Review: Better Than Perfect by Simone Elkeles

Title: Better Than Perfect.
Series: Wild Cards, #1.
Author: Simone Elkeles.
Publication Date: August 14th, 2014.
Publisher: Bloomsbury.
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult.
Format: Paperback, 344 pages.
Source: Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:

A lot can happen when you're not looking for love...

Ashtyn's life just got complicated. Her boyfriend is being distant and her sister's back at home after ten years - with a stepson in tow!

Derek has a perfect body, the sexiest smile and a car - Ashtyn's only way to escape from her crazy life. But Derek likes to play by his own rules and is keen to take Ashtyn on a ride she'll never forget. As they spend more and more time alone together, will Derek's flirty games drive Ashtyn wild?

 

Review

Better Than Perfect was an interesting book, but I’m in two minds on how I really feel about it. On one hand Simone Elkeles’ writing is funny and interesting and wonderfully scripted, and on the other I really wasn’t sure how I felt about the romance and I definitely didn’t like one of the characters. I also didn’t realise that there would be so much football talk/football related content involved – or any at all for that matter. Too much sport mentioned in novels is a big turn off for me, as I’m really not a fan of it, so it usually just soars clean over my head and starts to irritate me. I usually tend to avoid these types of books because of this, but oh well! Better Than Perfect is told in the dual perspective of our male and female main characters, which I always love as you get to see both sides of the story and get to know both characters on different levels.

Derek is our main male protagonist in Better Than Perfect and I loved his character! He’s cocky, funny and sarcastic and doesn’t pretend to be anything but himself even when he’s being an ass. Even though his character is supposed to be a bad boy, I didn’t see him that way at all. Derek is a sweetie, he may be a bit hot headed, but he cares a lot and isn’t afraid to show it at times - through actions or words. The only thing about Derek that irritated me was his constant use of the phrase ‘Sweetie Pie, It drove me absolutely nuts! It was so degrading and cringe-worthy, and irked the hell out of me. Other than that small issue though, I really did love his character.

Ashtyn is our female protagonist in the novel, and to be perfectly honest, I didn’t like her one bit! Ashtyn is a tomboy who loves to play football, but also has a girly and sexy side to her; the fact that her personality was so different from everyone else was her only redeeming quality. But she was also bitchy, immature, selfish, cruel, rude, needy and clingy – everything she claimed she’d never be! Ashtyn ran so hot and cold throughout Better Than Perfect, one minute she’s saying how much she hates Derek, and in the same paragraph she’s daydreaming about kissing him. Make up your mind, girl! I hated how she thought she could change Derek, and how, even though he’s been nothing but honest with her, she acts like the news of him being a player is a shock.

Overall I enjoyed Better Than Perfect, but it was far from an amazing and flawless book. I wasn’t fond of the romance that occurred and the relationship Derek and Ashtyn had. There just wasn’t any chemistry between them and there was way too much fighting and bickering between the two of them to make it enjoyable. If Simone’s writing wasn’t as great as it was, and if I didn’t like Derek’s character as much as I did, I’m pretty sure I would have put down Better Than Perfect rather than finishing it. It’s hard to say who I’d recommend this book too, but I do know that I will be reading more from Simone Elkeles in the future, as I love her writing style and character development. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from her; it’s just a shame that I wasn’t that keen on this particular book.

Quotes

"I told you it wasn't her," Vic says. "She doesn't have the balls to do it."
That is so insulting. "I have balls, Vic!"
"I knew it!" Jet wags his eyebrows and reaches for my waistband. "Let me see 'em, Ash."
I roll my eyes and slap his arm away. - Page 77.

"I told you not to play, but no! Your ego got in the way of your brain and those shaved balls of yours."
"I didn't say I shaved them. I trim."
She looks at me as if I'm nuts. "Same difference." - Page 99.

I know this dream won't last forever and a part of me will always want him as a permanent fixture in my life.
"You own a piece of me," He murmurs as he holds me afterwards.
"Good," I tell him. "And just so you know...I'm never giving it back." - Page 316.

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: The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Title: The Winner's Curse.
Series: The Winner's Trilogy, #1.
Author: Marie Rutkoski.
Publication Date: July 3rd, 2014.
Publisher: Bloomsbury.
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult.
Format: Paperback, 368 pages.
Source: Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love.


As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. Kestrel has other ideas.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in Arin, a young slave up for auction. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him - and for a sensational price that sets the society gossips talking. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

 

Review

The Winner’s Curse is one of those novels that it so hyped up, that you start to worry that when you finally get around to reading it – it won’t live up the high expectations you’ve set. Luckily, this really wasn’t the case for me! The Winner’s Curse is a really unique and brilliantly written novel with an incredibly detailed and wonderfully developed storyline that draws you in and keeps you ensnared until you’ve turned the very last page. I almost immediately fell in love with the world Marie Rutkoski has written and I loved reading about the war and all the conflict that has been brewing for years. I found myself torn between the two sides in the story; the Valorians and the Herrani. Just when I thought I’d decided which side I was rooting for, something (or someone!) would do something to completely shift my opinion. I still don’t have a firm answer to the question!

Kestrel is the general’s daughter, and a wonderfully developed and intriguing character. I loved her pretty much right from the beginning. Kestrel is smart, witty, and rebellious and has this independent streak in her. Although she’s interested in her father’s military career, she doesn’t want to join. And although she would like to get married, she doesn’t want to settle and become a complacent house-wife. Kestrel just wants to keep who she really is; a musician and an idealist, and she truly believes that if she joins the military to please her father, or gets married, she’ll loose who she really is. Kestrel’s determination and the spark of life and willpower in her are what make her so fantastic; she was a brilliant character – unlike any I’ve ever read about before!

Arin just happens to be a slave Kestrel buys on a whim from the market one afternoon. I had rollercoaster feelings about Arin’s character throughout The Winner’s Curse. During the beginning of the novel, I thought he was an interesting character, but not overly likeable. When the novel progressed some more, I really started to like his character and grew quite attached to him in my own weird sort of way. He wasn’t one of the characters I absolutely fell in love with, and he’s personally not really my type – but he was sweet, kind, compassionate and really seemed to care about his people and his cause. There were a few instances where I thought he seemed like a complete ass, and acted like one too – but hey, no one’s perfect!

Kestrel and Arin’s relationship develops slowly and cautiously throughout The Winner’s Curse – which I thought fit the storyline perfectly. The romance is definitely not a huge part of the novel, as it focuses more on the battle aspects, the war and complications – but I loved it all the same. Neither of the pair is willing to admit their growing feelings for each other, although it’s plainly obvious how they feel. There are so many complications, and barriers that naturally try to keep them apart, and I really felt for them – their relationship was doomed not to work before it even started. They’re from completely different worlds, yet they understand each other in a way that no one else seems too. I thought their relationship was really beautiful and the ending of The Winner’s Curse really killed me.

Overall, I absolutely adored The Winner’s Curse – it was a phenomenal, action-packed novel that’s full of twists, turns and scenes that I never expected. Marie Rutkoski’s writing is so beautiful and intricately detailed that I could just picture myself right alongside the characters she’s created. My only complaint about The Winner’s Curse is that there were quite a few times where I felt like the storyline dragged and became slightly boring and slow to read – but luckily these times eventually did pick up and I could continue on with the wonderful story. I believe it well and truly deserves the 4.5/5 star rating I gave it, and I’d highly recommend this novel and/or Marie Rutkoski’s writing to anyone who’s a fan of fantasy and forbidden romance. I honestly can’t wait for the release of the second book in this trilogy so I can get my hands on it – I really need to find out what happens next, where everything goes and where all the characters end up!

 

Quotes

Arin smiled. It was a true smile, which let her know that all the others he had given her were not. - Page 111.

It took some time before Arin realized he was humming a dark tune. For once he didn't stop himself. The pressure of song was too strong, the need for distraction too great. Then he found that the music caged behind his closed teeth was the melody Kestrel had played for him months ago. He felt the sensation of it, low and alive, on his mouth.
For a moment, he imagined it wasn't the melody that touched his lips, but Kestrel.
The thought stopped his breath, and the music, too. - Page 179.

“You’re not mine.” Arin said.
And he kissed her.
Kestrels’ lips parted. This was real, yet not simple at all. He smelled of woodsmoke and sugar. Sweet beneath the burn. He tasted like the honey he’d licked off his fingers minutes before. Her heartbeat skidded, and it was she who leaned greedily into the kiss, she slid one knee between his legs. Then his breathe went ragged and the kiss grew dark and deep. He lifted her up onto the table so that her face was level with his, and as they kissed it seemed that words were hiding in the air around them, that they were invisible creatures that feathered against her and Arin, then nudged, and buzzed, and tugged. - Page 323.

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: 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: Hidden by Marianne Curley

Title: Hidden.
Series: Avena, #1.
Author: Marianne Curley.
Publication Date: March 14th, 2013.
Publisher: Bloomsbury.
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult.
Format: Paperback, 325 pages.
Source: ARC Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:

Ebony has always known that she is different. Her violet eyes mark her out, and her protective parents have kept her in a gorgeous valley, home-schooled, safe from everything—almost as if she’s being hidden. But she’s changing: glowing, getting more and more beautiful, and stronger than anyone knows.

Ebony can’t stay hidden for ever, and when she meets complicated, intense Jordan, something explodes inside her—something that can be seen from the heavens; something that changes everything. Ebony is a stolen angel, concealed on Earth. Now the heavens have found her, they want her back.

 

Review

Ebony has always known she was different; she has violet coloured eyes, can run faster than any boy in her school and heals remarkably quickly. She’s always thought the reason her parents have kept her sheltered from the world is because they didn’t want her to draw attention – but she was wrong. Ebony is an Angel, stolen as an infant, concealed on earth and raised by her adoptive parents. Ebony soon realises she can’t stay hidden forever, and now the heavens have found her – and they want her back.

I enjoyed reading this book, I really did – It had its good points; but unfortunately the bad ones outweighed the good. Whilst reading the first half of Hidden, I was sure I was going to be rating it a 4/5 star book. However, as the action started and the book progressed further into the story, I was quite disappointed with lots of different things that played out. This has nothing to do with Marianne’s writing; I just don’t think Hidden was structured very well at all.

Hidden switches between two of the main characters perspectives; Ebony and Jordan. As I’ve mentioned many times before in my reviews, I love reading multiple perspective books, they’re incredibly interesting and I love knowing what the other characters are actually feeling, rather than what they say they’re feeling. This was no exception and I thought the chapters were cleverly divided between the two characters perspectives.

Ebony is our female protagonist. She’s sixteen years old and has led a very sheltered life by her parents, growing up in the small valley of a town. I know the author has written Ebony’s character to be very relatable and interesting, but, personally; I didn’t like her that much at all. It’s a bit of a rare occasion for me to find a main, female character that I don’t like. Usually, in the novels I’ve read, the female lead has at least two or three characteristics that will warm me to them. Ebony, however, only has one – and that is her violet coloured eyes. What I wouldn’t do to have eyes like that! Her character isn’t a very strong-willed person, nor is she particularly funny, kind or interesting in any way I had hoped. This is not to say that I hated her character, I just thought she was very bland and unexceptional.

Moving onto Jordan’s character – what can I say? I loved him – it’s as simple as that. He’s lived in the system for most of his life since his mother died and left him orphaned, and has been bounced around in foster homes ever since. Jordan is the stark opposite of Ebony; he’s funny, snarky, sarcastic, strong-willed, sweet and kind. His character was just so full of life and seemed the most realistic and interesting of the three main characters. Jordan’s character proves that Marianne can create a relatable and great character – even if I didn’t like her other characters.

Lastly, onto Thane’s character – I really didn’t like him at all. Thane reminded me of the beach hotties you see on TV, with everything down there and nothing in his head. His character was such a typical cliché; strong, muscular, handsome – someone all the girls fall head over hills for. The romance between Thane and Ebony is insta-love, and I hated it. I’m not usually a fan of insta-love, but there are some exceptions – and this was NOT it. Thane and Ebony’s relationship was way over the top, ‘I’ve just met you and this is crazy, but I can’t live without you – so call me baby’. I really disliked how Ebony suddenly disregarded what kindling feelings of romance she had towards Jordan when she met Thane. I understand that they have a ‘connection’ but it was just too much, too soon in my opinion.

Overall, I liked reading this book, but I doubt I’d read it again. Two of the three main characters were flat and disappointing, but I do believe the plotline had great potential if only the characters and world building was developed more. I felt like it was rushed in many places, where I thought more time should have been spent on. It was also very confusing at times, and I found myself lost and wondering what was happening in the story. I’d recommend Hidden to any readers who are fans of Angels; but I’d warn them not to go in with high hopes – it was a pretty good novel – but I doubt it would stand out in a crowd. I will, however, try and read more from Marianne Curley in the future.

A Fun Little Extra
I was lead on my bed reading this book, thinking I was reading Jordan’s POV chapter, until I read this paragraph:
He’s leaving, and my heart trembles. He looks down at me, curled into his chest, and he stroked my hair. His touch sets my pulse racing.
‘Come back to me,’ I whisper. ‘Please come back’.
He inhales a shuddering breath, tilts my face up with his thumb under my chin. His kiss is gentle and greedy, soft and fierce, everything and not enough.
Standing on my toes, I throw my arms around his neck, push my fingers into his hair to let him know how much I want him.

My reaction? “...I’m sorry, what?! Since when did Jordan turn gay?” *starts flipping pages frantically* “Did I miss something?!” I’m blinking at an alarming rate, giggling and very confused, until I realise I’m actually reading Ebony’s chapter. ^^;

Quotes

Nothing shimmers as bright as the connection between a Guardian and their human charge at the time of the human's death, or, as in this situation, his near death. It's what alerts the Guardian to act fast. And so the face with the Death Watchers begins. - Page 44.

The tall guy lifts his head and searches for my eyes. The joining is sudden and powerful and stronger than anything I’ve experienced before. I can’t look elsewhere and have to stop myself from running and jumping into this stranger’s arms. And he’s such a beautiful stranger! Tall, with blond hair and fair skin that appears to glow softly. There’s something about him that’s truly ethereal. - Page 186.

He’s leaving, and my heart trembles. He looks down at me, curled into his chest, and he stroked my hair. His touch sets my pulse racing.
‘Come back to me,’ I whisper. ‘Please come back’.
He inhales a shuddering breath, tilts my face up with his thumb under my chin. His kiss is gentle and greedy, soft and fierce, everything and not enough. Standing on my toes, I throw my arms around his neck, push my fingers into his hair to let him know how much I want him. – Page 298.

Review: Fracture by Megan Miranda

Title: Fracture.
Series: Fracture, #1.
Author: Megan Miranda.
Publication Date: January 17th, 2012.
Publisher: Bloomsbury.
Genres: Paranormal, Mystery, Young Adult.
Format: Paperback, 261 pages.
Source: Bought.
My Rating:

By the time seventeen-year-old Delaney Maxwell is pulled out of the icy waters of a frozen lake, her heart has stopped beating. She is officially dead. Then she starts breathing...


The doctors are mystified. But Delaney knows something is very wrong, even thought outwardly she had completely recovered.

Pulled by sensations she can’t control, Delaney now finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her brain predicting death or causing it? Then Delaney meets Troy Varga. Is Troy a kindred spirit who somehow understands her weird and frightening gift? Or are his motives chillingly more sinister...

 

Review

Delaney Maxwell is crossing a frozen lake one day when she slips and falls, fracturing the ice and falling into its dark and dangerous depths. Unable to find the surface, Delaney drowns and is rescued 11 minutes later from the water by her best friend, Decker. She should be dead, shouldn’t she? However Delaney breaks the odds, lives but is in a coma for 6 days. Technically she’s brain damaged, she shouldn’t be able to speak, walk or do any of the normal day to day things when she wakes up – but she can. Nothing seems to be wrong with her, but something seems to have changed in Delaney. She finds herself unknowingly drawn to the dying – a new found sense that will change her life forever.

Fracture was a really good read; I read it in only two sittings and was constantly being drawn more and more into the story. However; I did find that it was quite rushed at times. I also felt it could have been written a bit more smoothly and less erratically. It often jumped from one thing to another and I found myself confused as to what was happening. I also have to say I was also a little disappointed in it. However, that’s mostly my fault, because I went into reading this book with really high expectations, expecting an incredible, unforgettable read and it came up short slightly with a few faults that really niggled at me.

Delaney’s character was a bit of a see-saw to me. Some of the time I really liked her, and the rest of the time I found her really annoying. She drove me crazy by the things she did and the way she acted. She makes some stupid decisions and says a lot of the wrong things, but putting that all aside she was a very caring and kind character. Decker’s character was great! He was so sweet, kind, sensitive and caring that you couldn’t help but love him. He also makes some mistakes in the books, but you can tell he really finds himself paying for them emotionally. The friendship Delaney and Decker have is rare and wonderful and I can’t help but feel jealous of their relationship. The pair hit some rocky grounds throughout the book, but when it comes to the punch; they’re always there for each other.

Lastly; as for Troy – I have to say, I never really liked his character from the start. He seemed a bit stalkerish and big-headed. How did he have the right to do what he did? He seemed to genuinely like Delaney, even when he was acting like an idiot. In the end his character was alright, but very erratic and unpredictable. I loved how the ending of the book turned out – it was perfect in my opinion. It had enough drama and suspense to keep me turning the pages quickly, and I had no idea what would happen! I felt like the end of the book could go in multiple different ways. The book was constantly surprising me and I could only guess as to what would happen next.

This is one of those rare occasions where I can't decide between giving a book 3.5/5 stars and 4/5 stars. Seeing as I can't decide, and I’m not usually one for giving half stars; I'm just leaving it how it is. Even if the rating was a bit lower, it does not detract from the greatness of this book and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a relatively short but interesting and creative story.

Overall I really did enjoy reading this book, it had its ups and downs but it was fantastic otherwise. It had such an original and unique plotline and delves into some very sensitive subjects such as depression and death. I believe these subjects were handled perfectly and Megan Miranda’s writing was beautiful. I think that it would have stood perfectly as a stand-alone novel, I’m not really sure what I think of it becoming a series – but I suppose I’ll just have to wait and find out what the sequel brings.

Quotes

My ear was pressed against the surface, so I heard the fracture branch out, slowly at first, then with more speed. Faint crackles turned to snaps and crunches, and then silence. - Page 06.

"I don't know whether you're acting like this because you know I'm going to kiss you and you're anxious or you know I'm going to kiss you and you don't want me too." - Page 138.

Troy looked at me with a slightly sideways expression. He leaned forward and whispered, "You're..." He clenched and unclenched his fists, and I knew what he was thinking. I was the girl who ran when she got spooked. I was the girl who hid in the back of the funeral home. I was the girl who had to be saved from the lake. He hadn't gotten to know me, really. He didn't know I wasn't stupid. I was smart. I knew what I was doing. - Page 240.

Review: Anthem For Jackson Dawes by Celia Bryce

Title: Anthem for Jackson Dawes.
Author: Celia Bryce.
Publication Date: January 1st, 2013.
Publisher: Bloomsbury.
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult.
Format: Paperback, 230 pages.
Source: Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:

When Megan Bright arrives in hospital for her first cancer treatment, there is only one other teenager there – Jackson Dawes. He is cute, rebellious...and infuriating. Even so, Megan finds herself slowly and surely drawn to him.

But so is everybody. Jackson is a whirlwind of life and energy, warmth and sparkle. Megan will need some of his extraordinary optimism as they face the difficult times ahead.

An uplifting story of bravery, loss and love against the odds.

 

Review

I was sent a copy of this book by Bloomsbury publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Megan Bright has just been diagnosed with cancer and is admitted to a children’s ward in hospital to undergo treatment. She’s sullen, upset that it’s messing with her life and annoyed by all the dancing elephants on the walls and babies on the ward. Megan’s so secluded and frustrated that she doesn’t notice Jackson Dawes until he runs into her; literally! Whilst everyone is star-struck by Jackson and his happy-go-lucky personality – including her mother - Megan would rather roll her eyes and try to ignore him. Except; Jackson doesn’t get ignored, ever.

Jackson keeps pushing, and slowly his contagious personality wears Megan down. He fills her drab and dreary world with colour and lights, distracting her from the foreboding treatment she’s undergoing. Jackson seems like the only one who understands what she’s going through and they grow closer and closer with each and every day. All this is good, considering the tricking times ahead they both will have to face.

Anthem for Jackson Dawes was an interesting novel to read with a very emotional storyline. I was expecting a blossoming romance between Megan and Jackson, but I was disappointed to find that the romance was very thin on the ground. The book suggests a budding relationship, but from how I read it, there was a beautiful friendship with no proper romance at all; which was sad, but not the end of the world.

I’m still a bit on the fence on how I feel about Megan’s character. Her personality wasn’t overly well developed and she acted very stroppy and rude at the beginning of the novel. However, as the book progresses, she does develop and transforms into a much nicer, more carefree character. Her entire change is all to do with Jackson. At first, Megan doesn’t want to accept she has cancer, and acts like no one else in the entire world can understand how she’s feeling. But slowly and surely, Jackson creeps under her skin, lifting her spirit and bringing light back into her life. Even though by the end of the book we still don’t know a whole lot more about Megan, I believe we have a better understanding of her.

Jackson is a ray of light, bursting through the sky and a whirlwind exploding into hundreds of different colours. He is such a bubbly character and I loved this determination to break the rules and to try and live every day as if it were his last. Jackson is loved especially by the little kids, he tells stories and plays games with them to try and distract them from the bad cancer cells. Even though the book doesn’t really go into much more detail about Jackson’s character either, I thought he was really memorable and had this charm and way about him that made you unable to hate him and his optimism.

There were a few aspects of this book that really annoyed me, but the thing that I kept picking up on the most was; ‘Will I get a nurse?’ and ‘Will I come round there?’ This phrasing was used quite a bit and thoroughly frustrated me. First off; it’s doesn’t make sense – the correct way to say the sentence should be; ‘Shall I get a nurse?’ or ‘Shall I come round there?’ I’m a big fan of punctuation and grammar and this really bugged me every time someone spoke like it throughout the book. Now, this maybe the way the people talk in the book from their part of the country, but I’ve never heard anyone speak like that before.

Overall, I really did enjoy reading this book, it made me cry but I wasn’t connected to the book as I thought I would be. The writing, albeit lovely at times, was also rather confusing and I found it frustrating that it skipped from one scene to another so quickly. I believe that writing about the whole concept of being in hospital for chemo is a tricky and sensitive subject, but Celia writes about it in a truthful and honest way. I also believe that, given the subject matter and the fact that there can’t be a whole lot of variation to it, she did an excellent job. If it weren’t for those these things that nagged me, this book would of easily gotten a 4/5 stars. However, those things are there and I think that my 3/5 stars rating reflects that it’s a great novel, even with its fault. Celia Bryce is definitely a writer to look out for and I would recommend Anthem for Jackson Dawes to anyone who loves to have their heart broken. (In a good way of course!)

Quotes

Kipper sniffed and snuggled in a little nearer, so that Megan could feel every angle of the girl's body next to hers and the smooth bald head burrowed under her chin. It felt remarkably warm and not quite bald, but slightly downy, like a baby's. - Page 71.

Megan watched as everything about her, everything that said who she was, slid down her shoulders and cascaded to the floor, like leaves shaken from a dying tree. - Page 125.

Megan sat in Jackson's chair, in the hollow that he'd made, so that it held her, hugging her whole body. She laid her hands on the armrests where his fingers sometimes tapped out a tune, found herself pecking at the wood with her nails. She breathed, slowly and deeply, the air Jackson had breathed that very morning. She could almost feel him there in the room, as if he'd left some part of himself behind, just for her. - Page 155.

Review: Breathe by Sarah Crossan

Title: Breathe.
Series: Breathe, #1.
Author: Sarah Crossan.
Publication Date: October 2nd, 2012.
Publisher: Bloomsbury.
Genres: Dystopia, Post-Apocalyptic, Young Adult.
Format: Paperback, 384 pages.
Source: Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:

When oxygen levels plunge in a treeless world, a state lottery decides which lucky few will live inside the Pod. Everyone else will slowly suffocate. Years after the Switch, life inside the Pod has moved on. A poor Auxiliary class cannot afford the oxygen tax which supplies extra air for running, dancing and sports. The rich Premiums, by contrast, are healthy and strong. Anyone who opposes the regime is labelled a terrorist and ejected from the Pod to die.

Sixteen-year-old Alina is part of the secret resistance, but when a mission goes wrong she is forced to escape from the Pod. With only two days of oxygen in her tank, she too faces the terrifying prospect of death by suffocation. Her only hope is to find the mythical Grove, a small enclave of trees protected by a hardcore band of rebels. Does it even exist, and if so, what or who are they protecting the trees from? A dystopian thriller about courage and freedom, with a love story at its heart.

 

Review

“Oxygen is essential for most living things. For 2.5 billion years, it was the most abundant chemical element on Earth. Until the Switch.”

The world is in disrepair. Global warming has devastated the entire planet and the humans have cut down all the trees as the population grew. The seas have been polluted and destroyed and the oxygen levels are incredibly low. The remaining survivors have found a way to survive; Pod’s have been erected around the globe by the Corporation Breathe. Inside the Pod’s, the survivors breathe in clean and clear air, although it’s limited. You can’t run, dance, sing or do anything that’ll use up extra oxygen if you’re an “Auxiliary” – a person who is as low down on the totem pole as you can get. These people have to pay for their air, and get taxed if they use more than their daily allowance.

Premiums however, don’t have to pay for their air – these people are right at the top and as rich as can be. The Premiums can do whatever they like, and are treated with respect. Our story follows three teenagers who venture out of the pod; Quinn, who is a Premium, Bea; Quinn’s best friend who is an Auxiliary and Alina; who’s part of the Resistance. Together, with only two days worth of air strapped in tanks to their backs, the three try to work together to save the rest of the people in the Pod from the Breathe Corporation.

Wow, this book was incredible, with such an original storyline too! At random intervals during this novel, I was a bit sceptical as to what direction it was heading in, but it always worked out – and I don’t believe it could have been written differently. The book is rather fast paced, moving from one scene to another quite quickly, building suspense and drawing it out at times. Sometimes it felt like one minute the characters were eating their dinner and the next something explodes or someone dies – but I didn’t mind this at all.

The novel is broken down into multiple view points of our three main characters; Quinn, Bea and Alina. I love reading the different characters perspectives of what’s happening and how they’re really reacting to situations around them. A lot of the time, people mask their true feelings; they could be happy on the outside, yet drowning in grief on the inside. So it’s always great to read how the other characters are actually feeling for a change, rather than a guessed analysis from another character.

First off, we have Quinn – a Premium. The Premium’s are the elite kind; the people who are high up on the totem pole and are very, very rich. Quinn’s father works for the Breathe Corporation and can provide his family with as much oxygen as they want. Although he comes from a high-class background, Quinn is nowhere near stuck up and doesn’t take what he has for granted. He always wants to help his best friend, Bea – paying for their oxygen for their camping trip they take outside the Pod and caring profusely for Bea, like she were his sibling. Many of the times whilst I was reading Quinn’s point of view, I found myself laughing. He’s such an upbeat person with a good sense of humour, yet fails to see how Bea really feels about him. Honestly! Why are men so blind?

Secondly we have Bea, who was my favourite character. Bea is an “Auxiliary”, the lowest of the low - way down on the totem pole of society. She keeps her head down and tries not to use up excess oxygen her family can’t afford to pay for. Bea’s a kind-hearted, helpful and good person, who may seem like a goody-two-shoes at times, but in reality she’s actually just following her heart and listening to her conscience. I really respect that about Bea’s character, she’s grown up believing all the lies that have been fed to her, yet when she starts learning the truth, she strives to do what’s right. Bea is also hopelessly in love with Quinn, her best friend. Unfortunately for her, he’s as dense as a brick when it comes down to it. Poor girl! So, I think it’s pretty hard not to love her character.

Lastly we have Alina. Alina is part of the Resistance, a group of people that has taken a stand against the Pod’s government, most of whom live outside the Pod in the outlands. The resistance wants to plant trees and plants, and has been doing so, trying to keep them away from the destructive hands of the Pod’s Government. I didn’t particularly like Alina’s character very much if I’m perfectly honest. Although she was on the lower end of the totem pole in the Pod, an “Auxiliary”, she really irritated me for some reason. I did like her a bit more as the book progressed, she became less hostile and bit more friendly and caring - but she was hardly my favourite character of the week. Over all I just thought she was a bit stuck up and a bit of a snob.

The romance in this book was very minimal, which is usually a bit of a downer to me - however, Bea is deeply devoted to Quinn, and Quinn can’t seem to take his eyes off Alina’s ‘assets’. Quinn’s attitude around Alina is hilarious and although I’m a big sucker for romance, I didn’t mind that this book was lacking in it. There were still the soppy and romantic thoughts from Bea randomly throughout the book and the hilarity of Quinn trying way too hard to impress Alina. These kept me going whilst reading it, and I loved the ending.

Overall, the characters weren’t hugely developed, but I thought that the pace and excitement throughout the novel made up for it. I rated this book as 4/5 stars, mainly because I would of loved to read more about the world building with more detail, rather than just a page of two of writing about how the Pod came to be. Also, I do think that the story was a little lacking in emotion – with all the murder, lying and the inability to breathe outside the pod. I feel it could have been played up a bit more, not so much to a point where it would wrench your heart out - but so you could feel the characters pain more. I do hope the sequel will be more developed and built upon.

Still, I found this novel amazing and I really loved it, Sarah Crossan’s writing is intriguing, interesting and brilliant. I can’t wait for the sequel to be released so I can get my hands on it and devour it!

Quotes

We are in Zone One, with its clean boulevards and mirrored buildings. Every person we pass is pristinely dressed, with face masks strapped to their self-satisfied faces and connected to air tanks tied to their hips. They are all Premiums, of course, and when they see us, their gazes shift away. Ever so slightly. - Page 06.

No matter what happens outside, we are sheltered here: no rain or snow in the winter, no humidity or heat in the summer. The temperature is always perfect and the air always clear; the pod protects us from every element. - Page 40.

'I want to know who you were with and where he went. Does your family live in the pod? How about your friends? What have you been doing out here? Planting? Cultivating the earth?' The general laughs. 'You people don't seem to realise that what you're doing is pointless. Do you know how long it would take to re-oxygenate the planet? A millennium. And by that time you'll be long dead.'
'Then why are you chasing us?' Inger shouts. - Page 204.

Review: Liar by Justine Larbalestier

Title: Liar.
Author: Justine Larbalestier
Publication Date: Febuary 9th, 2000.
Publisher: Bloomsbury.
Genres: Paranormal, Mystery, Young Adult.
Format: Hardback, 341 pages.
Source: Bought.
My Rating:

Micah will freely admit that she’s a compulsive liar, but that may be the one honest thing she’ll ever tell you. Over the years she’s duped her classmates, her teachers, and even her parents, and she’s always managed to stay one step ahead of her lies.

That is, until her boyfriend dies under brutal circumstances and her dishonesty begins to catch up with her. But is it possible to tell the truth when lying comes as naturally as breathing? Taking readers deep into the psyche of a young woman who will say just about anything to convince them—and herself—that she’s finally come clean. Honestly.

 

Review

Micah is a liar - a compulsive and believable liar. She has her hair cropped short and doesn't care about acting feminine. She can also run, really fast - breaking world records set by champions. Micah prefers to remain as invisible as she can wherever she goes. However, when her boyfriend, Zach, goes missing and his body is found, she suddenly becomes the centre of attention. Why? Because Micah was Zach's 'Out Of Hours' girlfriend - whilst Sarah; a pretty and very popular girl - was his 'official' girlfriend. It's revealed to the school when Zach's body turns up dead. Accusations fly around the school, rumours that Zach's best friend killed him, or Sarah or even Micah herself. Micah has a secret of her own though, and throughout the book she promises to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth. But how can you suddenly come clean about everything when lying comes as easy as breathing?

Micah's character is strange, and I'm still not 100% sure whether I liked her or not. I think she shut off her emotions, so as not to get hurt by anyone, but accidental lets Zach in without even knowing it. Although she denies it, it's clear from the beginning that she's very much in love with Zach and his death affected her more than she let on. I also thought that Micah was a little closed minded and generally quite rude, but I suppose growing up the way she did could of contributed to that. Micah has her own inner fears, doubts about everything and the feeling of loneliness - that no one is there for her.

With the storyline being told by a liar, I was constantly wondering whether she was telling the truth about certain aspects, even though she promised she'd tell the truth. I noticed whilst reading this book, that a lot of the sentences were quite short and simple - which I thought was probably to do with Micah's personality and bluntness (when she told the truth). I also noticed that Micah was constantly comparing and commenting on the black and white people throughout the book, like she was a little racist herself, even though her mother is white and her father black.

The book goes back and forth to various stages in Micah's life. Before Zach's death, after his death, short glimpses into Micah's childhood and her family history so it can get a little confusing at times. Even with all this wealth of information, at the end of the book, I still didn't think I knew Micah's character very well at all. This book had so many different twists and turns but was also a little predictable at times. One major twist, where suddenly the book shifts from dark contemporary to paranormal surprised me and I'm still not sure what I thought about the change - which is why I only marked it 4/5 stars. Overall I actually really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more from Justine Larbalestier.

Quotes

"You were his at-school girlfriend," Brandon tells Sarah. "Micah was for after hours."
Sarah goes back to her crying. Tayshawn looks like he might kill Brandon.
I'd be happy to help. - Page 13.

I'm not entirely sure why I'm here. I was sure when I started climbing the fire escape. I try to recapture that certainty. Was I hoping to find him?
He's not here. There's only the smell of him, his sloughed-off skin and hair cells, clothes that were once pressed against him, bottles he'd drunk from. A hundred signs of what he used to be, how he used to be, but not him. - Page 68.

Nothing anyone says about Zach bears much resemblance to the Zach I knew. Everyone is lying. Everyone is creating an ideal Zach with their words. A Zach in their own image. - Page 141.