Review: Echo Boy by Matt Haig

 Echo Boy by Matt Haig

Author: Matt Haig Website|Twitter
Published: 27 March 2014 (Random House Children's Books)
Format: Kindle e-book (ARC)
Pages: 416
Buy the book: Amazon|Hive|BookDepository
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo

Source: Received free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks Random House!

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Audrey's father taught her that to stay human in the modern world, she had to build a moat around herself; a moat of books and music, philosophy and dreams. A moat that makes Audrey different from the echoes: sophisticated, emotionless machines, built to resemble humans and to work for human masters.

Daniel is an echo - but he's not like the others. He feels a connection with Audrey; a feeling Daniel knows he was never designed to have, and cannot explain. And when Audrey is placed in terrible danger, he's determined to save her.

THE ECHO BOY is a powerful story about love, loss and what makes us truly human.

My Review:
I've read one book of Matt Haig's before (The Radleys) which I really enjoyed, so I was keen to check out his new YA offering. Echo Boy follows Audrey, the niece of a powerful businessman who creates Echos - robots designed to serve humans.

There was plenty to enjoy about Echo Boy. It definitely appealed to the sci-fi/post-acpocalyptic fan in me! The story is set in 2115 in a word dominated by advance technology, particularly the Echos. I liked how the author has posed a lot of questions about whether the technology has gone too far in Audrey's world.

The book is told from both the perspective of Audrey and Daniel, a prototype Echo who is a lot more human than other robots. Their entries take the form of "mind logs" implying a kind of diary journalling their experiences, but it didn't really feel like reading a diary. I think it was more a way to tie in the storytelling to the world. I liked the alternating points of view, and I really loved getting an insight into Daniel. His character was a real highlight for me. The two characters develop a bond throughout the book and I liked that they could both identify as being different, with Daniel standing apart from Echos, and Audrey being an orphan who doesn't fit in with her new family.

Whilst the story had enough to keep me interested, I spent a lot of my time reading Echo Boy feeling a little disappointed. I love this genre of YA, and yet I think that was the downfall of this book. Not a lot of it was original. The technology was interesting, but I just felt so much of it had been done before. Every time a new piece of terminology was introduced I would find myself questioning where I had read it previously and getting that feeling of de jav u. It may have stood out a bit more a few years ago, but it just felt a little bit dated now there are so many similar novels out there that I enjoyed a lot more.

I had a few problems with the pacing as well. The story tended to get bogged down with exposition meaning you would leave the action at key points just to explain how some piece of equipment worked or explain the history of something which would end up having little relevence to the present situation. There was one moment towards the climax of the book where Audrey stopped to explain the material the walls of a particular building were made out of some fancy futuristic material that just baffled me and took me out of that exciting scene.

I didn't dislike Echo Boy, but it just left me feeling a little flat. There are some good action scenes in there, and I enjoyed the ending which provided a few last minute twists I thought were smart, and I thought Audrey's uncle made a great villain. I was perhaps just hoping for a little more.

Rating: 2.5*
Books like this: Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Hope's Daughter by Melanie Cusick-Jones

Review: Sister Assassin by Kiersten White

Sister Assassin by Kiersten White

Author: Kiersten White Website|Twitter
Published: 19 February 2013 (HarperCollins Children's Books)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 241
Buy the book: Amazon|Hive|BookDepository
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo

Source: Borrowed from library

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
She never chose her deadly gift but now she’s forced to use it. How far would you go to protect the only family you have left?

Annie is beset by fleeting strange visions and a guilty conscience. Blind and orphaned, she struggles to care for her feisty younger sister Fia, but things look up when both sisters are offered a place at Kessler School for Exceptional Girls.

Born with flawless intuition, Fia immediately knows that something’s wrong, but bites her tongue… until it’s too late. For Fia is the perfect weapon to carry out criminal plans and there are those at Kessler who will do anything to ensure her co-operation.

With Annie trapped in Kessler’s sinister clutches, instincts keep Fia from killing an innocent guy and everything unravels. Is manipulative James the key to the sisters’ freedom or an even darker prison? And how can Fia atone for the blood on her hands?

My Review:
I'd been wanting to read this author for a while, so when I was at the library and both this and Paranormalcy were staring at me from the shelves, I snapped them up. I started this one first because it was shorter! Sister Assassin (published as Mind Games in the US) follows Fia and Annie, two sisters who are being trained to use their special abilities.

Instantly I fell in love with the writing style. The book alternates between Annie and Fia's perspective, and it was Fia's POV that I particularly enjoyed. She has a very unique inner monologue with her thoughts running at a hundred miles per hour. I think it helped me feel for her as well because she's carrying a lot of worry and guilt. It just gave her a really distinctive voice throughout the book and it was fascinating getting inside her head when there are so many thoughts rushing around.

Before starting Sister Assassin, I'd been keen to read more books that had a focus on the relationship between sisters. That was another thing I loved about this book. I thought the relationship between Fia and Annie really pulled at the heartstrings. They both want to look out for each other and protect each other and that bond between them was really strong. I thought it made for a really interesting dynamic that Annie is the elder sister, yet is the one who has to be protected because she's so vulnerable.

There were some great action scenes where Fia has to fight, and I liked the idea that the girls were being trained to use their schools. I think it will appeal to fans of books like the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter. Whilst it made for some exciting scenes, I was hoping to find out a bit more about the bigger picture. I left the book not really understanding why Annie and Fia were in the situation they were in. I think the mystery was intentional in places, but some parts just left me confused and wanting to know more.

The book alternates between chapters set in the present and past, with some chapters taking place years beforehand. The flitting back and forth in time was great as an introduction to the girls and their history, but as it carried on I started to lose my place in the world and the story and if I put the book down for a while, I'd lose track of what period of time we were in when I returned to it.

It's a hard book to review, because I did like it. I loved the characters and it held my attention. It's quite a short book and by the end I started to realise I wasn't going to get some of the answers and clarification I was hoping for, because it just ran out of pages. So I enjoyed being caught up in the story but I was left a bit confused. I haven't ruled out reading the next book in the series, but I think I'd need a reread before progressing.

Rating: 3*
What to read next: Perfect Lies by Kiersten White, book 2 in the Mind Games series
Books like this: Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

Review: Champion (Legend, #3) by Marie Lu

Spoiler warning! This is the 3rd and final book in the Legend trilogy and this review will contain spoilers for the previous two books. You can read my review of Legend here and Prodigy here instead.

Champion by Marie Lu

Author: Marie Lu Website|Twitter
Published: 5 November 2013 (Penguin)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 353
Buy the paperback: Amazon|Hive|BookDepository
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo

Source: Borrowed from library

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic - and each other - and now their country is on the brink of a new peaceful existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government's elite circles while Day has been assigned a high level military position.

My Review:
Champion is the third and final book in the Legend trilogy, and picks up the story with June in her position of Princeps-Elect and Day struggling to look after brother Eden whilst facing his own health battles.

I've loved this trilogy so far. I enjoyed Prodigy even more than Legend, and with the cliffhanger the last book left us hanging on, I was desperate to dive into Champion. I'm disappointed to say that this was my least favourite book in the trilogy. A lot of things just didn't come together for me, but I think the biggest problem I had was that I was expecting it to be a lot different. There were things I was hoping to see that never came to fruition.

I'm going to start with the positives, because there was still a lot I did like. My favourite scenes were those that took place in Antarctica. Throughout the trilogy I've always had that curiosity about life outside the Republic, and I loved the glimpses we got at that. I thought the descriptions of the city in Antarctica and the technology introduced there were exciting and clever. I would maybe have liked to see more of the Colonies (one of the things I was expecting after reading Prodigy) so I was sad there wasn't more focus on that.

The trilogy has always had its strengths in the political side of the story, and Champion certainly played to those strengths. There was a lot of focus on tactics, plotting and negotiation and it took a hundred pages before you really got into the action. That made the first third of the book a bit slower paced and so it was a while before I was really hooked in. Once the action kicked in I could really immerse myself in the story.

The relationship between Day and June was obviously something I was looking forward to, and there were some wonderful moments between the two of them during the story. I was hoping for more of a solid conclusion to their story, but there was a lot left open ended. It's hard to talk about the ending without spoiling anything, but I did like the closing scenes. I think it appealed to my soppier side with this romantic idea it had going on and I left the book feeling slightly uplifted. I just would have preferred more closure and a less open ending, although I guess I can always use my imagination to fill the gaps!

In terms of things that didn't work so much, I didn't like the more subdued version of June. She only really comes into her own in the last hundred pages where she becomes the quick thinking, intelligent, slightly rebellious June we all know and love. I also had problems with the pacing in the quiter moments that had me skimming over bits to get to more exiting scenes. Because of that, I think I'll have to re-read at some point to pick up on a few plot points I missed or misunderstood.

I did enjoy Champion, particuarly the last hundred pages and the closing few chapters had me glued to the pages and my heart pounding. It didn't quite have the same spark as the previous two books, but I've still come to love the writing and characters. It's a trilogy I'd like to revisit and Marie Lu is still an author I will continue to follow in the future.

Rating: 3*
What to read next:
Books like this: Allegiant by Veronica Roth, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, Reached by Ally Condie

Review: Eve & Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate

Eve & Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate

Authors: Michael Grant Website|Twitter Katherine Applegate Website|Twitter
Published: 1 October 2013 (Electric Monkey)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 312
Buy the paperback: Amazon|Hive|BookDepository
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo

Source: Borrowed from library

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
And girl created boy…

In the beginning, there was an apple—

And then there was a car crash, a horrible injury, and a hospital. But before Evening Spiker’s head clears a strange boy named Solo is rushing her to her mother’s research facility. There, under the best care available, Eve is left alone to heal.

Just when Eve thinks she will die—not from her injuries, but from boredom—her mother gives her a special project: Create the perfect boy.

Using an amazingly detailed simulation, Eve starts building a boy from the ground up. Eve is creating Adam. And he will be just perfect... won’t he?

My Review:
Eve & Adam is a book I'd been wanting to read for a while after seeing it be published in the US a while ago. I was at the library when the UK edition jumped of the shelves at me! Eve & Adam follows Evening Spikers as she recovers from a life threatening accident in her mother's hospital, leading her to discover more about her mum's work at her company Spiker Biotech.

The opening to Eve & Adam really hooked me in. Evening's accident takes place in the opening few pages and you get to see through her eyes as she flirts with death. I loved the action packed scenes and also the mystery of just what was happening to Evening. She herself isn't sure so you get caught up in her uncertainty.

The book is told from multiple POV, predominantly alternating between Evening herself and Solo, a worker at her mum's company. I liked both characters, although I found Solo to be more interesting. He had a great back story and I was always curious about just what he was up to. He also becomes quite fascinated with Eve and there's a romantic interest there. I liked that his loyalties are questioned and that I was never quite sure what to make of him.

The rest of the characters were a bit of a mixed bag for me. I never quite connected with Evening herself. In fact I felt I knew more about her best friend Aislin - who has a reputation Evening's mother disapproves of and a drug dealing boyfriend - than I did her. Saying that, I did like the relationship between Evening and her mother - Terra Spiker. There's friction there stemming from her mother's reputation and she has a lot of questions about what she's really up to. I liked that there were secrets that took a while to come to light because it made for some great plot twists.

I love sci-fi and I thought the ideas in Eve & Adam were fascinating. Whilst staying at her mum's company, Eve is asked to try out some software used to create a human. I thought there were some great ethical and moral questions surrounding that process whilst Eve is going through the motions of creating someone. Do you make them perfect, or give them flaws because everyone should have flaws? What about appearance? Is it selfish to make someone look how you want them to look? I thought the whole concept of the book was really clever.

Eve & Adam is quite a short read and quick read, and for the most part I did find it enjoyable. I liked the ideas and the plot twists, but part of me was left wanting more. It's the first book in a series so I think there's potential for more to be uncovered.

Rating: 3*
What to read next: This book is the first in a planned series
Books like this: Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong, Virals by Kathy Reichs

Review: Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover (Gallagher Girls, #3) by Ally Carter

Spoiler warning! This is the third book in the Gallagher Girls series and this review may contain spoilers from previous books. You can read my review of I'd Tell You I Love You but then I'd Have to Kill You here or Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy here.

Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter

Author: Ally Carter Website|Twitter
Published: 6 January 2011 (Orchard)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 304
Buy the paperback: Amazon|Hive|BookDepository
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Hive

Source: Borrowed from library

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
When Cammie "The Chameleon" Morgan visits her roommate Macey in Boston, she thinks she's in for an exciting end to her summer break. After all, she's there to watch Macey's father accept the nomination for vice president of the United States. But when you go to the world's best school (for spies), "exciting" and "deadly" are never far apart. Cammie and Macey soon find themselves trapped in a kidnappers' plot, with only their espionage skills to save them.

As her junior year begins, Cammie can't shake the memory of what happened in Boston, and even the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women doesn't feel like the safe haven it once did. Shocking secrets and old flames seem to lurk around every one of the mansion's corners as Cammie and her friends struggle to answer the questions, Who is after Macey? And how can the Gallagher Girls keep her safe?

Soon Cammie is joining Bex and Liz as Macey's private security team on the campaign trail. The girls must use their spy training at every turn as the stakes are raised, and Cammie gets closer and closer to the shocking truth....

My Review:
I really enjoyed the first two books in this series and with the last book - United We Spy - having just been released, I've bumped the rest of the books up my to-read list in an attempt to catch up! Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover sees the Gallagher Girls deal with Macey's rise to fame and the need for extra protection to her dad running for vice president. But will all the publicity put their school at risk, or more importantly, Macey's life?

This wasn't my favourite book in the series, but it was still an enjoyable read. The book jumps into the plot quite quickly which meant for some great action packed scenes early on. As it had been a while since I read the second book, I did have to go away and look up some of the things from the previous books I'd forgotten because I have a memory like a sieve. Once I'd done that, I was able to lose myself in the story again.

I liked that the book focuses around Macey because she's one of my favourite characters and she's central to the plot in this one. I think one of the things that threw me off a bit about Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover was how bleak the beginning was. Cammie and Macey go through quite an intense traumatic experience, and they both seem to suffer from a bit of PTSD. It made it a bit harder to get into the swing of the book because it wasn't the fun adventure I was used to. I liked that it showed the consequences of what happened to them though. I think where it started to put me off was when the moping was about guys. Cammie spends a lot of the book bummed out about Zach and it was getting a bit annoying by the end.

One of my favourite parts of this book was the introduction of Cammie's Aunt Abby. She's a totally cool aunt and a breath of fresh air compared to her more uptight mother. I really enjoyed her as a character and seeing the influence she had on Cammie. As always with this series, the central friendship of Cammie, Liz, Bex and Macey is one of my favourite things, and it was no different in this book. I just love how they're so comfortable around each other and their personalities bounce of each other so well.

The ending of Don't Judge a Girl was a real page turner. I enjoyed the dramatic climax and I was taken aback by how much I feared for the characters. It was quite emotional! I read this book mainly over the space of an afternoon, and it was an exciting quick read. It didn't quite live up to the other books for me and I had a few niggles, but I'm still looking forward to reading the next book. I've already put a hold on it from the library!

Rating: 3*
What to read next: Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter, the fourth Gallagher Girls book
Books like this: Insignia by S. J. Kincaid, Heist Society by Ally Carter

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer: Expectation vs Reality

So up until recently, I hadn't read Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. There are a few reasons for this. When it first came out, I wasn't as immersed in YA as I am now and I don't think I'd read a single vampire book, so it just wasn't on my radar. I first became aware of the book through the films. I can actually remember listening to BBC Radio 1 when they were live from the UK premiere of the first film. I hadn't heard anything about the books before, but they were constantly referring to it on this radio show as the next Harry Potter. At the time I was a huge Harry Potter fan so this probably made me a bit sceptical.

As time went on, Twilight became embedded in pop culture. Even without reading the books or watching the films, I became aware of the general plot and the characters became as familiar to me as those in books I had actually read. But as I became more aware of the phenomenon, the desire to read the books decreased. After all, I knew the story. Nobody cares about spoilers with a series that big, so that left me with little curiosity about what happened because I already knew. Then came the backlash. I heard tales of the awful writing, Bella was drippy and how controlling Edward was. I'll admit, I was put off. It just didn't sound like something I'd enjoy.

So what changed? For a while I had this little challenge going with myself - how long could I avoid Twilight? It seemed like an achievement, having stayed away from something so popular for so long. Being one of the few to have not read the books or seen the films was like being in a pretty exclusive club. But as time went on, I realised just how much I was judging it without having read it. I mean I'd written it off as not my cup of tea, but then I started reading, and very much enjoying, vampire books. The more I read, the more it seemed like Twilight was a gaping hole in my reading back catalogue. When people dicussed Twilight, I felt compelled to stay out of conversations because I wouldn't speak anything bad about it having not read the books myself. Still my Tumblr feed was full of posts about Twilight, either graphics and gifs from people who loved it or rants and highlighted passages from people who didn't. I realised it was time to make up my own mind. Luckily my best friend is a fan of the books, so I asked her if I could borrow the first one and she obliged. 

So what did I think?

This isn't going to be a traditional review, for some of the reasons stated above. The majority of people already know the plot and have their own perceptions of the series. I went into Twilight as open minded as possible, wanting to enjoy it, but because I have been so exposed to it through the media and online, it was impossible to go in without any expectations at all. So here are my thoughts based on those expectations.

The writing 

Usually I know within a few pages or chapters whether I am going to get on with a book. This is where the writing has the chance to win me over or put me off. When I started Twilight I was impressed. I'd heard how terrible the writing was, but I can honestly say Twilight exceeded my expectations. When you read as much as I do, you come across all kinds of writing, from the beautifully stunning to the down right awful. Now Twilight wasn't the most amazingly written thing I have ever read, but neither was it the worst. In fact, it was very far from it. I enjoyed the opening few chapters and found the descriptions of Forks to be very atmospheric. I found myself wrapped up the locations and characters because of those descriptions.

Saying that, the beginning of the book was definitely stronger than the end. When I got to the second half of the book, I started to feel the writing slip slightly. Odd words and phrases were starting to slip in. It was enough to be noticeable, but not off-putting. I think Meyer's strength is the description as opposed to dialogue. So much of the latter half of the book is dialogue between Edward and Bella and maybe that's why it felt a little more clunky to me.

Either way, the writing was okay, didn't halt my enjoyment and I would read more by this author.

The characters

From the very beginning of the book I was instantly drawn to Bella. I found her to be likable and confident. She's just found herself at a new school in a new town, and yet she's holding her own and not shying away from people. I liked how natural she was around the kids at her new school. A lot of the criticism I've heard about Twilight is focused on Bella, and having read the book, I'm going to stand up for her a bit.

Firstly, her curiosity about Edward I can totally understand. He's acting weird around her and is generally a bit mysterious. Who wouldn't be intrigued? Plus he's good looking. What teenage girl isn't going to be drawn to one of the best looking kids at school? I liked how she challenged him and tried to learn more about him. She really went out of her way to get the bottom of why he acted like I did. She didn't just put up with it, which is what I was expecting.

Secondly, she's completely entitled to act like a soppy teenage girl around the guy she fancies because at the end of the day, she is a teenage girl. Bella admits she has little experience with guys. The less experience you have, the more naive you are. I think back to how I was as a teenager, and how I acted about guys was probably quite pathetic. I mean I used to write about boys in my diary - in code. And I daren't even think what ridiculously soppy things I would write. So yes, it is a bit annoying reading about the colour of Edward's eyes every five minutes because Bella is obsessed with them, but this is her first love and so I can forgive her a bit of mushy observation.

Then there's Edward. I mean firstly, the Edward in my head looks nothing like RPatz, which was a miracle in itself. But hey, I went with the book description and formed my own image. That meant my Edward was slightly more good looking to me (RPatz doesn't really do it for me, sorry!). I didn't really fall for Edward the way Bella did. Sure he has his moments, and some of the times he looks out for Bella were quite sweet, but I did tire a little of his "I'm dangerous, Bella" routine. Perhaps because I didn't really feel that danger until the last 100 pages of the book (more on that later). He did have his charming moments and I liked the scenes where he and Bella are asking each other questions to learn more about each other. Plus his vampire skills like his super fast running were pretty cool.

So obviously I've heard of Team Edward and Team Jacob, and I come out of Twilight with a fondness for Jacob. He isn't in it much, so I can't form a solid opinion on whether I like him with Bella, but I definitely appreciated his kindness towards her. I liked that he took the time to explain his family's history with the Cullens so that Bella was up to speed. I also liked the fact that Bella's dad and Jacob's dad are friends and so Jacob and Bella have a history. I'm excited to read more about Jacob as a character because he seems like the nice boy to Edward's moody and mysterious, and I am all about the nice boy.

The plot

So I went in expecting a girl to fall in love with a vampire, and that's what I got. The romance is the main focus of Twilight, and for a lot of the book I struggled with the lack of plot. Not a lot happens and it's a long book. The enjoyed the first hundred pages, because I could lose myself in the world building and join Bella on her discovery of her new surroundings. The middle lagged a bit for me, but when you get to 300 pages in, stuff does finally start to happen. Finally Bella is in danger, which sounds like a horrible thing to say, but have 300 pages of Bella and Edward bonding and Edward claiming to be dangerous, I needed something to grab my attention and really prove that. The last hundred pages were fast paced and exciting, I just wished we'd got to that moment sooner.

Summing Up

Twilight was better than I was expecting. I did not hate it. Not at all. It was a bit slow, and wasn't always on board with the romance, but it had enough about it to keep me intrigued. Now a lot has been established I am excited to see where the story goes. Obviously I know a lot of what's coming up in later books plot wise because the media has spoiled me, but I am still interested in reading about it for myself. High up on that list is learning more about Jacob, and discovering the consequences of something that happened with Bella and Edward. I'm also intrigued to watch the film so I can compare the two.

Lessons learnt

Don't judge a book before you've read it. Duh. And don't let other people's attitudes towards a book put you off. I know people have their reasons for not liking Twilight, and so I hope they will respect my wish to read the books and form my own opinion.

Rating: 3*
What to read next: New Moon by Stephanie Meyer
Books like this: Evernight by Claudia Gray, Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Review: Dinner With a Vampire by Abigail Gibbs

The Dark Heroine: Dinner With a Vampire by Abigail Gibbs

Author: Abigail Gibbs Website|Twitter
Published: 11 October 2012 (Harper Voyager)
Format: Paperback (proof)
Pages: 549
Buy the paperback: Amazon|Waterstones
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo

Source: Received free proof copy from publisher via the Waterstones Cardholder Read and Review scheme

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
The sexiest romance you’ll read this year…

One moment can change your life forever...

For Violet Lee, a chance encounter on a darkened street draws her into a world beyond her wildest imaginings, a timeless place of vast elegance and immeasurable wealth – of beautiful mansions and lavish parties – where a decadent group of friends live for pleasure alone. A place from which there is no escape...no matter how hard Violet tries.

Yet all the riches in the world can’t mask the darkness that lies beneath the gilded surface, embodied in the charismatic but dangerous Kaspar Varn.

Violet and Kaspar surrender to a passion that transcends their separate worlds – but it’s a passion that comes at a price...

My Review:
So I read this book last year as part of the Waterstones Cardholder Read and Review program, and reviewed it on Waterstones and Goodreads. I was unsure whether to review it on the blog because I didn't know whether the book was really marketed as YA and it was before I started branching out and including a wider range of ages on the blog. I've since seen a lot of other YA blogs had reviewed it and seeing the author at Leakycon this year reminded me of the book, so here's my review!

When I first applied to win a read and review copy of this book, I'd just seen an interview with the author on TV. Needless to say I was intrigued by both the book and the nature of how it came about! So I was very happy when it popped through my letterbox and looked forward to finding it out whether it lived up to the hype.

The opening scenes feature Violet Lee witnessing a violent vampire attack in Trafalgar Square, and then being kidnapped by vampires. She's taken to a mansion where she is surrounded by vampire royalty, including the mysterious Kaspar. I was drawn in completely by the action. I think the opening few chapters were where the book was at its strongest.

I really liked the world this book was set in. I liked that it was a vampire novel based in Britain as most of the vampire novels I read are set in America. It gave it a really fresh feeling and it was nice to have that sense of British-ness throughout! I'd certainly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of vampire novels.

Dinner With a Vampire is mainly told from Violet's point of view, but occasionally we get chapters from Kaspar's perspective. I couldn't help feeling these were a bit pointless as they were usually very short and didn't add a great deal to the story. We're introduced to a lot of the vampires associated with Kaspar and I did find myself getting a bit confused as to who was who in places where there were a lot of names to take in. I liked the backstory of Violet's family, though.

The book is billed as "the sexiest romance you'll read this year" but the romance was where I ended up disappointed, to be honest. I really didn't see the attraction of Kaspar and most of the time he just came across as horrible and a bit creepy (especially when it came to his constant use of the nickname "girly" for Violet). I found myself getting annoyed with Violet's feelings for him because I just couldn't understand what it was she saw in him. I started to lose faith in her as the book went on,

I enjoyed most of the plot, and there were some great twists and reveals that kept my attention. I could maybe have done with the book being a bit shorter but overall I liked what I read. It was just the romance element that left me disappointed and didn't live up to expectations. I'd be interested to read the following book and maybe check out any other books this author comes out with in the future.

Rating: 3*
What to read next: Autumn Rose by Abigail Gibbs, the second book in the Dark Herione series
Books like this: Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Review: Curve by Nicola Hudson

Note: This is a New Adult book and is aimed at readers over the age of 15 due to mature content. For more information about New Adult books and my policy on reviewing them, please visit this post. Thank you!

Curve by Nicola Hudson

Author: Nicola Hudson Website|Twitter
Published: 25 October 2013
Format: Kindle e-book (ARC)
Buy the e-book: Kindle|KindleUS

Source: Received free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thanks Nicola!

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Cass is seventeen and never been kissed, let alone touched, when two boys become interested in her. Flynn is the older brother of her best friend, yet Cass has never considered him as anything other than that. Rob is the school sports star and becomes obsessed with Cass when he loses a bet because of her. As the relationship between Cass and Flynn develops, Rob's interest becomes increasingly malevolent. One night changes Cass's life and threatens to destroy her relationship with Flynn, as well as her future

My Review:
Curve tells the story of seventeen year old Cass who does the unthinkable and falls for her best friend's brother. With working in her stepdad's shop, applying for university and dealing with incidents of bullying, can she and Flynn ever be happy?

There was a lot to like about Curve, so I'm going to start out with the positives. This is one of the few British NA books I've read and that was wonderful and refreshing. I think it made a lot of what Cass goes through even more recognisable. I loved seeing her juggle her life at sixth form with a job in her family's shop, because I think that work/college battle is something a lot of people are struggling with right now. I think the author has managed to sum up that time of life perfectly, and that a lot of people will be able to relate to it.

I really enjoyed the friendship between Cass and her best friend Neve. It was just so nice to see two girls getting on so well and not being bitchy and horrible too each other. They were so natural around each other I loved that they always had each other's backs. I think everyone wants a friendship like theirs!

The central relationship between Cass and Flynn is one I did enjoy. It took me a while to decide whether or not I liked them together, as Flynn is quite protective of Cass. I think you can take it one of two ways, and I chose to take it that he was genuinely caring about her and was sort of her knight in shining armour.

The book deals with some very dark issues which I mention in this review in case they are trigger warnings for anyone planning to read the book. There is a scene of sexual assault which is then followed through with a police investigation. I found the whole thing to be handled extremely well and I think it was really encouraging to see a character seeking out help and talking about her ordeal.

I did have a few niggles with Curve. The dialogue was a bit of a struggle for me because one of my biggest pet peeves whilst reading is clunky dialogue. Unfortunately this book falls into the trap of characters using each other's names far too frequently, which is something that just doesn't happen in every day speech. In this case it was done almost every sentence so it just jumped out for me.

I also had a dilemma when it came to Cass's guilt when things are going wrong with Flynn. She takes responsibility for things I don't think are really her fault, and sometimes the fact she feels she has to apologise for things made me uncomfortable. I say this is a dilemma because while this is an attitude I don't like to see promoted in relationships, I know it is very realistic for girls to feel like this, so in that sense the book is being true to life. I think you have to really get inside the head of Cass as a naïve and inexperienced teenager to see things from her point of view to understand those feelings she has.

I think there's real potential in this book and that it will really appeal to NA fans looking for something a little bit different. I applaud the author for taking on the subject of sexual assault and doing it so well, and also for capturing that time of life where university is looming in the distance and suddenly your whole life is about to change so well. Cass goes on a real journey and I did enjoy taking it with her.

Rating: 3*
Books like this: The Edge of Never by J. A. Redmerski, Falling Fast by Sophie McKenzie

Review: Resist (Breathe, #2) by Sarah Crossan

Spoiler warning! This is the second book in the Breathe series and this book will contain spoilers from the first book. You can read my review of Breathe here instead. You've been warned! 

 Resist (Breathe, #2) by Sarah Crossan

Author: Sarah Crossan Website|Twitter
Published: 10 October 2013 (Bloomsbury)
Format: Kindle e-book (ARC)
Pages: 300
Buy the paperback: Amazon|BookDepository
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo

Source: Received free copy of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks Bloomsbury!

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Resistance to the Pod Leadership has come apart. The Grove has been destroyed but so has the Pod Minister. Quinn, Bea and Alina separately must embark on a perilous journey across the planet's dead landscape in search of the rumoured resistance base Sequoia. Meanwhile the Pod Minister has been succeeded by his capricious daughter. Her brother, Ronan, is supposed to advise her, but his doubts about the regime lead to him being sent out of the Pod in search of Quinn. In a world in which the human race is adapting to survive with little air, the stakes are high.

My Review:
I thoroughly enjoyed Breathe when I read it earlier this year, and I've been dying for the sequel to be released. I did a little dance when I got approved to read and review it because it was one of my highly anticipated reads. Resist follows Bea, Quinn and Alina as they try and make it to safety.

I have finished this book with very mixed thoughts. There were bits I liked and bits I didn't, and I'm trying to unscramble my brain so I can figure out exactly what I made of it.

Starting this book, I realised very quickly that the tone was going to take some getting used to. Resist was a lot bleaker than I was expecting. Obviously all the characters are in a pretty sticky situation but all throughout the book there is this struggle to find any kind of hope to hang on to. It was intense! The upside to this was that I was really fearing for the fates of certain characters. I was genuinely worried about what would happen to them and there were some moments that really pulled at the heartstrings.

The first book was told in multiple-POV from Bea, Quinn and Alina's perspective, and in this book we're introduced to Ronan, a new character whose POV we also get to see. Ronan's dad is part of the government but Ronan himself has become disillusioned with what they are doing and is starting to rebel. I loved that he could see the bigger picture and could choose which side was the right to one to be on. I ended up really liking Ronan. In fact, I was surprised that his chapters became my favourites throughout the book because I expected to like the established characters more.

Resist also deals with some pretty intense ideas. There's the darker side of war and some of the things Alina and the others come across as they venture out into the world are pretty shocking. I loved that Crossan really delved into that dark side and those moments made for some really gripping moments and a disturbing environment.

As the book moved on, I started to struggle with it a bit. I just wasn't feeling that connected with the characters. In Breathe, I struggled a bit with Quinn as a character and found him a bit annoying, but in this book he didn't really do anything to provoke a reaction either way for me. It was taking a while for the plot to really kick off. The beginning was good and I was enjoying it at first, but the pacing in the middle started to lag. The characters spent a lot of time travelling around and not a lot else. In the end it wasn't until I was about 80% through the book that the action started to pick up again and by then I was already feeling a bit disappointed and disillusioned. I missed that spark that Breathe had.

I was holding out hope for the end of the book because I wanted to know what was going to happen to these characters and this world. The climax was a little chaotic but the pay off was worth it in the end. There were plenty of shocks and heart-wrenching moments, plus the conclusion really did a great job at providing that sense of closure and feeling like the end of a series. I was happy with where it left off and how it gave the characters a final send off.

It's hard when a sequel doesn't quite hit the mark of its predecessor. For me, Breathe provided some great ideas and a fast-paced plot, and Resist felt a bit separate. Either way, I enjoyed getting to know the new characters and finding out the fate of the ones I'd come to know through both books. I still think the overall idea of the books is brilliant, and Breathe is a book I'd highly recommend.

Rating: 3*
Books like this: Prodigy by Marie Lu, Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Review: Stitch by Samantha Durante

 Stitch by Samantha Durante

Author: Samantha Durante Website|Twitter
Published: 30 July 2012
Format: Kindle e-book
Pages: 326
Buy the paperback: Amazon
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Smashwords

Source: Kindle freebie

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Her heart races, her muscles coil, and every impulse in Alessa's body screams at her to run... but yet she's powerless to move.

Still struggling to find her footing after the sudden death of her parents, the last thing college freshman Alessa has the strength to deal with is the inexplicable visceral pull drawing her to a handsome ghostly presence. In between grappling with exams and sorority soirees - and disturbing recurring dreams of being captive in a futuristic prison hell - Alessa is determined to unravel the mystery of the apparition who leaves her breathless. But the terrifying secret she uncovers will find her groping desperately through her nightmares for answers.

My Review:
This was another book I'd had on my Kindle for a while and ended up saving for the NA readathon. I was particularly interested in this one because it was billed as dystopia which is one of my favourite genres! And a lot of NA seems to be contemporary. Stitch follows Alessa, a college student struggling to focus on her studies because of the presence of a ghost who keeps appearing around her. Determined to get to the bottom of things, she starts researching the house she lives in and discovers more than she bargained for.

The start of Stitch certainly intrigued me. I liked the college setting and seeing how Alessa is adapting to life as a college student. She's living in her sorority house which I thought was a great environment for the story to take place in. It felt very much like a paranormal story during the beginning of the book. The only out-of-the-ordinary thing you see going on is this ghost that keeps popping up around Alessa. I was definitely grabbed by the concept, and how she seemed to be having feelings projected onto her by the ghost.

I felt the writing was a little clunky at first and so I struggled a bit with that. I think it was a case of a bit too much telling and not enough showing. In the opening chapters I thought there could have been more dialogue. There was a lot of exposition about Alessa and her life which went on for a while and I found my attention wandering slightly and hoping something exciting was coming up. I soon got used to the style and found the writing definitely improved throughout the book.

Stitch is mainly told from Alessa's POV but a little way into the story it shifts to Isaac's perpective; the mysterious ghost Alessa has been witnessing. I really enjoyed seeing the story from his angle as it certainly added more mystery to the whole thing! This is where the book took a bit of a genre twist and started feeling a bit more sci-fi. There's talk of time travel which I found really interesting and those bits of the story had me hooked.

It's about two thirds of the way into Stitch, however, when things take a huge turn. Talk about a plot twist! It's going to make the rest of the review very hard to write because I couldn't possibly give anything away, but that's when the book started to feel like the dystopia I was expecting. The second half of the book was definitely my favourite and had some brilliant ideas and great twists and conspiracies.

The problem I had with that plot twist was that it made Stitch feel like two books rather than one. The first and second half are so different that at times they just felt like completely separate stories. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if the first half had been cut down significantly and you'd got to the twist sooner, because once you got there, a lot of the beginning became insignificant, or so I felt.

It's tough to talk about the characters without giving too much away, but I really liked Alessa as a main character, and I enjoyed learning more about Isaac and her friend Janie. Getting all of their backstory in the second half of the book was really enjoyable. I think the only problem I had in their development was that there were several moments where things were explained too quickly, through regained memories that were a little bit convenient. As a reader I found it hard to jump on board with things the characters were so fast to accept.

Stitch is definitely like no book I've read, and if you're looking for a different approach to NA (i.e not a contemporary romance and no sex!) then this is the perfect book to try out the category. It was a fascinating concept and the plot twist still has me reeling! I think because this was the first book in the series there's a lot of potential for future books. Now the world has been established it's certainly one I'm intrigued to know more about. There are a lot of things that were just touched upon in Stitch that I look forward to discovering more of in future books. The cliffhanger ending really had me wanting to carry on. I think there are some great ideas there, I just struggled with the way they were executed sometimes.

Rating: 3*
What to read next: Shudder by Samantha Durante is the next book in the trilogy
Books like this: Hope's Daughter by Melanie Cusick-Jones, Swipe by Evan Angler

Review: The Wolfstone Curse by Justin Richards

 The Wolfstone Curse by Justin Richards

Author: Justin Richards Website|Twitter
Published: 1 July 2013 (Templar)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 430
Buy the paperback: Amazon|BookDepository
Buy the e-book: Kindle

Source: Borrowed from library

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
When Peter joins his archaeologist father in the strange village of Wolfstone, he has no idea what dark secrets the village and its manor house hold. From ancient standing stones to the genetically engineered Wolfen SS soldiers, he uncovers the real truth of the werewolf myth in this action-packed adventure.

My Review:
I first came across this book a while ago and put a library hold on it months before it was released. I've been eagerly anticipating the release so I was excited when it finally became available! The Wolfstone Curse follows Peter on a trip to the Cotswolds with his dad. There he comes across the Wolfstone Circle, a mysterious stone formation. Together with local girl Carys, Peter tries to get to the bottom of what the circle really means and the goings on at the mysterious Wolfstone Manor.

The book opens with a prolgue which features characters set in the war. There's a quick diary entry and then we hear a little bit of a character called Copper's story. After that, the book jumps forward to seventeen years later where we're introduced to an unnamed character being held captive. This opening to the book was brilliant and the mystery completely grabbed me. It also did a great job at setting the chilling tone and creating the spooky atmosphere.

Eventually we get to meet Peter, whose story we follow throughout the rest of the book. His dad is a professor and they're heading to an archaeological dig at the Wolfstone Circle. I really liked how the history and arcaeology were woven into the story. The book features events that happened in World War Two which I thought was quite interesting. I think what helped keep the book moving even with all that background information was the way the book included snippets from textbook and website entries that Peter comes across which really kept the writing fresh and interesting. Even things like the local leaflets about the area Peter reads were a great addition.

When Peter arrives at the inn where he and his dad are staying, he meets Carys. I really liked the way these two characters were introducded to each other. There was nothing romantic about it. They were just two people of a similar age who happened to be in the same place. I think it felt pretty normal and realistic how they sort of gravitate towards each other out of boredom and the fact they're constantly surrounded by people older than them. They're both sort of dragged into their parents' business as well. I think the only problem I had was that sometimes I felt a little detached from the two of them. I think there was so much going on around them in the story that I didn't feel I got to know them that well which is a shame. The book is written in third person and kind of drifts about between the characters, mainly Carys and Peter.

The plot was a great mix of mystery and suspense. I found the book to be quite spooky at times which made a nice change! The old, abandoned buildings and the Wolfstone circle made for a great setting, and the focus on wolves and these wolf-men creatures was definitely creepy. I've read a lot of books that feature werewolves, but I can honestly say none of them felt like The Wolfstone Curse. This book featured a lot of history and legend, and really built upon what the history books say about werewolves. The information is teased very slowly so you know something is going on but it takes a little while to get there, which really added to the drama and tension.

The mystery element was also really interesting, with Peter trying to find out what has really happened to Annabelle Forrest, the daughter of someone working on the Wolfstone Circle. There was a really complex web of characters and events that kept the story moving, and I loved it when Peter and Carys were playing detective. I found some parts of the story a little bit convenient (like when Carys is suddenly able to produce visas and a credit card to get her and Peter out of the country on their own) but I did like that it provided some adventure, because let's face it, if they hadn't been able to get out of the country the book would have been a lot more dull!

The book is pretty innovative in that it comes with an app you get for your phone or tablet, which you then hold up to icons on the page to link to extra content. I found the app to be a bit hit and miss and in the end I could only get it to work twice, but when it did I was impressed. It linked to these spooky videos showing the setting described in the book. It really added to the atmosphere (and made me glad I wasn't reading this book at night!).

I probably enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second. Whilst I liked unraveling that web of mysterious characters and finding out just what they were up to, some parts of the book were quite chaotic. It moved about a lot with characters running about all over the place and people popping up here there and everywhere. I did enjoy some of the more action packed scenes (there was one scene with a chase through a train that I could really picture in my head as if it were a film!) and when people started getting killed in the action I found myself glued to the pages. I worried for Peter and Carys and wanted to know what would happen to them, but I don't know if I really felt the story ended the way I would have liked. Sure there were lots of dramatic action scenes, but there wasn't much tying up done at the end. I felt like I needed a few more pages to explain what happened to everyone.

I think this book will appeal to people who like action and adventure. It was definitely a lot more plot driven than character driven, but I think sometimes you need a book like that where you just get swept away in the story! It was an enjoyable read and definitely something a bit different. If you've been put off werewolf stories before then I promise you this one will be a refreshing change!

Rating: 3.5*
Books like this: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, Insignia by S. J. Kincaid

Review: The Ballerina & the Fighter by Ursula Sinclair

Note: This book is New Adult and will contain themes that may not be suitable for younger readers. The recommended reading age from the author is 17+. For more information on New Adult and my policy on reviewing it, please read this post. Thank you!

The Ballerina & the Fighter by Ursula Sinclair 

Author: Ursula Sinclair Website|Twitter
Published: 1 July 2013 (Isisndc Publishing)
Format: E-book
Pages: 144
Buy the e-book: Kindle

Source: Received free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
I travel through life dancing.

All I ever wanted to do was dance, as did my best friend. We'd made so many plans together, but one night an explosion changed it all. Only one of us survived, and I promised myself I'd succeed for us both. And I did, until an accident almost ruined my career, but Maze came back into my life when I needed him most. He pulled me out of the depths of my despair. But could I save him now?

I travel through life fighting.

It had always been Ivy; from the first moment I saw her leaping through the air like she had wings to lift her from the ground. But she was my dream, something I wanted more than anything else in my life. I promised myself I would stay away from her. Violence followed me everywhere and I tried to keep her far away from it. She was my point of illumination in the dark tumultuous world I lived in. But I could not stay away from her. Not when I knew she needed me. As much as I needed her. But could she accept me as I am?

My Review:
The Ballerina & the Fighter follows the lives of Ivy, a ballerina destined to study at a prestigious ballet school in New York, and Maze, a fighter of mixed martial arts. When the two meet on the beach one summer they find themselves instantly drawn to each other.

The book is told in alternating chapters between Maze and Ivy. As characters I was pretty divided on my feelings for them because I really loved Ivy but I couldn't stand Maze. Either way, they were both pretty interesting and well developed (Maze just isn't particularly nice - more later) and I found the background on both of their abilities - dancing and fighting - really interesting. I also really liked seeing the friendship between Ivy and her friend Shel. They've attended separate schools yet they have this really strong bond and it was just nice to see a friendship like that.

The connection between Ivy and Maze is pretty instant and intense. I can kind of see why the relationship moved so quickly because it's a summer romance kind of deal, and I thought there were some moments where they had some good chemistry, but some moments were a big no-no for me. This is where my dislike of Maze comes in. Within seconds of meeting Ivy he's thinking of doing things to her that make him seem like a sex-mad lunatic. Like seriously, you've just met her, don't start mentally undressing her! There was a complete contrast in Maze and Ivy's chapters because Maze is this total lad - swearing, constantly thinking about sex, where was Ivy is obviously more innocent and naive when it comes to relationships. I know some people like the controlling bad boy type, but it wasn't for me. There were plenty of moments where I just felt very uncomfortable. The final nail in the coffin was when Ivy admitted to being scared of Maze (and having been scared of him for a while). Run away Ivy! Escape whilst you still can!

My dislike of Maze didn't totally ruin the story for me. The inclusion of Ivy's roommate Dante helped because he seems like all kinds of nice and I was totally rooting for something more to come with him. I loved how he looked out for Ivy and was protective of her in a caring friend sort of way (as opposed to the possessive way Maze is).  I also thought parts of Maze's life were really interesting, especially the darker sides of the fighting world. He gets drawn into some pretty scary and dramatic stuff and not by choice. There was a lot of suspense when it came to Maze being in dangerous situations and I would find myself gripped by the action.

The author managed to pull at my heartstrings a good few times during The Ballerina & the Fighter. There's some pretty emotional scenes and I liked how the traumatic moments really shook up the story. There was one particularly dramatic scene that sort of shakes up Maze and Ivy's relationship and that completely blew me away. It completely shifted the feel and tone of the book from that moment forward which I loved. I also liked the exploration of issues like racism and how the book tackles diversity as well as the fact that both Ivy and Maze come from not so traditional family set-ups.

The book falls into the NA cater gory with Ivy being seventeen - almost eighteen - and Maze being nineteen, and it explores those stronger themes that the age category tackles. There are some pretty explicit scenes throughout the story which is why I've included the disclaimer at the top. If you like your romance intense and steamy then this is for you!

The Ballerina & the Fighter is a nice short read at just under 150 pages. It was a book I got through in a day, but at the same time it felt like I'd been reading it a lot longer because I'd connected so much with the characters and been on such a rollercoaster of emotions whilst reading. I really liked the writing style and the book had a very intriguing cliffhanger so I'm intrigued to see where it goes and if there's more books! I'd still carry on if there was because I feel like these characters have potential (more Dante please!). The only thing that let this book down for me was Maze and the lines I felt he crossed.

Rating: 3*
Books like this: The Edge of Never by J. A. Redmerski

Review: Starlet's Light (Starlet Series, #3) by Carla J. Hanna

Spoiler warning! This is the 3rd book in the Starlet series and will contain spoilers from books 1 and 2. Read my review of the 1st book, Starlet's Web, right here, or the 2nd book, Starlet's Run, here. You have been warned!

Starlet's Light by Carla J. Hanna

Author: Carla J. Hanna Website|Twitter
Published: 1 May 2013 (CreateSpace)
Format: Kindle e-book
Pages: 322
Buy the paperback: Amazon
Buy the e-book: Kindle

Source: Received free copy from author in exchange for an honest review

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Isolated on set in the United Kingdom, Lia struggles through the 5 Stages of Grief while shooting her last feature film. Cancer survivor, Oscar winner, and victim of several crimes, Lia sinks into despair as her heart fails. With supportive childhood friend Manuel Biro, and the help from Swiss billionaire-heir Pierre Lambert, Lia is 'so done' with acting and learns that she needs more than just a man's love to prevail.

My Review:
This is the third book in the Starlet series and follows Lia/Marie as she heads to the UK to start filming her latest project. With the moment she meets Pierre fast approaching and her health still in the balance, there's still a lot for her to deal with.

I was really excited to read this book as I knew there were going to be scenes in the UK. It was really cool to see Wales used as a filming location because let's face it, Wales gets neglected a lot when people think of the UK. I love the scenes where Marie is on set and we get a sneak peak at the movie business.

There was tons of drama to sink your teeth into with Starlet's Light. Marie is still having health issues and it seems her life is hanging in the balance at times. I really feared for her. It was also really moving to see her relationship with her mother, whose health is deteriorating even faster. They've had a lot to overcome and it's not easy, but it was really heartbreaking to read about.

What I was most looking forward to in this book was a chance to really meet Pierre. In the previous two books we've only heard from him in email conversations and I couldn't wait for him to make an appearance as Marie heads to Europe. And I wasn't disappointed! He was just as charming and gorgeous a character as I was hoping him to be and I was doing all sorts of squeeing as Marie realises how much she cares about him. I was really rooting for the two of them from the last book and they had great chemistry together in person. I adored that we got to see Pierre's family too and how they became included in the story.

Sadly, Manuel was still very much present and I disliked him even more in this book. He's still completely horrible and very controlling. What made it worse is that Marie seemed to have lost all ability to make decisions for herself, and instead made her choices of who to be with based on everybody else telling her who she'd be better of with. I feel like Marie has the potential to be that strong character and make decisions but she's far too easily influenced by those around her in Starlet's Light, and seems to spend more time talking to people about being in a relationship with someone than actually enjoying being in one. In the middle of all the drama with Manuel it seemed like Pierre got forgotten about which made me sad.

The first half of Starlet's Light was definitely more enjoyable for me and like the previous books it raised some really important issues. I liked the plotline about Marie's health and what her future holds. She had some really tough things to face up to such as the chance she may not have children. There were also some really tense scenes where her stalker shows up on the scene. I've become really invested in the characters so with one more book left to read I'd definitely be interested in carrying on with the series. I just hope Marie gets a chance to become a stronger, happier character in future and that Manuel gets what's coming to him!

Rating: 3*
What to read next: Starlet's End by Carla J. Hanna, the unreleased final book in the series
Books like this: The Rock Star's Daughter by Caitlyn Duffy

Audio Review: Avalon High by Meg Cabot

Avalon High by Meg Cabot

Author: Meg Cabot Website|Twitter
Narrator: Debra Wiseman IMDB
Published: 27 December 2005 (Listening Library)
Format: MP3 download
Running time: 6 hours, 50 minutes
Buy the paperback: Amazon|Waterstone's|BookDepository
Buy the audio: Amazon|Waterstone's
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo

Source: Borrowed from e-library

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Avalon High seems like a typical high school, attended by typical students. There's Lance, the Jock. Jennifer, the cheerleader. And Will, senior class president, quarterback, and all-around good guy.
But not everybody at Avalon High is who they appear to be... not even, as new student Ellie is about to discover, herself. What part does she play in the drama that is unfolding? What if the bizarre chain of events and coincidences she has pieced together means — as with the court of King Arthur — tragedy is fast approaching Avalon High.

Worst of all, what if there's nothing she can do about it?

Plot review:
I'll admit that when I started Avalon High I didn't know it was a retelling of the King Arthur legend. I'd downloaded it from my library's e-library based on the fact it was written by Meg Cabot, and I'd enjoyed a previous audiobook by her. Going in blind didn't bother me too much, and I actually quite liked figuring out what was going on, but I think in hindsight I would have liked to have known a little more beforehand.

The first half of this book started out pretty well. I quite liked Ellie as a character and I could sympathise with her as a character. Her parents are academics who have taken a sabbatical, which means Ellie is uprooted from her regular life and planted in a new environment, which involves starting a new school. I liked the fact she was using it as a bit of a fresh start.

The book features excerpts from the poem The Lady of Shallot at the beginning of each chapter. I remember doing that poem at school so it was quite cool to have it slotted into a book like this! It also fitted in with what was happening in Ellie's life as she pieces together who the modern day character represent in the story of King Arthur. It was a really nice way to break up the story/chapters.

The first half of the book was really interesting and I loved learning who all the characters were and the theory that there was something a bit bigger going on. I did like the relationship between Ellie and Will, even if she was a bit giggly and annoying around him sometimes. The second half of the book, however, was where I started to lose interest. The pace slowed down a bit too much and then the plot got a bit overcomplicated. There's one scene where Mr Morton, Ellie's teacher, explains a lot of what's going on and that exposition seemed to go on forever and I just found myself getting a bit bored.

It's an interesting concept for a novel but I'm not sure it was one that completely paid off. There were bits I liked and bits I didn't. Overall I can really appreciate how good Meg Cabot is as a writer and her books have really made me laugh, this one included. And the characters were pretty cool.

Plot rating: 3*

Audio review:
The narration of the book really did draw me in. I thought the narrator was really natural and I really liked Ellie's voice throughout the story. Where it really won me over was the excerpts of the poem which were read out before each character. They were read in such a lyrical, softly spoken way that not only did they stand out from other parts of the text, but they were really enjoyable on their own as well. I loved all the different voices for the characters. The only place it really fell down was when there were long conversations between two characters which happened a lot. I would liked to have got them over more quickly but that's hard with an audiobook. Really enjoyed the listening experience overall though and would definitely recommend the audio!

Audio rating: 4*

What to read next: Teen Idol by Meg Cabot
Books like this: Oh. My. Gods. by Terra Lynn Childs

Review: Starlet's Run (Starlet Series, #2) by Carla J. Hanna

Spoiler warning! This is the 2nd book in the Starlet series and will contain spoilers from the 1st book Starlet's Web. You can read my review of that book here instead. You have been warned!

Starlet's Run by Carla J. Hanna

Author: Carla J. Hanna Website|Twitter
Published: 10 November 2012 (CreateSpace)
Format: Kindle e-book
Pages: 322
Buy the paperback: Amazon
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo

Source: Received free copy from author in exchange for an honest review

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Hollywood actress Liana Marie Michael finds out that loving someone unconditionally, without losing who she is in the process, does not always have a convenient ending or an easy to memorize script.

As the path unfolds in front of her, Lia challenges the demons and destruction of her past, which had kept her like Alice in Wonderland, frozen in time and unable to escape the heavy web of expectation shrouding her heart. She needs more than the promise of true love to help her prevail. Exhausted from indecision, should she listen to what others think is best for her? What should she choose?

My Review:
I received this book at the same time as the first book, and because the end of Starlet's Web was so dramatic I was really excited to start the next instalment! Starlet's Run starts out with Marie in hospital waiting to undergo treatment on her tumour.

What worked really well in this book was the emotional drama. I've become really invested in Marie as a character and with her life potentially in danger I really cared about what happened to her. One of my favourite parts of the book were the email conversations between Marie and Pierre, the other test subject. They were both going through the same thing I and I loved the way they shared their hopes and fears with each other. I could really feel the emotions they were going through.

One of my favourite parts of Starlet's Run was the trip Marie takes with her family to Montana. I loved exploring her Native American Indian roots and getting to meet other members of her family. I think the family dynamic and the family relationships are really interesting. This series is clearly very character driven. I still loved Marie's dad and stepmother and I liked their developing story in this book.

I had some problems in the first book with the relationships and romance elements of the book. This was a problem for me in Starlet's Run and that was mainly down to Manuel. I got so fired up about him. Throughout the story he is sulky and throws tantrums every other minute about Marie's life in the spotlight. I thought he was way to possessive and that the relationship between Marie and Manuel wasn't really that healthy. They're determined to spend their future together but I just couldn't help feeling they'd be better off apart. The two of them are also one of those lovey-dovey couples who just have to declare their love for each other all the time and that soppy stuff isn't really my cup of tea.

I still really enjoyed the exploration of Marie's celebrity lifestyle and it was really great to see her on set and working in Starlet's Run. She still has this mad, crazy life and I really feel for her and all the stuff she has to go through. Some of it is really horrifying, like when film producers panic because her skin is too dark. There's also the threat of blackmail and it was really interesting seeing Marie tested like that. I loved that the author has tackled those issues, though. It was really refreshing seeing the darker sound of the industry.

As the story is now focusing on Marie now she's out of school, it can be classed as NA. I think fans of New Adult would really enjoy these books. The relationship between Marie and Manuel has definitely stepped up a notch for those who like their contemporary romance intense.

I can tell these books have real potential and the characters are really interesting. I just have to put the romance to one side so I can enjoy the story. I have the net book lined up to read and I'll definitely be starting it soon. I'm interested to find out where the series is going.

Rating: 3*
What to read next: Starlet's Light by Carla J. Hanna, the 3rd book in the series
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