GODDESS - JOSEPHINE ANGELINI - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY

Book: Goddess
Author: Josephine Angelini
Publisher: PanMacmillan
ISBN: 9780330529761
Rating: A

She must rise, or they will fall ...Helen's powers are increasing--and so is the distance between her and her mortal friends. To make matters worse, the Oracle reveals that a dangerous traitor is lurking among them, and all fingers point to Orion. Still unsure whether she loves him or Lucas, Helen is forced to make a terrifying decision, or risk all-out war. The final book in this heart-stopping trilogy.

Angelini you genius. You are the master of all things amazing. You know what, you should be the Goddess of writing because this was truly magical. Every single book in this series has been better than it's baby sister and this one topped the lot. By miles the best finale of a series I've read for a long. Absolutely perfect in every mannerism or characteristic. Listen up authors, because this is how you end a saga.

So in the we follow Helen on her quest [kind of] to stop the war and trust me, Angelini is queen of surprises, twists and turns. She has mastered the art of it and I have come to the conclusion that Authors sit there in general and basically do this. Author: Okay, I need to kill someone off. Who do the fans love the most. So I guess spoiler alert but there is so much shock in this plot. In fact it's one of the most intricate, perfect,  jam packed and well crafted plots I have had the pleasure to read for a long time. I mean this was perfect. The story was just everything you'd want from this book. The magic, the gods, the romance. It's a package deal and you're getting the best part of it.

The setting varied. We had Nantucket Island, Underworld and Everyland (Which I can't tell you about). All of these we masterfully created and Angelini's beautiful use of description helped this magical places to blossom in our minds. Everyworld in itself is pure perfection and the way it's portrayed is beautiful. In fact we view all the setting in a new light within this book. Nantucket becomes a battleground and The underworld becomes and escapism or a safe place almost.

The characters... well this is possibly going to be a massive paragraph. I'm not sure if what Angelini did with the characters was Genius or pure evil. There was so much suspense and shock with each and every characters. So many personality changes, emotional changes, physical changes at Matt changes. As well as some new characters and people becoming completely new characters, they generally stayed the the same, and because it's the final book we discover the true origins of all the scions and who all their real god-parents are. In fact they way Angelini has created the characters is one of the cleverest things in the book, completely throwing of trail of what you'd expect.
My favourite character in this novel is Helen hands down. Andi was a close runner but Helen is just full thrust awesomeness. The power, the magic, and just everything we learn about her makes her the most perfect character in every way and the best heroine a novel can have!

The writing is something Angelini always impresses with. I love her use of description to build up vivid images in you mind. I love descriptive book so this was perfect for me. It doesn't drag on but finds the equilibrium between description and dialogue to make the story so crisp in you mind. Her writing also has they beautiful whimsical tone to it whilst still be strong and hard hitting.
Another thing I've loved about her writing, since book 1, is that Aneglini writes in such a way it's one of those book you can pick up anywhere, anytime, even for 5 minutes and completely slip into and indulge in the story, and trust me, there's a lot to indulge in.

{SPOILER} The scenes in this story are sublime, but my favourite has to be when Helen saves dying lucas and makes her own atlantis, every land. The way she builds up the world, makes herself immortal and captures Zeus in it, is just so masterfully crafted. And another favourite scene is when Helen and Lucas find out they're not cousin! YAY! {SPOILER OVER}

So yes, there's a lot to love about this book and saying goodbye is going to be hard. It was a stunning masterpiece that had me from page 1. Theres death, romance, mythology and the finest ingredients for the epic finale. But I guess it's farewell to this series. The most magical story of the year. Hands down.

GIVEAWAY!
Now you can enter a UK ONLY giveaway to win Goddess by Josephine Angelini! Either go to the giveaway page here on enter the form below!

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GODDESS - JOSEPHINE ANGELINI - GIVEAWAY - UK ONLY

Hi Guys! So to celebrate the release of Josephine Angelini's Starcrossed Finale: Goddess, we will be running a giveaway! Simply enter below! The competition will run from today (07/05/2013) and ends on 23/05/2013 - the release date! All you have to do is enter below and may the gods be ever in your favour! UK entrants only please!

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LIFE AFTER THEFT - APRILYNNE PIKE - REVIEW

Book: Life After Theft
Author: Aprilynne Pike
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780007515554
Rating: A

Kimberlee's dead. Has been for a while, actually. Stuck haunting the halls of her high school, she's doomed to an afterlife of boredom. That is until the new kid shows up. The first thing Jeff spots is Kimberlee lying on the floor as other students walk right through her. Pretty soon she's harangued him into helping her escape to the afterlife. Kimberlee guesses that once Jeff rights her mean girl wrongs she'll be able to move on. But nothing is simple in life after death...Clash meets sass in this uproarious modern-day retelling of Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel, by #1 New York Times bestselling author.

Well where do I start with this. This left me speechless. I loved Pike's Wings series so when I saw this I was excited. Not only because it sounded amazing but also because it was rather different from here previous series, as all to often authors stick to the same sort of thing! This book however is absolutely perfect and I couldn't fault it.

The story follows Jeff, a boy who has moved to a new place and has started seeing a ghost. She is Kimberly the ex, queen bee of the school, hated by most, loved by some and she has a problem. She stole too much and Jeff has to return it all. Now this book had the romance factor in it too but it wasn't just thrown in there for the sake of it. It was actually very clever and worked with the overall plot really well, adding an extra charm to it. In fact the plot was fantastic! It was nicely fast paced, making it a wonderful read, whilst being very real and grounded but still exhilarating me completely. I feel like when authors go down the route of ghosts there's a couple of ways to go but this ghost story was crafted perfectly, and don't let 'ghost story' put you off because it's a completely new addition to the sub-genre.

The writing is so beautiful and I think because Pike previously wrote such a stunning series her writing really hone through in this. The way she manipulated words makes for a very whimsical and beautiful read whilst still having punch and and good hit! The way the world and characters materialise in you mind is absolutely perfect. When I was reading i didn't feel like I was reading anything at all. I felt as if it was all natural and as if I was in the book watching the story unfold. This honestly is one of the most perfectly balanced books when talking about the balance between description and dialogue, that I have read in a long time and provided a truly magical prose.

I liked the characters in this because they were all so unique and independent. All of them, say for Kim, were strong alone but stronger in Unity. Another things that struck me as good, was the fact that we got a lot of back story to all the characters. Of course the characters were well formed anyway but backstories and true colours of characters aren't usually revealed till a sequel but in this we got too see everyones history which was a really nice addition. There were a small circle of characters in it but the main were 4 characters, with semi mains characters appearing every now and then. 

Honestly the works that strikes me about this book is: Perfect. I couldn't fault, not at all. Reading this book, it was nice to see a whole new side to Pike and I think she has proved herself as an incredibly worthy author. I will most definitely be reading anything she writes and I look forward to seeing whatever she brings along next. This book was bliss to read and I would do so a thousand times.

ICONS - MARGARET STOHL - REVIEW

Book: Icons
Author: Margaret Stohl
Publisher: HarperVoyager
ISBN: 9780007520831
Rating: A

The first book in a breathtaking new series from Beautiful Creatures co-author Margaret Stohl Your heart beats only with their permission. Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting. Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside - safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid. She's different. She survived. Why? When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador's privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn't a coincidence. It's a conspiracy. Within the Icon's reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions - which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses - may actually be their greatest strengths. Bestselling author Margaret Stohl delivers the first book in a heart-pounding series set in a haunting new world where four teens must piece together the mysteries of their pasts - in order to save the future.

Where do I begin with this. I was anticipating this for a long time and the moment it arrived I read it in a night. This book is crammed full with every single thing you could want. Action, romance, sic-fi, dystopian. Just everything.

The plot was really interesting, because although it was dystopian it had a sic-fi crossover which was really nice. In fact sci-fi is starting to make a break in the YA market and surprisingly I'm loving it! The  story is really unique and is set in a sort of post apocalyptic world, in which aliens have taken over and there are four children with marking that save them. To sum it up it's I am number four meets the host meets divergent. Three of my favourite book so naturally I loved it.
We followed a girl named Dol [oria] and how she is ripped from the safety of the hideouts and plunged into a the governments hands. We follow her as she makes allies and enemies and learns to use her powers.
The plot is so fun. Fun is because i mean it has absolutely everything. It's such a unique idea and so perfect in every way. It satisfied all my needs, with action, tech, dystopia, romance and powers. I couldn't stop reading. Every way through the book i was intrigued and every chapter had me reading the next. Impossible to put down. Every last drop of it. It thrilled me, it made me sad, it evoked everything a book should and at the end I was lost, because an amazing book had ended I had nothing left to do.

I knew that the writing would be different, because this time it was all Stohl and no Garcia. I was not disappointed. The writing held a certain charm about it, whimsical yet hard hitting and fast. It build vivd and crisp images in your mind and scenes which played out easily. The description was so beautiful and because of the focus of the book being on emotions, the emotional description made you so connected. The dialogue was perfect and each characters really shone through.
Stohl handled action scenes really well, because sometimes authors an pace them too fast, but not once did i find me self wanting to go back or pace down. Every single page of this book had me going and drinking the novel up. 

Setting. As for setting the world is overrun and destroyed and thirteen main cities remain, governed my ambassador chosen by the aliens. The book is predominantly set in LA, or what's left of it, but in the government building, not the ram shackled down under city called the 'hole'. Though in the beginning we find ourselves in a rebellion hideout, so the speak. The locations were so perfect In every aspect, that you wanted to be there every part of the way. Just the way Stohl created this world had me intrigued and captivated.

All the characters in this book were created to perfection. I really think the focus of emotion helped us to connect to the characters and become them and although Dol was written in first person, i felt he unique power helped us to slip into the shoes of any of the characters. The charatcers were all built up extremely well, and as the book progressed we knew them better, as they came out of their shells. That's something I loved the Stohl did. She kept the characters reserved and hostile and opened them up as the book opened up. all the characters became my friends and I loved being beside them all the way till the end.

Over all this is a stunning book and a terrific addition to the YA genre.  It was the most amazing exhilarating thrilling unique book I've read for a long time! I Loved it to smithereens and I am raring for number 2.

RAPTURE - LAUREN KATE - REVIEW

Book: Rapture

Author: Lauren Kate

Publisher: Doubleday

ISBN: 9780385618120

Rating: A+

The sky is dark with wings ...And time is running out for Luce and Daniel. In order to stop Lucifer from erasing the past, they must find the place where the Fall began. Only Luce can break the curse, and it is her choice alone that will decide all of their fates. But as "Dark Forces" gather, great sacrifices will have to be made in this final, epic struggle ...In the fight for Luce, and for Love, who will win? This is the astonishing conclusion to the "FALLEN" series. Heaven can't wait any longer.

Beautiful... when books are this amazing I always find it are to write reviews because they can not be put into words. I have been trying to write this review for weeks but I think I finally cracked it. This book is definitely how you finish a series, in the most beautiful, touching, eloquent dramatic and fantastic ways. The book left me wonderstruck, both in awe and sadness. Sadness to see the series end (as it has been truly beautiful) and {SPOILER} there is a very sad ending. {SPOILER END}

The book starts with the angels and nephilim knowing that they have to stop the fall again, and they starts by trying to find the place of the fall. They then set out and travel across the world trying to find the three objects that will help reveal the place of the fall, but obviously it's not the simple. In the end they get them all, find the place, and ugh secret is revealed, they succeed and the incredibly sad ending continues... though its sad and happy at the same time.

The suspense in this novel (or rather for this novel) was so overwhelming I could not wait to get my hands on this book and I adore it so so so much! The plot line was absolutely fantastic. The books have honestly got better and better with each book and I can honestly say that this book is honestly perfect. Heavenly. Every single aspect is perfect and the hold books is complete in harmony. The storyline is clear, and easy to understand and so much effort has been pureed into this piece of master craft.

Now, I actually love Lauren Kate's writing. I have always loved hers and that was even fuelled more by Passion as I am a sucker for  tons of description, and this novel didn't fail. The description was beautiful, so crisp and vivd playing out in your mind. The dialogues was mastered out carefully, twists and turns where you need them. I find her writing gorgeous to read. It's so whimsical and angelic, and almost lyrical. It's like music to my ears, so I would love to see more from kate.

{SPOILER PARAGRAPH}Now my favourite scene in this novel would have to be both the Luce big secret scene and the end. Basically to stop the gina announcer carrying the fall luce has to get into it, but how? With wings of course. I just think its so beautiful to find out that all along Luce was an angel, and that you get to see her whole history in heaven with Daniel and Lucifer, and to find out that Daniel is not the once cursed but her. My second favourite scene would have to be the happy ever after at the end, thought it sad for a very tragic reason but I'm not going to spoil that for you, because it really is a super tragic end! {SPOILER END}

The characters are at their climax in this novel. This novel has the power to solely focus on the story and plot line because everything you need to know about all the characters has been grown and introduced in the predecessors (except about dan and lu). So what do we do? We get some amazing new characters, who really give that kick to the book! We get some really good, heart warming feel good characters. I also feel that in this book you get to see all the characters in their true beauty and perfection, even the bad guys, because what I love about Kate in this book is that she hasn't played on the bad guys being evil, but more on that fact that no one is evil for no reason. Something makes them do it, and that deep down there is always light. *hint hint* notmentioninganynameslucifer

My favourite characters would have to be luce through and through. And arinane. Ariane only because of mad awesome sauce, and because you get some really good feel good moments and laugh out loud moments with her and she is undeniably ice cool. Luce, because everything about becomes more perfect about her and she literally is pure, and it comes out in the end that she is  neither evil nor good, but truly in love, and that she is purer that god, because she doesn't play for a side. She's fights for her love and in all the world that is all she wants.

Now I must end the review to this gorgeous book and you must read it. I can honestly say that this book gave me chills reading it. It is a gorgeous book, with lyrical prose and beautiful description. 

I would read a million times till the Rapture of this world.

I love the books with a Passion so undeniable.

A life without this series would be Torture.

I have Fallen... for Fallen.

ANGEL FIRE - L.A. WEATHERLY - REVIEW

Book: Angel Fire

Author: L.A. Weatherly

Publisher. Usborne

ISBN: 9781409522010

Rating: A+

Only Willow has the power to defeat the malevolent Church of Angels - and they will stop at nothing to destroy her. However, Willow is not alone. She is with Alex, a trained Angel Killer - and her one true love. Together, they must train a new generation of Angel Killers. But as a half-angel, Willow can't help feeling like an outcast, even with Alex by her side. So when a handsome stranger with a tortured past arrives at the AK camp, Willow finds herself inextricably drawn to him.

Amazing. Beautiful. Fantastic. Thrilling. Gorgeous. Brilliant. Honestly, I could go on and on with more words to describe this book but you get the idea right. This book passed the standards; it was miles better than Angel and gave us everything we wanted. A story filled with fiery passion, shocking twists, a love made in heaven and Angels.

The first book was so frikkin amazing, entertaining, refreshing and unique, so I looked at this book and said, how on earth can you beat Angel, but clearly the answer is: ‘With FIRE’ because this book heated me up. It was definitely a Roller Coaster ride of a Thriller with a riddle-ingly unique plot and fantabulous sequel to its previous book.

The plot actually follows both Willow and Alex and Seb (a new shocker for you to discover) switching between 1^st person for willow and 3^rd for Alex and Seb. There is another chance to destroy the angels and they seize it firmly but throughout their journey there is deceit, love feuds, battles and certain type of Rapture.

The writing, as usual was firmly and most definitely stunning, with vivid description, so crisp and sharp in my mind, and emotions so strong and rich I felt them myself. L.A. Weatherly’s writing is most definitely unique and mixed with perfectly paced movement and the right amount of description entwined with a whimsical musical prose sprinkled with magic. It was most certainly wonderful to read and I could not, put it down, not once. It kept me up to all hours, engrossed, and now I think I may have Angel Burn. I just can’t get the book out of my head.

The plot was bloody brilliant. I fused everything you could want. A burning desire, a triangle of love, a supernatural twist and a happy ending. You will not be able to put this book down. The plot was truly magical, though, so unique and special. Beautiful and sparkling yet it will keep your pulse pounding and you heart racing. Obviously a lot of thought has gone into the plot, and it has been constructed carefully and precisely so one chapter will leave you clueless and a few chapters later it will all slide together and you’ll be like ‘Ohhh! That’s clever’. I’m most definitely certain that the wonderful, amazing, fandabidosi plot/story accounts for the 709 pages of pure bliss, that burned their way into my mind.

The characters in this are all so unique and special, and I don’t get the vibe that L.A. Weatherly is trying to make the characters to much of this or too much of that. The characters aren’t forced. They just are, and that’s what makes them so special. There is no perfect brooding boy with a secret or some incredibly ugly or clumsy girl. Everyone is the same, on one side or another, each side with the same goal. All of the characters extremely well built up. Those who are new, well you find out pretty much everything, and those you already know, you find out more, some things that you never even expected. They are all so different in their own unique way and I have come to care for them as my own friends in my mind, whilst reading the novel, feeling sad with them or feeling happy with them, or feeling petrified with them as they jump of a building hoping for something that sort of isn’t there to land them to safety.

My favourite character is in fact a couple that didn’t really happen but I would love to see it happen in Angel Fever, but that couple is Willow and Seb. In book 1 Alex was the guy for Willow but then Seb came along and it just seems so right for the two of them. Like Alex is no longer meant to be. Also they seem better for each other as the book has taken on a new tone, which is more understanding and more mature. Almost as if the characters have grown up and moved on from the stages of first love, and are now in a serious relationship.

Overall the book cannot be summed up into any phrase, word or even amount of words because the novel is too fantastic to fully understand until you have read it but I will end this review with two words: Truly Wonderful.