Book Review: Half Wild by Sally Green

Nathan Byrn is on the run.
White witches hunt him,
Black witches hate him,
His gift from his murderous father is a wild new power he can't control.
He must find the girl he loves.
Who may have betrayed him.
In a war between black and white witches with his loyalties split between both. the greatest danger Nathan faces might be himself. 

Publisher: Penguin

Pages: 400

I was completely blown away by Sally Green's last book Half Bad published last year. When I saw that the second in the trilogy was available, I was very excited but also a little nervous as I felt I had very high expectations.
I'm pleased to report that my expectations were met and Half Wild is a brilliant read. It is definitely not a stand alone book; the author does not give you a summary, she just takes you straight back into the action. So if you've not read Half Bad then you won't have a clue what's going on or who anyone is (another excellent reason to read the first book and then this one!)
Nathan is on the run, he has met his father who has given him three gifts and now he is searching for Gabriel and some kind of safety. He also needs to find Annalise before it's too late but he can't be 100% sure that she hasn't betrayed him.
Sally Green very much focuses on the change in Nathan since receiving his gifts from his father. They are powerful gifts that he must learn to control. His relationship with Gabriel is also key to this book; their friendship is so strong in a world where trust and loyalty are extremely hard to come by.
These books are so different from anything I have ever read. I quickly became absorbed in to the fantasy world that the author has created. There are quite a few action scenes towards the end of the book and they were dealt with so well; Sally Green's language and description brought them to life for me and I felt like I was in the thick of it with the other characters.
I really cannot recommend this author and her books enough. Her writing gives me goosebumps and I cannot wait to read her next book.

Book Review: This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

If fate sent you an email, would you answer?
It's June- seventeen-year-old Ellie O'Neill's least favourite time of the year. Her tiny hometown is invaded by tourists, and this year there's the added inconvenience of a film crew. Even the arrival of Hollywood heart-throb Graham Larkin can't lift her mood.
But there is something making Ellie very happy. Ever since an email was accidentally sent to her a few months ago, she's been corresponding with a mysterious stranger, the two of them sharing their hopes and fears. Their developing relationship is not without its secrets though- there's the truth about Ellie's past...and her pen pal's real identity. When they finally meet in person, things are destines to get much more complicated. Can two people, worlds apart but brought together by chance, make it against all odds?

I absolutely adored Jennifer E. Smith's last book The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight so I have really looked forward to reading her latest book This Is What Happy Looks Like. I have to say that Jennifer E. Smith's books have the best titles and I loved the yellow cover for this one.
I can't really review this book without including spoilers but I think it is pretty obvious from the synopsis as to what will happen.
Ellie O'Neill receives an email from GDL824@yahoo.com, whoever sent it got the address wrong as it was meant for a different recipient. However they are soon emailing back and forth and this is what we have at the beginning of the book. This was one of my favourite parts, it's so easy to be honest and open when talking to a stranger, especially via email, there's no pressure or preconceptions.
Ellie begins to look forward to these emails every day, she can't believe how close she feels to someone she has never met. This all changes when Ellie realises that the stranger she has been emailing is actually the movie star Graham Larkin. He is no longer a pen-pal but a real life person in her small town where he is filming his latest movie. After the initial shock Ellie wants to get to know Graham but she has secrets in her past and being photographed with Graham could ruin everything. Is Ellie going to give up a chance of happiness in order to keep her past hidden?
Jennifer E. Smith has written another great book. I love the dialogue she creates between the characters, Ellie and Graham's relationship is very realistic and their interactions show their deep affection for each other.
This Is What Happy Looks Like is such a good idea, it's a classic love story with a twist. What would you do if you fell in love with a huge celebrity? Would you be happy to become part of their public and exposed life? I really enjoyed Graham's perspective in the book,
especially regarding his relationship with his parents. Outwardly, Graham looks as though he has it all but he begins to questions the sacrifices he has made for his career.
This Is What Happy Looks Like is a great read, I think it will appeal to a Young Adult audience and also cross over to older readers. I think Jennifer E. Smith offers something new to this genre, it will be very exciting to see what she does next.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 4/5

Publisher: Headline Review

Number of pages: 416

Many thanks to Sam at Headline for sending me a copy, it is available now!

Book Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

They say that the cure for love will  make me happy and safe forever. And I've always believed them. Until now. Now everything has changed. Now I'd rather be infected with love for the tiniest sliver of a second than live hundreds of years suffocated by a lie.
There was a time when love was the most important thing in the world. People would go to the end of the earth to find it. Even kill for it. Then at last they found the cure. 

Wow is the only word I could think of when reading this book. I have no idea why it has taken me so long to get round to reading it but it is a book that will be staying on my shelves forever.
Our protagonist is Lena Haloway and she in ninety-five days from the cure. The cure for Amor Deliria Nervosa, otherwise known as love. Lena lives in a quite similar looking world to our own but in this world love is a disease that people are routinely cured of by their eighteenth birthdays. Lena's older sister has had the operation which removes part of the brain and is now living her life as one of the cured. Lena's mother is not spoken about; she received the procedure three times but again and again it failed. She took her own life, Lena is counting down the days until her own procedure as then she will be safe.
However, Lena does not bargain on meeting Alex. She does not plan on becoming sick with the Deliria but suddenly she is no longer counting down the days to her procedure with excitement but with abject horror instead. How will she live forever without this feeling, without Alex and all he has come to mean to her?
This book just blew me away. It is a fantastic concept and expertly delivered by Lauren Oliver. Although officially young adult fiction, this book is definitely one that is capable of crossing over. Oliver's writing is truly beautiful and I felt that she conveyed love in so many different ways. It is not just about love for another person but a love of life, beauty, music, literature and so many other things that we take for granted every single day.
Lena is an extremely interesting character, her reaction to Alex is fascinating; she has had so much fear instilled in her about falling in love that she is almost frightened of him at first. But in some ways love really is like a disease as when it truly happens, you are powerless to stop it. Alex is also a great character and entirely believable. I liked the fact that Lauren Oliver did not try to over sell him as some YA authors seem to do with their male characters. Alex is very ordinary, he loves Lena even though he is aware of the danger that places them both in.
I can't really say much more about this book without giving the plot away. I do urge you to read it though. It has made me think so much since I finished it and i don't think that a book that has the ability to do that should be missed.

Dot Scribbles Rating 5/5

Book Review: Trapped by Michael Northrop

The day the blizzard started, no one knew that it was going to keep snowing for a week. That for those in its path, it would become not just a matter of keeping warm, but of staying alive.
Scotty and his friends are among the last seven kids at their high school waiting to get picked up that day and they soon realise that no one is coming to get them. Still, it doesn't seem so bad to spend the night at school, especially when Krista and Julie are sleeping just down the hall.
But then the power goes out, then the heat. The pipes freeze and the roof shudders. As the days add up the snow piles higher and the empty halls grow colder and darker, the mounting pressure forces a devastating decision. 

I really liked the sound of this book and thought that the striking simplicity of the cover was excellent too. Scotty and his friends are the last seven kids left at the school. The rest of the kids went home when the blizzard started but this lot are still waiting for someone to come and get them. At first it seems like a big adventure, a bit of fun, but the snow gradually gets higher and higher, then the lights and the heat go out. What of no one is coming, how long can they really last in the freezing cold conditions?
I think that Michael Northrop's idea for this YA book is excellent and in the main, I really enjoyed reading it. Northrop really captures the many different emotions, the initial excitement and then the fear begins to kick in. The only thing that I struggled with was the pace, there were a few parts in the book where hardly anything happened and then the pace would suddenly pick up again. I felt that the author was extremely good at giving the reader the feeling of being trapped; the descriptions of the snow building up and taking the light with it really creeped me out.
Overall, I think this book was very good and YA readers will love it. It's one of those books that puts you in a situation and makes you wonder how you would handle it, how would you survive? It's perfect for this time of year so curl up and give it a go.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 3.5/5

Many thanks to Atom for sending me a copy of this book to review, Trapped is published on December 22nd.

Book Review: The Thirteen Treasures by Michelle Harrison

While visiting her grandmother's house, Tanya discovers an unsolved mystery. Fifty years ago, a girl vanished in the woods nearby- a girl Tanya's grandmother will not speak of. Fabian, the caretaker's son, is tormented by the girl's disappearance. His grandfather was the last person to see her alive, and has lived under suspicion ever since. Together, Tanya and Fabian decide to find the truth. But Tanya has her own secret: the ability to see fairies. Can it help them to unravel the mystery? Soon they are facing terrible danger- could the manor's sinister history be about to repeat itself?

To be honest, I was extremely skeptical about this book. I can do vampires and werewolves but fairies seemed a step too far! How wrong I was, I think Michelle Harrison's book will be enjoyed by children and adults for many years to come. Although it is set in the present day, it has an almost timeless feel to it; the reader is completely focused on the events and mysteries that Tanya becomes entangled in a Elvesden Manor.
I particularly liked the character of Tanya; you really feel for her due to her ability to see fairies which causes her no end of troubles. Regardless of what others think, she is an extremely brave and loyal person who is simply trying to do the right thing by those around her.
Tanya's grandmother's house, Elvesden Manor is almost a character itself. It is the house that reveals the unsolved mystery to Tanya and she becomes very aware of it withholding many more secrets. I loved the chapters where Tanya and Fabian explore some of the house's hidden rooms and passages as you have no idea of what they may find.
I really enjoy young adult fiction that isn't afraid to be a little dark. Michelle Harrison includes some very sinister characters in this book and their descriptions are wonderful. I'm so glad that I read The Thirteen Treasures, I will definitely be picking up the other two in the series.

Many thanks to Simon and Schuster for sending me a copy to review.

Book Review:Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin

The only thing that Avery Hood can recall about the night her parents dies is that she saw silver- deadly silver, moving inhumanly fast. As much as she wants to remember who killed her parents, she can't and there's nothing left to do but try to piece her life back together.
Then Avery meets the new boy at school. Ben is mysterious and beautiful, and Avery feels a connection with him like nothing she's ever experienced. Ben is also a werewolf, but Avery trusts him- at first. Then she sees that sometimes his eyes flash an inhuman silver. And she learns that she's not the only one who can't remember the night her parents died...

This book had me hooked from the very first sentence:

I was covered in blood when the police found me.

Avery Hood was there when her parents were mutilated and murdered but she cannot remember what happened; she does not know who carried out the terrible act.
Avery tries to get on with her life; she is living with her grandmother as her house is still a crime scene. When she returns to school she copes with the stares and whispers but it is the arrival of Ben, the new boy that changes everything. Avery is instantly attracted to him and Ben feels the same way. She discovers that the local legends are true and that werewolves live in the forest where her house was. She knows this because Ben is a werewolf. Avery is very accepting of this but she cannot fail to forget the flash of silver that she saw on the night of her parent's murder, the same silver that she glimpses in Ben's eyes. He does not remember the night either, could he unknowingly be the one who has torn her whole world apart?
Ivy Devlin has written a beautiful love story which will be enjoyed by many a young adult reader. Low Red Moon is also a very convincing murder mystery with these paranormal elements thrown in to the mix.
As I said, the author grabbed me with the first line and simply didn't let go. I felt as though I was aware of something lurking in the woods just waiting to pounce on Avery as it had her parents. The book has a great twist at the end which I had not seen coming at all.

Many thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me a copy of Low Red Moon to review, it was published on February 7th. 

Book Review: Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

Three angels are sent down to bring good to the world: Gabriel, the Warrior, Ivy the healer, and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. But she is the most human, and when she is romantically drawn to a mortal bot, the angels fear she will not be strong enough to save anyone- especially herself. 

Bethany, Ivy and Gabriel are sent on a mission to Venus Cove; it is Bethany's first earth-bound mission but those up above believe that she is ready for it. She does very well until she falls for Xavier, she literally falls in love with him which was not part of the plan. Xavier knows there is something different about Bethany but he has no idea that she has wings and normally lives in Heaven. As dark forces start to get a hold of things in Venus Cove, Gabriel, Ivy and Bethany realise that their position could be threatened, as could the safety of those that they have become close to.
Halo is a brilliant book and I was completely in awe when I got to the end and read that the author is only eighteen. I think that Alexandra Adornetto really captures the heady feelings of falling in love for the first time. This is heightened for Bethany and Xavier due to what she is. I loved how their relationship developed throughout the book, I found it entirely  believable.
Halo will appeal to young adult readers and also those a little bit older. I am hoping that Alexandra Adornetto will continue the story in further books as I would really like to know what happens next.

Many thanks to Atom for sending me a copy of this book to review, Halo is published in the UK today.

Nightshade Blog Tour Extract Plus Review

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer is being published by Atom on 28th December, today at Dot Scribbles we are hosting a day of the blog tour, here's the idea behind the book:

She can control her pack but not her heart. "I wanted him to kiss me, wished he could smell the desire that I knew was pouring off me. You can't Calla. This boy isn't the one for you. Calla Tor has always known her destiny: graduation, marriage and then a life leading her pack. But when she defies her master's laws to save a human boy, she must choose. Is one boy worth losing everything?

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer is a young adult fiction book that I will think will appeal to many readers upon publication next week.
The book has a huge mythological element to it, centered around the main character Calla Tor. There is a very strict hierarchy in Calla's world; she is a Guardian which means she is a wolf, her packs job is to protect the Keepers who are in charge of pretty much everyone and are not to be messed with.
Calla has the extra burden of being the alpha female of her pack, the Nightshades. She has always known that it will fall to her to make a union with Ren who is the alpha male of the Bane pack of wolves. Calla had accepted her future destiny and then Shay comes along, he is a human whose life Calla saved rather than going with her natural instinct to kill.
Ren and Shay both want Calla and it is easy to see why she is torn between the two as they are both good, neither is the villain. Andrea Cremer really does build up the tension between these three characters, it definitely keeps you turning the pages.
Nightshade leaves you on the edge of your seat at the very end, to find out what happens next we will have to wait for the second book, Wolfsbane which will be out in 2011, I think this is set to be a very exciting series.

Atom have very kindly given me an excerpt to share with you, it is from Chapter 2, part 2, to get the final extract then you just need to visit Once Upon a Bookcase tomorrow as the final excerpt will be there, enjoy!

When I opened the front door to my house, my body went rigid. I could smell the visitors. Aged parchment, fine wine: Lumine Nightshade’s scent exuded an aristocratic elegance. But her guards filled the house with an unbearable odour, boiling pitch and burnt hair.

“Calla?” Lumine’s voice dripped with honey.

I cringed, trying to gather my wits before I walked into the kitchen with my mouth glued shut. I didn’t want to taste the creatures as well as smell them.

Lumine sat at the table across from her pack’s current alpha, my father. She remained impossibly still, posture perfect, chocolate tresses caught in a chignon at the back of her neck. She wore her typical immaculate ebony suit and crisp high-collared white shirt. Two wraiths flanked her, looming shadow-like just over her slim shoulders.

I sucked in my cheeks so I could bite the insides. It was the only thing that kept me from baring my teeth at the bodyguards.

“Have a seat, my dear.” Lumine gestured to a chair.

I pulled the chair close to my father, crouching rather than sitting in it. I couldn’t relax with the wraiths nearby.

Does she already know about the violation? Is she here to order my execution?

“Little more than a month of waiting left, lovely girl,” she murmured. “Are you looking forward to your union?”

I let out the breath I didn’t know I’d been holding.

“Sure,” I said.

Lumine brought the tips of her fingers together in front of her face.

“Is that the only word you have to offer about your auspicious future?”

My father barked a laugh. “Calla’s not the romantic her mother is, Mistress.”

His tone remained confident, but his gaze fell on me. I ran my tongue along my canines, which were sharpening in my mouth.

“I see,” she said, eyes moving up and down my body.

I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Stephen, you might teach her better manners. I expect my alpha females to embody finesse. Naomi has always had the utmost grace in the role.”

She continued to watch me, so I couldn’t bare my teeth at her the way I wanted to.

Finesse, my ass. I’m a warrior, not your child bride.

“I thought you might be pleased with the match, dear girl,” she said. “You’re a beautiful alpha. And there hasn’t been a Bane male the likes of Renier before. Even Emile admits that. The union bodes well for all of us. You should be grateful to have such a mate.”

My jaw clenched, but I met her eyes without blinking.

“I respect Ren. He’s a friend. We’ll be fine together.”

A friend . . . sort of. Ren watches me like I’m a cookie jar he wouldn’t mind being caught with his hand in. And he’s not the one who’d pay for that theft. Though I’d been stuck with lock and key from day one of our betrothal, I hadn’t thought playing policeman over our relationship would be that hard. But Ren didn’t like to play by the rules. He was just tempting enough to make me wonder whether giving him a taste might be worth the risk.

“Fine?” Lumine repeated. “But do you desire the boy? Emile would be furious at the idea you might scoff at his heir.” She drummed her fingers on the table.

I stared at the floor, cursing the flames that raced over my cheeks. How the hell does desire matter when I’m not allowed to do anything about it? In that moment I hated her.

My father cleared his throat. “My lady, the union has been set since the children’s birth. The Nightshade and Bane packs remain committed to it. As are my daughter and Emile’s son.”

“Like I said, we’ll be fine,” I whispered. The hint of a growl escaped with my words.

Tinkling laughter brought my eyes back to the Keeper. As she watched me squirm, Lumine’s smile was patronizing. I glared at her, no longer able to hold in my outrage.

“Indeed.” Her gaze moved to my father. “The ceremony must not be interrupted or delayed. Under any circumstances.”

She rose and extended her hand. My father briefly pressed his lips to her pale fingers. She turned to me. I reluctantly took her vellum-like skin in my own hand, trying not to think about how much I wanted to bite her.

“All worthy females have finesse, my dear.” She touched my cheek, letting her nails scrape hard enough to make me flinch.

My stomach lurched.

Her stiletto heels struck a sharp staccato on the tile as she left the kitchen. The wraiths trailed behind her, their silence more disturbing than the unnerving rhythm of her steps. I drew my knees up to my chest and rested my cheek against them. I didn’t breathe again until I heard the front door close.

“You’re awfully tense,” my father said. “Did something happen on patrol?”

I shook my head. “You know I hate wraiths.”

“We all hate wraiths.”

I shrugged. “Why was she here anyway?”

“To discuss the union.”

“You’re kidding.” I frowned. “Just me and Ren?”

My father passed a weary hand over his eyes. “Calla, it would be helpful if you wouldn’t treat the union like a hoop to jump through. Far more is at stake than ‘just you and Ren.’ The formation of a new pack hasn’t occurred for decades. The Keepers are on edge.”

“Sorry,” I said, not meaning it.

“Don’t be sorry. Be serious.”

I sat up straight.

“Emile was here earlier today.” He grimaced.

“What?!” I gasped. “Why?”

I couldn’t imagine a civil conversation between Emile Laroche and his rival alpha.

My father’s voice was cold. “The same reason as Lumine.”

I buried my face in my hands, my cheeks once again on fire.

“Calla?”

“Sorry, Dad,” I said, swallowing my embarrassment. “It’s just that Ren and I get along fine. We’re friends, sort of. We’ve known the union was coming for a long time. I can’t see any problems with it. And if Ren does, that would be news to me. But this whole process would be much easier if everyone would just lay off. The pressure isn’t helping.”

He nodded. “Welcome to your life as an alpha. The pressure never helps. It also never goes away.”

“Great.” I sighed and rose from my chair. “I have homework.”

“Night, then,” he said quietly.

“Night.”

I hope that this has given you a taster of the book, check out the rest of the blog tour to find out more. 

Book Review: Black Swan Rising by Lee Carroll

Jeweller Garet James isn't the same as everyone else.
She just doesn't know it yet.
With her fair share of problems- money (lack of), an elderly father, a struggling business- Garet should be just like any other young, feisty, single New Yorker. If only it was that simple...
It begins with the old silver box that had been soldered shut. All Garet has to do is open it. A favour for the frail owner of the antiques shop. Who wouldn't help?
Only it's then that things start to change. Garet doesn't notice at first, the shift's barely perceptible. But the city in which she grew up is beginning to reveal a long hidden side- darker, and altogether more dangerous; a parallel world of chaos, smoke and blood.
Now it's out of the box...and it has  no intention of going back in. 

Lee Carroll is the pseudonym for writing partners and husband and wife team, Carol Goodman and Lee Slonimsky. Their book, Black Swan Rising is a brilliant addition to the urban fantasy genre and I enjoyed every page of it.
This books is fantastical, you have suspend reality whilst reading it but if you can then you are in for a real treat.
Garet James is having a pretty bad day when we meet her; she has been to meet her gallery-owning father's lawyers to find out the true extent of their financial problems and it's not good at all. Extremely upset and wondering around New York, Garet takes shelter from the rain in the doorway of an antiques shop which she has never come across before. On entering the shop; she talks to the owner, John Dee who questions her on the swan motif detailed on the ring and necklace she is wearing. Garet explains how they were left to her by her late mother; she is surprised when the shop owner produces a silver box bearing the same motif and shows her how it has been soldered shut and he says he will pay her to open it for him. Garet gladly agrees as the money is much needed and she returns home to her father. That night, Garet opens the box and this is when things start happening; the gallery is broken into and her father is seriously injured. Along with some paintings, the thieves also steal the silver box that has only just been opened. So now, Garet's father is under suspicion of staging the theft for the insurance money to pay off his debts. Garet begins her search for the thieves of the silver box but she has definitely opened a Pandora's Box as she finds out information about her past ad future that she had no idea of. It is very hard to review this book without giving away too much of the plot. But basically by opening the box, Garet has opened up the divide between the supernatural and the ordinary world. John Dee has certain intentions for this power and Garet discovers that she is, as her mother was, responsible for keeping everything in order.
Garet encounters many people along the way and not all of them of this world. We have Oberon, King of the Fairies from Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, a thirsty vampire in the form of sexy Will Hughes and a new and loyal companion named Lol who is a much feistier version of Disney's Tinkerbell. These extraordinary beings come in and out of the story as Garet desperately searches for the silver box. As she is adjusting to this new world and the power she possesses, Garet has to decide who she can trust as she will ultimately pay with her life is she gets it wrong.
Garet James is an incredibly likable character; she is strong and loyal and doesn't hesitate in doing everything that she can to find the box. I loved her scenes with Will Hughes; I was a little worried that it might just be another vampire love story but I was pleasantly surprised. The scenes with Will do not dominate the book but add a romantic edge without the many cliches that can occur.
Black Swan Rising is action packed and I had great difficulty in putting it down. My review really does not do this book justice, I was so impressed with the writing, the characters and the plot, I know it's a series I will follow.

Thank you to Transworld for sending me this book for review, it is published today!

Book Review: Out for Blood by Alyxandra Harvey

Hunter Wild, vampire hunter and star pupil at a top secret slayer academy has a crush on a guy called Quinn. He's tall, dark and very handsome. He's also a vampire, and one of the infamous Drake brothers at that.

As if forbidden love wasn't bad enough, something strange is also happening at the Helios-Ra academy. Vampire attacks are increasing, students are mysteriously falling ill and the teachers seem completely clueless. It's up to Hunter and her friends to put things right... that is, if she can get a certain immortal out of her head long enough to think about anything else. 

This is the third in the Drake Chronicles series by Alyxandra Harvey. I wasn't that big a fan on the second one but Out for Blood has reaffirmed my belief that this is a great series for young adults.
I loved the character of Hunter Wild, she is extremely feisty and has such a lot of responsibility and expectations placed upon  her. When things start to go wrong at the prestigious slayer academy that she attends, she knows that she has to step-up and find those responsible for hurting her friends. Whilst doing this she has to enlist the help of Quinn Drake, he is a member of the head vampire family and Hunter has been trained to stake vampires on first contact. However, staking is the last thing on Hunter's mind when she is around the delectable Quinn. Alyxandra Harvey builds up the tension  between these two characters so well. It reminded me of Bella and Edward in Twilight, they both know it's wrong but they just can't help themselves.
Out for Blood has a great pace to it, there was so much to find out that you can't help turning the pages. The next book isn't out until November 2011, I know that I will not be the only one grabbing a copy to find out what happens next.

You can read the first chapter of Out for Blood by clicking here.

Many thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me a review copy, it was published yesterday so look out for it in the shops!

Book Review: A Gathering Light by Jennifer Donnelly

Based on a real murder at the turn of the century, this outstanding debut novel is a powerful and moving coming-of-age book. Mattie is torn between her familial responsibilities, her desire to be a writer, and the excitement of a first romance. Her dilemmas and choices are reflected in the life of a young woman that Mattie only gets to know through reading her letters.

When finally the tales of Mattie and the drowned girl merge, their stories beautifully combine in a brilliant and perfect conclusion.

A Gathering Light by Jennifer Donnelly is in the children's section of the Bloomsbury catalogue but it is one of those great books that will appeal to readers of many ages as the author has created a story that many will identify with.

Mattie made a promise to her dying mother that she will look after the rest of the family so she is torn when she has the opportunity to go to college in New York to persue her dream of being a writer. I loved the way that the author uses Mattie to explore the ways in which a writer thinks. Mattie views the world and the people around her in a very particular way. When Grace Brown's body is discovered, Mattie has to know more; she understands that Grace must have a story that should be told.
Jennifer Donnelly does not shy away from the poverty and daily grind that Mattie and her family face. You begin to understand just how difficult Mattie's decision is. On the one hand she must feel that she has the opportunity to escape and realise her dreams but on the other hand she has to face the tremendous guilt were she to leave her family in those circumstances.
Some reviewers have said that this book is a little slow; I can understand what they are saying but in many ways it is important for the book to be like this. It is the slow-paced, mundane life that Mattie wants to leave behind. She has to decide whether this is just the life that she has been dealt; should she just get married and help run the farm or should she go out there and see what else life has to offer?
The death of Grace Brown is an event that really did take place. Jennifer Donnelly weaves it into her story and Mattie learns more and more about Grace from the letters that she left behind. Grace brown's fate brings Mattie's choice into sharp focus; I thought that the author tied these two characters together brilliantly.
A Gathering Light is a fantastic book that I would highly recommend. There are so many different aspects to the story that you cannot help but become engrossed in it, even when I reached the last page, I wanted to know more about Mattie's life.

Many thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me a copy of this book, Jennifer Donnelly has a new book called Revolution out in October so look out for that one!

Book Review: Scarlett Dedd by Cathy Brett

Scarlett would kill for a kiss from the boy she's crushing on... but her life has just taken a dramatic turn for the worse and now it's not just her romantic plans that are festering- even her friends are acting like she doesn't exist...
Left in limbo, bored to death and fearing her friendless state is terminal, an ominous idea pops into Scarlett's head. Over her dead body will she be ignored... but can Scarlett really execute such a grim plan? And will it reap the reward of eternal friendship or turn out to be a fatal mistake?

I loved this book, I loved the idea, the illustrations and most of all Scarlett herself! Basically by chapter three, Scarlett is actually dead and what follows is the tale of her adjusting to her new existence and devising ways in which to make her old and still alive friends notice her.
There are illustrations by the author throughout the book and they bring the whole thing to life. At times, the text takes on different shapes and fits around the pictures, I think this is a very appealing way of presenting the book and would very much be enjoyed by young adult readers.
Cathy Brett has all the spooky elements that you would want from a book where the main character is dead. Scarlett has to learn some haunting tricks which are not initially well received by her old friends. I really warmed to Scarlett and even though she does do some extremely dodgy things, I did feel sorry for her. As she says, being a dead teenager sucks, she misses her friends and you do begin to wonder how she will ever be happy.
Scarlett Dedd is a brilliant graphic novel, Cathy Brett's story and illustrations come together to make a book that will be enjoyed by readers of many different ages.

Many thanks to Headline for sending me a copy of this book to review, Scarlett Dedd is published today!

Book Review: Pastworld by Ian Beck

To Eve, a lifelong resident of PASTWORLD, horse-drawn carriages and gas lamps are modern technology. Eve doesn't even know she's living in a simulation- until she is forced to flee the only home she's ever known, and to confront the truth about her city and herself.
To Caleb, a tourist visiting PASTWORLD, the theme park is the perfect antidote to the stifling conformity and regulations of 2048. Until he finds himself at the scene of a murder, holding the knife, and suddenly becomes a fugitive from an antiquated justice system.
And in the midst of it all, a dark and deadly figure prowls, claiming victim after victim. He's the Fantom, a creature both of the past and of the future, in whose dark purpose Caleb and Eve will find their destinies combined.

I was completely intrigued by the above blurb when this book arrived in the post. I was worried that I would find Pastworld too far fetched but after starting and finishing it in one day, I have to say that I think it is a fantastic book that will will appeal to young adults but I am sure to many adult readers also.
It's such a good idea and PASTWORLD, the Victorian simulation created by the Buckland Corporation is entirely believable. I thought it was very clever to have residents such as Eve who thought her world was entirely real juxtaposed with the character of Jago who she befriends; he has to explain how everything is simulated, right down to the sky which is in fact a large dome with projected images.
The Fantom is a terrifying creation, if anything, the more we learn about him, the scarier he becomes. We slowly discover how Eve and the Fantom are linked, what on earth does this kind, caring girl and a brutal murderer have in common?
I love anything to do with the Victorian era and Ian Beck describes the Victorian London simulation perfectly. He talks of the fog, the stench, the poverty, the death, the Fagan like characters and you can picture all that he describes in your mind.
Pastworld is one of my favourite Young Adult books that I have read so far this year. As I said, I started and finished this book in one day, once I had started I couldn't put it down so obviously I would very much reccommend it.

Many thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me a copy of this book to review, it is published today. If you would like to see a trailer for the book then just click here.

Book Review: The Other Girl by Sarah Miller

Molly McGarry seems to have it all- she's smart, she attends the prestigious Midvale Academy and she's finally got the guy of her dreams, Gideon Rayburn. But now everything's changing.
Molly and Gid got together in a very unusual way, when Molly mysteriously entered Gid's mind and so could 'guess' exactly what he wanted. By a bizarre twist of fate, Molly suddenly leaves Gid's mind and enters the mind of Pilar Benitez-Jones, possibly the hottest girl in the world. Pilar flirts with Gid. A lot. No longer inside her boyfriend's head, Molly feels life is spiralling out of control. But she realises that being inside of Pilar's head has its advantages as she influences Pilar for her own schemes- with ensuing chaos.

This is the second Midvale Acadamey book, I haven't read the first and I don't feel that you need to in order to understand this one. Reading this book felt like watching an extended episode of Gossip Girl so it is definitely going to appeal to many young adult readers.
The twist of Molly being inside the mind of Gideon and then Pilar gives the book something different to others that deal with similar ideas. Exactly how Molly is in these peoples minds is not really explained but it certainly makes the book more interesting.
Some of the characters are quite generic but I think that is possibly intended in order to show the stereotypical side of this privileged world.
I liked the character of Pilar and it is interesting to learn more about her when Molly enters her mind. Sarah Miller is really pushing the message of not judging people by their looks alone as there is often far more going on under the surface.
The Other Girl is a quick, entertaining read that would appeal to young adult readers, aged 15 and upwards, it will no doubt be a very popular series.

Many thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me this book to review, it is published on 21st June.

Book Review: Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper

London, 1861. Grace Parkes, a pale but determined figure, clutches a precious bundle closely to her as she travels on the train to the famed Blackwood Cemetery. Grace has a heartbreaking duty to carry out.
Each day Grace must find a new way of earning enough money to pay the rent for the bleak, cold room that she and her sister live in, and to buy them enough-just-to-eat.
But there is a different danger threatening Grace, a danger linked to an event in her past that she is desperate to forget. Grace has caught the eye of the Unwins, an unscrupulous family whose shady business dealings are those of death and mourning, and who will stop at nothing to defraud two young women of what is rightfully theirs...

I found the story created by Mary Hooper in Fallen Grace to be completely mesmerising. We are drawn into Grace's life immediately and we follow her as she encounters one obstacle after another.
Death was a large feature of Victorian England and Mary Hooper explored so many different aspects of this fascinating subject. All of the characters and events in Grace's life are linked to death in some way. She meets both her biggest enemy and her most loyal ally at Brookwood Cemetery. Mourning was such a prominent part of Victorian life, especially when Prince Albert died which is an event included in this story.
The Unwins are a brilliant creation, there is something deliciously sinister about them. Their business is to make as much money as possible out of someones death. Whilst presenting themselves as respectable undertakers, their business dealings are extremely devious and devoid of morals.
I think that Grace's character embodied what it must have been like to have been one of the Victorian poor. Grace is placed in so many desperate situations in order to provide enough for her and her sister Lily, however, she remains dignified throughout.
I don't want to give anything away about the plot in this review as it would spoil the book for others. It is extremely good though and the author has you on the edge of your seat on several occasions in the book.
If you like historical fiction then I would definitely give this one a go. I read it in one sitting and I am looking forward to catching up with some of Mary Hooper's previous books.

Many thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me a copy to review, the book is published today.

Book Review: Girl 16: Five Star Fiasco by Sue Limb

Jess and Fred are an item! Finally! Now they can spend every moment perfecting their comedy routines together. But the path of true romance is a rocky one and Fred is becoming increasingly distant... In fact so distant that he and Jess are no longer on speaking terms. What on earth is going on? Can Jess and Fred stop a fab, five -star friendship turning into a five-star fiasco?

This book is published on 7th June and follows 16 year old Jess Jordan as she struggles to juggle her new relationship with Fred plus the burden of organising the charity Valentine's Dinner Dance.
I liked the character of Jess and I really enjoyed the relationship that she had with her mum and dad who are divorced. She has to support her mum's online dating habit plus provide a shoulder to lean on when her Dad's long term relationship hits the rocks.
To be honest, this book was a little too young for me but I think that it would definitely appeal to readers ages 14 and above. Jess Jordan is a very accessible character and I am sure this will be a popular series.

Many thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me a copy of this book to review.

Book Review: Wintercraft by Jenna Burtenshaw

Ten years ago Kate Winters' parents were taken by the High Council's wardens to help with their country's war efforts.
Now the wardens are back...and prisoners including Kate's uncle Artemis, are taken south on the terrifying Night Train. Kate and her friend Edgar are hunted by a far more dangerous enemy. Silas Dane- the High Council's most feared man- recognises Kate as one of the Skilled; a rare group of people able to see the veil between the living and the dead. His spirit was damaged by the High Council's experiments into the veil, and he's convinced that Kate can undo the damage and allow him to find peace.
The knowledge Kate needs lies within Wintercraft- a book thought to be hidden deep beneath the graveyard city of Fume. But the Night of Souls, when the veil between life and death is at it's thinnest, is just days away and the High Council have their own sinister plan for Kate and Wintercraft.

Wintercraft is Jenna Burtenshaw's first novel and I think that it is brilliant. It is a young adult fantasy book and jam-packed full of magic and adventure. The author offers wonderful descriptions of the city of Fume and it's inhabitants. Kate is dragged into this Gothic world full of danger and does not even know if she will be able to do what Silas Dane is asking of her. I loved the idea of the Night Train which took the prisoners and Kate to Fume. The idea that it was barely a skeleton is quite sinister but also showed the destruction that the High Council have been able to cause.
I felt that Kate Winters was an interesting creation. So much responsibility and pressure is places upon her young shoulders. Throughout the book she strives to do what she thinks is best even when her uncle Artemis won't accept that this niece is one of the Skilled.
Silas Dane completely stole the book for me, I'm not sure if I should of but I found myself really liking him. This is quite strange as he is pretty terrifying and ruthless but Jenna Burtenshaw manages to show his vulnerability too. Although he kidnaps Kate and threatens her, she is determined to secure him whatever sense of peace that she can.
I apologise as I do not think that my review has done Wintercraft justice. It deserves all of the hype that it is receiving and I think that it will be a huge hit once it hits the shops today. Jenna Burtenshaw gives her readers a wonderful story set in the mysterious graveyard city of Fume and carried by brilliant characters that I think you will love.

Many thanks to the lovely people at Headline who were kind enough to send me an early review copy!

Book Review: Montacute House by Lucy Jago

I do like a good cover and the one for Montacute House is just lovely. Montacute House actually exists in Somerset and the author, Lucy Jago spent a lot of time during her childhood exploring it's many rooms and expansive grounds.
The main character is Cess, she is only thirteen and a lowly poultry girl at the great house. Cess and her mother are social outcasts in the village due to Cess having been born out of wedlock and therefore considered the lowest of the low. The villagers are shocked when the body of a young boy is discovered; his body is blackened and bruised and they are at a loss as to who or what could have inflicted such awful injuries.
Cess' friend William then goes missing and she feels that she has to get involved in the mystery in the hope that she will not be too late to save her dearest friend. However, Cess has no idea what she is getting herself involved in. She enters a world of witchcraft, greed, ambition, religious differences and extreme danger and risk. Montacute House appears to be in the centre of it all but it becomes clear that the pain and suffering will be far reaching unless it is stopped.
Lucy Jago has written a very interesting historical mystery. Her knowledge of Montacute House and it's history is evident as she gives the reader vivid descriptions of the rooms and secret passages and what they were used for. The house holds many secrets and they creep through the story tying everything together.
Cess is a particularly likeable character, she is the underdog who is prepared to fight for others experiencing mistreatment and prejudice. She carries the whole story as she fights for peace and justice.
Montacute House is the first book that Lucy Jago has written for young adults and it is published this week. She is an excellent story teller and I will be on the lookout for her future books.

Many thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me this to review.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

I was lucky enough to win this book in the competition held by dovegreyreader, I loved her review of it so I was really looking forward to being able to read it myself. The book revolves around 17 year old Mia, she has a loving family; great friends and a boyfriend who she truly loves. Mia has decisions to make about her future; she is a talented cellist and there is the possibility that she will have won a place to study at Julliard in New York, leaving her life in Oregon behind. However, Mia's choices are vastly compromised by a cold February morning and a snowy road; she is left having to face an even harder decision all on her own.
I don't want to give the story away in my review but I do want to stress that I thought that this book was amazing. I literally couldn't put it down, I read it in one ago as I was totally absorbed into the story and the characters. I think that it is possibly one of the best young adult books that I have ever read; so many sensitive subjects are explored to their very limits. I loved how Gayle Forman painted the picture of Mia's relationship with her parents and also her boyfriend Adam. By building this up gradually the reader is left knowing how hard it is for Mia to make her decision at the end of the book. Ultimately this is a tale of love and loss; it really does make you take a step back and realise just how lucky we all are and how many things we take for granted every single day.
This review in no way does this book justice; there is so much that I would like to talk about further but I think that I would end up giving the story away. Gayle Forman has a wonderful website which probably describes the book in a much better way then I have; I thought If I Stay was a wonderful book though and I'm still thinking about it days after finishing the last page.