Clockwork Dolls by William Meikle

Publication Date: 29/01/2013

Publisher: DarkFuse

Pages: 152

Genre: Horror/Mystery/Thriller

Target Audience: Adults

Synopsis: Does all human passion, all memory, all imagination come merely from the chemistry in our brains, like the movements of a clock follow from the arrangement of its cogs and wheels?

Are we just clockwork dolls? 

Or is there an organizing principle at work, something we can ask for answers to the important questions of existence... something that might answer? 

Dave Burns has asked. 

Now he, and his friends, might not live long enough to understand the reply.

My Review: Netgalley doesn't class this as horror. I disagree. It scared the crap out of me in more ways than one. I'm going to keep this review spoiler free so as not to ruin the affect for future readers because this is one short story you don't want to miss.

Is it really possible to ask the Cosmos for something and actually have it granted? well it does in this novel and with devastating consequences.  This is so well written I was creeped out by every twist and turn and every time something unexpected happened I felt like the bottom of my stomach dropped about a foot.

I never thought that such a short novel could have such a huge impact, not only on my emotions but also on my ideas of God, the Universe and Fate.  This is a thought provoker if ever there was one. Though be warned the main character is a bit erm annoying at first but I did warm to him.

Anyway read this when it's released. It's totally mind blowing.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Running by Barbara Spencer

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

I got a copy of this book months ago from Waterstones, Rose Lane in Canterbury where I met the author and she signed me a copy. She's a lovely lady and a phenomenal writer whose books definitely deserve more acclaim than some other books I know of (not mentioning any!)
Anyway, here's the Goodreads synopsis as if I try to write it I'm sure I'll accidentally spoil the plot:


Fifteen year old Scott Anderson has a secret so big he daren't share it even with his best friends. He and his dad are American. If you're American, you don't talk about it. If you don't talk about that, you don't talk about any of the other secrets that haunt your life that your dad's really a computer scientist and people are searching for him. 


When Bill Anderson disappears, Scott is determined to find him. He has already lost his mother. She disappeared in the California earthquake, which killed ninety percent of the world's computer scientists; a tragedy for which America is held responsible. But there's little for Scott to go on; a scrap of paper left in a printer and a poster pinned to the wall. Now someone's looking for Scott, too. Is it the mysterious Frenchman, who pretends to be a radiation expert, or Sean Terry of the American Secret Service, who believes the United States innocent of the crimes levelled against it? Could it be Hilary Stone, the prettiest girl in class, who also claims to work for the American Secret Service? Or is it someone else entirely? 


Running is pretty much that epic novel that we would all like to read but have yet to find, only in this case I have found it.  The journey across the what used to be the UK is pretty amazing (England, Scotland and Wales are classed as Europe now) and it never lets up. There's fights, spies, a few who-dunnits to puzzle through and a few OMG moments that will leave you a bit stunned.


The setting itself is incredible and there's enough conspiracy theory involving tracing and following to keep any conspiracy fan entertained and thoroughly freaked out. I have to admit, the idea of being able to be traced and governments having enough power to close off whole roads and cities, to be truly terrifying. What I also found scary was the bad-guys ability to track Hilary and Scott using a tiny pebble sized tracker without them realising. The fact that they were never safe just added a whole lot of tension to the mix.


Perhaps the most fascinating thing though was seeing America as the outcast country which is unusual in books. As someone who reads a lot of books by American authors I'm used to everything being set there, so it made a change to have the book set, not only in the UK, but to have the main character American, and living in UK, unable to return to a country being blamed for something it may or may not have done. The affects of this situation were far reaching and although as the reader I never got to see the situation in the states, it would have been fascinating to do so.


Needless to say for the most part the mystery is solved in the end and wow is it a twist. Nothing is what it first appears to be and that's what I like in a book and as for the actual ending, I honestly didn't see that little twist coming at all. There are a few loose ends, and I wouldn't mind a sequel of some sort just to see how things turn out. Fingers crossed!

Numbers 3: Infinity by Rachel Ward

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Thriller/Dystopia


This is the third in the Numbers series and yet this installment is as original and as enthralling as the other two! I have tried several times to right my own synopsis but I keep failing to sum it up so for once I'm going to use the synopsis on Goodreads to avoid any spoilers:




"Post-Chaos 2029. Adam, Sarah and Mia are living together, struggling with the fame of seeing numbers - the dates when people will die. But something is about to tear them apart. During The Chaos Mia swapped her number for another. Suddenly her powerful new ability makes her a terrifying target. Everyone wants to live for ever."


So that's the story in a nutshell but there is so much more to it than that and it's going to be difficult to review without spoiling anything. It almost makes me wish I could go back to the days when I did post spoilers and put a warning on the post, but I don't want to do that with this because I think everyone should be able to read this.  So...what can I tell you?
Two years have passed since The Chaos and things in the UK still haven't picked up, most of the cities have emptied and civilians are living in tents in the country and some people are law unto themselves and I found this terrifying especially considering what then happens to Mia, Sarah and Adam and what they go through in this book.


As with the other books I was stunned the issues that Miss Ward manages to tackle in here while still being sensitive. In the last book we saw Child abuse and rape among other things. In this we see some truly horrifying and sensitive topics handled very carefully and yet in such a way that they are still able to shock and stun the reader without being overbearing.
For some people these issues may be too hard to handle, but for me it highlighted some seriously twisted aspects of human nature that are more common than most of us would care to admit or see even when faced with them.  You may be reading this thinking: 'Why would I read this?' Simply because this is a fantastic story and in the end this is a story of Good Vs Evil and despite the horrifying and gut wrenching parts you will feel so warmed by the ending.


If I were to generalise this novel I would say it's a thriller set in a dystopian world, but in fairness there is much more to this than meets the eye. This isn't just a thriller, it's a story of desperation, human nature, survival but also love, hope and family something that becomes all the more important in the world in which this is set.
 The characters are fantastic, especially Adam, Mia and Sarah and we see some new ones too (not all of which are good) including Saul, Daniel and a rather irritating and evil man named Newsome and they all play their parts in the events that occur. 


All in all this is a powerful and emotive read which will have your heart racing at a ridiculous speed. It has an amazing ending, one death scene you will never forget and a heart wrenching twist that will shock you to the core. Amazing novel and full marks!

Red Glove by Holly Black

Target Audience: Young Adults/Adults
Genre: Fiction/Thriller

Wow, this book is absolutely amazing!!! Don't get me wrong I'm not some con loving criminal but I have to admit reading about that lifestyle is absolutely fantastic. Red Glove is just as twisted, frightening, and unbelievably original as White Cat was, if not more. Here's my brief spoiler free description before I go further into my review, and please, if you haven't read White Cat, DON'T read any further...

Cassel Sharpe spent years thinking he had murdered his best friend Lila only to find out that in fact he had changed her into a white cat. How? Cassel is a transformation worker, able to transform people into anything he wants. Cruelly forced into doing his brothers murderous deeds and then forced into forgetting, Cassel wasn't even aware of his power until the truth came out when his brothers plans went wrong.
Now things take an even bigger twist, Lila is now human again and has been forced to love Cassel by the hand of his emotion working mother and things go from bad to worse when Cassel's brother is killed and both the Law and the Mob try to get Cassel on their side, neither of which is an appealing prospect for him. As the sides gear up against him and as his troubles with Lila grow, Cassel will have to work his best con yet to get out of trouble.

Well what can I say? I just love the world this is set in. Yes, it is modern day America but with a twist. Some people are born with the gift of Curse Working, meaning they curse/gift people simply by touching them. This may seem wonderful in theory but in this story Holly Black has realised what the consequences of such powers would be.
The result? Two sides: the pro-workers people and the anti-workers and a whole mess of politicians trying to force through laws that mean manditory testing to find out if your a worker. In this reality, everyone wears gloves so that no one will fear being touched and therefore 'worked', and to me this was a fascinating and yet sadly bleak future where there is little trust among anyone.

Having said that though, trust seems to be a theme in this series and in this book. Most of the characters in Red Glove are conning someone to some extent and in some cases it's pretty amusing, and in others very tragic and dangerous. What I found most amazing though was the strength of family values in this book, and the length to which Cassel went to protect even those that have hurt him was amazing.

The other thing I loved, in a more general sense, is the idea of Blowback. In most books you'll get characters that have limitless powers for them to use and abuse. In this reality there are consequences, for example, if your a death worker and you kill someone using your power, something else on you has to die. For example, you may lose a body part. I thought this was a genius idea and it added weight to some of the characters actions, after all, if your willing to lose a finger to kill someone, then you must really hate them!

The characters themselves were fantastic in every way. Cassel opened up a lot more in this novel and as a result was able to handle things a lot better and learn from his past mistakes whilst coming into his own instead of being led along by his family.
Other characters shone in this installment as well, including Sam, Daneca and Lila. I can't really say in what way though without spoiling something, and I will not spoil this book for anyone :-)

I'm going to wrap this review up by saying that this is another wonderful novel by Holly Black and as well as having one hell of a con job at the end and a wonderful romance on the side, there is a meaningful undercurrent regarding family, ethics and ultimately doing what you believe is right, NOT  what everyone else believes to be right.

Changeling: Zombie Dawn by Steve Feasey

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


It's here, the end of one of my favourite series is here and it is AMAZING!  I literally finished this in one day because I could not put it down. It seems like only yesterday when, after a crap day at work I decided to buy myself a book and Changeling was the one that caught my attention.  Five books later and I am so glad I made that choice :-)

I'll give you a brief, spoiler free synopsis to give you an idea what this book is about. If you haven't read the first four yet please don't read this synopsis, go read the first book instead!
Anyway, after the demon games of the previous book, Trey, Alexa, Tom and Lucien are left planning what to do about the evil vampire Caliban and his sorceress; Helde, who have taken over most of the Netherworld and is plotting world domination.
Trey is still coming to terms with the effects of the demon games and his changing relationship with Alexa, and Lucien is also still dealing with the changes he is going through. In the midst of all this, an old friend of Trey's turns up and things take a horrible turn for the worse.

Anyway, that's all I'm summing up! I will tell you though that this book is amazing and well, amazing! Wow! I was left breathless after reading this and ending was superb, I honestly couldn't have asked for a better ending.
As usual the plot was pacey and the twists and turns were amazing. I will say that there are some truly tense moments that will have you on the edge of your seat and some that are extremely moving and very sad.  At the same time, the fact that this is a teenage/young adult book is evident as the gore factor never goes over the top and is written just right, after all, no one wants to be so grossed out they can't finish a book, and the storyline is fantastic so I think Steve has found a perfect meeting in the middle.

And the characters?  All your the favourites are back including Trey, Alexa, Tom, and Lucien as well as a few other characters that we have come to know. Perhaps my favourite two though were Trey and Alexa, there relationship is amazing and I loved how things progressed for them and the way they worked together throughout the novel.
Tom and Lucien were amazing as well, and it was fascinating to learn more about Lucien's abilities and the ways in which he's changing.

In the interests of not spoiling the plot I will stop now and sum up this review by saying that this is a scary, funny, pacey, breathtaking and slightly romantic read and as it is the last in the series I will also say that I loved how it has been brought to a close. I don't know what Steve is writing next, but you can be sure I'll be reading it!
Oh, and also, don't forget the zombies...Lots of ZOMBIES!!!

Changeling: Demon Games by Steve Feasey

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults/Anyone with an imagination
Genre: Horror/Fantasy

I love this series a lot and i couldn't wait to get my hands on the forth in the series. The start was a little slow but i really didn't mind because the pace picked up so much that i found myself barely able to put it down.

This installment picks up roughly where the last one ended with Alexa and her friend Philipa stuck in the netherworld, Lucien is on a mission of his own to discover why his fangs have grown back and what Caliban is up to. Of course unbeknown to him, while Lucien is seeking out the battle Angel; Moriel, Trey and Alexa are in more danger than anyone realises. Meanwhile, Caliban is up to something sinister that will ultimately cause massive trouble in both the Netherworld and the Human world.

One of the things i really enjoyed about this book was how much the story developed and the little things that were revealed along the way, both character wise and story wise. The story itself comes from several viewpoints which merge as it progresses. I found Trey and Alexa's viewpoints to be the most attention grabbing though as i watched their relationship develop and progress. Also, the idea of the games themselves were a genius idea and watching Trey deal with everything that was thrown at him really strengthened my respect for his character and i can't believe he went from that disbelieving young boy to a strong and heroic young adult.

Also, Alexa's adventures with the Ashnon were brilliant and for a creature who is a demon and can't feel love then i was rather surprised at it's loyalty towards her and Philipa. With regards to Lucien, his side of the story was truly revealing as i learned about his new developing abilities and changes that he had undergone since he was healed at the end of book two and i loved the friendship he slowly develops with Moriel (who is simply awesome by the way)

For those who have been wanting more romance in the series, there is definately a bit more in this book. And there's a few scenes between Trey and Alexa that made me feel all gooey inside. Truly, truly an awesome book for those who are fans of Horror, fantasy and a general good story. Brilliantly Imaginative.

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.

White Cat by Holly Black

Target Audience: Adults
Genre: Thriller/Fantasy

Wow, well i'm still slightly gobsmacked by how brilliant this book is. Admittedly, with Holly's writing you tend to love it or hate it, and i LOVE it. The writing style is awesome and the dramatic change in subject matter from her last series was a welcome jump, and she has proved herself (at least in my eyes) that she is a very versitile writer.

Cassel was a brilliant character, and i knew from the beginning that there'd be more to his story than initially thought. To me, when i first started reading about him killing someone, i thought he might be an anti-hero but it turned out i was so very wrong. His complex feelings towards other people were brilliantly written and his sense of confusion is expertly translated accross to the reader through the text.

Other characters also come to life on the pages. Cassel's grandfather was another favourite of mine, and by the end i completely hated his brothers Phillip and Barron. How can anyone be so Callous?

The twists and turns taken throughout the plot were strokes of genius and the Cons that went on throughout were hilarious, especially that final one in the bathroom. And, if all that wonderful twisty plot wasn't enough Holly then goes and leaves the book on a wonderful cliff-hanger of sorts that has left me seriously wanting to read the next in the series.

Lies by Michael Grant

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Dystopia/Thriller


***Contains Multiple Spoilers***

WOW! I am so glad i ordered this and didn't wait for it to be released in the UK, otherwise i'd have been waiting a stupidly long time (yes, to me, 2 months is a long time!). Just when i thought Grant couldn't surprise me anymore, he goes and does it again, and i was left gaping with shock on several occasions at the twists and turns the storyline took, none of which i found predictable. To me it just seems as if this novel is one big roller coaster and there's no way, as a reader, i wanted to get off.

In order to give a bit more understanding i'll summarise some of the plot as succinctly as i can (i hope). Lies picks up a few months after Hunger finishes. The darkness is presumed dead, Drake is dead also and the 'human crew' are living on one side of town whereas the 'freaks' and 'friends of freaks' are living in the other. Things appear to have settled down, but cracks begin to show as the town council can't decide anything, Sam is frustrated with Zil and his crew and then to make matters worse Caine also gets involved, the result being a terrible fire that rages through Perdido Beach. As if that isn't enough Sam, and several others, glimpse Drake, the boy from most peoples nightmares, through the smoke of the burning town...

As well as the heart-racing plot there is also some fantastically written character development throughout. As a reader i found it fascinating to see the different sides of some of the more well known characters. Sam and Astrid were perhaps the most contrasting in this installment. Sam showing his very vulnerable yet resolute side and Astrid daring to admit that she's capable of failure and messing up. Other minor characters take more centre stage as well. Characters like Orsay and Mother Mary play extremely important roles to the plot this time, and in the case of Little Pete, once again he is a major factor in the events that occur.

With regards to character relationships, Sam and Astrid were once again a centre couple, even if they do spend a lot of the novel split up, thats only because it's extremely necessary to what happens and for the character development. My other stand out was Diana and Caine, their relationship is so unique (and slightly creepy) i can't help but wonder where it will go.

One of the most amazing things that occured to me was that fact that Little Pete, the little boy suffering Autism, is the one that in fact has the most power and manipulation. All the so called 'normal' kids are more often or not powerless to some extreme, yet this one little boy has the ability to change things. The idea of that to me is wonderful and if interpreted in a particular way sends the message that anyone can do something if they put their minds to it. Lets face it, it's all to easy to pick a dangerous character from someone whose strong and tell, a young child makes for a more unpredictable and interesting story.

There are, without doubt, some scenes that some readers will find disturbing, with themes such as suicide, starvation, cruelty and brutality. However, there is no doubt in my mind that the whole book has been cleverly and intelligently written. All i would say is that younger or sensitive readers read with caution!

Anyways, the next in the series is called Plague and i think it may have something to do with the illness thats starting to spread throughout this book, although i can't be sure. Still, i like to guess.

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.

Changeling by Steve Feasey

Target Audience: Kids/Teens
Genre: Thriller/Horror/Fantasy


As much as i love a paranormal romance, occasionally, i just want to read a good fantasy horror which is, well, different. This book fit that category nicely, and had a few extra intersting points to it that i wasn't expecting.

In summary, Changeling is about a teenage boy called Trey Laporte, who, after his grandmother dies ends up in a care home. Fast-forward a few years and he wakes up in his room one day with the place trashed and the door still locked, with no clue as to how it got that way. About to be punished for wrecking his room, he is saved by a man claiming to be his 'Uncle Lucien' who has come to see him, but not everything is as it seems and shortly after leaving with Lucien, the truth about himself and his family finally surfaces...

I found the paranormal side of this fascinating, the werewolf scenes were awesome and so well imagined that i could picture what was happening clearly in my mind, as if it was happening in front of me (and believe me, a 7/8 foot wolf is terrifying). The pace is non-stop and i was left breathless with what was happening in some instances. What i also loved is that it was set in London which was a change for me, since i usually read a lot of American books which are set in High School or various states, so it was brilliant to be able to imagine clearly where the events were taking place (although i don't think i'll ever go into the London Underground on my own again!)
If your a major vampire fan as well as werewolves, then you won't be diappointed, as there's plenty of them, among random other new and exciting paranormal entities to read about, my personal favourite being the Sputem Djinn (Yuck! lol)and all of the creatures/monsters in this book are given an original and refreshing make-over compared to other books i have read.

Character-wise, i absolutely loved Trey, he was funny, brave, and emotional (which made a change in a book with a male protagonist!) With regards to how he dealt with all the revelations thrown at him, i was quite impressed, because if it was me i'd have done a runner. At the same time though, it was believable as he didn't go all heroic with no panicking and make all the perfect choices, nope, Trey is a flawed hero and those are my favourite kind!
Lucian, i thought, was brilliant and the relationship that forms between him and Trey is wonderful to read about, especially when you realise how much like a father Lucian becomes to him (which pretty much sets up the whole second book!).
Alexia is the character who provides the slight bit of romance into the book, and it's clear that there are sparks between her and Trey from the start, i also love her attitude, she's fun, witty and withstands a lot of crap that's thrown at her.
Finally, my character babble wouldn't be complete without mentioning Tom, the awesome Irish guy who is simply, well, awesome!

To summarise, this book is so brilliant i believe everyone who loves a good fast-paced adventure, with some wonderful twists, heart-stopping emotions and a cliff-hanger that will leave you needing the next in the series, so give this book a read.

Fab book!

The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

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


I'm making this review a little bit more in-depth than the others i have done for this. Mainly because it's my own blog and i feel i can babble on a bit more about the books i really like, and this definitely falls under that category.

I'm not much of a book snob and i'll pretty much try reading anything before i judge it, and i'm glad i did that with these books because someone told me that they were a bit childish (which i totally disagree with). To me they weren't childish, but rather pure escapism within a well written fantasy novel which just happens to be aimed at children and teens :-)

Ok, now that little bit is over with i'll continue with my thoughts on the actual book which, by the way, is awesome!
In summary, 'The Angel Experiment' is about a group of children known as 'the flock', why are they called this? Because they have wings, and yes, they can actually fly. A result of genetic experiments, the children are brought up in a lab known as the School, from which they escape with the help of Jeb, a scientist who works there. Fast forward a few years and the Erasers (terrifying wolf-like creatures) from the School find them and kidnap Angel, leaving Max and the others no choice but to return to the School and rescue her.

If you haven't read these books then your now probably confused as to who Max and Angel are. Max is the leader of the flock and the oldest. Fang is her 'right-winged man' as she puts it, Angel is the youngest of the group and can read minds, Iggy is the same age as Max and Fang but is blind (and the only one who can cook!), Nudge is a fashion conscious eleven year old and The Gasman is an eight year old who really likes to blow things up!
The characters are one of the main reasons i loved this book, their all so individual and i couldn't help but love all of them in their own way. I admired Max's 'take no crap' attitude and her will to survive and i loved Angel's innocence in this book and Iggy and the Gasman are just hilarious when they work together.
The whole novel is one big rollercoaster; it has highs, lows, it made me laugh and it even made me cry at one point. I found the pace of the plot just right, it was fast enough to keep me reading but not so fast i got lost and watching the events unfold revealing twists, turns and posing more questions really kept me hooked right to the end.

As someone who loves a bit of romance as well, i found the changing relationship between Fang and Max fun to read about, although not over-bearing as it is in some novels out there.
Loyalty, friendship and family are an important message that's also repeated a lot, as is the importance of identity, as the flock also try and figure out who their parents were and where they came from, which i found to be exceptionally moving.

The Angel Experiment is the first in a series, and i can guarantee that once you read the first one you will be hooked and want to read the rest, i know i was, and i'm now eagerly awaiting the 7th in the series.
If you love fantastical, fun, exciting and emotional reads, then this is definately the book for you!

Gone by Michael Grant

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Dystopia/Thriller


Gone is one of those rare books that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it, or at least it did in my case.
In order to give a better understanding of my review i'm going to give a brief summary of the actual story and i'll try not to write any spoilers for those who haven't read it.

The events are set in the town of Perdido Beach in which nothing much really happens until everyone over the age of fourteen just vanishes into thin air. It happens suddenly and isn't built up to, like in most books, one minute the class teacher is there and literally a few lines down the first page, and he's gone.
No explanation, nothing.
Sam and several other children at the school then set out to explore the town, and the children soon discover that all the adults and teenagers who have reached fifteen have vanished all over town, not to mention that there's a barrier appeared around the edge that stops anyone leaving.
The nightmare doesn't stop there either and situation gets more bizarre as the novel goes on, introducing a darkness with a consciousness and talking coyotes among many other things.
What entails is a fight for survival and dominance as a group of other children try to take over Perdido Beach and enforce their own rules.

As described in the previously mentioned summary there's clearly a lot happening throughout and i have to admit i did have to really focus at points to keep up with the story, but this didn't bother me, because it was so brilliantly written.
Some of the ideas are so imaginative and sureal that i found myself gripped by them, and i was honestly terrified by the talking Coyotes, there was something about them i found profoundly creepy.

As well as the creepy enemies though, there's also the cast of amazing characters, ranging from the normal everyday sort of person to the kind with super powers.
The main characters include Sam (who has serious fire power), Astrid (the genius) and Quinn (Sam's best friend). On the side of the Boarding school children there are Caine (the ringleader who tries to control perdido beach), Drake (the psychopath who likes to hurt people) and Diana (the very smart but sometimes evil female of the group).
The clash between the two sides is electric, and makes for a brilliant plot line, but it is by far not the only thing happening and the novel deals with aspects such as survival, drink and eating disorders.
In light of the adults disapearing and with a lack of laws, you have children passing harsh punishments for 'law breakers', some kids turning to drink, and children with problems starting to spiral out of control.

It isn't all doom and gloom though, among the darkness there is definately humour to give more than a bit of light relief. One of the main messages is of hope and it is something that is reinforced throughout, that however bad things get, these kids fight like anything to survive.
Among all this, there is also a bit of romance between a couple of the characters and this too adds some cheeriness, along with the friendships that are forged between the children and the loyalty most of them show to one another.

All this together becomes an exciting, fast-paced, emotional and very meaningful adventure that definately made me think about a few things. How would we respond if nearly everyone vanished? Would we be able to control the nasty side of human nature if we had to survive in a dangerous environment?
The answer to those questions can't really be answered, but i've definately been prompted to think about them, and a lot more besides.

Excellent Read!

The Enemy by Charlie Higson

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults/Adults
Genre: Dystopia/Thriller/Horror

First things first, as a face value zombie horror it works well, and it did the job of scaring me and creeping me out, both in equal measure. It's been a while since i've felt genuine terror from reading a book, so for that Higson deserves to be congratulated. BUT, there is so much more to this book and it is that makes it so amazing.

The characters are varied and are related to in such a way you can't help but feel for them, even the ones that you really think you should hate (you'll understand what i mean when you read it). Unlike a lot of writers, Higson is not afraid to lose any of his characters and this makes the story all that more realistic and emotional. At some points i found myself so attached to some of them that when they died i found myself feeling quite upset. Despite the fighting and the violence, the more difficult issues are handled sensitively and with humanity and a way that really makes you care.

With regards to the title of the book, during the few chapters the obvious 'enemy' are the grown-ups, but the lines become blurred as the children quickly realise that enemies come in different shapes and sizes and it becomes clear that the 'enemy of your enemy' is not always your friend.

I can't say anymore without spoiling it, but this is one of the most revealing, emotional and action-packed books i've ever read. I can't wait until the next in the series.