Review: Haunt Me by Liz Kessler

Joe wakes up from a deep sleep to see his family leave in a removals van. Where they've gone, he has no idea. Erin moves house and instantly feels at home in her new room. Even if it appears she isn't the only one living in it. Bit by bit, Erin and Joe discover that they have somehow found a way across the ultimate divide - life and death. Bound by their backgrounds, a love of poetry and their growing feelings for each other, they are determined to find a way to be together.

Joe's brother, Olly, never cared much for poetry. He was always too busy being king of the school - but that all changed when Joe died. And when an encounter in the school corridor brings him face to face with Erin, he realises how different things really are - including the kind of girl he falls for.

Two brothers. Two choices. Will Erin's decision destroy her completely, or can she save herself before she is lost forever?

The Mediator series by Meg Cabot is one of the book series that got me into YA paranormal fiction, so anything about a girl meeting and falling for a ghost is going to be something I'm interested in reading. When I was accepted for Haunt Me, I was so excited - Liz Kessler has written some brilliant books before and this had to be great for that reason.

I have to admit that it just didn't hit the mark for me - it kept my interest and I was definitely absorbed into Erin, Joe and Olly's story, but I'm not sure that this book did everything that it could have done. I was really absorbed into Erin and Joe's romance to start with, but I was not entirely on board with Olly's part even though I know why it was in there. That meant that the way the book went wasn't the best way in my opinion, that the story could have been executed.

What I did enjoy was the way Kessler addressed certain issues - from the way that Joe passed away and the baggage that this carried, to Erin's past and the bullying she has to deal with. Not least, the way that this book is about moving on as well. Not only does Kessler have an amazing writing style but she did deal with these issues very well.

Overall, Haunt Me had a lot of potential but it didn't completely blow me away. That being said, it did have some strong points and I would still recommend it.

Book released 6th october 2016 by Orion Children's Books

Book received from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review

Review: This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

The city of Verity has been overrun with monsters, born from the worst of human evil. In North Verity, the Corsai and the Malchai run free. Under the rule of Callum Harker, the monsters kill any human who has not paid for protection. In the South, Henry Flynn hunts the monsters who cross the border into his territory, aided by the most dangerous and darkest monsters of them all—the Sunai, dark creatures who use music to steal their victim’s souls.

As one of only three Sunai in existence, August Flynn has always wanted to play a bigger role in the war between the north and the south. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate Harker, daughter of the leader of North Verity, August jumps on it.
When Kate discovers August’s secret, the pair find themselves running for their lives and battling monsters from both sides of the wall. As the city dissolves into chaos, it’s up to them to foster a peace between monsters and humans.

It's rare that I have to make notes whilst reading a book but I actually found it necessary whilst reading This Savage Song because I had so many thoughts going through my head throughout! Looking back, my notes are pretty illegible and incomprehensible. I think that's probably a good thing.

This Savage Song is the first book by Schwab that I've read. I know, that's pretty much sacrilege for a YA blogger, especially one that's been blogging as long as me (6 years this summer), but I guess I just never got round to it. I regret that, because This Savage Song  was one of the most well formed that I have ever read. The world building, the characters, the messages included - it was so well done.

I loved the blurred lines that Schwab creates: To start with we are told that monsters are monsters and humans are good, but then we are brought to question this outlook when we meet August. This was a well done plot point and runs through the entirity of this book. I love it when things are introduced as black and white then the reader sees the grey space. 

What really stood out to me was the love story, or the lack of one. I was expecting a Romeo and Juliet impossible love sort of thing. The romance was there, in the tiniest of hints, but it wasn't a central point of the book - in fact, it's very nearly not there at all. This was refreshing, especially since August and Kate were brilliant characters in their own ways and they didn't need anything to distract from that.

If I had anything to knock in this book, it's that the information is fed to us very slowly and as a result I felt at stages that I had no clue what was going on. i hate info-dumping, but it may have been a little necessary at points in this book. Still, if you can't already tell, I loved this book and really can't complain about much in it...

Book released 7th June 2016 by Greenwillow Books

Book received from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review

Review: Afterlight by Rebecca Lim

Since her parents died in a freak motorbike accident, Sophie Teague’s life has fallen apart.

But she’s just enrolled at a new high school, hoping for a fresh start.

That’s until Eve, a beautiful ghost in black, starts making terrifying nightly appearances, wanting Sophie to be her hands, eyes and go-to girl.

There are loose ends that Eve needs Sophie to tie up. But dealing with the dead might just involve the greatest sacrifice of all.

Dark, thrilling and unrelentingly eerie, Afterlight will take you deep into the heart of a dangerous love story, revealing the otherworldly—and deadly—pull of past wrongs that only the living can put right.Of 

Me and Rebecca Lim are frenemies. I was not a fan of The Astrologer's Daughter but I really did enjoy the Mercy series. Afterlight comes somewhere in the middle for me. For one thing, this book kept my attention in a big way. I read it in one sitting and it was really addictive - I loved the paranormal mystery side of things with Sophie saving Eve and trying to figure out what was going on with her suddenly seeing dead people. That was really interesting to me and it kept me reading. This was also a pretty short read which was good because I couldn't really see myself enjoying it if it was much longer.

There was a romance story between Sophie and Jordan but it was absolutely insta-love. I could barely see any chemistry at all and I found that t all made very little sense at all - they had spoken like twice and then all of suddenly he is in love with her and they are insperable. I didn't like that side of things. I also found that I didn't really connect with either of them much - Sophie is very insecure and her reactions to things made me not like her a whole lot. Honestly, she was always talking about her looks and being self-depricating. I didn't like it much.

There were also a few questions with regards to Soph suddenly seeing dead people that I found weren't answered. This meant that I didn't feel like the book had been wrapped up all that well. 

Lim's writing is still amazing, I loved reading this book - it was actually a really well written books despite quite a few development flaws.

Book released June 2015 by Text Publishing

Book received from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review

Review: Talon by Julie Kagawa

Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons

So you know how the majority of the YA book world seem to absolutely worship Kagawa? I am not on of those people. Don't get me wrong, I've really enjoyed some of the books that she has put out and I would never think twice about reading something by her, but the majority of Kagawa's books have been pretty dependably average for me. I enjoyed them, but I seem to find her writing very long-winded and her plots formulaic. I can happily go into this review and say that Talon was no exception for me to this.

If anything, Talon was even more cliche than any of Kagawa's other offerings, which made me sad because this is a badass dragon book and I love dragons. In fact, if you don't like dragons leave now, because this is a dragon appreciation zone and dragons are freaking awesome. I loved the dragon-ey parts of Talon - the training, the different types of dragons in the dragon organisation. I loved the feud between the dragonkind and the St George dragon killing squad. That was all done well and to start with I thought "Yay! We have dragon badassery on our hands here!".

However it all seemed to evolve into a pile of mush when our dragon heroine Ember meets our St George hero Garrett, and then we get this twisted Mr and Mrs Smith style romance where they are both hunting each other and neither of them even know it. That's all well and good because our (super special) heroine and (perfect, but hiding something) hero have yet another challenge to overcome! The inevitable third part of the cliche love triangle, Riley - the bad boy dragon who wants Ember for his own means...

Sigh.

Every part of the description about Riley seems to focus on his bad boy attitude and his smouldering eyes and ain't nobody got time for that! I came her for fragon badassery! Not 'supernatural being has to fit into normal teenage life and meets a guy who she has to hide secret from and meets other guy who knows more than he should' Ya-ery. If I want something like that I can go somewhere else. I shouldn't get that in a book by one of the most appreciated authors in Young Adult fiction!

As always, I did enjoy Kagawa's writing. it is witty and clever and she knows how to write engaging dialogue and fantastic characters. That being said, if the general plot was as engaging as that dialogue, this would be getting a much higher rating. Sorry Julie.

Book released 28th October 2014 by Harlequin Teen

Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Review: The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

This was such a freaking amazing piece of fantasy that I can barely put into words how much this book blew me away. The set-up was great from the get go, with a fantastic world being built in just a few pages. Whilst the start was slow, it picks up very quickly and we are suddenly thrown into this fantasy with all of the things I love from books of this genre. We have action, plot twists, intrigue, romance and a kick-ass heroine! 

I wouldn't be surprised if Mare remains my favorite heroine of the year. She was tough and strong, but also cracked and weak at times - something that I love in my heroines. She's tough, coming to terms with powers that she shouldn't even have, but she's also out of control, a risk to herself or others. Mare is torn between whether to use these powers for good or to flee from them. 

There's also a love triangle... Wait! Don't run! This is a love triangle with a twist. This is Mare trying to decide which boy is best for her political views and her cause, and it's a dark and dangerous triangle, with seemingly innocent people betraying the people they are supposed to love. AWESOME! Maven had his moments, but I was in love with Cal from the start, so the end was a complete kicker for me. 

This is a book that grips from start to finish, it's a complete kicker - my heart was wrenched, my knuckles were white, my loyalties were tested until I had no idea who to trust. The world building was beautiful and so well done and Aveyard may well be one of the best fantasy writers, to go alongside my personal heroines Maria V. Snyder and Kristin Cashore.

Urgh, just take my word, whatever it's worth, and read this book. I swear!

Book released 12th February 2015 by Orion Books

Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Review: Briar Rose by Jana Oliver

For Briar Rose, life is anything but a fairy tale. She's stuck in a small town in deepest Georgia with parents who won't let her out of their sight, a bunch of small-minded, gossiping neighbours and an evil ex who's spreading nasty rumours about what she may or may not have done in the back of his car. She's tired of it all, so when, on her sixteenth birthday, her parents tell her that she is cursed and will go to sleep for a hundred years when the clock strikes midnight, she's actually kind of glad to leave it all behind. She says her goodbyes, lies down, and closes her eyes . . . And then she wakes up. Cold, alone and in the middle of the darkest, most twisted fairy tale she could ever have dreamed of. Now Briar must fight her way out of the story that has been created for her, but she can't do it alone. She never believed in handsome princes, but now she's met one her only chance is to put her life in his hands, or there will be no happy ever after and no waking up

So many high hopes and so much let down. That's exactly how I feel after reading Briar Rose. The Demon Trapper's series is one of my favourite of all time and I was so unbelievably excited to see Oliver weave her magic with a fairytale, but Briar Rose was just one giant heap of mess that just couldn't redeem itself.

The plot was overly simplistic yet unnecessarily complex as well. I know I just contradicted myself but wait, let me explain. The writing and plot are very basic fairytale - girl in new land, girl has to save land with help of a rogueish hero, but all is not what it seems! Then there's the addition of metal monsters, obviously meant to make the whole book darker but just overcomplicating things. Then at the same time things happen so quickly - someone tells Briar that she's going to die and she just lies down and accepts her fate - literally! It was so basic and written in such a childish way that I felt like I could have written this book in first grade. Blind.

The start was hopeful, like I wanted Briar and Jake to be together from the start, which is... not all that good when the lack of development means that I stop rooting for them very quickly. The characters were flat and whiny and cliched and I disliked all of them.

I'mma stop here, because I do not bash books and there was some good stuff about Briar Rose, because there must have been! I made it to the end after all.

Overall, Briar Rose was just... disappointment.

Book released 12th September 2014

Book  purchased by myself

Review: Antigoddess by Kendare Blake

He was Apollo, the sun, and he'd burn down anything that tried to hurt her... Cassandra and Aidan are just your average high-school couple. Or so Cassandra believes. Blissfully unaware that she was once a powerful prophetess, Cassandra doesn't even know thats god exist... Until now.

Because the gods are dying - and Cassandra could hold the answer to their survival. But Aidan has a secret of his own. He is really Apollo, god of the sun, and he will do anything to protect the girl he loves from the danger that's coming for her. Even if it means war against his immortal family...

To say that I enjoyed Anna Dressed in Blood would be an understatement, and when I heard that Blake had released another book in my absence - on one of my favorite genres; mythology, as well - I was psyched. As soon as this book dropped through my door and onto my floor I had to read it.

I got through Antigoddess in two days, which is pretty slow for me but not bad going considering that I had two essays due in, a presentation and I was working extra hours this week. The main reason I was able to let these tiny insignificant other things overtake my main priority - reading - is because Antigoddess dragged in places. I felt like this book suffered the rare issue of 'first book syndrome' where there is so much information to digest and the author wants drastically to avoid the dreaded infodump that she spends the whole first part of the book developing this world and the history, and it made the book sort of dreadful to get into. The action comes in parts and doesn't really kick in until the middle of the book so I found it pretty easy to put this book down and do other things for a while. That is pretty regretful.

That being said, I did actually quite enjoy the book. It was fun, the mythology was well developed and I did really like the characters. My favorite by far was Athena, with Odysseus being a close second. Cassandra and Aidan were likeable and WHY! AIDEN!. That's all I'm going to say on the matter. They were, however, cookie-YA-cutouts and I found that the tougher, less 'typical YA hero and heroine' characters were my favorite. The tone bounced between fun and dark and I actually really enjoyed this.

I will definitely be reading the sequel, though for certain reason's it pains my heart to do so. So therefore, I have to conclude that Antigoddess was a little slow and a little washy, but it had great character's with fantastic dialogue and chemistry. I loved the tone of it and I can't help myself wanting more!

Book released September 10th 201 by Orchard

Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Review: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

I first read Beautiful Creatures years ago when it first hit UK shelves, my copy is water damaged and bent from both me and my mother reading it back then but since then it's been sat on my shelves and I never had the chance to reread it. After I saw the trailer for the movie and joined the #PenguinChats scheme I realised that I probably needed to reread it. 

I'd been underestimating my enjoyment of this book for so long that I was shocked by how hooked I was when I picked it up again, I can't wait to get started on the rest of the series! 

Beautiful Creatures isn't just a paranormal romance, it's just as much about the town and the people in it and the two authors do a superb job in creating the small, nowhere town of Gatlin where everyone knows everything and people fear the unknown. Mrs Lincoln is a great character because she represents everything that the town stands for, despite what we find out about her close to the end of the book..

This story was fast-paced at the same time as giving that slow moving small town feel, we start out with finding out what Ethan's everyday life is like and then we see it slowly changing as he comes to realise who Lena is and what she means to him. The book takes place over a stretch of around six months and it was nice to see a plot developing over a decent amount of time, which also stopped the absolutely adorable romance from feeling too quick. I loved watching the development of Len and Ethan's characters as well and I totally look forward to getting to know more about Lena's family and their secrets in the rest of the series.

Overall, I am so glad that I read this book again, it was such a fantastic read. The small town setting really made this book and the characters supported an impressive plot. Amazing!

Book released 4th February 2010 by Puffin Books (UK)
Book bought by myself (print)

Review: Prophecy by Ellen Oh

Kira’s the only female in the king’s army, and the prince’s bodyguard. She’s a demon slayer and an outcast, hated by nearly everyone in her home city of Hansong. And, she’s their only hope...

Murdered kings and discovered traitors point to a demon invasion, sending Kira on the run with the young prince. He may be the savior predicted in the Dragon King Prophecy, but the missing treasure of myth may be the true key. With only the guidance of the cryptic prophecy, Kira must battle demon soldiers, evil shaman, and the Demon Lord himself to find what was once lost and raise a prince into a king.

From when I first saw this book on loads of WOW posts months ago I have been dying to get it, so I was so happy when it went up on Edelweiss and I was accepted for it. The fantasy aspect was enough and the Asian influence totally did it for me (i'm a sucker for eastern influenced fantasy books). As well as that, for those of you that don't know I'm currently learning Korean so it was also awesome to see all of the honorifics like Oppa and shi, which I totally understand and I loved it!

The book starts out so well, I was immediately gripped by the action at the beginning which totally brings some intrigue into the book and it wasn't until about halfway through when things got a little bit repetitive that I was able to put it down. There was some inconsistency in the pacing of the book because at some points I got a little bored and at some points I was absolutely gripped.

I felt that there were some issues with the characters. Jaewon was the only character that I really liked because he was intrigued me, I'd like to learn more of his past. Kira seemed like a typical tough, misunderstood girl and Taejo seemed to hold no purpose except to get into trouble and be rescued by Kira, which annoyed me since he's supposed to be this big hero.

Oh's writing was very simplistic which meant that I felt quite disconnected from the story, the prose was quite flat and not very passionate and gripping, though the plot was gripping a lot of the time.

Overall, I loved the world and though there were some pacing issues I was still an interesting story. The writing and characters fell a bit flat for me though. This was a good read but not groundbreaking.

Book released 3rd January 2013 by HarperTeen
ARC received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review (eBook)


Other books from this author:
Diverse Energies (Short Story-Anthology)

Review: Blink Once by Cylin Busby

West is a high school senior who has everything going for him – until an accident leaves him paralysed. Strapped down in his hospital bed, moving in and out of consciousness, West is isolated and alone. Until he meets Olivia.

Olivia is the girl next door – though not the typical girl next door. She is in the hospital room next to his, and before long, she’s sneaking into his room to talk with him. Only Olivia seems to know what he’s thinking, and even dreaming about. Yet certain questions haunt him: Why is Olivia in the hospital? And how is she connected to the terrible dreams he’s been having? But the biggest shock of all comes when West must face the possibility that the girl he’s fallen in love with – and who’s done more to aid his recovery than anyone else – may not even be alive.

Blink Once was one of those books that I just don't know how to describe, I enjoyed it so much because it was so mind bending and psychological. I never really had a clue what was going on and the ending just totally threw me, just when you think you've grasped what's going on that happens... It was pretty amazing and, in a way, anticlimatic. Don't get me wrong, I loved what Busby did with this book, it was realistic and semi-believable and works well as both a 'supernatural' book as well as a contemporary which makes it pretty awkward to out into one genre, but the ending was somewhat annoying just because it went back on everything that had happened... However the ending was also beautiful and meaningful.

Yeah, I'm pretty confused by my own emotions right now.

I really hadn't heard much about Blink once when it turned up in my mailbox one day and so I kind of disregarded it. I picked it up a few days ago whilst avoiding essays and planned to read one hundred pages before going back to my work... one full book later and my head was reeling and I was speechless. That is the effect that this book had on me... it's pretty gritty. The characters are so real, West was so well written and Olivia was such an enigma, I would have loved to learn a little more about her circumstances.

The writing in this book is so raw. busby really get's down to the emotions that West is feeling; his frustration, his fear, his determination and his raw pain. The flashbacks to West's life before his accident show how much he's changing as a person and how much he's lost and I really felt that the narrative reflected the pure desperation of this novel. It was so well written.

Overall, a beautiful and poignant and shocking book. The books bends the edges of reality and leaves you reeling, I honestly don't know what to say... despite a few flaws this is a book that I would so highly recommend.

Overall Rating: A-

Book to be released October 11th 2012 by Bloomsbury
Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review (Print)

Review: Dearly, Beloved by Lia Habel

Can the living coexist with the living dead? That's the question that has New Victorian society fiercely divided ever since the mysterious plague known as "The Laz" hit the city of New London and turned thousands into walking corpses. But while some of these zombies are mindless monsters, hungry for human flesh, others can still think, speak, reason, and control their ravenous new appetites. Just ask Nora Dearly, the young lady of means who was nearly kidnapped by a band of sinister zombies but valiantly rescued by a dashing young man . . . of the dead variety. Nora and her savior, the young zombie soldier Bram Griswold, fell hopelessly in love. But others feel only fear and loathing for the reanimated dead. Now, as tensions grow between pro- and anti-zombie factions, battle lines are being drawn in the streets. And though Bram is no longer in the New Victorian army, he and his ex-commando zombie comrades are determined to help keep the peace. That means taking a dangerous stand between The Changed, a radical group of sentient zombies fighting for survival, and The Murder, a masked squad of urban guerrillas hellbent on destroying the living dead. But zombies aren't the only ones in danger: Their living allies are also in The Murder's crosshairs, and for one vengeful zealot, Nora Dearly is the number one target. As paranoia, prejudice, and terrorist attacks threaten to plunge the city into full-scale war, Nora's scientist father and his team continue their desperate race to unlock the secrets of "The Laz" and find a cure. But their efforts may be doomed when a mysterious zombie appears bearing an entirely new strain of the virus-and the nation of New Victoria braces for a new wave of the apocalypse.

It's no surprise that after finishing this book I found myself in a total reading slump, not because this book was SO AWESOME that nothing could compare but because this book was slow and dreary and at times it also got stupidly complicated. It took me so long to finish this book and even the super cute ending couldn't convince me to read on in this series.

The one thing that seriously annoyed me in this book was the jumping narration. I could have dealt with two narrators but there was like... six? in this book. Nora was a good heroine and I still love Bram but then  it jumps to like Pamela who is so weak as a character and my interest in what was happening plummeted. I didn't care much for the rest of the narrators either, I would have been happy with Bram and Nora.

I also began to find the setting very awkward, I do like steampunk books and I did like how it was done in the last book but it's odd to have the very judgemental victorian society and phones and texting in the same book, it just didn't seam as well executed as in Dearly, Departed.

I totally regret that I didn't enjoy this book, but in all honestly I don't think I'll continue with the series.

Overall Rating: D

Book released September 25th 2012 by Del Ray
book received as an eGalley for review via NetGalley

Other books by this author:

Dearly, Departed (Gone With the Respiration #1)

Review: Hanging by a Thread by Sophie Littlefield

The quaint little beach town of Winston, California, may be full of wholesome townsfolk, picturesque beaches, and laid back charm, but Clare Knight is about to uncover something underneath its thriving demeanor. Someone is hiding something, and it’s as gruesome as the townsfolk, and their stately homes, are stunning. Amanda Stavros, fellow classmate and resident of Winston, is gone and there’s no sign of her ever coming back. Everyone says she was taken and murdered, but where’s the evidence? Why isn’t there a single ounce of proof? And why is everyone okay with this, except for Clare?

Luckily—or as it’s been turning out, unluckily—Clare possesses a gift, an ability to see visions from the clothes she works with. And since her clothes come solely from the townsfolk, Clare has become privy to some startling and disturbing memories of these townspeople. Will she uncover who killed Amanda Stavros? Or is she just moving herself up in line to be the next victim of Winston?

When I first saw the synopsis of Hanging by the Thread I knew that I had to read it. I'm a massive fan of mystery books about some kind of psychometry. I knew that I was going to end up comparing this book to Slide and The Body Finder and it didn't quite reach the level of these books. I did enjoy it and I was absorbed into it, but it didn't quite reach the level I had hoped.

My first problem with this book was the romance. Clare and Jack suddenly start making out and that's it, no development, no flirting or even hate to love, it was true insta-love so I really struggled to care about it. I also felt like Clare's other relationships seemed forced and false, even her talks with her mother. Clare just didn't seem real to me at all and so I struggled to connect with her.

I did really like the mystery. I was gripped and thrown by all of the twists and turns in this book, it meant that I never knew what was going to happen and who the real bad guy was. I never suspected who it actually was. The mystery was great.

Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read that I would recommend to fans of quick books with insta-love, but compared to similar books such as The Body Finder and Slide it may fall short a little.

Overall Rating: B-

Book released September 11th 2012 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley

Buy this book:

Amazon UK/Amazon US

The Book Depository

Barnes and Noble

Review: Poltergeeks by Sean Cummings

15-year-old Julie Richardson is about to learn that being the daughter of a witch isn't all it's cracked up to be. When she and her best friend, Marcus, witness an elderly lady jettisoned out the front door of her home, it's pretty obvious to Julie there's a supernatural connection.

In fact, there's a whisper of menace behind increasing levels of poltergeist activity all over town. After a large-scale paranormal assault on Julie's high school, her mother falls victim to the spell Endless Night. Now it's a race against time to find out who is responsible or Julie won't just lose her mother's soul, she'll lose her mother's life.

I knew that I was going to enjoy Poltergeeks, I just knew it. From the second that I saw that colorful and uber awesome cover and read the description (and noticed the lack of a love triangle and the hints at LOTS of action) I knew that i was going to really enjoy this book, and I did.

This book has it's flaws and whilst I didn't absolutely ADORE this book, I really did enjoy it and am very impressed with Cummings. The pacing and the storyline blew me away - the beginning of this book seriously grabs you and you can't put it down until the last page, there were no slower bits and the action just keeps coming, there is also a bit of a mystery which will keep readers on their toes. I had kind of guessed who the 'bad guy' was by the end, but I was still gripped. The climax of this book was awesome as well, the action at the end had me on the edge of my seat, it was so exciting!

Julie and Marcus are fantastic characters. Julie is a sarcastic and honest narrator and Marcus is a fantastic loyal friend, the two of them make an amazing investigative team and they seemed so real. I also really liked the romance between these two, it was slow, awkward and real, just as it should be between fifteen year olds - it also took a back seat to the main story, which I love in books like this. 

I did feel like at times the story came across as very cliche and corny, as though Cummings was trying a little too hard to be original and stand out.... I also would have liked a little more character and world development, as I didn't feel like we got to know Julie's Mother enough, and we didn't quite learn enough about the magic or Betty or the other magical character. i'm not sure if there will be a sequel, but if there was I'd hope to see a little development on that.

Overall, Poltergeeks was a fun read that stands out in todays YA market. I'd definitely recommend it to younger readers due to the fun narrative and the action packed plot.

Overall Rating: B

Book released October 4th by Strange Chemistry
Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Reviews for other books by this author:

STUDENT BODIES

Review: Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

Ari can't help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can't be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.Her search for answers uncovers a message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it's impossible to protect herself when she doesn't know what she's running from or why she is being pursued. 

She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of "her."

Ari won't stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

I wasn't blown away by this book like many people that I know were. This book was... bleh, since there are a great deal of flaws that stop it from being great or even good, for me this was an okay read that I got through quickly due to the length and whilst I read it in one sitting I didn't feel particularly absorbed by.

Keaton is a great writer, I will admit that. She definitely has a knack for putting words together. The problem was that this book felt completely rushed... the start was rushed, it wasn't really developed and felt very unpolished, the characters were rushed; where was Ari's development? I felt as though the character was there for the story but had like no life before. The romance was VERY rushed... I mean this is insta-love at it's worst; Ari and Sebastian meet and then five minutes later they're making out in a random chair in a random bar... I felt as though I had missed a hundred pages! They COULD have worked as a couple with some more development but this romance developed WAAYYYY too quickly for my liking.

There is one thing that I enjoyed; the world that Keaton develops. New 2 is New Orleans that has been rebuilt after two hurricanes tear the city apart. The city is now carnival central, with all sorts of dodgy dealings going on in the background. I did like this setting very much, adding the strict city rulers gave off a kind of dystopia vibe.

Overall, this book COULD have been great, but I felt as though the whole book was rushed and nothing seemed to be developed at all. I did like the setting though, that was okay.

Overall Rating: D-

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Released June 9th 2011 by Simon and Schuster (UK)
Book bought by myself 

Review: Foretold by Jana Oliver

Stand by as Riley prepares to kick some serious demon butt for the last time in this thrilling, dramatic and sexy conclusion to The Demon Trappers series.

Riley’s always known that Beck had a chequered history, but she’s not prepared for what it actually means to be in love with a guy with this many dark secrets. Now that he’s finally admitted to himself that he’s in love with her too, there’s no more hiding the truth about his past. And as it turns out, fending off a demon apocalypse is nothing compared to what’s to come...

I can't believe it's over. One of my favorite book series ever and it's come to an end! We've had a rocky road, I loved book one, book two was great but book three seriously let me down. Thankfully, book four was just as amazing as I expected and possibly the best way this series could have ended. Thank you, Jana Oliver, for giving me the ending I wanted.

Finally... FINALLY!! Riley and Beck actually happen, for three books I was waiting for those two to get it on and finally it happens! This is one of the best YA romances in my opinion because they argue, they wind each other up but they are so loyal and there for each other! Even though at the end they became soppy and er... very intimate, I was still more than impressed by the way Jana Oliver kept them the same characters we've known throughout this series. *Sigh* I love Beck! He is the reason I love this series so much!

Though there were parts where the pace began to drop, this was mostly just a very well paced book! I was on my toes at so many points! The ending battle especially had me on the edge of my seat!  The ending didn't tie everything up in a bow exactly - Riley and Beck are on other sides of the world, Simon is going on his journey to find faith again and Hell still has a grudge with Riley, however everything is just as it should be, with just enough of an open ending to warrant a spin-off... *hint*

Overall, a fantastic ending to one of my most favoritest series EVER. Oliver has seriously outdone herself with this one. *Sob* I miss my Riley and Beck  already! *Sob*

Overall Rating: A

Book released August 2nd 2012 by Mamcmillan Childrens Books
Book received from publisher in exchange for an honest review *Thanks!*

Other books from this authors:
Forsaken (Demon Trappers #1)
Forbidden (Demon Trappers #2)
Forgiven (Demon Trappers #3)

Review: Touched by Cyn Balog

Nick Cross always listens to the voice in his head. Because if he doesn't? Things can go really, really wrong. Like the day he decided to go off script and saved a girl from being run over . . . and let another one drown. Trying to change the future doesn't work.

But this summer at the Jersey Shore, something's about to happen that Nick never could have predicted. He meets a girl named Taryn and finds out about the Book of Touch. Now the path that he thought he was on begins to shift . . . and there's no way to stop things from happening. Or is there?

In a life where there are no surprises, nothing has prepared Nick for what he's about to discover--or the choice he will be forced to make...

Wow, this book was not what i was expecting. From the cover I was expecting something really dark and haunting and even though this book is kind of dark at times, it still was not exactly what I expected. Don't get me wrong, I did really enjoyed this book! However I do feel that the haunting seaside setting shown in the cover could have been played on more to make the tone a little more creepy.

Still, this is a good book with a good premise and most of the time great execution. I loved the idea of Nick being able to hear the voices telling him exactly what he will do next, it was a quirky and original take on the concept of psychics. I also really liked the part that Taryn and her family played in it, the storyline worked so well until the end which just didn't work for me. I think the end just tied all of the ends together in a pretty bow and after the really emotional scenes we had up to there it didn't fit for me. Plus (without giving spoilers) it didn't make sense to me, he was a different person, would Taryn still like him when he'd changed? I'm trying to be cryptic here! 

The pacing and writing was fantastic at times and not so good at others. The beginning of this book seemed slow, messy and confusing to me but then picked up after that. At times Nick seemed like an authentic boy but then there came flashes where he behaved like a whiny teenage girl, which got on my nerves a lot.

Overall, Touched had a great premise which was executed well. The storyline fit together well though the ending didn't work for me at all. Nick was a good character but he seemed whiny and girlish at times...

Overall Rating: B-

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Book released August 14th 2012 by Delacorte Press
Book received as an eGalley via NetGalley for review

Review: Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

For 500 years Lenah Beaudonte has been a vampire. 500 years of seduction, blood and destruction. But she is sickened by her dark powers and longs to feel the sun on her skin, grass under her bare feet, and share the breath of a human kiss.
She wants to be mortal again.

But is she really capable of being human, after her long years of darkness? Waking up as a sixteen-year-old girl brings Lenah many things the life she has missed, taste, touch, love. But a vampire soul is not easily shed. And her coven of four vampires she led in decadence and thrilling destruction want their queen back...

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It took me a very long time to like this book, I mean it. I picked it up a few months ago and ended up putting it down because I couldn't get hooked. I tried again last week after I got the sequel for review and couldn't get into it for a long time. I don't think that I was ever completely hooked by this book since it took my five days to plow through. I'll admit that this book was good enough by the end to make me want to read the sequel but it took it's sweet time getting to that point. Just saying.

Okay, let me point out the one MASSIVE thing that annoyed me about this book. Lenah is this 600 year vampire that has been in hibernation for like, 100 years and when she wakes up she's human. So far, so good... BUT when Lenah wakes up and starts to go about her life as a normal sixteen year old girl she gets on with it so easily, surely you'd expect her to be amazingly  confused by like, how people talk and the newfangled contraptions, right? Nah, our Lenah (who by the way is awesome in everything and is flawless) gets right in there, using words like digital and stuff, it just didn't work for me.

I liked some of the other characters. I especially liked Tony who, although being kind of close to stalker at some points is loyal and sweet and I think Lenah should so have picked him over popular and hot but completely boring Justin, with whom there was zilch chemistry. I also liked Rhode, or what Lenah remembers of him, he seems absolutely amazing! I also really enjoyed the Rhode/Lenah romance aspect. Vampire/human relationships always freak me out, since Lenah is like 600 years old...

I have to admit that the flashback parts of this book engaged me WAYYY more than the parts set in the present, and the best parts are the bits where things actually happen. I liked the bit at the end where Lenah's old coven come to track her down, I found that I was gripped at those parts and I hated the cliffhanger, it's definitely made me want to read the sequel (which i have TBR).

Overall, despite a slow start and a main character that I just couldn't stand I did actually enjoy the premise. Apparently Lenah sorts herself out in the sequel and the romance becomes more realistic so I will be reading the sequel. The ending gripped me and so I'm blaming the low rating of this book on a first book world building syndrome.

Overall Rating: D+

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Released in the UK April 1st 2011 by Panmacmillan
Book received via swap

Review: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.
So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father’s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn’t expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

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I am not somebody who gets easily scared when I read books, unless they're zombie books. They scare me a lot. Ghost books, however, do not really scare me. That being said I would not recommend reading this book before you go to sleep because it may start out slow and seem like it isn't scary, but by the end of this book Anna and the bad guy had me shaking with fear. So yeah, this is pretty terrifying at times. Don't let that put you off though, Anna Dressed in Blood was one of the best paranormal YAs I have read in a very long time.

This book is so original because despite being a paranormal love story between a living guy and a dead girl it has the added bonus of the dead girl being tied down by a curse that makes her want to brutally murder anything that moves. Yes, pretty cool. I loved Anna as a character because she was so evil and wrathful but underneath it all you can see her as the innocent girl that she was before everything kicked off. I also loved Cas and his superstitious mother, Cas was such a strong character, I adored him! The backing characters were also good, Cas and his team of 'ghostbusters' Carmel and Thomas were so funny. I loved watching things develop between Carmel and Thomas and that's part of the reason I will be reading Girl of Nightmares.

I have been dying to read this book for a long time and when I read it I was not dissapointed. this book had amazing writing, fantastic pacing, amazing action and a sweet and kind of messed-up romance. The ending blew me away and I cannot wait to read the sequel.

Wow. That just about sums this book up. Wow.

Overall Rating: A+

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Book released August 30th 2011 by Tor Teen (US) 
The edition I read was released July 5th 2012 by Orchard books (UK)
Book received via a swap.