Review: A Witch in Winter

A Witch in Winter (The Winter Trilogy: Book 1)
Release Date: 5th January 2012
Pages: 346
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Author: Ruth Warburton
Source: Purchased at Bookstore
Purchase Book: Amazon UK | Amazon US

Goodreads:
Anna Winterson doesn't know she's a witch and would probably mock you for believing in magic, but after moving to the small town of Winter with her father, she learns more than she ever wanted to about power. When Anna meets Seth, she is smitten, but when she enchants him to love her, she unwittingly amplifies a deadly conflict between two witch clans and splits her own heart in two. She wants to love Seth, to let him love her—but if it is her magic that's controlling his passion, then she is as monstrous as the witch clan who are trying to use her amazing powers for their own gain. When love is tangled up in magic, how do you know what's real?

Trailer:

Review:
A Witch in Winter is the first in The Witch Trilogy told in the first person. Anna, a young girl tell us her story of her new life with her father after her mother left them. They start fresh in a town called Winter. From the get go, with a name like Wicker House, you already get the sense something will be eerie about their new house. One thing Anna doesn't know... she is a witch, from a long line of witches, who unfortunately learn the trade from their mothers. With no mum in tow, it's up to Anna to figure out what and who she is. It gave me a quick flashback to Spellcaster as the mothers keep abandoning their families and daughters who aren't full witches.
When Anna finally discovers she has powers, she takes it all in stride and you get the sense she is just an ordinary girl, nothing out of the ordinary, which was a relief for a change. That is until she meets a new group of witches, new friends and Seth. 

It reminds me of those moments when teenage girls wish they could enchant a boy to fall in love with them... well Anna and her new friends accidentally do it without evening knowing. Unfortunately, while Anna might really like Seth, having a boy fall madly in love with you under a spell doesn't feel the same. Even if they break the spell, how will she know if it is truly broken or if Seth really loves her? Now that is torment! My only negative comment on this is that Seth isn't too memorable in my opinion, not a heartbreaker that you want to dive into the book for. But who knows, my opinion could change in book two.

Aside from this little complicated romance, there is a battle looming between two groups of witches, sort of like the Cullens vs Volturi. It's normal witches sick of a group of witches trying to control their way of life. The cool thing about it is that they use their magic to fight, but again I really felt like I was comparing it to the Breaking Dawn battle scene, even though I tried not to.

I chose this book solely on reviews online and recommendations from fellow book bloggers. There was a lot of chatter around it, and I felt like another YA witch book.

Cover:
Simple cover with a girl and a backdrop of a house and lightning. Nothing too spectacular, but not dull either.

Final Comments:
This book was interesting, I read through it fairly quickly. I'm not going to spoil the ending, but there really wasn't an expected cliff hanger leaving me wanting to read on. I almost thought there was no book two. 
I'm always a fan of giving new British writers a shot, and was pleased with the first book. I recommend it to YA fans who like a bit of witchery, or someone looking for a light book that you can fly through. Not too heavy, not too light... just right! On to book two!

Rating:

New Series: Witch Finder

I am currently in the middle of writing my review for A Witch in Winter and stumbled across a new series being written by Ruth Warburton - Witch Finder. I haven't read much about it except the blurbs and a few reviews, but as we all know, every review is different and you can't honestly judge it until you read it yourself. I would say it is an on the fence book at the moment from what I have read, but you have to admit, the digital cover is pretty cool (to the right)!

Aside from the cover, this book intrigues me because it is based in London in an era that I love to read about. Also due to the fact I used to work in Spitalfields and developed an interest in it's rich history. Throw in some witches, it may be a good read. 

The book is out now, so if you loved Ruth's Winter Trilogy, you can grab a copy now as the book came out in January. If you have read it, feel free to get in touch with your review so I can share them along with my review when I finally get my hands on a copy.

Goodreads:
London. 1880. In the slums of Spitalfields apprentice blacksmith Luke is facing initiation into the Malleus Maleficorum, the fearsome brotherhood dedicated to hunting and killing witches.

Luke’s final test is to pick a name at random from the Book of Witches, a name he must track down and kill within a month, or face death himself. Luke knows that tonight will change his life forever. But when he picks out sixteen-year-old Rosa Greenwood, Luke has no idea that his task will be harder than he could ever imagine.

Review: Spellcaster

Spellcaster
Release Date: 1st March 2013
Pages: 389
Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers Australia
Author: Claudia Gray
Source: Purchased at Kmart
Purchase Book: Amazon UK | Amazon US

Goodreads:
When Nadia's family moves to Captive’s Sound, she instantly realizes there’s more to it than meets the eye. Descended from witches, Nadia senses a dark and powerful magic at work in her new town. Mateo has lived in Captive’s Sound his entire life, trying to dodge the local legend that his family is cursed - and that curse will cause him to believe he’s seeing the future … until it drives him mad. When the strange dreams Mateo has been having of rescuing a beautiful girl—Nadia—from a car accident come true, he knows he’s doomed. 

Despite the forces pulling them apart, Nadia and Mateo must work together to break the chains of his family’s terrible curse, and to prevent a disaster that threatens the lives of everyone around them. Shimmering with magic and mystery, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray’s new novel is sure to draw fans of the Hex Hall and Caster Chronicles series, and fans of the hit CW TV show The Secret Circle.

Trailer:

Review:
Spellcaster is a paranormal YA - the first in a trilogy by Claudia Gray (pseudonym). Like the last book, I chose this book based on the cover and the blurb, which caught me on the promise of a star-crossed romance.
Nadia, her father and brother move to Captive's Sound to start fresh after her mother left them. Nadia is descendant from witches, and as the rule goes, the mother teaches the daughter how to develop her magic and no man born of a woman can ever know the truth about witches. Well with her mum out of the picture, her magic may be strong, but not developed enough to take on something bigger, which is a problem considering something is brewing in the new town.

Something unique about the way Claudia reinvented witches is through spells. Instead of mixing potions, spells are done through memories, thoughts and emotions while touching pendants on jewellery. One example is when she did a spell to part water. She thought "The love of a child. A living thing rising from the earth. Hope through grief" as she touched her pendant. However this didn't work on its own, she then had to think about old memories - her brother taking his first step, spring and their move. It was a bit of a risk for Claudia to do this, but kudos for trying something new. The downside to this is it got a bit annoying for me and I found myself skipping past her memories.

The entire town seems to be ridden with magic, secrets, curses, mysterious deaths and strange behaviour. It is Nadia's mission to find out what is causing everything and to be an end to it, to save her family, new friends, the town and new love interest.
In terms of the characters, they are a bit weak, but I put it down to the curses and I have a feeling they will build up in the next book. There isn't as much drama as I expected, which is refreshing.

Down to the reason I chose this book - the promise of a star-crossed romance between Nadia and Mateo. Sadly I was disappointed in the lack of any romance. It was the equivalent to two children holding hands in a playground - a lack of passion and no connection. I finished the book wondering if the main characters wanted to be together at all. Claudia writes as though they were in love and meant to be, but based on the events in the story, nothing happens beyond a glance or two.

Cover:
Simple and magical cover with a great choice of fonts and colours. The cover doesn't give anything from the story away, except that it's about a girl.

Final Comments:
This book was good, however I found that it dragged on a bit and I was just waiting for things to happen. It has some interesting bits and I think the overall story is strong, but the build up is so slow that it took me several attempts to read it. There is a cliff hanger which is expected, and I liked most of the characters, but it just didn't have a wow factor for me. 
The story continues with Steadfast which will be out in March this year.

Rating:

Review: Switched

Switched
Release Date: 5th January 2012 (first published 2010)
Pages: 335
Publisher: Tor
Author: Amanda Hocking
Source: Purchased at Kmart
Purchase Book: Amazon UK | Amazon US

Goodreads:
When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. Eleven years later, Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. She’s not the person she’s always believed herself to be, and her whole life begins to unravel—all because of Finn Holmes.

Finn is a mysterious guy who always seems to be watching her. Every encounter leaves her deeply shaken…though it has more to do with her fierce attraction to him than she’d ever admit. But it isn’t long before he reveals the truth: Wendy is a changeling who was switched at birth—and he’s come to take her home.

Now Wendy’s about to journey to a magical world she never knew existed, one that’s both beautiful and frightening. And where she must leave her old life behind to discover who she’s meant to become…

Review:
Switched is the first in the series of the Trylle trilogy. I actually picked this book with my grandpa. He was trying to help me find a new book to read when he spotted the cover. I do as I always do, read the blurb on the back and give it a quick google. Didn't sound too shabby.

It tells the story of Wendy Everly, a bored girl that feels unloved and no sense of belonging, which is only made more real when her mother tries to kill her when she was six, claiming that she was a monster and didn't belong in her family. It makes you think, what could a little girl do so wrong to make her mother claim she isn't hers... She is raised by her loving brother Matt and aunt Maggie. That is until a mysterious boy named Finn shows up in her life and convinces her to run away with him to her real home and place where she belongs.... in Forening, home to the Trylle (trolls). In Trylle, Wendy discovers a new magical place, where she is important for a change, however darker forces are looking to tear everything apart before it begins.

When I first realised this was a book about trolls, I thought if an author can put an interesting spin on it, then I could at least give it a go. This book was pretty good - interesting, engaging and told in the first person. A refreshing break from what I usually read. Not a thriller or a romance, just a cool YA fantasy novel.

Wendy is not your average teen, which I was pleasantly surprised with. She is a handful but it is her attitude and desperation to find where she belongs that eventually wins you over. Plus she doesn't let anyone push her around. She is also a big deal, destined for greatness!
In terms of supporting characters, we get an interesting group of guys and gals, some potential love interests and others what I envision could be best friends. I have yet to read the second book, so I can't predict anything yet. Finn of course wins hands down for the hotty of the book. He does frustrate me at times - one of those guys that wants something, but doesn't really chase after it. One of my favourites is actually Matt, Wendy's brother. He is a very supportive, intelligent, gentle guy who gives everything he can for his sister, a real rarity.

Wendy does get her go at a bit of romance, however it felt like more of a build up to something that could become bigger in the second book. Plus, when she has everyone against who she wants, you know this will drag on for a while

Cover:
I love the Australian cover for this book (the one above), it is what got my attention. Doesn't give much of an insight into the story but it feels a bit whimsical and mysterious.
The US cover (to the right) is equally superb. I love the colours and mystery in the cover, from the castle down to the flowers. 

Final Comments:
This book was great, however my only annoyance is the ending. It concludes abruptly, but not even with a cliffhanger that makes you wanting to read on. It is almost as though someone tore out the last few pages of the book and left you confused. The only solution to this is to buy Torn (book 2) and continue on. 

Rating:

Review: The Shape Stealer

The Shape Stealer
Release Date: 14th March 2013
Pages: 352
Publisher: Bantam Press
Author: Lee Carroll
Source: Purchased on Amazon
Purchase Book: Amazon UK | Amazon US

Goodreads:
Jewelry designer Garet James is the Watchtower—the last in a long line of powerful women sworn to protect the world from evil. Although she had once defeated evil in New York City, her pursuit of her true love, the 400-year-old vampire Will Hughes, has now unleashed an age-old evil onto the modern world, and the entire planet is at risk.

Marduk, the ageless descendant of a demonic Babylonian deity, is now loose in Paris. He has joined forces with the villainous John Dee in a plan to destroy the world’s economy and plunge the entire world into chaos.

To fight this threat, Garet enlists the help of a modern-day band of knights who are dedicated to preserving the sanctity of the timeline. As she and her allies face this threat, new challenges arise in the form of a rival faction of knights who will stop at nothing to bring about the destruction of everything Garet holds dear.

Review:
This book is the third and final in the series by Lee Carroll, author of the first book Black Swan Rising. I was really looking forward to this book after the cliffhanger in The Watchtower (Book 2), where Garet James was on the hunt in another time for the man she loves, Will Hughes. While she does finally find "Will", that is when the story begins - life gets complicated and you get thrown into a book of hedge funds, magical and demonic beings and time portals .

While Will does return, he is technically not Garet's Will, but a young version from the past, centuries before her time. To begin with, he lacks character and Carroll made him very dull. Over time, he does improve, but not enough to leave any lasting impression. Obviously those centuries of experience the older Will gained is what intrigues the reader.

The entire story follows Garet and her new companions in a quest to kill John Dee, Marduk and the Malefactors (I can't begin to explain what they are), while trying to move through time, save time, stop demons from changing history, return young Will and find older Will. It was a bit much. At times I found myself bored with the over-use of technical words that honestly weren't necessary. Having grown up in the financial market, even for me it was a bore. We get a fair amount of poetry, which at times works as we get an insight into older Will's thoughts, as he lives his life second time around thinking of Garet. Other times, I don't get it.
The chapters are back and forth between different characters and we only hear Garet in the first person. The remainder of the time you are following one of many other characters.
To be honest it drags on and when you think it is about to pick up, you are disappointed again. 

Cover:
Similar to those before, not much to say. In the start I didn't understand the reason for the bridge, but mid way it makes sense. 

Final Comments:
This book was okay, but there was a lot that could be improved. Perhaps a concrete plot, a bit of suspense and drama. There was not an ounce of romance between Garet and Will, which I found highly disappointing since they are supposed to be madly in love. You would think they were just friends that haven't seen each other in a few weeks. While it did continue from Book 2, it didn't pick up at any point, therefore I only suggest you read it if you are desperate to hear what happens after Book 2. I almost wish they left it at Book 2 with us wanting more.

Rating:

Review: The Selection

The Selection
Release Date: 7th June 2012
Pages: 327
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Author: Kiera Cass
Source: Purchased at Waterstones
Purchase Book: Amazon UK | Amazon US

Goodreads:
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Review:
I was recommended this book by the Sales Assistant at Waterstones Piccadilly Circus. As I love watching romantic reality shows like Ready for Love and The Bachelor, although I wish they weren't as staged. The thing that really intrigued me about it was the blurb - "In a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels, The Selection is the chance of a lifetime: to compete for gorgeous Prince Maxon's heart. But for American Singer it means turning her back on her secret love, and leaving home for a prize she doesn't want".
As you can see, its not exactly like the dating shows, but better! America already is in love, and is only entering for the sake of her family. Confused? Then read on.

The Selection follows the story of America Singer, who lives in a world of social castes. America herself is a five, at the lower end of the system. With the lower castes obviously not as well off as the higher, America's mother convinces her to enter the competition to win Prince Maxon's heart. It's simple, marry the Prince, be rich and save your family! The downside... well every single other girl want's the same thing. To give this story a bit of juice, America doesn't freely enter the competition with an open heart, she is secretly in love with Aspen, who belongs to a lower caste, which in this world, doesn't get approval from your parents. Assuming she wouldn't be chosen, she enters and gets the shock of a lifetime when she becomes one of the chosen 35. From here on out, there is drama! Think cat fights, sabotage, confusion and more!

In the middle of all the competing and romance is a bit of political drama with rebel attacks due to the caste system. At first, I thought this was a bit odd, but when you get into this book, you come to appreciate the small details outside the Palace walls. The royal life is not as black and white as you would think, and you really get to see multiple sides of the royal family. It is a bit of a back story, but the lower castes obviously don't like how things are run. This ultimately will continue and build up through the series.

When it comes to boy candy, there is enough to go around. With the choice of Aspen (America's secret boyfriend) and Prince Maxon, America has a choice to make. The guy that will save her family's fate or the one that has always been there for her. I found myself torn over and over again who I thought she should end up with. Both of them have qualities fit for America, drawing you into a love triangle that you can't get enough of. Prince Maxon may be the one making the choice, but with America having her own private show on the side, who will ultimately make the decision?

The only downside of the story for me is America's need to mess things up. I understand she is confused, but her constant need to lash out at people that didn't deserve it and to disobey rules just irritated me. Then again, it's this confusion that keeps you on your toes because you never know which way the story will go.
The story was so addictive, I ran to the store the next day to pick up the second book. I'm just disappointed that I can't read book three until next year.

Cover:
This cover grabbed me instantly, the gorgeous dress and simplicity. You really don't need to see much else because you spend more time in the book.

Final Comments:
I loved this book and highly recommend it to any YA or dystopian fans. If you love your reality dating shows, well then this is perfect for you. Not only do you have a dozen girls vying for one man's attention, but you have a second on the side which spices it up!
And if you find yourself wanting to know more about Prince Maxon, there is a book from his perspective, going into more detail behind the scenes, titled The Prince.

Rating:
Continuing my book loving spree, I'm giving it 5 acorns as it was one of the best books I have read!

Review: Beautiful Disaster

Beautiful Disaster
Release Date: 14th August 2012
Pages: 416
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Author: Jamie McGuire
Source: Purchased (Kmart Australia)
Purchase Book: Amazon UK | Amazon US

Goodreads:
INTENSE. DANGEROUS. ADDICTIVE.

Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby wants—and needs—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.

Review:
I chose this book on a whim while I was hunting for something new to read. My 18 year old cousin and I were reading the back of every single book to see what sounded interesting. To be honest I did put this book down a few times as the blurb on the back was confusing and didn't give much insight into the plot. It deserved something much better.

Another refreshing change for me, this book had no supernatural storyline. To put it simply, its an intense story about a girl named Abby who heads off to college with her best friend America looking for a new start, away from her family who caused enough trouble for her as it is.

The story wouldn't be complete without Travis, the dangerous tattoo covered hot guy who has girls throwing themselves at him from every angle... Abby obviously finds his arrogance annoying and a turn off. Although, what bad guy can resist a girl that's a challenge?
The difference with Travis is that he is unbelievably passionate and devoted to those close to him. You can feel every ounce of emotion through the pages. Jamie McGuire obviously knows how to write from the heart.

Other major characters in the story are Shep and America. America is Abby's best friend and Shep is Travis's. They are two very supportive characters who I think play a vital part in the story. Jamie goes into so much detail with personalities that you feel you already know and love them all.

It is written from Abby's perspective which I always feel grabs the reader in more as you feel like you are there with her the whole way. The best way I can describe what this story does to you is comparing it to a snow globe. You shake and enjoy watching the snow fall and then have to shake again, watching the same thing happen over and over again. I put it down to the fact that Abby is a bit of a drama queen who can't decide what she want's in a guy. If you have ever been in that situation where you feel a guy isn't right for you but you can't resist him, then honestly this is your book. This book sucks you in and you just can't help but read through the night... at least that's what I did. Abby and Travis's relationship is as complex as it gets but I think that is what makes the story. After all, who wants a simple story about a good girl catching the bad boy - It's done all the time.

The other great thing about this story is that its set in a college and not high school, so you don't get that immature teen romance, these character have a bit more perspective which is what I think makes it more intense. I do have to advise any parents buying a book for their younger child, as this is based in college, you do get the occasional bedroom scene that gets down to detail. It wasn't that bad, but I feel this story needed that oomph just to emphasize both the passion and strains in their relationships.

Cover:
A decent cover, nothing that is too attention seeking and the blurb is useless, but I am extremely glad I gave this book a chance. It's a random butterfly in a jar and I am not entirely sure how that connects with the story.

Final Comments:
I loved this book, despite the annoying stop and go throughout the book. But I have to give it to Jamie, nothing could stop me as I stayed up a whole night trying to finish this book. I am only disappointed that the only follow up to this book is the story told from Travis's perspective. While I definitely will go out and pick it up, I would have love to see this book turned into a series. I have no idea where it would go, but I'm just not ready to abandon Abby and Travis yet.

If you do decide to continue on, check out Travis's story in Walking Disaster which is out now. When I get a hold of it, I will follow up with that review.

Rating:
Once again in my journey to find books I love, I'm giving it 5 acorns as It sucked me in! While I am not usually into bad boy types, I doubt I could avoid Travis.

Upcoming Reviews - Hello Australia!!

It's that time again for a round of reviews. I recently moved down to Australia so my life has been all over the place while I organized things. While I get settled in, I have been catching up on my reading, a healthy book a day!

I have just finished reading the first two books from The Selection trilogy by Kiera Cass. I absolutely adored these books and I am now eagerly awaiting the final installment. I am a fan of romantic reality shows like the bachelor and ready for love, so when I heard of this book, I thought I would give it a shot and glad I did. If you are like me and love a little competition for love, check these out and I promise to get the review up in the next few days.

If you have read any amazing YA books recently, or even something unmissable, please do let me know as I am looking to read a whole collection of books in the next few weeks.

Unfortunately the other books I was meant to review which I previously mentioned are in my container on the boat, heading down from England, so I have to put them to the side for now. In the meantime I will be reading Switched by Amanda Hocking and Spellcaster by Claudia Gray. 

Review: Back to BlackBrick

Back to BlackBrick
Release Date: 7th February 2013 (Out now!)
Pages: 272
Publisher: Orion Childrens Books
Author: Sarah Moore Fitzgerald
Source: Purchased (Waterstones)
Purchase Book: Amazon UK | Amazon US

Goodreads:
Cosmo's brother Brian died when he was ten years old. His mum hides her grief by working all the hours God sends and Cosmo lives with his grandparents. They've been carefree days as Granddad buys him a horse called John and teaches him all he knows about horses. But the good times have to come to an end and although he doesn't want to admit it, Cosmo knows his Granddad is losing his mind. So on one of the rare occasions when Granddad seems to recognise him, Cosmo is bemused that he gives him a key to Blackbrick Abbey and urges him to go there. Cosmo shrugs it off, but gradually Blackbrick draws him in...

Cosmo arrives there, scared and lonely, and is dropped off at the crumbling gates of a huge house. As he goes in, the gates close, and when he turns to look, they're rusty and padlocked as if they haven't been opened in years. Cosmo finds himself face to face with his grandfather as a young man, and questions begin to form in his mind: can Cosmo change the course of his family's future?

Review:
I was recommended this book by a sales assistant at Waterstones. It is the debut novel by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald, officially out today!
To be honest before I even heard what it was about, I was sold by the cover. Something about those gigantic gates intrigues me. Before I get into the review I have to say that behind the books, Sarah is a really down to earth woman who surprised me by actually chatting with me on twitter.

This book is not my usual type, no obvious romance, teen drama, supernatural beings... It was however very refreshing and extremely moving. It follows the story of Cosmo and his struggle with dealing with his brothers accidental death and Grandfathers Alzheimer's, told in first person by the boy himself. Whether you know someone with Alzheimer's or not, this book will grab you. At first I thought, Sarah has an amazing insight that makes for an interesting read. As it turns out, her father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's which makes this story feel that much more real. When we know someone with an illness, we do everything we can to make their life easier, from "googling" to going to the ends of the earth to find a cure... In this case, traveling back in time to BlackBrick. It is a read that will make any reader know what it's like to have a family member go through the same experience.

There are moments in the book that nearly tore me apart, but that is what pulls you in. The book does start slow but mid way through, it is kicked up a notch and you see a whole other side to the story. We learn that sometimes you wish you could turn back time, change the past to have a better future, but that's all it is.. a wish. We do our best to help those we love, but in the end its just our memories and relationships that count.

Cover:
A fantastic cover that won me in a second. Without reading the blurb, you feel the sense of mystery and loss. The gate obviously leads you to somewhere... it is up to you to bring your own interpretation to what Cosmo's journey really is.

Final Comments:
I adored this book. the writing was brilliant and the story was gripping. For the first time, I felt like I was living in the shoes of a character, following every step he made and wishing I could do the same things If I was him. I would recommend this more to older children all the way to adults as there are parts that may not really be appropriate for a younger child. My only annoyance was the fact that Sarah had Cosmo insult my hometown of Sydney, saying she could of gone to so many better places. Therefore I am going to excuse it as a teenager venting about his mum going to another country, and not mine in particular.
All in all, I wish Sarah the best in her future novels, if they will be anything like this one, I will be ready to add them to my collection.

I'm giving it 5 acorns as I haven't read anything like this and it is absolutely gripping. It got me!

Rating:

Review: Finale

Finale (Hush, Hush Series) Book #4
Release Date: 25th October 2012
Pages: 464
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Childrens Books
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Source: Purchased signed edition (Waterstones)
Purchase Book: Amazon UK | Amazon US

Goodreads:
Will love conquer all?

Nora and Patch thought their troubles were behind them. Hank is gone and they should be able to put his ugly vendetta to rest. But in Hank's absence, Nora has become the unwitting head of the Nephilim and must finish what Hank began. Which ultimately means destroying the fallen angels - destroying Patch.

Nora will never let that happen, so she and Patch make a plan: lead everyone to believe they have broken up, and work the system from the inside. Nora will convince the Nephilim that they are making a mistake in fighting the fallen angels, and Patch will find out everything he can from the opposing side. They will end this war before it can even begin.
But the best-laid plans often go awry. Nora is put through the paces in her new role and finds herself drawn to an addictive power she never anticipated.
As the battle lines are drawn, Nora and Patch must confront the differences that have always been between them and either choose to ignore them or let them destroy the love they have always fought for.

Review:
I had ordered this book long before it was due to come out as Waterstones had issued a limited number of signed copies for pre-order. Obviously, with the series being my favourite, I bought my copy. Before I go into my review, I must remind you there are three books before this and this is the very last in the series.
I suggest if you haven't read Silence, you should probably skip down to my final comments to avoid minor spoilers.

As with each book in the series, Silence ended with a cliffhanger. With Nora left in charge of the Nephilim, she is left with a choice, to take a side - stand with Patch or take the take lead of the Nephilim against everybody else. Both sides are under risk of major losses, so she must grow up and understand the world outside her Patch and Nora bubble, to take charge and protect those she loves.

Nora is a much stronger character in this book and she finally develops a spine. Patch... well lets just say he is just as strong as he always was, if anything he becomes less mysterious and you he finally opens up.

With a clear line now between the two sides, Patch and Nora must fight for each other and decide if they are strong enough to be together, or give it all up to join their sides.
The book is full of drama, scheming, back stabbing, lies, romance, suspense, action and more! By far the most compelling of the series, Becca leaves you wanting more.... but sadly this is where it all ends.

Cover:
Keeping in line with previous covers, we see the same thing, Nora and Patch. Like Silence, it's again on the rocky shore, this time with Patch reaching out to Nora. A very dramatic cover with black feathers floating everywhere. As this book is full of suspence and romance, I couldn't have chosen a better cover to finish off the series. Below is a photo of Becca's autograph:

Final Comments:
I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it to fans of Becca, along with any YA readers. Again I suggest you read the previous books as they all tie in together and it would be a shame to miss something.
As mentioned above, there is no lack of drama, scheming, suspense, romance and action. It is utterly compelling and probably the best in the series. Becca has out done herself and well so since this is how we are parting ways with Patch and Nora.

Rating:

Upcoming Reviews

After a break from blogging while I focused on my job, I am happy to announce my return with some new reviews! A fresh new batch for 2013!
This evening I popped by Waterstones at Piccadilly Circus, undecided on what to buy next. The branch has a late 10pm close which was perfect for my post dinner stroll home. With 10 minutes to closing, I was stuck, a wonderful sales assistant on the childrens/teen floor was more than happy to help me out. She took me around the entire section suggesting books and making each of them sound more exciting than the one before. For some odd reason that she didn't know herself, some of the books were on the shelf before the published date, which I was very happy to hear as it meant nobody could spoil it for me. You can find my final choices listed below. I chose Beautiful Creatures purely because of the movie and figured I would give the book a shot. The other three are all recommended by the sales assistant who said she loved them, her favourite being The Selection, which is apparently an amazing romantic drama... I will find out myself once I start reading.

1. Back to Black Brick by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald (Out 7th Feb)
2. The Selection by Kiera Cass
3. Beautiful Creatures by Garcia Stohl
4. Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood (Out 7th Feb)

Has anyone read or heard of any of these titles?

Writing Belle's Blogoversary

I would like to dedicate my first post back for the festive season to Summer Lane at Writing Belle. Summer is a fantastic writer and blogger who I have had the pleasure to blog and tweet with since I first started my blog more than a year ago (yes I missed my own one year celebration). She is celebrating her 1 year blogoversary!
It is an international giveaway for the most part, so those of you in the UK and US can apply.
The prizes include autographed books, new books and a Barnes and Noble gift card. There will be four winners! So whether you are looking to enter a giveaway or on the hunt for a new blog to follow, head on over to her page and say hello!

Good luck and Happy Holidays!

Get more out of your books...

Having finally had a break from work to stop by the blog, my colleague had introduced me to a new website... Small Demons.

To those not familiar with the website, it is a site that cross-references places, people, books, songs, movies, fashion brands, cars etc, all mentioned through books. It is for the curious minds of readers who notice the little things from time to time and want to know where else to find it... I have ready many articles about it online that state "it is the world inside of a book, revealed, it's also the world of books, connected." Once you register, you can pick your favourite books or look up places or songs mentioned in books. The great thing about it is that it links books together that share something....

For example, the iPod, which is known worldwide can be seen in dozens of books. I entered the name into the search tool and it came up with a list of books that reference it. From obvious books such as "Steve Jobs" to many many others including "Crossed" - J.F.Lewis, "Arcadia Falls" - Carol Goodman and "House Rules" - Jodi Picoult. You can find dozens of books that share the same products. It can honestly take you around an entire library of genres. Once you find things you like or books you love or would like to read, simply click the heart icon and it links to your storyboard.

 

To sum things up, the CEO himself, Valla Vakili said it best: "By tracing and connecting those details, we restore the cadence of culture. We lay down a path of discovery where your next song, your next movie, your next book — your next anything — comes from the stories you’ve lost yourself in, the writers you can’t get enough of, the characters you can’t forget".

So if you think this is something you would be interested to check out, visit the site here. If you are already using it or have any feedback, please share it in the comments below as I would love to hear what you have to say.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Review: Linger

Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls) Book #2

Release Date: 21st July 2010

Pages: 416

Publisher: Scholastic

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Source: Purchased (Waterstones)

Purchase Book: Amazon UK | Amazon US

Goodreads
Grace and Sam must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping dangerous secrets. For Sam, it means grappling with his werewolf past... and figuring out a way to survive the future.
But just when they manage to find happiness, Grace finds herself changing in ways she could have never expected...

Review:

At the end of Shiver, we were left with a bit of a cliff hanger. Did the cure work? Is Sam a wolf forever or will he become human? If you have yet to read the first book, I warn you there are spoilers for the previous book as this one jumps an entire space of time between books. So shield your eyes!

Obviously you know a love story can’t continue without the main protagonist going on with the love of his life. Enter the first line in the first chapter “This is a story of a boy who used to be a wolf and a girl who is becoming one.” I was instantly reminded of Romeo and Juliet. The author presents us with a random statement at the beginning and will go on to explain what exactly it all means.

After the first book, we saw Sam and Grace build their relationship, although it was difficult to understand what they saw in each other. The focus being on Sam being a wolf and how would they work it all out. Shiver on the other hand is about Sam and Grace finally being able to be together, planning their future and generally being all merry.... enter the evil parents that are anti teenage freedom. With every teen love story, parents are bound to get in the way, along with annoying characters that are bent on killing wolves and newly formed wolves with issues. This story is choca-block with drama. We are introduced to a new wolf, Cole who comes with a tonne of baggage and we finally get to see how the effect of her brother’s death plays on Isabel. Throw in another minor romance and a death and you got yourself a pretty well rounded second book. The thing that makes this book a bit easier to read than the first is that there more substance to Grace and Sam’s relationship. We learn more about them both, their qualities and what they could possibly see in each other. They may seem like polar opposites but like they say opposites attract and their romance is quite sweet.... with the exception of the whole potential doomed future.

Interesting bits:

Continuing in the same format as the first book, It is written in alternate chapters. This time instead of just Grace and Sam’s point of view, we are getting perspectives from an array of characters... it is actually pretty creative and it gives you the chance to see how all the characters behave around set events. My only issue was keeping up with which character was narrating.

Cover:

Following the same design as the first, a fantastic cover, again with different designs depending on the country you purchase the book. I love the graphic style of the black, white and red, this time with a bit more white negative space for snow. The US was alright, but doesn't grab my attention is much as the previous US cover (below). Which do you prefer?

Final Comments:
Sadly this book didn’t leave me speechless. While it was written well and has some interesting twists, I found it a bit predictable. That’s not to say I won’t be continuing on to the third book, as this book still managed to leave me wanting to know what happens next. I find I need to run to the bookstore, because even though Grace and Sam’s relationship was odd at times, they grew on me and I want to know how it will all turn out. If you have read the first, I would definitely recommend reading this book. If you are new to the series and love your wolves, fantasy, mythology or YA books, why not give it a go. I give this book 3 acorns as the author threw me into the book without an explanation as to what happened between the two books and there was something else missing for me. Happy reading!

I would love to know what you thought of the book. If you have also read the final book, please do share links to your reviews in the comments section as I will be sharing a collection of the final reviews for the last book.

Rating:

Weigh in Wednesday (2)

Weigh in Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Epilogue. The meme is simple, you are given a topic and you chip in with your opinion.

This weeks topic: Love triangles vs Insta-love

Brilliant topic! I had actually discussed this with a friend the other day. With the large amount of YA books being published with romantic plots entwined with wolves, angels and vampires, authors seem to be introducing us to the concept of insta-love, where teenagers fall desperately in love with another character. Then ofcourse, there is always a love triangle to bring some drama to the mix. Just look at Twilight... we got all of it packed into one.
In my personal opinion I am not a big fan of either. While I have heard of love at first sight, I prefer to read about the relationship between two characters as they develop. It is more interesting. When it comes to a love triangle, it can be enjoyable at times, being able to root for the character you want to win the girl or guy. Then again, some authors have been known to drag on love triangles and you just want it to end, as long as they end up with your choice. As long as the love triangle is exciting and the author does it well, I guess that will be my choice.

Are you all for love triangles or insta-love?
Have any examples of amazing stories with either?

Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Mizb at Should be Reading.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
• Share the title and author

Fallen in Love by Lauren Kate

"I say, if love is rough with you, be rough with love!" Eleanor said in her bossy way. "Stamp out sadness with dancing slippers!"

Feature and Follow Friday (5)

Welcome to another Follow Friday! Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkeeand Alison Can Read where you can meet new bloggers and gain more followers! The fun part of it is the random questions! Here we go!


Q. What is one thing you wish you could tell your favorite author?


Well I have a few favourites, but since I am picking one that I would actually tell them something, it would be Stephenie Meyer. While it is the Twilight saga that sucked me into the vampire world and to be honest, several weeks before I even heard of the series, I was saying how strange my friend was for reading vampire books.... I was wrong! 
Anyways down to the question, I would actually ask her why she capitalized the word "dumpster" throughout the books. I remember the chapter where Bella was hanging around the dumpster, throwing out the leaflets and the entire time I thought is dumpster a new place in the US? To this day, I can not get it out of my head... was there a reason it was "Dumpster" and not "dumpster".... or was it an error on behalf of the proofreader?
I have been told it is now a US brand, hence the capital.... in Australia it is just a generic term though, not a brand. 


p. 98: "Do you mind throwing these flyers in the Dumpster?' " Mrs. Newton.

p. 98: "The Dumpster was around the side of Newton's..."

p. 291: "...fire fighters were called to the scene of a burning trash Dumpster..."

Weigh in Wednesday

Introducing a new meme to the blog. I got an email about this the other day and thought it was a brilliant idea. Weigh in Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Epilogue. The meme is simple, you are given a topic and you chip in with your opinion.

This weeks topic: E-book vs Print book.


Both forms of reading have their benefits. While I don't have an e-book reader myself, I am aware of the fantastic amount of benefits and have considered buying one, however I am still very partial to holding a book in my hand as opposed to staring at a screen. If someone was to gift me a kindle though I am sure I would probably give into the temptation. There is such a variety of e-book readers, such as the famous Kindle, Sony Reader, Kobo, Barnes and Noble Nook, down to the iPad, desktop computers and smartphones. There is simply no escape from the potential of reading an e-book.

For those of us traditionalists, the experience of holding a book in our hands tends to be a main benefit. Being able to display our obscene collection of books on a classic book shelf; showing off our first editions and signed copies. It is always a great conversation starter when someone walks into your home and compliments you on your amazing collection of books, thumbing their way through the selection, learning more about who you are and what book they could potentially read next.

However, E-books are growing in popularity and more and more publishing houses are looking to take it on, releasing new and old books for e-readers. E-books are equally a brilliant idea; they allow readers to take all their digital books on the go, so that you can choose what you want to read on the move or at your destination of choice.

To put in simply, I am very pro printed book, but I have no aversion to e-books. My personal preference is that I would have an e-reader on the side for when I didn't have space for a book to carry with me, but I will continue to build my printed collection until I have a full blown old fashioned library that looks a bit like this....

Finale cover reveal and BookExpo America

For those of you who regularly read my posts, you know I am a big fan of Becca Fitzpatrick and Patch. If you are a fan of the Hush, Hush saga and based in New York, you will be pleased to know that Becca will be revealing her FINALE cover at BookExpo America on Wednesday June 6th at 8:45am in the lobby of the Javits Center. I assume for those of us not in NY, we will be able to see the cover shortly after the reveal.

The cherry on the cake is Becca will also be signing at the Simon and Schuster booth from 9:30am until 10:30am.

On another note, if you are a blogger, the BookExpo is a fantastic opportunity to mingle with other bloggers, authors and publishers. Head over to the website to find out what is involved and how you can be a part of the action. Not only will you have a chance to network but there will be some great sessions on a range of topics, from general blogging, making money, building a community, reviews and tips on how publishers and bloggers work together. It is honestly a great chance to gain some invaluable advice if you are starting out or want a fresh perspective on your blog.