Tuesday 28 October 2014

Anathema by Megg Jenson.


Summary:
Reychel is a slave girl surrounded by magic, lies, and manipulation. Her best friend disappears in the middle of the night leaving Reychel to face her fifteenth birthday, the day her master burns his brand into the back of her bald head, alone. 

Sheltered from the outside world and without any hope for escape, can Reychel learn to believe in herself?

                                        'FORGET PROPHECY, MAKE YOUR OWN DESTINY'

  This book intrigued me; A hella rad cover? Talk of Prophets? Young adult? Yes please! But, I was actually kind of dissapointed in this book, although I could still see the attraction to it for others - perhaps pre-teens could enjoy it? Which was a shame because usually I thoroughly enjoy books of all genres for all ages.
  But, saying that, I DID enjoy this book to some extent, just not quite as much as others I've read.
  The plot-line was intriguing, although could be predictable, yet I still found myself wanting answers and wondering about things which added to the reasons why it wasn't a bust of a book for me - you know the ones? Where you just cannot read anymore and eventually have to slam it shut in frustration.
   It's quite quick paced and doesn't have many, if at all, sections that are just not needed that cause drag in the story (bookish buffering), which is a real skill this author shows as too many books I read have that issue far too often but, I still felt that the writing was a little bit wooden and felt a bit choppy in sections - but, with that in mind, perhaps a different, younger age group would see that in a completely different light? Who knows? But for me, it dragged the story down a grade.
  Again, this is just my personal opinion, maybe it was the quick to love theme that put me off enjoying this book too much, but I remember that I used to like that sort of thing when I was younger so maybe I've grown up too much (god damnit).
  That being said, it was still a good book - I know there are quite a few critisms in this review but that doesn't mean this is a 'bad book', it's quite the contrary actually! It was an enjoyable, light read and I think I may actually look out for the next installment - see where this goes. 

  *** 3/5 stars***

Saturday 25 October 2014

The Moment Collector by Jodi Lynn Anderson.


Summary:
"The yard of this house is a graveyard of moments and everything left behind is a clue. And I am here to dig."

There's a ghost haunting 208 Water Street. She doesn't know who she was, or why she's still here. She does know that she is drawn to Maggie, the new girl in town, and her friends - beautiful, carefree Pauline and Liam, the boy who loves her.

But the ghost isn't all that's lurking in Gill Creek... Someone is killing young girls all across the county. Can the ghost keep these three friends safe? Or does she have another purpose?

                                                     'IT'S DANGEROUS TO BE YOUNG.'

This.
Book.
Broke. 
Me.

  If you know me, you'll be aware that I'm rarely an emotional person, but oh my goodness, this book stuck a dagger in my heart and twisted. You have to prepare yourself for this one. It's a biter, I tell you.
  I've got to say though that there are a few mistakes here and there, but I also know from personal experience that they are clearly just typos and actually didn't affect my reading of the novel at all. Also, the beggining was a bit slow for me, but by the end I realised that it helped build the tension and, again, wasn't a major issue at all.
  The story line, although frustrating at times and makes me want to bash my head against the wall repeatedly in anger and despair, is actually brilliant and clever and I loved the unique point of view changes we get - switching from the protagonist, Maggie, to the mysterious ghost.
  I absolutely loved this book even though it made me cry. A lot. And I never cry. But yeah, just trying not to think about it. Deep breaths. 
  Jeez, this is gonna be a hard one to get over.
  Tragically beautiful.
 
***** 5/5 stars *****
  

Tuesday 21 October 2014

5 Books I Love That No One Seems To Know About.

So, recently in my entrance to the world of books online - blogs, bookstagram, booktube, so on - I've begun to notice that a lot of the books that I love, even though best sellers, are unknown to the book-loving community, that I find not only strange, but kind of sad. 
  It's time.
      To stop.
           The madness.
...I really don't know guys, I'm just trying to be dramatic here...it's late okay, sleep deprivation is who I blame, if it were a person, which it is not...carrying on...
So I wanted to introduce you guys to a few of my favourite books that are pretty much invisible to all you online bookaholics out there.


1.
    The Demon Trappers by Jana Oliver.


  This series is honestly my all time favourite series. I'll spare you the dreary sob stories behind why this personally speaks to me, but I feel that I can really relate to the protagonist, Riley. 
  I fell in love with this book from the first page and haven't forgotten it since. Now if you know me, you'll be aware that I am NOT a re-reader - I don't understand how people have the time to re-read old books when there are so many new books out there dying to be opened! It's a mystery to me. But out of all of my books this series would be the first I would crack open to re-experience it all over again.
  Yet, it baffles me that, although it IS in fact a best seller, and, of course, holds that title for an extremely valid reason, nobody seems to know about it! Where is the TDT fandom? Can somebody please tell me because as a super fan of this series (possibly even the biggest fan, might I add), I need other people to fangirl about it with! It's not good for the soul to have to keep the feels all cooped up.
  Seriously, if you haven't got this series get it now.
  Like now.
  Are you going?
  Can I see that bum skooting to the bookshop?
  Good. You've just made your life ten gazillion times better.



2.
    The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine.


(I'm aware I'm missing fourteen in paperback, I have it on kindle I'm going to try and get the paperback version this weekend) 


  Again, this is another series which, although is a best seller, doesn't seem to have a presence in the online bookish world. Which is a shame because Myrnin's bunny slippers should be admired by the world.
  Although, this series seems to be on its way up with the new online series being released soon which actually looks super duper cool - I know that I'll definitely be watching it. I've wanted a film/TV program  to be made of this series for a long long long time now!

  [link to trailer : http://youtu.be/o0sf67L1wOk
  Episode one : http://youtu.be/fcoe2nCFYuQ ]

  This book is a vampire series in which the whole town is run by vampires, which in itself is pretty awesome (although kind of scary), it's again another dark romance (my guilty pleasure) and just oh my, just read it.
  Out of all the books in this post this one is a bit more well known than the others but I still feel there should be way more love for these books.


3. 
    The Weather Warden series by Rachel Caine.

 
              (I appologise for the mismatched covers!)


 This series is again, like The Morganville Vampires, by Rachel Caine, although this is a more mature book aimed for an older audience.
  These books always make me feel really intelligent afterwards because you learn quite a bit of technical information about the weather! Okay, okay, I know; ew, learning, right? Calm down guys! It's not educational, just interesting with of course it's fair share of steamy romance, epic fights and action that we all love.
  It's a really fast paced series and I fell in love from the first page. It has a unique idea expanded on expertly and I definitely moped more than a bit when it unfortunately had to end.
  Rachel Caine is brilliant at creating super long series - Morganville being 15 books long, and the Weather Wardens 9. Every single one of them is amazing.
  Get yourself these books and look out for Rachel Caine! She really is an excellent author.



4.
    The Dark Heart series by Lee Monroe.

  

  A long time ago (probably only 2 years but feels like 2 million) I fell in love. With the cover of this book! How absolutely beautiful is it!? Very much so...very much so...
  Anyway, moving on; love at first sight, blah de blee, blah de blaa. I've had an addiction for dark romances since very early teens so before I was birthed into fandoms and bookstagram, blogs and booktube, it was literally the only genre I would buy, so seeing a new one clad in a goddamn gorgeous cover (cannot and will not get over it), with the promise of WEREWOLVES, it got a mmmmhmm girl, I gotta buy that shnazzle from me.
  This is an absolutely outstanding series and the reason I still know that, years after reading it is because I remember it, even if bits and pieces are muddled and such like (I have a terrible memory, honestly, I'd put Dory to shame).
  If you have read this series you shall notice I am missing the final installment, yes, I have yet to buy it along with the frequently growing list of 'buy me's' calling to me in the back of my brain but currently I'm just trying to power through my to-be-read list because dear me, it's long.
  ALSO I APPOLOGISE FOR THE BROKEN SPINE...My mum borrows my books and defiles them.
  A moment of silence please.

  Any who, this is a great series, can't wait to get the last one and yeah, you should totally get them.



5.
   The Program by Suzanne Young.


  This is actually a very recent read for me (well, compared to the rest of the books mentioned in this post anyway), but it quickly shot itself up to number two on my fave series list. This book literally makes me squeel. Like, it makes me tingle...and a book that makes me tingle - well damn, the poo is about to get real!
  Again, this is a series and currently the first and second book is out, yet, alike to the dark heart series, I haven't had chance to buy it yet, but it is called The Treatment and I'm oogling the pretty cover that matches with this one and if I don't get the matching one...well, somebody's gonna die, that's all I'm saying...
  I love the concept - the main plot is based around how suicide has become an epidemic and it's kind of showing the reaction to that - the steps put in place to try and prevent it and the struggle that teens face in this, well I guess it is, dystopian world.
  I'm going to put a quick little note in about triggering - for me this book didnt actually trigger me and I really don't want to say 'trigger warning, don't read if you're sensitive to the topics' because I think this was a fabulously good book and I don't want any of you to miss out, but I also want you all to stay safe, stay clean and stay happy, but, this book doesn't really focus so much on the depression side of things, it's kind of the foundation to the story; but yeah, just throwing that out there!
  I loved this book from start to finish so...yeah, get your butts reading!





Sunday 19 October 2014

Darkness by Erin Eveland.



Summary:

One Girl. One Boy. And the Masters of Darkness. See the Shadow Creatures. They are everywhere. But you can't run from the shadows or the Masters who control them.

Catherine has been born with a supernatural power called Darkness. The Masters of Darkness have found her and it's just a matter of time before someone claims her.

An Interactive Novel
A QR Code starts the beginning of each chapter connecting the reader to specific art or music that ties into the mood and setting of the novel. Using the quick response code in print and eBook formatting, Darkness incorporates visual and sound to heighten the reading experience.

  The first thing I'm going to do is point out the obvious - this book, as the title infers, is indeed dark, and when I say dark, I mean DARK.
  Every possible hurrendous thing you can think of that can happen to a girl in her teens has happened to Catherine, and to top it all off, she's dragged into matters to do with a dark, possible perceived as evil, force called 'Darkness', something she never asked for, nor wanted.
  This book is brilliantly written and is actually quite frightening in places. It's a very dreary novel, but not in a bad way - it has an atmosphere running from start to finish that feels quite murky; not sadness or anger but more a mood of hopelessness.
  I also quite like the idea of the interactive side of this book, although I didn't really participate in that side of it that often myself, but I could see what it was trying to achieve and thought it was a new and innovative idea.
  And can I just make a quick mention that I sincerely hope there is going to be a sequel to this book...you can't just leave it like that! It's not good for the soul.
  Great read!

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

Saturday 18 October 2014

The Maze Runner by James Dashner.


Summary:
When the lift cranks open, the only think Thomas remembers is his first name. But he's not alone - an army of boys welcomes him to the Glade, an encampment at the centre of a terrible maze. The Gladers have no idea why they're there, or what's happened to the world outside. And following the arrival of a girl with a message, they must find a way out - or die.

                                                   'DAY ONE GREENIE. RISE AND SHINE.'

  From the very first page I was hooked. And when I say hooked, I mean HOOKED. Many nights I shed a tear from sleep deprivation just for that one more chapter; one more page; one more sentence. This book turned me into a readaholic, and I loved every minute of it.
  I can officially say this screwed with my head more than once and I found myself trying to solve it all along with the characters. I wanted to know more; no, scratch that I NEEDED to know more. With beautiful torture this book withheld all the answers I was dying to know and though it made me rather frustrated, it also made me love it all the more.


  This is the definition of a clever book.
  The idea was amazing and followed through perfectly. It was written well and not once did I find myself bored or having to re-read paragraphs over again. The Maze Runner has climbed it's way up to my top 3 (within series) and I'm literally twitching because I've yet to buy the rest of the series.
  This has left me with a whopper of a bookhangover, I can tell you that.
  I think it's pretty obvious as to what the ratings going to be.

  ***** 5/5 stars *****



Sunday 12 October 2014

The Pointless Book by Alfie Deyes.


Summary:

Brought to you by YouTube Vlogger Alfie Deyes, The Pointless Book, accompanied by the free downloadable app, is the ultimate addition to his YouTube channel a weird & funny video-diary of fun, challenges and nothingness: bake a cake in a mug; take part in a people-watching challenge; create a time capsule; diarise a week of your life and learn to make origami. Fully illustrated and packed with a host of games, activities and pranks, Alfie invites you to join his online following as he challenges you to complete your journal of pointlessness and do virtually nothing with pride.



  When I bought this book I had no idea what to expect, and what I found was actually a pleasant surprise! 
  I'd heard about another book called 'Wreck this Journal' a while ago when there was a big hype around it from many of my friends but never seemed interested in it myself. The idea of disfiguring a book just really seemed horrifying to me.
  But, strangely enough, I absolutely loved doing all the activities in The Pointless book!


  The Pointless Book is basically a book filled with a ton of pointless (yet still awesomely fun!) activities for you to fill in, participate and in some cases, do as you please! This book is basically yours to do as you wish (oh, the power! *insert evil laugh*) and although you may not want to participate in all of the activities, there are plenty there to choose from, so, if you wish, you can be picky.
  The other thing I love about this book is the interactive factor - the app you can download to accompany the book. You can scan it on some of the pages and see what Alfie wrote for his, and even watch videos of him participating in the books activities, which is really entertaining and fun to do.
  So, while this book may be pointless, it definitely doesn't fall short of a source of entertainment.
  Brilliant concept which I thoroughly enjoyed.
  
***** 5/5 stars *****

  

Timesmith by Niel Bushnell.


Summary:

Thirteen -year-old Jack Morrow is haunted by the past. 

For Jack is a Timesmith, someone with the ability to travel through Sorrowlines, the channels that connect every gravestone with the date of the person's death.

Desperate to help his family Jack finds himself in a secret world deep under the streets of 1940's London. Hunted by the undead knights of the Paladin Jack must find the fabled lost sword of Durendal before it can be used to resurrect the Paladin's evil master, Rouland.

Separated from his friends Jack is forced into an uneasy alliance with Hilda, a strange girl with a hidden past. Together they must find their way through the treacherous underground city of Ealdwyc and stop Rouland's return. Jack's future, and that of his entire family depends on it.

  I was originally sent this book for review and was oblivious to the fact that it was the second book in the series (total face palm moment) and quickly had to recover and buy the first book, Sorrowline, as fast as I could.
  Now, if you follow my reviews, (if you don't then there's been a hole missing in your life - ta-da you just found it!) then you will be aware that I absolutely loved Sorrowline, fantastic book, that, although I wasn't exactly the age range, as this is a middle grade book, I still enjoyed and didn't feel at all as if it was too young for me or anything like that. I eased into the story straight away and was hooked from start to finish.
  Timesmith, the sequel to the book, followed in its footsteps and didn't dissapoint at all. Again it had a thrilling plot line to keep you on your toes, it was beautifully written and well thought out, and, again, just as Sorrowline had, the end left me wanting more.
  I will definitely be keeping up with this series and this author. This book would be perfect for 13/14 year olds + and it's definitely one of my favourite middle grade series's.
  First class book.

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



Saturday 11 October 2014

The Program by Suzanne Young.



Summary:

In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.


  One of the best books I've read in a long time.
  It's shot straight up to my top two favourites series-wise. Seriously, if you have not got this book, you just HAVE to.
  It's emotional, exhilarating, it honestly feels like you're there, taking you through the twists and turns of emotions just as Sloane does. I can tell you now, I gasped more than about twenty times in this book. So many shocks!
  I would reccomend this book to anyone, anyone at all because for me, this is my second favourite series and I literally cannot wait to read The Treatment - the second installment in the series - but unfortunately due to the massive to be read pile growing on my shelf it seems I'm going to have to wait (crys).
  I could write a twelve page essay about why this book is so amazing but I neither have the time, nor will you want to read it - so, the only other thing I can say to you is BUY THIS BOOK. Like now. No matter where you are or what your doing you need to buy this book right now.
  I was in love with The Program from the first page.

**** 6/5 stars *****




Talented (#1) by Sophie Davis.



Summary:
Block it out. Impossible for Talia Lyons. When you’re a Mind Manipulator, it’s hard enough to block the thoughts of others, let alone your own.

Block it out. The pounding, siren-ready world Talia inhabits as she trains with her fellow Hunters, the country's top-secret covert operatives. The physical demands. The emotional toll.

Block it out. The secrets that Talia’s boyfriend is hiding. Talia’s unbidden feelings of frustration and annoyance toward her teammate, the Casanova of the compound. The wondering why she cares what he thinks.

Block him out. Ian Crane. The man behind the bloodshed marring Talia’s memories of her murdered parents. The man she’s determined to kill.

Block it all out. Focus.

Talented is an emotionally raw Dystopian Romance, about the life of a girl with extraordinary psychic powers, and what happens when a heart is torn between love and rage.

  For me, I felt that the beggining of this book was hard to read - I felt really disconnected from the characters and it suffered from description overkill - but, when it got more into the story and the plot solidified I began to quite enjoy it.
  Slowly, but surely, after that first period of awkwardness I felt, I started to create a connection with the protagonist - Talia - and some of the other characters also, such as Henri and Erick. I really did feel for her and this was when I really began to get into the book.
  That's when it gets exciting and we see how amazing the plot is! Invigorating and exhilarating I sped through the rest of the book in a few hours and it left me craving more. I grew to love some of the characters and hate others - and that ending...THAT ENDING! I just need the second book now.
  So although there were some issues with over description in the writing, the book was structurally sound and made for a really enjoyable read!
  I'll be waiting eagerly for the next installment of this series!

  ****4/5 stars****