In my Mailbox #7

Captivate - Carrie Jones - Review

Book: Captivate

Author: Carrie Jones

Publisher: Bloomsbury

ISBN: 

9781408807415

Rating: B-

Zara and her friends knew they hadn't solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king's needs grow deeper every day he's stuck in captivity, while his control over his people becomes weaker. It's made him vulnerable. And now there's a new king in town. A turf war is imminent. The new pixie king is moving in quickly. He swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he's one of the good guys. Zara isn't so sure. Despite herself, she wants to trust the new king, but there's a lot more than her relationship with boyfriend Nick at stake. It's her life - and his. 


Captivate was an interesting book. Definitely different from Need, and in my personal view not as good as need, although I still gave it five stars, because it captivated me and within hours I was finished. 

The two new characters are very interesting. Let’s start with Cassidy. 
Cassidy is a new girl who befriends Devyn, who starts spending a lot of time with her. Unfortunately this get’s Issie upset as she thinks that Dev has feeling for Cassidy and not her. Little did they all know that Cassidy was part elfin and could sense that the group were different. She comes across as a shy, timid, and lonely character and doesn’t really play too much of a role in the book, but I have a sneaky feeling we’ll see a lot more of her in entice. 
Astley is the second new character and also a Pixie king who says he is not like the others and wants to change Zara. 

The first half of the book was based around Zara and Nick’s relationship and when the action did happen I didn’t feel there was enough of it. 

My favourite character was actually the Valakyrie. She was very cool. Almost like a mix of fallen angel and vampire, so rock on Jones. I have to admit when Zara was clinging onto Valakyrie it was a melodramatic but I didn’t say I didn’t like it. 

It is very weird the Zara actually changes herself for I boy, because if someone had been taken from e, unless they were family I would not change myself into some creepy blood-lusting creature, to go to a creepy land, and not know if I could change myself back. 

Overall the book was good and a five stars if I hadn’t read need before but because I have Four and a half. 

I am Number Four - Pittacus Lore - Review

Book: I am Number Four

Author: Pittacus Lore

Publisher: Michael Joseph

ISBN: 

9780718156473

Rating: A+

John Smith is not your average teenager. He regularly moves from small town to small town. He changes his name and identity. He does not put down roots. He cannot tell anyone who or what he really is. If he stops moving those who hunt him will find and kill him. But you can't run forever. So when he stops in Paradise, Ohio, John decides to try and settle down. To fit in. And for the first time he makes some real friends. People he cares about - and who care about him. Never in John's short life has there been space for friendship, or even love. But it's just a matter of time before John's secret is revealed. He was once one of nine. Three of them have been killed. John is Number Four. He knows that he is next ... 


This book ticked all the boxes for me. A evil force. A relationship. Very cool powers. And big battle. 

From the moment I started reading it I was enticed. I love how Lore has shown how number three died but it would have been even better if the Prologue had how all of the first three had died. 

The plot was amazing, and I loved how a chapter would leave you hanging and then three chapters later the puzzle would slot together and you would be like ‘Ohhh, how cool!’. The basic plot outlines the facts that John Smith is on the Run form the Mogadorians, and along the way he meets a Girl, and Alien obsessed friend, a couple of mogadorians, a weird dog, number six, and has a big fight. 

My favourite character would have to be either Bernie Kosar or Henri. Bernie Kosar, although not a person (dog actually) you take instant liking to him. He is homey, friendly and totally awesome. I mean what is he: A dog, A gecko, or A giant alien monster (good though)... wait! He’s all of them!!! 
Henri is very fun, and very serious, he pretty much does all the technical stuff in the book whilst John, falls in love, kills mogadorians, and saves the day. 

My favourite part would have to be at the fair where John and Sarah go on the ride together and Mark James tries to kidnap them. Mark is a bit off a player, because in the end he goes to John’s aid and helps fight. 

I loved the style of first person, because you don’t often get that in sci fi books. 

Very well written, and a great start to a fantastic series, five stars from me. 

Cover Love: 2011

Just a couple of books with beautiful covers that are coming out in 2011.

Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

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Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

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Passion by Lauren Kate

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Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr

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Plague by Michael Grant

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Die For Me by Amy Plum

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Hexbound by Chloe Neill

Nightshade - Andrea Cremer - Review

Just to let you know, A+ is now the highest score, as I am discontinuing A *star* as the start shape does not show on all PC's or MAC's.

Book: Nightshade

Author: Andrea Cremer

Publisher: ATOM books

ISBN: 9781907410277

Rating: A+

She can control her pack, but not her heart ...'I wanted him to kiss me?wished he could smell the desire that I knew was pouring off me. You can't, Calla. This boy isn't the one for you. Calla Tor has always known her destiny: graduation, marriage and then a life leading her pack. But when she defies her masters' laws to save a human boy, she must choose. Is one boy worth losing everything?

This book blew me away. I was hooked from the moment I started to read it, so much that I devoured within days. It had a dangerous and seductive pull on me, putting me in the world of NIGHTSHADE. The Novel in itself is something new, but I loved it nevertheless. It’s a new take on the Dark Romance Genre, branching out from the vampires to Werewolves and Wraiths.

The chapters were just the right size, and the chapter page with moon; Loving it. I think the first chapter was the perfect way to start off with Shay and the Grisly, which leads me on to Shay.

Shay... an interesting character. Unknown past, the Scion, the dream boy. An instant liking was taken to all characters but the two I felt closest to were Shay and Bryn. Bryn has a really friendly, but shy personality, and is cute but beautiful, which is the perfect character. Shay, is the dream boy of NIGHTSHADE but guess what, he’s not the bad guy! *gasp* 

“NIGHTSHADE is a hidden world, of passion, murder, lies, and werewolves. Cremer is Genius!”

The book has a nice twist on the werewolves, and the world in which they live in; NIGHTSHADE is a hidden world, of passion, murder, lies, and werewolves. Cremer is Genius. It plays on the darker side of paranormal teen romance, which we haven’t quite seen yet. It explores some new creatures, which were very exciting.

            I love the way, it’s divided between Guardians, Keepers, and Searchers, and how you’re always on the edge not knowing who too trust or who the goody is. I mean, this plays a big part at the end with the Incident, with Calla, Shay, Bosque and the searchers.

Calla is the main character, and the point of view that the book is set in. Basically, she is an Alpha, who is supposed to marry Reiner another Alpha, but she develops feeling for Shay and they run off together. She has a fierce character, and she very much hates the lower position of Women in her world.

The idea is definitely unique, and Andrea Cremer has created a masterpiece. The writing is a pleasure to read, the world is enticing, I can NOT wait for Wolfsbane and I will love this Novel forever.

Fanmade Goodnight Mr. Tom Cover

Not sure which cover is better. Mine or Original. You pick:

Fanmade

Original

Click on either for a larger view.