Thursday 28 August 2014

Doll Bones by Holly Black.


Summary: 
Zach, Poppy and Alice have been friends for ever. They love playing with their action figure toys, imagining a magical world of adventure and heroism. But disaster strikes when, without warning, Zach’s father throws out all his toys, declaring he’s too old for them. Zach is furious, confused and embarrassed, deciding that the only way to cope is to stop playing . . . and stop being friends with Poppy and Alice. But one night the girls pay Zach a visit, and tell him about a series of mysterious occurrences. Poppy swears that she is now being haunted by a china doll – who claims that it is made from the ground-up bones of a murdered girl. They must return the doll to where the girl lived, and bury it. Otherwise the three children will be cursed for eternity . . .

This was a lovingly light read that I think would be fit for both a younger and an older audience!
  Although I have heard of Holly Black many times previous to this book, I just haven't had a chance to read any of her books yet (probably because my TBR pile has grown taller than me! Yikes!) this book definitely gave me a great first impression and I will definitely be buying some of her other works.
  This book was interesting and a definite page turner and it was the most unique ghost story I've read in a long long long time, and, if you've read my other reviews, you'll have seen that originality is something that I look out for when reading a book.
  I loved the writing style - it was easy to read and I never once got bored, or tired of it, I just wanted to carry on reading right through to the very ending - although, of course the need for sleep sadly prevented that.
  The character development was also very intricately put together in this book as we kind of see the different perspectives of growing up and we also see significant change in all three of the characters by the end of their quest.
  The plot was well thought out - I have to just point out that I love the back story to it all! - and kept me  wanting to learn more from start to finish.
  This truly was a wonderful story.
 
  *****5/5 stars*****

Thursday 21 August 2014

Afterworlds by Scott Westerfield.


Summary:
Darcy Patel has put college and everything else on hold to publish her teen novel, Afterworlds. Arriving in New York with no apartment or friends she wonders whether she's made the right decision until she falls in with a crowd of other seasoned and fledgling writers who take her under their wings… 

Told in alternating chapters is Darcy's novel, a suspenseful thriller about Lizzie, a teen who slips into the 'Afterworld' to survive a terrorist attack. But the Afterworld is a place between the living and the dead and as Lizzie drifts between our world and that of the Afterworld, she discovers that many unsolved - and terrifying - stories need to be reconciled. And when a new threat resurfaces, Lizzie learns her special gifts may not be enough to protect those she loves and cares about most.

  So, first off, I have to say that I preffered this book by a ton to Scott Westerfields previous work, Uglies. Although it didn't completely grab my attention at times, I never thought it was actually boring, like I did with Uglies. So, there's a plus.
  I was very excited to read this book, especially with the main protagonist being a young author herself, I thought that I would click and connect with her straight away - and I was correct. I loved the fact that there were two stories in this book - and part of a third (Pyromancer) - but, despite this, it still meant that it became quite a lengthy novel and I thought it was quite heavy - you know, like when you eat a slice of cake and it's so good but it's also really hard to finish? That's what this was like, and I guess, if I'd have been more relaxed whilst reading it, I might have had a different opinion; but I guess it's all a matter of taste.
  That being said though, I found no other faults in this book; it was written impeccably, the story flowed brilliantly with the plot clearly well thought out and, though complicated, understandable. I also loved how, rather than just one, we got two, and part of a third, if you count the start of 'Pyromancer' stories, and how, in Darcy's world, and in some cases Lizzies, Westerfield managed to keep it realistic. Oh yeah, he also chucked in a death god for purposes of YA hotness, which is always a bonus!
  So, overall, though this book didn't make it into my favourites, I still enjoyed it and would definitely reccomend it - just make sure you're ready for a long read before you start!
  I really do hope there's going to be a sequel to this book and if there is I'll be at the front of the line waiting to snatch it up.

****4/5 stars****

Monday 4 August 2014

Don't let go by Sharla Lovelace.

Summary:

Noah Ryan and Jules Doucette spent every moment together, first as best friends and later as young lovers. The two had planned a life together—until one unspeakable decision tore them apart for good.

Twenty-six years later, Jules is still carefully living the life her mother planned out for her. She’s running her mother’s store, living in her mother’s house, following her mother’s rules, and keeping the secrets her mother made her bury.

Then Noah comes home and any sense of an ordered life flies out the window. Noah’s return does more than just stir up old memories—it forces Jules to see her life in a whole new way and uncovers secrets even she didn’t know were buried. Secrets that could easily destroy her world once more.


  Oh. My. Lord. This book!
  I honestly can't even settle my feelings right now.
  This book managed to make me so emotional that it was unreal. It even managed to draw out the secret romantic side in my that I've damned since the first day I'd found it.
  This is definitely, DEFINITELY, reached it's way up into my top ten, and was an absolutely fantastic way to delve into a new genre, because, this happened to be my first ever contemperary romance - yes, okay! I admit it, I jumped on the band wagon of 'contemporary romance book? Boring'. Oh, how I was so wrong, in fact, I pity the old me because I've just landed on a gold mine...well, if a 'gold mine' consists of going on a romance rampage then, it most defintitely fits the bill.
  So I love, love, LOVED the style of writing - it was beautiful and I connected with Jules instantly, it really felt like I was right there, living her life with her, which was a little creepy but we've all got to have some creepy sometimes right? Creepy is good...well, this kind of creepy was good anyway.
  And dead lord did this book make me cry. I've been a blubbering mess since the moment I started it. It came with plenty of shocks and gasps and laughs and a wallowing pit of sadness that made my heart hurt. A lot.
  Okay, yeah, I loved the book a lot and I'm a little crazy about it. Deal with it.
  Oh and by the way, Noah Ryan? Yep, wouldn't mind some of him...
  It was written beautifully and I never, ever wanted to end, I can't wait for the next book, I seriously can't. I'm still tingling after this one. Good lord, Sharla Lovelace what have you done to me? I've been turned into a soppy lovey dovey mushy mess.
  And I love it.
  There's no doubting the rating on this one.

  ***** 5/5 stars *****