Scary Mary – SA Hunter

“Mary’s steps echoed doe the locker-lined hallway. Doors whisked shut as she passed. She caught snippets as the doors closed: Welcome back for a new school year;hope everyone had a nice summer; please turn to page sixty-four. She’d been in one of those classrooms, bored out of her mind and doodling pentagrams onto the cover of her spiral notebook. She wished she still were.”

Mary is better known around school as Scary Mary. She’s a bit of a goth and she likes the way she is. Not bothering anyone until they bother her shes a regular at the guidance councillor for threatening to shrink freshmans head and chucking soft balls at the boys in gym. She is constantly sneered at and bullied at school but itsignored until she retaliates. Then along comes Cy… The new boy at school doesn’t care what people say and sits with Mary in class. They get along great until Mary’s habit of conversing with ghosts gets in the way. With Cy’s house haunted by an unfriendly ghost and Cy not even speaking to her she has to try her best to keep him out of danger.

***

I loved the summary of Scary Mary when I saw it on The Slowest’s Bookworms blog. It sounded fun and interesting and Karen’s review made me want it even more. With my new kindle in tow I wandered over to amazon and checked out the sample… then bought the full book, I won’t say I was disappointed as it only cost me 86p, it was good but there were a few things off about it.

I was really impressed with the story, Mary can see ghosts and her friend’s house is haunted by a demon of a ghost. He is evil and scary. I was really freaked out by certain parts of the story which featured the ghost as he really was awful. On top of this Mary’s friend isn’t speaking to her and the school cheerleader is trying to take Mary down so you could say the story is an action packed one. The ghost scenes were fantastic and I got a strong sense of what the atmosphere was like when there were ghosts around. The story really intrigued me and I wanted to know what would happen next the whole way through.

In the short span of the story I grew to really like Mary, her Gran and Rachel. This book was full of strong female characters and even though I hated Vicky, I cant deny that she was strong. I think that given more chance to grow these characters could have been even better and I would have got more of a feel for them but as it stands I only really got to grow attached to Mary. The male characters in the book sucked a bit. They weren’t around very much, there were only two of them and one of them was pretty shocking. I would have liked to have known Cy more as he had so much potential but the pace and length of the book didn’t allow this which was a bit annoying.

It is a short story, at 144 pages (according to Goodreads, my copy didn’t have pages as such!) but it’s filled with a lot of info. I loved that it never stopped with the fast paced action, but at the same time it could get a little confusing.  There were various parts of the book where I was unsure who was saying which line and also where the characters were whilst speaking. The descriptions were lacking and I couldn’t tell you much about what each character looked like other than Gran had wild hair and wore gypsy clothes for her work and Mary had dark hair and wore Doc Martins.

I did enjoy the book and given a little more space, and oomph I think I would have loved it. I think if it had been edited further and the story given more space to grow it would be fantastic. I woul recommend Scary Mary to anyone who likes a good ghost story as it really is a great one but don’t be too upset when it’s over so soon!

Scary Mary is a 2011 self-published book available in ebook format on the Kindle store and you can also read it on the author’s website. There is also a sequel to the story available on the website. 

Goodreads | Amazon

Dream Bookish Destinations (#7) - The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre

Welcome to Dream Bookish Destinations. This is a feature in which I lust over Bookish Destinations across the world.

What is it?   The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre

Where is it? Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire

History: The museum building was originally a coaching inn and yard. The village of Great Missenden is where Dahl lived for 36 years before his death. The museum opened in 2005 and is home to Dahl's archive of work, including his "ideas book" 

Why I want to go there: I think I speak for many people when I say that Roald Dahl was always an idol for me. I loved his stories when I was little and my present to myself this year for hitting my 100 books read goal is actually this boxset of books! I would love to see some of his manuscripts and especially his ideas book! I think it would be amazing to see what he saw when he loved down at his writing desk and its in such a quaint little village too! I bet it makes for a fantastic day out!! There also seems to be a lot to do around the village as well, including the possibility of visiting Dahl's grave and you can see places that feature in his books, like the actual library that Matilda was said to visit. 

Fallen Grace – Mary Hooper

“Grace, holding on tightly to her precious burden, found the station entrance without much difficulty. The Necropolis Railway ran, just as Mrs Smith the midwife had said, on its own special line from Waterloo to Brookwood Cemetery in the county of Surrey, and it was at the London Station, just before eleven o’clock, that the newly bereaved gathered, all dress in the first stage of deep mourning.”

Growing up as an orphan in Victorian London is difficult enough, and that’s before you take into account your sister who is a simple girl, your mothers belongings that are starting to dwindle as you pawn them and a terrible act which sees you having to find a midwife.  Grace and her sister were happy at their orphanage, but then they left and their luck to a turn for the worse. With their trades in watercress falling and getting kicked out of their room with nothing but the clothes on their back Grace turns to the Unwins for help. Getting a job as a mute in their funeral parlour, Grace is separated from Lily for the first time, unaware of what the Unwins have in store for either of them.

***

I received this book back in May... I put it to one side when I saw the reviews that claimed it was very Dickensian, I can’t get along with Dickens’ writing and I thought that if Hooper was very similar I would have difficulties. When I finally picked in up and started reading though I was amazed. The book and style is very Dickensian in style but the writing flows amazingly well and I found myself speeding through it in one working day!

There’s so much going on in this book that I can’t pick out what I loved the most, it’s all incredibly mixed, there are happy moments, sad moments and even terrifying moments! Even with all this though the story is complex yet not confusing and all pieces together remarkably well. The story isn’t told from any of the characters and floats between people who are important in the story. I loved this as you weren’t attached to Grace constantly and you found stuff out before she did, you can piece the information together. The style of writing really was beautiful and whilst I can see how its Dickensian I can also see where it differs. Hooper puts a lot of rich descriptions in her writing, you can envisage the streets, the people and the places so well just but the descriptions don’t take up three pages as it would in a Dickens novel! I love that Dickens even pops up in one part of the book, that was really well done and I was happy to see him as it is very much Dickens’ London that we visit in this book.

The characters were amazingly well portrayed. Grace was amazingly strong and loyal and you would want her as a part of your family. She wanted nothing more than to look after her sister and to care for her mother’s memory. She didn’t want to turn to a life of crime and grime to make ends meet but I have a feeling she would have done anything to help Lily. Because of the narration you don’t fuly get inside her head as you would if it was first person but I enjoyed the closeness that was there when Grace was on the pages, I really just wanted to help her!! Lily is a simple girl and because of this you feel for her a lot of the time. I was worried for her for most of the book and I think that’s there for the reader to understand what’s going through Graces head. The rest of the characters in this book were brilliant, I loved Violet as soon as I met her, knew the Unwins were baddies (but didn’t realise quite how bad!) and as for James... Awww James is such a sweetie! He could tell that Grace needed a helping hand though was too stubborn to take one, but he tried anyway.

There are lots of little bits that added to the story so well in this book, the little clues you get about certain things early on, the little snippets into other people’s lives, and especially the little advertisements over the chapter headings of each chapter. They were amazing and I loved them so much! They added to the story beautifully well.

Death plays a huge part in this book, but thats not to say the book is morbid. The girls are orphans, they come across many older people who do pass away. But also working at a funeral parlour you would expect a lot of death. I think this added to the marose-ness of the story, Grace hasn’t had a good life and she is constantly reminded that it may not last long, but shes determined to make it be a good one. I also have to add that this book has one of the best death scenes i have ever read in it! You will understand if you have read it!

I used to think I wasn’t a big historical fiction fan but seriously I have read so many good historical books this year that I really must change my opinion on them. Mary Hooper does a fantastic job of visualising Victorian London and I really can’t wait for her new book, Velvet, as I think that may be just as good as this one!

Fallen Grace is the most recent addition to Hooper’s historical fiction collection. It was published in June by Bloomsbury. Her new book will be out on the 5^th September, also published by Bloomsbury. Thank you to the publisher for sending me this one for review. 

Goodreads | Amazon

In My Mailbox (#22)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi, The Story Siren, you probably already know that but if you don't, go here and find out more!!

Until Saturday I had two books to put on my IMM this week... Then Steffi came to see me and we went into Machester... So I'm blaming her for this huge pile!! 

Won:

The Princess Bride - William Goldman  

I won this one over at Belles Bookshelf! I loved the movie and have heard good things about the book so I was very happy when I found out!! 

Gifted: 

Lottie Biggs is Not Tragic - Hayley Long

Forever - Judy Bloom

Are you There God? Its me, Margaret/Blubber/ Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself - Judy Blume

A Crack in the Line - Michael Lawrence

The Stuff of Nightmares - Malorie Blackman

13 Reasons Why - Jay Asher

The first of these was sent to me by the fantastically wonderful Viv from Serendipity Reviews... She knew I loved the first two of this series and offered me the third after she received it for review! I cannot wait to read it as the Lottie Biggs series is so hilariously funny!! 

The others were all brought over for me from Steffi cos she lieks to ply me with books! I love Malorie Blackman and have been after 13 Reasons Why for ages so those are the two Im most excited about! Thank you Steffi!!! 

Bought:

What My Mother Doesnt Know - Sonia Sones  

Ive heard great things about this one... I loved The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder because of the way it was written and when I saw this in Waterstones imports section for £5.18 I thought I may as well get it!! I read half of it on the train home and I think I'm gunna like it!! 

Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn’t Have) – Sarah Mlynowski

“Saturday, March 28

THE MORNING AFTER

I bolted awake. A siren.

The police were outside my house. Ready to arrest me for underage partying, excessive flirting, and an overcrowded hot tub.

But Wait.

My brain turned on. No, not the cops. Just my phone – my dad’s ringtone.”

Aprils dad has moved to Cleveland. Leaving her to live in the basement of her friend Vi’s house. Of course he thinks Vi’s mum will be there too, but what he doesn’t know wont hurt him. Left to live out the rest of the school year parentless and free the girls embark on various shenanigans that they realise might not be the best idea... Buying a hot tub and throwing a crazy party are just two of the ten things they did, and probably shouldn’t have.

***

I want to start this review by saying that this book is actually called Ten Things We shouldn’t Have Done and has a completely different cover in the UK. My reasons for spending extra on the US hardback (or making my boyfriend buy me this one instead) are explained here.

I knew as soon as I had heard the synopsis of this book that I was going to love it. It sounded exactly like the type of book that I enjoy, a good contemporary story which has a bit of craziness, a bit of laughter and a lot of growing up. I loved the story so much and though yes, some people would say its a little unrealistic but I could actually see it happening, even by accident. April lying to her dad about Vi’s mum being around was just well thought out, I would have loved to have thought up that one at school!

The way the book is written is actually realy pretty cool. You get a bit that actually happens towards to end of the story, first. So April waking up to her dad calling on her birthday starts it off but you go back to three months earlier after the first page and kinda go from there, with a few flashbacks in between the chronological story. It was done in a really clear way and I loved the little headings above paragraphs of flashbacks and even parts of the main story. Each chapter is on of the thigns that April and Vi did, in numerical order, but obviously that makes for kinda long chapters so each one is broken up by the headings. I thought it was a really good tactic and actually kept everything really simple, which is good with a book which has flashbacks!

There was a lot of growing up in this book, and I mean a lot. I think it handles stuff really well, from first time sex, to discovering certain feelings, STDs and family relationships. This book had all the bases covered and I really loved that nothing was too dramatic, it felt really real. April handled a lot of stuff exactly like I would have in that situation and though she was, understandably, a bit messed up; I thought she was a brilliant character.

The characters throughout the book were fantastic and even though Vi might appear a bit hot-headed and control-freak-like I loved her the most. She was a strong character who in her own way tried to do the best and be the best for her friends. She did remind me of the kind of secondary best-friend characters you see in movies and books along this genre but I liked that. The guys in the book were hilariously funny and I liked how amazingly real they could be, you got some of the jerky behaviour but you also got some of the kind, not in it for whatever they can get, stuff too.

I thought that Noah came across as pretty jerky a lot of the time to be honest but I put it to the back of my mind because he and April did appear to have the perfect relationship. I liked that you did see their relationship develop, especially through the flashbacks, and though he was annoying some of the times I could tell why April felt the way she did about him. I love it when minor characters have their own side stories and this meant that the mystery surrounding Hudson and what actually become apparent about him was brilliant for me... Hudson was by far my favourite character and I well want to hear more about him!! I wish there was a spin off story from Hudson’s point of view, I’d well read that!

All in all, Ten Things We Did was a brilliant stroy that I would recommend to anyone, especially thosxe in their mid to late teens, read. It teaches you responsibilities and lessons by encountering things from someone else’s life and I couldn’t put it down. Also now that I have read the book, I stand by what I said and think that the US title and cover, is by far the better one and the one which makes the most sense, especially the title.

Ten Things we Did (and Probably Shouldn’t Have) was published in the US by Harper teen and released on June 7^th, the UK publisher was Orchard Books and the release date was August 4th. My copy was a gifted to me. 

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US ed

Haunting Violet – Alyxandra Harvey

“1865 - I was nine years old when my mother decided it was time I took part in the family business. I was pretty enough now, she said, that I might be of use. Id grown into my ears and my long neck and might be clever enough to handle myself. Besides which, she claimed, she had no other option.”

Violets mother is a medium, a fake medium. Coning people into believing she is seeing the ghosts of loved ones using the tricks of the trade she is invited to a country manor to show off her “talents.” Having grown up and participated in the séances Violet never believed in spirits or the spirit world. That is until the spirits started trying to connect with her. Coming across the ghost of Rowena, a girl her age who drowned the year previous, Violet knows there was something more to her death than everyone is letting on. Trying to discover what happened whilst also playing pretend for her mother Violet might have taken on more than she can manage.

***

Following amazing praise across the blogosphere and a summary that I couldn’t help but be intrigued by I wanted this book so badly... but then just before it came out I put myself on a buying ban... needless to say as soon as that ban was over I bought the kindle I had so graciously begged my friends for for my birthday! As soon as the kindle arrived I did what anyone would do... I bought books, and then I read the first one I bought. I’m glad it was Haunting Violet, as my very first kindle book definitely challenges others for one of the best books of the year!!

Having heard the praise for Haunting Violet I was worried that it wouldn’t live up to expectations. I’d heard that the story was spooky and the characters amazingly real, and the setting would remind you of an Austen or a Bronte book... and all these rumours couldn’t be closer to the truth!

The story takes you back to the late 1800s. The setting reminded me of older books like Austen and stuff, but obviously a little more modern. I liked that the majority of the story was set in a country house and thanks to the amazing writing style that Harvey adopts I could seriously see myself walking alongside Violet and Emma across the grounds and gardens of the house. I have a soft spot for books that contain elegant gowns, manicured lawns and handsome men but more often than not the female main characters of these books annoy the hell out of me... that was not the case here though.

Violet’s life is pretty much a lie. Having taught herself elocution and the ways of the peerage, she could get by well enough but her cockney came out every now and then and her thoughts, which you get a lot of as he is the narrator of the story, were very much from her roots. She constantly worried that she wasn’t be ladylike enough and I loved her for that. She was a strong character who wasn’t afraid to run around in her pantaloons should the need arise and for the most part she didn’t really care that much what the other annoying women thought of her. The book also featured some other strong characters in Elizabeth and Rowena, but I think Harvey did well to keep the strong characters close to their backgrounds; with Elizabeth being constantly scolded by her mother and still acting like the Debutante she was meant to be for the majority. Rowena had to be strong after what she had gone through but, I guess anyone who wanted their deaths avenged would be strong!!

The male characters where very much how you would expect for the time period; many of them were younger, posh boy types which annoyed me a little but others weren’t like that. Colin was a brilliant character, again probably aided by the fact he wasn’t a poch boy, he was an Irish orphan boy taken in by Violets mother. Also Lord Jasper was an intriguing character, I liked him from the start and I was very worried when certain events made me question him.

The story was fabulously spooky. It had all the elements of a ghost story, complete with water seeping through walls and cold mists coming over the hills. I the atmosphere was created brilliantly through the words and descriptions Harvey used and I couldn’t put the book down for fear that I would look up and see a young girl’s face screaming at me!!

What I think I loved the most about Haunting Violet was the romance. There were definite romance elements for our main character but they didn’t detract from the actual story. Violet had two suitors in this one and I know which I was rooting for from the very beginning, but neither distracted her from Rowena’s terrible demise. I loved the love story of Rowena too and I thought that it was true love at its best.

I loved Haunting Violet, it was honestly the type of spiritualist ghost story that you want to read, it was informative, entertaining and utterly breathtaking in places. I was rooting for Violet the whole way through and I actually didn’t want it to end!!

Haunting Violet came out on July 4^th, published by Bloomsbury. My copy was purchased on my kindle. 

Goodreads | Amazon

Divergent – Veronica Roth

“There is one mirror in my house. It is behind a sliding panel in  the hallway upstairs. Our faction allows me to stand in the front of it on the second day of every third month, the day my mother cuts my hair.”

Beatrice was born into Abnegation, one of the five factions that make up the world she knows. In a world where wars were raging her ancestors decided that wars were the fault of the people, and their virtues, so split up into factions. Those factions eradicated certain virtues which could be a cuase of war, they were: Abnegation, Amity, Dauntless, Erudite and Candor. And each 16 year old has one day to choose which faction they belong to. On Beatrice's choosing day she makes a decision which not only changes her name, to Tris, but also her whole life.

***

There is so so much hype about this book across the blogosphere and for a while I wasn’t sure to believe it. I love dystopians and I liked the sound of this one but something about it put me off… something made me think that Divergent wasn’t for me. Until I started reading it and couldn’t actually put it back down… that’s my own fault though… I was warned!!

I was totally wrong by thinking Divergent wasn’t for me. I honestly thought that it sounded like nothing  special and that Tris was a bit boring… but man I finished this and shouted at myself for thinking that it was gunna be the same sh*t, different book because it blew my mind. I loved the idea that each faction believed in different virtues and I found myself thinking about what faction I would belong to (I reckon I would probably be in Abnegation, Dauntless or Amity… still not sure!!) and thinking about Tris’ choices and her story, why she chose the faction she chose and how her actions there determined certain things. There was a lot to get your head round in Divergent but I love a book that makes me think so I was very suitably satisfied with it!

I don’t want to go into much detail as I hate spoiling any parts of a story for people who haven’t read it (but seriously, if you haven’t read it… go buy it now! Don’t bother finishing reading this review… just get to it, you’re wasting time!) so I wont do that. But I have to say that the story of Tris’ initiation is amazing, she has to go through some pretty hefty stuff without even taking her past into account, and the development of both the story and the character is fantastic. You see the pieces of the puzzle building up on the page in front of you and that’s the reason I had so much trouble putting it back down once I started reading. I loved that I could see the story developing but I wasn’t ever sure where exactly t was going, I barely worked anything out before it happened, which was frustrating but so awesome at the same time!!

The main characters development, as I said, was brilliant. I could tell from page one that she struggled being a part of her original faction but her struggle with that didn’t automatically stop once she chose her faction for good, she was always battling with her inner-most thoughts and feelings and she always had to prove herself, not only to other but to herself also. I love how kick-ass she is and I well want to do some of the stuff she did – hello, I’d so do that thing, yeah.. cant say but if you’ve read it… ask me!!

The other characters were incredible too… even though I hated one or two, they jumped out from the page and walked alongside me as I was walking through the corridors. Peter was quite possibly my least favourite character of all time… in ANY book (ok maybe not Professor Umbridge in the Harry Potter books, but similar level.) and I actually felt sick, physically sick, numerous times when he wandered onto the page… if that’s not good development I don’t know what is! I’ve said it before I’m sure but seriously, making me hate a character that much is more impressive to me that making me love a character!  

I think I wouldn’t be alone in also admitting that if Peter made me freak out in anger… Four made me swoon like a helpless teenager… wow, he was stunning, and amazingly kind and thoughtless, but also battling with his own feelings which made him come across as a bit mood-swingy… but also very much in need! I couldn’t get enough of Four and man, I wish they made men like him for everyone!

Divergent is very much a victim of the cover *sigh*groups of books for me… I think the reason I was put off so much is because I wasn’t impressed by the cover, and I know that’s bad of me but I have since found out that it’s not selling too well in the UK and its believed that the cover may be the issue. I have to admit that a few years ago I would have walked passed this book, not even registering it… and I still wouldn’t have picked it up had I not been told countless times by fellow bloggers that its amazing! I love dystopians but the cover feels more sci-fi and too… brainy? Perhaps… I am often put off if I don’t think I will understand the concepts in a story and this cover seems to give off a science feel to me… having read the book I now understand the cover but I still feel that it would put too many people off. Though it is nice and shiney! Haha.

All in all I have to say… do not be put off by this cover. As soon as you read page one you will just ignore any preconceptions that you had about the cover and its contents because you will want to know more straight aaway, more about everything and anything and I cannot wait for the next book, even if this one was rounded nicely, I cant wait to read more by Roth!

Divergent was published in May 2011 by Harper Collins. It is the first in a series, with the second due next year. My copy was purchased myself. 


Goodreads | Amazon

Discussion; Walking and reading...

I walk to work, its 15 minutes there and 15 minutes back. I know some people who would use this time for reading...

I find myself mostly using this time for tweeting, what can I say; I’m addicted! I think I have perfected the route and the positioning of my phone so that walking and tweeting is not a problem at all but sometimes I don’t have much to tweet and I find myself caught with nothing to do on my walk. I used to read eBooks on my phone but the screen started to annoy me so I stopped. Lately I’ve been considering reading whilst walking but I have NEVER experienced anyone else doing this. I know a few people I talk to on twitter who read whilst walking and I wondered how many people actually do, or would.

I think my main issues with the whole thing are the fact I pass a lot of lampposts, which actually are on the path rather than the grass next to the path (stupid design anyway, Lancashire county Council!) so I fear that I would be too engrossed in my book to realise there’s a lamppost coming up... I also fear that I would miss my point of crossing over, walk straight passed the path which leads me to the crossing or the one that leads me to my building! And also what do you do when it rains? Your book will get wet!! Then of course there’s the idea of walking down a busy main road with a book in your hands... what will the drivers think that are driving next to you? Will they think it’s crazy? Will they even notice? Do I care? But don’t worry, theres a grassy bit between me and the road so I wont stumble onto it!

Anyway... I just wanted to know if you read whilst walking, how you do it and if you have done any of the things I have mentioned above; walking into lampposts, parked cars, people etc!? 

I’d Tell You I Love You, But then I’d Have to Kill You – Ally Carter

“I suppose a lot of teenage girls feel invisible sometimes like they just disappear. Well, that’s just me – Cammie the Chameleon. But I’m luckier than most because, at my school, that’s considered cool.

I go to a school for spies.”

Cammie is a sophomore at the special Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women. This translates to her being a a spy in training... or in other words, a Gallagher Girl. Nicknamed the Chameleon because of her impeccable skills at going unnoticed on missions, she’s not shocked when her two friends are seen but she’s not during a practical operation for her class; or at least shes not seen by the subject they’re trailing. Once her first and the subject are out the way though she notices a boy watching her; a boy she cant seem to stop thinking about; a boy who wants to get to know her. But when you are a spy in training and the daughter of well known top-class spies, dating isn’t meant to be on your top priorities and Cammie finds herself bending the truth more than she would like.

***

Ok, I wasn’t expecting much from this one... I thought I’d like it but I also thought it would be a quick, fluffy light read. HOW WRONG WAS I?! It was so much more than that and I honestly didn’t want to put it down!

I have always liked spy stuff in movies and on TV, Alias has to be one of my all time fave TV shows and I even have to admit to watching Spy Kids... more than once! However I don’t think I’ve ever read a book about spies... not once, I thought the topic would be a bit flat and not impressive but man, just mix spies with teenage girls and I’m sold from now on! I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You was brilliantly funny, actually realistic, and edge-of-your-seat action packed: I’m so glad there are four in this series because I want more!!

Cammie was an awesome character. She was strong, and kick-ass, and more importantly incredibly loyal. I loved that she often put her friends first, but always kept a level head too... probably due to the spy training!! I honestly thought the characters in this book were some of the best developed characters. I loved Macey, even if she was a bit of a bitch, and Liz and Bex we’re like... My best friends! Lol, Josh I have to admit, needed a little work but I’m hoping there’s more of him to come in the later books... and as for Dillon... you can’t have great character development without having a character that makes readers want to throw punches... man I’d love to meet him... What a twat!!

The story was a simple but brilliant one. I have to admit it was a little predictable but I still loved it. It was a really good take on the Girl meets Boy, Girl lies to Boy, Girl Falls for Boy story... and I have my fingers crossed that certain things happen in the next book! I really liked that there were back stories from the main ones, like Cammies Dad and Macey’s life and stuff like that... It made the book have a lot more depth and gave me more to sink my teeth into. The action was fun and I cant help but think its going to get better after where this story left off...

I know I am gushing but seriously, this book has everything that you need. It has kick-ass strong female characters, decent Male ones (who show actual feelings!) a hot teacher, (Wink) action, adventure and romance. I really can’t wait for the next one... which is a shame because I leant it to the wonderful Steffi as I didn’t think I’d get round to reading the first one as soon as I did!

I really would recommend this book, especially to younger teen girls who love contemp. That’s not to say that others won’t enjoy it but I was a young teen who loved contemp and if I had read this back then it would have been re-read about a hundred times by now!

I’d Tell you I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You was Ally Carters first venture into YA. It is the first in a (currently) four book series, all of which are out now. (I believe book five is due next year!)  My copy was published in 2010 by Orchard Books and I have to say a huge thanks to YA book reads who sent me it as a prize!

Goodreads | Amazon

In My Mailbox (#21)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi, The Story Siren, you probably already know that but if you don't, go here and find out more!!

This week was a bit of a quiet one for me compared to the last few weeks... well for actual books anyway... I'll get to my Ebooks later! 

For Review:

A Gathering Ligght - Jennifer Donnelly

Midwinterblood - Marcus Sedgwick

These two both sound amazing. I am going to an exculsive brunch with Jennifer Donnelly in October (so exclusive its invite only.. eek!) and to prepare myself the lovely Emma at Bloomsbury sent me A Gathering Light to read... It came out a few years ago, like... 2003 I think, so its older now but sounds great, I cant wait to get it started!! Also the wonderful Nina from Indigo has sent me Midwinterblood which comes out in October... This one sounds amazing and the Indigo imprint in general is awesome, there are some fantastic books coming out of this imprint! 

Won:

Nobody's Girl - Sarra Manning

I won this over at Heaven, Hell and Purgatory. I was so happy becuase I LOVE Sarra Manning but this one came out just after I stopped reading YA so I never got round to it! I cant wait to read it, Lynsey's review was awesome of it too which makes me even more excited!! :D 

Bought: 

Amy & Rogers Epic Detour - Morgan Matson

2011/2012 diary

I had a ten pound voucher for amazon come through from a friend for my birthday and I spent most of it on ebook, but when Id exhusted my search for ebooks I had just enough left over to buy myself Amy and Roger's Epic Detour! This book sounds AMAZING and music-y!! just my cup of tea! I also bought a mid year diary because I am determined to get myself, and the blog, organised! Wish me luck!!  

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Ebooks

These are ebooks that I got over the past week and a bit, as you know I got my kindle last weekend so I went on a bit of a spree! 

Haunting Violet - Alyxandra Harvey

Scary Mary - SA Hunter 
Dead(ish) - Naomi Kramer

Waterfall: A Novel - Lisa T Bergren

House of Dark Shadows - Robert Liparulo

Starfire Angels  - Melanie Nilles

Corsets and Clockwork - Trisha Telep

My So-called Life - Joanna Nadin

The Queen Bee of Bridgeton - Leslie Dubois

The Fallen Star - Jessica Sorensen & Ray Villegas 

Firelight - Sophie Jordan

Wish - Alexandra Bullen

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Awesome other things!! 

These are some awesome choccies that the wonderful Sisterspooky, AKA Laura, sent me from the chocolate shop she works in, cocoapod... they were gorgeous and I have to shout out about them! The store is based in Kent but you can buy stuff online and I seriously recommend them! Visit the store here. 

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So what did you get in your mailbox this week? 

On My Wishlist (#12)

On My Wishlist is a weekly meme brought to you by Book Chick City, its a chance for you to drool over all those books from the past, present or future which you cant wait to get your hands on! 

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This weeks On My Wishlist is purely for books I have seen on blogs over the past few days/weeks and wanted because they sounded amazing! First up is an older book which was reviewed over on Ink Crush on Thursday just gone.

Guitar Highway Rose - Brigid Lowry
September 1997 - republished October 2005 (Allen & Unwin)

Goodreads Summary:

Two Aussie teens hitchhike across Australia in this runaway bestseller about the teenage quest for freedom Fifteen-year-old Rosie Moon is ready for adventure. Popular and smart, Rosie is usually the good girl. But, on the first day of tenth grade, Rosie is immediately attracted to Asher, the mysterious new boy with dreadlocks. When the two pair up for a poetry assignment, a relationship forms. When Asher is falsely accused of stealing someone's wallet, he and Rosie hitchhike up the Australian coast.

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This next one has been reviewed over on my lovely friend Laura's blog - Sisterspooky: Book Fangirl she made me want it even more than I already did... bad Laura! 

Audrey, Wait - Robin Benway

July 2008 (Hodder Children's books)

Goodreads Summary:

While trying to score a date with her cute co-worker at the Scooper Dooper, sixteen-year-old Audrey gains unwanted fame and celebrity status when her ex-boyfriend, a rock musician, records a breakup song about her that soars to the top of the Billboard charts.

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And Finally this one was reviewed on Thirst for Fiction's blog a few days ago and the brill review made me want it, it sounds fun! 

Spud - John Van De Ruit

May 2008 (Puffin) 

Goodreads Summary:

It's 1990. Apartheid is crumbling. Nelson Mandela has just been released from prison. And Spud Milton—thirteen-year-old, prepubescent choirboy extraordinaire—is about to start his first year at an elite boys-only boarding school in South Africa. Cursed with embarrassingly dysfunctional parents, a senile granny named Wombat, and a wild obsession for Julia Roberts, Spud has his hands full trying to adapt to his new home.

Armed with only his wits and his diary, Spud takes readers of all ages on a rowdy boarding school romp full of illegal midnight swims, raging hormones, and catastrophic holidays that will leave the entire family in total hysterics and thirsty for more.

The Swan Kingdom – Zoe Marriott

“My first memory is of the smell of sun-warmed earth.

I must have been very small, perhaps only two or three years old. I remember my mother’s hands, stubby-fingered and calloused, covered with soil as she gently eased a plant from the ground. She talked quietly to me as she worked, explaining that the plant lived by spreading roofs through the earth, taking moisture and nourishment from the land, and using the warmth of the sun to grow strong.”

Following the old ways Alexandra and her mother are celebrating the eve of her first blood in the woods when her mother is attacked by a chestnut coloured creature. Her mother falls into a fever for four days until eventually she passes away. Alexa’s father spends all his time in the woods hunting for the beast but one day comes back with a chestnut haired woman who he found sleeping. Transfixed by the woman, he sets out to marry her. Knowing she is the beast that killed her mother Alexa and her brothers try to obtain evidence but are caught. With her bothers banished and her shipped off to Midland Alexa isn’t around to see the demise of her father’s kingdom, but can she save it?

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I have said it before and no doubt I will say it again but Zoe Marriott’s writing whisks you to a land far away, with beautiful imagery and fantastic experiences. I can never put down a Zoe Marriott books for long and I am always left upset when I come to the end of them, The Swan Kingdom may have been her first book but it’s no different than the others in that it is quite honestly brilliant.

Yet again the fantastic writing style had me gripped form the very beginning and with only a break to make the tea I sat and read The Swan Kingdom in one afternoon. The setting was amazingly beautiful with rich descriptions teamed with characters emotions that you could feel radiating through the pages.

In Alexa we have a strong beautiful character who knows that she is the only one who can right the wrong that Zella is doing. She hates to see her kingdom ruined but she hates to see anything in disrepair. The characters growth and understanding of herself throughout this book was amazing and I loved Alexa like a sister. There’s a part of the book where she cannot speak due to a spell she was weaving at the time and I even felt that my speaking would be like cheating her so I kept unbelievably quiet during that! That’s how much the character grips you!

There aren’t many characters in the book, especially not main characters. I was impressed by the focus on the one character and even when a love interest is introduced he is one the side, not a main aspect. I have grown weary of too much romance in fantasy stories recently but The Swan Kingdom hit the balance just right and Gabriel, Alexa’s love interest was amazingly perfect for Alexa. He was a strong, sensitive guy and I instantly knew he would be the type of guy that Alexa’s brothers would want for her.

I loved the story of this one. I know it is based on Hans Christen Anderson’s The Wild Swans and having not read that I don’t know much about it but this version had me gripped. I loved the earth magic present in the story and it reminded me of the pagan history associated with our country. The power that Zella held over people had me thinking that there was something magical about her and I just had to keep reading to find out what it was and to see what would become of her. I loved the way the story wrapped up and I know that all of my questions were happier attended to.

The Swan Kingdom is a magical fantasy which took me back to our roots. I pictured Alexa wandering through woods and forests as if I was travelling alongside her and the pace held the whole way through. If you want a fantastic fantasy world like you would find in a fairytale, that you don’t want to escape from, you have to read this one. It truly is magical.

The Swan Kingdom was Zoe Marriot’s first novel. Originally published in 2007 by Walker Books, it was re-released with a new cover to coincide with Zoe’s most recent book Shadows on the Moon. My copy was obtained through personal purchase.

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Wither – Lauren Destefano

“I wait. They keep us in the dark for so long that we lose sense of our eyelids. We sleep huddled together like rats, staring out, and dream of our bodies swaying.”

Rhine is taken. In a world where women die at 20 and men at 25 it is dangerous. Girls are stolen off the streets, even when they are careful as Rhine finds out. She is selected out of the group of girls stolen, to be the wife of a wealthy man. She has no see and is locked in a mansion, treated like a princess. But Rhine doesn’t want this, she wants to get back to her brother and she will stop at nothing to get there, but she may encounter a few hurdles on the way.

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There’s a lot of hype about Wither… a lot of people will shout about how awesome it is and I have to admit… I have to agree.

The dystopian world that Destefano creates is amazingly real. Quite often with dystopians I can see the world which is created but cannot see our world transgressing into that one… with Wither though I really could. I imagined that the buildings and everything were the same, it was just their insides and their surroundings that were different. I found New York intriguing, the way the skyscrapers had been changed into factories. I also loved how Lindens mansion was obviously just a big old mansion, there was nothing much out of the ordinary or even futuristic about it… the world wasn’t all that different, it was the people in it.

The idea behind the story is incredibly sad and really quite depressing. Dying at 20? No thank you… I would have been dead three years ago! But again, I could understand how it happened, the science was there, it made sense but it didn’t confuse me at all… it was simple and its simplicity actually scared me! (but totally added to the feeling of the story!)

The characters intrigued and infuriated me. Vaughan was awful and evil. Cicely was amazing, although very naïve. Jenna was beautiful and adorable, she was like a big sister. Linden I actually really loved, again naïve but I felt sorry for him as he didn’t realise he was causing so much pain just by having his three wives. I loved the stubbornness of Rhine, I could tell she wanted out of that mansion and yes at times she faultered… but I loved her for her flaws as well. She felt real. Last but not least I have to mention Gabriel… oh sweet lovely Gabriel… you were not in the book enough! Nowhere near enough!! I would have had you on every page as you and Rhine were adorable together those few times you managed to get time alone!

I really did love the story and the characters but I cant love the book overall I’m afraid. I found myself getting severely annoyed in many places when there seemed to be a strong sex equality unbalance. The women in this story were wives and baby carriers only. I understand it a little bit, they only have 20 years… 7-9 of those they will be able to carry babies and that was important to carry on humanity but seriously.. that was ALL women were and it really pissed me off.. they were hung like trophies on their husbands necks and I hated it. I kinda though too that they have pretty much found a way now to create babies… surely they would have perfected this science by 100plus years into the future?

Anyway… besides my little rant… Wither really was an amazing read. The pace and writing flows so well that you feel your jogging alongside Rhine while she grows in this world. I would have liked to have seen more of the world that Rhine lived in before she was taken but I guess that’s what we have coming in the rest of the books. I really can’t wait to get a hold of Fever and see what’s in store as the ending of this left me with a lot of questions.

Wither was released early this month by HarperVoyager in the tall US paperback type version. It will be re-released in January 2012 in a smaller “normal sized” version. The second in the series, Fever, is due out next year. Thank you kindly to the publisher who sent me it in exchange for an honest review.

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The Considine Curse – Gareth P Jones

“The snow seemed so clean and white form the aeroplance window but underfoot it is grey and slushy. It soaks through the thin material of my trainers and seeps into my socks. When I grumble about my feet, Mum claims she told me to wear sensible shoes but I only remember her saying to wrap up warmly.”

When Mariel finds her mum crying following a telephone call its clear that her mum hasn’t always been truly honest with her. Her grandmother has died but into the picture has come five uncles that Mariel never even knew about. She and her mother travel back to England from Australia and Mariel meets her six cousins, but they don’t take too kindly to her and whilst her mum is bonding with brothers Mariel never knew existed, she feel more alone and scared than she ever has done.

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The Considine Curse was a fun, quick, scary read. I feared for Mariel a few times and although I was scared for her I think it’s a perfect story for a kid of around 10 or 11 to feast upon.

This is a book that I wouldn’t generally pick up. Im going to be honest and say that I only read it because I was sent it for review and the cover reminded me of Coraline by Neil Gaiman. Im glad I did though because whilst it wasn’t a book I would usually read it was enjoyable and I would definitely recommend it to younger readers.

I thought the story was fast paced and flowed really well, there were no issues with following anything that was going on but at the same time I didn’t get bored, which I think is obviously a factor needed for this age group as I understand its difficult to get them reading sometimes!!

I love that the individual personalities of the cousins shine through the book even though they are often kind of referred to as one entity. I obviously loved Amelia but Elspeth had to be my favourite. She was a right little ray of sunshine… or not!!

I can’t really go into much detail because I think it gives away a lot of the story if I do but I kinda figured everything out very early on… though saying that I didn’t guess what would happen at the end! Wow! But I think that’s because it was a little younger than I usually read… or maybe it is obvious from the back of the book anyway… I’m not sure but I was very impressed by this one though so honestly, if you have a 10/11 year old I reckon they’ll enjoy this! I’m going to try and get the stepson to give it a go next!!

The Considine Curse was released on August 2^nd by Bloomsbury books. It is the newest in a line of successful books for children of the MG age range by Gareth P Jones. My copy was kindly sent for review in exchange for an honest review. 

Goodreads | Amazon