Review: Famous In Love by Rebecca Serle

Title: Famous In Love.
Series: Famous In Love, #1.
Author: Rebecca Serle.
Publication Date: October 24th, 2014.
Publisher: Macmillan.
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult.
Format: Paperback, 309 pages.
Source: Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:

Fame comes before a fall...

When Paige Townsen gets picked to star in the movie adaptation of a blockbuster book series, her life changes practically overnight. Within a month she's thrown into a world of gossip, rumour and deceit. The only people who know what she's going through are her two male costars, but her feelings for them are getting complicated. Paige knows it's a mistake to fall in love on the set of a movie, but days of on-screen romance start to change her mind. The question is, can she keep what happens behind the scenes a secret when the world is watching her every move?

 

Review

I wasn't sure what to make of Famous In Love when I first started reading it, I thought there were only two directions this type of book could go in. It could either be a brilliantly done novel that I absolutely adored, or a book that I threw across the room in a tantrum from my dislike of the book. I'm actually incredibly proud to say that, although I was a little frustrated at times by Famous In Love, I also really enjoyed reading it. I wouldn't say that it was the most incredible book I have ever read, but It was pretty darn awesome!

Paige is our main protagonist in Famous In Love, and I have to admit I wasn't overly keen on her character at first. At first she really irritated me, and If it wasn't for the fact that the storyline was really interesting, I would have put the book down then and there. However, I am so glad I didn't, because Paige ended up turning into a brilliant and funny character, with lots of charm and depth to her that she didn't have at the beginning of the book.

I was also a little worried about the obvious love-triangle that was implied before I even started reading Famous In Love. I'm not usually fond of love-triangles at all, but I actually found myself really intrigued by this one! The way Paige feels about both the love interests in Famous In Love, is completely different. They both make her feel completely different things than the other, which is what made me like it so much! I was honestly a little anxious to find out who she'd choose over the two boys, as their relationships are so stark and different. I honestly didn't have a clue as to what would happen next in Paige's relationships - I just had to keep guessing and most of the time I was wrong! Rainer and Jordan, the love interests, were both brilliant and beautifully developed characters that are just really swoon-worthy! It wasn't until the end of the book that I finally decided on who I wanted to root for, my opinion kept changing with every passing chapter.

Overall, I thought Famous In Love was a fantastic book, and I definitely enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I was going to! The different relationships throughout this book are what really kept me interested in Famous In Love, as they just kept on developing and growing until the very end. Rebecca Serle's writing is witty, sweet and interesting and she creates characters that you just can't help but love. I believe Famous In Love really deserves the 4/5 star rating, and I honestly can't wait to find out what happens next in this series as I'm sure it's going to be brilliant!

Quotes

He has this look on his face like he wants to say something. I hold my breath. But he doesn't talk. He doesn't say anything. He kisses me.
My chest tightens and then swells as his lips come down on mine. My hands travel up his arms to grip his shoulders. He presses me to him so there is no space between us. He's kissing me with so much intention. It's gentle and soft and strong and sweet all at once. It's everything I have ever wanted. I can feel us getting soaked, feel the rain on our faces, but I don't care. - Page 166.

That's the thing about success. it changes a lot, but not everything. You still have bad hair days. Friendships that have fallen apart won't miraculously be fixed. And the people who didn't love you before still won't. Because the one thing success never changes, no matter what level you reach, is what has already happened. - Page 251.

That's life. It just happens, and with it a lot of stuff you can't take back. But the wonderful part is that often, the things that challenge you, that require you to use your whole self, are exactly those that are really worth it. - Page 291.

And see, that's the thing I didn't understand. The thing no one tells you. That just because you find love doesn't mean it's your to keep. Love never belongs to you. It belongs to the universe. To the same wind that blows the surfers across the waves and the current that carries you back to shore. You can't hold on to it because it's bigger than anything you could possibly grasp with your own bare hands. It's bigger than me or Rainer or Jordan. It's bigger than everything. - Page 308.

Review: The Rain by Virginia Bergin

Title: The Rain.
Series: The Rain, #1.
Author: Virginia Bergin.
Publication Date: July 17th, 2014.
Publisher: Macmillan.
Genres: Post-Apocalyptic, Young Adult.
Format: Paperback, 384 pages.
Source: Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:

It's in the rain...and just one drop will kill you.

They don't believe it at first. Crowded in Zach's kitchen, Ruby and the rest of the partygoers laugh at Zach's parents' frenzied push to get them all inside as it starts to drizzle. But then the radio comes on with the warning, "It's in the rain! It's fatal, it's contagious, and there's no cure."

Two weeks later, Ruby is alone. Anyone who's been touched by rain or washed their hands with tap water is dead. The only drinkable water is quickly running out. Ruby's only chance for survival is a treacherous hike across the country to find her father-if he's even still alive.

 

Review

It feels like I haven’t written a review in about a year, although it has only been a couple of months. So, I apologise if I seem a little rusty! The Rain is set in a diary format and it is as if the main character is speaking directly to you, I absolutely loved this, as I don’t come across books like it very often! The Rain is a brilliant and pretty darn awesome post-apocalyptic novel with a really fantastic premise and interesting characters. Every time I go to get a glass of water now, I pause for a second and need to remind myself that it hadn’t happened in real life – not yet at least!

Ruby is our main protagonist and I actually started off liking her quite a lot, she seemed like a very typical teenage girl and was generally a pretty bubbly and interesting character. However, the more I read The Rain, the more I grew to dislike her. Ruby turned out to be an irritating, annoying, frustrating, big-headed, over dramatic, rude and mean character. The way she treated people, her family included, made me want to whack her over the head with the book. I know she’s only seventeen, but you would think, given the circumstances (and the fact that she’s nearly an adult) she’d mature a little, but she just got worse as the book went on. I don’t know whether this was Virginia Bergin’s plan all along, but Ruby was definitely not a character I would want to know!

Overall, The Rain was a really good book that I found really difficult to put down; I needed to find out what would happen next! Virginia Bergin’s writing is different and unique and I have to say I’ve definitely not read anything like it before. I loved the format the book was in, a diary written by Ruby and although I didn’t like Ruby’s character, it didn’t detract from the brilliance of the book. Virginia Bergin is a fantastic author and I can’t wait to read more from her in the future, I would also definitely recommend The Rain to any post-apocalyptic fan as it really is a unique read!

Quotes

Simon’s hands snatched round my middle and pulled me back. He pinned me to him.
My scream died in the air; it died and joined all the other screams. They live like ghosts, like echoes in the minds of the living. My scream burst out and died and lungs refused - refused - to suck air in. I wanted to stop, to die with that scream.
‘Breathe, breathe, breathe,’ Simon kept saying. He was crying. He would not let me go.
Then it comes. Your lungs suck in air; your body decides for you. You will live.
You’re one breath away from her, then two, then three, then four, then five.
Mum, I am still breathing. - Page 72 & 73.

Whitby, outside, had started to whimper...and the sound of his crying, it was awful and I could feel I was about ready to totally yee-haa...and then...something kicked in, just for a second, about how..I dunno. How it’s so hard now to work things out it’s maybe easier to work them out with other people, but how being with other people is dangerous as well as safer...because you have to agree all the time...because if you don’t sort it out and you don’t agree, a lot of things can go wrong.
Basically people can die. [...]

My eyes were so tear-blurry I could hardly even see Whitby running after the car, barking. Please don’t leave me, please don’t leave me, please don’t leave me.
I could hardly even see him until he was just a tiny dot, sitting in the middle of the motorway, howling. - Page 304.

I had these thoughts – strange, but not scary – about how maybe there’d be so few people left now that the animals would set up a human zoo and bring their animal children to stare at us and tell them in Animalese to shush and not frighten us, and give us mobile phones to play with and feed us on tinned stuff and bottles of cola. Yikes! And try to get us to breed! Imagine spending the rest of your life trapped in a cage with Darius Spratt, being forced to try to like each other. – Page 343.

Review: Mutant City by Steve Feasey

Title: Mutant City.
Series: Mutant City, #1.
Author: Steve Feasey.
Publication Date: May 8th, 2014.
Publisher: Bloomsbury.
Genres: Sci-Fi, Post-Apocalyptic, Young Adult.
Format: Paperback, 345 pages.
Source: ARC Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:

Fifty years ago, the world was almost destroyed by a chemical war. Now the world is divided into the mutants and the pure. Mutants must fight for survival in a scarred landscape, while the privileged pure live out a life of disease-free perfection.

Thirteen years ago, a covert government experimental facility was shut down and its residents killed. The secrets it held died with them. But five extraordinary kids survived.

Today four teenagers are about to discover that their mutant blood brings with it special powers. They are heading straight for Mutant City with rival factions close behind. One by one, they face the enemy. Together, they must stay alive...

 

Review

Mutant City is one of those books that I just didn’t expect to love as much as I did. Mutant City did take me a few weeks to read, as I’ve been in a huge reading slump lately, but I enjoyed every moment I was reading it! Although a few of the ideas in Mutant City aren’t exactly original; it’s a fun, fast-paced, and action-packed book that will ensnare the reader and keep them wanting to keep turning the pages to find out what’ll happen next.

Mutant City switches perspectives throughout the book, so each new chapter is in the view of a different character – I believe it switches between 5 or 6 characters throughout the book. At the beginning, this was rather confusing, and I found myself flipping back to the first few pages to find out which character was which. But by the time I’d read about quarter of Mutant City I was really engrossed and invested in pretty much all the characters.

Rush is one of the characters that we read the most about, and I really loved him. He’s a bit of a head-strong guy, but eventually learns to trust the new people he’s meeting. I just loved the amount of compassion he showed throughout the book towards the people he cares about. Brick is also another one of the main characters in Mutant City, and although there really isn’t that many chapters based solely on him, I adored his character too. He’s a big guy, as mentioned on many different occasions throughout the book, but he has a soft heart, and is just a really strong, caring and overall loveable character.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Mutant City and I think it truly is a brilliant and wonderful novel. The fact that you get thrown completely into the middle of Steve Feasey’s world does leave you a little confused, however it doesn’t take long to acclimatise and things become much clearer the more you read. Steve Feasey’s writing is fun and quirky, and although it’s definitely not perfect – I still absolutely adored it. I’d recommend anyone who loves a bit of Sci-Fi to read Mutant City, especially if you’re a fan of X-Men, as I’ve heard that they’re supposed to be quite similar! I believe Mutant City well and truly deserves the 4 star rating I gave it, and I can’t wait to see what happens next – as I hope there’s a sequel - because the cliff hanger ending was frustrating, but really awesome at the same time.

Quotes

‘The farm was established so I might look into mutant anomalies.’
‘Anomalies?’
‘Aberrations. Mutations so extreme that they defy scientific explanation.’ He paused to wet his dry, cracked lips.
Zander was beginning to wonder if the old man’s ramblings might be simply a result of the pain-controlling medication he was on. He glanced back towards the door, weighing up whether he should call one of the nursing staff.
The old man continued. ‘I’d heard rumours about mutants from the most extreme environments who had psychic powers and other weird abilities.’ - Page 31.

The stone he dropped, almost casually, out of the same hand landed perfectly in the small square of leather between the long thongs, and he twirled the entire thing about his head, the weapon making a low whoosh that got increasingly loud with each revolution. On the third turn he leaned into the throw and released one of the thongs so the stone flew out at a terrific speed, streaking through the air like a bullet. There was an audible crack! as the projectile connected with its target, followed by the sound of the crossbow clattering to the ground. For a moment Forkhand seemed unaware he’d been hit. He stood as a rivulet of blood flowed down his face from the centre of his forehead.
Then his eyes rolled up towards the heavens and he collapsed. - Page 187 – 188.

‘Look who’s here,’ Rush said, nodding in Tink’s direction.
Dotty took one look at the man, let out a less than friendly hurgh and walked out again, pausing in the doorway to fart loudly.
‘Well, what do you know?’ Tink said with a grin. ‘The miserable critter still hates me.’ - Page 286.

Review: Fool Me Twice by Mandy Hubbard

Title: Fool Me Twice.
Series: If Only..., #1.
Author: Mandy Hubbard.
Publication Date: June 5th, 2014.
Publisher: Bloomsbury.
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult.
Format: Paperback, 272 pages.
Source: Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:

Mackenzie is determined not to fall for Landon all over again. Not after he dumped her and got back together with his ex. But they are both at Serenity Ranch and Spa for the summer and she can’t just ignore him – especially after he takes a nasty fall and doesn’t remember ever breaking up with her! Now it’s her turn to dump him. And not without a little bit of fun first...

 
 
 

Review

Fool Me Twice is a ridiculously cute, sweet, funny and light-hearted book that’ll have anyone grinning like an idiot whilst they’re reading it. It’s full of hilarious scenes, practical jokes and romantic encounters – and although some of the scenes were a little cheesy at times, I didn’t really mind. Mandy Hubbard has a really bubbly writing style and outlook and I just loved her style of writing. Fool Me Twice is fun and quick read, and I’d really recommend any contemporary lover to pick it up and give it a go.

Mackenzie, or Mack, is our main protagonist throughout Fool Me Twice, and I really loved her character! She’s smart, witty, upbeat, funny, and caring. She has this ridiculously quirky personality and sense of style; she even dyed her hair red and blue for Independence Day! Mack was just a really loveable character that you can’t help but laugh along with, and I think if I met her in real life, she’d be someone I’d really want to be friends with. Overall I thought she was a really strong and interesting character and I was rooting for her to be happy right from the start.

Landon is the love interest throughout Fool Me Twice, and the guy Mack wants to get revenge on for breaking her heart. At first, I really didn’t like his character – he seemed too full of himself, and didn’t seem to care what so ever about how much he’d hurt Mack in dumping her the way he did. However, the more the novel progressed, the more I started to like him. It turns out he has this complete other side to him, and can be really sweet and fun. By the time I was nearing the end of the book, I was desperate for a happy ending and for the two of them to work things out and to be together. Talk about a change of opinion!

Although the majority of the characters acted and seemed much more like 16 year olds, rather than 18 (or nearly 18) year olds, it surprisingly didn’t faze me much what so ever. I have a bit of a pet peeve about characters that act stupidly, or if they really don’t act their age – but Mack, Landon and Mack’s best friend, Bailey don’t act like little kids at all - just slightly younger versions of themselves, trying to enjoy their last summer before they go off to University. As for the relationship between Landon and Mack, it was so sweet and beautiful. As much as she tried not to fall back in love with Landon, she just couldn’t help it, even after all did to her. She was willing to forgive and mostly forget the things that happened between them the year before, and at first that frustrated me, but as I read more and more, I found out I really didn’t mind so much after all.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Fool Me Twice. It’s definitely not a book to be taken too seriously, but was generally a really beautiful and kind of heart-warming tale with a lot of humour mixed in! Mandy Hubbard’s writing is fresh, funny and quirky, with a lovely ability to create a lovely backdrop to the story – I could picture the Ranch really clearly in my head! I flew through Fool Me Twice, reading it in just two sittings, and although it’s not perfect, I believe it well and truly deserves the 4/5 star rating I gave it. I can’t wait to read more books in this series and from Mandy Hubbard in the future – she’s definitely an author to keep an eye out for!

 

Quotes

“Is his horse always that hyper?”
Storm is dancing at the end of the reins, but Landon just maintains his solid grip and walks as if it’s no big deal that a thousand-pound horse is hopping around like a bunny on crack.
“Yeah, pretty much. He’s got his roping saddle on and Storm knows it. He’s such a hothead for roping.”
“Oh.”
“Should we bail?” I ask. “I mean, I don’t know the rules of engagement. Without the aid of explosives or whatever.”
“First, no, you do not let him run you off, and second, dude, explosives! We could blow up his junk!” - Page 39.

It’s out here on the trail where sometimes I think I see deep inside his soul, those moments he’s utterly content, and somehow I finally get him. It doesn’t mean we’re meant to be, doesn’t mean he won’t break my heart.
It just means deep in his heart, he’s something different. The guy who would gallop to the edge of a cliff to save you [...]. He’d share his last drop of water with you, or if your horse went lame, he’d offer you his own and then walk, even if his boots made his feet blister and the sun dang near killed him.
He might still dump you for another girl, but out here, under the never-ending sky, he’s mine. The guy I fall for over and over and over again. - Page 194 & 195.

My reverie is broken when Landon touches my knee, and I turn to him. He leans across the space between our horses, and my eyes slip closed just as his lips touch mine.
As the sun rises over the desert, we kiss. - Page 235.

Review: Her Dark Curiosity by Megan Shepherd

Title: Her Dark Curiosity.
Series: The Madman’s Daughter, #2.
Author: Megan Shepherd.
Publication Date: January 28th, 2014.
Publisher: Harper Voyager.
Genres: Historical Fiction, Re-telling, Young Adult.
Format: Paperback, 368 pages.
Source: Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:

Back in London after her trip to Dr. Moreau's horrific island, Juliet is rebuilding the life she once knew and trying to forget her father's legacy. But soon it's clear that someone – or something – hasn't forgotten her, as people close to Juliet start falling victim to a murderer who leaves a macabre calling card of three clawlike slashes. Has one of her father's creations also escaped the island?

As Juliet strives to stop a killer while searching for a serum to cure her own worsening illness, she finds herself once more in a world of scandal and danger. Her heart torn in two, past bubbling to the surface, life threatened by an obsessive killer – Juliet will be lucky to escape alive.

 

Review

I have to say, I’m really enjoying reading retellings of novels lately, so much more than I expected too! The first book in this series is a retelling of The Island of Dr. Moreau, which unfortunately I have yet to read, and Her Dark Curiosity is a retelling of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – which I have actually read many years ago. Her Dark Curiosity was an amazing novel filled with suspense and mystery that’ll keep you guessing all the way through! It’s been nearly a year since I read the first book, but with the help of useful information throughout Her Dark Curiosity and my review of the first book, everything came flooding back and I was once more engrossed in the world Megan Shepherd has written and distracted by the characters that she’s created and the trouble they get themselves into.

I recall having a love/hate relationship with Juliet in The Madman’s Daughter, but in Her Dark Curiosity she didn’t frustrate me as much, and I just generally liked her character much more. Juliet is definitely more of a bad-ass character in this novel; obviously the events that happened to her on the island in the first novel have strengthened her a lot. However, they’ve also hardened her a little more than I’d expected. A few of her decisions throughout the book, along with her reactions, kind of irritated me – but overall I think Juliet is an awesome and wonderfully developed character that I just can’t help but love. If I had the chance to meet her, I have to say I definitely would! Maybe we could discuss our mutual madness, or maybe her inability to make a sensible choice? Either way, Juliet makes some dangerous decisions and acts very irrationally on her hunt to find answers – but she’s still pretty darn awesome.

I’m always torn when it comes to what side I’m on when it comes to opinions on love triangles. Depending on how the love triangle is developed, I’m usually quite positive towards the whole situation – but there are times when the whole thing just frustrates me and I feel like throwing the book at the wall. Luckily for me, the love triangle in this series is brilliantly done and in this instance, I’m really not sure which side to be on – as I keep changing my mind! Juliet is in love with Montgomery and can’t stop thinking about him, even though he broke her heart – yet their relationship is sweet, caring and beautiful. Edward’s relationship with Juliet is so different in contrast – she’s adamant that she doesn’t love him, or care for him in that way – but there’s something about him that she’s drawn too. Maybe she’s recognising the animal within and knows that he understands her and accepts her in a way Montgomery can’t? I’m not sure, but their relationship is more primal and heady and makes me want to collapse into a chair swooning. I really can’t wait to see who she ends up choosing.

Overall, I really loved reading Her Dark Curiosity – it was fantastic sequel with twists and turns around every corner. Megan Shepherd’s writing is really brilliant and everything is so beautifully written and described. I really can’t find many faults with Her Dark Curiosity, which is why I believe it well and truly deserves the 4/5 star rating I’ve given it. I honestly can’t wait for the release of the third and final book in this trilogy; I really need to find out what happens next and where the characters end up! Megan Shepherd is an amazing author with an incredible ability to create not only amazing storylines but wonderful and loveable characters – even the enemies are brilliantly written! I’d recommend this series to anyone who’s a fan of historical fiction and mystery-thriller novels; even if you’re not well acquainted with historical novels (I’m certainly not!) So please, try and pick up this series – I’m sure you won’t regret it!

 

Quotes

I don’t know what instinct made me keep such a bloody memento of a murderer.
Call it sentimentality. Call it curiosity.
Just don't call it madness. - Page 38.

He smiled grimly, though there was no glee in to, as though for once he understood how heartbreaking this was for me. 'No serum can change who you are. Nor should you change. Genius or madness – it all depends on who’s telling the story.’ His hand stopped tapping, and that humanity flickered again in his eye. ‘You’re perfect as you are, my love.’
I took another shaky step away from him, fearful and confused, and hurried up the stairs. It didn’t matter. I couldn’t get away from his words.
He was right. No serum could cure who I really was – a Moreau, through and through. - Page 323.

Sometimes you have to embrace the darkness to stop it. - Page 333.

Review: Thirteen by Tom Hoyle

Title: Thirteen.
Author: Tom Hoyle.
Publication Date: February 13th, 2014.
Publisher: Macmillan.
Genres: Thriller, Young Adult.
Format: Paperback, 336 pages.
Source: Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:

Born at midnight in London, on the stroke of the new millennium, Adam is the target of a cult that believes boys born on this date must die before the end of their thirteenth year. Twelve have been killed so far. Coron, the crazy cult leader, will stop at nothing to bring in his new kingdom. And now he is planning a bombing spectacular across London to celebrate the sacrifice of his final victim: Adam.

 
 
 

Review

I have to say that Thirteen is one of the most unusual and strangest books I’ve read in quite a while! Although it took me quite a while to get through this book, about 9 days in total, it was nothing to do with the book itself. After finishing my last read, I found myself in a reading slump, and only managed to read a few pages at a time. However, I persevered and I’m so glad I did! To be perfectly honest, I’ve never read a cult related book before, and was a little reluctant to start Thirteen, as it’s usually not my style. But there was just something so enticing and interesting about the book that I just couldn’t resist (not to mention the cover design and yellow edged pages!). Thirteen is a fast-paced and action-packed book that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat and cringing at some of the dark and diverse scenes.

Adam is our main protagonist, and I have slightly mixed feelings about his character. I loved being able to read in a males prospective, and I thought he was really kind, sweet and innocent. He had this really adorable outlook on life and was fiercely protective of his friends, even standing up to bullies for them! However, I also thought he was really naive for his age of thirteen, nearly fourteen. I think this is mostly because of the fact that he’s a boy – as everyone seems to think they mature slower than girls (not that I’m judging!). Mostly though, I really liked his character, and although he’s probably not going to make it into my top 10 protagonists list, I thought he was a strong and likeable character that I enjoyed reading about and following his story.

Thirteen is split into two perspectives, Adam’s, and Coron’s – the psychotic and murdering cult leader that is trying to sacrifice Adam to cleanse the world of evil for a better world where he and his master shall reign. I loved reading both of their point of views and the whole aspect of this novel was unexpected and pretty brilliant and original! Reading Coron’s perspective was pretty bizarre and I had to laugh at some of the things that he came out with – he’s gone off his rockers and really delusional. I believe that Thirteen shows a really fascinating perspective into the whole theme of Cults. Especially about how easily people are coerced or drawn into these sorts of things. Something that irked me however, was the how abruptly the ending cut off – things seemed to be over in less than a page and there isn’t a whole lot of closure. Everything was building up to this final confrontation and I thought it just fell flat. I have so many questions milling around in my head; how does Adam convince the police of his innocence? What happened to the remaining characters, and what exactly happens to Adam now that the ordeal is over? Apparently there is a sequel in the works, and I’m eager to find out if my questions are answered and to see what might happen next!

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Thirteen – it was a really awesome and intriguing book that surprised me at every turn. Although Thirteen is classed as a YA novel, on one hand I’d say that it’s honestly more of a middle-grade novel. I think this mostly due to the characters, even though they’re teenagers. But on the other hand there’s a darker and more sinister side which makes me think it does fit into the YA genre - maybe it’s somewhere between the two? Tom Hoyle’s writing is funny, upbeat and quirky, but he also has the ability to create an air of seriousness to the whole situation. Thirteen is definitely not a perfect novel, but then again, I think they’re few and far between. It has its flaws; with confusing scenes and slightly jerky and robotic writing at times, but I’m very glad I read it. I’d recommend this book to anyone with an open mind, even if you’re not a young adult – I believe you’ll enjoy this book for what it is – an imaginative, thrilling novel with strong characters and a brilliant plot.

Quotes

'By the time he is fourteen, the boy has become a man... Thirteen is the last year of childhood... The boy must be killed before he is a man.' - Page 01.

Keenan spoke. ‘Before you die, I’ll tell you what you are. You are filth, but you are dangerous. Born at midnight at the millennium, two thousand years after the previous Imposter, you-‘
‘I wasn’t. I wasn’t,’ Adam tried to say. But he was.
‘You would stop Lord Coron, who will cleanse this world, from taking his real place, perhaps with me at his side.’
Coron? Cleanse the world? What was Keenan on about? This was mad!
Adam realized that these people where completely crazy. - Page 94.

Words ran around the top of the room: I will deliver you into the hands of brutal men who are skilful to destroy. You shall be the fuel for the fire; your blood shall be in the midst of the land. - Page 150.

Review: Anything to Have You by Paige Harbison

Title: Anything to Have You.
Author: Paige Harbison.
Publication Date: January 28th, 2014.
Publisher: Harlequin Teen.
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult.
Format: Paperback, 304 pages.
Source: ARC Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:

Nothing should come between best friends, not even boys. Especially not boys.

Natalie and Brooke have had each other's backs forever. Natalie is the quiet one, college bound and happy to stay home and watch old movies. Brooke is the movie—the life of every party, the girl everyone wants to be.

Then it happens—one crazy night that Natalie can't remember and Brooke's boyfriend, Aiden, can't forget. Suddenly there's a question mark in Natalie and Brooke's friendship that tests everything they thought they knew about each other and has both girls discovering what true friendship really means.

 

Review

I’ve only read one other book by Paige Harbison before, and I really enjoyed it – so I was very much so looking forward to reading Anything to Have You. I’m glad to say I was not disappointed and thoroughly enjoyed it! Anything to Have You is a fun, fast paced read with an emotional rollercoaster that’ll leave any love addict breathless. Although I thought the plotline was pretty predictable at times, there were plenty of twists and turns and I thought it was a really wonderful read that I just couldn’t put down!

Natalie is a quiet, smart and apparently gorgeous girl who prefers to stay in watching movies than to go out partying like her best friend. I loved Natalie’s character instantly, mainly because she was so relatable and always honestly tried to be the best friend she could. I was never the partying sort when I was younger, and preferred the quiet life, so I could totally understand what she was feeling. Sure, Natalie made quite a few mistakes throughout the book, but everyone does, it’s normal – and we’ve just got to live with the ones we do make. Natalie was a kind, caring and funny character that I just couldn’t help but love.

Brooke is a complete and utter social butterfly, with a flighty, bubbly and restless attitude to match. I had mixed feelings about her character whilst reading Anything to Have You, and I often thought it seemed like Brooke had two completely different personalities. Sure, Brooke could be a lovely character, kind and caring and funny, but she was also selfish, over-erratic and very self-obsessed. I didn’t like the way she treated Natalie a lot of the time, and I also thought she was way too pushy and put way too much pressure on Natalie.

The novel is split between our main character Natalie and her best friend Brooke’s perspectives, I definitely wasn’t expecting this and I really loved reading the storyline from Brooke’s point of view. I thought it was great to read about how she was really feeling, even if I didn’t like her character that much. As for the romance, there was little, but I loved it. I was rooting for Natalie and Aiden, the main love-interest in Anything to Have You, right from the beginning! Right off the bat I thought that Natalie and Aiden made a much better couple and to be perfectly honest, I didn’t think Brooke deserved him at all. I hated how poorly Brooke treated Aiden, as he really was a kind and stand-up guy who seemed to care a great deal.

Overall, I think Paige Harbison’s writing is really fantastic, and I think that it’s incredible how well she’s able to capture teenage emotions and create a storyline that’s not only interesting and fun but believable as well! I really don’t seem to understand why I’ve seen so many lower/negative ratings of Anything to Have You, sure, there are plenty of flaws – but there are also plenty of great things as well. I think it well and truly deserves the 4/5 star rating and I can’t wait to pick up even more from Paige Harbison in the future; she’s definitely an author to keep an eye out for!

Quotes

“I act how I act because the feeling is so addictive. The feeling that you are the girl in somebody’s montage. Even when a romance is a short-lived and lame, and disappointing, there’s that moment...that moment where you feel like...a girl. Not a queen, not a goddess, not a supermodel. A girl, in the way that boys are supposed to think about us. Like the golden sunlit, breeze-in-the-hair girl that we all want to be.”

" ...hanging around drinking disgusting beer that tastes like sewer water and taking shots of raspberry-flavored nail polish remover while someone's mom is out of town is not fun to me."

I bit my tongue and turned to him. His eyes scanned my face. My heart swelled. I didn’t just want to spend time with him. Or flirt with him. I didn’t even just want to kiss him or put my hands under his t-shirt. I wanted him to be my person. The one I could call when I was upset, happy, angry, any of it. And I wanted to be the person he needed.

Review: Resist by Sarah Crossan

Title: Resist.
Series: Breathe, #2.
Author: Sarah Crossan.
Publication Date: October 10th, 2013.
Publisher: Bloomsbury.
Genres: Dystopia, Post-Apocalyptic, Young Adult.
Format: Paperback, 360 pages.
Source: Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:

Everyone knows that life beyond the pod is possible. But they are trapped – each breath controlled by the Ministry.

The grove was the rebels’ chance of freedom. Now the Ministry has destroyed it and survivors must search for hope elsewhere. Alina leads the way to the only remaining Resistance base, Sequoia. There she uncovers a radical plot that could wipe out the Pod...and all those in it. Together with Quinn, Alina must escape Sequoia and save the people they love.

A brave new world is at stake.

 

Review

Resist is a really fantastic and interesting conclusion to the Breathe duology that I just couldn’t put down! It took me a while to get back into this series, as I read the first book about a year ago. However, after looking up some spoilers online – I soon managed to return to the amazing world Sarah Crossan has created. The whole prospect behind Resist and Breathe is really quite creepy because of how easily it could happen to us. There are a lot of things going on throughout Resist to keep anyone on their toes; a war is happening, new alliances are forming and the boundaries of friendship are being tested. The fun doesn’t stop there though, as there are also quite a few plot twists and dark secrets that you learn throughout Resist and I absolutely adored it!

Resist is told in the perspective of four teenagers, three we’re the main protagonists throughout the first book, Breathe and another is a completely new one altogether. I love multiple perspectives in books, as I think it’s really great to see the other side of a conversation, and how the other characters are feeling. I kind of feel like I mention this every time I review a novel with multiple perspectives, but that’s just my opinion – and I stand by it whole heartedly! I think you’d find it hard to find someone who doesn’t want to read a few paragraphs in the perspective of some of their other favourite characters, especially when romance is involved.

Alina and Bea are the two female protagonists throughout Resist, and I really loved them both. I thought that their characters were really well developed, and were easily likable. Alina’s character has changed so much since book one, and I loved the changes I saw in her. She became more caring and thoughtful and was just an awesome character to read about. As for Bea, I thought she had grown a lot since book one as well; gone is the jealous and frail girl from the beginning of Breathe. Bea is back in this book and she’s fighting hard for the ones she loves, and I thought that she was amazing and really brave.

Quinn and Ronan are the male protagonists throughout this novel – and they were both wonderful. I liked Quinn’s character, but probably not as much as I did in the first book. Although he finally realised his feelings for Bea in book one, I thought he seemed to take them a bit for granted in Resist – but that’s just my opinion. As for Ronan, he was a complete surprise, as I hadn’t expected to be able to read chapters in his perspective and I adored his character. Ronan is so unlike his father, and actually takes a step back and notices what’s going on around him – and it was great to see him choosing the right side – even if it meant going against his family and everything he’s ever known.

Although Resist took quite a few chapters to get into, once it got started it was full of action, adventure and suspense! I did find that everything the characters attempted to do was done so very easily – with very little trouble in doing so. At times a lot of it seemed too unbelievable and it frustrated me that our characters didn’t come across big enough obstacles to face. I also thought the ending was left way too open, and I didn’t think it answered enough of my questions – but it was still a great finale.

Overall, I thought Breathe was a brilliant and wonderfully done novel, and I love pretty much everything about this series! I believe it well and truly deserves the 4/5 star rating, and if it weren’t for the points I’ve mentioned, it may have gotten 5/5 stars. Sarah Crossan’s writing is really brilliant and beautiful - and she’s able to create loveable characters and an incredibly detailed world. I’d recommend this book, and series, to any dystopian lover or post-apocalyptic fan, as they really are thrilling and wonderful books. Sarah Crossan is definitely an author to keep an eye on, and I can’t wait to read more from her in the future!

Quotes

It'll be better than death.
It has to be better than death.
Doesn't it? - Page 100.

‘Am I finally being made a dame? If so, I’d like to request a transfer to the royal chambers and a servant to do my gardening for me,’ Maude says. ‘Also, I need a foot rub.’ - Page 182.

I just run. I run as fast as my lungs and legs will carry me.
The voice comes at me again. It’s Silas. ‘Run, Alina! ALINA!’
But he doesn’t need to worry. ‘ALINA!’ he shouts.
And I smile. - Page 346.

Review: Stella by Helen Eve

Title: Stella.
Author: Helen Eve.
Publication Date: January 2nd, 2014.
Publisher: Macmillan.
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult.
Format: Paperback, 362 pages.
Source: ARC Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:

Seventeen-year-old Stella Hamilton is the star blazing at the heart of Temperley High. Leader of the maliciously exclusive elite, she is surrounded by adulation, envied and lusted after in equal measure. And she is in the final stage of a five-year campaign to achieve her destiny: love with her equally popular male equivalent, and triumph as Head Girl on election night.

By contrast, new girl Caitlin Clarke has until now lived a quietly conformist life in New York. With the collapse of her parents’ marriage she has been sent across the Atlantic for an English boarding-school education, only to discover that at Temperley the only important rules are the unwritten ones. It’s a world for the beautiful and the dangerous, and acceptance means staying on the right side of Stella Hamilton, the most beautiful and dangerous of them all.

Not everyone is happy under the Hamilton rule. But fighting the system means treading the same dark path as Stella – and if Caitlin puts a foot wrong, it’s a long way to fall...

 

Review

Stella is a really fun, interesting and fascinating debut novel that I just couldn’t put down. It reminded me very much of an up to date Mean Girls, with a pretty similar storyline – although Stella was much, much better! Stella really reflects the bitchiness, cruelty and shallowness of today’s society of teenagers – well, most of them. I really had no idea what would happen next whilst reading Stella, and even though I kept guessing what was around the next corner, I was never right. There are so many different twists and turns throughout this book, and an ending that will leave you wanting more, even after the last page has been turned.

Stella is our first main protagonist and to be honest, when I first started reading this novel, I wasn’t sure what to think of her. Of course, Stella is the most popular girl in school and very cliché at that – she’s also very self-centred and is usually rude to everyone, including her friends. However, I found myself becoming very absorbed by her character and personality, and thought she was really interesting to read about. Although she was selfish, I thought that she had a different side to her, one that she didn’t want anyone else to see. A side that’s still grieving for her older sister, and worried about how quickly her younger sister is growing up and how she will turn out. A side where she is able to love passionately, even though she’d never show it. I thought Stella was a really well developed character that I just couldn’t help but love.

Caitlin is the second main protagonist and I very much liked her character at the beginning of the novel. She was very smart, kind and seemed like generally a very nice, decent and honest person. However, as the novel progressed, Caitlin begins to change. It’s really subtle at first, but when you look back over the previous pages – it’s weird to see how different she became in such a short amount of time. Unfortunately, I really didn’t like the person she ended up as. She was rude, too full of herself and quite frankly, she annoyed the hell out of me. I hoped that she’d eventually see the type of person she’d become, but unfortunately she didn’t – and she was just as self-obsessed at the end of the book, which I thought was a real shame. I just didn’t feel like I connected with her character, and if it weren’t for the fact that I liked Stella’s character, the book may have received a lower rating.

I didn’t particularly care for either of the love-interests, Luke and Edward, in Stella either. I thought they were both rather boring and very un-developed. They also both seemed to lack personality and acted like jerks a lot of the time. I was hoping there would be more romance throughout the book, but I realised too late that love is definitely not the main focus of Stella. I did also feel like it was slightly misleading with the statement that it had thriller aspects in the book, because in my opinion – there weren’t any at all. Don’t be deterred by this though, there’s plenty enough of a back-story and mean girl drama to keep anyone occupied whilst reading Stella!

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Stella – it was fast-paced and intriguing novel that kept me enthralled until the very end. Although it was a little confusing at times, mainly because I didn’t realise that Stella had two sisters, it was great read that I’d recommend to any contemporary lover who loves a bit of mean girl action! I believe it well and truly deserves the 4/5 star rating – and I think Helen Eve has some amazing writing skills. Although they could be fine-tuned in places, Helen really has a quirky, fun and beautiful writing style. I definitely can’t wait to read more from this author in the future as she really is remarkable.

Quotes

‘Surely someone told you?’ Lila said. ‘You can’t just join the Stars, you know. It’s called earning your Stripes.’

I once believed that I didn’t exist except as a projection of Siena’s part and Syrena’s future; that I were merely an intersection of their characteristics, suspended in time. Now we merge and mesh into one sister until our duplications don’t invalidate us, but bind us in an endless constellation. My sisters show me that beauty doesn’t have to be our destruction; it can be our inspiration. And all the time I’ve been painting my inspiration, I haven’t been painting myself.
I’ve been painting what we are to each other.

I see Luke, my one rebellion, who showed me that I could have something more than the rigid path I’d chosen. Luke, who shattered my careful plans into beautiful oblivion. Luke, who hardly saw the girl I could have been, but who never gave up on the girl I was.

Review: Afterparty by Ann Redisch Stampler

Title: Afterparty.
Author: Ann Redisch Stampler.
Publication Date: December 31st, 2013.
Publisher: Simon Pulse.
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult.
Format: Paperback, 401 pages.
Source: ARC Provided By Author.
My Rating:

Emma is tired of being good.
Always the dutiful daughter to an overprotective father, she is the antithesis of her mother -- whose name her dad won't even say out loud. That's why meeting Siobhan is the best thing that ever happened to her...and the most dangerous. Because Siobhan is fun and alluring and experienced and lives on the edge. In other words, she's everything Emma is not. And it may be more than Emma can handle.

Because as intoxicating as her secret life may be, when Emma begins to make her own decisions, Siobhan starts to unravel. It's more than just Dylan, the boy who comes between them. Their high-stakes pacts are spinning out of control. Elaborate lies become second nature. Loyalties and boundaries are blurred. And it all comes to a head at the infamous Afterparty, where debauchery rages and an intense, inescapable confrontation ends in a plummet from the rooftop...

 

Review

Afterparty is a really wonderful novel with an incredible opening paragraph that I’m sure will grab anyone’s attention. I often found myself giggling whilst reading this novel, as Ann Stampler’s writing is really funny and I loved how our main protagonist had a ‘moral compass’, which was always trying to point her in the correct direction. I did find myself confused on many different occasions throughout Afterparty. It seemed like it would go off track completely for a few paragraphs and then be suddenly back. I also felt like the sentences just kept rambling on about pretty much nothing, and as much as it seemed like Ann was trying to make a point – she just didn’t seem to get there. The majority of the time this happened when Emma was talking – maybe it’s just a quirky feature in her personality? I don’t know, but don’t get me wrong, if you can put aside these certain problems, Afterparty really is a fantastic book with a wonderful plot – and luckily for me, I managed to do so because I was so engrossed in the story.

Emma is our main protagonist and I really liked reading about her. She has an over-bearing dad with strict rules and is struggling with the decision to continue to be a good-girl, like she’s been her whole life – or try something new and break some of the rules her dad has set. I thought Emma was an incredibly good friend, I know I wouldn’t have put up with all the crap that Siobhan, her new best friend, did to her at all. She was also a very patient, kind, caring and overall a lovely character. I really loved how Emma slowly started to hate Siobhan, and I found it incredibly funny to see the process. At first, Emma bent over backward to please Siobhan, and did pretty much everything she said – but as the novel progressed you really got to see how much Emma started to resent Siobhan and see her true colours. Of course I felt bad for Emma – but to be honest, I don’t know why Emma didn’t dump her sooner!

Siobhan is Emma’s best friend, and from the first moment they meet – they suddenly become inseparable. I started off not minding Siobhan’s character, and I thought she was really upbeat and interesting with a quirky personality, but as the novel progressed, I started to really dislike her (I’m pretty sure you’re meant too!) Siobhan becomes more and more controlling the further you get into Afterparty, she’s also gets very moody and becomes very unpleasant and downright evil. What I found slightly annoying, was the repetitiveness of Emma and Siobhan’s arguments and fall outs. She and Siobhan fight, then make up, then fight again and make up once more! It was also always the same argument; about how Emma finds it difficult to break the rules because of her dad. Although in the end I didn’t like Siobhan’s character, it was quite interesting seeing her slowly go crazy and become so obsessive.

Dylan is the love-interest in Afterparty, and to be honest – I had really mixed feelings about him. One minute I really loved his character, the next I was wondering why the hell Emma was pining over him so much. I suppose Dylan did have his good points, he was sweet, funny and really did seem to care about her – but I questioned a lot of his decisions. I also found it really irritating that he’d just straight out believe everything Siobhan said to him about Emma, even if things weren’t perfect with him and Emma at the time. I also really didn’t like the fact that Dylan was portrayed as such a perfect character – when all he’d ever do was skip class and get stoned, then borrow Emma’s notes because she attended class. It was totally obvious that Emma liked him, and even though he said he’d liked her too at the time – he did some really jack-ass things.

Over though, I really did enjoy reading Afterparty – and sped through it really quickly! Ann Redisch Stampler’s writing is really different from what I’ve read before, but really engaging, fun and quirky all the same. For example; it took me quite a while to get used to reading sentences like ‘I am sorry’ instead of ‘I’m sorry’ – this is definitely not a criticism, as there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it. It was just a surprise to read the writing with such a traditional format. I do however, believe that Afterparty well and truly deserved the 4/5 star rating, it was really fantastic and page-turning book that kept me in suspense until the very end! I’d recommend this book to any contemporary reader, especially someone who loves some good old girl drama. I really believe Ann Redisch Stampler is definitely an author to keep an eye on!

Quotes

"Watch this," she says. "New game. It’s called shock-the-dork."
She walks over to two middle-aged guys who look a lot more clueless than the one she usually likes going after. She waves a cigarette at them; they grope for their lighters, matches, whatever it takes to keep her happy. She’s all giggly and girly until one of them offers her another drink and she shrieks. "No! I will not meet you in your hotel room! I’m sixteen years old! What’s wrong with you?"
The men throw money on the bar to pay for their half-drunk drinks and sprint toward the escalator.

"I am not clinically depressed or suicidal or insane. I just want to kill Siobhan, is all."

Siobhan, when she’s annoyed, doesn’t keep it to herself.
In the morning, the slamming theme extends to her locker, books on desktops, and snack trays at break. When she talks to me, I (and everybody else within a hundred yards) can tell she’s seething.
Dylan says, "Should I avoid dark alleys and homeroom? Eat lunch with me. I’ll protect you if she creeps up and tries to hit you with a lunch tray."

Review: Pawn by Aimee Carter

Title: Pawn.
Series: The Blackcoat Rebellion, #1.
Author: Aimee Carter.
Publication Date: November 26th, 2013.
Publisher: Harlequin Teen.
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult.
Format: Paperback, 296 pages.
Source: ARC Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:

YOU CAN BE A VII IF YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING.

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life in misery as s III, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked - surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.

There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed...and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose - and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

 

Review

Pawn has a really unique and interesting plot that will draw the reader in and definitely keep them on the edge of their seat! Right from the beginning of reading Pawn, I was well and truly hooked – I ended up reading over half of it in just one evening. You’re immediately drawn straight into Kitty’s world – and the action commences from the first few pages. Aimée Carter is a really fantastic author and the world building throughout Pawn was absolutely incredible and beautifully detailed. There are also so many twists and turns throughout it, that even though I kept guessing what would happen next, I don’t think I was ever right!

Kitty Doe is our main protagonist throughout the novel, and to be perfectly honest – I have mixed feelings about her. On one hand, I didn’t really feel like her character was that well developed, and seemed a little bland and boring a lot of the time. But on the other hand, there were quite a few instances where she had a real spark and fire in her, which I thought was amazing – even if they didn’t last for long. I did like Kitty’s character – but she wasn’t the strongest female protagonist I’ve read about. I hope that in the next book she’ll become a little more developed, stronger and starts acting more in control and less of a spineless little girl that she was in this book.

There are two male secondary characters in Pawn; Benjy, Kitty’s boyfriend and Knox, who was the fiancé of Lila; the Prime Minister’s niece. Thankfully though, there isn’t a love-triangle! Benjy was such a sweet, kind, caring and devoted boyfriend, he’d literally do anything for Kitty – even running away from everything they’ve ever known so they could be together. As for the Knox, I absolutely adored him as well; he really seemed to care about Kitty and about what would happen to her. Knox was constantly trying to protect her, doing everything in his power to keep her and Benjy safe. At first, I thought that Knox and Kitty would make a really amazing couple, but as the novel progressed, I changed my view, and thought that their friendship was like a brother-sister relationship. Either way, I loved both of their characters and I thought Kitty was very lucky to have two guys care about her as much as they did!

The rest of the characters are all so different, yet really interesting at the same time! The majority of the people that we are introduced to throughout the book are very blood-thirsty, merciless, cruel and sadistic in their own ways, but I think that it personally made the book even better. There doesn’t seem to be enough characters now days with these traits – and I found it really fun and interesting to read about them and their actions and thoughts. As for the romance between Kitty and Benjy; it isn’t really the main focus in the book, which at first I found a little disappointing. But as I got further and further into Pawn, I realised that it really didn’t matter – the book was just as great with the romance just as a sideline.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Pawn and I’m extremely curious to find out what happens next in the sequel and see where the characters end up! I believe Pawn well and truly earned the 4/5 star rating – and if Kitty’s character had been a little more developed, then it may have earned a 4.5, but oh well. I’d recommend this book to any dystopian fan, especially if you love an unpredictable novel. Aimée Carter’s writing is really wonderful and I’m eager to read more from her in the near-future – she’s definitely an author to look out for!

Quotes

"But the world is out there, and it understands that the illusion of knowledge and freedom is not the same as the real thing. Eventually it will fade, and there are those who will do whatever it takes to make that happen sooner rather than later."

"Kitty," he said, as if testing out my name. "Is that short for something?"
"Yeah," I said. "It's short for 'my mother was insane and had a thing for cats.'"

"Have you ever played chess, Kitty?"
I eyed her. What did a board game have to do with this? "Not really."
"You and I should play sometime. I think you would like it," she said. "It’s a game of strategy, mostly. The strong pieces are in the back row, while the weak pieces—the pawns—are all in the front, ready to take the brunt of the attack. Because of their limited movement and vulnerability, most people underestimate them and only use them to protect the more powerful pieces. But when I play, I protect my pawns."
"Why?" I said, not entirely sure where this conversation was going. "If they’re weak, then what’s the point?"
"They may be weak when the game begins, but their potential is remarkable. Most of the time, they’ll be taken by the other side and held captive until the end of the game. But if you’re careful—if you keep your eyes open and pay attention to what your opponent is doing, if you protect your pawns and they reach the other side of the board, do you know what happens then?"
I shook my head, and she smiled.
"Your pawn becomes a queen." She touched my cheek, her fingers cold as ice. "Because they kept moving forward and triumphed against impossible odds, they become the most powerful piece in the game. Never forget that, all right? Never forget the potential one solitary pawn has to change the entire game."

Review: Substitute Creature by Charles Gilman

Title: Substitute Creature.
Series: Tales from Lovecraft Middle School, #4.
Author: Charles Gilman.
Publication Date: September 24th, 2013.
Publisher: Quirk Books.
Genres: Paranormal, Middle Grade.
Format: Hardback, 176 pages.
Source: Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:

It’s Valentine’s Day and a monstrous blizzard has descended upon Lovecraft Middle School, trapping twelve-year-old Robert Arthur inside the building! He and his companions have no choice but to spend the night – while snacking on cafeteria food, sleeping on the gymnasium floor, facing off against a sinister substitute teacher, and thwarting an army of abominable beasts.

This fourth novel in the Lovecraft Middle School series begins right where Teacher’s Pest ended – with more action, more adventure, and more outrageous monsters!

 

Review

I always make a comment in my reviews about the awesome covers in this series, and today is no exception! Substitute Creature’s cover is just as awesome and weird, if not more so, than the others in this series. It even freaked my mum out when she walked past the book! Charles Gilman has done it once again; created another fantastic book in the Tales from Lovecraft Middle School series! I never thought I’d enjoy reading a middle-grade book so much, let alone a series. I’ve always found that middle-grade characters are just too immature for my tastes, but Robert and his friends are very grown up for their age! Just because these books are meant for younger readers, it doesn’t mean that only that age group can read them! I believe that anyone, whether you’re a young-adult or just an older adult, should try them – you’ll easily get swept up in the suspense, mystery and adventure.

Substitute Creature is packed full of action, and twists that will keep you guessing until you’ve reached the end of the book! The illustrations throughout this series are fantastic and really creepy – I love them. They add an edge to the book and help make it as wonderful as it is. I love going along for the ride on Robert’s and his friend’s adventures – and there’s always something different, yet important, in each and every book! The Lovecraft Middle School is an enchanting and freaky place to be, with some terrifying and fascinating monsters that I’m sure will creep out even the bravest of people.

With every novel, Charles Gilman’s writing just keeps getting better and better, and I love slowly getting to know our main characters. Robert, Glenn and Karina are really fun and interesting kids to read about; they’re all kind, funny and such a joy to read about. Our main characters all come from very different backgrounds, and have very different personalities, but they don’t let that get in the way of their friendship – and this is one of the main reasons why I love them so much. There aren’t a lot of kids now who put prejudices’ aside and just be friends with someone. I especially love Robert, who was able to actually forgive Glenn for bullying him in the past.

Overall, I really loved Substitute Creature, it was an amazing book – and as I’ve said plenty of times before, a brilliant middle-grade series! Charles Gilman’s writing is fun, creepy, unique and quirky all at the same time – he’s definitely someone I want to read even more from in the future. I believe it well and truly earned the 4/5 star rating I gave it, and I can’t wait for the next book in this series - especially seeing as the end of Substitute Creature had a big cliff-hanger! Why do we have to wait so long for the sequel? I’ll just have to wait until I get my hands on it!

Quotes

Glenn turned to Robert. "What's more important?" he asked. "A stupid Valentine's Day concert of saving the world from an army of ancient monsters?"
When Glenn put the question that way, Robert felt as though he had no choice.
"I guess saving the world."
"I'll save your seats," Karina offered. "Have fun." — Page 19.

On the far side of the hole was the generator – a large rectangular box about the size of a railroad car, with slatted vents and long, raking claw marks over the front. The side panel had been peeled back like the lid of a tin can. Frayed bands of wires dangled out of the generator, as if someone or something had bitten clean through them. - Page 79 – 80.

“What is this place?” Karina whispered. Her voice echoed throughout the tunnel. Clusters of icicles hung from the ceiling like stalactites. Ahead of them, icy stone steps descended into darkness.
“I have no idea,” Robert replied. He had never heard of an underground cavern anywhere n the village of Dunwich. And yet this space seemed like it had existed for centuries. Robert snapped a small icicle from the ceiling and tossed it down the stairs; it disappeared into the gaping black void without making a sound. - Page 90.

Review: After Eden by Helen Douglas

Title: After Eden.
Series: After Eden, #1.
Author: Helen Douglas.
Publication Date: November 7th, 2013.
Publisher: Bloomsbury.
Genres: Sci-Fi, Young Adult.
Format: Paperback, 288 pages.
Source: ARC Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:

Eden Anfield loves puzzles, so when mysterious new boy Ryan Westland shows up at her school she's hooked. On the face of it, he's a typical American teenager. So why doesn't he recognise pizza? And how come he hasn't heard of Hitler? What puzzles Eden the most, however, is the interest he's taking in her.

As Eden starts to fall in love with Ryan, she begins to unravel his secret. Her breakthrough comes one rainy afternoon when she stumbles across a book in Ryan's bedroom - a biography of her best friend - written over fifty years in the future. Confronting Ryan, she discovers that he is there with one unbelievably important purpose ... and she might just have destroyed his only chance of success.

 

Review

I have to say that I’ve never read anything like After Eden before, it has such a unique and interesting plot and characters that I’m sure nearly everyone will love! Although it was a little predictable at times, and the writing a little amateurish, I really enjoyed it and sped through it – staying up until 2 o’clock in the morning to finish it! I kept saying to myself; ‘just a few more pages’, ‘I’ll just finish this chapter’ and ‘just one more chapter’. Before I knew it I only had 30 pages left and I just had to finish it and see what would happen at the end of the book.

Eden is our main protagonist and I thought she was a really interesting character to read about. I love the fact that she wasn’t the best at everything, as a lot of main characters seem to be now days. Eden has her flaws, but doesn’t complain about them all the time – or go looking for attention. Eden is funny, kind, interesting and a really good friend. She was always looking out for people and putting their needs above her own – and that’s what I loved most about her character.

Ryan is the love interest in After Eden, and I really liked his character. I wouldn’t say he was someone I would personally be attracted too, but I’d definitely love to be his friend! Ryan was a fun, kind and incredibly smart and interesting character to read about. I was rooting for his and Eden’s relationship from the start, and I’m so glad that it took a little time to develop. Their relationship was bordering on the line of insta-love, but it didn’t make me want to pull out my hair like most insta-love does!

Connor is Eden’s best friend, and to be perfectly honest – I didn’t like him that much at all. He seemed way too immature and rude and let his jealously get the best of him a lot of the time. I hated the way he treated Ryan, and he was usually quite rude to Eden as well! I get that Eden and Ryan had been best friends since they were little kids, but you just don’t treat people you care about that way – no matter how jealous you are!

Overall, I thought After Eden was a really funny, wonderful book and it went above and beyond my expectations. Even though Helen Douglas’ writing was a little rough around the edges, and could do with some improvements, it was a real pleasure to read. I’m sure over time Helen’s writing will continue to improve and she’ll turn into a really fantastic author. I believe After Eden well and truly deserves the 4/5 star rating I gave it and I really can’t wait to continue on with this series and find out what happens next. I’m also really looking forward to reading more by Helen Douglas in the future; she’s definitely an author to keep an eye on!

Quotes

The door swung open and Ryan came in with two mugs of hot chocolate. He put them on the coffee table and sat next to me on the couch. I’d imagined Ryan as a strong-black-coffee kind of boy, not someone who would make hot chocolate with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles. - Page 87.

‘Ah, the romantic train journey to Plymouth where I pulled you into the loos and showed you my credit cards.’ - Page 182.

Although the classrooms and corridors away from the drama studio were in darkness, the stairwell was brightly lit. Probably some health and safety thing. Keeping close to the wall, I crept up the stairs behind them, praying that they wouldn’t look down and see me creeping up behind them like some perverted stalker. - Page 221.

Review: The Drowning by Rachel Ward

Title: The Drowning.
Series: The Drowning, #1.
Author: Rachel Ward.
Publication Date: May 2nd, 2013.
Publisher: Chicken House.
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult.
Format: Paperback, 274 pages.
Source: Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:

When Carl opens his eyes on the banks of a cold lake, his brother is being zipped into a body bag. And a shovering wet girl is being helped nearby.

What happened in the water?

He can't remember. All he knows is that he must find out - before the truth comes back to drown him...

 
 

Review

The Drowning has to be one of the strangest books I’ve read this year, and that’s saying something! I definitely don’t mean this in bad way though; The Drowning was a compelling and wonderfully written novel that I couldn’t put down. I didn’t expect anything less from Rachel Ward, who has the ability to write stories that I’m sure everyone will love. This book is very different from Rachel’s other novel; Numbers, but also very similar at the same time with a fast-paced and action packed plot line. The Drowning is just as good as the other book I’ve read by her, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Right from the first page we enter the action; Carl remembers nothing, not why he was in the lake in the first place, not who the strange girl he’s with is, or what happened in the lake to cause his brother to drown. Carl’s character was interesting to read about, but I’m not really sure if I liked him at all. I thought Carl was a little bland and immature. I know he’s only fifteen, but I would have imagined his brother’s death would have matured him slightly. Unfortunately, he was just like any other teenage boy – a slave to his hormones. I’m not saying this is bad, but it seemed like a hell of a lot of the book was centred around Carl fighting the urge to jump on Neisha. He seemed a little obsessive over her, which put me off a little bit.

Neisha is the love-interest throughout this novel, and I had mixed feelings about her character. She seemed like a nice girl; smart and funny, but she also annoyed me a little bit. Her boyfriend has just drowned, and not even a week later she’s all over his brother. I understand the circumstances, but you’d think she’d need a little longer to move on considering the fact that she never looked twice at Carl in a romantic way before his brother died. There’s nothing else really to criticize about Neisha’s character – but I do think that Rachel Ward needs to work on her character development - two bland and dry characters in one book? That’s a little too much in my opinion!

As for Rob, Carl’s brother who drowned – god I hated him. I think you’re supposed to hate him, but my hate grew stronger and stronger throughout the book! To be perfectly honest, if he wasn’t already dead – I think I would have killed him myself. Rob was an abusive, rude, obnoxious asshole with absolutely no redeeming qualities whatsoever. As much as I enjoyed reading The Drowning, I was put off by how much of a jerk Rob’s character was. Even though hating him has a lot to do with the story, I just wish he was a little better so I could at least feel a little remorse for him. I thought the ending of The Drowning was really quite confusing – I have a feeling, due to the fact that I’m already familiar with Rachel Ward’s writing, that I know what happened - but at the same time I’m really not sure. I don’t know whether the doubt and confusion was deliberate on Rachel’s part or not, but either way I kind of wished it’d had been a slightly clearer ending.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading The Drowning – it’s a fascinating, past-paced, creepy thriller that will have you constantly turning the pages to find out what will happen next. Although Rachel Ward’s character development needs a little fine tuning, her writing style is fabulous and such a pleasure to read. The entirety of this book is quite disturbing in a way and definitely freaked out in certain places. I believe The Drowning well and truly deserves the 4/5 star rating I gave it – if it weren’t for the few flaws that I’ve mentioned, I’m sure it would have gotten a higher rating. All the same, The Drowning is an amazing book, and I’d highly recommend anyone who loves a good thriller novel to pick this up. I can’t wait to read more from Rachel Ward in the future; she’s definitely an author everyone should know about!

Quotes

But it's not him. There's a girl in here now. She's looking right at me. Her make-up's smeared down her face from her eyes, like she's melting, but her lips are blue, her arms are covered in goosebumps and she's shivering. She's staring too, staring at me, then she blinks – once, twice – and starts screaming. - Page 2.

I open my eyes a little way, so there’s a narrow slit to see out of, and he’s there, half a metre away. White face, streaked with mud. The face that got zipped into the bag. My eyes open wide. My breathing goes shallow and fast.
I close my eyes again. I’m not seeing this. This isn’t real. - Page 71.

I kiss the top of her head, her temple, her cheek. She’s warm, so warm. She moves a little, tipping her face towards mine, and I find her lips. They’re soft and wet and taste of salt tears. I press my mouth against hers gently, ready to pull back at the first hint of rejection, but after a second of two she responds to me, angling her head a little more, kissing me back. - Page 142.

Review: Anatomy of a Single Girl by Daria Snadowsky

Title: Anatomy of a Single Girl.
Series: Anatomy, #2.
Author: Daria Snadowsky.
Publication Date: January 8th, 2013.
Publisher: Delacorte Books.
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult.
Format: Hardback, 227 pages.
Source: Provided By Author.
My Rating:

After everything that happened—my first boyfriend, my first time, my first breakup—jumping back into the dating game seemed like the least healthy thing I could do. It’s not that I didn’t want to fall in love again, since that’s about the best feeling ever. But as a busy college premed still raw from heartbreak, which is the worst feeling ever, I figured I’d lie low for a while. Of course, as soon as I stopped looking for someone, an impossibly amazing—and devastatingly cute—guy came along, and I learned that having a new boyfriend is the quickest way to recover from losing your old one.

The moment we got together, all my preconceptions about romance and sex were turned upside down. I discovered physical and emotional firsts I never knew existed. I learned to let go of my past by living in the present. It was thrilling. It was hot. It was just what the doctor ordered.

But I couldn’t avoid my future forever.

 

Review

It really didn’t take me that long to finish this book at all, I sat down one evening and flew through half of it – and did the same thing the next night! Anatomy of a Single girl was just as good, if not better than the first book in this series. Although it may be short, the amount of information and drama that Daria has managed to put into this book was incredible. In the first book, Anatomy of a Boyfriend, we learn about Dom falling in love and having her first and sex for the first time – in this novel, Dom is learning how to move on from her heartbreak and explores the lines between love and lust in a summer fling.

Dom, our main protagonist is back once again and has grown up and developed so much since the first book and I think she was definitely more mature. I really love Dom’s character; she’s smart, funny and such a pleasure to read about. Even though I have a bit of trouble connecting to Dom’s character in general – it didn’t make the book any less fun to read. I also loved how open-ended the book was, and how Dom closed off her story for the time being. I hope there will be a sequel, because I really want a happy ending for this girl!

Guy is Dom’s ‘boyfriend’ for the summer, and to be perfectly honest; I wasn’t that keen on him. I preferred him over her previous boyfriend, Wes – but not by much. I can completely understand Guy’s actions and why he decides to make their relationship only a summer thing – but his thoughts on love, marriage and kids were really immature and annoying. Guy seemed like a nice enough guy though, he was funny, kind, caring and patient – but there was just something about him that I just wasn’t keen on – I’m not entirely sure what though.

Overall I really enjoyed Anatomy of a Single Girl; it was fantastic and was a funny, thought provoking book. I love how Daria can get across a serious message through her novels, but can still be fun and upbeat about it at the same time. The reason that this book didn’t get more than 4/5 stars, is because, once again – I really wasn’t that keen on the love interest. Daria Snadowsky’s writing is really unique, interesting and beautiful all at the same time – she’s definitely an author to keep an eye out for. I can’t wait to find out if there will be another book in this series, and if so; what will happen and where the characters will end up!

Quotes

There’s something about the sight of a gorgeous guy in an open convertible heading in your direction that makes all bad feelings evaporate into thin air. - Page 75.

I wasn’t expecting him to light candles or scatter rose petals. But I just made myself infertile for him, so the least he could’ve done was make the bed. - Page 154.

"High school sweetheart" is such an innocuous-sounding term for something that can tear out your guts. - Page 212.