasy/Humour

***Contains A Few Spoilers***

When i was reading this, i have to admit i hadn't really given it a second thought, and i just randomly picked it up not expecting much at all. Just goes to show then, that maybe that's the best way to start a book, because it's a must-read for fans of fantasy and humour everywhere.

Nathaniel is a young boy who is sold to be a magicians apprentice as a child, something he has no choice about, but he soon adapts to this. Apprenticed to a reluctant and mediocre magician, he finds himself easily surpassing his masters expectations and so as a result ends up summoning a Djinn way beyond the norm.
Enter Bartimaeus, one of the wittiest, original and definately most loved of any of the literary characters i've read about.
On being summoned, he procedes to scare the young boy and crack some amazing one liners and is then entrusted with a task that will change both their lives forever, in a way neither expected.

Plot-wise, i found this a roller-coaster ride of non-stop action, evil people with evil plots, corrupt governments, action, magic and wise-cracks that had me giggling like an insane child. The minute i read that first footnote at the bottom of the page i knew this book was going to have me doubled up with laughing.
As it happens, when i read this book, i was having a bad time and it made me laugh when i really needed it, and for that as well, i just love this book.

With regards to the characters, there are quite a few so i won't talk about all of them. Bartimaeus was by far my favourite; funny, smart and with a sensitive side thats hard to see at first, he really drew me in.
Nathaniel on the otherhand, although he did gain my sympathy for his situation and the fact that he is technically the 'good guy' i generally class as a bit of anti-hero, for reasons that only become obvious once you read this for yourself and the rest of the series.
Lovelace made a brilliant enemy, in an evil genius sort of way, and i loved that. Talk about thinking big! His Djinn were funny too, and i loved their verbal sparing with Bartimaeus throughout the book.

Overall, this gets a full rating from me; emotional, a lot more meaningful than first appearances, and a fast-paced adventure which will have you in stitches with laughing so much!

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

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

***Contains Quite A Few Spoilers***


I honestly can't find any fault with this book, which has to a be a rare occurence for me, i usually manage to pick on something, but i honestly can't!

I'm a big fan of faerie stories and admittedly i like it when one comes along that surprises me by adding an unexpected twist, in this case the Iron Fey are introduced, which i have to admit (despite the title) i didn't quite comprehend exactly who the Iron Fey were until they appeared.
But before i get onto that, i think i'll give a brief description ans summary of the actual plot:

Meghan Chase is a 15, soon to be, 16 year old girl who has never really fit in, and whose only friend is Robbie whose been in her life since forever. After an incident in the computer lab at school, Meghan finds herself humiliated at school and her birthday is then ruined when her four-year-old half-brother Ethan is switched for a changeling.
Determined to bring her brother back, Meghan enters the land of the Nevernever with Robbie in order to bring him back, but things are a lot more complicated than they seem and Meghan has more than one person after her...

Story wise, i found the pace absolutely breathtaking, yet not so insanely fast that i lost track of the events as they unfolded on the pages. Just when i thought i knew where the plot was going, another twist was flung up and i felt surprise at the turns it took so many times that i actually stopped trying to guess what was going to happen next because it was pointless (in a very good way).

Another difference i noticed was the authors ability to merge both science/computing with the Fey, something that i've wondered about for a while. The idea was amazing and in the wrong hands could have been a disaster, but it wasn't (just check out the character named 'Virus', think computers and you'll get the idea!) I loved the idea of human thought influencing the world of the Fey in such a way that you end up with Fey that are Iron/computer orientated, and in such are deadly to the Seelie and Unseelie courts.
For all those romance fans out there, there's the wonderfully complicated relationship between Meghan (the halfling daughter of the Seelie king) and Ash (the son of the unseelie queen), and although star-crossed love has been done countless times, there was something about those two characters that made it different in a beautiful way that i can't quite explain.

When considering the chracters i absolutely loved them all. Meghan was warm, brave and so damn stubborn (but in a good way) i admired her determination to do what she had to do, and her relationships with both Puck and Ash were brilliantly told. Puck was the classic protective best friend, with a rather strange twist to him and Ash was the dark, mysterious, icy prince whose heart begins to thaw as the book progresses.
Oberon and Titania were brilliant in their own way too, and i loved the literary refrences to 'A Midsummers Night Dream'. Although my overall opinion of Oberon is that he can be a selfish jerk at times!

Anyways, to summarise, this is a MUST READ, no doubt about it. Myth, faeries, romance, war and one amazing cliff-hanger ending will have you longing for the next in the series!

The Glass Swallow by Julia Golding

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



***Contains Some Spoilers***

Despite the slow start, i found this a heart-warming and truly charming read. The first 30 pages or so were a bit descriptive and not much happened, except for a bit of scene setting, but then everything kicked off.

Rain, a glassmakers' daughter, is forbidden to design and make glass because of the simple fact that she's a woman, and the glass makers guild is ridiculously sexist.
However, Rain has secretly been designing her fathers glass for a few years, and when the distant land of Magharna asks her father to design some glass for them, it is Rain that goes along with one of her cousins in order to design the glass windows.
But not everything goes according to plan and Rain finds herself stranded in a rather unfriendly country.

At the same time that she arrives and falls into danger, Peri, a young scavenger and falconer rescues her from the bandits who try to kidnap her, and from there, their paths become entwined. But things aren't made easy for them, as the country begins to fall apart around them.

What struck me the most whilst reading this, was the realism of the situation the characters end up in. The social class system is something that at first appears to be the thing that will keep Peri and Rain apart, but infact it is the crash of the country and economy that becomes the major issue of the novel.
Considering the last few years in which we've lived with the recession, at first i admit, on reading about a country falling apart economically, i initially thought 'oh no, i don't want to read about a recession' but actually it was a story more of hope than despair as one girl attempts to put a failing country back together again, with the help of the few people who haven't ran for the hills (so to speak).

Surviving a bandit attack, then being left in a country where she barely knows the language, and then attempting to save the country that gave her a less than warm welcome, i found extremelly inspiring and very brave to say the least, and for this alone i found it easy to warm to Rain.
With regards to peri, my opinion was a bit hit and miss, because quite simply he had moments that i like to call 'moments of idiocy' in which he does stupid things (such as shooting a friend, even if it was accidentally). And yes, Rain had her moments as well, but hers just didn't seem to be as stupid, more brave than anything else.
Having said that, I still loved them both. Peri was charming, sweet and protective and Rain was self-less, caring and very resillient to hardship.

The ending, in one word, is beautiful in more ways than one. A theme, what with all the stunning glass windows, is repeated throughout the novel. To summarise, this story is a beautiful love story with an artistic twist and a perfectly heartwarming and stunning ending.
Fans of Dragonfly by the same author will also be pleased at the appearence of some familar faces. Superb!

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles

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



***Contains Some Spoilers***

I'm probably going to struggle with writing this review, probably because it was such a good book and i always find my favourite books harder to describe in words.
In summary, Leaving Paradise is a love story between a girl called Maggie and a guy called Caleb. The simplicity of your average love story ends there though. The twist? Caleb has spent the last year in juvenile detention for hitting Maggie with a car and leaving her in the road.

Now to most people (myself included) you'd probably be thinking how on earth do those two end up having a relationship and how does the author manage to have this happen without it seeming really unbelievable.
The answer? She just does, and it's hard to explain how unless you read it for yourself.
Their relationship changes slowly at first and more of their intertwined pasts are revealed as they once again start getting to know one another better. By the time comes that Maggie and Caleb are talking properly again, you can understand how they got there, and i found their relationship believable and understandable.

To me, it made sense in a strange yet beautiful way. If there's one thing a person who isn't understood wants, it's to be understood. In this case, the best person to understand what Caleb and Maggie are going through are each other, however painful it may be for them to admit at first.

This book isn't depressing, as i originally thought it might be. In fact it's rather uplifting, in a sense that's hard to describe. To me it was the fact that both Caleb and Maggie were so low and then to climb back up and become strong, was perhaps the most inspiring thing i've ever read about in a novel.

The romance is well written too. Caleb and Maggie's complicated emotions are expressed with amazing clarity and their romance is, dare i say it, one of the most beautiful and meaningful i've read about in a long time. A lot of people like romances because of graphic sex or love scenes, and as much as i read those as well, to me i love the emotional side that little bit more. So for that alone, i found this one of the most believable romances i've read in a long time.

With regards to other characters in the book, i thought each and everyone had their role to play. There wasn't even one character that to me felt like they were pointless filler. I especially loved Mrs Reynolds and i was heartbroken at the end. She taught Maggie so much about life and brought two people together who probably could have hated one another forever.
Kendra, Caleb's Ex, is truly the 'bitch' of the novel and as much as i hated her, i have to admit even she played a role, if just to make Caleb and Maggie realise how strong they are in comparison. One of the best lines that came from Maggie was the one when she described Kendra as an 'empty shell' and that, to me, pretty much perfectly summed up the definition of popularity.
Leah was also another standout individual, and i found it interesting to see how she handled keeping the secret she had been keeping for so long, considering the consequences it had on so many people's lives.

I could go on and on forever, but i don't want to give too much away. Needless to say it was a stunningly romantic read, with some heartstopping twists that will have you gaping at the pages and some very important moral messages, that i feel, make this a must read for anyone who loves romance and likes reading a truly exceptional story of friendship, loss and loyalty.
I will definately be reading the sequel when it's released!

Need by Carrie Jones

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Faerie/Fantasy

***Contains Spoilers***

Although i categorise Need as a Faerie Story, i do it in a very broad way because technically it's about Pixies and Weres and it's one of the scariest books i've read and it took me a while to figure out exactly why.

Need starts with Zara being sent to stay with her Grandmother after the death of her father to help her keep her sanity. Traumatised by her fathers death, Zara is obsessed with phobias and constantly chants them when she's feeling scared and needs to calm down quickly, something that comes in useful further into the book.
When she starts at the new school she meets nick, a strange boy who is definately hiding something, and her two new friends Issie and Devyn (who also seem to really like one another).
Shortly after her arrival in Maine things really start to get weird, with a strange guy stalking her and leaving trails of gold dust, not to mention the weird feeling she gets when the stalker is near (which is described as spiders crawling over her skin)
Once it becomes obvious that it's a Pixie king stalking her the horror really notches up and it becomes clear that there are secrets that the people in her life have kept hidden from her.

As the main character, Zara is an easy person to relate to for anyone who has felt awkward, out of place and scared in some way. And i had to admire her bravery when faced with some truly horrifying events and truths. I also really liked Nick, even if he did really annoy me at one point by being a judgemental little...
Well you get the picture :-) Overall he's a good guy, very smart, daring always protecting others when in dangerous situations.
Issie and Devyn are also awesome characters. Issie is a little bit mad and i found myself loving her personality and Devyn is definately the knowledgable one of the group. They might sound like a mixed bunch of individuals, but it's part of what really makes the story, and the way they all work together is brilliant.

Moving on to what i actually thought of the story, i have to say i enjoyed it thoroughly and tension between the pixies and humans was, well, tense. One particular chapter in which Zara is trapped in a room with a Pixie outside the door was absolutely terrifying, knowing they could get her anywhere but in that one room was a bit scary and claustrophobic.
Overall, this an exciting, original and, at times, terrifying read that i could barely put down. Beautifully written and an unexpected crash course in phobias, this is definately a book to read!

Wintercraft by Jenna Burtenshaw

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults

Genre: Fantasy

                                     ***contains spoilers***

There were several reasons i liked this book as much as i did, the first of which was the general idea behind it and the original way it was dealt with.

There are a lot of books in the world that deal with issues such as the afterlife and death, but this one adds a particular twist to it. Instead of death and the afterlife being portrayed as a terrifying event, it is instead described as something peaceful and with the hope that death isn't the end. In this case, the afterlife is seen as the Veil, which can only be accessed by certain people.

This brings me on to the characters. Kate is a young woman who realises she is one of the Skilled, a person able to look into the veil and actually enter it, as well as being able to heal people using the veil's magic.
Silas is the anti-hero of the story, a so-called killer who seems at first glance to be heartless and very much the person who makes Kate's life hell and destroys her life as she knows it.
It quickly becomes clear, however, that Silas is the least of her worries and that he isn't as evil as first portrayed. In fact, by the end of the novel he was my favourite character and the ultimate example of how people can change.

The final reason i loved this book so much was for the actual story itself which was fast paced, fun and very emotional. Ultimately, the whole journey starts with Kate trying to free her Uncle when he is captured, and from there the story just flows really easily and believably, which each event leading into the next (and it all makes sense!)
I liked the relationship between Kate and her friend Edgar, who would literally have followed her to the ends of the earth if he had to in order to save her. I also found it interesting to watch how Kate and Silas's relationship changes from hostile to something more akin to friendship, as they end up working together against a woman so evil she tortured mice as a child (yes, she is a bit nasty).
Also, it was refreshing to see a different spin on the whole Good Vs Evil story, it made a change to have a plot that kept me guessing until the end.

Overall Verdict?