Midnight Reads

In My Mailbox #47

2012-02-26T12:07:00.010Z

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted over at The Story Siren. This meme allows us bloggers to show what books we recieve each week.

Quite a mixed bag for the Midnight Reads team this week and the e-book certainly seems to be taking hold!

Bungle's Mailbox

Bungle was pretty good with the spends this week buying only the one book but what a corker! She bought Torn by Amanda Hocking #2 of the rather brilliant Switched trilogy. Bungle's plan is to save both Switched and Torn until #3 is out and then she's going to have a Switched reading marathon! If only I could be that patient!

So whilst Bungle kept a fairly tight reign on the purse this week she did get some fab ibooks free of charge! Excellent work I think! she got Marked, #1 of the Soul Guardians series, Shimmerspell, #1 of the Shimmer series by Kimberley Spencer and Raven by Suzy Turner, #1 of the Raven series.

She also got Thirst #1 of the Ava Delaney series by Claire Farrell, Evernight by Claudia Gray and Coexist by Julia Gray. More than one of these has tickled my fancy so am looking forward to hearing about them!

Helen's Mailbox

Helen has maintained her exemplary behaviour and has managed to keep her purse in her bag again! She did however receive a copy of A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness which I have to say intrigues me more than a little!

Sally's Mailbox

My big surprise this week was having Forgiven (Demon Trappers #3) turn up on my doorstep a week early. This was one of my anticipated for 2012 so of course I dropped everything and devoured and loved it - would absolutely recommend! I also received Kiss of Midnight (#2 of the Midnight Breeds series) by Lara Adrian. This one is an adult read and I'm looking forward to this one!

I also got two books from netgalley this week for review. I received The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda and Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore.

But that's enough of our wittering - what did you get this week?

Review ~ Under the Never Sky ~ Veronica Rossi

2012-02-23T07:32:00.004Z

Title: Under the Never Sky

Author: Veronica Rossi

Published: 7th February 2012

By: Atom Books

First line: They called the world beyond the walls of the pod “the death shop”

Last line: Sorry, would be a spoiler!

Under the Never Sky brings me back to the dystopian genre, something I don’t seem to be able to get enough of at the moment. In this instance we are transported to the future where the planet has, due to climate change, become a dangerous, inhospitable place to live. As a result a large proportion of the population, also known as dwellers live in an underground environment known as the realms where through the use of a smarteye you can imagine any environment you would want to. The dwellers are I guess ‘the haves’. The ‘have-nots’ are the outsiders, 'savages' that live outside the walls of the realm where resources are scarce and survival is a constant struggle.

At the beginning of the story we meet Aria, a dweller, who is trying to make contact with her mother, a scientist who works in a different area of the realm. As her plan to find out about her mother’s welfare goes wrong Aria finds herself cast out into ‘the death shop’ to die. Things take a turn however when she ends up meeting Perry, a boy she has met fleetingly before and who considers to be a savage. Perry has his own issues. Cast out by his clan after his nephew is kidnapped he is now searching for the child, his only goal to bring him home. The two outcasts team up with Perry helping Aria to find her mother before he begins his own search.

I love the way that Rossi writes. She gives the information you need and that’s pretty much it – no guilding the lily, no over-egging...you get my drift. But there is enough information there for the reader to be able to visualise everything and to get to know the characters and their flaws and weaknesses as well as their strengths. I also like the use of the dual POV here. She switches flawlessly between the two perspectives as she moves through the plot and the switch is made just at the right time when one character or the others view or opinion becomes more salient.

I love the slow build up in Aria and Perry’s relationship considering the hostile circumstances in which they meet but what I really like is that both are such strong characters, never losing sight of their goals in the pursuit of each other. I also liked Roar and Cinder and I look forward to reading more about them in the sequels. And the ending...well it just left me craving the next book.

The only thing that annoys me about this book is that I have to wait so darned long for the sequel ‘Through the Ever Night’ which isn’t due out ‘til 2013. Now that is just wrong. It’s so so wrong...

4/5 Do I have to wait a whole year for book two? Seriously?!

Review ~ Fever ~ Lauren DeStefano

2012-02-20T19:22:00.004Z

Title: Fever

Author: Lauren DeStefano

Published: 21th February 2011

By: Harper Voyager

First line: We run, with water in our shoes and the smell of the ocean clinging to our frozen skin.

Last line: Sorry, would be a spoiler!

Fave Line: “You children are flies. You are roses. You multiply and die."

Had I read Wither prior to writing my ‘most anticipated books of 2012’ post, I think I can say with some certainty that Fever would have been part of that list. One added bonus of course of only reading Wither at the beginning of this year was that I didn’t have to wait so long for Fever as I’m sure plenty of other fans of the series have.

Fever picks up almost where we left off in Wither. Rhine and Gabriel have escaped from the confines of the mansion where she had been forced into a polygamous marriage, stolen a boat and travelled further up the coast. Their aim now is not only to get away from her husband Linden and Vaughn his tyrant of a father but also to go back to Rhine’s home in Manhattan and to find her twin brother.

Their joy is short-lived however as they find themselves captured and made to work in what I can only describe as brothel that exists within the confines of a bizarre carnival and even there they find they are unable to evade Vaughan. With the help of the residents of the carnival de l’amour they escape, taking a new companion with them in the form of Maddie, daughter of one of the residents. The story follows their journey back to Manhattan and it is a journey which is often fraught, leaving Gabriel feeling disappointed at the new world that he has entered and Rhine wondering whether leaving the mansion was the right decision after all given the risk that she has placed herself and Gabriel in.

I love the way that DeStefano has built the relationship between Rhine and Gabriel. It isn’t all passion and hearts and flowers, but rather it is solid, trusting and utterly devoted even when everything seems to be against them and things certainly are against them. There are so many unexpected twists in the plot (not that I’m giving any of them away here!) and they kept me turning the pages eager to find out what was going to happen next. As for the ending, well... You read it, you’ll see...

The plotline makes this a much faster paced book than Wither and I thought that the writing flowed even more smoothly than its predecessor. DeStefano describes things beautifully, allowing you to form such detailed images in your own mind that you can picture every place, character and action she creates within this world.

Fever is a more than worthy follow-up to Wither and where the middle book in a trilogy can sometimes almost be seen as a filler this one certainly is not. The plot speeds along and you begin to get an idea of the magnitude of the battle that awaits the characters in the final book of this trilogy. I can’t wait to get my hands on it!

Rating: 4/5. I loved it! Can’t believe I have to wait a whole year to get closure!

In My Mailbox #46

2012-02-19T14:07:00.015Z

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted over at The Story Siren. This meme allows us bloggers to show what books we recieve each week.

Well, Helen was the star of the show this week and she managed to avoid raising the national average debt by steering clear of all book purchases. A lesson for us all I feel...

Bungle's mailbox

So Bungle was pretty good this week and she bought one book which was Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey. This book has been on her wishlist for ages and with a few chapters read I hear it was worth the wait! She also received a copy of Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer for review - lucky little tinker!

Sally's Mailbox

I was not so good... Big excitement of the week for me was the arrival of Fever by Lauren DeStefano. I devoured the book in just over a day and what can I say - just brilliant! Review to follow later... I also got Kiss of Midnight which is part of the adult Midnight Breed series (already ordered #2!) and After Midnight, #1 of the Youngbloods series (I'll be reviewing #2, Dead of Night soon)

For review from netgalley this week I was really excited to get a copy of Pure by Julianna Baggot. I also got a copy of Ghost Crown by J. Gabriel Gates and Charlene Keel. This looks a little bit different to my usual reads so looking forward to this one.

But enough of us, what did you get this week?

Mini Review ~ Here Lies Bridget ~ Paige Harrison

2012-02-15T19:21:00.000Z

Title: Here Lies Bridget
Authour: Paige Harrison
Published: January 2011

Bridget Duke is the uncontested ruler of her school. The meanest girl with the biggest secret insecurities. And when new girl Anna Judge arrives, things start to fall apart for Bridget: friends don't worship as attentively, teachers don't fall for her wide-eyed "who me?" look, expulsion looms ahead and the one boy she's always loved--Liam Ward--can barely even look at her anymore.
When a desperate Bridget drives too fast and crashes her car, she ends up in limbo, facing everyone she's wronged and walking a few uncomfortable miles in their shoes. Now she has only one chance to make a last impression. Though she might end up dead, she has one last shot at redemption and the chance to right the wrongs she's inflicted on the people who mean the most to her.
And Bridget's about to learn that, sometimes, saying you're sorry just isn't enough....

Ok, this review will be short and sweet. To start with I haven't finished the book, I know, I know! I love the authors writing and can not fault the premise of the book but oh my gosh I can't stand Bridget! It grates on me to think people in the real world are actually like that!! I can't help but feel the author wants readers to dislike Bridget!

I kept putting this book down and picking it and then putting it back down. At the moment it is down and even though I'm not liking Bridget I find myself wanting to find out how she changes and I have read other reviews that say the book gets better as it goes along.
I think for now this book is going to stay

As I said I love the authors writing and I'm more than happy to read more by her in the future.

Review ~ The Fault in Our Stars ~ John Green

2012-02-13T19:36:00.005Z

Title: The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green

Published: 10th January 2012

By: Dutton Books

First line: Late in the winter of my seventeenth year, my mother decided I was depressed, presumably because I rarely left the house, spent quite a lot of time in bed, read the same book over and over, ate infrequently, and devoted quite a bit of my free time to thinking about death.

Last line: I do.

Fave line: You gave me a forever within the numbered days and I’m grateful (there were many more lines but they would have been plot spoilers!)

Synopsis: Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now. Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means) Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault. Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly, to her interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

For the most part I like to write my own brief outline of any book that I’ve read because I think we all tend to come at a story from different angles. The story that I perceive will most likely be completely different to half the reviewers who post their thoughts and I think this makes life more interesting for potential readers of any book.

For TFIOS I decided to stick with the synopsis. Why? One, because I don’t want to write anything that might bias the reader before they get their hands on the book and two, my mouth is too big and I know I’ll give too much away! One thing I will say – I was warned that this would be an emotional read and oh boy, was it! And by emotional, I don’t mean soppy or wretched, but rather it is beautifully worded, it tugs at the heart strings and each chapter will drag you further into the story, so much so that the line between the reality and the story almost blurs.

This is in no small part due to the characters, three teenagers who use their illnesses to get perks, are wise beyond their years and who find themselves trying to find all the answer in what could possibly a cruelly short period of time. John Green’s previous experience working with cancer patients shines through in this tale. Some sections are graphic and difficult to read, made more so by their honesty and accuracy whilst others are so relatable i.e. the overprotective parents and the need for people to use humour to mask the tragedy within which they find themselves.

In amongst all this however, they are still teenagers. They have the same issues as any other teenager embarking upon a relationship, they still have tantrums and still want to do the things that other teenagers do. The relationship that blossoms between Augustus and Hazel is simple and beautiful and the friendship between all three kids just amazing. The roles that surrounding family members play in this tale felt real and natural and by the time you have finished reading it’s almost like you became a member of their combined family too. TFIOS will pull you in and make you laugh, cry, then cry some more but it’ll be worth it, believe me!

5/5 – As I said on Twitter – just wow! Loved it and looking forward to reading more of John Green’s work.

In My Mailbox #45

2012-02-12T19:06:00.001Z

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted over at The Story Siren. This meme allows us bloggers to show what books we receive each week.

First of all we are sorry for our lack of posts this week! Bungle has been very busy on the job front, and so has Helen and Sally has had a crazy busy week in work. Everything seems to come at once for us all! Anyway, lets get to the real reason you are here, the books we got this week:~

Bungle:~

I was a little naughty this week and I bought 3 books which I have been hearing alot about, Grave Minder by Melissa Marr, Everneath by Brodi Ashton and Heaven by Christoph Marzi.

This week I also got an envelop full of books for review:~

Wyrmeweald: Returner's Wealth ~ Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell

Starters ~ Lissa Price

Dearly Departed ~ Lia Habel

Black Heart Blue ~ Lousia Reid

Now is the Time for Running ~ Michael Williams

A few of these I already have so I passed them on to work friends to read.

Sally's Mailbox:~

This week I tried to tighten the pursestrings and failed abysmally! I bought Witch in Winter by Ruth Warburton, something I had to have for my own after reading what Bungle is saying about it! I also bought Entangled by Cat Clarke and Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin so loads to look forward to there:~

From netgalley for review I got Dead of Night by Lynn Viehl, #2 of the Youngbloods series. Guess I'll have to treat myself to book one now! Oops!!

Helen's Mailbox:~

I have been very good this week and only purchased one book! Which lucky for me was free on amazon! Rising Tides by Maria Rachel Hooley.

So that's what the Midnight Reads team got this week, now we're off to have a good look in your mailbox!

Review ~ New Girl ~ Paige Harbison

2012-02-06T17:41:00.004Z

Title: New Girl

Author: Paige Harbison

Published: 31st January 2012

By: Harlequin

Source: netgalley

First line: The panoramic views outside the windows of the bus showed a world that wasn’t mine.

Last line: And as I left for the last time, I could have sworn I saw a tall, thin blonde girl standing at the entrance of Manderley.

Fave line: No, no, say no. “Sure”.

New girl is a re-telling of the Daphne Du Maurier classic Rebecca which I have to confess I haven’t read so I’ve come to this title anew. It tells the story of Callie, whose name incidentally we do not find out until the end of the book and who is for the most part just referred to as new girl. As we begin this tale New Girl finds herself relocating to Manderley, a prestigious boarding school that she aspired to years earlier and where a vacancy has unexpectedly arisen. We soon find out that the reason for the vacancy is the unexplained disappearance of one of its pupils, namely Becca. Becca was by all accounts the life and soul of the party and for some strange reason, New Girl finds that most of the residing pupils seem to begrudge her arrival, assuming that she is in some way trying to take the place of their missing friend, none more so than her new roommate Dana with whom Becca used to reside.

The story is told from two POV, New Girl’s and Becca’s. Over the course of the story we learn more about Becca and the events which lead to her disappearance as well as witnessing the struggle New Girl goes through to forge friendships in an environment which has shown her little more than pure hostility.

From the outset I detested the sociopath that is Becca. She’s promiscuous in order to gain notoriety among her peers, she is a perpetual liar who manipulates everyone around her and she will tread on anyone that threatens to damage the partygirl-loved-by-all image she has so carefully crafted for herself. New Girl on the other hand is honest, trying to live by her principals and you can’t help but pity her as she is so unfairly treated, particularly by Dana whose behaviour made me suspicious of her throughout the book. Her reactions depict something more than grief over the loss of a friend. The two male protagonists, Max and Jonny seem almost spineless at times, as though they are easily manipulated in their grief and perhaps guilt as Dana weaves webs around them. It was a relief to finally see Max begin to find his own strength towards the end of the book.

The story is almost like a puzzle. At the beginning there are a thousand fragmented pieces, coming from different perspectives which we gradually watch being put back together and by the end of the book we are finally able to see the bigger picture. In this respect I guess it fits into the mystery genre very well and I thought Harbison tied things up nicely for all the major players. I thought this was a really enjoyable read!

4/5 New Girl certainly does keep you guessing until the end. Would absolutely recommend!

In My Mailbox #44

2012-02-05T10:05:00.007Z

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted over at The Story Siren. This meme allows us bloggers to show what books we recieve each week.

It's been quite a quiet week this week on the book buying front here at Midnight Reads but what we have received has been utterly fantastic! First praise of the week goes to Helen who managed to steer clear of any purchases. I'm not entirely sure how she does it - I think I may need to get her advice...

Bungle was also extra extra good this week and didn't buy any books!! That said she's also been off from the bookshop so she hasn't been tempted by anything. I wonder what that means for the pursestrings this week...

In the post this week however she did receive swag from author Marissa Meyer. Marissa sent swag to everyone who tweeted a picture of their red shoes on the release day of Cinder! Bungle thought it was a brilliant idea and had to join in!! Thank you Marissa :)

I was a very lucky girl this week and I got three books that I have been desperate to read! I was bouncier than a box of frogs when I got this copy of Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver. This was a gift from Bungle and it made my weekend! I also got a copy of Fallen in Love by Lauren Kate (Yay Daniel!) and Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi which I have heard so many good things about. BTW, Pandemonium... read it in one day ~ BRILLIANT!!

But that's enough about us ~ What did you get this week?

On My Wishlist

2012-02-04T17:23:00.000Z

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It is a list of the books I want but don't yet have. The books can be old, new or forthcoming.

Title: Fractured Light

Author: Rachel McClellan

Published: February 2012

Llona Reese is used to living on the run. After the Vykens killed her parents, she knew they would eventually come for her too. But she never felt ready to face them---until now. Defying the Auran Council and everything she's been taught, Llona must learn to use her power over light as a weapon if she wants to survive.

Review~The Vision~Jessica Sorensen

2012-02-01T13:20:00.000Z

Add caption

Title: The Vision

Author: Jessica Sorensen

Published: October 23rd 2011

By: createspace

Gemma thought she was trapped—that Stephan had finally won. But then time resets and she’s given another chance.
The clock is ticking as Gemma tries to figure out how to change the vision that ends the world in ice. If she can, then maybe she can save the world from Stephan and give her and Alex a chance at a real future. But changing visions can be dangerous, and sometimes one small mistake can lead to disastrous results

First Line: “I kept having these dreams, or maybe they were more like nightmares.”

Last Line: “The only answer I got was the fire crackling in the streets.”

Favourite Line: “I remembered the Blood Promise, I remembered he was my forever.”

Due to a nasty cold and being stuck in bed all day I managed to read this book in one day! And I can honestly say I have never been so glad to be poorly because it enabled me to devour this book!

This is the third instalment in The Fallen Star series which follows Gemma in her quest to save the world from the evil Stephan and his Death walkers. All our favourite characters are back, Gemma (of course!), Alex, Laylen, and some new characters that shock us with their appearance.

The first being Gemma’s father, Julian Lucas an all-powerful foreseer who has been trapped in his own mind for changing a vision, something which is strictly forbidden amongst foreseers. He also has the unique ability that Gemma possesses, to be able to travel in and out of visions without a crystal ball. I was really excited when we met Gemma’s Dad he brings in a whole new set of questions that need to be answered! ‘The Vision’ is primarily a new mission for Gemma, connected to her Father this time, she must travel through a crystal ball and stop her father from changing the Vision he was imprisoned for changing. Confused? Yes so was I a little however Sorensen tries to help us along by explaining the butterfly effect, if one aspect of a sequence is changed then it therefore has an effect on the rest of the sequence. Gemma has to change the sequence that her father created however this change also has consequences. What these consequences are start to happen as the book comes to a close and we will have to wait until the fourth book in the series ‘The Promise’ is released sometime in February to see what happens.

At the end of ‘The Underworld’ Sorensen explains that Gemma, Alex, Laylen and Aislin all play a part in Stephan’s plan to end the world due to the fact that they are half of one thing and half of another, for example Aislin is half witch, half keeper. To open the portal he needs the star, a keeper who is also a witch, a keeper who is also a Vampire and a Keeper who is also a Faerie. In ‘The Vision’ we meet our half Faerie, half Keeper; Aleesa. Aleesa does not have much of a storyline in this instalment however I feel as in the previous books she will be introduced to us further in the next book.

Gemma’s character develops further in this book, and she starts to emerge as a strong leader, though still afraid, and shows her fear (which I liked about her from the beginning). However with every new revelation she gains strength and a bit more personality. I loved that Sorensen makes her a Keeper; the once clumsy ungraceful Gemma is now a cat like Ninja.

The love triangle between Gemma, Alex and Laylen develops a little further, I think Laylen realises in this book that Gemma is meant to be with Alex, and he starts to soften towards Aislin who broke his heart when she left him after his ‘turning’. Aislin gets a bit more action in this outing Yay! I was really glad Sorensen did this, and she hadn’t just introduced a character that ha one dimension. I feel we will see further action from Aislin in the next book.

When I first started reading this series I heard it had been compared to Twilight, and I started to see these similarities come forward in the third book. Gemma and Alex cannot be close to one another due to the electricity (I won’t go into too much detail because I don’t want to spoil the story too much), I found this aspect of the story heart-breaking, they obviously feel very strongly for one another and they cannot be together!

Rating 4 out of 5 stars: The fast pace story continues on its roller coaster ride, with new characters bringing with them new questions. I like that Sorensen picks one secondary character in each book and elaborates on their story. This is a brilliant saga and we are left at the conclusion with the departure of a major character, and the end of the world beginning! How could you not be excited for the next book!

Helen

Review~The Underworld~Jessica Sorensen

2012-01-30T19:00:00.001Z

4 out of 5 stars

Title: The Underworld

Author: Jessica Sorensen

Published: April 2011

The Underworld is the sequel to The Fallen Star (Fallen Star Series, Volume 1)
Gemma thought her mind was gone, but she was wrong. And now she is left trying to figure out the truth to what Stephan is planning to do with her and the star, before it’s too late.
But finding out the truth is hard, especially since Gemma doesn’t know who she can trust. There may be only one person who Gemma can turn to for answers, but that means having to go to the one place no one wants to go—The Underworld.

First line: “I wasn’t sure whether I was dead or alive.”

Last Line: “I let out a scream for help, but the only thing that returned to me was my own echo.”

Favourite Line: “I shut my eyes and let the buzzing take me away from this horrible place. I let it deafen out the screams. I let it sweep me away.”

Boy am I glad I stuck with ‘The Fallen star’ and finished reading it or I would not have been transported into this fantastic story Jessica Sorensen has created! I loved this book; I thought it was far better than the first. Where ‘The Fallen Star’ was an introductory book ‘The Underworld’ delves deep into the characters plot lines, and new important Characters are revealed and take the story down fresh paths with exciting twists and turns.

I feel in order to write a good review for this book I will have to mention certain facts about the plot line that may spoil the story, so I urge you go and read ‘Fallen Star’ first then I won’t be giving anything away!

Gemma has the power of a fallen star inside her and as ‘The Fallen Star’ finishes we learn she also has special foreseer powers, she can use crystal balls to see visions of the past and future. Gemma soon discovers that she doesn’t need a crystal ball to travel in and out of visions she is highly unique in this aspect. A minor character from ‘The Fallen Star’ reappears in ‘The Underworld’ however he plays a significant role in this Instalment; His name is Nicholas and he is half Faerie, half Foreseer. He agrees to teach Gemma how to use her powers and how to get into the Underworld to save her mother. Gemma’s mother is alive! She has been living in the Underworld, forced into slavery by the faerie Queen who rules there.

The story of Underworld is centred on this rescue mission however we also learn a little more about the main characters that were introduced to us in ‘The Fallen Star’. I believe the most important being Laylen, we already know he was turned into a Vampire; however there is mystery surrounding his ‘turning’ he does not remember what happened and he certainly doesn’t remember drinking the blood of a vampire! I really like the love triangle that Sorensen has started to create between Alex, Gemma, and Laylen. We know ultimately that Gemma has feelings for Alex; they have their mysterious electrical connection! However I think certain feelings may have started to surface for Laylen.

Gemma and Alex’s relationship develops further in this instalment, Gemma learns to trust Alex, after he sacrifices himself to enable her to learn about her powers. Alex also goes into the Underworld with Gemma to save her mother. Alex spends this book trying to prove himself to Gemma; everything he does is ultimately for her! I liked that Sorensen tells us a little about Gemma and Alex’s childhood friendship, that they had a close bond; it hurt Alex to be separated from Gemma.

The only character who I feel lacks in depth is Aislin, she just seems to be there! Apart from being a witch and having the skills to transport the gang from place to place, she doesn’t seem to do much else except for cry all the time. I really hope in the next instalment ‘The Vision’ that we get to see a bit more action from Aislin. Furthermore I feel Sorensen has to explore Aislin and Laylen’s relationship, she has already touched upon the fact that they use too be a couple. It will be interesting to see where Aislin will fit into the love triangle already forming in the gang.

Sorensen cleverly twists the plot of the story towards the end of the book, everything we thought we knew completely dissolves and we are left with the shocking revelation that Alex, Laylen and Aislin play a bigger role in this mystery! The world needs saving and they are all important in making sure this happens.

Rating 4 out of 5 stars: I think this is a brilliant YA series, I haven’t been this excited and eager to read on since the Twilight series! The book is well written with fleshy characters, and a fantastic plot! Sorensen is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series: ‘The Vision’.

Helen

In My Mailbox #43

2012-01-29T19:19:00.000Z

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted over at The Story Siren. This meme allows us bloggers to show what books we recieve each week.

So this week Bungle was really good and stuck to her book ban, not sure how long that will last though! Sally didn't do too bad and just bought two books. But Helen was our book buying winner this week with a total of three, not too bad I guess!!

So for review this week Bungle got a copy of Starters by Lissa Price:~

Sally's Mailbox

I was a very good girl and I only bought two books this week. I bought The Fault in our Stars by John Green which I have heard fantastic things about. It also turned out to be a signed copy - bonus! I also bought Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey, another book I've been meaning to buy for ages.

For review from netgalley I got Pack and Coven by Jody Wallace and steampunk fantasy The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle Mcquerry so a nice mixed bunch this week!

Helen's Mailbox

For review Helen got: Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin and Ugly to Start With by John Michael Cummings.

And for the kindle she got: The Vision by Jessica Sorensen, Moon Spell by Samantha Young and Sojourner by Maria Rachel Hooley.

So that's what the Midnight Reads team got this week, what did you get?

Review ~ Halflings ~ Heather Burch

2012-01-27T18:59:00.002Z

Title: Halflings

Author: Heather Burch

Published: 1st February 2012

By: Zondervan

Source: netgalley

First line: Fangs sank into Nikki Youngblood’s leg, setting her skin on fire.

Last line: Now, maybe it was time to learn to fly.

Synopsis: After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret—and the wings that come with. A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys’ powers, as well as her role in a scientist’s dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world.

Halflings is a nicely written tale that squeezes itself perfectly on to the YA shelf. The tone is fairly light, telling the tale of Nikki who is for some strange reason being hounded (literally) by a variety of dark forces who seem to be out for her blood. As the synopsis suggests, it is the Halflings who come to her rescue which brings in the love triangle and eventually leads to a rather dramatic finale. I enjoyed the tone of this story. It was fairly light and Burch’s writing style flows nicely. I also enjoyed the way that she describes the characters, calling them the lost boys, a race who don’t belong to heaven or earth, so in essence nephilim but the twist was nice. There were however several aspects of the storyline I found myself questioning.

At times it feels as though plotlines are not as well developed as they might be. That said, it may be that there are answers in the sequel to Halflings but I felt that a greater level of explanation and indeed closure in some places might have made for a stronger storyline overall. There were also aspects to Nikki’s personality that didn’t sit right. At times she felt too much like a damsel in distress who was being dragged along for the ride although this does start to change towards the end. Also, I didn’t understand how she went from clueless about the people trying to save her to all knowing without any steps in-between. I thought I knew why she was being targeted but by the end of the book I wasn’t so sure and there were several characters whose back story could have been better fleshed out. As I said, these things may become clear in the next in the series. I’m looking forward to finding out the answer.

3/5 I liked this story but the lack of detail in place sometimes left me wanting. Having said that I still look forward to the pieces of the puzzle coming together in the sequel.

Review~Hunting Lila~Sarah Alderson

2012-01-25T15:57:00.000Z

4.5 out of 5 stars

Title: Hunting Lila
Author: Sarah Alderson
Published: August 2011

17-year-old Lila has two secrets she's prepared to take to the grave. The first is that she can move things just by looking at them. The second is that she's been in love with her brother's best friend, Alex, since forever. After a mugging exposes her unique ability, Lila decides to run to the only people she can trust - her brother and Alex. They live in Southern California where they work for a secret organisation called The Unit, and Lila discovers that the two of them are hunting down the men who murdered her mother five years before. And that they've found them. In a world where nothing and no one is quite as they seem, Lila quickly realises that she is not alone - there are others out there just like her - people with special powers -and her mother's killer is one of them...

Opening line:~ Only when the tip of the knife started to shave against the white of his eye like a scapel about to pierce a boil, did I realise I was the one holding it.

Closing line:~ And I believed him.

Favourite quote:~ I felt his other hand sear hot against my cheek. He bent his head, and in a voice that Jack couldn't hear, said, 'When you came down the stairs and fell into me, that was the moment.' Then his lips pressed against mine.

I loved it with a capital L! Hunting Lila came at the right time for me. It was something a little different and I couldn't stop reading but when I had to stop because of work I found myself thinking of the story and the characters and what would happen next!

After her mother's murder Lila is taken by her father to live in London leaving her brother to live with his best friend, Alex, in the states. While away from her brother and Alex, Lila discovers she has a talent ~ psychokinesis. After her secret is out in the open Lila flies to be with her brother and his best friend but they are not exactly normal 22 year olds. Working for Unit they are trained US Marines, and when the enemies learn that Lila is the sister of Jack she finds herself on the run yet again but this time with the help of swoon-worthy Alex.

Yes ladies, we have our leading man in Alex. Lila has been in love with him for as long as she can remember and I love that about her and this story. Her feelings for him have grown over the years she has know him, he didn't just appear out of nowhere and they didn't fall in love on the spot. There's is a relationship that has grown over time, moving to more than just friendship. I want an Alex!! I also had a bit of a soft spot of Jack. I loved all the characters in Alderson's story. Even the supporting characters felt developed enough to make me want to care for them.

I like that Alderson wasn't afraid to really make this story YA. Yes at times we are reminded that Lila is younger then Alex and her brother but I really feel with the age of the men and their military background this story is perfect for the upper end of YA. It is an action packed read with a love story that has developed over the years.

The twists and turns in this story were more than enough to keep me reading, and what an ending!! I can't wait to read book 2 not only to find out what happens next but I need another Alex fix!

4.5 out of 5 stars because Alderson has written an action-packed story that has just about the right amount of everything with engaging characters and a love story that is truly believable.

Review ~ Diabolical (Tantalize #4) ~ Cynthia Leitich Smith

2012-01-24T18:57:00.003Z

Title: Diabolical

Author: Cynthia Leitich Smith

Published: 24th January 2012

By: Candlewick Press

Source: netgalley

First line: Until the night I was taken, demonically infected, the Guardian Angel Zachary watched over me.

Last line: With my angel at my side, I cross into the divine.

Fave Line: I whisper songs into her sweet skin.

Having already read the first three books in the Tantalize series I was looking forward to reading Diabolical and I’m glad to say that it doesn’t disappoint. If anything, I would say that this is probably better than it’s predecessor.

In Diabolical all our familiar favourites return. Quincie, Kieren and Zachary are still working at Sanguinis, the vampire themed restaurant where Zachary, a slipped angel works at saving neophytes whom he considers to be redeemable. He does all of this in the hope of earning the return of his wings so that he can return home to Miranda. Which leads me to the return of Miranda’s character. Miranda now resides within the penultimate, a half-way house if you will where those ascending to the pearly gates are helped to find peace within themselves before they fully ascend.

From there she is able to observe the goings-on on earth, watching Zachary as he attempts to find his way back to her and also keeping an eye on Lucy, her best friend who continues to search for her. When she realises that Lucy has moved schools it dawns on her almost immediately that something isn’t right. Further investigation shows that the Scholomance Preparatory Academy is a branch of the Eastern European institute of the same name and also happens to be the place that was once attended by Draculus Prime and Lucifer. Using Joshua, Zachary’s friend as a go-between she gets word to Zachary that Lucy is in trouble which leads to a rescue attempt being instigated by Zachary, Kieren and Quincie. Things do not go as planned however and Zachary and Kieren find themselves trapped in the school along with Lucy and several other students. It soon becomes clear that Lucy’s decision to attend is not as clear cut as it first appears and that more than one of our favourite characters is a target in this battle between good and bad.

Diabolical is written from several points of view and we see things this time through the eyes of Kieren, Zachary and Miranda. This is a style of writing that I particularly enjoy and it was great to see Miranda back in the fray and seeing everything from her perspective, especially the role that she plays in ensuring the safety of her best friend. It was also good to see all the characters that I’ve read about so far finally getting together within the one book. There are some excellent twists in the plot and fab new characters, especially Vesper and Nigel and the relationships between Miranda and Zachary and Quincie and Kieren are as sweet as ever. The final battle in the story is nailbiting and more than one characters life is on the line which makes for an exciting ending.

4/5 Diabolical is as good as if not better than the preceding books in the series. If you enjoyed those then you won’t be disappointed.

Review ~ Tempest ~ Julie Cross

2012-01-23T08:00:00.001Z

Add caption

Title:~ Tempest
Author:~ Julie Cross
Published:~ January 2012

The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.
But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveller. Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

First Line:~ My name is Jackson and I can travel through time.

Last Line:~ I have no regrets.

Favourite Quote:~ And I could see it, a clear picture in my mind: her knuckles white, fingers gripping around a rock, and then the instant relief of letting go. Free falling, feeling nothing but air, no weight. No pain.

WOW! What to say about this book!?! I was so torn about how I felt! I loved how the book started, it got right to the point about who our main guy Jackson, was and the fact that he could time-travel. And with this time-travel comes a relative fast-pace story that could leave some readers feeling confused. I was glad of the journal entries Jackson made as I was able to keep up with what year he was in and what date he was on. But for me there were still some unanswered questions about his time-travelling.

I think it's not until the end of the story that you actually appreciate this book! Cross is able to slowly build a world in the readers mind giving them just enough information to keep them reading to find out what happens next. As Jackson's past unravels I was reading faster and faster to see what he would find out next about himself and his father's secret life.

I loved Jackson as a character, I found him easy to relate to and easy to care for. As the story concentrates mostly on Jackson some of the secondary characters are not as well developed but I think this will come over the next book. I did like Adam, Jackson's friend and time-travelling theorist and Holly, Jackson's girlfriend was like able. I warmed more and more to Jackson's dad and I hope to read more about him.

Although the book is fast-paced because of the time travelling, sometimes I was wanting more to happen and boy did I get it with the last 90 pages or so. This is where the story really picked up and I can't believe how Cross left the story!!! Who is that little red head? Where did she come from? Who are the goodies and who are the baddies? What is going to happen? Will Jackson make the right choice? This last part of the story were some of the best page I've read and part of me wishes the whole book had me as gripped as much as those 90 pages did!

3.5 out of 5 stars because Cross knows how to build a story in a readers mind giving them enough to just keep them hanging on. And if you can get your mind around the time travelling this book is worth the read. I think this is a series that's only going to get better!!

In My Mailbox #42

2012-01-22T08:47:00.020Z

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted over at The Story Siren. This meme allows us bloggers to show what books we recieve each week

So the Midnight Reads team went to town this week on the book buying front. Some might see this as a lack of restraint, we like to think of it as a celebration of all things literal. We also anticipate our respective Bank Managers accepting this sentiment in a much more positive light than the former...

Bungle's mailox

So kicking us off with the book haul this week is Bungle who received a fantastic bounty of reads!

This week Bungle got two books for review; Dear Dylan by Siobhan Curham and How to keep a boy as a pet by Diane Messidoro.

Fearful that her purse was about to burn a hole in her favourite coat, Bungle also treated herself to two books. She bought Nightschool by C J Daugherty and Hallowed by Cynthia Hand.

Bungle also won a signed copy of A Witch in Winter by Ruth Warburton after she entered a competition over at The Cait Files. Lucky thing!!

Helen's mailbox

So, Helen has been frantically downloading books for review to her Kindle this week!

The first three books Helen got for review were Jessica Sorensen's The Underworld (Book 2 in the fallen star series), Courtney Cole's Every Last Kiss ( Book 1 in the bloodstone saga and B.Alston's The Grey Eyes (Book 1 in The Forever Trilogy)

She also got Elizabeth C. Mock's Shatter (Book 1 in The Children of Man Series), Stacey Wallace Benefiel's Glimpse (Book 1 in the Zellie Wells series)and Melanie Nilles' Starfire Angels (Book 1 in the Dark Angel Chronicles). As a brief aside she was also able to make a cute little flowerpot out of her melted credit card which she's sure her account manager will just love!

Sally's mailbox

I went off the rails completely this week too!

For review from netgalley this week I got Spellcaster by Cara Lynn Shultz, book two of the Spellbound series. This of course meant I had to order book one. Was there ever a better excuse to buy more books?!

I also received my Christmas present from Bungle this week which I am really excited about. I chose Unearthly and Hallowed by Cynthia Hand.

I also treated myself to The Tempest by Julie Cross, Switched by Amanda Hocking and The Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon which I've been meaning to buy for ages!

So, a busy few weeks coming up for the Midnight Reads team I think and so many fab titles coming out in the next couple of few months...so much to do!!

But enough about us... What did you get this week?

Review ~ Replication ~ Jill Williamson

2012-01-20T07:19:00.004Z

Title: Replication

Author: Jill Williamson

Published: 1st January 2012

By: Zondervan

Source: netgalley

First line: Martyr stared at the equation on the whiteboard and set his pencil down.

Last line: She only wished she could see the look on Dad’s face when Marty asked.

Fave Line: “So, if the function of x is nonnegative and continual between the interval of a and b, you find the integral of that function by doing the antiderivative and plugging in the numbers a & b respectively to get an exact number as opposed to a general solution like you’d get from an indefinite integral” ??

Replication is a sci-fi tale which revolves around two main characters. Firstly, we have Martyr who is classified as a Jason. Martyr lives underground in what appears to be a medical facility in Alaska. Having never left the facility he lives there with 55 other Jasons, some of whom he cares and looks out for because they are considered to be broken. Patiently he waits for his expiration date to arrive when he knows he will fulfil his purpose. Martyr has one ambition – to see the sky before he dies. Abby is a teenager who has recently lost her mother to cancer. She’s a complex character from the outset. She writes lists of pros and cons, using the lists to help her reach decisions and form opinions. When we join her she has just arrived home from a school trip to find that her father, a scientist, has gotten a new job in Alaska and that he has emptied and shipped their home thousands of miles away without even informing her.

After arriving in Alaska and receiving a pretty negative response from her new schoolmates she gains the unwanted attention of JD, one of the school jocks who it turns out happens to be a genius and one who cannot understand Abby’s total disregard for him. She also becomes friends with Kylee a fellow geek who she bonds with immediately. Out of curiosity she visits the enclosure, Jason Farms, where her father works and gradually realises that her father is participating in research that goes again her and her late mother’s beliefs. It is only when Martyr escapes that Abby becomes aware of the full horrors of what is happening at Jason Farms and the implications this has for those around her.

There are many aspects of this book that I loved. The characters I thought were rich and easy to imagine. I loved the almost OCD aspect to Abby’s personality and Martyr’s character is heart-breakingly sweet and naive. There are little things like not knowing what night is, what a cat is, that make him so vulnerable and of course you end up rooting for him all the way.

What left me feeling uncomfortable were the religious overtones that pick up pace through the book. Light vs. dark, good against bad, ethical and moral choices are almost fundamental aspects of YA whether you’re reading about angels, demons, ghosts, vampires or any number of other immortals. The same applies to the sci-fi/dystopian genres. I love books that encourage readers to question their opinions and beliefs but I also think that works of fiction should not prescribe a certain train of thought, rather they should encourage individual reflection. And that unfortunately is where I found this book lacking. I can appreciate that there are some sections of the wider readership who will find this appealing but for me, I felt it made for uncomfortable reading and detracted from a pretty good plotline.

2.5/5 – I loved the storyline and adored some of the characters but my enjoying it was hampered by the underlying messages in the book.

Review ~ The Fallen Star ~ Jessica Sorensen

2012-01-19T19:30:00.000Z

4 of 5 stars

Title: The Fallen Star

Author: Jessica Sorensen

Published: April 9^th 2011

By: createspace

For eighteen year-old Gemma, life has never been normal. Up until recently, she has been incapable of feeling emotion. And when she's around Alex, the gorgeous new guy at school, she can feel electricity that makes her skin buzz. Not to mention the monsters that haunt her nightmares have crossed over into real-life. But with Alex seeming to hate her and secrets popping up everywhere, Gemma's life is turning into a chaotic mess. Things that shouldn't be real suddenly seem to exist. And as her world falls apart, figuring out the secrets of her past becomes a matter of life and death.

First line: “In the midst of a dark, forest, haunted by the winters chill, I found myself running for my life.”

Last line: “I was gone.”

Favourite line: “I can see them,” I whispered, awestruck by how beautiful the stars were.”

The Fallen Star is the first book in Jessica Sorensen’s Fallen Star series, It is the story of Gemma who when we meet her is just starting to feel emotions, she has up until this point lived her life like a zombie. With these new feelings comes an adventure full of twists and turns!

The book started slowly and there were moments when I thought mmmmm I really don’t think this is for me. The first few chapters were quite strange and different, due to the fact that the main protagonist had never experienced emotions! I felt she was quite cold and distant and I wasn’t enjoying the book, however the more emotions Gemma started to experience the more I started to warm to her. We learn later on in the story why Gemma has no emotions and how she feels about these revelations, it’s at this point everything makes sense. The realisation dawns that Sorensen had to make Gemma cold and distant in order for her character and story to develop.

I started too really like Gemma, she faces some scary situations in this book and well obviously she’s scared! I liked that she was petrified by what she saw because I know I would also be petrified! She handles everything in a very human way, even though she doesn’t consider herself a normal human.

The first half of this supernatural story is spent asking questions, why does Gemma not have any emotions? Is she human? Why does she have violet eyes? These questions begin to be answered and more problems start to surface when she meets Alex. Alex is tall, dark, handsome and mysterious! He also appears to hate Gemma; however as we all know sometimes hate is misinterpreted. I loved the tension between Gemma and Alex, and the invisible electricity that runs between them that only they can feel. They share two kisses in this book, but they fall back into their arguments very quickly, also we do not know whether Gemma should really trust Alex. He has lied to her about her past and kept certain information secret; at the end of the book we are left questioning whether Alex is really a bad guy!

Along with Alex we meet his sister Aislin and also their friend Laylen, I felt Sorensen was merely introducing us to these characters in this book, and I predict their stories will develop further in the following instalments. As with many other author’s Sorensen has the difficult task of introducing us to her new world, and The Fallen Star is primarily an introductory book. She leaves us on a cliff hanger, which was extremely clever because you instantly want to read the next book in the instalment.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. I really liked The Fallen Star, if you are looking for an exciting series of books with twists and turns, this is for you! I have already started on The Underworld, the next book in the instalment!

Helen

(two word) Review ~ Dreamless ~ Josephine Angelini

2012-01-18T13:56:00.000Z

UK ARC

Title: Dreamless
Author: Josephine Angelini
Published: July 2012 (UK)

Goodreads says:~
As the only Scion that can enter Hades at will, Helen descends to the Underworld in search of a way to overcome the Furies and end the cycle of revenge that has cursed the Scions. But she’s running out of time. Each descent weakens her both in mind and spirit. A mysterious stranger might be her only salvation, but the price may be her love for Lucas Delos.

As an unforgettable love triangle emerges, Josephine Angelini’s compelling saga becomes ever more intricate and spellbinding. The eagerly awaited sequel to the internationally bestselling Starcrossed, Dreamless delivers with a huge emotional impact that will leave readers satisfied—and longing for more.

I Say:~

Heartbreakingly Beautiful!!*

*I could happily leave this as my review but a more detailed review shall be posted in the near future.

Review~Vivid~Andrea Murray

2012-01-16T17:58:00.000Z

Title: Vivid

Author: Andrea Murray

Published: December 13 2011

By: Andrea Murray; Epublished

When Vivian Cartwright was five years old, she witnessed her mother’s death.

Now, sixteen-year-old Vivian only wants a normal life—hard to accomplish when you possess the power to control energy. Her entire life she has feared her power and its connection to her mother’s murder. She has kept her ability a secret from everyone except her guardian, Charlotte, who has hidden Vivian from the man responsible for her mother’s murder.

Her secret is safe until Vivian subconsciously defends herself at school using her power. After this first use of her gift in many years, Vivian’s power seems to take on a mind of its own, increasing in strength and demanding to be used. This increase in power also brings dreams of her mother’s death and the mysterious man connected with it. When she is assigned to tutor the would-be boyfriend of Trista Parmer (a.k.a. the biggest diva in school), Vivian cannot deny the electrifying connection that she feels for the boy, Easton Garrett. In her desire to get Easton away from Vivian, Trista doubles her efforts to humiliate Vivian, forcing Vivian to use her supernatural gift over and over. With each use, Vivian fears she is losing control and discovers her powers are growing—maybe too much—bringing her unknowingly closer to the man who murdered her mother.

First line: “When I was five, I watched my mother die”

Last Line: “I will find her. She’s my blood”

Fave Line: “He’s not the first teacher who has tried to help me, to save me from a future life as a lonely cat lady.”

Vivid is the first instalment of Andrea Murray’s YA Series, she is self-published, which we at Midnight Reads are very excited about because we are one of a selected group who have had the privilege of reading this book before anyone else!

Vivid is slightly different from YA material I have read before, we have Vivian our main protagonist; she is strong and independent, and with her powers is certainly in no need of saving. I think we find so often that our heroines in fiction appear to be in control and resilient, however they always seem to be saved by ‘the white knight’. I liked that Vivian saves herself, she doesn’t need a man too look after her, a really positive message to young women; we can be strong and achieve! Vivian’s powers are astonishing, and I liked that we were with her when she started to discover how to use her special gift. I find in so many paranormal and Sci fi material that when a character has a power it is not always explained why they have it, what it is and where it comes from! However Murray attempts to explain the bizarre phenomenon that Vivian experiences, where her power generates from.

Behind Vivian Murray has a cast of secondary Characters, Aunt Charlotte who has raised Vivian after her mother mysteriously dies! Vivian and Aunt Charlotte share some really special moments in the book, Charlotte is effectively the only mother Vivian has ever known and it is clear to see they have a mother/daughter bond; however they are also really good friends. I enjoyed reading Charlotte’s struggle to find a balance between being a strict mother and not trying to laugh at some of Vivian’s naughty antics!

Another character is Abbey, Vivian’s best Friend, the camaraderie between the two girls at the beginning of the book is a treat to read! I was smiling and laughing at some of their conversations on the page, these sections were really well written and their close friendship is believable. Abbey was a funny character and she lit up the page for me when she appeared, she had witty one liners and comical expressions, she made me smile!

Easton Garrett takes position as the male lead in the story, and boy is he gorgeous! I liked that their relationship develops quickly, although a long drawn out romance is always yummy! In this case it was nice that they both knew how they felt quite quickly. Easton is a baseball player, therefore he has an athlete’s psychic and Murray constantly reminds us of this, I wasn’t complaining! In all seriousness though Easton is a lovely boy and Vivian is really lucky to have found him because he accepts her power, he even accepts that she won’t tell him everything about it and this does not faze him. Even though Murray introduces a strong male lead he does not over power our heroin and I admire her for this.

The Story would not be complete without a Villain who everybody loves to hate; this comes in the form of Trista Palmer, and boy do you hate her! What a horrible young lady, never mind Vivian wanting to smack her I wanted too! Trista is queen bee at the local high school and rules by publically humiliating her fellow pupils, Vivian and Abby being her favourite victims. Luckily she gets her comeuppance at the end, however as soon as Vivian deals with Trista she soon discovers that there are bigger and scarier villains afoot.

Murray leaves the story in suspense; she introduces and answers some questions in this instalment however she leaves us with bigger and more profound questions to be answered. We also see the death of a really important character at the end which was heart-breaking to read!

4 of 5 stars! I really enjoyed this story, it made me smile and laugh and it also made me cry! I liked that Vivian was a strong female character who fought and protected herself! I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the Vivid series! And hopefully find out the answers to those intriguing questions!

Helen

In My Mailbox #41

2012-01-15T09:00:00.000Z

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted over at The Story Siren. This meme allows us bloggers to show what books we recieve each week.

Hello everyone. This week you met our new reviewer Helen and I'm thinking from now on In My Mailbox is going to be brill here at Midnight Reads. We always look forward to see what we all got so lets get to it.....

Bungle's Mailbox

I know I said I was going to be good and not buy books but I failed yet aging this week but in my defence I only spent £4.00 on 3 books!!!! Which were:~

The Hunger Games trilogly by Suzanne Collins.

I've heard a lot about this series and after seeing the trailer at ther pictures last week I thoughtt was about time I gave them a read!

I also got a bumper pack from Harper Collins 'Spill the ink'

Unravelling ~ Elizabeth Norris

A Confusion of Princes ~ Garth Nix

A Dog Called Homeless ~Sarah Lean

A Brighter Fear ~ Kerry Drewery

Helen's Mailbox

Helen did rather well this week to say it's her first week here at Midnight Reads. This week she recieved:~

For review

Vivid ~ Andrea Murray

Kindle

Slumber ~ Samantha Young

The Fallen Star ~ Jessica Sorensen

Turned ~ Morgan Rice

Blood Will Tell Samantha Young

Sally's Mailbox

So this week I got a copy of Tankborn by Karen Sandler -- I loved this book when I reviewed it so really chuffed to have a copy on my shelf at last.

I also got The Fairy Letters: Letters from Prince Kian to Queen Breena by Kailin Gow which looks fab!

So that's what we got this week! We are looking forward to seeing what you got this week.

Happy reading :)

Review: Slumber by Samantha Young

2012-01-12T13:29:00.000Z

Slumber

Title: Slumber
Author: Samantha Young
Published: May 2011
Series: Chronicles of The Fade

A sleeping beauty may be the damsel in distress, but her White Knight? Why her rather un-knightish best friend of course. And the White Knight’s White Knight? Well… none other than her reluctant mortal enemy…

When Haydyn falls victim to the mysterious Sleeping Disease, the world of Phaedra is thrown into Chaos.

Rogan, Haydyn’s best friend and handmaiden, is the only one who can save her. Together, with the Royal Guard and their young Captain, Wolfe Stovia, Rogan must set off across the provinces to find the Somna Plant that will wake Haydyn from her dying sleep.

Beset on all sides by the chaos, Rogan tumbles into a dark world of kidnapping, prejudice, betrayal and love… a journey that will change her forever, and a journey that will change their world forever, if she does not retrieve the cure.

First Line: “When I was a child the world smelled of summer”

Last Line: “…I woke up too.”

Fave Line: “His declaration of love made me bold.”

Slumber is the first installation of the Chronicles of the fade by Samantha Young, and my first review for The Midnight Readers! I don’t think I could have started on a more fantastic book.

I was hooked from the first line, “When I was a child the world smelled of summer” what a brilliant first line! We meet Rogan the protagonist of the Story in the Prologue, where she begins to introduce us to the world of Phaedra. She tells us the story of her people known as mage, magical beings who decide to fade as one into Paradise to avoid war with Mankind. This Paradise was named Phaedra by the Dyzvati, a clan of magical evokers who had the ability to lull the people and land to peace. For this reason they were chosen as the Royal family, to rule over the land which was split into six provinces and divided between the different groups of Mage; The Dravilec – Healers, The Glava – Psychics and The Azyl – Seekers.

I must admit I found all the new language difficult to grasp at first, I found myself constantly referring back to the index of terms to remind myself of who was who and what was what. However Young helps you along with the index of terms and by re explaining certain aspects, by the time I reached Chapter two I was fine.

Rogan is a brilliant protagonist you go through a rollercoaster ride of emotions with her, she experiences great loss and pain in the first few pages, she is torn from her family and forced to travel across Phaedra to help protect the Princezna Haydyn. The story fast forwards eight years and Rogan and Haydyn are now best friends, and Haydyn has fallen victim to the Somna also known as the sleeping disease. Rogan must set forth on a quest across Phaedra to seek out the Somna plant with her magical powers.

Rogan must be accompanied on her quest by Captain Wolfe Stovia, strikingly tall, with silky chestnut hair and olive skin (mmmm ‘shivers’). I loved Rogan and Wolfe’s relationship in this book, their initial hatred blossoms into something more! The arguments and quips between Rogan and Wolfe kept me hooked, mainly because I could see what was going on, however it takes Rogan quite a while to figure things out.

Rogan meets many people on her quest, some stuck in my memory more than others, the most important being L. L saves Rogan towards the end of the book from a horrible situation. The girls bond very quickly and I fell in love with the rough L, I was so happy to learn that the next book in the series will be centred on her story; I can’t wait till it is released!

Young is a brilliant author, and I will be buying everything she has written so far on my kindle! I loved her characters and I loved the picture she painted in my head. She deals with some heavy subjects in this book including murder, abuse and sexual assault; however they are handled with great care and attention.

5 of 5 Stars! Why? Because I have literally spent the last three days recommending this book to anyone who would listen! Rogan’s story is one of friendship, Bravery and love. I could not put this book down and when I did I was counting the minutes till I could pick it up again.

Helen

Meet Our New Reviewer:~ Helen

2012-01-12T11:23:00.000Z

Today we would like to introduce you to our new reviewer, Helen. We are rather excited to have Helen as part of the Midnight Reads team. So I think without further ado we should get right to it and learn a little bit more about Helen:~

The Sugar Queen

What is your favourite book?
The sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

Who is your favourite author?
Jane Austin

What do you get up to when not reading?
I am a HUGE West Wing fan! I am currently working my way through series 5! And from this I have a newly fuelled interest in American Politics, Obama for 2012!

I love going to gigs! I am obsessed with Florence and the Machine and will be going to see her in March! EXCITED!

What made you want to start reviewing YA books?
Like Bungle and Sally I read a lot of books with a wide variety of genres; however I always seem to gravitate back to YA books. For me they are escapism, I was a shy teenager and I found, and still find I can relate to Characters in this genre. I wanted to start reviewing because when in discussion with my friends about the books we have all read I discovered I had a voice, and that I wanted it to be heard. If I read one amazing book and influence one person to read that book I will be happy, because like Walt Disney said “There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island.” :)

Helen's first review will be posted today!

Blog Tour: Darkness Falls by Cate Tiernan

2012-01-11T08:00:00.001Z

Darkness Falls
Out NOW!!

Cate Tiernan's Darkness Falls is the amazing sequel to Immortal Beloved. Both Sally and I loved the books and we are so excited to be taking part in this blog tour (and it's the first one we have been involved in).

The Darkness Falls Blog Tour launched yesterday over at Pretty Books with a questions and answer session with author Cate and tomorrow a tour stop will be made over at Fluttering Butterflies.

But for our little part in this blog tour we are giving away 3 sets of Immortal Beloved and Darkness Falls! Yes, that is correct, 3 lucky winners will each receive book 1 & 2 from the Immortal Beloved series!! What a fantastic giveaway, right!?

For your chance to win all you need to do is pop over to Cate's facebook page here, give it a 'like' and then leave a comment telling us what you would do if you were Immortal. (please also leave an email address so we can let you know if you have a winning answer)

As mentioned we loved Cate's books and you can read our review for Immortal Beloved here and Darkness Falls here.

Cate Tiernan

To learn more about Cate and her stories you can 'like' her Facebook page (and leave your comment;) follow her on twitter or pop over to her website.

We would like to thank hodder for allowing us to be part of this book tour. We love a good giveaway!! We also look forward to reading what you would do if you were Immortal!

In My Mailbox #40

2012-01-08T08:00:00.001Z

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted over at The Story Siren. This meme allows us bloggers to show what books we recieve each week.

Hey everyone! I'm excited to be doing our first in my mailbox for 2012. I was trying to be really good this year and not buy any books til I read at least 10 of the million I have on my bookshelves but I broke my no buying ban within the first week of the year! Book I think you'll agree what I bought is rather brilliant!

I bought Cinder by Marissa Meyer and Switched by Amanda Hocking. Both books have been On My Wishlist and feature in my most anticipated books for 2012 so I just had to buy them, right!?

And for review I recieved a copy of The Haunting of Tabitha Grey by Vanessa Curtis.

Sally's Mailbox

This week Sally got Rachel Vincent's My Soul to Take, My Soul to Keep & My Soul to Save as Christmas presents.

And she also did some buying herself which doesn't make me feel as bad about me buying ;) She bought Wither by Lauren DeStefano and Unwind by Neal Shusterman.

So that's what we go this week, we're looking forward to seeing what you got!

Happy reading :)

On My Wishlist #18

2012-01-07T16:27:00.000Z

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It is a list of the books I want but don't yet have. The books can be old, new or forthcoming.

I know it's been a while since I did an 'On My Wishlist' post but as I've said, I want the blog to be more active this year so we'll start as we mean to go on :)

The book I have picked this week was a recommendation by author Melissa Marr! I'm a big fan of Marr's writing and her Wicked Lovely series was my first YA faerie read.

Title: Bones of Faerie
Author: Janni LeeSimner
Published: January 2009

The war between humanity and Faerie devastated both sides. Or so 15-year-old Liza has been told. Nothing has been seen or heard from Faerie since, and Liza’s world bears the scars of its encounter with magic. Trees move with sinister intention, and the town Liza calls home is surrounded by a forest that threatens to harm all those who wander into it. Then Liza discovers she has the Faerie ability to see—into the past, into the future—and she has no choice but to flee her town. Liza’s quest will take her into Faerie and back again, and what she finds along the way may be the key to healing both worlds.

Janni Lee Simner’s first novel for young adults is a dark fairy-tale twist on apocalyptic fiction—as familiar as a nightmare, yet altogether unique.

Review ~ Touch of Power ~ Maria V. Snyder

2012-01-05T19:59:00.003Z

Title: Touch of Power

Author: Maria V Snyder

Published: 27th December 2011

By: HarlequinTEEN

Source: netgalley

First line: The little girl wouldn’t stop crying.

Last line: “Starting now.”

Fave Line: Killed by a giant plant. Not the way I’d want to go.

Touch of Power is the first of the new Healer series by Maria Snyder, the author of the successful Study and Glass Series. For anyone who has read and enjoyed her work so far I think this story will be just as captivating.

Touch of Power tells the story of Avry, a healer and part of a race who are considered to be outcasts after they were accused of spreading a plague which killed the wider population. When her identity is discovered Avry is sentenced to death and thrown into jail where she awaits her imminent execution. It is while she is languishing in jail that she is kidnapped by Kerrick of Alga and his forces, their aim being to return her to their home where their leader Prince Ryne who suffers from the plague in the hope of saving him.

Things are not quite as simple as they sound however. We learn at the beginning of the story that as Avry heals people she absorbs whatever it is that ails them, so even as she is asked to save the Prince we are aware of the potential consequences of making such a decision. Secondly, owing to the brutal stories that Avry has heard about Ryne she hates him with a passion and actually has no desire to help him.

The story details the journey of Avry, Kerrick and the rest of the men as they make their way back to Prince Ryne, all the time trying to convince Avry to change her mind and help the prince. During that time Avry learns to trust the men she travels with, even managing to break down the barriers that Kerrick has built around himself and she comes to realise that what she thinks she knows about Ryne is not necessarily the truth but will that be enough to convince her to sacrifice herself?

I love the characters in this book and found it incredibly easy to be able to picture each and every one of them as Snyder detailed them. I particularly liked the way that Avry is determined to stick to her principles, even though they put her in harm’s way and I admire the way that she fought back even when the odds were stacked against her. I loved the dark and brooding Kerrick and I found the rest of the main characters warm and really likeable, especially Belen and Flea. I guess the main issue I had was that I found it difficult to believe some of the major plotlines that run through this book. There are several clues as to how this book is supposed to end throughout the story but they seem more than a tad implausible and this proved to be the case. That said, as implausible as I knew the potential ending was that didn’t prevent me from enjoying the story and I look forward to finding out what happens in Scent of Magic, Healer #2 which is released later this year.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5. If you like the previous series released by Snyder you’re probably going to be a big fan of this one too!

2012 Blog Resolutions

2012-01-03T19:24:00.000Z

As we start a new year and Midnight Reads is almost one, I've been thinking more and more about this little blog. Throughout 2012 I aim to be more blog active and get my reviews up as soon as I have read a book. Sometimes I wait to long and often forget things. I plan to read every night, even if it's just a few pages. I love to read but I often sit watching rubbish TV and don't get anything read some days.

I hope to be able to do more giveaways and be involved in more events and book tours. We are taking part in the Darkness Falls tour this month here at Midnight Reads so pop back on the 11th Jan to see how you can win books.

Having Sally join Midnight Reads has been brilliant and I hope she stays for a long time, I love reading her reviews. It's also nice to have others review on the blog and I hope guest post become a more frequent thing of 2012.

So the plan for 2012:~ be more active!! I love this little blog and I want you to love it too.

Sally's most anticipated books of 2012

2012-01-01T12:44:00.010Z

OK, so this is it! After much soul searching and hand wringing here are the ten books I'm most looking forward to in the coming year. As the lovely Dermot says, in no particular order, these are the final 10 going through!

1.Untitled ~ The Caster Chronicles series #4 ~ Margaret Stohl & Kami Garcia

As yet untitled, all information on book four of the CC series in at present on complete lockdown which is understandable given the way that the last book in the series finished. Book 4 follows on from the brilliantly written Beautiful Chaos, the only book released last year that actually left me screaming at the pages as I searched for the chapter I hoped they had missplaced at the end of the book. Alas no, it was just that good a cliff hanger ending, so much so that it still keeps popping round to slap me again when I least expect it.

With the climax of Beautiful Chaos came all kinds of repercussions for many of the major characters (See? spoiler free!)and I'm desperate to find out what happens next...

FYI ~ I have placed Beautiful Chaos in my freezer.

CC#4 is due out in the fall of 2012.

2.Clockwork Princess ~ The Infernal Devices #3 ~ Cassandra Clare

In Clockwork Princess, Tessa and her companions travel all over the world as they race to stop the clockwork army before it's too late. As Jem's health worsens alarmingly and his friends search desperately for a cure, can Tessa choose between the two boys she loves — even if it means never seeing the other one again?

What to say...At a time when my nerves were starting to recover from the ending of Beautiful Chaos (see above) Cassandra Clare decided to pop along and take what was left of said nerves and crush them into a fine paste....There are a thousand plotlines to tie up in CP2 and given what happened in Clockwork Prince there's the potential for a plethora of big events: births, weddings and...well, let's not even go there...(deep breaths Sal...)I can’t wait to see how Cassandra Clare does it, as bitter sweet as I know the ending might possibly be...eeshk!

BTW - Clockwork Prince is also in the freezer keeping Beautiful Chaos company...

Clockwork Princess is due out November 2012

3.Rapture ~ The Fallen series #4 ~ Lauren Kate

The sky is dark with wings. . . .

In RAPTURE, the highly anticipated fourth and final novel in the FALLEN series, Luce and Daniel are together . . . but for how long? Can history be rewritten? Or are some punishments eternal?

I have been captivated by Luce and Daniel’s story since reading Fallen which now seems like an eternity ago and now we reach our conclusion...Luce, Daniel and their friends have nine days to locate the site of the fall and prevent Lucifer from wiping out everyone and everything that has happened since. We also get to find out whether the curse will finally be lifted so that Luce and Daniel can finally be together, but that in itself raises so many questions...

Rapture is due out in June 2012.

4. Forgiven ~ The Demon Trapper series #3 ~ Jana Oliver

At the end of Forbidden Riley Blackthorne found herself on the run. With her father bought back to life (ish) her ex-boyfriend Simon has, wrongly, told the Vatican that she has aligned herself with hell, making her the Vatican’s most wanted. She has also fallen out with Beck who failed to take her brief dalliance with a fallen angel too well and so we arrive at a point where things seem like they couldn’t get any worse. However...Something big is going down in Atlanta, with demons joining forces against the heavens and it could be that the final battle is awfully close...

I love Riley and Beck and I think there's still so much more to learn about the characters. Am really looking forward to this one!

Forgiven is due out in March 2012

5. Insurgent ~ The Divergent series #2 ~ Veronica Roth

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

I fell in love with Divergent from pretty much the first page! The characters are so well written they leap out from the page and I love the strength of character that Tris has throughout the story, not to mention the lovely Four. I’m so looking forward to finding out what happens next between the newly warring factions in this dystopian series.

Insurgent is due out in May 2012.

6. Pandemonium ~ The Delirium series #2 ~ Lauren Oliver

At the end of Delirium Lena Holloway had escaped from the confines of her family and the government and has, thanks to Alex, the boy she loves, found herself in The Wilds where the laws imposed by consortium do not apply and where the inhabitants are considered to be outcasts. We also left Alex, who has sacrificed himself to save Lena, in the hands of the security guards, bleeding, his fate unknown.

Lauren Oliver’s website offers this intriguing morsel: This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite. I can’t wait to find out what happens next and more to the point – is Alex OK?!

Pandemonium is due out in March 2012.

7.Untitled ~ The Hush Hush series #4 ~ Becca Fitzpatrick

At the end of Silence Nora finds herself the newly appointed leader of Hank’s Black Hand Army. In charge of thousands of Nephilim who are determined to stage an uprising against the fallen angels, including her boyfriend Patch, Nora suddenly finds herself trying to prevent an all-out war.

I love the way that Nora’s character has evolved and become so strong through the series so far – she is a girl I think few would mess with! I’m looking forward to seeing her develop and grow as this series progresses.
Untitled is due out in October 2012.

8.The Immortal Rules ~ Blood of Eden Series #1 ~ Julie Kagawa

Having fallen completely in love with the Iron Fey series and with Julie Kagawa’s style of writing I can’t wait to see what she can do to vampires!! Below is a fantastic synopsis on what to expect from this series...

In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.

Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.

Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.

The Immortal Rules is due out in May 2012.

9. Promised ~ The Birthmarked trilogy #3 Caragh O’Brien

Promised is the last in the Birthmarked trilogy and tells the story of Gaia Stone, a midwife who at the end of book two, Prized (A review for which is here) now finds herself Matrarc of Sylum following the death of its previous leader.

There are a few hints at the end of book two as to what will happen next, particularly as Gaia attempts to lead the society she now commands from the toxic wastelands where they currently exist to pastures new. Whether their reception will be a warm one we’ll just have to wait and see...There are a ton of characters I’m eager to read more about but if I say anything I’d be spoiling the ending of book two. So I won’t.

Promised is due out in the fall of 2012.

10. The Crown of Embers ~ The Fire and Thorns trilogy #2 ~ Rae Carson

I’ve got a particular soft spot for this series. Firstly, because it was the first book I reviewed and secondly because I love the strength and tenacity that Elisa, the main character displays even while she is prepared to acknowledge her own insecurities.

At the end of Fire and Thorns Elisa assumes the role of Queen of Joya D’Arena as well as taking on the role of mother by taking Prince Rosario under her wing. Now that she is also recognised as being the bearer of the Godstone it would seem likely that book two will find her more at risk than she ever was! I’m looking forward to reading about the new challenges that face Elisa, as well as finding out a bit more about Hector maybe who I think stands out among many of the strong characters in this series.

The Crown of embers is due out in the fall of 2012.

There are others that I HAVE to mention namely; Untitled, The Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2 by Laini Taylor, Fallen in Love by Lauren Kate and City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare.

So there you have it – more of a baker’s dozen really. Looks like fall 2012 is going to be a particularly busy time in the SallySmurf house!!
So which books are you mostly looking forward to?

Bungle's Most Anticipated Books of 2012

2011-12-31T10:05:00.000Z

I'm not going to lie, making this list wasn't easy. Rather than go with all the obvious books to series I'm reading (other than two), because both you and I know I'll be reading them no matter what, I've gone for books I've had my eye on, or seen through twitter & other blogs. So without further a-do, and in no order what-so-ever here's my top 10 list for my most anticipated books of 2012.

Incarnate
Jodi Meadows
January 2012

Seen this all over twitter, and wow, what a cover!

NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.

Dreamless
Josephine Angelini
May 2012

I'M ALREADY READING THIS ONE :)

As the only Scion that can enter Hades at will, Helen descends to the Underworld in search of a way to overcome the Furies and end the cycle of revenge that has cursed the Scions. But she’s running out of time. Each descent weakens her both in mind and spirit. A mysterious stranger might be her only salvation, but the price may be her love for Lucas Delos.

As an unforgettable love triangle emerges, Josephine Angelini’s compelling saga becomes ever more intricate and spellbinding. The eagerly awaited sequel to the internationally bestselling Starcrossed, Dreamless delivers with a huge emotional impact that will leave readers satisfied—and longing for more.

Cinder
Marissa Meyer
January 2012

This was on my wishlist, I'm loving some of the retellings at the moment!

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

In this thrilling debut young adult novel, the first of a quartet, Marissa Meyer introduces readers to an unforgettable heroine and a masterfully crafted new world that’s enthralling.

Illuminate
Aimee Agresti
March 2012

Came across this on on goodreads.

Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything begins to change when she turns sixteen. Along with her best friend Dante and their quiet and brilliant classmate Lance, she is awarded a prestigious internship in the big city— Chicago—and is sent to live and work at a swanky and stylish hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous and shockingly young-looking strangers: powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit.

As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers a network of secret passageways from the hotel’s jazz-age past that leads her to the heart of the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they’re in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to thwart this devilish set’s plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the hotel?

Illuminate is an exciting saga of a teen’s first taste of independence, her experience in the lap of luxury, and her discovery she may possess strength greater than she ever knew.

Melissa Marr
Faery Tales & Nightmares
Feburary 2012

I love Marr's work and any excuse to revisit the Wicked Lovely series is fine by me!

Dangerous promises and beguiling threats swirl together in a dozen stories of enchantments dark and light by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr. Uncanny and unexpected creatures appear from behind bushes, rise from beneath the seas, or manifest from seasonal storms to pursue the objects of their attention—with amorous or sinister intent—relentlessly.

From the gentle tones of a storyteller’s cadences to the terror of a blood sacrifice, tales of favorite characters from Marr’s Wicked Lovely novels mix with accounts of new characters for readers to fall in love with...or to fear.

Lush, seductive, and chilling, Melissa Marr’s stories revel in the unseen magic that infuses the world as we know it.

Until I Die
Amy Plum
May 2012

Can't wait can't wait can't wait! Hope I'm lucky enough to get a proof of this one :)

Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.

In Die for Me, Amy Plum created a captivating paranormal mythology with immortal revenants and a lush Paris setting. Until I Die is poised to thrill readers with more heart-pounding suspense, spellbinding romance, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave them desperate for the third and final novel in the series.

Everneath
Brodi Ashton
January 2012

Another from my wishlist.

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

Fated
Alyson Noel
May 2012

I've enjoyed some of Noel's books but not all of them so I'm looking forward to trying something new from her.

Lately strange things have been happening to Daire Santos. Animals follow her, crows mock her, and glowing people appear out of nowhere. Worried that Daire is having a nervous breakdown, her mother packs her off to stay in the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico with a grandmother she’s never met.

There she crosses paths with Dace, a gorgeous guy with unearthly blue eyes who she’s encountered before...but only in her dreams. And she’ll get to know her grandmother—a woman who recognizes Daire’s bizarre episodes for what they are. A call to her true destiny as a Soul Seeker, one who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead. Her grandmother immediately begins teaching her to harness her powers—but it’s an art that must be mastered quickly. Because Dace’s brother is an evil shape-shifter who’s out to steal her powers. Now Daire must embrace her fate as a Soul Seeker and find out if Dace is one guy she’s meant to be with...or if he’s allied with the enemy she’s destined to destroy.

Stolen Away
Alyxandra Harvey
January 2012

Seen these one on a few other blogs and I love the sound of it!

For seventeen years, Eloise Hart had no idea the world of Faery even existed. Now she has been abducted and trapped in the Rath of Lord Strahan, King of Faery. Strahan was only meant to rule for seven years, as Faery tradition dictates, and then give up his crown to another. But he won't comply, and now chaos threatens both worlds.

The only one who can break his stranglehold on the Faery court is his wife. . . Eloise's aunt Antonia. Using Eloise to lure Antonia, Strahan captures his wife, desperate to end the only threat to his reign. Now Eloise must become the rescuer. Together with her best friends Jo and Devinforge alliances with other Fae, including a gorgeous protector named Lucas, and Strahan's mysterious son, Eldric—who may or may not betray them.

Switched
Amanda Hocking
January 2012 (first published 2010)

Ok so this may not be a new release but with a new edition coming in 2012 I had to add it. Not only do I love this new cover but I've been hearing all sorts abou the book!

When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - a world both beautiful and frightening, and Wendy's not sure she wants to be a part of it.

Pop back tomorrow to see Sally's most anticipated books of 2012.

In My Mailbox #39

2011-12-26T09:45:00.020Z

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted over at The Story Siren. This meme allows us bloggers to show what books we recieve each week.

Well, the festive season has certainly been good to Bungle and I! Check out what arrived through our mailboxes this week!

Bungles mailbox

Bungle treated herself to a copy of Cold Magic by Kate Elliott and she also recieved four books for review; Debutantes by Dora Harrison; Dreamless by Josie Angelini;Falling Fast by Sophie McKenzie and The Killables by Gemma Malley.

Bungle also received the Demonica Series which is an adult paranormal series written by Larissa Ione - might be one to add to my wishlist I think!!

She also received a copy of The Mabinogion and she treated herself to a copy of The Frozen Planet which accompanies the fantastic series that was on TV recently.

Bungle also got hold of this copy of Paul Scholes's autobiography which the now retired Manchester United midfielder also signed for her!

Sally's mailbox

I started by buying myself Blessed and Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith, which are books two and three of the Tantalize series. I'll be reviewing book four, Diabolical in the new year!

I also received the Yelena Zaltana trilogy by Maria V Snyder for Christmas which I am really looking forward to reading!

Finally, I also bought a copy of The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa which has to be one of my top 5 of last year. I was also lucky enough to receive a copy of the world of Downton Abbey which is a guide to the series and the history behind it.

So that's what we got for Christmas - what did you get?

Happy Christmas everyone!!

In My Mailbox #38

2011-12-18T08:31:00.023Z

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted over at The Story Siren. This meme allows us bloggers to show what books we recieve each week.

Christmas certainly arrived early for the Midnight Reads team this week - check out our bumper sack!

Bungle's Mailbox
So Bungle was more excited than Rudolph in full flight mode this week when she was the lucky recipient of these fine four books. She received a copy of Pure by Julianna Baggott which was a present from Michelle at Much Loved Books. She also received three books for review: Blood Red by Moira Young, Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson, which apparently is fab (review coming soon!) and The History Keepers by Damian Dibben.

Sally's Mailbox
Well I was happier than an elf with a sack full of candy cane this week when I received a bumper parcel from the wonderful Bungle! You've seen it before but I'm showing you again because it's fab! I got this signed copy of The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater which I absolutely love!

I also received this fantastic copy of Darkness Falls by Cate Tiernan which is definitely my next read, as well as The Glass Collector by Anna Perera and Tantalize by Cynthia Leitch Smith.

I also got a copy of Crave by Melissa Darnell which I reviewed a while ago and really enjoyed as well as Crossed by Ally Condie which is the sequel to the fabulous Matched, Before I Die by Lauren Oliver and the highly acclaimed Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher which I am really looking forward to reading.

But that's enough about us. What did you get this week?

Winter Warmers Event ~ Lauren Kate chooses Catherynne M Valente as her debut YA author of 2011

2011-12-14T19:01:00.000Z

For the last of our winter warmer recommendations we turn to international best selling author Lauren Kate, creator of the Fallen series. Lauren has chosen The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her Own Making by Catherynne M Valente as her debut YA novel for 2011 and here's why...

Catherynne Valente isn’t exactly a debut author (she has published a number of wonderful books for the adult fantasy audience) but her novel “The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her Own Making” is her very first foray into the word of young adult fantasy.

Her lead, the smart and curious “September,” is a girl reminiscent of Dahl’s Matilda and Pullmans Lyra, but the world she inhabits is unlike anything you’ve ever read. Valente’s voice is one of the freshest and most engaging I’ve found in quite some time. The illustrations are charming and the story is unique and heart-felt, made up of the kind of prose that you fall into immediately and effortlessly, only coming up for air once you realize you’re halfway through the book and and the sun is coming up.

"The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her Own Making” is a beautiful crafted and timeless work from an author with a remarkable sense of character and a firm grasp on her own, powerful, voice. Number #8 on the New York Times Bestseller list back in May - "Fairyland" is starting to get the visitors is so greatly deserves, I can only hope Valente has more to come!

Many thanks to Lauren for taking time out to take part in the Winter Warmers event!

If you want to find out more about Catherynne Valente and The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her Own Making you can follow her on twitter or you can check out Catherynne's website

For more about Lauren Kate and the Fallen series, check out Lauren's website or you can follow her on twitter.

Winter Warmers Event: Author Sara Grant interviews debut author Julia Karr

2011-12-13T14:23:00.000Z

Winter Warmers Event
Guest Post by Sara Grant

Dystopian Hoosiers*
Thanks, Bungle & Sally, for inviting me to take part in your Winter Warmers event.

I always try to read as many debut authors as I can. It’s exciting to discover a new talent that I can enjoy for years to come. When you asked me to select one debut author, I knew immediately who I wanted to highlight – Julie Karr, author of XVI.

Early in 2011 I took part in a blogging event which featured eight young-adult dystopian novels. I researched the list and discovered that one of the debut writers grew up in Indiana less than 100 miles from where I was born and raised. What are the odds?

(I should probably explain that I now live in London, England. Finding someone here who can point to Indiana on a map is rare. I’ve also heard my beloved homeland called one of the ‘fly over’ states. So I continually feel compelled to stand up for those of us from the Midwestern United States. We Hoosiers should not be passed over.)

What did it mean that both of us write dark, dystopian novels? Was there something in the southern Indiana water? While growing up, we spent half the year on daylight savings time and the other half on central time. (Indiana was only one of two states that refused to ‘spring ahead’ and ‘fall behind’ each year.) Did this fact somehow twist our view of the future? Should Indiana be known for dystopian writers as well as corn?

I immediately read XVI. What I discovered was that we had more than geography and dystopia in common. Her feisty female protagonist is named Nina, mine Neva. Both are around 16 years old and live in a society where being a girl has sinister challenges. They both have mysterious and sexy love interests. Both Nina and Neva begin to uncover secrets that threaten their lives.

So I decided to use Midnight Reads’ Winter Warmer event to make you aware of a darn fine Hoosier writer and a thought-provoking and compelling book. But also I wanted to explore this connection between Julia and I. Julia was kind enough to respond to a few of my questions.

XVI

About XVI
“In the year 2150, being a girl isn’t necessarily a good thing, especially when your sixteenth (read sex-teenth) birthday is fast approaching. That in itself would be enough to make anyone more than a little nuts, what with the tattoo and all – but Nina Oberon’s life has taken a definite turn for the worse. Her mother is brutally stabbed and left for dead. Before dying, she entrusts a secret book to Nina, telling her to deliver it to Nina's father. But, first Nina has to find him; since for fifteen years he's been officially dead. Complications arise when she rescues Sal, a mysterious, and ultra hot guy. He seems to like Nina, but also seems to know more about her father than he’s letting on. Then there’s that murderous ex-government agent who’s stalking her, and just happens to be her little sister’s dad.”
My interview with Juila Karr

It's interesting that two debut dystopian writers grew up within a 100 miles of each other. How did growing up in a small southern Indiana town influence your writing?

When I was growing up in small-town Indiana, there was not a whole lot to do. There was no internet, with rabbit ears (or an outside antenna) you could get a grand total of three TV stations, and on those rainy days when you couldnt go out to play with your friends, you had to do something. For me, that something was reading lots and lots of reading. As a matter of fact, I started reading when I was three and by the time I reached fifth grade I'd read pretty much all of the books in the children's room of our local library and moved on to Zane Grey westerns and Agatha Christie mysteries!

The local library

Although reading and the library were a huge influence on me and my love of the printed word, there were other influences at play. My maternal grandmother raised my older sister and I. Gram had a diverse mixture of friends - all ages and many walks of life - whose many quirks and traits have become a rich pool to draw from. Also, like Christie's Miss Marple notes, everything goes on in a small town, one just has to pay attention. And, I guess I was pretty good at paying attention.

One other thing about growing up in Seymour, when I became a teen, I wanted out. My mother lived in Chicago and I so much wanted to be there with her. When I was fifteen, I moved to Chicago and believe me, it was everything Seymour was not - and more! Not always in a good way, either. But, time, distance, and hindsight has filled my creative well and given me a wealth of memories to twist into futurescapes rife with the same humanity that exists everywhere.

Julia Karr

We also share rebellious female protagonist and futures where females have more obstacles than males. What was your creative spark for XVI and its vision of the future?

XVI started out with a mental vision of my main character, Nina. She popped into my head unbidden, complete with future setting and elements of media domination and complete disregard for homeless people. All of which was ultimately believable to me, and the beginnings of XVI.

What is your outlook for the future? Is it as bleak as the world youve created in XVI?

Oh boy - that's a loaded question! I would answer with Ebenezer Scrooges question to the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come,..."answer me one question. Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they shadows of things that May be, only?"

Still the Ghost pointed downward to the grave by which it stood.

"Men's courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead," said Scrooge. "But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change. Say it is thus with what you show me."

I can't say it any better… mankind needs to be paying attention.

What would you like readers to take away from XVI?

I'd like reader's to think about the fact that at any moment in time they have choices. They can choose to blindly follow society's leadings, to go along with the crowd, or they can look inside and see whats right, not just for themselves, but for others. Living with blinders on and allowing financially driven media to shape the course of ones life in the direction that benefits a corporation or a business, without consideration of moral, ethical, and personal standards, is wrong.

And, Id like teen girls to feel empowered to stand up for whats right and to own the power they possess.
What can we expect from TRUTH (the sequel to XVI available from January 19^th)?

Without giving anything away… Nina finds out just how messed up things really are. And when she (along with an expanded group of friends) sets out to right them she realizes that exposing the truth and standing up for the right can have deadly consequences. (And, there's also a new guy, who may, or may not, be competing for her affections, because, Sal is still very much around!)

***

A special thanks to Julia for responding to my questions. I hope you check out her book and if you are a Hoosier writer or reader of dystopian fiction get in touch. I think we may need T-shirts, a slogan and a secret hand shake!

Sara Grant

Bio

Sara Grant was born and raised in Washington, Indiana, a small town in the Midwestern United States. She graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, with degrees in journalism and psychology, and later she earned a master's degree in creative and life writing at Goldsmiths College, University of London.

Sara is senior commissioning editor for Working Partners, a London-based company creating series fiction for children. She has worked on ten different series and edited more than 75 books.

Sixteen-year-old Neva has been trapped since birth. She was born and raised under the Protectosphere, in an isolated nation ruled by fear, lies, and xenophobia. A shield "protects" them from the outside world, but also locks the citizens inside. But there's nothing left on the outside, ever since the world collapsed from violent warfare. Or so the government says...

Neva and her best friend Sanna believe the government is lying and stage a "dark party" to recruit members for their underground rebellion. But as Neva begins to uncover the truth, she realizes she must question everything she's ever known, including the people she loves the most.

We would like to say a very big thank you to both Sara and Julia for taking part in our Winter Warmers Event!

Winter Warmers Event:~ author Lari Don Picks debut author Daniela Sacerdoti

2011-12-12T09:58:00.000Z

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Today's post comes from author Lari Don who has a review of Watch Over Me* by Daniela Sacerdoti as well as an interview with the debut author.
Over to you ladies....

This is a simple, clear, moving story, which carries the fact that it is told from at least four points of view very lightly. It paints a picture of a very particular kind of Scotland welcoming, beautiful, life-giving, creative that I would love to live in myself. And perhaps if I stopped and looked around, it would turn out that I already do!

Watch Over Me is about a young woman who has lost a pregnancy and a marriage, and has come back to her childhood home to recuperate. Will she find love, and a future? Or is she too damaged to let anyone else into her life?
But the perfect man is there, waiting for her, he just doesn't know it. And the force trying to bring them together is a ghost. I know. I worried about that too. But the author manages the ghost very subtly, without any rattling chains (the occasional flicked curtain and one guilt-laden broken ankle is as physical as this ghost gets.)

Im not normally a fan of ghost stories, I prefer my deaths to be final, but this afterlife is handled in a philosophically fascinating way the ghost in the book is not stuck permanently and forever in her old home, she has a period of grace during which she is part of the scenery, the loch and the air, then she will pass away completely. I find this a more reassuring kind of ghost, one enjoying a fading farewell, using gentle nudges to sort out the lives of those she left behind.

I recognised the world of this book. The hell of small girl ballet classes, sarky mums at school gates, and rural Scotland trying to work out what it is (local gossip, small shops, new art galleries).

And I cried. Yes, I cried, at the sad bits and the happy bits. I cared about the characters, and felt convinced by their world and their lives. And I thought more kindly about ghosts than I ever have before! A moving, warm, and inspiring book.

Daniela Sacerdoti

Interview with Daniela:~

You weren't brought up in Scotland, so do you think that allows you to see the country more clearly?

I suppose so! I think my husband helped me understand the Scottish character. He suggested a few books and films, the most diverse things such as Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, the poems of Sorley McLean and George McKay Brown, the work of Donald Murray. It took me several years to gain a certain understanding of the Scottish psyche…My very first impression of it was the warmth and loyalty experienced in my husband’s family, so that stayed with me. It’s very much reflected in Watch Over Me, I think. Another aspect of the Scottish character that doesn’t cease the amaze me is the incredible resilience and inner strength that I find very inspiring.

I am amazed at how authentic your Scottish dialogue was in Watch Over Me, and I don't mean in an Och Aye The Noo sort of way. Do you spend a lot of time listening to how people speak?

The way English in spoken in Scotland fascinates me, especially the way the older generation speaks. The dialogue from Peggy and Elizabeth is very much based on how my mother in law and my father in law speak. They have a beautiful way with the language, expressive, soft, and it makes me think of a simpler, gentler time. Of old Scotland, really.

You created a very original and fascinating form of afterlife in Watch Over Me. Do you believe in ghosts?

Ghosts as apparitions, I’m not sure. My mum saw the ghost of a neighbour, when she was a wee girl…A lady sitting on a stone wall in our home village of Caravino, who waved at my mum and smiled. She had died that morning. My mum is a very rational, no-nonsense person and she maintains that it really happened, so who knows? Ghosts as memories of the generations gone, yes, in that sense I very much believe in them. I think Sorley McLean in his poem Hallaig describes perfectly how spirits and stories are never really gone. In that sense, I very much believe in ghosts.

Most of the female characters in the book are defined in some way by their attitude to motherhood, and the main male character is an artist. Do youthink what we leave behind us when we go needs to be physical - children, art?

Not necessarily, I think it can be ideas, memories…some people are born to be facilitators for others, and that’s an infinitely precious role to have. So no, I think our inheritance can well be immaterial.

This is your first book, but you are working on several other books right now, in several different genres. What kind of writer do you see yourselfas?

I think I’ll probably end up writing mostly for young people and children, but ultimately I’ll just write whatever story wants to be written. I’ve been working on a new adult novel too, on and off. I’ve had to stop and start that particular book a few times because the subject matter is so emotional, and I find writing it quite draining, but it will be ready sooner or later. So I suppose that doesn’t answer the question much! I’ll say I see myself as a writer, that’s it.

Daniela on twitter and her blog

Lari on twitter and her blog

We would like to thank both authors for taking part in our Winter Warmers event.

*Although Watch Over Me is not a YA book, here at Midnight Reads we think it's a brill cross-over story.

In My Mailbox #37

2011-12-11T08:26:00.008Z

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted over at The Story Siren. This meme allows us bloggers to show what books we recieve each week.

So this week Bungle has been an absolute angel and hasn't bought any books to add to the list! Well done Bungle, we are most proud! Once again however I have to admit failure, although I did only buy the one book this week so I like to think I've actually been quite good really...

The first thing that came through my door this week was Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare which I have already finished of course! Loved it, loved it, loved it even though it broke my heart a little and wracked me with guilt after I got what I wanted!

I also got three books for review from netgalley this week...they were Halflings by Heather Burch, New Girl by Paige Harbison and Replication by Jill Williamson. Looks like I've got a fair bit of reading to get done over Christmas - can't wait!

So that's it from us this week - what did you get?

Winter Warmers Event ~ Shelley Workinger picks Worst. Vampire. Ever. By Caissie St. Onge

2011-12-09T17:44:00.002Z

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Today's post comes from author Shelley Workinger who has a review of Caissie St. Onge's Worst. Vampire. Ever.

I live for humor. I need it in my friends, movies, books, and my own work, even though my “Solid” series isn't a comedy. In fact, my most treasured reader accolades are those that say what a great, sarcastic heroine Clio is. And I couldn't let her be the only one Jack is adorably witty; Miranda's comebacks aren't usually cute, but they are clever; Garrett can always be counted on for some comic relief; even Bliss gets a chance or two per book to say something that gets a laugh.

So I got a good feeling about Worst. Vampire. Ever. when I saw the title then Caissie St. Onges bio really sold me. She told me she's a funny girl (her credits include writing for David Letterman and Rosie O'Donnell's shows) then showed me (she's also worked for “a bunch of shows you probably haven't heard of, but that's okay”) and I was at the counter faster than you can say “Ha, ha, ha.” ;)

The book opens with Miss Worst Vampire Ever herself Jane Jones surviving, “an excruciating social event, a toxic blood reaction, and near death by parental mortification.” It can only go up from there for Jane, right? Wrong actually. ;)

Caissie St. Onge

It only makes sense, after all, that since Jane's “nothing like [the vampires] you read about in books” - not beautiful, not rich, not “sparkling” in any sense of the word, and even blood - intolerant - that shes looking for a cure for vampirism. And along the blood-low brick road this quest takes her on, she has to deal with characters like Astrid, the mean vamp-girl who peer-pressures Jane into chugging from a drunk-and-glamoured classmate; Timothy, the hot guy with the indistinguishable lets-be-friends or Im-laughing-at-you-and-not-with-you smile; Ms. Smithburg, the teacher Jane used to love but who's now acting the wrong kind of cool toward her; and Eli, the newly-assigned history partner who just sent Jane her first (and unwanted) Facebook friend request.

Will Jane find the cure? Will it work? Will she accept that Friend request? Will you laugh? Can't say. Don't know. Maybe. Absolutely.

We would like to thank Shelley for her review of Worst. Vampire. Ever. and getting involved in our Winter Warmers Event.

Shelley Workinger

Shelley:~
thesolidseries.com
facebook.com/solidseries
twitter.com/SWorkinger
bookfare.blogspot.com

Caissie:~
http://www.caisbook.com/
http://www.facebook.com/caissie
http://twitter.com/Caissie

Winter Warmers Event: Charlotte Blackwell picks Mary Ting's Crossroads for her debut read of 2011

2011-12-08T19:12:00.000Z

Crossroads

Todays post comes from author Charlotte Blackwell who has reviewed Mary Ting's Crossroads.

We will hand over to Charlotte.....

I was asked to read and review debut author Mary Ting's young adult novel CROSSROADS, and I can't explain how much I love this story. Author Mary Ting began writing CROSSROADS based off a dream she had and the story took off from there. With my love for the paranormal I was happy to read something new to me within the genre. CROSSROADS is a paranormal romance that involves Angels. They story created around these angels pulls the reader deep into the world of the protagonist Claudia and even when finished you are left wanting more.

Mary Ting

Mary Ting has done a wonderful job of building her characters, the story, and a beautiful romance that most of us can only dream of. I found myself waiting on baited breathe for the next shoe to drop or the next romantic encounter. This talented new author is sure to make a mark in the world of young adult story telling. Her publisher World Castle Publishing is very lucky to have found such natural talent and good sense of the age group and genre. I look forward to her follow-up novel BETWEEN which is expected some time in 2012.

http://charlotteblackwell.blogspot.com/

Charlotte on twitter

http://www.marytingcrossroads.com/

Mary Ting on twitter

We would once again like to say thank you to Mary and Charlotte for taking part in our Winter Warmers Event.

Winter Warmers Event: Mary Ting picks Charlotte Blackwell's Immortal Embrace

2011-12-07T19:49:00.000Z

Today Author Mary Ting tells us why debut author Charlotte Blackwell is her pick of 2011.

Mary's review:~

Embrace yourself in Immortal Embrace by Charlotte Blackwell. This heartwarming story will pull you right in from chapter one. I was quickly drawn to Sophia, the protagonist and her vampire family. Blackwell beautifully creates a story of loss and love, and you will wish you could be part of their family and even when finished, I needed more of their world. Thank goodness there is the sequel, Forbidden Embrace. The story continues. I flew through the pages again. I wanted to jump inside the book and spend the day with these characters that I’ve grown to love. Soon to come, Mystic Embrace.

Charlotte Blackwell

Charlotte Blackwell has done an amazing job creating her characters, making them real to the reader. Her descriptions are perfect, allowing the reader to see everything, yet leaving little to the imagination. There are many vampire stories out there, but the uniqueness of the story and likeable characters captures your heart that you feel like you are part of their family. The Embrace series is a paranormal romance you will love to sink your teeth into.

http://charlotteblackwell.blogspot.com/

Charlotte on twitter

http://www.marytingcrossroads.com/

Mary Ting on twitter

We would like to say thank you to both Mary and Charlotte for taking part in our Winter Warmers Event! And we look forward to Charlotte's post tomorrow.

Winter Warmers Event~ Taryn Browning's debut author of 2011 is Michelle Madow

2011-12-06T18:12:00.000Z

Remembrance

Today author Taryn Browning tells us why Michelle Madow's Remembrance has stood out for her this year.

We will hand you over to Taryn....

As soon as I saw the cover, I had to read REMEMBRANCE by Michelle Madow. The cover is one of the most beautiful covers I've ever seen and the story is just as gorgeous. The mask draws you in, but the words, characters and storyline keep you wanting more. I loved it! Madow has created a captivating romance between lovers across time with a unique twist on reincarnation and the fate of finding true love for the second time in another lifetime – even when it ended tragically the first time.

Michelle Madow

Inspired by Taylor Swift's Love Story video, the protagonist, Lizzie, has been reincarnated from Regency Era, England but is unaware of her past life. She doesn’t understand why she feels so connected to the new guy, Drew, especially since she already has a boyfriend – who happens to be quite controlling. Readers will find Lizzie down-to-earth and relatable. She is very likeable and someone I would have loved to be friends with in high school. I rooted for Lizzie and Drew from the very first chapter, even when it appeared as if they’d never be together.

As for Drew - well, he is totally gorgeous, and not just on the outside. He struggles with his feelings for Lizzie and it shows through his actions. Whether he is doing everything to push her away, dating her best friend, or giving into his feelings, Drew is downright swoon-worthy and I can’t wait to read more about him and his past life.

Taryn Browning

I definitely recommend Madow's debut novel to any age, pre-teen through adult. It is an amazing love story that will tug at your heart and keep you wondering what is going to happen next. It’s a must read. I look forward to delving deeper into Lizzie and Drew’s pasts, including the complications that test relationships, fate, life and even death, in the upcoming books in the TRANSCEND TIME Saga.

We would once again like to thank these two amazing authors for taking the time to be part of the Winter Warmers Event here at Midnight Reads.

www.michellemadow.com
Michelle on twitter

www.tarynbrowning.com
Taryn Browning on twitter

Winter Warmers Event:~ Michelle Madow Picks Author Taryn Browning

2011-12-05T12:29:00.000Z

Dark Seeker

Today Michelle Madow tells us why she has chosen debut author Taryn Browning's Dark Seeker for our Winter Warmers Event

Over to Michelle....

DARK SEEKER by Taryn Browning is a fun, fast-paced read with a whole new breed of vampires and one of the hottest guys to hit YA fiction.

I absolutely love the world Taryn Browning created. Seekers hunt vampires, but this isn't the sort of mythology you're used to. Browning added a whole new spin onto it, but I don't want to give anything away. Let's just say that her new breed of vampires will take the species to a new level. I also loved the way she incorporated Native American lore into the story, by relating it to the Seekers.

Michelle Madow

Speaking of our Seeker, the protagonist Janie is a great character who will be a fabulous role-model for teenagers. She's strong, spunky, and isn't afraid to say what's on her mind. She's also a great vampire hunter. Taryn Browning excels at writing fight scenes, and when Janie is battling vampires you'll feel like you're right there beside her, rooting her on to win. Janie doesn't do everything alone though -- her mom Isabelle and her mom's friend Abram serve as excellent mentors throughout the book.

Taryn Browning

I saved the best for last …. KAI! I loved Kai. He is … well, I'm not going to give away what he is, because that would spoil the story for you, but he is HOT! However, it's not only his looks that make him appealing, but his personality as well. He and Janie have some fabulous witty banter, but you'll also get to see a deeper side of him when Taryn gives you a few glimpses of what's going on from his point of view. His love story with Janie is sweet, and will also leave you wanting more.

DARK SEEKER was a fantastic debut novel, and one that I highly recommend. I can't wait to read the rest of the SEEKER series to see what Browning has in store for us!

www.michellemadow.com
Michelle on twitter

www.tarynbrowning.com
Taryn Browning on twitter

We would like to say a very big thank you to both Michell and Taryn for getting involved in our Winter Warmers Event. Pop back tomorrow to see what Taryn has to say about Remembrance.

In My Mailbox #36

2011-12-04T18:18:00.000Z

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted over at The Story Siren. This meme allows us bloggers to show what books we recieve each week.

This week we got a few books between us here at Midnight Reads. Sally recieved two books:
Saving June from netgalley and she loved Wherever You Go that much she just had to buy a copy.

For review this week I recieved Wonder by R.J. Palacio and Advent by James Treadwell.

This week Michelle over at Much Loved Books sent me a copy of Rachel Caine's Working Stiff, thank you Michelle :)

So that's what we got this week, we're looking forward to seeing what you got :)

Winter Warmers Event - Karen Sandler picks her debut read of 2011

2011-12-03T20:15:00.006Z

Winter Warmers

For today's winter warmer author of Tankborn, Karen Sandler takes centre stage to tell us about her favourite debut read of the year:

My favorite debut read in 2011: MATCHED by Ally Condie

In a post on my blog, karensandler.wordpress.com, I described MATCHED as "The book I was most annoyed that I couldn’t read the sequel to right away." Condie's dystopian society was fascinating and creepy and her main character Cassia grows nicely from beginning to end. Very much looking forward to CROSSED.

So what is Matched all about? Here's a brief outline of the story...

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

Matched went on to win the YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults in 2011. The sequel Crossed was released on the 24th November and you can find more information on the Matched series @ http://www.matched-book.com/

Winter Warmers Event ~ Amy Plum highlights Myra McEntire's Hourglass

2011-12-02T11:29:00.000Z

Winter Warmers

Today we hand over to Amy Plum, who is herself a debut author of 2011, as she tells us why Myra McEntire's Hourglass has stood out for her this year.

So without further ado, we will hand over to Amy.....

I picked up HOURGLASS after meeting the author, Myra McEntire on Twitter, and was so swept into her story that I read the book in two sittings.

What I loved about it:
~I'm a sucker for time travel stories, and I really enjoyed the idea of ripples in time - or "rips" - that her protagonist Emerson experiences.

~I love Myra's sense of humor - it adds yet another enjoyable dimension to the story.

~I want to live in Emerson's town and her buildings and go to her coffee shop.

~The characters were well drawn, especially Emerson & Michael, Emerson's brother and sister-in-law, and Kaleb and Ava.

~Em and Michael have great chemistry - I enjoyed their budding romance...and its stumbling blocks. But as usual, I was most intrigued by the bad boy - Kaleb.

Myra McEntire

Myra is a truly gifted storyteller. I am not only anxiously awaiting the sequel to HOURGLASS, but will be reading anything this debut author brings out in the future!

Hourglass:

One hour to rewrite the past . . .

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

Hourglass

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.
Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.

You can learn more about Myra McEntire here. Or follow her on twitter here.

Amy Plum

You can also lean more about Amy Plum who we love here at Midnight Reads on twitter here and over at her website here.

We would like to say a big thank you to Amy Plum for sharing her thoughts about Hourglass, we know she she super busy at the moment!

Winter Warmers Event ~ Mireille Chester meets debut author Robert Eaton

2011-12-01T13:37:00.000Z

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Today marks the first day of our Winter Warmers Event here at Midnight Reads. To start things off author Mireille Chester will be sharing her interview with debut author Robert Eaton followed by her review of his book, The Hero Always Wins.
Over to Mireille........

Hello, everyone! My name is Mireille Chester and I must say, I am very excited to be doing this interview for a few reasons. One, when Midnight Reads sent out the request asking authors to showcase debut authors I was all for it. What a great thing to do! Authors helping authors… it’s something I try to do every day, whether it be retweeting or reviewing and this was another great opportunity to get involved. Two, as I thought about who I would showcase, I kept coming back to one author; Robert Eaton. Robert and I met on Twitter and I was so excited to learn he was an epic fantasy author. I love fantasy (obviously, since that’s what I write), but in this day and age, it seems as though more and more people are turning to paranormal. Now, don’t get me wrong, I think that’s a great genre too… but I am and always will be an epic fantasy nut. For this reason, I picked Robert. The third reason I am so excited to be showcasing him is that, well, his book is fantastic! So let’s get right to it! Everyone, I am pleased to present to you Robert Eaton, author of The Hero Always Wins.

Me: Hello Robert!

Robert: Hi Mireille, pleased to be here.

Me: I suppose we should start with the obvious first question… tell us a little about yourself.

Robert: I write epic fantasy, as you already know. I also love rock music; I sing, play guitar, and attend a lot of concerts. I burn off stress by lifting weights. Any other spare time I have goes to playing video games, watching sports, or hanging out with friends and family.

Me: Have you always known you wanted to be a novelist?

Robert: No. I grew up watching MTV and wanted to be a rock star. Somewhere along the way, I realized I was more nerd than musician, so novelist seemed a better fit.

Me: How long did it take you to write The Hero Always Wins?

Robert: Calendar time? Seven or eight years, but there was a lot of procrastination built in there. I have no idea how much time I spent at the keyboard.

Me: Now I know I've told you this before, but your story was fantastic. It had all the elements I look for in an epic fantasy novel: knights, magic, good versus evil... What made you pick that genre and are there any particular authors that inspired you to do so?

Robert: Fantasy has always been my favorite genre. I love epic series, and my biggest influences include J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert Jordan, and Terry Goodkind. I’ve also drawn on video games for inspiration; Final Fantasy, Dragon Warrior, and Warcraft have fed my love for fantasy every bit as much as any book.

Me: One of my favorite things when I’m reading is a twist in the story. The twist in yours was phenomenal. I won’t go into details because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read it yet, but when I finally figured out what was happening, I actually swore out loud. Did you write the story around the twist, or did you just start writing and then decide to throw that in?

Robert: I came up with the twist fairly early on, but it originally wasn’t as central to the story as it ultimately became. My original concept for the book was based on the video game Dragon Warrior IV. The concept was a series of short stories, each built around a different character, followed by a main story in which all the earlier characters came together. However, when I actually got to writing, I found one story was just more interesting than the others. That led to scrapping the short story concept and building around one central storyline, with a twist.

Me: When the book ended, all I could think was there had to be a sequel. Will there be a follow up book or books and if so, do you know when the next novel will be released?

Robert: As I said, I love epic series! There will definitely be multiple sequels to The Hero Always Wins. Don't worry, it won't be a never ending story. I have a spectacular ending planned, but it will take a few books to get there. I hope to have the second insta;lment out early next year.

Me: J Alright, so, I always end my interviews with these quick little questions.

Do you have a favorite color?
Robert: Black

Me: Favorite song?
Robert: You Give Love a Bad Name

Me: Favorite animal?
Robert: The drummer from the Muppets.

Me: Favorite book?
Robert: The Hero Always Wins. Second place to Fellowship of the Ring.

Me: And last but not least… if you could kiss any character from any book who would it be?
Robert: That gorgeous guy in the black and white photo on the very last page.Me: Lol. Yes, he is a handsome bugger, isn't he!

ME: Robert, it has been a pleasure talking with you. Thank you so much for doing this interview! Good luck with your future projects.

Robert: It's been a blast. Thank you, Mireille, for taking the time to talk to me. I appreciate the opportunity to spread the word about The Hero Always Wins to fantasy readers everywhere.

Me: For those of you who haven’t checked out Robert’s website, you can find out all about this great author and his book just by clicking on this link http://www.roberteaton.net .

The knight's oath is barely off Darcy's tongue, and already the world is collapsing around him. As the demon hordes of Angra-Jyn slaughter their way toward the city, betrayal amongst the knights' own ranks threatens to destroy them before they can even make their stand. But the blood of a hero flows in Darcy's veins. He will not be discouraged by the war he is losing. He will not be dissuaded by the traitorous assassin who continues to strike in the night. He will not give up, even as friends start to doubt him and sanity begins to slip beyond his grasp. Why? Because victory is his destiny. Because he is the hero, and the hero always wins.

Mireille's review:

What can I say, but to start off by saying they don't call it epic fantasy just for the hell of it. I grew up on Tolkien. My bed time stories when I was young were 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings'. Fantasy is and always will be my favorite genre, so when I met Robert Eaton on Twitter, I was excited. Another fantasy writer! I quickly downloaded his book and finally got to it about three months later.

'The Hero Always Wins' is fantastic. It has warlocks, knights, wyrms, healers, magic... if you want it, it's in there. What I absolutely loved was the twist. I can't go into it because it will give away a big part of the story, but let me tell you this: when I finally realized what was happening, my jaw dropped, and I swore out loud, which earned me a raised eyebrow from my husband.
Eaton's characters are real. Their range of emotion is fantastic... you never end a scene wondering how that particular character has handled it emotionally. The descriptions of the landscapes and places are phenomenal.

This book is Robert's debut novel... and I never would have guessed it had I not known. A lot of debut novels (mine included) seem to have that 'I'm getting comfortable with my author skin' feel to them. 'The Hero Always Wins' doesn't. It starts off well written and it ends well written. I can't wait for the next one to come out! Happy reading and stay safe, everyone!

You can learn more about Mireille Chester here.

We would like to thank both Mireille and Robert for taking the time out to produce this amazing post to kick off our Winter Warmers Event. It's brilliant, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. Don't forget to pop by tomorrow to see which debut author is being highlighted.

Winter Warmers Event

2011-11-30T20:36:00.000Z

We are so excited here at Midnight Reads to be hosting our first event. Our Winter Warmers event will see authors highlight debut authors from 2011.

Starting tomorrow, December 1st, we will be posting daily reviews & interviews by the authors you love to see which debut author has stood out for them this year.

Our event will last just over a week with the intention to help readers find something new and to highlight some possible Christmas stocking fillers :)

So pop back and see us if you can over the next week and see which books authors are excited about this year.

Review ~ Watch Over Me ~ Daniela Sacerdoti

2011-11-30T18:51:00.005Z

Title: Watch Over Me

Author: Daniela Sacerdoti

Published: 15th November 2011

By: Black and White Publishing

First line: The strangest, most amazing day of my life, the day that changed my perception of life and death, started like any other.

Last line: Elizabeth heard my call, and I’ll hear our children’s call when it’s my turn, and if they turn to the unknown looking for help, I’ll listen when they say, ‘Watch over me’.

Fave Line: A secret love will eat itself and die, or eat your heart and kill you.

I’ve strayed from the YA path with this one, delving instead into an ethereal romance written for the adult by debut author Daniela Sacerdoti. Watch over me is the heart-rending story of childhood friends Eilidh and Jamie. Adult life until this point has not worked out well for either of them. Jamie has found himself in the role of single father after his partner walks out on both him and their daughter, followed not too long after by the death of his mother. For Eilidh, life has been equally cruel. She tragically miscarries the baby she has long hoped for and whilst struggling to cope with her loss comes to realise that her marriage is over as a result of her husband’s infidelity, something that she has, for some time, turned a blind eye to.

In an attempt to escape her old life Eilidh returns to her old family home in Scotland where Jamie still resides. Both carry the scars from their previous relationships and are have cocooned themselves away, unwilling to risk of getting hurt again even though the connection between them is apparent from the outset. Help is at hand however and Eilidh and Jamie continually find fate bringing them together through a strange series of events. The overlying theme is about loss, letting go and if you’re lucky, moving on and finding happiness again. The story is beautifully written, tapping into all those emotions that anyone who has suffered from a broken heart can identify with but always maintains an air of hope that keeps you turning through the pages.

I loved the main characters in this story. It was great to see Eilidh rediscover her old passion for life which had clearly eroded away over time and I thought the way that Jamie takes on his role as single parent was utterly enchanting. His devotion to his daughter and his desire to protect their family unit weaves itself through the story. There are many supporting characters which help to create an intricate tale especially Elizabeth whose narrative was beautifully written and Harry and Doug who provided the much needed humour. I also like the way that Sacerdoti sets a scene and having only visited Edinburgh I have now added the Highlands as somewhere I need to visit in the near future!

Rating: 4 out of 5. This book is like a big comfort blanket! I found it to be completely charming and would absolutely recommend to anyone looking for a bit of squidgyness!

Darkness Falls Blog Tour January 2012

2011-11-28T19:30:00.000Z

I'm so excited to announce that Midnight Reads will be taking part in it's first blog tour and we couldn't be happier that it's for Cate Tiernan's Darkness Falls. Read our review for Immortal Beloved here and Darkness Falls here. Check out the poster for other bloggers taking part in this January tour and be sure to visit everyone for all kinds of awesomeness.

Review ~ On A Dark Wing ~ Jordan Dane

2011-11-22T19:35:00.004Z

Title: On a Dark Wing

Author: Jordan Dane

Published: 27th December 2011

By: HarlequinTEEN

Source: netgalley

First line: I had countless excuses for missing that bus five years ago.

Last line: And now, neither would I.

Fave Line: It sounded cool like we were in a megabowl of punch with ice floating around us, but I guess the folks on the Titanic might have thought the same thing.

On a Dark Wing is a fantastic new book by author Jordan Dane. At the beginning of the story we are taken back five years to the death of Abbey Chandler’s mother in a crash that Abbey survives. Five years later Abbey is still weighed down with guilt over the loss of her mother and her mood certainly isn’t lightened by her still grieving father or the dead bodies in the basement (her father is a mortician). At school she spends most of her time with her friend Tanner all the while carrying around a huge crush on Nate, one of the more popular kids in school.

Every year Abbey and her father spend a few days in a cabin in the wilds of Alaska where they take time out to honour her mother’s memory around the time of her death. This year however, whilst Abbey is away Nate and his friend Josh are on an adventure of their own climbing Denali, the biggest mountain challenge they have faced yet. However, as the weather turns bad Nate and Josh find themselves trapped in a ravine the victims of an avalanche and it seems as though their deaths is inevitable. It is during this time that Abbey starts to receive ‘visits’ from Nate and then gradually over the course of the story we find out more about the crash in which Abbey’s mother died as well as the hold that death has over all of the main characters.

I found myself gripped by this book. The storyline devoted to Nate and Josh being trapped is tense and well written, the visits that Abbey receives heart warming yet tinged with darkness and the way that the story eventually unfolds keeps you turning the pages. The character of Tanner, I thought, was utterly endearing, especially his devotion to Abbey which is apparent throughout. I also liked the teen fantasy world inside Abbey’s head when it comes to Nate. It’s certainly a world I recognise from my teens! Figuring out what is reality and what is fantasy is one of the elements that make the final few chapters of this book a really enjoyable read. I also enjoyed the vulnerability of Abbey in as much as whilst she may be vulnerable she certain doesn’t come across as a weak or a victim, indeed, by the end of the book she is as strong as most of the female protagonists I have read about.

I love the way that Dane can set a scene. From the cabin where Abbey and her father stay while they mourn to the harshness of Denali, everything is so easy to picture and the emotions portrayed easy to relate to. Her writing can pull at the heartstrings and freak you out at the same time! The ending I think, rounds the book off really well. Well, it made me happy anyway!

Rating: 4 out of 5. Really enjoyed this. I look forward to reading more of Jordan Dane’s work!

In My Mailbox #35

2011-11-20T10:39:00.009Z

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted every Sunday over at The Story Siren. A great meme which allows bloggers to share what they receive/buy/borrow each week.

Well, after Bungle's adventures last week rubbing shoulders with the stars she has achieved something I can only dream of. She didn't spend any money! I unfortunately went completely against my buy books after payday only deal and acquired seven new reads. Oops....

So the first two of my books this week are White Cat annd Red Glove by Holly Black. Have just finished White Cat and really enjoyed it so am very much looking forward to the sequel. I also received a copy of Watch Over Me by Daniela Sacerdoti which is the next book I will be writing a review for. Have heard good things about this one...

I also got copies of Pyxis by KC Neal which I bought for my Kindle as well as Matched by Ally Condie which I've heard loads about so looking forward to this one!

I also got a copy of Prized by Caragh O'Brien which I reviewed and loved recently as well as Ultraviolet by RJ Anderson.

So, that's all we have to report this week - what did you get?

Review ~ Lonely Werewolf Girl ~ Martin Millar

2011-11-16T10:11:00.000Z

4.5 stars

Title: Lonely Werewolf Girl
Author: Martin Millar
Published: first published 2007
By: Piatkus
Series: Kalix MacRinnlch

NOTE: This is NOT a teen book it is YA. For me teen starts from 13 and YA starts around 16/17+. I know we have only done this once or twice with our reviews but sometimes it needs to be pointed out and this is one of those books that needs it :) It is not for younger readers.

As you know I'm reading for the WCBP so I thought I would add some reviews from past reads. Also thought this would be nice as it will introduce older books.

I really really liked this book!!!! Totally different to anything I have read!!

This is a Royal werewolf family with more problems then the Royal family of the UK!! Cross-dressers, self harmers, drug takers, drinkers, fighters and killers, it's a roller-coaster of a book and I loved every page!!

Werewolf Kalix MacRinnalch is on the run from hunters and her own family after attacking her father the Thane leaving him on deaths door. She is in the deepest kind of depression after her lover was banished from seeing her, she spends her days fighting off hunters and sipping laudanum wishing her life away. Then she is 'rescued' by Moonglow and Daniel and forms a kind of friendship she has never known before.

Kalix's family have always hated her and with a price on her heart everyone is looking for her. Her brothers need her dead to win votes for the Thaneship and her sister, the werewolf enchantress, doesn't care less if Kalix lives or dies. The enchantress is more concerned with her fashion designs and seeking out a new lover.

There are so many stories involved with this book that all come together to create an unputdownable story! I don't want to give to much away and there is so much going on with these werewolves, you won't be disappointed!! I just can't wait to get my hands on the next one!!*

*I now have the next book but the blog came about the same time so I haven't got to it yet. However after reading Lonely Werewolf Girl over a year ago it's still fresh in my mind and I'm still very much looking forward to book two.

Author Event with Maggie Stiefvater

2011-11-14T17:08:00.000Z

Maggie & I :)

On Saturday night I got the chance to meet author Maggie Stiefvater in Liverpool. The event was organised by Formby Books and it was a lovely evening. Maggie started off by telling us the 10 steps to writing a Maggie Stiefvater novel which you can read about over at Michelle's blog Much Loved Books. It was really nice to meet Michelle and we came up with the idea of doing this join blog post so make sure you pop over there and have a read.

Questions and Answers

When the books get made into films how much input will you have?

Short Answer: None what-so-ever

Maggie's answer: Shiver was optioned a year ago and has a director & screen play and Scorpio Races was optioned just two seconds after I came out by Warned Brother, I'm super excited. But I have no input what-so-ever. People always ask who I would cast as my characters, and the first time I was asked I was in London at a posh restaurant my publishers had taken me too and in the middle of trying to order food off a menu I couldn't understand I was asked who I would cast as Sam but I don't know, I don't think of Sam as a handsome Hollywood actor. It says in the book he's got a big nose a girl couldn't get away with & floppy hair & he's kinda gangley, I was thinking maybe Alex Turner from the Artict Monkeys, he's got the big nose and the floppy hair and he walks kinda gangley and he's so funny looking he's almost cute. And then as we leave my editor says, that was his girlfriend right behind us. (I understand there not together anymore but I don't think it's my fault).

Maggie reading

Sally's question: Is there going to be a third fairy book?

Short answer: There should have been

Maggie's answer: There was always meant to be a third fairy book called Requiem but when you're writing under contract things are like double-dutch so Lament jumped when it was supposed to Ballard jumped when it was supposed to and Requiem is standing there and it looks at me like a stricken deer and then Shiver comes along and kicks it in the head and it falls into the ditch and it's laying there kinda injured and wounded but not dead and then of course Linger has to come next because it comes after Shiver and then Forever has to come next and I can see Requiem staggering out and then Scorpio Races comes along and kicks it back into the ditch again and it's looking a little bit worse for wear now but still at the end of Scorpio it stars to come back up and then the magical novel comes along. But I can tell you know it has been trying to crawl its way back out of the ditch and it's standing right there wearing Christmas finery but so help me, if it does not jump this time I myself might put it into the ditch.

Question: You said earlier you won't see daylight in Liverpool, is there a reason for this?

Short answer: I'm leaving early.

Maggie's answer: Are you asking if I'm a vampire? I'm leaving at 9:30am so I think even in Liverpool that's daylight, is there something different about Liverpool that I should know about, maybe I should stay on look out for the sun.
I have to confess I'm not a huge fan of vampires, I'm not a huge fan of werewolves when it comes down to it. How many of you are team Jacob? (hands go up, and I mention I was after he took his shirt off! and people laughed) Back to Maggie: So how many of you have seen New Moon? (again hands go up). I went with a bunch of book bloggers, I was on tour with nothing else to do and was talked into going after saying no because we will be trampled by Twi-hards, and I was right! So we're sat there watching and it gets to the part where Jacob rips his shirt off and behind me this woman who is every bit of 50 goes 'grrrrrrrr, now it's getting good' a small voice came from the front saying 'jailbate'.
So I'm not really a huge werewolf fan actually and reviewers are always asking me why werewolves and it makes me cross because the little voices in my head say, 'you don't write about werewolves, there just wolves, and when your werewolves are human they're emo teenagers, there's no in between, there's no were, that makes them shapeshifters' OK, maybe they are werewolves.

Question: How long did it take you to write the book? (Scorpio Races)

Short answer: 4 months

Maggie's answer: Well this is really easy to answer because all my books have taken me 4 months to write and I wrote Forever in 4 months but threw it out and redid it in 4 months and Scorpio Races took me 4 months but now I've hit a glitch in the pattern because magical novel has taken me 9 months and I don't know what's going on.

Question: Do you think it's important as a writer to surround yourself by other creative people?

Short answer: Not really

Maggie's answer: No. I think as a writer the more you have to look at the outside world the more you will become affected and sometimes confused. You have to almost become your own island, you shouldn't completely ignore the outside world but it's important not let your own creativity be influenced by other things.
I do like to surround myself with creative things, like my headphones on listening to my music and maybe reading a book. So I think surrounding yourself with products of creative people is a good idea.

Maggie answering
questions

Michelle's question: Why did you end Forever the way you did?

Maggie's answer: Many people have asked why isn't Forever a happy ending or why is Forever a cliffhanger or why is Forever so open, but it's not because all the information you need for how things are going to turn out is there and all you need to do is ask yourself this question, do you believe that Cole St.Clare has turned into a decent human being bu the end of the series, so roses and flowers and litter for everyone. If you think that he is still a terrible person and he got it wrong everyone dies in pools of their own vomit and blood.
Here's the thing, if I tied it up neatly in a bow it wouldn't fit with the rest of the series, it's about being a teen, it's about hope and if you end it by saying, everyone got into the minivans and drove away with no kind of looking to the future, it's already there, so there is no ending until you're dead. Also, it's the same reason I didn't write a fourth book because things would only get worse for them if I kept on writing, people would die!

Question: Will there be anymore Scorpio Races books?

Maggie's answer: It was meant to be a stand alone and I'm happy with it as a stand alone. I'm pretty happy with then ending of it.

My question: You said that Scorpio Races is your favourite novel, why is that?

Short answer: I wanted to write a book that I would have loved as a kid.

Maggie's answer: It is a very Maggie novel. I grew up in the middle of no where, my parents were very stricted in many ways but they would always let us have any sort of animal we wanted as long as we could, earn the money to by the animal, earn the money for the enclosure, build the enclosure and learn how to take care of it. My sister and I really wanted horses and so we did everything we needed to and we got our horses. And I love the fact that the story has that sort of Mr. Darcy thing going on, and it's more of an adventure story rather than a full love story going on.

Maggie signing my
books, ALL of
them :)

I really hope this might answer some of your questions. I had a brilliant time and was so pleased I got to meet Maggie as well as Michelle :) Maggie was brilliant, she made everyone feel at ease and it was such a great way to spend my Saturday night.

If you haven't yet read anything by Maggie, get your hands on some of her books and get reading :)

In My Mailbox #34

2011-11-13T12:42:00.019Z

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In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted every Sunday over at The Story Siren. A great meme which allows bloggers to share what they receive/buy/borrow each week.

Well it's been a bumper week for Bungle and I have pretty much kept myself to a minimum even though it's killed me!

Loads of goodies came Bungle's way this week! She received a copy of Geekhood by Andy Robb, as well as a copy of Pandemonium, the much anticipated sequel to Delirium by Lauren Oliver. She also got a heap of signed bookmarks from Michelle at Much Loved Books including Shadow Bound by Rachel Vincent, The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton and Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday.

Bungle has been a girl on a mission this week and she was lucky enough to get to go and see Maggie Stiefvater at her book signing in Liverpool! So Jealous! I hear that Maggie was very funny and highly entertaining and blog readers will be able to find out exectly what went on as Bungle is going to write a little something about it tomorrow - Am looking forward to finding out what Maggie is up to next...In the meantime, Bungle got a beautifully signed copy of The Scorpio Races, Maggie's latest release:

So I've been trying to be good this week and I've only bought three books. In view of the fact that Darkness Falls is out soon, I've gotten hold of Immortal Beloved (You can never have to many series on the go...!). For adult reading I've gotten hold of the next two of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward. This time Lover Revealed and Lover Unbound fell through the letterbox. Four more to collect and I'll be up to date!

So, that's enough about us - what did you get this week?

Review ~ Prized ~ Caragh M. O'Brien

2011-11-08T21:57:00.005Z

Title: Prized

Author: Caragh M. O’Brien

Published: 8th November 2011

By: Macmillan Children’s Group Publishing

Source: netgalley

First line: She grabbed the hilt of her knife and scrambled backward into the darkness, holding the baby close in her other arm.

Last line: Very.

Fave Line: It seemed all the stars that had been missing from the sky for the last two weeks had delicately come down to delicately gleam in the meadow.

Prized is the fantastic sequel to Birthmarked by Caragh M. O’Brien. I’ve developed a soft spot for the dystopian genre so was thrilled to be able to get hold of Prized for review having enjoyed its predecessor so much. I was not disappointed.

We begin this story where we left off in Birthmarked. Having managed to escape the confines of the enclave with her newborn sister Maya, Gaia is found struggling to survive in the wilderness by Chardo Will. Her sister at death’s door she is taken to Sylum a matriarchal community which is an unequal as the Enclave, the only difference being that the underdogs i.e. women are now revered. With the numbers of females in the community dwindling, women are considered to be a prize rather than being equal in their chosen partnership. Social rules have taken a backward step to say the least. Any attempt to touch or become involved with a female before marriage is punishable and once married, women are required to bear ten children in order to help boost dwindling numbers, the ultimate goal being to produce more females.

As Gaia returns to midwifery she finds herself trying to reconcile her own beliefs with those that are imposed on her in the society that she now resides and it is the disparity between the two which takes her on a journey that not only tests her own principles but threatens to undermine the philosophy of her new home and it’s hierarchy.

I really enjoyed reading this book from start to finish. It flowed on from Birthmarked flawlessly and whilst Gaia may appear to be weaker at times it’s easy to see the bigger picture and to understand the reasons for the choices she makes, particularly at the beginning. By the end of the book I think she is stronger than she has ever been and it was great to see a female character that will go to such lengths to stand up for what she believes in. I love how her perception of herself changes as a result of the new social order that she becomes a part of. I also like the way that the book encourages the reader to think about freedom of choice. The detail that O’Brien puts into the characters and the backdrop is flawless making everything so easy to envisage and if anything is going to beat a love triangle then I guess it would have to be a love square – especially when there are brothers involved!

There are several storylines (I shall remain spoiler free!) which weave together seamlessly through this story and the dramatic conclusion at the end paves the way very nicely for the next book in the series. I see big journeys and major battles ahead for the main characters! There are also some characters which didn’t appear in this story and so I do have some questions that remain unanswered. I hope I get to read more about them in the next instalment...

Rating: 4 out of 5. This is fantastic sequel. If you enjoyed Birthmarked then you will love Prized. I can’t wait for book three!!

Mini review ~ Poison Study ~ Maria V. Snyder

2011-11-07T18:36:00.000Z

5 stars!

Title: Poison Study
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Published: September 2007

As several of you now know I work in a Waterstone's bookshop and we are going through several changes at the moment and even though we have always written staff recommends we are writting them more than ever at the moment with 'feature spaces' and really getting to grips with our sections. Unfortanly I no longer run the children's section but I am likning the fantasy section I'm running and there are a lot of cross-over books.

As Christams is upon I have been writing more and more recommends and Poison Study is one of them and I was reminded of how much I love this book, well the series actually.

Yelena is about to be executed for murder but is offered a reprieve, she will have a room in the palace and get to eat meals fit for a King but a the risk of being assassinated by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia. Saved from execution only to face death everyday, Yelena takes the risk and becomes the new food taster.

Not one to take a chance, Valek, the chief of security feeds Yelena a poison that will only be kept at bay by a daily antidote. As she tries to escape her new dilemma rebels plot to seize Ixia and she develops magical powers that she can't control.

I love Yelena!! She is one of the strongest heroine's I think I've ever encountered! Yes shes had a bad life but she doesn't sit moaning about it, she does something about it and if that means having to kill then so be it! This is the kind of female I want to read about in all books!! She holds her head high with no hesitation to the murder she has committed and even though part of her feels lost she still knows there is hope.

And as forValek, he holds a place in my heart! At first he doesn't seem that sepical but he sure develops as a character as Yelena's story unfolds. Valek is intelligent, a cunning spymaster and a deadly assassin. Even though his allegiance lies with the Commander it doesn't mean he always agress with his rules and he isn't afraid to stand for what he himself believes in.

Snyder is a genuis!! She creates a world that as a reader you want to live in and never leave even if it isn't all happy and peaceful. I am looking forward to reading the glass series which is a spin off from the poison series. I can't reccomend This series and author enough!!

In My Mailbox #33

2011-11-06T20:00:00.006Z

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted every Sunday over at The Story Siren. A great meme which allows bloggers to share what they receive/buy/borrow each week.

So this week we need to say sorry for lack of reviews. Work is crazy busy for both me and Sally and I'm also reading for the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize which has books from, teen/ya, 5-12 and picture books. As the WCBP is still in the long list I won't be able to share books and reviews but once the short list is sorted I will be posting reviews of the teen/ya books.

OK, on to the real reason you're here, the books we got this week!!!

After last week I thought I'd be really good and not buy books but I did get sent two books for review:

Last week Sally mentioned I was keeping the publishers going all by myself but this week I think she's helping too, She spent her hard earned cash on these four books:~

So, that's enough about us - what did you get this week?

In My Mailbox #32

2011-10-30T14:31:00.016Z

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted every Sunday over at The Story Siren. A great meme which allows bloggers to share what they receive/buy/borrow each week.

Well this week has been more exciting than back to back episodes of Downton Abbey! Check out what we got!

Bungle's mailbox

This week Bungle has been working hard at keeping the book industry afloat all by herself! She bought Angel Fire by L.A Weatherly, Last Breath by Rachel Caine, Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon and my current fave Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.

Bungle also received some proofs this week. She got Oliver Twisted By Jo Sharp, Au Revoir - Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber, Skin Deep by Laura Jarrett and Tigers Voyage by Colleen Houck.

Sally's mailbox

So my week started fantastically when I was inundated with gifts from Bungle! I received this beautiful artwork which was created by Karen Hurd of Ollerina Art which I absolutely love. I also received two books; Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough and Delerium by Lauren Oliver both of which I'm really looking forward to reading.

I also received a copy of Blood by K.J Wignall which was a gift at the Cassandra Clare event mentioned below. I also received my copy of The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa which is I think one of the best releases this year.

So, this week was also very exciting as I got to go to see Cassandra Clare at a special event in Foyles book store in London. Cassandra was there with Sara Rees Brennan who was in charge of firing random questions which were written by the audience. Cassandra told us how she creates the plots for her stories and where she got her inspiration for the series. She also mentioed her next project The Dark Artifices and advises readers to look out for younger characters in City of Lost Souls and City of Heavenly fire as they may feature. It was also confirmed that a major character will die in one of the final Mortal Instruments books...

I was lucky enough to get my City of Fallen Angels book signed as well as receiving a copy of Magnus' Vow which ties the series together beautifully. Here's me with Cassandra below:

So, That's what we got up to this week - what did you get in your mailbox?

In My Mailbox #31

2011-10-23T14:17:00.010+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted every Sunday over at The Story Siren. A great meme which allows bloggers to share what they receive/buy/borrow each week.

So this week Bungle and I have pretty much managed to keep ourselves under control with Bungle not buying any books at all (applause, applause, applause!) and me only bought two! (slow hand clap...). That said Bungle's shop will soon be taking part in the Waterstones Children's Book Prize so there are fifty titles floating around out there somewhere! I can't wait to find out what they are!

In other exciting Midnight Reads news - we're off to London! Bungle and I will be heading to the capital from opposite ends of the country on Wednesday to meet the fabulous Cassandra Clare and hopefully get a book or two signed. We'll let you know how we got on next week...

So, onto the business of the day. Popping into my mailbox this week was the much anticipated Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl and I also received Lover Awakened by J.R Ward (Adult reading)

This week from netgalley for review I received Fractured Light by Rachel McClellan and On a Dark Wing by Jordan Dane (you know how I love my angels!)

So that's what we got this week - What did you get?

Review ~ Shattered Dreams ~ Ellie james

2011-10-22T09:59:00.004+01:00

Title: Shattered Dreams

Author: Ellie James

Published: 6th December 2011

By: Macmillan

Source: netgalley

First line: “I heard this place is like...haunted”

Last line: But the moment I put my hand to the dull white of her fur, the small, white cat started to purr.

Fave Line: Except for the presence that hummed like invisible blood through invisible veins.

Shattered Dreams could be best described as a YA paranormal thriller. Set in New Orleans post Katrina it tells the story of sixteen year old Trinity Monsour. Having lost her parents whilst very young Trinity has been raised by her grandmother and now after her recent death she finds herself moving to New Orleans to live with her aunt.

As the story begins we find Trinity trying to fit in with the kids in her new school as they play a game of truth or dare in an abandoned house. We get an insight into the personalities of the main characters fairly early on as we travel around the house. It’s clear that Chase likes Trinity and that she likes him too. It’s also clear that Jessica, his ex-girlfriend, is really not happy about it. It’s also during the truth or dare we first become aware that Trinity can see things that other can’t. As the night unfolds a prank is played on Trinity which triggers a sequence of events that leaves one of the group in danger and Trinity comes to realise that she is the one that has the ability to help.

There are many storylines running through this book which are typical of the YA genre, that is, a girl who is unaware of her past, the need to find acceptance, friendship, romance and the challenges one faces when trying to do the right thing. There are however other aspects that set this book apart from others in the same genre. This book is more of a thriller than your typical paranormal story and so in that respect makes a refreshing change.

I love the detail that Ellie James puts in when describing New Orleans and it’s very easy to imagine yourself in the places that she writes about. There are twists and turns that run through the story which continually throw you off track when it comes to figuring out exactly who the baddie is. I certainly had no idea of how the story would end. Whilst I liked the characters of both Trinity and Chase I did think that their behaviour in some circumstances was not typical of your average sixteen year old. The way that they react and talk to each other was far more mature than one would expect of children. There were also smaller plotlines within the story which seemed to take the story off at a tangent and did not appear to relate to the main plotline or contribute towards its conclusion. That said, James has an excellent ability to add a beautifully dark element of suspense through the tale and this only increases as the tale goes on. There are many characters I’d like to hear more about including Drew and I certainly wouldn’t hesitate to pick up the next book to find out what happens next.

Rating: 3 out of 5. This is a good read, particularly if you like a mystery, but you’ll need to keep your eye on the ball if you’re gonna solve it before you finish the book!

A Rae Rave Review - The Pull by Chelsie Shakespeare (Guest Post)

2011-10-20T19:46:00.000+01:00

Evie Remington had always done what people expected of her. As a result, at twenty-six she finds herself the unhappy owner and manager of a Denver hotel. That is, until deep-rooted memories of a past life and the hidden knowledge of a promise she made in that other lifetime pulls her away from it all. Without knowing where it will lead, Evie sets out on a cross-country journey that will challenge what she believes about life, death, and love

The prologue, I think, is the cleverest one I’ve read for some time. It immediately sets the scene for the entire novel and instantly drags you in. I was hooked from the very beginning of this story, even with struggling to read it in PDF format on my phone in tiny writing because my e-reader seems to have given up the ghost on me!

We are introduced to Bria and Jude, who have just been told that that Jude is dying and that they should say their goodbyes. From the moment the door shuts behind the doctor you feel like you know Bria, what she feels. Her despair at the impending loss of the man she loves so much, her guilt at the pity she feels for herself at the thought of him not being there and the terror of carrying on living her life alone after he’s gone. Upon returning to the bedroom, we meet Jude, who is accepting of his demise and tries to comfort his wife as best he can. Through their conversation the reader discerns that they will meet again, that they are meant to be together as they have been before and will be again. The rules this time will be slightly different, this time they must wait until they are twenty six before they can meet again. We also learn that while Bria will not remember their past life together until she turns twenty six, Jude will remember everything. Before they drift off to sleep in each other’s arms, they settle on a meeting place for their next life. Bria awakes in her dead husbands arms. Unwilling to live the rest of her life alone, knowing that the sooner her life ends, the sooner they will be together again, she makes the decision to end her life.

At this point I have to confess I cried. I haven’t felt this emotionally invested in a book so early on for such a long time. So amazingly well written and such relatable characters, even at this point had me glued to my phone screen!

We meet Evie on the day of her twenty sixth birthday and realize very quickly that she is not at all happy in the life she is leading. After her father died, she finds herself running his hotel. Having given up her dreams of going away to college and the career she truly wanted to look after him after his first heart attack, she feels resentful and trapped in the situation, while also suffering from the guilt that goes along with those feelings. It finally becomes too much and after suffering a panic attack in her office Evie flees. She gets in her car and drives in a direction that feels right and that night she dreams. She dreams of the life that Bria and Jude had and knows it was her life too.

Over the course of the book, we meet both characters. We learn about their lives to date and how they search for the other halves of their souls. I felt so sorry for Easton, he’s known all these years about Bria, that he was meant to find her, doubted that he would ever find her and feels horribly guilty about the one girl he has slept with, because he feels like he cheated on his soul mate. The ending of the book may be abrupt to some, but I clapped my hands with glee as, to me, it was the perfect finishing point to this tale.

At times there is a distinct lack of reality in the writing, there are no money worries, and they both just take off to find their love. If I hadn’t been so swept up on the story this may have gotten to me, as I’m usually a stickler for a bit of reality.

If you haven’t guessed by now I totally loved this book! Maybe it’s a case of the right book at the right time, but something about it really hit the spot and I think it’s awesome! Quite possibly one of my favourite books of the year!

Review ~ Crave ~ Melissa Darnell

2011-10-19T19:13:00.003+01:00

Title: Crave

Author: Melissa Darnell

Published: 25th October 2011

By: Harlequin

Source: netgalley

First line: I edged closer to my unconscious boyfriend, cuffed to a chair nearby.

Last line: Until then, I would just have to hold on to every second we had together and pray that it would be enough.

Fave Line: I understood then why humans have noses. So we can find each other to kiss in the dark.

I was looking forward to reading this book the minute I received it from netgalley and it did not disappoint! Crave tells the story of Savannah Colbert a teenage girl who is pretty much the school outcast after being ostracised by her closest friends as a young child. Surrounded by rumours that The Clann, the family from which her old friends descend, have magical powers, Savannah tries to carry on with as normal a life as possible with the few friends she does have. All the time however, she still has the same crush on Tristan (one of the Clann) as she did when they got married in fourth grade, never imagining for a second that the feeling is mutual. For his part Tristan begrudges the fact that he has been forced to turn his back on Savannah because of his family. All he knows is that one day he is expected to take over the family ‘business’ and that Savannah Colbert is a no go area. As much as they fight it though, Savannah and Tristan are drawn together by something stronger than they can understand and Tristan continues to fight Savannah’s corner going against his family on several occasions.

When Savannah falls ill her family are forced to tell her that she is different – half witch and half vampire, making her potentially dangerous to both the Clann who are witches and the vampire family which includes her errant father.
Savannah and Tristan begin a secret relationship, trying to stay away from the prying eyes of the clann as well as from the watchers who seem to be out to follow Savannah’s every move. When the full extent of her powers are realised and Savannah and Tristan’s relationship is exposed they find themselves in danger and Savannah is put to the ultimate test when Tristan’s life is in her hands.

I loved this story! I enjoy being able to see different perspectives so love the fact that Darnell has written from both Savannah and Tristan’s points of view. I also took a like to the main characters instantly, as much as I developed an instant hatred for the baddies in the Clann, so job done there! I realised how much I was enjoying this book when I went trawling on-line to make sure that there was a sequel when I was only half way through the first book and I’m pleased to say that there is – in fact if I’d just kept on reading I’d have found the preview for Covet at the back of the book and there’s certainly loads to look forward to given the cliff hanger at the end of Crave.

I look forward to finding out what happens to Savannah and Tristan in Crave. Fingers crossed I don’t have to wait too long!

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Review ~ Waterfall ~ Lisa T. Bergren

2011-10-18T21:03:00.001+01:00

3 stars

Title: Waterfall
Author: Lisa T. Bergren
Published: February 2011
Format: Kindle edition
Source: Kindle free books

Opening line: We paused on our hike, panting and wiping our upper lips as our guide-the old Italian farmer who owned this land-chopped down a small spaling, clearing the overgrown trail.

Closing line: Back to Marcello.

Favourite quote: "Saints in heaven, I believe I'm in love," ~Luca~

Goodreads says:~
Lisa Tawn Bergren's new YA series, River of Time, is romantic, historical fiction in which the plucky heroine doesn't have to fear a vampire's bite but must still fight for her life.

In Waterfall, American teenager Gabi Betarrini accidentally finds herself in Fourteenth-Century Italy . . . Knights. Swords. Horses. Armor. And Italian hotties. Most American teens want an Italian vacation, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives there with their archaeologist parents. Stuck on yet another hot, dusty dig, they are bored out of their minds... until they place their hands atop handprints in an ancient tomb and find themselves catapulted into the Fourteenth Century and in the middle of a fierce battle between knights bent on killing one another.

I had read several reviews about Waterfall before reading it and most on goodreads are 4 or 5 stars with rave reviews but I'm afraid I don't fall into that band. My 3 star rating is because there are elements of the book I like but over all the story just failed to captivate me.

I like that Gabi is a strong character and she sure isn't afraid to stand up for herself, the skills she has learnt throughout her life more than aid her in the past. Hell bent on finding her lost sister, Gabi will stop at nothing.
Lia, Gabi's sister, annoys me a little but later in the story we see her character grow and her archery skills are put to good use.

I love our lead male characters, Marello and Luca. They are the sword fighting, romantic heroes, I say heroes, the females have no problems fighting for themselves. I think I love Luca just as much as Marello and I am looking forward to seeing more of these swoon-worthy 14th century men!!

It certainly is the characters that make this book for me, the over all story falls a little short of the mark.
I found the whole time travel story line a little hard simply because I don't feel readers are given an explanation as to why the sisters travel through time or why they have to be together when they do so. I also don't understand the title of the book, does the travel through time feel like you are fall down a waterfall?
I also found the end of the story and little rushed and alot is left unsaid.

Will I read the second book? Yes, because I want to see what happens with the characters.

Im My Mailbox #30

2011-10-16T20:14:00.000+01:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted every Sunday over at The Story Siren. A great meme which allows bloggers to share what they receive/buy/borrow each week.

On My Wishlist #17

2011-10-15T22:32:00.000+01:00

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It is a list of the books I want but don't yet have. The books can be old, new or forthcoming.

Title: Shatter Dreams

Author: Ellie James

Published: December 2011

Sixteen-year-old Trinity Monsour wants nothing more than to live a normal life. But that isn’t as easy as it seems. Trinity is different. She is special. She sees visions, and for those she’s seen, it’s already too late.

Trinity arrives on her aunt’s doorstep in New Orleans with virtually no knowledge of her mysterious heritage. She begins settling into life at a new school and even starts making friends. But all too quickly her dreams accelerate; twisted, terrifying visions of a girl locked in a dark room. And when the head cheerleader, Jessica, goes missing, Trinity knows she has no choice but to step forward with what she’s seen.

But people believe that Trinity has information about Jessica’s disappearance not because of a dream, but because she is involved. She is kind-of dating Jessica’s ex-boyfriend, Chase, and Jessica did pull a nasty prank on Trinity. Revenge seems like the likeliest scenario.

Nothing prepares Trinity for the dark odyssey that ensues while searching for Jessica, including the surprising romance she finds with Chase, or the shocking truths she learns, not just about the girl who has gone missing, but the past that has been hidden from her.

Title: Bitterblue
Author: Kristin Cashore
Published: May 2012

"Book 3, tentatively titled Bitterblue and currently in progress, is a companion book to both Graceling and Fire and takes place in the seven kingdoms eight years after Graceling. Bitterblue will tie all three books together in some way. Bitterblue is the sixteen-year-old protagonist, and Katsa, Po, Giddon, Helda, and other characters from Graceling will be part of the fabric of the book. Plenty of fighting still to come!"