Review: Banished by Liz De Jager

Banished by Liz De Jager

Author: Liz De Jager Website|Twitter
Published: 27 February 2014 (Tor)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 400
Buy the book: Amazon|Hive|BookDepository
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo

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

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Sworn to protect, honour and slay. Because chaos won’t banish itself…

Kit is proud to be a Blackhart, now she’s encountered her unorthodox cousins and their strange lives. And her home-schooling now includes spells, fighting enemy fae and using ancient weapons. But it’s not until she rescues a rather handsome fae prince, fighting for his life on the edge of Blackhart Manor, that her training really kicks in. With her family away on various missions, Kit must protect Prince Thorn, rely on new friends and use her own unfamiliar magic to stay ahead of Thorn’s enemies. As things go from bad to apocalyptic, fae battle fae in a war that threatens to spill into the human world. Then Kit pits herself against the Elder Gods themselves – it’s that or lose everyone she’s learnt to love.

My Review:
Banished was one of my most anticipated releases of 2014 so I was super happy when a copy popped through my letterbox! The book follows Kit Blackhart who is just getting used to her new supernatural life when her abilities are called upon to save her family.

I really enjoyed the beginning of the book as we're introduced to Kit and her family. The real world, teenage life feel which made me instantly relate to Kit and provided a great balance to the fantasy side. I thought the magical side of the story and the world building was done really well. You were never overwhelmed with terminology, and at the start of each chapter were little exerpts from archives or history books etc. which provided you the history of Kit's world in nice bite-size chunks, without the need for exposition, which was incredibly smart and well done.

One of the real highlights of the book for me was the characters, particularly Kit and Thorn, and the developing relationship between them. The author has managed to carve out distinctive voices and personalities. There is a brilliant sense of humour weaved throughout the book that provided some really funny moments between all the characters. I thought Kit herself was particularly sharp and witty which drew me to her even more!

In terms of the fantasy side of the book, I loved the Banished had a little bit of everything. There were faeries, trolls and even dragons! (I was really, really excited when a dragon showed up.) It was just such a great mix of creatures and magic, all cleverly weaved into our own world. Even though there were a wide range of characters who come from different realms (the book takes place in two worlds; the Frontier which is the human world, and the Otherwhere) everything really flowed. Every character from every race fitted in perfectly with the story and everything was linked together really well.

I felt the first half of the book was a lot more focused on the characters, and on how Kit adapted to her situation. There was definitely that element of her going on a quest or journey to prove herself, and I love how she overcame the insecurities we see at the beginning of the book. The second half of the story is definitely more action packed, and although I probably enjoyed that first part more, it made for a well paced, exciting read throughout.

Banished will definitely appeal to a lot of readers. Fans of books such as Artemis Fowl and City of Bones will fall in love with the fantastic world Liz De Jager has created. The ending had me dying to read the next book and gave a good old tug at the heartstrings! I'm excited to see where things go from here.

Rating: 4*
What to read next: This is the first book in the Blackhart Legacy series
Books like this: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

Review: Skulk by Rosie Best

Skulk by Rosie Best

Author: Rosie Best Website|Twitter
Published: 1 October 2013 (Strange Chemistry)
Format: Kindle e-book (ARC)
Pages: 400
Buy the paperback: Amazon|BookDepository

Source: Received free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks Angry Robot/Strange Chemistry!

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
When Meg witnesses the dying moments of a shapeshifting fox and is given a beautiful and powerful stone, her life changes forever. She is plunged into the dark world of the Skulk, a group of shapeshifting foxes.

As she learns about the other groups of shapeshifters that lurk around London – the Rabble, the Horde, the Cluster and the Conspiracy – she becomes aware of a deadly threat against all the shapeshifters. They must put aside all their enmity and hostility and fight together to defeat it.

My Review:
I'd seen Skulk mentioned on a couple of blogs so when I saw it was available to request on NetGalley I couldn't resist, and kept my fingers crossed! Skulk tells the story of graffiti artist Meg, who stumbles across a fox one evening who shifts into a man before her eyes. Soon she is drawn into the hidden world of the Skulk, a group of shape-shifting foxes.

I've read a lot of shape-shifting novels, usually surrounding wolves or cats, so I was intrigued to see a different take on it! This book not only deals with foxes but with rats, ravens, spiders and butterflies. What was interesting was how the book starts out as this gritty urban fantasy. It's set in London and I loved that location. It provided so much scope to explore the city and I could really get a picture in my head for the locations. Then towards the second half of the book, the book delves into a more magical side of it which sort of shifted the tone. I loved the history of the Skulk and the other groups, and how there's lots of tradition and magic at play.

The most instantly likable thing about this book was definitely Meg. She's artistic and expresses herself through graffiti, and I love how the book has chosen to use that as an art form rather than something frowned upon. The descriptions of the artwork that Meg has come to admire and look up to, such as that of her favourite graffiti artist E3 really shows how passionate these people are and what talent they have. And you could feel that passion coming from Meg.

What also really endeared me to her was that she is completely grounded and kind, despite the fact she is surrounded by pretty horrible people. Her mother is an MP who is determined her daughter should act and look a certain way, and the way she treats Meg is just plain cruel. Seeing Meg trying to battle against that whilst all the time remaining the same likable self just left me really rooting for her. Then there's her friends at school who are the sort of typical popular types. Meg is from a wealthy background yet she's nothing like the snobby girls she has to go to school with. She has to deal with a lot of peer pressure from her friends as well, for example when it comes to the pressure to have a boyfriend or sleep with a guy. I liked that she was different. I love it when you can see yourself being friends with a character, and that's how I felt about Meg.

Once Meg breaks away from her old life and integrates herself with the Skulk, we meet some great new characters. I really liked Addie and Blackwell who sort of take Meg under their wings, plus Mo who appears slightly later in the book. At times there were maybe a few too many characters to get my head around and by the end I was struggling a bit with who was who. I'm not good with lots of characters!

There were plenty of fast paced action scenes and a great underlying mystery surrounding a magical stone that kept he pace moving and stopped my attention from wavering. The writing was snappy and vivid and had me really wrapped up in the setting. I loved the unique feel to Skulk. It didn't feel like any other book I'd read, and I adored just how British it was. I think the first half was slightly more enjoyable than the second half for me, as I preferred the gritty urban fantasy side of the story, and later on in the book it became more complex. The ending of the book certainly suggests that there's more to the story and I hope it's continued into a series. I think there's so much potential for the world Best has created and those brilliant characters.

Rating: 4*
Books like this: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Review: The Rising (Darkness Rising, #3) by Kelley Armstrong

 Spoiler warning! This is the third and final book in the Darkness Rising trilogy and will contain spoilers for the first two books. You can read my reviews of The Gathering and The Calling instead, otherwise avert your eyes or else be spoiled. You have been warned!

The Rising by Kelley Armstrong

Author: Kelley Armstrong Website|Twitter
Published: 2 April 2013 (Atom)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 406
Buy the paperback: Amazon|Waterstone's|BookDepository
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo

Source: Borrowed

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Things are getting desperate for Maya and her friends. Hunted by the St. Clouds and a rival Cabal, they’re quickly running out of places to hide. And with the whole world thinking they died in a helicopter crash, it’s not like they can just go to the authorities for help.

All they have is the name and number of someone who might be able to give them a few answers. Answers to why they’re so valuable, and why their supernatural powers are getting out of control.

But Maya is unprepared for the truths that await her. And now, like it or not, she’ll have to face down some demons from her past if she ever hopes to move on with her life. Because Maya can’t keep running forever.

My Review:
I really enjoyed the first two books in this trilogy so I've been eager to read the third and final book! The Rising picks up with Maya, Daniel and Cory on the run in Vancouver. They're torn between escaping the people on their tail and reaching out the only people who can explain more about what's happening to them.

As with any book in a series or trilogy, I tend to look at it as both a novel on its own as well as how it fits in with the preceding books. On its own, I think The Rising really holds its own. It had a great plot and I ended up devouring the book in practically a day. Kelley Armstrong definitely has the power to hook me in! The near misses the gang faces whilst on the run meant there were a wealth of chase scenes and action which had me on the edge of my seat. I loved that there were still elements of mystery as Maya and the others try to work out how their powers affect them and do a little detective work to try and find people who can help them.

I really enjoyed the introduction of new character Ash, who I won't say too much about for fear of spoiling! But I was completely intrigued by him and loved his attitude. It was good to see the return of characters from the previous books as well. The thing I was most anticipating  before starting The Rising was how Kelley Armstrong would incorporate the characters and storylines from her previously released Darkest Powers trilogy, In the end I really loved how it was done and getting to see some familiar faces so to speak! You don't need to have read the Darkest Powers books to understand The Rising, but I think it's great being able to spot references between the two.

A lot of the plot of The Rising seems to be dedicated to Maya's feelings for best friend Daniel and boyfriend Rafe. The (dare I say it) love triangle does get resolved by the end. I'm still torn over how I feel about it. I didn't have a preference beforehand so I don't think I could have been disappointed either way, but I wasn't completely won over by how it was executed.

As the final book in the Darkness Rising trilogy, the ending of The Rising felt a little too open for me. On the one hand we get enough of a conclusion to confirm the fates of those characters we've been invested in, but it certainly wasn't the climax I was hoping for or expecting. I did leave this story with a twinge of disappointment.

This is a trilogy I'll definitely revisit and recommend. I'd really like to read the books back to back one day as the action takes place over such a short period of time that I think they'd benefit from being read in one sitting. At the end of the day I do love these books and Kelley Armstrong is an incredible writer whose books always get me excited and The Rising definitely still ignited that fire.

Rating: 4*
What to read next: Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
Books like this: The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

Review: Wanted by Annika James

Wanted by Annika James

Author: Annika James Website|Twitter
Published: 17 January 2013 (MuseItUp)
Format: Kindle e-book
Amazon: Kindle
Smashwords: E-book
Kobo: E-book

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

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Attacked as a young witch and left for dead, Ashlinn is deathly afraid of being bitten again. Having survived until she’s almost eighteen without donating blood to any of her vamp friends, Ashlinn figures she’ll continue to live bite-free. After her crush reveals how powerful she is, however, the Vampire Council declares she be claimed as a familiar, which requires biting. Ashlinn doesn’t want to be owned, even by hot vamp, Conor. Luckily, her best friend, Matt, volunteers for the job. She is given one week to choose her protector, and the list of willing biters keeps growing. Will she go with best friend Matt, hot vamp Conor, or someone else to protect her? Will she be able to get her power under control by then? Will she overcome her phobia of being bitten? And who says she needs to be protected, anyhow? 

My Review:
I was really excited when the author got in touch with me about this book because the summary sounded right up my street! Wanted follows Ash, a witch who's friends just happen to be vampires. One day Ash discovers that her powers are attracting her to the vampire community and suddenly she's the object of everyone's attention.

What I really loved about Wanted was how much it stood out from the other vampire novels I've read. After a while they can all start to blend into one, but Wanted felt really different. I enjoyed the world building in particular because it was done so well. There wasn't tons of boring exposition, but we were introduced to everything gradually. I found the workings of Ash's world to be really interesting as well. At her school, witches like her mix with vampires and even humans and I liked how at the beginning we see Ash sticking up for vampire rights.The involvement of the vampire council also added that political element.

The main plot revolves around the fact that Ash's powers have made her attracted to the vampire community. In order to protect herself, she must find herself a "familiar" which means she must allow a vampire to bite her. This means she has to choose someone she can trust to build that relationship with. The whole story made for a great twist on the whole love triangle thing. Ash is torn between her best friend Matt who has offered to be her familiar, and her crush Conor, who is also willing. I say it was a twist because the fact is she spends a lot of time wishing she didn't have to choose anyone. She's put in a really tough situation and I did feel for her. It was fascinating seeing her cope with that and struggle to decide who she could trust.

It took me a little while to get into the writing style of the book and ocassionaly I felt there were a few too many adjectives used in places, but the writing definitely improved as the book went on. Soon I was completely immersed in the story and wasn't worrying about the writing at all. I particularly was impressed with the dialogue, which felt very natural. I liked that the characters swore every now and again because let's face it, teenagers swear. And in this instance it felt really accurate and true to life.

The pacing was spot on in Wanted and the build up to Ash's decision made for some really great suspense. I loved the twists and turns along the way and I was always curious about what would happen. I also loved how some of the information was teased slowly throughout the book, for example we learn that Ash was attacked in the past, but instead of it being explained it one chunk of text, little glimpses of what happened are weaved into the rest of the story. It was so cleverly done.

The characters were really interesting and I loved the contrast between Matt and Conor. Matt is like the sweet best friend and Conor the mysterious intriguing boy with a bit of a reputation. Seeing Ash take control of her powers made for some great scenes too. She really held her own as a main character.  I thought Ash's best friend Cora added a really great dynamic to the group as well. I was even impressed that Ash's mum got an interesting back story. There was plenty of attention to detail, that's for sure.

The climax of this book really had me hooked. There were plenty of surprises so I totally didn't see the ending coming. Overall I was really impressed with Wanted. It's a real stand out in the vampire genre so if you love vampires then definitely grab this one as soon as you can!

Rating: 4*
Books like this: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead, Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Review: Imaginable (Intangible, #2) by J. Meyers

Spoiler warning! This is the 2nd book in the Intangible series and so this review will contain spoilers from the first book. If you haven't read it, you can read my review of Intangible here instead. You have been warned!

Imaginable by J. Meyers

[Goodreads page]

Author: J. Meyers Website|Twitter
Published: 16 April 2013
Format: Kindle e-book
Pages: 342
Amazon: Kindle

Source: Received free copy from author for review

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Twins Sera and Luke Raine’s unusual abilities are growing. Sera is healing vampires now, making them human again. And, at times, Luke can actually change the future he Sees.

But Sera’s healing has dangerous consequences, and though Luke is altering the outcome of more visions, he can’t control them yet.

Now Sera is in danger as the dark creatures of the Realm seek to use her. As Luke struggles to master his gift in order to save his sister, he discovers even more about his powers.

And what he learns just may put him in greater danger than Sera has ever been.

My Review:
I was so excited to read this book because I adored the first book, Intangible. I was very privileged to receive a copy of Imaginable from the author to review and so I started it as soon as it was loaded on my Kindle! The book picks up with Sera's healing powers causing real problems for the Gifteds, and Luke isn't having it so easy either.

The book opens with a scene in the coffee shop and made me fall right back in love with this world and, more importantly, the characters. Straight away there was humour from the group of characters who have the most amazing chemistry between them, and I love it when I start a book and I'm laughing within the first few pages. Most of that was down to Luke. I love Luke. I'll probably state that a lot in this review!

The plot revolves around Sera's ability to "heal" vampires, only this has been causing more harm than good. I love Sera and how we get to see than vulnerable side of her. She clearly wants to do as much as she can to help other people and that really endears me to her as a character. The fact she has such valuable powers makes her a target for other creatures who want to exploit that power, which puts her life in danger for a large part of the book. I really felt that danger and the suspense created throughout the book had me flipping the pages just to find out what happened to those characters I was so attached too.

Like I mentioned before, Luke is my favourite character and he also had a lot going on in his life. He's having to deal with his feelings for Fey who he knows he can't really have. He was so sweet pining for her. I was really rooting for him! On top of that, he's struggling with his visions, not always being able to conjure them and his fight to gain control of his powers showed just how determined he was. But my favourite part was his realtionship with Sera, which was one of my highlights of the first book. They just have such a great connection and as Sera was in danger I really loved how Luke wanted to do everything he could to make sure she was okay.

Still on the topic of characters, I really loved the mysterious Jonas and the Light Elf Fey and the roles they played in the story. Both of them are protective of the twins and so it made for some great kickass scenes as both of them showed what they could do when it came to looking out for the others. I also loved discovering more about those characters as bits of their past were introduced into the story.

I was really excited to explore more of the world that was established in Intangible and I wasn't disappointed. I loved seeing more of the Realm as well as the creatures that reside there, from the flower pixies to the dark and creepy Shadows. The descriptions of everything really carried me away as I escaped into the story and that world. As the book reached its climax it delved into fantasy as well with more magical creatures appearing, and I really enjoyed that element of it. The two worlds are weaved so seamlessly together that you don't really focus on what genre the book is, because it flows so well from the real to the magical.

I absolutely devoured this book from the moment I picked it up. I just couldn't put it down! From the middle of the book onwards there was so much action to keep my attention. Whilst it managed to keep that pace and action up and build on the world introduced in Intangible, it also wet my appetite for more as a middle-of-a-series book should. There were things that were just touched upon, with some stuff just bubbling away under the surface that I can't wait to read more about! And the ending definitely left me eager to carry on. There's huge potential for this series. If you loved Intangible then you'll adore this. A fantastic sequel!

Rating: 5*
What to read next: Intuition or Indomitable by J. Meyers, two short stories to accompany the series
Books like this: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Review: Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, #3) by Cassandra Clare

Spoiler warning! This is the 3rd and final book in The Infernal Devices trilogy and this review will contain spoilers from books 1 and 2. I haven't reviewed those books on the blog but you can find out more about Clockwork Angel on Goodreads here, and if you've read that then Clockwork Prince is here. This review will be as spoiler free as possible when it comes to what happens in Clockwork Princess because I don't want to give anything away to others. Please respect that in the comments!

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

[Goodreads page]

Author: Cassandra Clare Website|Twitter
Published: 19 March 2013
Format: Paperback
Pages: 568
Amazon: Paperback|Kindle
Waterstone's: Paperback
Book Depository: Paperback

Source: Borrowed

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy?
Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute.
A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her. 

My Review:
I was so relieved to finally have this book in my hands. There was so much build up, from the cover reveal to the book trailer. It's been so hard to avoid spoilers especially, so this will be a spoiler-free review in that I won't give away the ending, or any plot twists or resolutions. I'll just recap basic plot points and state what I did and didn't like.

Clockwork Princess starts out with Tessa preparing for her wedding to Jem and with the threat of Mortmain still looming. There are two parts of this review because I need to cover how I felt Clockwork Princess worked as a book on its own, and how it worked as a conclusion to the series. As a book in itself it was fantastic, because within fifty pages there was a whole load of action and fighting which wrapped me up that Shadowhunter world and had that great sense of familiarity. It reminded me what I loved about these books and gave me all the action and excitement I was hoping for!

The story itself throughout this book was definitely full of suspense and drama. I really was fearing for a lot of the characters. So much was happening around them that there was that real sense of danger. The first two thirds of the book feel like everything is building up slowly and then suddenly the last couple of hundred pages go by in a whirlwind of action and emotion.

One of my favourite parts of this book was definitely the characters themselves and how they got a real chance to shine. In particular I loved discovering more about Cecily who showed herself to be a real fighter. Her relationship with Will and how they were rediscovering each other was very touching. I also enjoyed the challenging relationship between Gideon and Gabriel Lightwood. All the characters are put to the test and some people come out better than others, but they all had something to add to the story and even the smaller characters (Sophie for instance, who I was really rooting for!). Will's humour was a great presence in this book to lighten the tone which was brilliant, and I have so much love for Jem who has probably become one of my favourite characters over the course of the trilogy. And this book definitely pulled at the heartstrings! There were some really emotional moments and I felt myself getting all emotional for these characters I'd grown to know and love, or even grown to loathe!

Looking at Clockwork Princess from the wider angle of it being the last book in The Infernal Devices trilogy also gives me a lot to say. In particular I loved how elements of the history of the world Clare has created are explored more fully (Henry's inventions for example) and this book definitely gives you a lot of insight as to how all the characters from this book link up with those in The Mortal Instruments. The copy I read had a family tree at the back which was fascinating to read, but only look at it once you've read the book. Luckily I'd been warned about that before starting so I knew not to peek because it gives a lot away. But I adored how the characters all interconnected with each other.

On the other hand, the thing I was most anticipating from this third and final book was the resolution of the love triangle between Tessa, Jem and Will. I'm not going to give away what happened but I will say that I wasn't particuarly happy with the ending. Nor was I happy with what happened during the course of the book. There was one scene that made me really lose respect for Tessa and from then on it somewhat tainted my enjoyment of the book. It was near the end so it was only about a hundred pages where it niggled at me, but I was very disappointed. I've discussed my feelings about it with other people and nobody seems to agree with me, so it's obviously a very personal opinion on the matter and something that probably won't bother everyone.

The climax to the book, though, was incredible. Not only was there action but there were huge twists I just did not see coming. You know when you have to text your friend in allcaps when something jawdropping happens? Yeah, I did that. My mind was completely blown away by some of the closing action scenes and I just couldn't put it down. I read this book in about three days which is super quick for me when it comes to a book of this size.

There was a nice sense of finality at the end though and I felt everybody had their own story wrapped up, so that when you finish it feels like a nice place to end. Overall I've really enjoyed this trilogy and it's one I hope to re-read in the future. The writing is so beautiful and the characters so funny and a joy to read about. I was hoping this would be a 5* book but I'm definitely leaving it with some sense of disappointment, although I know plenty of people thought the ending was the perfect way to leave it.

Rating: 4*
Books like this: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Review: Forever (Wolves of Mercy Falls, #3) by Maggie Stiefvater

 

Spoiler warning! This is the third and final book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy. Do not read this review if you haven't read the first two books! It will contain spoilers. You can read my review of book one - Shiver - right here and book two - Linger - here. You have been warned!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

[Goodreads page]

Author: Maggie Stiefvater. Website|Twitter
Published: 13 July 2011 (Scholastic)
Format: paperback
Pages: 448
Amazon: paperback|Kindle
Waterstone's: paperback|e-book
Book Depository: paperback

Source: Bought

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
Sam has always loved Grace. As a wolf, he watched her from afar. As a boy, he held her in his arms.

Now facing the possibility of a life without her, he will do anything to keep her safe. Even if it means facing his demons. Even if it risks everything he has.

Anything, as long as their love can survive...

My Review:
I adored the first two books in the trilogy. I've had Forever on my shelves for a while now and finally got round to reading the conclusion to this trilogy. The book picks up where Linger left off with Grace struggling to adapt to her new situation. She's having to spend more time apart from Sam, whilst Isabel is fighting a losing battle with her father who wants the wolves out of Boundary Wood for good.

I was drawn right into this book from the beginning. Reading this trilogy has been a bit like settling down with a comfy pair of slippers and a nice warm blanket, and it felt so good to get back into this world. The pace was pretty gentle but not once did it lose my attention. My heart really went out to Grace. She's become another girl who just disappeared, and it's taken its toll on her, her family and friends as they don't know the truth and the constant threat of the lives of all the wolves meant there was plenty of tension and suspense.

One of my favourite parts of this book was Grace and Sam's relationship, which steps up a notch. I've been waiting for the intensity and connection between these two to be explored a bit more and this book definitely goes deeper into it. I loved it! The tension between Isabel and Cole was a great contrast as well. Both relationships made this book feel a lot more grown up. The trilogy and the characters themselves have definitely developed.

Even the smaller characters got their chance to shine in this book which I really liked. Both Officer Koenig and Rachel's roles throughout Forever were those that stood out for me. It felt like everyone got one last chance to shine.

I was waiting and waiting for the book to reach its climax and it was brilliantly done. When I finished I just didn't want to part with the characters! It managed to wrap things up nicely but left you wanting that bit more as well which was a perfect ending. I'll be re-reading this trilogy in future to get my fix again! Forever is definitely up there with the first two books for me. A must read trilogy!

Rating: 5*
What to read next: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Books like this: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Review: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Goodreads page

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick. Website, Twitter

Published: 27 May 2010 (Simon & Schuster Children's Books)

Pages: 400

Buy: Amazon: paperback|Kindle Waterstone's: paperback|e-book Book Depository: paperback

Source: Borrowed from library.

Plot Summary: (from Goodreads)
A SACRED OATH
A FALLEN ANGEL
A FORBIDDEN LOVE

Romance was not part of Nora Grey's the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.

My Review:
I was so excited to start this book.. Hush, Hush tells the story of Nora Grey who finds herself being drawn to the mysterious Patch when they're seated together in their biology class. Not only that, but strange things begin happening around Nora; things she can't explain.

This book had me totally hooked from the first couple of chapters. There were so many questions I wanted answering! When Patch is introduced, he's such a mysterious character that, like Nora, I automatically wanted to know more about him. Nora is drawn to him for reasons she can't totally explain, but it managed to avoid feeling too cheesy. I liked that it wasn't too lovey-dovey type of romance.

As well as being mysterious, I loved that Patch was a total bad boy. He was just such an interesting character. In fact, this book is filled with mysterious, intriuging characters! Nora is definitely fascinating: she's lost her dad and struggles to trust people, she sees the school counsellor, her mum is always away working.
I adored her friendship with her best friend Vee. The bounce off each other so well! There's Marcie, the typical popular kid who aggrovates the two of them. Throw in two boys from the local private school and you've got a whole ensemble of interesting people!

Throughout the book you get the whole sense of something really creepy going on. As Nora becomes more and more concerned with the strange things happening to her, the atmosphere gets more and more tense. And then suddenly something dramatic happens and I couldn't put the book down! The author makes you wait a long time before the big reveal so I spent most of the book on the edge of my seat, just waiting for everything to come out. And I loved it! The climax of the story was made even more exciting by the tension created throughout the book and there was plenty of action towards the end. There were some twists and turns I wasn't expecting either which made it even more satisfying!

I can tell this series is going to be one I'm going to want to completely immerse myself in. I love the characters and the excitement and the world itself sounds like it has so much potential. I can't wait to discover more!

Rating: 5*
What to read next: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick, book 2 in the Hush, Hush series.
Books like this: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare.

Review: The Calling (Darkness Rising book #2) by Kelley Armstrong

Spoiler warning! This book is the second book in the Darkness Rising trilogy, which follows on from the Darkest Powers trilogy. If you haven't read The Gathering, The Summoning, The Awakening or The Reckoning then look away now! Reviews of all four books are on the Reviews page. You have been warned...

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong

Author: Kelley Armstrong. Website, Twitter

Published: 5 April 2012 (Atom)

Pages: 336

Buy: Amazon, Kindle, Waterstone's

Source: Borrowed from a friend.

Plot Summary: (from Goodreads)

Maya Delaney’s paw-print birthmark is the sign of what she truly is—a skin-walker. She can run faster, climb higher, and see better than nearly anyone else. Experiencing intense connections with the animals that roam the woods outside her home, Maya knows it’s only a matter of time before she’s able to Shift and become one of them. And she believes there may be others in her small town with surprising talents.

Now, Maya and her friends have been forced to flee from their homes during a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set. Then they’re kidnapped, and after a chilling helicopter crash, they find themselves in the Vancouver Island wilderness with nothing but their extraordinary abilities to help them get back home.

My Review:
This book picks up right after where The Gathering left off, with Maya and the others on the helicopter being evacuated from a fire ravaged Salmon Creek. It soon becomes obvious that something isn't quite right with the evacuation and the story suddenly becomes a tense, exciting fight for survival.

I absolutely loved this book; even more than The Gathering! You find out a lot more about Maya and her hidden abilities, and more excitingly you start to learn more about some of the background characters. I was really excited to learn more about Sam and Nicole in particular. I'm always really pleased when there's more to a character that originally meets the eye!

The characters spend a lot of this book in constant peril which really amps up the tension. Unlike the previous book, I didn't get bored once and was gripped throughout. There's plenty of twists and turns throughout and everyone's loyalty comes into question. Seeing Maya explore her new found powers was really exciting too and she got some really great action heroine moments. There's just something about her character I really like especially her sense of humour and the way she interacts with the male characters - like she's an equal to them.

A really exciting second instalment in the Darkness Rising trilogy with plenty of action and surprises that kept me glued to the page.

Rating: 5*
What to read next: The Rising by Kelley Armstrong, the third book in the Darkness Rising trilogy - coming 2013.
Books like this: The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong.

Related news: Kelley Armstrong reveals cover for The Rising.

Review: The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

Author: Kelley Armstrong. Website, Twitter.

Published: 7 April 2011 (Atom)

Pages: 384

Buy: Amazon, Kindle, Waterstone's

Source: Borrowed from a friend.

Plot Summary: (from Goodreads)
Strange things are happening in Maya's tiny Vancouver Island town. First, her friend Serena, the captain of the swim team, drowns mysteriously in the middle of a calm lake. Then, one year later, mountain lions are spotted rather frequently around Maya's home and her reactions to them are somewhat . . . unexpected. Her best friend, Daniel, has also been experiencing unexplainable premonitions about certain people and situations.

It doesn't help that the new bad boy in town, Rafe, has a dangerous secret, and he's interested in one special part of Maya's anatomy - her paw-print birthmark.

My Review:
This book follows on/runs alongside the Darkest Powers trilogy but from reading this book, I can't see that you need to read that trilogy to enjoy this one. I'd really recommend those books anyway, though! And there's a few crossover characters and references you'd pick up on only if you've read the Darkest Powers books. Nothing in this review should spoil them though. Now, on with The Gathering!

Maya lives in Salmon Creek, as isolated medical research town with a tiny population. After losing her best friend, Maya is trying to get back on track and enjoy her life again.

Firstly, what struck me about this book was how different it felt to the Darkest Powers trilogy. The writing and the feel of it just felt a lot more gentle, and the pace especially was a lot slower. I really loved Maya from the start, though. She's such an interesting main character and I really enjoyed reading about her and her closeness to her animals, her friendship with her best friend Daniel and her relationship the with new boy Rafe. I think she's far from your typical teen girl heroine; she's not overly girly and she doesn't go gooey over boys. She's confident and has a good relationship with her parents and as the book went on you got to see some of her flaws which I really liked. Daniel, too, was a really great character and I loved finding out more about him and his background

I found the plot really engaging. It was clear from the beginning that there was more to the town and the people than met the surface, and throughout the book you got this sort of uneasy feeling. It was great at keeping the suspense for a while but towards the latter stages of the book I found myself really wishing for something to actually happen and for the big reveal to hurry up already, because all the action and drama comes very late on. It was worth it when it came but for 50 pages or so beforehand I was getting a bit bored just waiting and waiting.

Overall though I absolutely loved it. I really like Kelley Armstrong as a writer, based on what I've read previously, and it was great to dive into a new trilogy and new characters. This book had a really great ensemble of characters, exciting twists and lots of suspense.

Rating: 4*
What to read next: The Calling by Kelley Armstrong, the second book in the Darkness Rising trilogy.
Books like this: The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong.

Review: The Awakening (Darkest Powers book #2) by Kelley Armstrong

Spoiler warning! This book is the second in the Darkest Powers trilogy, so if you haven't read The Summoning then look away now! (or even better, check out the review of The Summoning here!)

The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong

Author: Kelley Armstrong. Website, Twitter

Published: 4 May 2009
Pages: 368
Buy: Amazon, Kindle, Waterstone's

Plot Summary: (from Goodreads)

If you had met me a few weeks ago, you probably would have described me as an average teenage girl—someone normal. Now my life has changed forever and I’m as far away from normal as it gets. I’m a living science experiment—not only can I see ghosts, but I can raise the dead without even trying. Trust me, that is not a power you want to have. Ever. I’m running for my life with three of my supernatural friends and we have to find someone who can help us gain our freedom back before the Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying.

My Review:
With Chloe and her friends on the run from the Edison Group, battling their powers and trying to stay alive, The Awakening makes for a pretty exciting story. Picking up from The Summoning we follow the group as they hide out, and make a break for safety.

This book is pretty much The Summoning continued, with very little break between the two books, and this entire trilogy feels like one story in three parts. This is probably the weakest book just because it's the transition between the beginning of the whole story and the end, so whilst The Summoning was all about discovery and getting to know the characters, this book stumbles a bit. The entire book is pretty much the characters travelling from one place to the other, but we get some really great moments nonetheless. There's still plenty of action scenes, and Chloe and Derek's friendship really develops. The two of them spend a large chunk of the book together, and find common ground as both of them battle against their powers. You really end up rooting for the characters in this urban fantasy, action adventure road trip!

If you liked The Summoning then grab this as soon as you can!

Rating: 4*

What to read next: The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong, the third book in the Darkest Powers trilogy.

Books like this: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K Rowling, City of Bones by Cassandra Clare.

Review: The Summoning (Darkest Powers book #1) by Kelley Armstrong

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

Author: Kelley Armstrong. Website, Twitter

Published: 3 July 2008 (Orbit)

Pages: 400

Buy: Amazon, Kindle, Waterstone's

Plot Summary: (from Goodreads)

Chloe Saunders sees dead people. Yes, like in the films. The problem is, in real life saying you see ghosts gets you a one-way ticket to the psych ward. And at 15, all Chloe wants to do is fit in at school and maybe get a boy to notice her. But when a particularly violent ghost haunts her, she gets noticed for all the wrong reasons. Her seemingly crazed behaviour earns her a trip to Lyle House, a centre for disturbed teens.

At first Chloe is determined to keep her head down. But then her room mate disappears after confessing she has a poltergeist, and some of the other patients also seem to be manifesting paranormal behaviour. Could that be a coincidence? Or is Lyle House not quite what it seems…? Chloe realises that if she doesn’t uncover the truth, she could be destined for a lifetime in a psychiatric hospital. Or could her fate be even worse…? Can she trust her fellow students, and does she dare reveal her dark secret?

My Review:
Chloe is a typical teenager who gets nervous around boys, wants to change the colour of her hair and worries about what's happening to her body. Add in the fact she sees dead people and it makes for a pretty exciting teenage supernatural drama.

One of the greatest things about this book is the way it's written; narrated by film-loving, aspiring screenwriter Chloe. The scenes play out like a film and it gets you completely wrapped up in the action. I loved the way the story developed and the way the information about the characters was revealed slowly, keeping the suspense up all the way through. The tension in some of the more dramatic scenes was perfect, creating an un-put-downable story with some genuinely hair raising moments. The characters were intriguing, and it captured the sense of being a teenager without becoming too cliche.

If you like urban fantasy then this trilogy is one you can't miss. The ending had me desperate to read the next book straight away!

Rating: 5*
What to read next: The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong, the 2nd book in the Darkest Powers trilogy.
Books like this: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson.

Review: City of Lost Souls (Mortal Instruments book #5) by Cassandra Clare

Spoiler warning! This is the 5th book in The Mortal Instruments series. Avoid this review if you haven't read the previous books, or better yet take a look at the review of City of Bones, book 1 in The Mortal Instruments series, right here! 

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Author: Cassandra Clare. Website, Twitter.
Published: 8 May 2012 (Walker)
Pages: 560
Buy: Amazon, Kindle, Waterstone's

Plot Summary: (from Goodreads)
The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

My Review:
When I first started reading this series I had no idea just how much I was going to end up loving it. After the huge cliffhanger at the end of City of Fallen Angels I've been eagerly awaiting the chance to get my hands on this book and find out what happens!

Firstly, I want to mention the tone of this book. It feels a lot darker than the previous instalments, and not just because Clary and the gang facing even huger obstacles before. The whole book feels a lot more intense and touches on slightly darker subject matters than previous books.

One of the main things I noticed was the stepping up of the relationships. Cassandra Clare has done amazing job throughout the series of making you really invest in the romantic relationships of the main characters, and in City of Lost Souls it was no different. The book spends a lot of time flitting back and forth between Clary and her feelings for Jace, Simon and Isabelle, Magnus and Alec and the ongoing tension between Jordan and Maia. There's plenty passionate scenes between the couples (one couple gets a shower scene, one couple a bedroom scene, and many fits of intense snogging) and sexual tension runs pretty high throughout the whole book. It's a shipper's dream!

As well as that there are some other moments that touch on subjects such as substance abuse and unwanted relationships, but it's not a bad thing. It just shows that these books have grown up and got darker as the story goes on, which I would want from any series I've spent this much time with.

As for the plot, it's just as gripping and exciting as the past books, with Jace's disappearance to deal with and the looming sense that something bad is coming. Clary has grown in to a full on Shadowhunter who can handle herself, and so her action scenes are even better than before.

And of course I have to mention the brilliant characters.  Everyone gets their chance to shine in this book, with Alec, Izzy and Simon all having their own issues to deal with alongside Clary's storyline. Not forgetting the fact I finished this book with a million and one Magnus quotes I wanted to look up. He's absolutely brilliant!

Possibly a tie with City of Glass for best book in the series so far. Roll on book six!

Rating: 5*
What to read next: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare, the first book in the prequel Infernal Devices series.
Books like this: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K Rowling.

Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Author: Cassandra Clare. Website, Twitter

Published: 2 July 2007 (Walker)

Pages: 448
Buy: Amazon, Kindle, Waterstone's

Plot summary: (from Goodreads)

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

My Review:
When Clary discovers the secret world of the Shadowhunters her life changes rapidly, and she starts to question everything she's been told by her mother. Only things get difficult when her mother is disappears and Clary finds herself being attacked by demons. In her journey to find out just what is happening she meets Jace, a seemingly idiotic, egotistical boy, the feisty Isabelle and her brother Alec, and discovers the Institute, a place of refuge for Shadowhunters.

My first impressions when I read this book were that I would need to read it again, something I haven't yet managed with it being a library book! There's a lot of terminology regarding the Shadowhunters that gets thrown at you but stick with it, because once you've got your head around this fictional universe you'll be totally engrossed in it. As Clary learns more about the world, so does the reader and she's just as confused about what's happening at the start, but it's worth it in the end. If you love magic, stories with supernatural elements or just books with lots of action then this is absolutely the series for you!

Ultimately the characters in this book are what really made me love it.I liked the mix of personalities and their senses of humour, and thought the ensemble worked well together. Clary is a fantastic lead female, with her artistic flare and her relationship with her best friend Simon completely warming you to her.

Some of the twists and plot points I could see coming from early on, which maybe ruined the reveal a little but there were enough surprises along the way to keep you hooked and I really enjoyed reading it. A fantastic start to The Mortal Instruments series.

Rating: 4*
What to read next: City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare, the second instalment of The Mortal Instruments series.
Books like this: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K Rowling, The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong.

Review: The Reckoning (Darkest Powers book #3) by Kelley Armstrong

Spoiler warning: The Reckoning is the third book in the Darkest Powers trilogy, therefore I'd avert your eyes if you haven't read the first two books! In fact, if you haven't read the first two books then I order you to go and hunt them down now. I said now, what are you still doing here?! ;) or read my review of The Summoning  or The Awakening. If you've read The Summoning and The Awakening then feel free to scroll down...

The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong

Author: Kelley Armstrong. Website, Twitter

Published: 6 April 2010 (Orbit)

Pages: 400

Buy: Amazon, Kindle, Waterstone's

Plot Summary: (from Goodreads)

Chloe Saunders is fifteen and would love to be normal. Unfortunately, Chloe happens to be a genetically engineered necromancer who can raise the dead without even trying. She and her equally gifted (or should that be 'cursed'?) friends are now running for their lives from the evil corporation that created them.

As if that's not enough, Chloe is struggling with her feelings for Simon, a sweet-tempered sorcerer, and his brother Derek, a not so sweet-tempered werewolf. And she has a horrible feeling she's leaning towards the werewolf...

Definitely not normal.

My Review:

The Reckoning picks up right where The Awakening left off. Chloe and her friends are on the run, having escaped from the clutches of the Edison Group. They've found refuge, but for how long?

My best piece of advice would be to try and read all three Darkest Powers books together as they take place over such a short space of time, and have the feeling of one story split into three chunks. There are, however, plenty of re-caps if (like me) it's been a while since you read the previous instalments.

I really enjoyed the conclusion to the series, especially the relationships between the characters and their resolutions. We've seen hints at Chloe's feelings in the previous books and those hoping for some romantic plot twists in this book won't be disappointed. The action was great, really fast paced, but I think there was a whole load of possibilities to explore the world more that weren't taken which was a bit disappointing. But we get to see more of Chloe and her powers, as well as Derek's battle against his condition as gets closer to total transformation. In fact, Derek in general is a particular highlight of this book and probably my favourite character!

The Reckoning wraps up things enough for it to feel like an enjoyable, worthwhile read and I was satisfied enough at the end of the book. I read this book almost entirely in one sitting so if you're looking for a way to kill a wet, rainy afternoon then this is perfect. I'm really excited to read other work by Armstrong after finishing this series so I think that's a sign of success!

Rating: 4*

What to read next: The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong, the first book in her Darkness Rising series.

Books like this: The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare.