FATED - ALYSON NOEL - REVIEW

Book: Fated
Author: Alyson Noel
Publisher: PanMacmillan
ISBN: 9781447206804
Rating: A+


Strange things have been happening to Daire Santos. Animals follow her, crows mock her, glowing people appear from nowhere. Worried that Daire's having a breakdown, her mother sends her to stay with the grandmother she's never met, who lives on the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico.There Daire crosses paths with Dace, a gorgeous guy with unearthly blue eyes. Her grandmother recognizes Daire's episodes for what they are - a call to her true destiny as a Soul Seeker, a person who can navigate between the living and the dead. Guided by her grandmother, Daire must be quick to learn how to harness her powers, because Dace's brother is an evil shape-shifter, out to steal them. Daire must embrace her fate as a Soul Seeker and discover whether Dace is the guy she's meant to be with ...or if he's allied with the enemy she's destined to destroy.


This was just what I needed. It was just such an amazingly mind-blowing novel, filled with mystery, magic, and a perfect boy. A typical Noel novel... and I loved it! I remember when the Evermore series ended I was really sad to see it go as it was one of my favourite series's but this most definitely filled the void it left. Ever and Damen? Who? It's all about Daire and Dace now. But seriously, this was a gorgeously written novel, with magic and suspense filling the pages and a story so unique It left me hungry for more!


The book is about a whole new type of humanoid creature. Soul seekers. Basically it's  about a girl named Daire who has these visions and goes to stay with her grandmother, who she hasn't met all her whole life and says she can help with the visions. She goes to stay in mexico and learns she is a soul seeker. Training starts, meets boy, the norm... then comes the baddie, he's taken her grandmothers should and...! Da, da, Daaaaa!


The story was so beautifully planned and such a honour to read. The plot flowed from chapter to chapter, and completely unique story, like nothing I have ver read before. The about of time and effort that must have gone into this book is quite clearly visible and that fact that Noel created a whole new typed of creature... well I praise her. The story line was quick, fast paced and kept me enthralled the whole time and before I knew it 500 pages had gone and I was left wanting so much more.


I thought Alyson Noels writing was beautiful before this but, my god, she's done it again... and better. The writing was just so eloquent, so musical! The writing was so lyrical and whimsical, the most stunningly vivid description playing out before your eyes and the most fantastic emotions being written. The balance with the dialogue and secretion was perfected to perfection and my god, this book was like chocolate cake! Sooo good, but leaves you wanting more.


Overall, I think the book was so gorgeously fantastic, with writing so beautiful it will make you melt and a story so perfect you'll be hungry for more.


Here is an amazing Excerpt for you to read! :


Fated

Radiance - Alyson Noel - Review

Book: Radiance ARC
Author: Alyson Noel
Publisher: PanMacmillan
ISBN: 9780330526913
Rating: A

Riley Bloom died, aged twelve, in a car crash with her parents and her beloved dog Buttercup. Her sister Ever survived – but that’s another story. Riley must let go of Ever and all the things that tied her to life – and discover what she’s meant to be in the afterlife. Riley is a soul catcher. That means helping the unhappy lost souls who stick around in the human realm to move on – and find their own place, over the bridge, in the great hereafter. With her spirit guide, Bodhi, and Buttercup by her side, Riley embarks on an adventure that will take her around the world – sending ghosts back where they belong, until she can finally make it there herself.

Radiance is an amazing novel that gripped me from the moment I started reading, and within hours I had devoured it. The perspective of the novel is very different but one that young teens can relate to. I always wanted to know more about Riley, so when the book came out I was jumping to get it. I am glad I did and do not regret it for it is one of the best reads ever, and I cannot wait for Shimmer.

I was particularly fond of chapters 1 and 2 and their introduction on death. I think it is a fantastic opening to the book.

The fact that Riley is only twelve is a nice twist to the YA series as characters in YA novels are generally 16+. I think many of the younger YA readers, like me; will love the series as there are more ways to relate to the characters, from the language of the characters to the general way of thinking. Noel has done an amazing job of putting herself into a young teenagers mind.

I love how Riley develops through the book and how we see an all new side to her personality than the party girl that is shown in the Immortals series. You get to see the true colours of this teenage girl who has lost everything, misses everything and is being forced to choose between her family and her sister, which brings me to the point of Reality. I think this scenario helps many teens to connect with Riley as there may have been divorces in their family. Anyway, then Riley is thrust into a new world and within hours is sent off to Soul Catch.

“Beautifully written, Utterly enticing, Noel’s novel is glowing with Radiance.”

The ideas in the book are unique and the dimension of Here & Now is one of my favourites. The magic is to the right balance, so that it is not thrown off as a children’s book but not a complete horror novel. Noel has found a perfect balance and to be honest the novel is absolutely perfect; beautifully written, utterly enticing, Noel’s novel is glowing with Radiance.

The characters are all very realistic and are all instantly likable. My personal favourite was Buttercup but seeing as he was a dog my second is Riley. She has a really quirky, but fun and playful personality and although she may be annoying at times you can’t help but like her. I think this is shown particularly well from the way Riley and Bodhi act around each other.

I loved the events in the book. They slotted perfectly into the storyline and made it interesting. My favourite scenes were the ones in which Riley faces the snake headed clown-dentist and the one in which Riley, Buttercup and Bodhi are flying and Riley finally gets her glow. I find the scene touching and it gives a suspicion of a growing romance between Bodhi and Riley.

The storyline is perfect. There were no glitches or parts that made no sense and I think Noel had planned the book out carefully in such a way it is the perfect spin off series to the Immortals series.

Overall the book is instantly loveable and will always be a favourite of mine and I will most defiantly recommend it to all, so a well done to Noel for creating, yet again, another five start novel.