Review of Epitaph Road by David Patneaude

Kellen Dent feels all alone. In 2097, he practically is. Thirty years earlier, an airbourne virus nearly caused man's extinction. Now women rule the world and poverty, crime, war and hunger have all disappeared. With tight restrictions on men's behaviour, fourteen-year-old Kellen feels like he has no say in the future.

When a rumoured outbreak of the virus threatens Kellen's outcast father, he knows that he must warn him of the coming danger, no matter what the consequences. During his desperate race to find his dad, Kellen uncovers a secret so frightening that his life and the future of the world will never be the same.

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I've been wanting this book for a while, the cover is amazing and the plot sounds pretty good too. Unfortunately I just didn't enjoy it. The book could have been so much more but instead it just kind of plods along. Nothing actually starts to happen until about half way into the story and after that I just felt disappointed. The huge secret wasn't that great, in fact it was the most predictable secret you could think of.At the end of the book I felt that there was something missing, there could have been more chapters. Maybe the Author was leaving room for a sequel? He's left plenty.

So, basic idea of this story - a kid learns some family secrets and decides to go and warn his father. Conveniently, he has two cousin's who are willing to travel all that way with him so he looks a lot less suspicious. He finds his dad and more secrets are uncovered.

There is a relationship going on between Tia and Kellen which is written quite well, however something that wasn't touched upon enough or even expanded on was that his other cousin and Tia's best friend and sister, Sunday, is also in love with Kellen. I felt that could have really helped the story.

4/5

Review of Inevitable by Kate Bennett

Carina Lombardi, a vibrant New York University student, can't shake the feeling that she has known Jared Taylor forever. In a compelling story where time is relative, Carina and Jared form a nearly unbreakable bond that will be challenged over and over again.

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Kate e-mailed me and asked me to review this and I must say, I'm glad she did! Inevitable is one of my favourite reads this year.

It's hard to pin down what this book actually is. It's part chick-lit, part YA, part paranormal romance, part tear-jerker. Yeah, that sums it up. It's also beautiful. Get your tissues out ladies - you might just need them! I wouldn't recommend this to the younger YA set - 15, 16+ and there are some adult stuff in there, no full on descriptions of weird sex acts or anything. It's mentioned, not described.

It does start off with a chick lit feel - Carina is 22, living in New York and studying at University. You follow her and Jared as they fall in love and make plans for the future. Then the impossible happens and you're left with a gaping hole, wondering what could happen next - then you follow Jared and Carina as they fall in love - again - at the age of 18. Will they ever be able to finally be together? Only time will tell. And reading the book helps too...

Inevitable is written beautifully and at times I forgot where I was, I was drawn into the story so much. The storyline sounds like it should be confusing but it's so well-written that it's not. You also get to see the world from Jared's perspective at the end which, I think, it's vital to story. A definite must-read.

5/5

Received free from the author in exchange for an honest review

Review of Dread of Night by Joshua D. Boeringa

Thirteen stories to keep you up at night.
Check the closet and under the bed. Grab a flashlight and hide out under the covers. In these stories, you will encounter monsters escaped from your nightmares. A helpful stranger is not quite as kind as he seems. An old man has a difficult time letting go. A fisherman's first catch of the day might also be his last.
Read on if you dare.

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I'm not sure if the stories in this book are actually scary... I haven't found many (one!) stories that do scare me. I did however, get a good giggle out of these cute little stories, especially on page 11, with the illustration of a guy that looks like a cross between George Bush and Colonel Sanders. No joke.

These stories are perfect for dipping in out of, ranging from common fears (people coming back from the dead) to the downright bizarre (being eaten by a sea monster in a lake). There also seems to be a surprising amount of tentacles in here. And a few poems. I loved the poems!

Quite easily, the best story was 'Turning the Soil', which reminded me of Roald Dahl's short stories with a twist in tale. The scariest illustration goes to page 98, of the Thin Man in the story 'Teddy'. I'll have nightmares about him.

5/5

Received free from the author in exchange for an honest review

Review of 0.4 by Mike Lancaster

It's a brave new world.
'My name is Kyle Straker. And I don't exist anymore.'
So begins the story of Kyle Straker, recorded onto old audiotapes. You might think these tapes are a hoax, but perhaps they contain the history of a past world....If what the tapes say is true, it means that everything we think we know is a lie.
And if everything we know is a lie, does that mean that we are, too?

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This is my second taste of Sci-Fi YA after Across the Universe by Beth Revis. A lot of YA readers shy away from Sci-Fi novels yet love Dystopian fiction, which, in my humble opinion is very, very similar. Both 0.4 and Across the Universe have received 5 stars from me and if most Sci-Fi YA is a high a standards as these two novels, I will be buying much, much more.

0.4 is not a long read at all, I finished it easily. The story sucks you in pretty quickly with Kyle's voice as  the main narrator. There is a second, mysterious narrator who explains things as you go along, suggesting that the world has changed since Kyle's time and gives you frustrating clues as to what might have happened. I admit, I didn't guess at what had happened at all, which I usually do!

There's a little mild swearing in this but I believe the younger YA readers will enjoy this just as much as the older ones.

5/5

Review of Across The Universe by Beth Revis

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.
Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.
Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.
Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

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The feel of the book is very dystopian, don't shy away from the words Science Fiction, it's not going to turn all Star Wars on you. One thing that might disappoint readers of this is the sheer lack of romance - nothing really happens between Elder and Amy, even I was fully expecting it from the start of the book. Heck, from reading the cover! There's plenty of room for more romance in the second book though.

At the heart of the story, you meet Amy and follow her as she goes through being cryogenically frozen a year earlier than she could have, only to wake up and discover that it's fifty years too early and she might never see her parents again. After that she has to deal with the strange residents of the ship, who all look alike - same hair colour, same eye colour. Amy is a freak on the ship - the residents have never seen a girl with ginger hair and green eyes before. The residents themselves seem to have no emotions at all - and the ones that do are labelled crazy and live in a mental ward.

Across the Universe is one of those books that blows your mind. One of those where you go, 'How on Earth (or in space!) did the Author dream this up?' And one of those that you finished and immediately want to read more. Unfortunately for me the next book in the trilogy is not out until next year. I'm not sure if I can wait that long!

5/5

Review of Mercy by Rebecca Lim

There's something very wrong with me. I can't remember who I am or how old I am, or even how I got here. All I know is that when I wake up, I could be any one. It is always this way. There's nothing I can keep with me that will stay. It's made me adaptable. I must always re-establish ties. I must tread carefully or give myself away. I must survive. 
Mercy doesn't realise it yet, but as she journeys into the darkest places of the human soul, she discovers that she is one of the celestial host exiled with fallen angel, Lucifer. Now she must atone for taking his side. To find her own way back to heaven, Mercy must help a series of humans in crisis and keep the unwary from getting caught up in the games that angels play. Ultimately she must choose between her immortal companion, Lucifer, and a human boy who risks everything for her love.


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I found it difficult to connect with Mercy, I liked her more as the story went on but didn't really grow to love her. Perhaps I'll connect with her more in the second book? I hope so as I really enjoyed this story. Although it's a typical mystery where you can guess who did it quite quickly, the emotions of the family and friends that had lost Lauren were heartbreaking and that really kept me reading. 

Ryan reminded me of Leif Zaltana from the Study Series - every day since his sister has disappeared he's search for her, becoming increasingly frustrated with his family for believing she's dead when he believes she's alive and always finding dead ends. He sees Mercy (or Carmen, as he knows her as) as a last resort, I guess, as everything else he's tried has failed. 
Meanwhile, Mercy is trying to juggle the search for Lauren with Carmen's needs - Carmen sings and she wants that to be her career. Carmen went to the village to try and get more recognition for her talents and she sees that as a foot in the door. Problem is, Mercy has other ideas...

Mercy is not your typical simpering heroine. If you annoy her, you'll know about it. She knows what she wants and she will get it, whether anyone likes it or not. Se doesn't care what anyone thinks of her, unlike Carmen, so I guess it's a learning curve for Carmen as well as Mercy!


4/5

Received free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Review of Darke Academy: Secret Lives by Gabriella Poole

The Darke Academy is a school like no other. An elite establishment that moves to an exotic new city every term, its students are impossibly beautiful, sophisticated and rich. And the more new scholarship girl Cassie Bell learns about the Academy, the more curious she becomes. What sinister secrets are guarded by the Few -- the select group of students who keep outsiders away? Who is the dark stranger prowling the corridors at night? And what really happened a year earlier, when the last scholarship girl died in mysterious circumstances? One thing Cassie will discover is that a little knowledge may be a dangerous thing, but knowing too much can be deadly...

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This was a good book but not a jump out of your seat, run the nearest bookstore and hold a mini protest until they give a copy kind of book. It's good if you're bored though. The writing style is simplistic and the book shouldn't take too long to read. I'm expecting the series to go downhill from here though.

I was surprised to learn that Cassie is English, I was expecting the story to be all-American. It was also nice that there was no love interest (cue gasps of horror) in it. Well there were two but she didn't get with either of them. And! One thing that is awesome! The main bad boy mystery character... is Indian! Too many pretty white boys in books, time for some pretty... not so white guys.

The mystery in the book is very basic and slightly clichéd. It all went a bit Scooby Doo at the end, ironically. The characters are very stereotypical, acting in a way that mirrors the stereotype of their country. Cassie and Isabelle are the best characters and Isabelle is pretty funny at times.
The idea that the school moves to a new city every year is an appealing one though. The amount of bookshops across the world you could visit!

4/5

Review of The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch

After the death of her free-spirited mother, sixteen-year-old Alex Lee must leave her home in northern California to live with her wealthy grandmother in Savannah, Georgia. By birth, Alex is a rightful, if unwilling, member of the Magnolia League, Savannah's long-standing debutante society. She quickly discovers that the Magnolias have made a pact with a legendary hoodoo family, the Buzzards. The Magnolias enjoy youth, beauty and power. But at what price?
As in her popular adult novels, Crouch's poignant and humorous voice shines in this seductively atmospheric story about girls growing up in a magical Southern city.

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Considering this is her first Young Adult novel, this is pretty good. It's quite complex story that's narrated by various characters in it but somehow that works. The pace is quite slow though and there was something about it that I just couldn't connect with. I couldn't understand how a hippie could fall for a good lucking rich kid so easily and be sucked into that world so quickly.
I liked Alex less and less throughout the book, which was a shame. I preferred Hayes, the smart, shy one who's lived in Savannah her whole life. Her character was the only one who seemed believable. The other characters kept doing some pretty weird things. The story ends on a cliff hanger, which everyone expects when they pick up this book, it's obviously going to be a trilogy...

4/5

Received free from NetGalley in exchange for honest review

Review of My So-Called Phantom Lovelife by Tamsyn Murray

I knew the boy was different when I saw him walk on water…

When fourteen-year-old Skye Thackery meets Owen Wicks, it’s not exactly love at first sight. She’s getting over a broken heart and he’s – well – a ghost. But as Sky gets to know him, she can’t help wondering what it would be like to kiss him. Dating a ghost isn’t easy, and things get worse when Owen declares he’s found a way to stay with Skye forever. His plans make her uneasy – the shadowy organisation which claims to be able to help him is bad news, and it seems Nico, her ex, is involved too.

As Owen prepares to risk everything, Skye begins to wonder if she really has a future with him, or if his desire to be more than just a ghost will cost them everything.

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I won this from Goodreads, it's signed and I also got a small packet of sweets with the book's name on it. Thank you Tamsyn, you're awesome!

The book focuses on Skye, who can see ghosts. We first meet her when she's rowing a boat with her friends in the middle of the Serpentine Lake, Hyde Park. I found it weird reading a novel set in England, I'm used to American settings. Anyway, Skye meets a ghost there (after her friend nearly drowns) who died a few months ago. His name is Owen and they become good friends. Meanwhile her creepy ex boyfriend is now in her History classes, trying to woo her again. He's part of some cult who are like, really evil. Owen meets one of them and wants to become... more real... but he doesn't realise what the ritual will do to him.
My So-Called Phantom Love Life is a teen comedy-romance with a dash of suspense. I found plenty of quotes that made me giggle. Although it's aimed at the Younger YA group, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The ending wasn't one I was expecting and I would love to read a sequel to this. Must remember to buy the other books!

5/5

Won from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review

Review of Wasteland by Patricia Williams

Strange things are happening to Becca. While recovering from a car accident that she caused, Becca keeps noticing odd things happening - she seems to be able to hear other people's thoughts and feel their emotions. A classmates trips over when she wants them to. What is happening to her?
When a new classmate, Luke, tries to make friends with her she shuns him immediately, trying to avoid contact with people. But Luke is different and might to know why so many strange things are happening to her...

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Wow, this book is amazing. The original description doesn't give you much to go on, admittedly when I first read the description I thought I was going to be reading a coming-of-age story. So imagine my surprise when I discovered that this book is actually a fantasy - and one of the most amazing books I have ever read.

The story reads like a dystopian book but it's set in the present day. We follow Becca as she struggles with panic attacks after the accident and has flashbacks, plus all the weird stuff that seems to be happening to her. Luke,who comes in a bit later, I was expecting him to be the typical male love interest but his character actually has layers instead of being a cardboard cut-out. He's smart, funny and sweet and really seems to care for Becca, although he won't admit that at first.

The story is written is first person narrative and it really works. I was drawn into the book really quickly and I was pretty sad when it ended. Have no fear, at the end it says the sequel is out in May!

Update: April 12th 2012 and there's no sign of a sequel yet. The author has said she's writing it, back in November. No updates since then.

5/5

Review of Savannah Grey by Cliff McNish

15 year old Savannah Grey has never felt she's belonged. She keeps her distance, so she's surprised by her attraction to the new boy Reece. Then strange things begin to happen: nature, it seems, is exerting an overpowering force on the world. Birds behave strangely; gusts of wind blow leaves so fiercely they seem to lure people away. And Savannah learns she has supernatural powers. Nature has a purpose for Savannah and her friends. For they are on course to meet the vile and evil Orcrassa, who wants to destroy the world by corrupting nature. And it wants Savannah Grey to help realise its savage intent.

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The story is certainly one of the most unique ones I have ever read. I put off reading this for so long after I requested it, not really knowing why. The Ocrassa was certainly the most interesting character and I read it's story eagerly, albeit slowly because the pages were black which scared Adobe. Must buy an eReader.

Savannah's character is that of a typical YA heroine, so there's a feeling of familiarity there while you try and make sense of all the oddness that is happening.

Plot twists! I guess them all! Except this one... I just wasn't expecting it. I love the plot twist though, it really adds to the story and kept me reading more and more... and I would have read more but the story ended. Rather abruptly. Which was really annoying. Wouldn't have killed Cliff to add an extra chapter or two. Heck, a one page epilogue! So that's why this story gets one star knocked off. I hate abrupt/rushed endings.

4/5

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Review of Fade by Lisa McMann

SOME NIGHTMARES NEVER END. 

For Janie and Cabel, real life is getting tougher than the dreams. They're just trying to carve out a little (secret) time together, but no such luck. 

Disturbing things are happening at Fieldridge High, yet nobody's talking. When Janie taps into a classmate's violent nightmares, the case finally breaks open -- but nothing goes as planned. Not even close. Janie's in way over her head, and Cabe's shocking behavior has grave consequences for them both. 

Worse yet, Janie learns the truth about herself and her ability -- and it's bleak. Seriously, brutally bleak. Not only is her fate as a dream catcher sealed, but what's to come is way darker than she'd feared...

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Unlike Gone, the pace in this book seems a bit slower and the plot feels dull. The writing style is the same as the last book yet it seemed to annoy me more, whereas I enjoyed it before. This book deals with a tougher subject - sexual predators in high school. As well as focusing on this, it also focuses on Janie and Caleb's relationship, which is becoming more strained as time goes on. One of the strongest characters in this was definitely Captain Fran Komisky, who becomes a motherly figure for Janie.

The rating goes up in this book, not the star rating though! Perverted teachers, nudity, sex, rape (sort of), drugs, drinking, you can find it all in here. Much swearing too. Something I do find out is the sheer amount that students sleep. It doesn't seem probable. But there's lots of little things that don't really add up in here. I still enjoyed the book immensely.

4/5

Review of Fallen by Lauren Kate

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.
Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.
Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

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I surprised myself with this book. I fully expected to hate it and find it shallow and stupid. It was shallow yes, but I really enjoyed reading it and I will be buying the sequel. I love stories like Kelley Armstrong's The Summoning where the main character is locked in a house, usually in a school situation. I have no idea why.
You have to admit, the cover art is the best thing about the book. It's the most beautiful CA I have ever seen.

Luce is like an annoying best friend - she's a really good friend, entertaining and loyal but she has the worst taste in men. Which girl would go for a guy that flips them off when they first meet them? Not many. Cam seems like a nice guy but Luce isn't really interested, after all there's nothing more alluring than a guy who seems to hate you...

5/5

Review of If I Stay by Gayle Forman

In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...
A sophisticated, layered, and heartachingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make - and the ultimate choice Mia commands.

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In a blink is a mild way of putting it. One minute I was a reading a nice story about a family who are going to visit friends the next they're smacked by a lorry. I felt like my emotions were in a car crash.

If I Stay is one of the best books I have ever read. I've read it twice, which is rare for me. I'm really excited about the sequel, I didn't realise there would be one, so that was a pretty pleasant surprise. It's a book that has always stuck with me, that I've never forgotten. I don't suppose I ever will.

Mia is in the intensive care unit following the car crash but her soul is out of her body and following her friends and family, whist remembering everything she loves, including her promising music career. I was wondering if she'd remember this when she wakes up but I guess I'll find that out in the next book *grumble*
The romance is very sweet and not as heavy as other books, such as Twilight or Fallen. And for once I actually liked the male love interest. Adam's sorrow at not being able to see Mia while she's in the ICU is heart-breaking, his ideas on how to see her hilarious.

5/5

Review of Stay by Deb Caletti

Clara’s relationship with Christian is intense from the start, and like nothing she’s ever experienced before. But what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession, and it’s almost too late before Clara realizes how far gone Christian is - and what he’s willing to do to make her stay.

Now Clara has left the city - and Christian - behind. No one back home has any idea where she is, but she still struggles to shake off her fear. She knows Christian won’t let her go that easily, and that no matter how far she runs, it may not be far enough....

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Admittedly I've always thought that Dev Caletti's books wouldn't be my thing but I'm pleasantly surprised - I adored this book and I can't wait to buy a copy (received this Galley free through the Simon and Schuster Galley Grab program). Deb Calletti has weaved a story that is emotional, thought provoking and difficult to put down. 

I can relate to this book too - I had relationship a while ago and the guy started being like Christian. If I mentioned any guy he'd immediately start acting weird and asked me not to mention any guys. After a couple more days I ditched him. I believe in relationships where I can still notice other guys without feeling guilty, thank you! Christian is a fascinating character though. I want to stick him a cage and prod him with a stick.

In parts Clara's character did annoy me, she is quite shallow and leads Christian on in the first place and then does tons of other really stupid stuff that I just want to slap her for. Thankfully Cleo's Pet seagull distracted me.

4/5

Received free from Simon and Schuster's Galley Grab in exchange for an honest review 

Review of The Prophecy of the Gems by Flavia Bujor

A magical and captivating debut fantasy novel from young French author of fourteen years. Three young girls, Jade, Amber and Opal, each from very different backgrounds, discover on the day of their fourteenth birthday that they are adopted. An ancient prophecy compels them to leave their families to complete their mission in a far-off kingdom. Each girl is given custody of a magic stone which corresponds to her name. Although they dislike each other on sight, they have to overlook their differences in order to escape the dangers that threatens them. They begin a long voyage to Oonagh, the mysterious oracle who becomes their guide. Their quest will lead them into a ferocious battle against the forces of evil. Present day! In a Parisian hospital a fourteen-year-old girl is dying. Joa no longer speaks, nor fights for her life, but she dreams and her thoughts carry her into a fairy-tale world where three heroines lead an epic war. The distant promise of their victory and the end of their adventures carries with it a secret which could return to her the will to live!

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The Prophecy of the Gems is one of those books I wish I could have read when I was younger. Not because it's so awesomely fantastic I could shout about it on the roof whilst tap-dancing to some 20's sounding music but because I think I could have enjoyed it better if I did and and wouldn't have judged it as much. A big part of me enjoyed it thoroughly but another part was wanting to barf in a TARDIS-style bucket. It's basically a modern Fairytale where three girls makes a land all full of light and hope wherever they go and whilst they're at it, they're trying to fulfil a prophecy.

My favourite character was either Joa or Death. They were both pretty awesome. Joa is a character that older readers would probably 'get' more, whereas I liked Death because she was a tiny fat emo.

I could join the ranks of a couple of Goodreads reviewers who hated the book because it was childish (well, it was aimed at kids) but I could really see potential with this and considering the Author was only 12 when she started writing it (not 15 or 17 like some people think) I think that's pretty amazing considering the depth of this book when you finished reading it. The story does have a huge twist in the plot, which I loved so, so much.

The relationship between Opal and what's his face interested me. They had no connection whatsoever, just was like, Hi, I love you, I'd die for you.' <--- Literally.

4/5

Review of Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood... and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.
As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

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I enjoyed this book but there were quite a few things about it that quite annoyed me. The main, huge, gigantic niggle was that the book felt familiar. Where had a been last time I read a book just like this? Oh yeah, Twilight. Helen has no idea where her mother is and lives in the middle of nowhere with her father. Suddenly a new family moves in, one everyone's talking about and they're all super attractive. So, some of the family hate her and some are intrigued by her. Oh and she's really attractive and doesn't realise this... sound familiar?

The first 100 pages of the book I really enjoyed, it was hilarious reading about Lucas' family trying to be polite to Helen even though they wanted to tear her head off and vice versa. Unfortunately it goes downhill from there and slightly complicated. I also felt that it was dragging a lot. The Greek Mythology is a bonus, I guess but if you asked for a YA book with Greek Mythology attached, I'd recommend the rather amazing 'The Goddess Test' by Aimee Carter.

3/5

Received free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Review of The Lady in the Tower by Marie-Louise Jensen

Spring 1540
I am afraid. You are in grave danger. Mother, will you run away with me if I can free you?
 
The servants call it the Lady Tower: the isolated part of the castle where Eleanor's mother is imprisoned after a terrible accusation. For four years Eleanor's only comfort has been their secret notes to one another. A chance discovery reveals a plot to murder her mother. Now Eleanor must free her before it is too late. But with danger and betrayal at every turn, she can trust no one. Especially not her father. Eleanor must use all her cunning to survive. For she soon realises that it is not just her mother she needs to save ...but also herself.

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Eleanor is quite a bold character for her time, disliking sewing, being rebellious and preferring jousting to idle gossip. Her father dislikes his wilful daughter and seeks to marry her off as soon as possible - she's been lucky once, he died - but will she be able to escape the attentions of Lord Something-or-other? *Pauses and searches through the book for his name* Lord Stanton.

Anyway... I liked Stanton. He was very kind, to help a girl who hated the ground he walked on. He did nothing but good for her and tried his best to make her happy. But Eleanor believe's he is plotting against her with her Father, as she knows her Father is planning to poison her Mother, who, after four years, is still locked up in there.

I did enjoy this but it was one of those books were every twist and turn felt like I'd been there before. King Henry viii was a good addition to the story and his character was intriguing. Most of the characters were characters that I'd met before though, in other books.
The language... I'm not sure if some of the sayings were right for the book, I remember looking up one thing Eleanor said and seeing that it was first recorded almost 100 years after her time. Other than that, the writing flows well.

4/5

Review of Bumped by Megan McCafferty

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents are forced to pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society.
Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and had never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend Zen, who is way too short for the job.

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This book was quite bizarre to read and a little surreal. Melody's character is more engaging for me, I think that's because Harmony is quite naive and then there's the whole God thing... books with Christians in them are unusual for me to read. I did like Harmony though. Although she's naive she's also quite sweet in her own way. I'd like to see her character grow up.

Admittedly the biggest let-down for me was the ending. Unless the Author is planning a sequel, I felt that the ending was quite abrupt and more loose ends needed to be tied up. It almost felt like there should be another chapter but the Author couldn't be bothered to write it.

Similar to Wither (where every girl dies at the age of 20 and every guy dies at 25) Bumped is a dystopian novel about a world where every girl becomes infertile at the age of 18. Now, I'm finding this a struggle to believe. The odds of that being possible are impossible, it just wouldn't happen. Same with Wither. This is less Dystopian and more coming-of-age, and the story is very silly in places. The male characters were quite weak, I felt that Zen could have (should have) been a stronger character.

Also, the language was quite annoying in places. Because pregnancy is now a huge trade the reader has to put up with various pop songs, jingles, etc.
''You're knocked up... ready to pop... due to drop... (8)''
And fertilicious is another common term...

I do like the cover though.

4/5

Received free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Review of The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

Freak. That’s what they called seventeen year-old Donna Underwood in high school after a horrific fey attack that killed her father when she was just a child. Her injuries and rehabilitation resulted in magically enhanced strength, thanks to the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. As a child of the alchemists, she is both blessed and cursed with a magical heritage that permeates her life with duty and sacrifice. Now, after ten years of wishing for a normal life, she finally has to accept her role in the centuries-old war against the darkest outcasts of Faerie: the Dark Elves. Aided by a gorgeous half-fey dropout, Donna must race to save her best friend’s life – even if it means betraying the secret of immortality and confronting the very thing that destroyed her family.

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How gorgeous is that cover? It has a slightly Steampunk feel to it, no? And the pages smell amazing. End of positive comments...

Donna's journal entry sounded promising but then everything went downhill. Donna goes to a party she doesn't want to go because her friend wants her to go. I wouldn't mind that but she then proceeds to moan for the next few pages about her miserable she is. Donna seems to think she's above everyone because she has magic and she's different. Escaping the party she meets Xan, a guy with quite possibly the stupidest name ever. Xan's different too, if you can call sitting on a rooftop smoking different. When she leaves, she bumps into Nav who, understandably was worried about her after see disappeared. But, being a total b word that she is, she just brushes him off, too busy thinking about Xan. And so the story progresses...

Donna is branded with iron tattoos, so she wears gloves to cover them up. Naturally people are curious so she uses this excuse to moan some more about how awful her life is. Someone grabbed her in a corridor and tried to take her gloves off and she completely freaks out – that's hardly a life-threatening situation is it? Kids are curious. Some freaky tattoos and super-strength are hardly a disability that would hinder your life but she seems to think it is. I'd like to take her to meet actual disabled people, she how she copes there. Or cut her legs off, then she'd have something to complain about. I feel sorry for Nav, but I honestly can't see why he's her friend. He's worried about her, so he follows her. His reward? She shoves him to the floor.
Thankfully the book gets better later on and Donna slowly becomes less annoying. I'd go as far as to say that the plot becomes intriguing.

3/5

Review of The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Every girl who has taken the test has died. Now it's Kate's turn. It's always been just Kate and her mom - and now her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall. Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests. Kate is sure he's crazy - until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.
If she fails...

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 The first thing I should gush about is the cover. It's just beautiful! I want that outfit so badly. I think she looks a little like Angelina Jolie and a lot like Megan Fox. She could do with gaining some weight though.

Okay, so Greek Myths! I did find myself using Google quite a bit and there's probably some flaws along the way but all in all, I really enjoyed comparing the characters with their Greek Mythological counterparts. <--- I'm not sure if this makes sense. Moving on...
Cerberus! Is not three headed! I think so anyway, Kate didn't look at all surprised when she first saw him so I'll assume he's one-headed. I looked this up on Wiki and yes, he can have pretty much any amount of heads, but the most common is three. I think that could have been cool.

The plot! Okay, so I wasn't surprised by the surprises along the way, having guessed them already but then again, I'm good at guessing and I still thoroughly enjoyed being right. It makes me feel special. I just spent three attempts trying to spell special. Turns out I was right the first try. Thank you Google Chrome's spell-check.

This book did remind me of Wither because Kate was cooped up in the house a lot. She doesn't mind this though, she has friends around her and she gets to visit her mother at night-time. Plus, the God of the Underworld is pretty tasty...
It's book like these where I picture doing whatever I want. I'd be fine with living there, but I'd require internet access and unlimited spending on Amazon. And an empty library, just waiting for me to fill it with every book I love... =^.^=

Reality! Snap out of it, this is meant to be a review! This is my longest review because I keep babbling. I loved this book, the characters are awesome, it has Greek myths and is probably going to be one of the big hits of 2011. You should stop reading this and go pre-order it. Or buy it, if it's out by the time you read this.

5/5

Received free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Review of The Search For WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi

Eva Nine is a curious and sensitive twelve-year-old who has existed only in a subterranean home called Sanctuary, cared for by a robot named Muthr. Eva's great desire is to go above ground, and her wish comes true, though not as she had imagined. On the surface, Eva goes in search of other humans - she has never met one - and soon meets both friend and foe.

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So, I've just finished this book. Thinking about this fact genuinely makes me want to cry. It was an amazing book and will be one of my all-time favourites for a very long time. The story was beautiful and moving and the illustrations were fascinating. As soon as I'm able to pre-order the next book, I will be doing. I want more!

So to tag this book I'll call it a Dystopian Fantasy Fairy-Tale with some Mystery thrown in. Yeah, I think that sums it up. Eva Nine lives with Muthr underground and has never been above ground, until the day Besteel blasts his way into their home and everything changes. There's a few elements of German in this, I swear. You have Eva's Mother who's called Muthr, then the general dialect of the population above is generally German sounding. I could be mistaken but I do love German.

Eva clothes are pretty amazing. If I could make clothes and braid my hair like that, I would totally cosplay as her. Muthr is fascinating too, I spent a lot of time pondering how she keeps her balance on one wheel. Dog lovers will love Otto, who is like a favourite (albeit giant) pet dog.

The story is amazing, the illustrations are beautiful, the characters are engaging, what more do I need to do to convince to buy this piece of awesomeness?

5/5

Review of Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin

If Naomi had picked tails, she would have won the coin toss. She wouldn’t have had to go back for  the yearbook camera, and she wouldn’t have hit her head on the steps. She wouldn’t have woken up in an ambulance with amnesia. She certainly would have remembered her boyfriend, Ace. She might even have remembered why she fell in love with him in the first place. She would understand why her best friend, Will, keeps calling her “Chief.” She’d know about her mom’s new family. She’d know about her dad’s fiancée. She never would have met James, the boy with the questionable past and the even fuzzier future, who tells her he once wanted to kiss her. She wouldn’t have wanted to kiss him back. But Naomi picked heads. 

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Amusingly enough I have Elsewhere but haven't read it yet. I'll certainly be digging it out after reading this though, I really enjoyed it. The cover feels English to me but the book is set somewhere in America. I'm useless with places in America, it all feels the same to me.

Naomi's character is instantly likeable - I could really understand why she was angry with her father and confused. She wakes up to find that her parents are divorced, her Father is getting married and she's dating a guy she doesn't even like.

I could also understand the other character's frustrations with Naomi, particularly Will. He's pretty much lost his best friend, as this new Naomi isn't interested in the Yearbook any more, couldn't care less about the mix tapes he's worked so hard on for her. She's more interested in James, the guy who found her.

James, from a psychologists point of view, is fascinating. He's a little bit weird and there's loads of rumours floating around about him, most of them true. He meets Naomi at a difficult stage in his life and he's scared of doing something wrong and going back to how he used to be.

I guess you could class this as a coming-of-age novel. It's witty, moving and really makes you think. What would happen if you woke up with 4 years of your life missing? What would you forget?

5/5

Review of Evermore by Alyson Noel

Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch.   Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste . . .

Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition.  He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets.  Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head.  She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is.  Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies.

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Ever is a character that is instantly likeable, I liked that she listened to her music to drown out the world, just like I do. She moves in with Sabine, her Aunt who's never around much but tries her best to help her. I wanted Sabine and Ever to be closer, as I think they could have a pretty good sisterly relationship. There's various moments where they try and connect with each other, which is really sweet.

When Ever meets Damen she's instantly attracted to him, although she won't let herself admit it. She's also confused - she cannot read his thoughts or see his Aura, which is also incredibly frustrating for her. Damen is not like the other guys, he acts a lot more mature and is very mysterious, I guess he'll be pretty attractive to many female readers! Personally, I didn't like him. There was just too many moments where he just seemed like a total donkey.

I enjoyed this much, much more than Twilight but couldn't help noticing the obvious similarities - she can read everyone's thoughts but Damen's, so can Edward with Bella, Drina is a stuck up ginger chick - Victoria, and the most hilarious for me - Ever lends Damen a copy of Wuthering Heights! Of course, we all know what Bella's favourite book is. I could side with the people that are going 'Twilight rip-off!' 'Bad plot!' but I honestly enjoyed this book, felt like it could go somewhere despite parts of the storyline being weak.

4/5

Review of Queens Of All The Earth by Hannah Sternberg

As her freshman classmates move into dorms at Cornell University, Olivia Somerset suffers a nervous breakdown. When months of coaxing and analyzing fail to rouse Olivia from her stupor, big sister Miranda decides the sisters should fly off to Barcelona for some "vacation therapy."

When a mistake at their Barcelona hostel leaves the Somersets in a large co-ed dorm room, Olivia and Miranda are saved by kindly Mr. Brown and his son Greg, who happily volunteer to surrender their private room. But while Olivia feels an instant connection with brooding Greg Brown, Miranda sides with fellow guest and cocky American travel writer Lenny:

The Browns are just plain weird, and must be avoided at all costs. 

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After suffering a nervous breakdown, Olivia is dragged to Barcelona by her older sister, Miranda. Olivia is a character that many readers can identify with - she loves to read and prefers the world in her books to reality, the thought of growing up a terrifying prospect. Her character develops slowing and as the book progresses she starts to gain more confidence. Miranda is a character that is harder to like, sometimes I thought she was okay but mostly she really annoyed me because she was so bossy when it came to Olivia. She reminded me of those Mother's that scream at their kids constantly and don't want them anyway away from them.

There are many varied characters in this, from Lenny, a journalist with an attitude, to Mr Brown, a Priest who is visiting with his son. Miranda's descriptions of Mr Brown make him seem like a horrible person but he really isn't - after discovering that the girl wanted a private room he immediately gives his up for them and tries his hardest to become friends with everyone. Greg, his son, is quite shy and withdrawn but his character slowly blossoms throughout the book.

The descriptions of Barcelona are absolutely amazing, I honestly felt as if I was visiting there myself. I can still picture various Churches, streets and scenery even though I have never visited. I can even picture the Hotel!

Although only 169 pages long, this book did feel like it was a lot longer for me. I'm not sure why it felt like it dragged but I did enjoy it quite a lot! 

4/5 

Received free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.