Tuesday 28 September 2010

Fanmade Dark Visions Cover


I reads this the other day so I thought I'd make a cover for it.
Fanmade Cover                                                                                        Original Cover

FOREVER US COVER REVEALED






Wolves of mercy falls book 3: Forever cover revealed
I love this series sooo much, and the take on the werewolf side of the twilight craze instead of the Vampire side. But anyways... The USA cover to the third and final book is now released!

Do you want to see it?

Are you ready?

Are you sure?

Well here it is!!!!!!!!!


I  absoloutly love this cover, and I love the use of red for the final color. Can't wait to read this!

P.S. - The font I used at the very top of the page is the 'Wolves of mercy falls' UK Cover font.

Sunday 26 September 2010

Dark Visions - L.J. Smith - Review

This is the bind up copy of all three books in the dark visions series: The Strange power, The Possessed, The Passion

Book: Dark Visions (Bind Up - The Strange Power, The possessed, The Passion)
Author: L.J. Smith
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 9781847386823
Rating: A+

The strange power: Kaitlyn is an artist, but not an ordinary one; everything she draws comes true. When she is invited by Dr Xetes, a scientist who is studying psychic abilities, to join his school of "talented individuals" in California, Kaitlyn is only too happy to go. There she meets Rob, a healer, and Gabriel, a dark lone wolf, who apparently wants nothing to do with her. But with so much supernatural energy going around, it's hardly surprising that the psychics soon develop a telepathic link that can't be broken. The Possessed: Having learned the dark secrets of the psychic institute, Kaitlyn and her new friends are on the run, not even daring to contact their parents or old friends. As the group hide-out together they grow closer and Kaitlyn finally discovers Gabriel's dark secret: he's a psychic vampire. In order to survive he needs to drain other people's life-force, but he's been holding back to keep others safe. Kaitlyn offers herself as a source - and finds the experience not entirely un-enjoyable. The Passion: Back at the lab, captured like animals, Kaitlyn and her friends are still in danger from the evil Dr Xetes. To escape they will need to face the true meaning of what their psychic link really means. But Kaitlyn is battling with an internal conflict too: Rob or Gabriel? Sunlight or darkness? She'll need to search her heart for the answer.

I actually really enjoyed this book, which is a big compliment coming from me, as it didn’t like the Night World, and the Vampire Diaries (although they were still good). It was nice to read something light, just about a psychic girl, compared to some of the other stuff that I’ve been reading lately which have been quite heavy-going. It was nice just to read something with a supernatural romance but not so dark and gothic.

The book has a fantastic plot. LJ Smith has a way of describing everything in this book, especially the emotions, but the great bit about the book is that it moved just at the right pace. Not too fast, not too slow – just right. I felt this book, was all very close to reality, so close in fact that I imagined it actually happening.

“I want a pure crystal”

The whole book was very well thought out, and the research done into it must have taken a while. The idea of crystals was a clever one. So awesome, I want a Pure Crystal. Then I could see I have Psychic abilities and enhance. Just Kidding! (About the abilities – I still want that crystal! GRRR)

The spin off at the end was great, but Kait with Gabriel felt wrong, but I think it could have just been the fact that in all the books I’ve read recently the girl always falls/ends up with the bad boy – and to be honest I think Kait and Rob would be better together that Kait and Gabriel.

The characters were amazing. It’s so cool how LJ Smith can make common names really cool, one thing many authors struggle with. The characters would be easy to relate to, and partly the book, is a classic run-away story with a supernatural twist, so that was cool.

Overall the book was fantastic, definitely five stars – SO BUY IT! (Because it rocks

Friday 24 September 2010

Fanmade Marked Cover

Just bored so I though I'd make a Marked cover.


My Fanmade Cover                                                                                    Original Cover

Click on either for a larger view

Tuesday 21 September 2010

Fanmade Firelight Cover

Heya everybody, I have absolutely loved the cover of firelight by sophie jordan since it was first released because the cover was amazing, so I made a fandmade one - you can compare. :)


My Fanmade Cover                                                                                   Original Cover

Click on either of them for a larger view.

Saturday 18 September 2010

Shadowland - Alyson Noel - Review

Book: Shadowland 
Author: Alyson Noel
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 9780330520515
Rating: A+


Ever and Damen have travelled through countless past lives - and fought off the world's darkest enemies - in search of each other. But just when their destiny seems finally within reach, a powerful curse falls upon them. A single touch of their hands, a soft brush of their lips will mean death for Damen - cast into the darkness of the Shadowland. But as she seeks to break the curse, Ever meets Jude - a green-eyed, golden surfer boy who understands magick, and understands Ever better than she realises. And she begins to ask a terrifying question: even if you're immortal, can true love really last forever?


Let's get things straight. I liked the book a lot.

  1. Because it's the first book in the series that isn't a twilight Wannabe
  2. It's the first book in the series to make magick more a part of the book
  3. and there is tension between Damen and Ever, because of Karma and the new mysterious Jude... Now who's Ever's soulmate? Jude or Damen + she's bound to Roman. Love triangle??? Unfortunately no, but I do love me a good triangle. :)
This book is a bit more mature, and I like it a lot more. The plot was well thought and I love the incorporation of art as I heart art. Thing is I'm in the middle, because I could'nt put it down, but when nothig major happened, I was left unsatisfied. The characters have all grown up, and Ilike how the book is very based away from school, and the wrath of Stacia. Dun, Dun,  Duuuun! Only problem is, ending is two similar to the one of Blue Moon. Ava's house - Roman cause of the problem - Damen Down - Ever has too make a choice. The big shock for me though was Haven becoming and Immortal. I was like OMG!!! Can't wait to see what happens with that in Dark Flame (that will be proceeded by Night Star). 

The book was very well written and as usual in present tense, which I like because we don't see a lot of it. A character that always makes me laugh is stacia, because she is so jealous and i love watching her failing attempts to get damen. Speaking of the she devil - what about her asistant... Honor, taking magick lessons!!!
    I have to admit this book had a lot of surprises, along the way.

Truthfully I really enjoyed this book, and can't wait for the next couple, but I can see why there are mixed opinions on this book. Probably a 4.5/5 from me this time. :)


As you can see below -------¬ I have included and exclusive short story by Alyson Noel! (from the immortals series :P)


Eternal Flame - Damen's Story - An Exclusive Novella by Alyson Noel

Thursday 16 September 2010

Nightlight - The Harvard Lampoon - Review


Book: Nightlight
Author: The Harvard Lampoon
Publisher: Constable
ISBN: 9781849013338
Rating: B-


When you like, live forever, what's there to live for? 'About three things I was absolutely certain. First, Edwart was most likely my soul mate, maybe. Second, there was a vampire part of him - which I assumed was wildly out of his control - that wanted me dead. And third, I unconditionally, irrevocably, impenetrably, heterogeneously, gynecologically, and disreputably wished he had kissed me'. And thus Belle Goose falls in love with the mysterious and sparkly Edwart Mullen in this hilarious send-up of "Twilight". Pale and klutzy, Belle arrives in Switchblade, Oregon looking for adventure, or at least an undead classmate. She soon discovers Edwart, a super-hot computer nerd with zero interest in girls. After witnessing a number of strange events - Edwart leaves his hash browns untouched at lunch! - he saves her from a flying snowball and Belle has a dramatic revelation: Edwart is a vampire. But how can she convince Edwart to bite her and transform her into his eternal bride, especially when he seems to find girls so repulsive? Complete with romance, danger, insufficient parental guardianship, creepy stalker-like behaviour, and a vampire prom, "Nightlight" is the hysterical tale of a vampire-obsessed girl, looking for love in all the wrong places.


This book was good and fun to read but it didn't quite live up to my expectations. After reading New Moan only a short while ago i thought to read another twilight parody, there was a big hype around this at the time, but i really don't understand why! The book is to fast paced and it doesn't give enough detail. It skips from one place to another, and to be honest it's not all that funny.


This book was made to sell, not to be good. Harvard Lampoon clearly knew about all the twilight haters out there and grabbed the chance to sell, quickly writing a crap book and calling it a twilight parody, where New Moan is a decent sized book, where time and effort has been spent on it so it is actually good, and funny like a parody should be.


The characters were badly created with no good background or foundation. The names were not good at all, my favorite twilight parody name so far is 'Stella Crow' from TwiLite. Yes there are 3 twilight parody's on the market at the moment. The setting is poorly described, and imagination is poor.


Really this book is not good and if you want a good twilight parody, please check out New Moan, but really don't wast your money because that's the only reason this book is here.  So really I would probably give this 3 stars and don't buy this. I know there is a hype round this book. It was created by the publishers because they knew it wouldn't sell otherwise so yeah, this is not a good book.

Eragon - Christopher Paolini - Review

Book: Eragon
Author: Christopher Paolini
Publisher: Doubleday / Corgi
ISBN: 9780552552097 or 9780552155519 <(adult version)
Rating: A★


When Eragon finds a polished stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon soon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands - 'A winner - tip of the hat to young master Paolini' Anne McCaffrey, author of The Dragonriders of Pern series'A compelling and action-filled adventure ...a galloping good example of its genre' Daily Telegraph'This book is an achievement. Readers ...will be transported' Sunday Times' A portrayal of true affection between boy and dragon - Paolini writes like someone gripped by his own story' Guardian'A stirring fantasy of epic proportions' The Bookseller.


To start off I just wanted to say that I’m a sucker for fantasy, so this book, being an epic novel and all, was like heaven for me. I was just indulging in this book day to night, and it was, in my eyes, Fantastic. I loved this book soooo much. It was all very planned out and well written, with a right amount of those big words, which people like me and jenny (Wondrous Reads) etc. look out for. J

The plot and story was epic. Very cool, and I loved it. Everything would slot into place leaving you on a cliff-hanger after the end of a chapter, and then you’d read the next chapter and find the missing piece to the puzzle only to find that you still need another piece. At the end you find that you are nowhere near completing the puzzle, and that there is a ton of pieces to fit together which we will all find out about in Eldest, Brisingr, Shur’tugal and any more Inheritance novels to come.

Adult version cover
I found it amazing how Paolini came up with all the names of the places and ancient words etc, as from what I’ve heard he invented them all himself which must have been one big job. He probably wrote a whole translation dictionary!!! Well actually he did use a lot of old German and Russian but a lot he invented himself. I was out-standed by the way one man could have such and imagination and if you ask me, it’s probably not Meyer vs. Rowling anymore but paolini vs. Rowling. I was also amazed the he could create a whole new world of his own, and name all the places, and that fact that he actually created a map, well... WOW!!!! I guess.

Onto the characters... Arya and Eragon, no doubt my favourite characters, also the perfect couple although one thing I couldn’t get my head round was Elf and Human. Really??? It just didn’t seem to work but from the way paolini described her she is one stunna! Hands of guys, Grrr, Arya’s mine. Murtagh was the interesting character though, Son of Morzan – Good? That really got me and to be honest I still don’t trust him. There’s something about him, just... I don’t know. But he’s  character to watch, because he may be minor but later I think he could become a major character and not for a good reason. Brom... I was so sad when Brom died, that was so devastating and the bad part was that it wasn’t even a bid send-off. He just went. Cut in the side – Gone! Poof. Saphira was awesome, I was loving it when she got jealous of Arya though, that was hilarious. It’s not like she and Eragon could ever be together in that way.
          Overall I think the characters were well formed and had good foundations to start, bud paolini also didn’t spend 100 pages just on the past lives of all the characters which made me very happy as I hate when authors do that. For instance with harry potter it’s different because his past plays a big part but for some books it’s just not necessary. But just a couple of words ‘Well done Paolini, you have created some of my now favourite characters! J)

The book was written well all fantastic grammar and style of writing. I absouloutley loved this book (i've said this in all my reviews now havent i?" and yeah  - that. is. my. review!

Wednesday 15 September 2010

Vampireology - Nick Holt - Review

Just to let you know I couldn't find a summary for the book, and this review may be a lot shorter than a fiction book as it is Non-Fiction.


Book: Vampireology
Author: Nick Holt
Publisher: Templar Publishing
ISBN: 9781848776661
Rating: A+


To start off I want to say this is NOT for the faint hearted. Anyone who gets scared by horror or the original vampire, well this is not for. This is really creepy, but also totally awesome. Just beware because this could give you some serious night mares. 


  Just A Fact
------
   Do Not Read
    After Dark

I absolutely adored this book. It was so cool, with fake letter, and fake shards of a sword. It was pretty awesome. I love the tale of the three fallen ones. Pretty cool. I also love how seeing a vampire AND fallen angels (love those bad guys!) they've included both. YAY FOR ME! The cover is stunning, The sliver foil has a awesome effect along with the plastic ruby encrusted in the middles part of the book. My favorite part was probably the holographic image showing the beautiful lady (who's name i've forgotten :P), and then it changes to the same photo with vampirc features. I also loved the fake replica of the sword of angels in the back cover. Oh yeah...

I do like the ology series. They are pretty cool, because I now have Dragonology, Wizardology (bought with HP 7) and Vampireology. I also 'The dragon's eye' a fiction book made to go with dragonology. The dragon's eye. i have to admit, was one of my favorite books.

Anyway that was my review, and yes i would recommend it to anyone, just not thos with a faint heart and... well... i guess that's it! :)

Tuesday 14 September 2010

In my mailbox #3

Exiting new reads that appeared in my mail!!! Sorry about the yellow light, I took these photos at a late time and my lights aren't brill.


Yes - I have some fantastic new books to read!!!


The Radleys - Matt Haig


Nightlight : A parody (of twilight) - The Harvard Lampoon


Shadowland - Alyson Noel - Immortals #3
Loving this cover although disappointed they didn't carry on with the flower theme like the did with evermore and blue moon, but anyways loving the way the O is huge and the title is in sliver foil.


Linger - Maggie Stiefvater
I luuurv this cover sooo much. Where is has the author name and so on it looks orange but it's actually red. 

Thursday 9 September 2010

In my mailbox #2

The Silver Blade - Sally Gardner
Liking this cover. Loving the shiny hand and the way the word SILVER is shiny.


The new policeman - Kate Thompson
It's an okayish cover but still nice in it's own way.


The Side View :)


COMPARE -------¬



Sunday 5 September 2010

Need - Carrie Jones - Review

Book: Need
Author: Carrie Jones
Publisher: Bloomsbury
ISBN: 9781400807408
Rating: A


Zara collects phobias the way other high school girls collect Facebook friends. It's little wonder, since she's had a fairly rough life. Her father left when she was a baby, her stepfather just died and her mother's almost given up - in fact, she's sent her to live with her grandmother in cold and sleepy Maine to 'keep Zara safe'. Zara doesn't think she's in danger; she thinks her mother just can't cope. Zara's wrong. The man she sees everywhere - the tall, creepy guy who points at her from the side of the road - is not a figment of her imagination. He's a pixie. But not the cute, sweet kind with little wings. Maine's got a whole assortment of unbelievable creatures. And they seem to need something - something from Zara... 

One of the best books I have read in ages. It funny, creepy, and just everything you need to have a good book. You probably thinking - Oh no another YA vampire novel - No it isn't it's actually about pixies. Not not faerie like pixies, soul sucking bloodthirsty pixies. Oh yeah! The characters were all very close in a sense that there were no secrets kept between them. I have to admit though the Ian - A PIXIE!!! BIG surprise! I never suspected where as nick... It was obvious he was a werewolf, i figured I while ago. One of my favorite characters was the PIXIE KING. I loved his funny quirky and caring personality towards his daughter. I hate the fact that he used as bait because that to me is objectifying that person as worthless because you juste need/used them to get what you want, or in this case what he needed to fill the need. Issie is probably the easiest character to form in your head, as she is a typical teenage girl but Carrie Jones didn't really give much away on the appearance of the characters. But I like that for a change because it's not what she imagines the characters like, they are actually what you want and how you imagine them to be. They can be anything you want them to because of the lack of the appearance description. 

The writing was effective and it was well written. I liked that is in 2nd person (i think) because you don't see much of that today. It's Zara talking in the present which I really enjoy. i also get the feeling Carrie Jones found it hard writing in the present day so she decided to fill of the book with speech. Zara is a phobia collecting girl who has been sent away by her mother, but later it turns to be more than that, as she is trying to protect zara from the pixie who her mum thinks wants zara to be her queen. Turns out zara is just the bait to get her mum to come over and then the pixies capture her mum. It's a well though out surprising plot with a lot of twists and turns and surprises popping up out of the blue. Or should I say pooping out of the golden dust. (read the book - you'll see what i mean!) 

I love the setting of cold maine, it really fits in the creepy story, first produced by the crazy stalker who leaves a trail of gold glittery dust. This book hooked me from the beginning. The idea of phobias is clever because you don’t have to have a plot. You just pick a phobia and base the chapter around the phobia. Anyway this book was absolutely amazing. I love and I can’t wait to read captivate and entice, but yeah definitely read this. :)


P.S. - Not fluttery pixies - Young Adult awesome cool evil PIXIES!!!

Friday 3 September 2010

The Choice - Nicholas Sparks - Review

Book: The Choice
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Publisher: Sphere
ISBN: 9780751540574
Rating: A+

Travis Parker has everything a man could want: a good job; loyal friends; his dream home in small-town North Carolina. In full pursuit of the good life, he believes that a serious relationship with a woman would only cramp his style. That is until Gabby Holland moves in next door. Despite Travis's attempts to be friendly, she seems to have a chip on her shoulder about him. But something compels Travis to get to know his new neighbor. His persistent efforts lead them both to make tough decisions, the consequences of which neither could have foreseen. The Choice confronts us with that most heart-wrenching question of all: how far would you go to keep the hope of love alive?

I adored this book and how it's so simple but has a massive effect on the reader. It goes through the daily life issues and just makes them so interesting. The writing as usual is amazing. Nicholas really helps you to understand the character so speaking that that that the character becomes your personal friend. The description and emotions in the words is perfect and you feel like you are there.

The Book has a touch of humor but not too much. It's balances the story well, not too melodramatic when Gabby is in a coma, not to funny that it's not funny at the beach. The characters are well formed and all of them have a rock solid foundation. The book just sort of slips into place, as Sparks just stays that tiny bit ahead of you giving you a surprise every twenty to thirty pages. This book is a phenomenon that blew me away. A touch story of Love, Life and loss. I adore this so so so much and would most definitely read it again.

The closeness to the characters that you feel is so realistic, when they feel happy you feel happy and so on. My favorite character was Travis, but he was the main character along with Gabby so I guess it had an influence on me. The chemistry between Gabby and Travis is like a natural spark of energy which is sort of one of my favorite way oh having a love story. Take Romeo and Juliet (yes we all know they were suicidal) perfect couple.

It's not a book you would have a sequel for. Where it end is The End. Don't try to change it, but another book could be written about Gabby's pregnancy stage and the eight years after that leading up to part two of the choice. It could be a novella (preferably) or a novel. But yeah.  

Yet again Sparks has succeeded to impress me again with The Choice, the second of his books I have read, The last song being the first. I would recommend to to anyone, because it has something for everyone in it. Absolutely amazing.