FORGIVE MY FINS - TERA LYNN CHILDS - REVIEW

Book: Forgive my Fins
Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Publisher: Templar
ISBN: 9781848771345
Rating: B


Forgive my Fins is full of fantastic fishy phrases, humor and cliches but was generally a really nice funny book, that kept you pretty much interested the whole way through.

The plot was basic love triangle, girl crush story which everyone could see where it was going except for the Lily, the character, bur it was still a nice fun plot with cheesy moments. The writing was fantastic. In fact I really did like the blunt style, which didn't drone on about other things.

It's definitely a super feel good book, and could bring anyone up when they are down. It's also Uber fun and you will honestly find yourself cracking up at some of the conversations in this, although I would say this is for younger YA readers.

My favorite character is most definitely Lily, only because of the whole mermaid factor. I am a sucker for mermaids, and did love H2O just add water and did spend a couple of months after reading underwater and mermaid stories for a while and honestly this book would have nailed it.

This is a short, lovely, bubbly reads to keep head delved into the waters of this fun, cheesy, novel.

LOTTIE BIGGS IS NOT TRAGIC - HAYLEY LONG - REVIEW

Book: Lottie Biggs is NOT Tragic

Author: Hayley Long

Publisher: PanMacmillan

ISBN: 9780330523011

Rating: C+

"Just when things were starting to look up for Lottie her life's gone a bit pear-shaped, wonk-ways and downside up again. Her mum's all soppy over a bloke with a horrible shemo daughter, her best pal Goose has disappeared in a cloud of nerd-gas and Lottie's in the midst of an existential crisis. There's only one thing to do - get the hell out of Cardiff and go on the road with the gorgeous Gareth Stingecombe (and his manly thighs). But things don't go to plan, and Lottie starts to realise she might have been a bit me me me lately...a female emo, obviously The wit of Louise Rennison meets the depth of Jacqueline Wilson."

Now I haven’t read the other two books in this series but this was easy to figure out and I didn’t have to read the other to get this. Now this is a really fun book, filled with loads of laughs and loads of philosophy. It has tons of Ridonkulus pictures and in general is a light, quick and entertaining book.
It’s written in first person as Lottie and is generally really easygoing and just how she feels, what’s going on the rest. It sort of like a diary but it’s not a diary. It’s just a really fun book of the day to day life of a Welsh girl that has somehow been made incredibley interesting. The writing if Funny, Quirky and how someone of that age would write.
The plot is simple and fun and just keeps you going, but it’s a really happy book and leaves you so refreshed and just so happy once you have read it. The characters are all so funny and uplifiting. I mean Gareth come along as a total oddball and gave me a fair few laughs and Goose, well she’s quit something.
I really did like this book. It’s a funny, happy, upliftingly hilarious book that most definitely kept me entertained.

MAD LOVE - SUZANNE SELFORS - REVIEW

Book: Mad Love

Author: Suzanne Selfors

Publisher: Bloomsbury

ISBN; 9781408819623

Rating: C+

"Writing her own love story could drive a girl insane!
When you’re the daughter of the bestselling Queen of Romance, life should be pretty good. But 16-year-old Alice Amorous has been living a lie ever since her mother was secretly hospitalized for mental illness. After putting on a brave front for months, time is running out. The next book is overdue, and the Queen can’t write it. Alice needs a story for her mother—and she needs one fast. That’s when she meets Errol, a strange boy who claims to be Cupid, who insists that Alice write about the greatest love story in history: his tragic relationship with Psyche. As Alice begins to hear Errol’s voice in her head and see things she can’t explain, she must face the truth—that she’s either inherited her mother’s madness, or Errol is for real."

I was slightly skeptical when reading this because it had a booming pink cover but surprisingly it’s for all genders and I really enjoyed it. It’s actually a fast paced, fantasy-romance, that isn’t the typical YA fantasy-romance.

The book covers many important things such as First Love, BiPolar and living on your own in your teenage years. It’s actually really good, and also has quite a bit of Greek Mythology which I’m always up for. The book follows Alice, daughter of the Queen of Romance, who has BiPolar (not Alice, her mum), but nobody knows, so Alice is getting letters from the publishers until one of the letters has something very... interesting in it. Then things get complicated, and a love triangle is formed.

The book is written well, and i found it a nice quick read that I whizzed through despite the size. Also it’s one of those books where you just want to keep on reading on and on even though your mum is shouting for you to come for dinner. The plot was extremely clever. I have to admit you read half of the book and you think you know the storyline as a basic love triangle story but suddenly! Somethings get twisted and you’re hit with intense shock and suspense.

There weren’t many characters in this book but I think it worked because the characters got built up really well and strong as it was the same people over again. Also it made you feel all that closer to them and much more satisfied.

Now trust me, I love books, so when you get a book about books I get eepish (very exited) so I was very eepish when I realised this was a book about books (sort of). The book was very good, I liked it a lot, and the Magical twist with Cupid, was very nice. I was all smooth and nicely flowing and I just felt it was lovely to read.

SHIMMER - ALYSON NOEL - REVIEW

Book: Shimmer
Author: Alyson Noel
Publisher: PanMacmillan
ISBN: 9780330530385
Rating: B+


"Having solved the matter of the Radiant Boy, Riley, Buttercup, and Bodhi are enjoying a little time-off. But then Riley encounters a young ghost named Rebecca. Despite Rebecca's sweet appearance, Riley soon learns she's not at all what she seems. As the daughter of a former plantation owner, Rebecca is furious about being murdered during the slave revolt of 1733. Her uncontrollable anger is keeping other ghosts, who also died in the revolt, trapped in a shimmering bubble. And when Bodhi and Buttercup inadvertently fall into Rebecca's trap, Riley is the only one who can save them. This is a suspenseful and heart-warming novel about the great hereafter..."


I remember the first in this series very well, and I enjoyed the first in the series a lot. Now, first books, in most cases, are generally the best, and the following are not as good, but I can tell you for a fact, this Book is even better than Radiance, and that's saying something. 

The books picks up with Bodhi and Riley on Vacation, like they said they would be at the end of Radiance. The beginning is actually exactly how a book should be started, fast and instantly grips you. I enjoyed this all the more though, because I recently read the final Installment to the Immortals series, so I was very much in the Immortals mood, and ready to read this, when it popped through my letterbox. 

The books follows Riley as she sees a bad omen and follows it, only to reveal that her friends are soon sucked into a bubble of evil created by a angry spirit who refuses to cross the bridge. And then it's basically an amazing story, that you have to read if you want to know what happens, Evil becomes, good, forgiveness and the rest and the Riley and Bodhi have to face the council, something's about to happen, CLIFFHANGER, end of book... I most definitely want Dreamland now. 

The book has one of my favorite styles of writing. Whimsical, beautiful and descriptive, and I know i've said this before but I really do love Alyson Noel's style of writing. It just pulls you in straight away. 

The story-line was surprising! You see a 200 page book and think it would be relatively short, but this story had so much packed into it. It was an amazing adventure filled with emotion, empathy, and magick. It was all easy to understand and no complicated twists, and very good for the market it has been aimed at. 

My favorite character would most definitely have to be Rebbeca. She was most definitely the awsomeist character and she used the most magic so I naturally favored her. 

Overall I really did like this and boy I can't wait for dreamland but yes, you should read this.

FORBIDDEN - JANA OLIVER - REVIEW

Book: The Demon Trappers: Forbidden
Author: Jana Oliver
Publisher: PanMacmillan
ISBN: 9780330519489
Rating: A+

"Riley's beginning to think being a demon trapper isn't all it's cracked up to be. Her dad's been stolen by a necromancer, her boyfriend's gone all weird and she's getting warm and fuzzy feelings for someone who's seriously bad news. It's tempting to give it all up and try to be normal, but that's not an option. Because the demons have plans for Riley. And they're not the only ones."

The first book in this series was amazing so when this one popped through the letterbox I was all to happy to crack on read it, and within hours it was fin. Oh my God! It was so good! It had everything you wanted, jam packed with action and Paranormal romance, and had so many twists I was not expecting. I adore this series to the core, and I can not wait for Forgiven.

For starters this book was written fantastically, just like the first in the series. The writing is just so smooth and easygoing, yet so strong and gives you all the information you need. Emotionally the writing is fantastic, because you feel absolutely everything that the characters feel, and the description is brilliant. Also the writing sets the mood for the chapter very well and it is just the right pace, making this a action packed, thrill ride filled with demons and angels and a twisted kind of love.

Actually the love square was the craziest thing ever. I mean totally caught me of guard but I loved it! I just feel for Riley, now she's all alone, but she can date me if she needs someone. ;) I mean I never Simon would turn on her like that and then Ori, who you think the whole time is the good guy {SPOILER}(who Riley even loses her virginity to){SPOLER END} turns out to be working for hell. And the exploitation of Riley's fathers deal with hell. Oh wow, it was so good. It was bang on spot with what I needed to start reading again, after I recently read a particularly bad book.

The Plot was fantastic. I remember at one point thinking, not much is happening... yet I STILL LOVE IT! Honestly you will hear that phrase a lot in this review. It was definitely a winding path. I remember on my last review Jana Oliver commented with 'And there are more twists and turns' but boy I was not expecting any of that. It was epic, to be honest and I don't know how Oliver will top it with Forgive, but she will, just like she did with Forbidden.

In this books my favorite character has wavered a lot. As soon as I realized what a evil pixie Simon was being he was gone and Ori sort of was until I realized he was trying deceive Riley but I suppose to would have to be Mort. I just though he was such a nice guy. He was so laid back and giving, helping Riley when he was risking himself and we all need someone like that. The good thing was though, that all the characters have nice good foundation, so there is nothing to question.

Well Done, Jana Oliver, you have succeeded in creating an amazing sequel, and one again a book that I loved, adored, devoured... whatever. It was so good, please just tell me Forgiven isn't long off. Oh, and also, for Forgiven, hence the name, I'm taking it either Riley forgives Simon, or Simon forgives Riley (although she did nothing), Beck forgives Riley or all? *Desperately* I need Forgiven!

NEW NAME?

I was thinking about changing blog names, so here are my Ideas. Feel free to give your own or to vote on your favorite. Also you can say of you'd just like me to keep my name.

- The 'R' Word (it's reading)

- The 'B' Word (it's books)

- Addiction to YA fiction

- The Mobile Library

- The Book Nerd

- The Book Freek

- Tempted by Books

- Books make me High

MICHAEL GRANT - NEW TRANSMEDIA EXPERIENCE + Q&A

Nexus Humanus

Right, so for those of you who don't know, Michael Grant, bestselling author of the Gone series (which I loved), Is releasing a brand new book this winter. Also it's going to be a part of a Transmedia experience. Right, now you're probably wondering what a Transmedia experience is. Well it's basically where a story is interactively narrative and told through a wide range of media such as written word, video, puzzles and more. Most of these are based around websites, and lucky for you, Michael Grant's Transmedia websites for his new book are already up and running! So the first site is societytwins.com which a sort of blog layout site, about two twin sisters and a missing brother. And the second site, which I urge you to sign up to is nexushumanus.com. This is a interesting site, and really leaved you hanging on what Michael's next book will be, so Sign Up! Because the more people that do, the more that will be released, apart from the Title abbreviation which is "BZRK". You're wondering, is BZRK a book or interactive story... Both! Let me guess? You so want to know what it's about now! Well never fear because I have an exclusive piece of info about the story:

The society twins and their missing brother

The missing son of a U.N. diplomat... the reemergence of a strange organization... a pair of society twins caught in the middle... this is just the beginning of "Go BZRK," a new transmedia experience from author Michael Grant.

If you're ready to take the plunge in an interactive story like you've never experienced before, visit societytwins.com and register with nexushumanus.com to take your first steps in a strange and compelling universe.

Filled with video, puzzles, community collaboration, and more, "Go BZRK" put YOU the player right in the middle of the action as you join Nexus Humanus and unravel a mystery that may hold the key to the fate of all mankind.

So how cool does that sound! So what are you waiting for! Go sign up to: nexushumanus.com. Unlock the secrets within and enjoy the Experience. And finally some of Michael's fans may already be familiar with Transmedia from a Transmedia experience from the Gone Series. So if  did or didn't know about the Gone Transmedia it a diary of Sinder, a character your introduced to early in Lies, and here story and the first entry is here: http://www.thefayz.com/archives/8

Q&A with MICHAEL GRANT

What is “Go BZRK”? Is this a book or some kind of interactive story?

Both. The book comes out this winter, but the interactive part starts now.  One leads up to the other, but they're part of a complete package.

Why “transmedia”?

There are different approaches to transmedia.  Most people take a single story and reproduce it on various platforms.  My philosophy has been to make each element - ARG, app, web, book - a thing unto itself, each revealing some aspect of the world of BZRK.  I've been fascinated with this is as a new way to tell stories.  The book remains central, but now I can reach beyond the book and create a much more complete world.  I can tell stories that enhance the book, and stories that parallel the book, and stories that are offshoots of backstory.  I guess the answer to "why" is "because it's fun."

Is this the future of publishing?

I began a few years ago reaching out to publishers and saying we collectively needed to understand that the old models were dead or dying.  I want publishing to survive, and of course I'd like my own career to thrive.  So Egmont Publishing and my partners and I certainly hope this is a part of the future of publishing. 

How long is this running? Is this part of a larger picture?

We'll be running this in several chunks between now and the book release this winter. Because these things have a hard start/stop point, August is a ramp-up phase. There'll be a lot of content coming out, but the experience really gets underway at the end of the month… just in time to distract the kids from their schoolwork.

What if someone wants to follow the story but doesn’t want to participate?

You don't have to do anything.  You can do one thing and not another.  But the deeper you plunge the wetter you get.  I think every part of this is fun, I think people will enjoy the ARG, the app, the site and the books. 

App? You've mentioned that a couple times now.

Just wait and see.

What can you tell us about the story? What is “BZRK”?

It's a battle for the soul and freedom of the human race carried out simultaneously in the world we know, and in a world that you're not going to expect. It's a world where if you make a false move, you're going to lose your mind.

Insanity… is this something you have a personal familiarity with?

The line between writer and crazy person is very thin.  Both go around holding long, involved conversations with people who aren't there.

What’s this other world thing all about?

Do you really want spoilers? I'll tell you this. We'll be going "down in the meat." It's going to be vast, bloody, and beautiful.

Wait… isn’t this supposed to be for kids?

Adults like to flatter themselves that kids won't get, won't understand, won't be able to handle, more intense, more complex stories. That's nonsense.  It's the adults who are easy to creep out or scare.  Say the word "biopsy" in a room full of adults. Or "audit."  See?  Easy to scare.  Kids are a tougher audience because kids think they're immortal. 

ENTICE - CARRIE JONES - REVIEW

Book: Entice
Author: Carrie Jones
Publisher: Bloomsbury
ISBN: 9781408810446
Rating: B

Entice is one of those books, that as soon as you read it, strikes you as amazing. I absolutely love this series. It was just by fluke I picked up 'Need' because it had a pretty cover but I'm glad I did. This is the third book in the amazing series, and I suppose I really did like it except for a small issue I had.

In this third book it literally picks up from the last book and it's all about getting to Valaha. Surprisingly Betty doesn't care that Zara is a Pixie and it's all go to find Nick! This book literally is just and action packed bridge between Captivate and the fourth and final book on the saga, that mainly zones in on the growing chemistry between Zara and Astley.

This book , I really did enjoy it, but i felt it kind of lacked... or dragged. I suppose it just wasn't really needed. It sort of left you waiting for something to happen, which it doesn't untill about halfway through the book, though when the stuff does happen it's brilliant. The action is intense and epic and it's romantic in flurries of snow...

I absolutely love Carrie Jones's writing. It so lite if you get me. For such a Paranormal book, it's not heavy, or gothic, or even a big read for that matter, and i've always found this a really nice series to read when i'm just in the mood for something less heavy. This book had the same beautifully written prose that kept me enticed the whole way through. The plot was wavy slightly but it still worked.

The Characters have all grown up. Issie and Devyn are all sorted, and we see a lot more of Cassidy in this one, but i feel that Zara really matured in this one and really kicked-ass. I mean this is a brilliant, kick-ass book! I suppose we really got to see and know Astley though and that was really good, so I'd say he was my fave Character because he loved Zara but he wanted her to be happy so he just let her go search for Nick and he helped her all the way.

This was a enticing novel that captivated me and has left me needing the last one.

FANMADE FIRELIGHT COVER #2

I'm not to keen on my last Firelight Fanmade cover (view it in the FAN-ART section) so here's a new one.