THE TRAGEDY PAPER - TRAILER

Hello all! Just a little follow up from my review on the Tragedy Paper! Here is the trailer! ENJOY!

THE TRAGEDY PAPER - ELIZABETH LABAN - REVIEW

Book: The Tragedy Paper
Author: Elizabeth Laban
Publisher: DoubleDay
ISBN: 9780857533012
Rating: A

Every year at an exclusive private boarding school in New York state, the graduating students uphold an old tradition - they must swear an oath of secrecy and leave behind a "treasure" for each incoming senior. When Duncan Meade inherits the room and secrets of Tim Macbeth, he uncovers evidence of a clandestine romance, and unravels the truth behind one of the biggest mysteries in the school's history. How far would you go to keep a secret?

This was a beautiful novel. I must admit when I got the press email about this I was a little sceptical because I was fairly out of my comfort zone but nevertheless I was intrigued and I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this masterpiece. This book is an absolutely stunning piece of literature that is so touching and powerful you can't help to adore it.

I'm not actually going to do a mini summary, just because i can't sum it up in a single number of words. You must read the heart wrenching novel.

The story is perfect. I don't think i've said those words in an incredibly long time. However I haven't read for a long time and this was the perfect first breath to get me back into reading. This was such a beautiful and articulate plot and the tale was one that just had to be told. So much effort must have been put into the plot and I truly applaud LaBan. The plot was gorgeous, touching on some really common issues, such as young love and deeper issues such as reject in societ, Albinism and simple stress of Exams for modern children. If fact the whole concept behind the story, basic it around an english assignment is pure genius. It kept me enthralled, and I can honestly say I devoured this complete novel in one sitting.

The writing is simply outstanding. LaBan nails it! For a debut novel, this is how it should be done! My standards are raised. Everything about they way she writes had me from the words Chapter One! It's just so fluid and beautiful to read, and even though the story is a complex one its so easy to understand and even self explanatory. It perfectly balances the key ingredients needed and was an absolute dream to read.

The Main characters are Vanessa, Tim, Patrick, Duncan and I guess Daisy. I mainly follows Tim and Duncan though. Both are very similar in many ways but yet different in many as well. It has been done very well, and the story merges these characters together in a way that has a brilliant effect. It really shows key points in life that we need to appreciate.
The characters in general were brilliantly done. There wasn't too many, so you can stay focused and unconfused, and when there was an extra here or there it was only for a scene and then they vanished. I like it when book do this because it really builds up your relationship about the characters. You got to know the people very well and what really came through is that not everyone is black and white. I really felt this with Patrick. Of course first impressions is that he's the horrible boyfriend who has the girl int he love triangle, and don't get me wrong, he is, but  there's more to him than that. I really like how this book was a life experience within itself. All the characters were very well formed and you knew everything you knew.

Overall this was an absolutely gorgeous story to read. It was riveting and powerful yet so beautiful and simple and I am so so so glad I read it. Reading the Tragedy Paper is something I will never regret.

DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT - LAINI TAYLOR - REVIEW

Book: Days of Blood and Starlight
Author: Laini Taylor
Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton
ISBN: 9781444722673
Rating: B

It began with the breathtaking DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE...This November, the story continues in the astounding, must-read sequel, DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a new way of living - one without massacres and torn throats and bonfires of the fallen, without revenants or bastard armies or children ripped from their mothers' arms to take their turn in the killing and dying. Once, the lovers lay entwined in the moon's secret temple and dreamed of a world that was a like a jewel-box without a jewel - a paradise waiting for them to find it and fill it with their happiness. This was not that world.

Okay, so this was a big book for me in both ways. Firstly it was pretty long and secondly, I was the well awaited sequel the it fantabulous predecessor. I adored Daughter of Smoke and Bone, after buying on whim, and when i had the opportunity to review this I was like YES!

Anyway the book picks up where the last one left off, though slightly ahead. Throughout the book it follows both Karou and Akiva. It follows Akive as he had lost Karou (with his siblings) and he is fighting for peace whilst the chimera and angles are at war. Karou makes it to Eretz but is captured by Thiago and now works as a restrictionist.

The plot is detailed and keeps you enthralled. It starts of quick and the mount you read you are captivated by the story, but i did find towards the middle parts it did slow a little and drag. However, soon the end came and i couldn't put the book down. Each chapter switched POV on a cliffhanger keeping me desperate to know what happened next. The plot was a perfect plot, with equal amounts of sadness and happiness and loads of effort went into this masterpiece.

As for the writing, I knew what DOSAB was like and it had set my standards high. DOBAS did not fail. The writing was absolutely stunning a perfect balance of description and dialogue. What i really loved though was that whilst maintaining 3rd person Taylor let us into the minds of characters to really understand their feelings and what they were going through.

Characters. Characters don't really change too much. They stay to the characters we know from book 1 so we don't get too confused. If anything, we get know characters only hinted at in book 1 and those we already know we learn more about. Taylor really has a way of letting you into the minds of her characters, where you base on knowledge really grows about them. The characters were well formed and the brilliant idea of the chimera made each one individual and unique. A true pleasure to read.

Overall the story was stunning, the book an absolute pleasure to read. I devoured completely and was simply left wanting more. A favourite from 2012!

Hello Everyone! Just wanted to give you all an update as the blog has been ever dead recently. Well basically I know I have been MIA a lot but it may continue a little while. Basically for the next couple of months I have tons of Exams so I promise I will try and read as much as I can and put as much up as I can, but please Bear With. :)