Book: 172 Hours on the Moon
Author: John Harstad
Publisher: ATOM
ISBN: 9781907411519
Rating: B
Three teenagers are going on the trip of a lifetime. Only one is coming back. It's been more than forty years since NASA sent the first men to the moon, and to grab some much-needed funding and attention, they decide to launch an historic international lottery in which three lucky teenagers can win a week-long trip to moon base DARLAH 2-a place that no one but top government officials even knew existed until now. The three winners, Antoine, Midori, and Mia, come from all over the world. But just before the scheduled launch, the teenagers each experience strange, inexplicable events. Little do they know that there was a reason NASA never sent anyone back there until now-a sinister reason. But the countdown has already begun...
I hate this guy yet love him. Harstad has written such an epic, thrilling novel that will keep you groping onto the book until the end. IT was such a totally un-put-downable novel and it would have gotten an A+ from me had it not had such a annoying ending. I guess though that's always what makes a book stand out, or at least for me. Having the the ending that no-one expects. No happy ever after, and sad, cruel ending that you hate so much you feel like something in you has broken. This so far has only happened with two novels. Candor, and 172 hours on the moon.
The book was just such an intense roller coaster of craziness. The plot must have been outlined in detail and pondered over for hours, if not days. The research was also so clever. It wasn't all just made up, Harstad took real evidence and twisted to suit the fantastic sic-fi novel.
The writing is just perfect. It ran at the fast pace and give you a twist every now and then. The twists and turn in this book were just so clever and shocked you so much. The writing was so vivd, though, swell. It made you feel like you were really there, in the book watching the whole thing play out in your head like a movie.
The characters, well you just got so close to them. They felt so real, like they were friends and I think that was a really good think because when each of them was then killed off it hurt you as well as every one else. It really affected you and made you feel so bad for them. My favourite charter would have to be Mia, because after the whole novel she sticks out because of all the tragedies, hers sticks out...
Overall it was a fantastic book, and I absolutely loved to pieces, just as much as I hate the ending.
Book: Vixen
Author: Jillian Larkin
Publisher: Corgi
ISBN: 9780552565042
Rating: A+
Three girls. One city. Who will be the last flapper standing? It's Chicago 1924. Born into American high society, Gloria is the girl who has it all. Living the debutante dream along with her best friend Lorraine, Gloria is just a trip down the aisle away from her future life as Mrs Sebastian Grey. But surely there's time for a little partying before she settles down? With an illegal speakeasy on every corner and mobsters rubbing shoulders with the city's most sensational flappers, Chicago's jazz-fuelled underworld is certainly not the kind of place for a society princess like Gloria. And she's never had so much fun.
I was a tad skeptical about this book, I thought it would be too much like Bright Young Things, but I had nothing to worry about. This book was glorious. (You'll get it once you've read it) No really, it was like 400 pages of pure bliss and excitement. It was jam packed with a thrilling story that will have you hooked from start to end.
The plot was like nothing I have read before. And although I read it in two days I felt like I had been reading it for a week because so much happened in such a limited amount of pages and I felt like I had been there in the book for the whole time that it played in my head because it was just so vivid. The story line was definitely thought about a lot and a lot of research must have been put into this novel and it didn't disappoint. That's what's good about Larkin. She hasn't gone halfway with the research, she's gone all out and written the book to perfection.
The prose was gorgeous. The writing was smoulderingly good and the essence and description of it really sent you to the musky world of flappers and exposed the true 1920's to my mind. The writing is so good, good being the climax of every other word variant of it. I don't like to use good and I set it aside for when a string of words can not describe how good something is and then I use good. Because then that means it is the best. And this novel really was the best. The writing was powerful and strong, drawing you in from the beginning and keeping you there, leeching of every word, leaving at the end wanting more.
The characters were so perfect for the book and it just had some many twists and turns, underlying layers of characters getting exposed as the book progresses. I mean trust me, there are some dramatic surprises in this novel. But what I like about the novel was that for every character there was an opposite, which kept the book nice and balanced. The character formed well in you mind and you felt very close to them. Lorraine is my favourite character. She was strong and shrewd but living in Gloria's shadow and i just felt so overwhelmed when she started to want take Gloria's perfection away from her. I couldn't help but imagine her as the Lady Gaga of the 1920's.
Overall I adored this novel with a passion! It was fantastic, beautifully written novel, full of twist turns and smouldering story just eating to be told.
Book: tempest
Author: Julie Cross
Publisher: PanMacmillan
ISBN: 9780230756267
Rating: A
Jackson Meyer is hiding a secret. He can time-travel. But he doesn't know how he does it, how to control it or what it means. When Jackson, and his girlfriend Holly, find themselves in fatal danger, Jackson panics and catapaults himself two years into his past, further than he's ever managed before, and this time he can't find a way back to the future. All the rules of time-travel he's experienced so far have been broken and Jackson has no choice but to pretend to be his younger self whilst he figures out a solution. Jackson is tearing himself apart with guilt and frustration, wondering if Holly survived. He's also become the target of an unknown enemy force and it seems even his dad is lying to him. Jackson is racing against time to save the girl he loves, but to do that he must first discover the truth about his family and himself. And stay alive.
The hardest thing to do with time travel is to get the reader to understand your concept of how it works and Julie Cross aced it. This book literally blew me away. I've read many time trade books in the past such as Time Riders, and Day of the assassin but this had truly outshone them all. You know that moment when you come across a book that's just going to be amazing. This was more than just a moment with this book. This was an epic event.
The plot was so complex, and cross has definitely mastered the art of twist and turns. Definitely a unique plot. Haven't come across anything like it so far. So much action thought. It was jam packed full of everything you could want. Love, romance, making mistakes, action, fighting and time travel to top it all off.
I particularly like how it was written with the date and time at the top of each section. Beside that though the writing in general was really nice read swell. I flowed smoothly and the balance of description and dialogue was absolutely perfect, making it a very pleasant read. I felt so happy reading this book and a lot of it came down to the text.
The character were all so nice to read about. You felt so in touch with them. Like they were your friends. Whatever they felt, you felt. Favourite character... hmm... hard choice? Who am I kidding, it's Jackson! It's everything you want in a hero! Strong, cool, willing to save risks and always there to save the girl in danger. He was a strong character in the book and kept it all together. He was the focus point and I felt he had the most effort put into him, which is what made him such an amazing main character.
Overall this book was gorgeous read and I absolutely adored it! One word. Sequel?
Book: Switched
Author: Amanda Hocking
Publisher: PanMacmillan
ISBN: 9781447210283
Rating: A+
Wendy Everly knew she was different the day her mother tried to kill her and accused her of having been switched at birth. Although certain she's not the monster her mother claimed she is she does feel that she doesn't quite fit in ...The new girl in High School, she's bored and frustrated by her small town life and then there's the secret that she can't tell anyone. Her mysterious ability she can influence people's decisions, without knowing how, or why ...When the intense and darkly handsome newcomer Finn suddenly turns up at her bedroom window one night her world is turned upside down. He holds the key to her past, the answers to her strange powers and is the doorway to a place she never imagined could exist. Forening, the home of the Trylle. Everything begins to make sense to Wendy. Among the Trylle, she is not just different, but special. But what marks her out as chosen for greatness in this world also places her in grave danger. With everything around her changing, Finn is the only person she can trust. But dark forces are conspiring not only to separate them, but to see the downfall everything that Wendy cares about. The fate of Forening rests in Wendy's hands, and the decisions she and Finn make could change all their lives forever ...
This was a gorgeously fantastic novel. From the characters, to the world I don't think that there is a single flaw with this novel. What I don't get is why it took so long to get published. I mean come on, self published, this should have been published from the start.
For starters the plot is absolutely fantastic. I can honestly say, I have read nothing like it so far. It's a totally unique storyline and plot and must have been planned out really well and spent hours over writing. I mean it was just such a unique idea! Trolls? What big ugly creatures? I don't think so. Magical, beautiful creatures hidden away in the small town of Trylle.
It follows Wendy, a girl who always has felt slightly out of place and has a hidden power. Supposedly she is a changeling, and then all of a sudden it becomes true, she is whisked away to a magical world and the adventure starts.
This was one of those books I had heard so much about but looked at it, thought 'Self Published?' and left it. I am never making that mistake again. This was one of the most breathtakingly beautiful novels I have read in a long long time and is definitely a breath of fresh air to the YA market. I really liked this compelling novel.
Now the prose was exquisite. Such a fantastic style of writing and it was an utter joy to read. Even the more violent darker scenes sounded beautiful with that type of prose. The writing was just fantastic thought. So perfect in a way I can't explain. I just felt so close to everything about the book and the writing was what propelled the book forwards in such a wonderful manner.
The character were all so built up in their own little worlds. The book didn't have too many characters but the ones they did have were built up so well and you felt so close to them at all stages of the book. You got a lump when something bad happened and you wanted to jump for joy when something happy happened. Everything was close to you in this book.
Overall Hocking has done a lovely job creating a beautiful, exquisite and flawless novel that was thorough and enjoyable read.
Book: Unleashed
Author: Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie
Publisher: Doubleday
ISBN: 9780857530714
Rating: B+
When Katelyn starts at her new school, the only person she knows is the handsome and intriguing Trick Sokolov, an acquaintance of her grandfather. She's surprised when the popular Cordelia Fenner invites her home and when she meets Cordelia's hot cousin, she begins to think her new life might be ok after all. But as she spends time with the family, she realises that the Fenners are harbouring a deep dark secret. Every bone in Katelyn's body tells her that the Fenners are mad, bad and dangerous to know - but how can she give up her only friend, and how can she ignore the way Justin sets her blood on fire with a single look? Katelyn finds herself caught between three major werewolf clans who have been at war with each other for centuries - a war, it seems, that Katelyn is destined to end.
Unleashed is one of those books that really grips you from the moment you start reading. I must admit that after the Twilight fiasco all supernatural books seemed to become the same but this really brought me back to why I love supernatural fiction. This was the book that made me love werewolves more than vampires! My side has turned.
The plot was fantastic. Not too fast, not too slow, always keeping me on the edge of my seat. This is the first and amazing book to a compelling new series. I hadn't read Nancy and Debbie's other series but had heard so much good stuff about the series that when this one popped through the mail box I was tearing into the novel sucking up every last word, not mention the beautiful cover!
The story was well planned and a new style of plot, not the typical vampire/werewolf one with a love triangle and a human and vampire/werewolf. If anything, technically by the end they are all werwolves, and it leaves you on such a annoying cliffhanger. Now i have to wait for the next book! (which is called hot blooded)
The characters were all really well written with plenty of depth to them and you got so close to them tat in emotional scenes you really felt for them. Katelyn was a very strong character and most undeniably my favourite. She really was the key to the whole book and had she been given even a slightly different personality the whole book would have crumbled. She really gave the book what it needed.
Overall I loved the book, and it was a dark, compelling tale of the hidden worlds, and boy do I want number 2? Yes i do!
