Friday 29 July 2011

THE POWER OF SIX - PITTACUS LORE - REVIEW

Book: The Power of Six
Author: Pittacus Lore
Publisher: Michael Joseph
ISBN: 9780718156480
Rating: A+

"We are the last defence. I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened to John Smith. To the world he's a mystery, but to me ...he's one of us. Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us, if we all still believe in our mission. There are six of us left. We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another, but our Legacies are developing and soon we'll be ready to fight. Is John Number Four - and is his appearance the sign I've been waiting for? And what about Number Five and Six? Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams? The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine? The girl who might be strong enough to bring the six of us together? They caught Number One in Malaysia. Number Two in England. And Number Three in Kenya. They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio ...and failed. I am Number Seven. And I'm ready to fight."

This book is so epic! I honestly love Pittacus Lore so much yet I hate him for leaving the book on such a cliff-hanger, because now I have to wait for him to write another book! So in other words, the men behind Pittacus are amazing authors. This book was everything I wanted! After enjoying I am Number Four so much I was eager to get my hands on this and I loved it. It was filled with action, aliens, legacies (magic... sort of), and a love pentagon? It was most definitely and amazingly epic thriller.

This book also follows Seven. It’s set in the point of view of Seven as well as Four, who we know as John Smith, and Seven who is introduced as Marina. Basically Seven is having a fight for survival and to live on to her destiny and learn her legacies whilst her half-nun Cepan is all holy and doesn’t care, whilst Four, Six and Sam, have love problems, make it across the news, destroy the FBI, run halfway across the country and awaken the Evil Mogadorian leader for war. Oh, yeah and {SPOILER} the other ship that came to earth from Lorien, is proven to have number Ten on it (who we also meet, along with Nine) and possibly others.

The book starts of in Seven’s point of view, and she lives in Spain. It’s quite an unexpected way to start the book as I was expecting to start off in some action scene with Six, Four and Sam, but that’s not to say I didn’t like the opening. I can say it had me gripped. The book uses a lot of description, and I liked it, a lot. I always love books with more description; I suppose it just paints a clearer picture in my mind. Pittacus Lore has succeeded in writing a second fantastic novel to the series.

The writing is very different and very set to the person’s point of view. Like when it was from Seven’s point of view the writing was very soft and kind whereas Four’s was very edgy and down with the dogs. I mean overall the writing was Excellent and I think it was and is the best style to use for the dazzlingly unique book.

Right... in this book we are introduced to a lot of new characters so I’m going to Profiles:

Seven: She can heal anything; she can see in the dark, can breathe underwater and has telekinesis.

Nine: Has advanced speed and senses and can use lots of alien stuff.

Ten: Can change shape to different ages.

Crayton: Alien Techno Geek

I think they are all so unique and well built characters but as for my favourite well it has to be... Six. I honestly think Six is so awesome. She can fight, she has amazing Legacies and she is pretty hot! All the characters are well defined though and you feel so close to all of them except for the Mogadorians. You just want to rip their cold hearts out, boil them into soup and feed it to mentally challenged Dung beetles.

The book is a new type of Sci-fi I would say. Something different and I think it is has something for everyone of every Genre. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I had me reeling from the start, with every twist and turn, the mystery and suspense, the love and hate and the intergalactic aliens. Most definitely five starts a million times, and god... I need the next book!

Wednesday 27 July 2011

DESTINED - P.C. + KRISTIN CAST - COVER

Look at the Beautiful cover for Destined by P.C and kristin Cast. It's the 9th book in the series and I absolutely adore this cover soo much!



Monday 25 July 2011

EVERLASTING - ALYSON NOEL - REVIEW

Book: Everlasting
Author: Alyson Noel
Publisher: PanMacmillan
ISBN: 9780330528122
Rating: A+

"With 3.2 million copies of her Immortals series in print, Alyson Noel is one of the hottest paranormal teen authors writing today. EVERLASTING is the sixth and final instalment of the epic love story that has enchanted readers across the world. Ever and Damen have spent centuries facing down bitter rivals, jealous friends and their own worst fears - all in the hope of being together forever. Now in EVERLASTING, their destiny is finally within reach. Will they be united ...or torn apart forever? Readers will finally discover the truth in this anxiously awaited conclusion!"

I cannot express in words how much I loved this book. This is definitely what a last book should be like. I can honestly say this book kept me thrilled and going till the very end, and it had everything I wanted. Love, Magic, Immortals, Reuniting and a very surprising twist, especially at the end. I was so looking forward to this book and it was fantastic. Some people quibbled about the ending but I think it was perfect. Definitely the best book in the series and a brilliant way to finish it.

The Plot literally picks up where Night Star left off, with Ever and Damen, by the Lady in the Mud. But Basically the plot follows Ever as she discovers why she and Damen have the Universe working against them and takes a journey to relieve them of their bad Karma and a journey to the tree of life. She succeeds and brings back the fruit and then...

The plot was so bloody immense; I was gripped from the first page. I felt everyone played a big and fun part in the whole book and everyone was stretched out to their full potential. The story line was complex but not hard to follow. Everything was orderly, one after the other and not all going on at the same time. It was filled with Magic, Mystery and Lurrrv! I have to admit there are many surprises and many normal things that we have been waiting for to happen that do finally happen in the Last Book. Oh, and by the way, if anyone doesn’t like this book they must be insane, because It was amazing!

The Writing in this book was as good as ever. Noel keeps and nice consistent flow with a balance of description, dialogue and thought, though I this book edged slightly towards the Description side of the triangle which worked well as they was a lot to describe. As usual Noel’s writing in beautiful! It kept me interested and following the whole time, and I have to confess I stayed up a lot later than I should have reading this amazing novel.

I felt closeness to Ever in this book but so many other characters were introduced. I mean Damen was Alrik before he was reincarnated as Damen and Ever was Adelina. And Lotus! How could we forget her? I mean she was the one who started this whole thing right? Without her none of this would have happened. I felt she was pretty cool and I like reading about her past. Also Haven makes a Return along with Drina and Roman who all apologize to Ever! I think my favourite characters were Ever and Lotus. Lotus just for her total awesomeness and a cool name and Ever because in this book she really exposes her past and for once doesn’t doubt Damen in any way.

{SPOILER PARAGRAPH}
I was so surprised when both Ever and Damen turned Human! I mean eating the fruit from the tree and becoming Human! I also loved it where Ever Confessed to Sabine everything, because Sabine kept her cool and looked all disbelieving when in her head she was probably screaming : “Oh my God! This is so fricking awesome!” Finally, It was definitely coming, but they finally did it! And then... Happily ever After!

This book is amazing and I love it so much. It thrilled me to the core, and All I can say after that is, Epic, Epic, Amazing, Immense, Intense, Immortal filled book. Oh an also, the cover is totally awesomely cool! Check out some pics below, and click on them for larger view. 



Thursday 21 July 2011

SILENCE - BECCA FITZPATRICK - FANFIC

Just a fanfic I did for Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick. 


C H A P T E R
1

He grasped my shirt and pulled me further back.
“Y-your my D-dad!” I stuttered.
“Well Done pretty doll, but answer my question. Did you kill Chauncey?”
I stood and stared at him. We had the same defined features, and his skin was pale.
“Pretty Doll!” he whispered, “Time is running out, I don’t want to make this hard, but if you don’t answer...”
I felt something cold press against the skin of my neck. It was cool and it was metal, and despite the fact that I was surrounded by inky darkness I knew it was a Revolver.
“I killed Chauncey Langeais, and don’t you ever call her Pretty Doll!” Patch said it in his most patronising tone.
I rammed my foot up from behind and it connected with delicates of my father. He roared in pain but I was too fast, I had ripped open the shed door and stumbled out.
“Patch!” I screamed.
He rammed his head backwards and it hit his captors’ neck. There was a crack and the captor fell to the ground writhing in agony. Patch came to my side and stood in front of me as if I were about to die.
God save me! I prayed
My father came out of the shed. I could see him clearly now. He was perfect. He had the same Red-Brown hair as mine, and vivid Blue eyes. He wore a pinstripe suite but his eyes glistened with malice.
“Down!” He hissed.
An unseen forced attacked Patch and his body was hurled down into a kneeling position, his neck outstretched.
“Why Aron? Why?” Patch gasped at my Dad.
His name was Aron. Aron walked towards Patch.
“No!” I jumped in front of him but Aron pushed me aside.
Aron bent down to Patch and opened his mouth by Patch’s neck. I thought he was going to whisper to him.
“Run Patch! Run!” He tried but it was as if he was bound by invisible chains.
To my surprise Aron lurched forward and sunk his teeth into Patch’s neck. Patch writhed in agony.
“Get of him! Please g-get of-” Aron slapped me and I winced and stumble.
Suddenly the determination in Patch’s eyes increased, and he pulled away. He ran to me and caressed my bruised cheek.
“Your Neck!” I gasped.
The bite was black and it was slowly spreading.
“Poison of the Nephilim!” he whispered. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” His legs crippled.
“You’re going to die, aren’t you?”
“No Nora, it takes months to kill, it just attacks from the inside, and soon I’ll be cured.”
He was going to die and I knew it. I would have to save him.

FIRELIGHT - SOPHIE JORDAN - REVIEW

Book: Firelight
Author: Sophie Jordan
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 9780192756503
Rating: B

"Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. She longs for the freedom to make her own choices, but when she breaks the 'no flying' rule, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki, a descendant of dragons whose greatest defence is her secret ability to shift into human form. And her rare ability to breathe fire makes her desirable, and important, to the survival of the draki. Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. There she meets gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: he and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slipping away, and if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy."

I had been wanting to read this book since its release, so when I finally got a copy, I read it within 3 hours and absolutely loved it to the core. From the first page I was spellbound. I have to say this book is so wonderful I find it hard to put into words. It’s also so very unique. I can’t say I’ve ever read a book quite like it, or should I say with the creatures within it quite like it. I mean to invent a whole new race of creature is amazing. I mean Draki’s seem pretty cool! I just want to know what an Enkros is.

The book basically follows, Jacinda, the only Fire breathing Draki in generations, who has been pledged to the son of the tribe alpha. Her mother doesn’t like it so they move away, and her mother tries to kill of her Draki. But then she meets Will, and he (mind the pun) relights her fire. Slowly they draw closer, but Jacinda knows that his family hunt her kind. Then it sort of gets out and it’s a big fight for their love.

The book is written pretty well, in 1st person, but I think it may have benefited from character changes. Other than that though I liked it. I felt it was a nice, fast paced novel. It didn’t drone on, it got to the point. I think if it wasn’t for the Supernatural take on the story it would have been a very boring, but with the twist it was an action packed, romance novel that kept you enticed every step of the way.

The plot was a simple, clichéd, supernatural creature, human forbidden love one, but I felt that it worked very well with Firelight, and unlike with some other books, it didn’t felt overused. I don’t know if it was because of the unique-ity of it but I like it.

My favourite character would have to be surprisingly, Azure with Jacinda in second place. I know she was a very minor character but I felt she could be interesting to read about and that we didn’t get enough of her. I would love to see what life in the tribe was like and what sort of powers a water draki has. Jacinda takes second place for the whole Fire breathing thing. Speaking of powers, I don’t think they got used enough. These Draki have powers. Use them! I would have loved to see some characters a bit more action involved.

Overly the book was a very simple, light, quick read but I did like it a lot. Now I am literally dying to read Vanish, so bad, so maybe I’ll get a copy. 

Wednesday 20 July 2011

LISEL & PO - LAUREN OLIVER - REVIEW

Book: Liesl & Po
Author: Lauren Oliver
Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton
ISBN: 9781444723076
Rating: A


"A tale of one girl, two ghosts and the most powerful magic in the world. 'On the third night after the day her father died, Liesl saw the ghost.' Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice - until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone. That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable. Will's mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey."


Lisel and Po... in under ten words it would be as follows. A beautiful book to curl up. It is a beautiful children’s tale that will be loved with years to come. It is filled with magic, friendship, and love and will live in the imagination of anyone who reads it. When I was reading it really took me back to when I was a child.


I loved Lauren Oliver’s Delirium, so I wasn’t surprised when I loved this book even more. It is such a unique plot, and I think it will become a phenomenal bestseller. I mean it was written very beautifully. The writing was strong, and descriptive and created a vivid image in your mind. It was a very whimsical writing as well. The description was lovely, and was played to the advantage so that Liesl’s stepmother came across very stereotypical stepmother, and you felt a lot for Liesl.


The plot was short but fantastic. It was long, or complicated, so in other words, perfect. It was like the book was crafted from magic itself. I guess the story just felt so real and lifelike because it was based on Lauren Oliver’s feelings to when she lost someone close and important to her.


My favourite character would have to be Liesl, no doubt about it. I mean I felt the right way about every charcter; I hated the stepmother, felt for Po, loved Mo like a brother, but Liesl was the main person of the book and towards her I felt every good feeling you can. She is such a young girl, determined on setting her father free, and the amount of love she felt made me love her.


The book is amazing. It’s a beautiful story filled with lessons of friendship, love and being together. It had everything I wanted and left my imagination sparkling with joy when it finished. This will be a new sensation.

Monday 11 July 2011

Inside Out - Maria V. Snyder - Review

Book: Inside Out
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Publisher: Mira Ink
ISBN : 9780778304111
Rating: A+

"Keep your head down. Don't get noticed. Or else. I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? Not like it's all that dangerous - the only neck at risk is my own. Until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution..."

Two Words: Literary Genius! I absolutely loved this book from start to end. It kept me interested, thrilled and engaged the whole time. I have to admit with the first two chapters I was slightly sceptical but soon I was hooked and everything started to make sense.

I hadn’t actually read any of Snyder’s books before this one, but I heard a lot about the ‘poison study’ series, so when I read the blurb of this, it looked good and I was raring to read it and Snyder didn’t let me down.

The book is about a time in the future where there is a system. Upper and lowers. Rich and Poor. There’s this girl called Trella, who knows the pipes of a spaceship and travels around in them. They have been kept inside this spaceship but some people want out. Basically someone convinces herself there is a way out and soon she finds herself head of a revolution against a certain brand of evil uppers.

The book is full of action every chapter and full of unique ideas. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book were someone travels by pipes and I found this book very enjoyable in that way. I think Snyder has really explored a new type of future based on the concept of history repeating itself. I mean when I found out this whole book was based on a dream it blew me away because Snyder must have an amazing imagination!

The plot is amazing and think Snyder kept it just the right size. I think if it had been any longer it would have dragged in which case I wouldn’t have liked it but it was a nice whole size that was well pace and well written. They way it was written was very good as well. The first person style was very different as in there was very little show of emotion, and thoughts. It was very blunt and to the point of what was happening. Surprisingly I like this and this was also good because it is a very complicated plot in general so it was complicated with thoughts and emotions.

My favourite character would have to be Trella. She was just so upfront with everything and so strong but come on... eventually you have to break, right? No, not Trella. She can go through losing her friend, getting outside, hacking into a computers getting injured like a thousand times and still come out of it all shiny and new. She is strong.

Of course there is a love interest, but I’m not giving names. It’s a very intense one and dark and surprising secrets are uncovered, lies are told and a victory is taken. Inside Out was amazing, now I guess its time for me to read Outside In, and I’m sure it won’t disappoint me. Five Stars.

Tuesday 5 July 2011

HUNTRESS - MALINDA LO - REVIEW

Book: Huntress
Author: Malinda Lo
Publisher: ATOM
ISBN: 9781907411090
Rating: A+

"Nature is out of balance in the human world. The sun hasn't shone in years, and crops are failing. Worse yet, strange and hostile creatures have begun to appear. The people's survival hangs in the balance. To solve the crisis, the oracle stones are cast, and Kaede and Taisin are picked to go on a dangerous and unheard-of journey to Tanlili, the city of the Fairy Queen. Taisin is a sage, thrumming with magic, and Kaede is of the earth, without a speck of the otherworldly. And yet their two destinies are drawn together during the mission. As members of their party succumb to unearthly attacks and fairy tricks, the two come to rely on each other and even begin to fall in love. But the Kingdom needs only one huntress to save it, and what it takes could tear Kaede and Taisin apart forever..."

This is one of the best books I have read in ages. In fact it brings back memories of the old days, when Harry Potter was all the craze and YA fiction was barely known. I suppose Malinda Lo has managed to capture all the magical essence of a Childs book and weave into an amazing Teenage Fiction that I absolutely adored. I mean I finished this book within a day. I got it in the post, picked it up and was instantly gripped, and that’s not counting the beautiful cover.

The book follows two girls on a quest to restore peace and natural weather back to a magical world. They encounter many things along the journey and it all keeps you entertained. I remember at the beginning of every chapter I would think ‘This will be my last chapter’ but it never was. There was always something exiting or thrilling happening and I always had to read on. I mean the book didn’t disappoint me; in fact it was better than I thought. It’s a beautiful and magical tale filled with lore, ledged and love. That’s the other thing that strikes me about Malinda Lo’s books; they are all so unique in their own special way. They all have their special twist, which is a lesbian love. With Ash I was skeptical about a lesbian Cinderella and I was even more skeptical about it in this book but Malinda lo seems to have pulled it off.

The writing is so whimsical yet so deep. There are some very talented authors that have a certain way of describing things and Malinda can do that. Her descriptions are so vivid and clear. It’s almost as if you’re there. It’s the same with the emotions. Malinda doesn’t drone on and on about the emotion but you feel the same things that the characters do in the small amount of words allocated to how they feel. I suppose the main focuses of the story is the journey to the fairy kingdom and to save the land along with the love plot.

I’ve honestly never read a book quite like this. I have never come across a book with such an amazing world, that is so totally unique, and this book is something new. I suppose the book tells us one thing. Malinda Lo has an amazing imagination and what does that tell us? We can expect great things from her.

Out of the characters my favorites would have to be Con, Kaede and Taisan, only because as a group they have all the qualities main characters need. They are brave, strong, in love, and magical. That is why I like Tasian. She is this very meek little girl but if you get on the wrong side of her she’ll use her magic and blow you to bits. BOOM! Kaede I like because she’s adventurous. She kills the Fairy Queens daughter and gets the blood of a unicorn. I feel that world is unique but I recognize some of the mythology that has been pulled from other books. The other reason the mythology in this book is different is because it is very much Chinese which is nice to have a change from the general Greek myths or Vampires (though I can’t get tired of either of those genres).

The book is truly magical and Malinda Lo is one amazing author. I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next, but I will get my hands on it! 

HERE LIES BRIDGET - PAIGE HARBISON - REVIEW

Book: Here Lies Bridget
Author: Paige Haribson
Publisher: Mira Ink
ISBN: 9780778304999
Rating: B


"They say that before you die your life flashes before your eyes. You think it's going to be the good stuff - every kiss, every party. Don't count on it. I was Bridget Duke - the uncontested ruler of the school. If keeping the wannabes in their place meant being a mean girl, then so be it! I never thought there'd be a price to pay. Until the accident. Now, trapped between life and death, I'm seeing my world in a new light: through the eyes of five people whose existence I've made hell. And I've got one chance to make things right. If I don't, I may never wake up again..."




I have to admit this was a good book. From the moment I read the blurb I was drawn in and it didn’t let me down. It’s a very different novel but a better word would be Unique. I mean I did like it, and it slots into the same genre as Before I Fall and If I Stay.

The plot follows Bridget Dukes and she is the most popular girl at school. She is and will stay at the top of the triangle even if that means being the mean girl as well. Basically another girl comes along and she feels threatened and she has a car accident and she gets stuck in Limbo where she has to spend time in the life and mind of five people’s lives she made a misery. It’s a very light plot for something relatively deep. It focuses in on the sort of things that matter to teens and the sort of issues they can have because as well as being worried about popularity the book also focuses on self consciousness about the way people look, bulimia and anorexia and hints on bullying.

The plot was relatively good but I did feel that was slight too much repetition in it, but who cares about that. The point is that I enjoyed the book. I mean after all the mean (some may say EVIL) stuff Bridget does the lesson or message is a good one. I mean the book has some really good messages in it for anyone. Also the emotions are very good. I mean when Bridget is mean to her Step Mum you can really feel her Step Mums hurt.

As far as favourite characters go I liked Michelle. She should’ve have been in Bridget’s Place was kept on being put down by Bridget and the rest of the school after the crush incident. I found that I didn’t particularly like Bridget. I found her very cold and very shallow. I mean was she so apparent she couldn’t she any fault or wrong in her actions. She was horrid until the end where I suppose she learnt.

The writing was very light and airy I suppose. It was very fun and easy to read, and I finished it within a two hour car journey. It’s definitely a debut novel; there’s no denying that. Now you see what I want to know is will there be a sequel, but I wants one! Honestly though this was an amazing book so, go read it!