tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57211845410270471732024-03-14T03:51:32.272+00:00Cem's Book HideoutClaire (Cem)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17163401026523824954noreply@blogger.comBlogger501125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-17849660065368008272011-07-14T18:35:00.000+01:002011-07-14T18:35:30.513+01:00Better Late Than Never...MaybeSo I've been meaning to post this message for weeks now, and it is (for the first time in many months) Cem not the fabulous Nayu (to whom I am very, very greatful!). Here's the deal, this blog is, for now at least and maybe for good, going inactive. I shall not be posting, nor will anyone else. I won't be deleting it as deleting all that work of mine would be majorly depressing! But right now I'm not really reading. I've read...hmm, maybe 3 books in the past 5 or 6 months? Not enough to run a book blog by any stretch!!<br />
<br />
Things are good though. I hit rock bottom, I burnt out completely and utterly where books and blogging (and internet for that matter) are concerned. But now I'm doing great. I'm still barely reading, though my love of books and reading is slowly creeping back in and for that reason, I've decided I'm okay with 'closing' the blog now. I may return to blogging at some point in the future, because I did really, really enjoy it, but right now, this is goodbye. Massive thank you to everyone who's followed me, commented on my reviews and enjoyed the content I've posted (and Nayu's content as well) you guys are awesome. I've made a lot of new friends as a result of this blog and I'm very glad of that too.<br />
<br />
Much love,<br />
Claire<br />
xxxClaire (Cem)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17163401026523824954noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-20004667331709567042011-06-20T00:15:00.000+01:002011-06-20T00:15:00.306+01:00Red's Wolf by PJ Schynder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uCWt1fHeOAQ/TfTYg_wue8I/AAAAAAAADco/c1pEwBd5Ojc/s1600/reds+wolf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uCWt1fHeOAQ/TfTYg_wue8I/AAAAAAAADco/c1pEwBd5Ojc/s400/reds+wolf.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
August 2010, Decadent Publishing<br />
? pages, eBook<br />
Review copy<br />
<br />
Paranormal Romance<br />
<br />
Shapeshifters (cats), jealousy, lone wolf (literal & figurative), rivalry, overprotective family, getting hurt, some humour, a few occasions of intense romance,<br />
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<b>Summary from <a href="http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=158&osCsid=552c5fb7c55aea2359bcfa5cc5b4f4d8">Decadent </a></b><br />
<br />
<h3 style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i><b style="padding-left: 13px; padding-right: 12px;">Book Two of the Terra's Guardians Series</b><br />
<br />
<br />
Carri has definitely caught the eye of the big bad wolf.<br />
<br />
Visiting the Glacier Valley pack to get a little breathing room from life in the city, Carri uses her skills to help install a high tech airspace sensor array for her adoptive grandmother’s pack. Jason is a lone wolf, good at doing his job and good at being alone. Sparks fly between them, igniting desire hotter than Carri's red hood. But the Glacier Valley pack has made it clear Carri is under their protection and off limits. Yet, the heat between them is undeniable, and when Carri makes her choice clear, Jason is ready to claim her as his. He'll go against the pack and any rivals, even take down an alien hunter to have her and protect her</i></span></h3><br />
<b>Nayuleska's reasons for loving Carri</b>...although Carri was nice, it took a while for me to be totally at ease with her She's very determined, and will not take being dictated to by her well meaning but over cautious family. Just because she isn't a shape shifter doesn't mean she isn't aware of how pack society works - a fact that makes her remind the pack that they are neglecting their duty a little towards Jason.<br />
<br />
<b>How evil/nasty is the enemy? </b>I haven't read this for a few days, but the mere title 'Hunters' has me looking around very cautiously. They are inhuman - I'm not talkig not human - the pack are part human, but hunters are evil, goal driven and determined to hunt the pack down. So what if Carri gets in the way - she's still in pack territory.<br />
<br />
<b>Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? </b>Not heaps, it was pretty clear where the story headed (it felt shorter than book 1...which I did mind a lot).<br />
<br />
<b>One of my favourite parts was...</b>when she puts the needs of others first above her own safety (remember that she isn't a shapeshifter...so doesn't have extra strength/weapons in combat)<br />
<br />
This gets 8/10 - it felt a little too short (perhaps I was spoiled with the length of Heart's Sentinel), and Carri's story wasn't as exciting as MacKenzie's. <br />
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Be sure to check out more about PJ Schnyder on her <a href="http://pjschnyder.com/blog/">website</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Suggested reading</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
You absolutely <i>have</i> to read <i><a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2011/04/hearts-sentinel-by-pj-schnyder.html">Heart's Sentinel</a></i>, the first book in the series (much longer than RW). It's awesome and one of my top favourite shapeshifter novels.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DtxwRK9wadk/TfTYec9iHSI/AAAAAAAADcg/QGNUXCFUgrk/s1600/hearts+sentinel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DtxwRK9wadk/TfTYec9iHSI/AAAAAAAADcg/QGNUXCFUgrk/s200/hearts+sentinel.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2010/10/alpha-by-rachel-vincent.html">Alpha</a>, by Rachel Vincent, Follow Faythe as she lives with her pride, struggling with all the rivalries and politics (remember, this is the last book in the series, but it is seriously awesome) Cem has actually read the entire series, which starts with <a href="http://cemsbookhideout.blogspot.com/2009/08/stray-by-rachel-vincent.html">Stray</a> (reviewed by Cem). <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(Yes I'm aware it might look odd putting the last book first, and the first book last - its just the way I've done it :)</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_hF0OPwHxpk/TfTYfnJVjiI/AAAAAAAADck/zGQfAlZqnBk/s1600/alpha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_hF0OPwHxpk/TfTYfnJVjiI/AAAAAAAADck/zGQfAlZqnBk/s200/alpha.jpg" width="120" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ry0myfnj-eY/TfTZbA0u0qI/AAAAAAAADcs/ikAIUhiQwFw/s1600/stray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ry0myfnj-eY/TfTZbA0u0qI/AAAAAAAADcs/ikAIUhiQwFw/s1600/stray.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Nayuleskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-570049646434033112011-06-17T00:15:00.000+01:002011-06-17T00:15:00.043+01:00Coming Home by Graylin Fox<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EN26601Jn1s/TfTfJzDuoXI/AAAAAAAADc0/sJ7T989d_iE/s1600/coming+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EN26601Jn1s/TfTfJzDuoXI/AAAAAAAADc0/sJ7T989d_iE/s400/coming+home.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
December 2010, Decadent Publishing<br />
? pages, ebook<br />
Review copy<br />
<br />
Urban fantasy<br />
<br />
Unseelie court,, magic mixing with the modern world, fighting, intrigue, some humour, tragedy, secrets revealed,<br />
<br />
<b>Summary from <a href="http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=202&osCsid=552c5fb7c55aea2359bcfa5cc5b4f4d8">Decadent</a></b><br />
<br />
<h3 style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i>After losing her husband and son in a car wreck, Lyn is left alone. Even though overwhelmed with grief, financial responsibilities bring her back to reality. With the decision to sell her ancestral home, Lyn is greeted by memories of childhood as she meets up with the water dryad and brownie couple, who had helped her grandmother raise her. The old plantation on the coastal marsh along the bayou of Louisiana reunites her with the joys she’d long forgotten—until she finds herself in the middle of a mysterious war.<br />
<br />
Doors open and secrets are revealed, but will she be able to survive the nightmares she’d left behind as a child or walk away with more than she’d expected?</i></span></h3><br />
<br />
<b>Nayuleska's reason for loving Lyn...</b>tragedy may have struck her life, but there is comfort to be found in friends and family. Although initially unaware of her true status, she fights with every part of her to save others from heartache.<br />
<br />
<b>Is there another character who deserves a mention? </b>Isla is extremely cool - she's one awesome fighter, having a good range of weapons when others coming looking for a fight. Her determination rivals Lyn's.<br />
<br />
<b>How evil/nasty is the enemy? </b>Any creature who wants to destroy a person's life and use the person to better themself is high on my Do-Not-Like list. Add magic in the mix and, well, it takes a lot to subdue the enemy. An awful lot.<br />
<br />
<b>Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? </b>A fair amount took me by surprise, which was nice as this is a short story. Packed with action and intrigue.<br />
<br />
<b>One of my favourite parts was...</b>when Isla and Elden (her husband) arm themselves up. They prepare for every contingency, which shows how much they care about Lyn.<br />
<br />
I give this 9/10 - it would have been extra niece if the story was longer, giving me a further insight into Lyn's life after the end of the story.<br />
<br />
<b>Suggested reads</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
If you want a story where a girl fights for her family's life, try <i><a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2011/02/iron-king-by-julia-kagawa.html">The Iron King</a></i> by Julie Kagawa<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lvs985u4WRA/TfTewcoQD-I/AAAAAAAADcw/jVrNX9_djvk/s1600/The+iron+King.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lvs985u4WRA/TfTewcoQD-I/AAAAAAAADcw/jVrNX9_djvk/s200/The+iron+King.jpg" width="128" /></a></div><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b></b><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2010/05/knife-by-r-j-anderson.html">Knife</a> by R J Anderson, This involves fairies living in their own world with a cross over with the human world (I'm shortly going to reread it as I have the 3rd book in the series for review) & includes a lot of humour, emotions and transformations. </b></div></div></div><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><br />
</b></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dmrYQa3Z4_Q/Tbu88VvaxjI/AAAAAAAADLc/twkM6NuhrmA/s1600/Knife+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dmrYQa3Z4_Q/Tbu88VvaxjI/AAAAAAAADLc/twkM6NuhrmA/s200/Knife+.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="130" /></a></b></div><div><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div>Nayuleskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-19718491056780526942011-06-15T00:15:00.043+01:002011-06-15T00:15:00.037+01:00Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4C1g2IrCU8s/TfZZfYYluWI/AAAAAAAADeE/tiUW18lj4Lc/s1600/tigers+curse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4C1g2IrCU8s/TfZZfYYluWI/AAAAAAAADeE/tiUW18lj4Lc/s400/tigers+curse.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><br />
9th June 2011, Hodder<br />
496 pages, Paperback<br />
Review copy<br />
<br />
Young Adult<br />
<br />
Quest, loved one in danger, special powers, trials in a quest, danger, emotional tragedy, gorgeous outfits, fairies! (including a fairy laundry service), strange bats, sirens (wear earmuffs), combat moves (& combat gear)<br />
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<b>Summary from <a href="http://www.hodder.co.uk/books/work.aspx?WorkID=193712">Hodder</a> </b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Back in Oregon, Kelsey tries to pick up the pieces of her life and push aside her feelings for Ren. But danger lurks around the corner, forcing her to return to India where she embarks on a second quest-this time with Ren`s dark, bad-boy brother Kishan, who has also fallen prey to the Tiger`s Curse.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Fraught with danger, spellbinding dreams, and choices of the heart, TIGER`S QUEST brings the trio one step closer to breaking the spell that binds them.</span></i></span><br />
<br />
<b>Nayuleska's reasons for loving Kelsey...</b>she moved past the acting in a weird way from book 1, I simply adore her new power (zap! kazap! zaaaaaaaaaap! (bad impression of what her power is without giving it away), she suffers a lot on the quest with Kishan, which is sort of balanced with the incredibly useful gifts and weapons she receives.<br />
<br />
<b>Is there another character who deserves a mention?...</b>the fairies! They are quite minor characters but I think how they live and work is really cool. I'd love some as night lights in my room.<br />
<br />
<b>How evil/nasty is the enemy?</b> Incredibly cruel, as it involves torture. There are lots of sub enemies on the quest, who have to stand strong as Kelsey and Kishan risk their lives to get to the next stage.<br />
<br />
<b>Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises?</b> Once again it took a very long time for the action to occur, and there was much less conflict in the first part of the book. I hasten to note that now I'm more used to Colleen's style of writing, the lack of conflict didn't bother me so much. When the twists happened near the end, they were clever ones.<br />
<br />
<b>My favourite part was...</b>when Kelsey is helped by the fairies! It's very magical.<br />
<br />
I give this 7/10, and I'm eagerly awaiting the third book.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;">Find out more about the Colleen and the series on the dedicated</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><a href="http://www.tigerscursebook.com/" style="text-decoration: none;">website</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;">.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><b>Suggested reads</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;">Definitely check out book one, <i><a href="http://cemsbookhideout.blogspot.com/2011/05/tigers-curse-by-colleen-houck.html">The Tiger's Curse</a></i> (even though I gave it a low rating, it is quite necessary to understand the background information in <i>Tiger's Quest)</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kRcUb_HwdR0/TfZZoKZohaI/AAAAAAAADeI/UZiobcUT0wg/s1600/curse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kRcUb_HwdR0/TfZZoKZohaI/AAAAAAAADeI/UZiobcUT0wg/s200/curse.jpg" width="140" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;">For paranormal romance involving cat shapeshifters, check out </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;"><i><a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2011/04/hearts-sentinel-by-pj-schnyder.html" style="text-decoration: none;">Heart's Sentinel</a></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;"> by PJ Schnyder</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1FeXtXI5s6s/TduPtT3P7iI/AAAAAAAADUA/o9De_QiV4j8/s1600/Heart%2527s+Sentinel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #444444; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: underline;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1FeXtXI5s6s/TduPtT3P7iI/AAAAAAAADUA/o9De_QiV4j8/s200/Heart%2527s+Sentinel.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;" width="133" /></a></div>Nayuleskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-73372067050949898162011-06-13T00:15:00.059+01:002011-06-13T00:15:00.447+01:00Passion by Lauren Kate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mRWBSy-MhmU/TfNnZwl9vsI/AAAAAAAADcE/8b2LlX43XhE/s1600/passion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mRWBSy-MhmU/TfNnZwl9vsI/AAAAAAAADcE/8b2LlX43XhE/s400/passion.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br />
23rd June 2011, Doubleday Children's,<br />
432 pages, Paperback<br />
Review copy<br />
<br />
Young Adult, paranormal<br />
<br />
Angels, time travel, teen romance, some violence,<br />
<br />
<b>Summary from <a href="http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/catalog/bookcb.htm?command=Search&db=main.txt&eqisbndata=0385618085">Random House Children's Books </a></b><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Before Luce and Daniel met at Sword & Cross, before they fought the Immortals, they had already lived many lives. And so Luce, desperate to unlock the curse that condemns their love, must revisit her past incarnations in order to understand her fate. Each century, each life, holds a different clue.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">But Daniel is chasing her throughout the centuries before she has a chance to rewrite history.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">How many deaths can one true love endure?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">And can Luce and Daniel unlock their past in order to change their future?</span></i></span><br />
<br />
<b>Nayuleska's thoughts on Passion</b><br />
<b></b>Regular readers will know that mostly my reviews are in a different style. I'm choosing to change it just for <i>Passion</i>, because I need to discuss my decision for giving the the book 8/10 <b>and</b> 2/10. Like Cem, I write honest reviews, explaining what I love and what I didn't like about books.<br />
<br />
Disclaimer: All of these views are my own opinion. I will be reading the fourth book when it comes out. I may read <i>Passion</i> again - I'll just skip the bits I'm not keen on. <b>Spoiler alert: </b>there is a middling spoiler about what gets examined in the last part of the book in the 2/10 explanation.<br />
<br />
<b>The 8/10</b>: I think I enjoyed this one a lot more (until near the end) because Luce isn't as moany as the other books. I really love how she learns about travelling back in time to meeting her former selves. I really like the extra way she can get to know that - that was pretty cool. It was fun seeing how Daniel and the other angels were doing, it gave me a fuller understanding of the story. The small plot twists that built up slowly over the story were well executed.<br />
<br />
<b>The 2/10: </b>Whenever I read books on angels, there is always a thin line between where I'll keep reading, and where I'll stop reading. I find it interesting to authors interpretation on fictional angels and demons, having my own faith include angels. Where books delve into going into heaven and hell, and use what God might say and do, that's where the line is crossed for me. That happens at the end of Passion.<br />
<br />
Religion always is a controversial subject, because everyone has different views on it. I'm not saying that <i>Passion</i> is awful and it shouldn't be read. I enjoyed most of it. All I'm saying is, that for me personally with my beliefs, the end part was uncomfortable to read. For me, it worked when there wasn't a direct show of where Daniel and Cam came from, or who they answered to. Adding that in doesn't feel right for me. For me, heaven, hell, what happens when we die (this part isn't necessarily in the book) and God are unknown and can never be accurately described by anyone. It's something we have to look forward to after death.<br />
<br />
So this is probably the first time I've given a book two grades: 8/10 and 2/10. I guess if I met half way it would be 5/10 (I think...my maths is isn't very good! If anyone could figure out what the grade would be please let me know).<br />
<br />
Be sure to check out more about the series on Lauren's <a href="http://laurenkatebooks.net/">website</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Suggested reading</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
Make sure you've read book one, <i><a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2010/01/fallen-by-lauren-kate.html">Fallen</a></i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pfkzVVw0p8U/TfNmPCphlVI/AAAAAAAADb8/3T1ltyNToH0/s1600/fallen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pfkzVVw0p8U/TfNmPCphlVI/AAAAAAAADb8/3T1ltyNToH0/s200/fallen.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><i><br />
</i><br />
and book 2, <i>Torment</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m-pzEPm0hnw/TfNmZp0eh0I/AAAAAAAADcA/0ccqYLFx4G0/s1600/torment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m-pzEPm0hnw/TfNmZp0eh0I/AAAAAAAADcA/0ccqYLFx4G0/s200/torment.jpg" width="125" /></a></div>Nayuleskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-14984169631346327252011-06-10T00:15:00.013+01:002011-06-10T00:15:00.181+01:00Secrets at St Judes: Sunshine Girl by Carmen Reid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jgspQs3jPg0/TeH7t4foJvI/AAAAAAAADYU/XZE5aPK_tYg/s1600/sunshine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jgspQs3jPg0/TeH7t4foJvI/AAAAAAAADYU/XZE5aPK_tYg/s400/sunshine.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><br />
March 2011, Corgi Children's<br />
288 pages, Paperback<br />
Review copy<br />
<br />
Young Adult,<br />
<br />
Boarding school, ups and downs of friendships, tricks (some funny, some stupid), sneaking around, lying, cheating, teen romance (gets pretty racey in a few sections)<br />
<br />
<b>Summary from <a href="http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/catalog/bookcb.htm?command=Search&db=main.txt&eqisbndata=0552563684">Random House Children's Books</a></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The St Jude’s girls are taking a super-fun trip to visit Gina’s amazing LA home, but there are upsets and excitement for Gina, Niffy, Amy and Min this term. Will Amy finally find out who her mother is? And will Gina decide between her two love interests? And what about Min – is she just getting too wrapped up in her crazy science discoveries?</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<b>Nayuleska's reasons for loving Niffy...</b>she gets as hyper as I do on coffee, she loves cakes & sweets as much as I do. She is a mastermind for tricks, which are really clever and funny in this & previous books.<br />
<br />
<b>Is there another character who deserves a special mention? </b>Min - it's sweet how much she loves science - she love her microscope more than snacks (funny scene with Gina).<br />
<br />
<b>How evil/nasty is the enemy? </b>Girls can be right little madams (that's putting politely) - Niffy & co's enemies really aren't friendly, but I didn't like or agree with how Amy took her revenge (Gina felt the same as me).<br />
<br />
<b>Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? </b>There are several sprinkled throughout the story, with a lot of laughs.<br />
<br />
<b>One of my favourite parts was</b>...when Niffy played the final trick, and was actually praised for it by a familiar character. It was a big 'whoohoo' moment.<br />
<br />
Although I'm not always keen on how the girls behave, their friendship is firm, they have good hearts, they can be very funny so I give this 8/10.<br />
<br />
<b>Suggested reads</b><br />
Share more of the girls' adventures in the previous books including: <i><a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2009/08/secrets-at-st-judes-jealous-girl-by.html">Jealous Girl</a></i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f2bP0wi7Fmg/TeH7BnRpgWI/AAAAAAAADYM/ej7BTQ3M9pk/s1600/jealous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f2bP0wi7Fmg/TeH7BnRpgWI/AAAAAAAADYM/ej7BTQ3M9pk/s200/jealous.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><i><br />
</i><br />
and <i>Drama Queen </i>(link to follow)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fo4lCdicXhc/TeH7G5U0F1I/AAAAAAAADYQ/avLxJUBwskI/s1600/drama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fo4lCdicXhc/TeH7G5U0F1I/AAAAAAAADYQ/avLxJUBwskI/s200/drama.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>Nayuleskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-61153821765647040752011-06-08T00:15:00.000+01:002011-06-08T00:15:00.229+01:00Secrets at St Judes: Drama Girl by Carmen Reid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DW0bvAuYlKI/TeDH4h99t_I/AAAAAAAADX8/KDEyuc8TtwE/s1600/drama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DW0bvAuYlKI/TeDH4h99t_I/AAAAAAAADX8/KDEyuc8TtwE/s400/drama.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><div>(I'm loving the new style of covers!) </div><div><br />
</div>January 2010, Corgi Children's<br />
<div>304 pages, Paperback</div><div>Review copy </div><div><br />
</div><div>Young Adult</div><div><br />
</div><div>Boarding school life, moderate level of teen romance, lying, sneaking out, parties, friends falling out, putting on a play (writing & acting), culture clash, some humour </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Summary from <a href="http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/catalog/bookcb.htm?command=Search&db=main.txt&eqisbndata=0552561215">Random House Children's Books </a></b></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">You'd think that being stuck in a stuffy girls bording school would mean life was dull and dreary, but this term the St Jude's girls are in for some serious drama!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Gina can't wait for her mum and friends to make the trip over to visit her from sunny California, but things don't exactly go to plan and she finds herself stuck in the middle of them and her new friends and hunky boyfriend. And things don't get better as the rest of her dorm-mates have their own dramas to deal with . . .</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Niffy is not happy about her best friend and her brother becoming a couple - yuck! Min wishes she had the confidence to finally kiss her new boyfriend, and poor Amy is starting to do anything to look thin for the school play.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Will all the drama be resolved . . .?</span></span></i></div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Nayuleska's reason for loving Amy: </b>I think she's my favourite character in this book because when she's low and gets one comment about her weight, she takes it the wrong way and starts on the twisty spiral of anorexia (there is a happy ending, but the pace of time passing seemed almost too quick to be realistic)</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Is there another character who deserves a mention?</b> All the girls are fun, but I enjoyed Gina's story line because her friends were diabolical in how they behaved to everything - life isn't all about luxury! </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>How evil/nasty is the enemy? </b>Distorted body image is evil and dangerous. Misunderstanding and friction between friends hurts everyone involved. </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? </b>With all four girls having their own storyline, there's plenty of unexpected events. </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>One of my favourite parts was....</b>right when Amy's eating problem was discovered, I felt so sorry for her, but was so happy that she would get some help. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I think this deserves 8/10</div><div><br />
</div><div>Make sure you check out more about St Judes and Carmen's other books on her <a href="http://www.carmenreid.com/">website</a>. </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Suggested reads</b></div><div>Try other St Jude's books for more adventures with the four girls which include <i><a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2009/08/secrets-at-st-judes-jealous-girl-by.html">Jealous Girl</a></i></div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cvYXvZLbhsU/TeDH27cDfCI/AAAAAAAADX4/LyXQxCQndjk/s1600/jealous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cvYXvZLbhsU/TeDH27cDfCI/AAAAAAAADX4/LyXQxCQndjk/s200/jealous.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>For more school stories, check out the Silver Spires series: <a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2010/07/school-friends-party-at-silver-spires.html">School Friends: Party at Silver Spires</a>.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLxhztWV0b8/TeDH5InRLTI/AAAAAAAADYA/JEQM-o3G6AY/s1600/party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DLxhztWV0b8/TeDH5InRLTI/AAAAAAAADYA/JEQM-o3G6AY/s200/party.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><div><br />
</div>Nayuleskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-57154593703555345252011-06-06T00:15:00.023+01:002011-06-06T00:15:00.265+01:00City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f5gcyK_BmyE/TeEicbv-M8I/AAAAAAAADYI/4-2S89W1tZQ/s1600/fallen+angels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f5gcyK_BmyE/TeEicbv-M8I/AAAAAAAADYI/4-2S89W1tZQ/s400/fallen+angels.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br />
April 2011, Walker<br />
432 pages, Paperback<br />
Review copy<br />
<br />
Young Adult<br />
<br />
Demons, training, weapons galore, heartache, tragedy, families and friendship, misunderstandings, possession, abuse, nightmares, snakes, teen romance (moderate, with a few strong sections & alternate relationships), a lot of violence and gore<br />
<br />
<b>Summary from <a href="http://www.walker.co.uk/The-Mortal-Instruments-4-City-of-Fallen-Angels-9781406328677.aspx">Walker</a></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and – most importantly of all – she can finally call Jace her boyfriend. But nothing comes without a price. Someone is murdering the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine's Circle, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second, bloody war. And when Jace begins to pull away from her without explaining why, Clary is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: she herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace</i></span><br />
<br />
<b>Nayuleska's reasons for loving Clary</b>...I still adore her! This is as good as the 3rd book, maybe even a little bit better because she actually starts shadowhunter training. I'm so with her on the terrified of heights but the training pays off later in the book.<br />
<br />
<b>Is there another character who deserves a mention?</b> Again I return to Maia, because more is learnt about her past, which makes her both more vulnerable, and also stronger.<br />
<br />
<b>How evil/nasty is the enemy? </b>Very evil because no one knew it was there, no one could tell when it was laying the foundation for its demonic plans, then adding all the layers like icing on a cake.<br />
<br />
<b>Are there plenty of story twists and surprises? </b>There are a fair amount, a bit less than previous books but a lot of character development and the relationships between different characters happens.<br />
<br />
<b>One of my favourite parts was...</b>when Clary was training, and when she successfully performed a flip where no one else could see her. (I saw her - whoohoo!)<br />
<br />
I give it 8/10.<br />
<br />
<b>Suggested reads</b><br />
Be sure to check out the other books in the series<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">These two are pretty obvious - book 1, <a href="http://cemsbookhideout.blogspot.com/2011/05/city-of-bones-by-cassandra-clare.html">City of Bones</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xfyoUQw2Bxc/Td_ZY-rZh9I/AAAAAAAADXQ/SRzoCwbyr_Y/s1600/bones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xfyoUQw2Bxc/Td_ZY-rZh9I/AAAAAAAADXQ/SRzoCwbyr_Y/s200/bones.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="132" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Book 2, City of Ashes (link to follow)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4n3ss5hC_cc/Td_auVeIrAI/AAAAAAAADXU/YR9yZOhL0Ps/s1600/ashes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4n3ss5hC_cc/Td_auVeIrAI/AAAAAAAADXU/YR9yZOhL0Ps/s200/ashes.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="130" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><br />
<br />
Book 3, City of Glass (link to follow)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S529E9G6a3Q/TeEhLhdTCvI/AAAAAAAADYE/7IPO7t3XcTo/s1600/glass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S529E9G6a3Q/TeEhLhdTCvI/AAAAAAAADYE/7IPO7t3XcTo/s200/glass.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>Nayuleskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-55620928557279606722011-06-03T00:15:00.046+01:002011-06-03T00:15:00.540+01:00City of Glass by Cassandra Clare<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T3IW6UtNT60/Td_b3WI79VI/AAAAAAAADXc/NL6-0u5vo8M/s1600/glass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T3IW6UtNT60/Td_b3WI79VI/AAAAAAAADXc/NL6-0u5vo8M/s400/glass.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><br />
June 2009, Walker<br />
496 pages, Paperback<br />
Personal Copy<br />
<br />
Young Adult, Urban Fantasy<br />
<br />
Werewolves, vampires, fairies, governing body, rebellion, great dress sense, awesome array of weapons, fire (pretty!), glass (duh - why else would the title have glass in?), fear, escape, torture, acceptance, huge secrets uncovered, family ties and friendships formed and lost, 100% wow factor, quite a lot of violence - most of it gruesome, the odd use of bad language and a few adult situations, tissues will be needed, a fair amount of humour.<br />
<br />
<b>Summary from <a href="http://www.walker.co.uk/The-Mortal-Instruments-3-City-of-Glass-9781406307641.aspx">Walker</a>. </b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Amid the chaos of war, the Shadowhunters must decide to fight with the vampires, werewolves and other Downworlders - or against them. Meanwhile, Jace and Clary have their own decision to make: should they pursue the love they know is forbidden?</i></span><br />
<br />
<b>Nayuleska's reason for loving Clary</b>...I feel so happy to say I love Clary 100% now. This book was it. Clary wasn't a nitwit in this one. The whole incest thing - I can't spoil it, but yeah, totally understand why it happened and very happy with the outcome. She really comes into her own here, she has quite a strength of character.<br />
<br />
<b>Is there another character who deserves a special mention? </b>Maia! She gets cooler with each book. But I'd like to bring the focus on Isabelle, who I positively adore in this book, because she gets hurt terribly, but manages to stay focused at the crucial moments.<br />
<br />
<b>How evil/nasty is the enemy? </b>Valentine didn't get any evil-er, he's a prime psycho, definitely bent on destroying the world. He deserves everything that happened to him.<br />
<br />
<b>Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? </b>Understatement of the year. I didn't like book 1 & 2 that much. The incest thing really bugged me. But finding out the truth about that here, suddenly everything made sense. Clary came into her own, the revelations kept thumping down from the sky. I now want to reread the previous books, which I didn't necessarily want to do by the end of book 2. There are some tissue moments which are pretty heart breaking.<br />
<br />
<b>One of my favourite parts was...</b>a Maia thing. 1) I love the slogans on her clothes. 2) - this made me laugh on page 232: 'She [Maia] put her hand against her stomach. "And <i>gross</i>, by the way. I can't believe I munched all that demon. I hope I'm not allergic.'<br />
<br />
Seeing as I 101% loved this, it gets 10/10! You can see what Cem thought of it <a href="http://cemsbookhideout.blogspot.com/2009/12/city-of-glass-by-cassandra-clare.html">here</a>. We have quite different takes on the book, which goes to show we all have different tastes (I did not have a clue about the truth between Jace & Clary at the end of book 2).<br />
<br />
Definitely head over to Cassandra's <a href="http://www.cassandraclare.com/">website</a> to check out more about her and her books.<br />
<br />
<b>Suggested reads</b><br />
These two are pretty obvious - book 1, <a href="http://cemsbookhideout.blogspot.com/2011/05/city-of-bones-by-cassandra-clare.html">City of Bones</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xfyoUQw2Bxc/Td_ZY-rZh9I/AAAAAAAADXQ/SRzoCwbyr_Y/s1600/bones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xfyoUQw2Bxc/Td_ZY-rZh9I/AAAAAAAADXQ/SRzoCwbyr_Y/s200/bones.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Book 2, City of Ashes (link to follow)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4n3ss5hC_cc/Td_auVeIrAI/AAAAAAAADXU/YR9yZOhL0Ps/s1600/ashes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4n3ss5hC_cc/Td_auVeIrAI/AAAAAAAADXU/YR9yZOhL0Ps/s200/ashes.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><br />
(And book 4, City of Fallen Angels which I've just started reading)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-to2n63N-Ick/Td_a9gM_OKI/AAAAAAAADXY/aQxGU56WU00/s1600/fallen+angels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-to2n63N-Ick/Td_a9gM_OKI/AAAAAAAADXY/aQxGU56WU00/s200/fallen+angels.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>Nayuleskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-23722897134400576902011-06-01T00:15:00.048+01:002011-06-01T00:15:00.603+01:00City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aWbLy3r46Ac/Td90w-T5zLI/AAAAAAAADWw/RGMWwUSk5aE/s1600/city+of+bones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aWbLy3r46Ac/Td90w-T5zLI/AAAAAAAADWw/RGMWwUSk5aE/s400/city+of+bones.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><br />
July 2008, Walker<br />
416 pages, Paperback<br />
Personal Copy<br />
<br />
Young Adult, Urban Fantasy<br />
<br />
Demons, lots of danger, moderate amount of gore, lots of fighting, cool weapons, friendships and family relationships, magic, new abilities, werewolves, vampires, a few adult themes, possibly a few swear words (can't quite remember)<br />
<br />
<b>Summary from <a href="http://www.walker.co.uk/The-Mortal-Instruments-2-City-of-Ashes-9781406307634.aspx">Walker</a></b><br />
<br />
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i style="font-weight: normal;">The second book in the bestselling urban fantasy trilogy, The Mortal Instruments.</i></span></h3><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Haunted by her past, Clary is dragged deeper into New York City's terrifying underworld of demons and Shadowhunters - but can she control her feelings for a boy who can never be hers?</i></span></div><br />
<b>Nayuleska's reasons for loving Clary...</b>she's not totally clueless now she's got a better idea of what's going on. The incest issue with Jace was something I wasn't so keen on.<br />
<br />
<b>Is there another character who deserves a special mention? </b>Maia the werewolf - I'm quite fond of her for some reason! What happens between her and Simon made me laugh when I don't think I should have been laughing.<br />
<br />
<b>How evil/nasty is the enemy? </b>Valentine is still evil, and continues to command super evil demons to help with his world domination plans.<br />
<br />
<b>Are there plenty of plot twists/surprises? </b>There are some startling changes and revelations, especially at the end. Thank goodness I had book 3 beside me.<br />
<br />
<b>One of my favourite parts was...</b>when Clary discovers a new power (I'm so hoping that was in book two - currently reading book three and I'm worried I might have muddled them up!)<br />
<br />
I'm a bit mixed about this book, and I'm giving it 7/10. (I can happily report I like Clary way better in book 3!)<br />
<br />
Make sure you read Cem's review on this (I didn't read it before writing mine)<br />
<br />
<b>Suggested reading</b><br />
Definitely read book one in the series, <i><a href="http://cemsbookhideout.blogspot.com/2011/05/city-of-bones-by-cassandra-clare.html">City of Bones</a>. </i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WKczeFNZcDk/Td903itj4tI/AAAAAAAADW0/neUqW2gLBPE/s1600/city+of+bones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WKczeFNZcDk/Td903itj4tI/AAAAAAAADW0/neUqW2gLBPE/s200/city+of+bones.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><i><br />
</i><br />
Also try the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;">Chloe Neill's pretty awesome </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><i><a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2010/11/some-girls-bite-by-chloe-neill.html" style="text-decoration: none;">Some Girls Bite</a></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"> where Merit's personality captured me from start to finish.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uitFteYze3c/Td904ouGUuI/AAAAAAAADW4/w_HTRoaxF5g/s1600/bite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uitFteYze3c/Td904ouGUuI/AAAAAAAADW4/w_HTRoaxF5g/s200/bite.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>Nayuleskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-37607780022904453262011-05-30T00:15:00.044+01:002011-05-30T00:15:00.553+01:00The Collaborator by Margaret Leroy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--0z_KnYzc04/Td090HfgeKI/AAAAAAAADVk/-CaGdZBqzl8/s1600/collaboratoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--0z_KnYzc04/Td090HfgeKI/AAAAAAAADVk/-CaGdZBqzl8/s400/collaboratoor.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><br />
2nd June 2011, Mira Books<br />
480 pages, Paperback<br />
Review copy<br />
<br />
Historical,<br />
<br />
1940's, Channel Islands, rationing, evacuation, occupation by the enemy, momentous decisions, single mother, affair (closed doors policy on adult relations), teen romance, being a teen in war time,<br />
<br />
<b>Summary from the press release </b><br />
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i>1940: As France falls to the Germans and the enemy looms to Guernsey’s shores, Vivienne de la Mere has the ultimate decision to make - to leave Guernsey, along with most of the islanders and take the treacherous trip to mainland England, or stay, and risk the inevitable occupation with her two daughters and mother-in-law. Vivienne’s decision to stay is set to change the course of hers and her daughters’ lives forever.</i></div><br />
<br />
<b>Nayuleska's reasons for loving Vivienne...</b>she uses her head (some of the time) and does what it takes to keep her children safe, and happy during such difficult times. She also takes risks that didn't need taking, as well as those which did.<br />
<br />
<b>Is there another character who deserves a mention? </b>Millie - she is positively adorable! She's a young girl, and her view on life is a pleasure to read.<br />
<br />
<b>How evil/nasty is the enemy? </b>To be honest, it wasn't the Germans who were evil - it was the people in charge of them, back in their homeland. Some were cruel, but most didn't have a choice.<br />
<br />
<b>Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? </b>Ever so many - although the press sheet actually had a big spoiler, so I was aware of one surprise.<br />
<br />
<b>One of my favourite parts was...</b>It's a point where Millie gets asked if she can swallow pills, and her reply is 'Of course I can. I'm four and a half." She's the 2nd heroine of the novel.<br />
<br />
I give this book 9/10 for being extremely detailed and engaging all my emotions.<br />
<br />
Make sure you take a peek at Margaret's other books on her <a href="http://www.margaretleroy.com/home.htm">website</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Suggested reads</b><br />
A fictional diary which could have been written by Peter, who shared the annex with Anne Frank in <i><a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2010/12/annexed-by-sharon-dogar.html">Annexed</a></i> by Sharon Dogar<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ir74YDuniIk/Td081YvcPAI/AAAAAAAADVc/qGxRZp98wYQ/s1600/annexed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ir74YDuniIk/Td081YvcPAI/AAAAAAAADVc/qGxRZp98wYQ/s200/annexed.jpg" width="126" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Or the life of a Polish boy, orphaned during Nazi occupation in <i><a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2009/12/auslander-by-paul-dowswell.html">Auslander</a></i> by Paul Dowswell<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mez_A6M9CuM/Td088t-NecI/AAAAAAAADVg/PyCW6kv169A/s1600/auslander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mez_A6M9CuM/Td088t-NecI/AAAAAAAADVg/PyCW6kv169A/s200/auslander.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>Nayuleskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-31513149790907877952011-05-27T00:15:00.062+01:002011-05-27T00:15:00.154+01:00Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dTs9tn_3XEw/TduQ8phwGvI/AAAAAAAADUI/Iu6D9F_UQh4/s1600/tiger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dTs9tn_3XEw/TduQ8phwGvI/AAAAAAAADUI/Iu6D9F_UQh4/s320/tiger.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><br />
26th May 2011, Hodder<br />
512 pages, Paperback<br />
Review copy<br />
<br />
Young Adult<br />
<br />
Myths, Indian forests, isolation, tigers, mystery, adventure, some moderate teen romance, mixed emotions, luxury, deities brought to life, snakes,<br />
<br />
<b>Summary from the book's website</b><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Passion. Fate. Loyalty.<br />
<br />
Would you risk it all to change your destiny?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.</span></span></i><br />
<br />
<b>Nayuleska's reasons for loving Kelsey...</b>she hates snakes and camping as much as I do. She seems to have a personality change halfway through the book, and I couldn't understand her motives for her actions and feelings towards Ren.<br />
<br />
<b>Any other character who deserves a special mention? </b>Ren - come on, tigers are really cute! Especially white ones.<br />
<br />
<b>How evil/nasty is the enemy? </b>Until the last part of the book, there wasn't an enemy or much real conflict before page 300. I'm not entirely sure where the conflict kicked in, I stopped checking page numbers. However, the kappas and monkeys were rather scary.<br />
<br />
<b>Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? </b>Only a few scattered around the book, certainly not as much as I'd hoped there to be for a series like this.<br />
<br />
<b>One of my favourites parts was...</b>when Kelsey got to try lots of different food! I could almost smell all the spices and herbs.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">I'd like to make a note that where it says in page 74 </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><i>'In Islam, it is believed that Allah will send a tiger to defend and protect those who follow him faithfully , but he will also send a tiger to punish those he considers traitors</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">', as far as I know from personal experience, this isn't entirely accurate. A beast will be sent, who has some elements like a tiger, but certainly isn't an entire tiger - most of it will be constructed of different animal parts. I haven't ever comes across a passage in the Quran or elsewhere that says it's a tiger, so that might be a regional interpretation of what the beast will look like.</span><br />
<br />
Because of the lack of action/twists, and Kelsey's dramatic and incomprehensible (to me) change in character, I give this a 5/10.<br />
<br />
Find out more about the Colleen and the series on the dedicated <a href="http://www.tigerscursebook.com/">website</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Suggested reads </b><br />
For paranormal romance involving cat shapeshifters, check out <i><a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2011/04/hearts-sentinel-by-pj-schnyder.html">Heart's Sentinel</a></i> by PJ Schnyder<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1FeXtXI5s6s/TduPtT3P7iI/AAAAAAAADUA/o9De_QiV4j8/s1600/Heart%2527s+Sentinel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1FeXtXI5s6s/TduPtT3P7iI/AAAAAAAADUA/o9De_QiV4j8/s200/Heart%2527s+Sentinel.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Or check out Rachel Vincent's series which ends with <i><a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2010/10/alpha-by-rachel-vincent.html">Alpha</a></i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ca0B07JE_4I/TduPyU_7kuI/AAAAAAAADUE/nqnwsns5Tho/s1600/alpha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ca0B07JE_4I/TduPyU_7kuI/AAAAAAAADUE/nqnwsns5Tho/s200/alpha.jpg" width="120" /></a></div>Nayuleskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-89281675655848402612011-05-25T00:15:00.024+01:002011-05-25T00:15:00.164+01:00Threads by Sophia Bennett<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HAjwVj2t-nA/TdqGsKrV3KI/AAAAAAAADTk/I_m33nb1doA/s1600/threads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HAjwVj2t-nA/TdqGsKrV3KI/AAAAAAAADTk/I_m33nb1doA/s400/threads.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><br />
August 2009, Chicken House<br />
272 pages, Paperback (*)<br />
Review copy<br />
<br />
(* I adore this cover! I was given a special edition one, designed by Giles Deacon (I'd never heard of him, but he's a top fashion designer (I know next to zilch about the fashion industry), which really does fit in with the design element of the book, but I like the original best. It's bright and snazzy and more my style.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s0WrO0b6MxI/TdqHBJMSJpI/AAAAAAAADTo/anfksMHa_dE/s1600/threads2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s0WrO0b6MxI/TdqHBJMSJpI/AAAAAAAADTo/anfksMHa_dE/s320/threads2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Young Adult,<br />
<br />
Fashion, school life (GSCE year), celebrities, the realities of being an actress, moving up (and making moves in) the fashion world, the cruel realities of life in other parts of the world, photography, beautiful creations, lots of humour, tissues most definitely needed<br />
<br />
<b>Summary from <a href="http://www.doublecluck.com/books/threads">Chicken House </a></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Nonie’s passion is fashion. Humanitarian Edie wants to save the world. And budding actress Jenny has just landed a small part in a Hollywood blockbuster. But when these three friends meet a young African refugee girl called Crow, sketching a dress at the Victoria and Albert Museum, they get the chance to pool their talents and do something truly wonderful, proving that fashion fairy tales really can happen.</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<b>Nayuleska's reasons for loving Nonnie....</b>she has such a big heart. Crow works her way into Nonnie's heart, and Nonnie makes things happen for everyone.<br />
<br />
<b>Is there another character who deserves a mention?</b> Sweet little Crow, who is one talented young girl. But my favourite character is Edie - such a nerd, and puts her foot in it, but like Nnnie she has a big heart and does all she can for Crow, which Jenny can't always do as she's away so much.<br />
<br />
<b>How evil/nasty is the enemy?</b> There isn't really one - apart from the evil sickos who start the horrendous wars and conflicts in the world.<br />
<br />
<b>Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises?</b> Several very good surprises which I thought would end up as bad ones.<br />
<br />
<b>One of my favourite parts was</b>...I can't say because its the end event which made me need a tissue. I'll opt for the one when Crow takes her sewing machine on holiday, and Nonie remarks it is Crow's version of a teddy bear.<br />
<br />
There's only one rating for this - 10/10, hands down.<br />
<br />
Find out more about <i>Threads</i> and the other books on Sophia's <a href="http://www.threadsthebook.com/">website</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Suggested reads</b><br />
In some ways Nonie's fashion sense reminded me of Viola in <i><a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2010/04/viola-in-reel-life-by-adriana-trigiani.html">Viola in Reel Life</a> </i>by Adriana Trigiani(For some reason I haven't reviewed the sequel, which is really odd because I enjoyed it, but I think I read it when life was being very life-y. At some point I'll try to review online, rather than just in my head).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vP3dCxibtwE/TdqF7ZgJ83I/AAAAAAAADTc/Ql579MFo9cA/s1600/viola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vP3dCxibtwE/TdqF7ZgJ83I/AAAAAAAADTc/Ql579MFo9cA/s200/viola.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yvP2alIJaUY/TdqGhDE5fEI/AAAAAAAADTg/17b4WSYboLM/s1600/Viola2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yvP2alIJaUY/TdqGhDE5fEI/AAAAAAAADTg/17b4WSYboLM/s200/Viola2.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>Nayuleskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-32289762612462148462011-05-23T12:08:00.001+01:002011-05-23T12:22:30.600+01:00Cross My Heart by Sasha Gould<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wE_6f5GLgZo/TdpDYh49w9I/AAAAAAAADSY/tpZjNIp_X18/s1600/cross+my+heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wE_6f5GLgZo/TdpDYh49w9I/AAAAAAAADSY/tpZjNIp_X18/s400/cross+my+heart.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">April 2011, Razorbill </span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">272 pages, Paperback</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Review copy</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Young Adult (12+) Historical </span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Mysteries of Venetian society, lots of danger, half-truths, rumours, the hidden power of women, secrets, tragedy, mild romance</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Summary from <a href="http://www.puffin.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780141333922,00.html?strSrchSql=cross+my+heart/Cross_My_Heart_Sasha_Gould#">Puffin</a></span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Laura della Scala knows nothing beyond the convent walls which have trapped and bound her since she was twelve years old.</span></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">A single night will change her life.</span></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">She will soon learn the difference between an arranged marriage and true, reckless love.</span></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Venice is a dangerous city. Intrigue, romance and power lie at its heart and secrets run through the blood of its rulers.</span></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">They call Laura 'La Muta'. The Silent One. She is about to break her silence . . .but at what cost?</span></i></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Nayuleska's reason for loving Laura...</b>even when she's afraid, she keeps following her heart and persuing what she believes is right. She isn't totally naive about life, but inevitably time inside the convent will make some social customs unknown to her. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Is there another character who deserves a special mention?</b> Faustina, Laura's maid. She cares for her mistress greatly, but looks the other way and tries to put her best interests first. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<b>How evil/nasty is the enemy? </b>Until the end there are several enemies, and they all seem terrifying to Laura.<br />
<br />
<b>Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises?</b> The novel really turned itself on its head in several places.<br />
<br />
<b>One of my favourite parts was...</b>when the Segreta (a secret society) gave Laura protection when she most needed it (and I'm not saying whereabouts in the story that is!)<br />
<br />
I give it 8/10<br />
<br />
For another Venetian tale try <i><a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2009/05/daughter-of-venice-novel-by-donna-jo.html">Daughter of Venice</a></i> by Donna Jo Napoli<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tfXorg8R2eo/TdpDOUc4O0I/AAAAAAAADSQ/3hOsZGO8Kps/s1600/venice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tfXorg8R2eo/TdpDOUc4O0I/AAAAAAAADSQ/3hOsZGO8Kps/s200/venice.jpg" width="136" /></a></div><br />
<br />
For mystery wherever you turn, try <i><a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2009/05/lady-in-tower-by-marie-louise-jensen.html">The Lady in the Tower</a></i> by Marie-Louise Jensen<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Db5KVVp1DXg/TdpDSE58uhI/AAAAAAAADSU/GYysV8v4ycA/s1600/tower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Db5KVVp1DXg/TdpDSE58uhI/AAAAAAAADSU/GYysV8v4ycA/s200/tower.jpg" width="129" /></a></div></div>Nayuleskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-681133177618099772011-05-20T00:15:00.034+01:002011-05-20T00:15:00.212+01:00The Bad Karma Diaries by Bridget Hourican<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q-lO3iPgYB8/TdE7vGdn1GI/AAAAAAAADRM/BZA8_84ViBs/s1600/BadKarma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q-lO3iPgYB8/TdE7vGdn1GI/AAAAAAAADRM/BZA8_84ViBs/s400/BadKarma.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br />
March 2011, O'Brien Press<br />
240 pages, Paperback<br />
Review copy<br />
<br />
Young Adult,<br />
<br />
School life, bullying, revenge, teens with a mission, blinkered view of life, anorexia, racism, teen hormones,<br />
<br />
Summary from <a href="http://www.franceslincoln.co.uk/en-gb/C/1/Book/2691/The_Bad_Karma_Diaries.html">Frances Lincoln </a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #75807c;">Best friends Anna and Denise need some cash, so they go into business running birthday parties for younger kids. They earn a bit of money AND have lots of funny stories to add to their blog...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #75807c;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #75807c;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #75807c;">But then the girls come up with an even madder money-making scheme and the Instruments of Karma are born, taking revenge on bullies - for a fee! They even blog about it (anonymously, of course).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #75807c;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #75807c;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #75807c;">But Karma is a funny old thing, and the girls learn the hard way that revenge isn't always sweet...</span></span><br />
<br />
<b>Nayuleska's reason for loving Denise</b>....I don't. Her attitude and behaviour are mostly wrong throughout the entire book, although the attitude at home was something I had when I was a teen.<br />
<br />
<b>How evil/nasty is the enemy? </b>Anna and Denise think the enemy is really evil, but they don't know all the facts.<br />
<br />
<b>Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? </b>There were a few big ones, which added a twist to the story.<br />
<br />
<b>One of my favourite parts was...</b>when Denise's mother tells her exactly what she's like. The truth hurts, but it can change lives.<br />
<br />
Although I didn't like Anna and Denise did or how they thought, I give it 8/10 because it was a really good read.<br />
<br />
<b>Suggested reads</b><br />
For a really good way of how bullies and trouble makers are taken care of at a college, check out <i><a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2010/12/mockingbirds-by-daisy-whitney.html">The Mockingbirds</a> </i>by Daisy Whitney<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TSUN8vfFBWw/TdE7fQDyQAI/AAAAAAAADRE/i8G9iiFdNYg/s1600/mockingbirds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TSUN8vfFBWw/TdE7fQDyQAI/AAAAAAAADRE/i8G9iiFdNYg/s200/mockingbirds.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><br />
<br />
For younger readers, check out what Princess Poppy does (imaginary princess) when she gets in with the wrong crowd at school, in <i><a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2011/02/princess-poppy-playground-princess-by.html">Princess Poppy: Playground Princess</a></i> by Janey Louise Jones<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z11ILlL5upA/TdE7mBo51QI/AAAAAAAADRI/k8jLYTD3eCw/s1600/princess+poppy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z11ILlL5upA/TdE7mBo51QI/AAAAAAAADRI/k8jLYTD3eCw/s200/princess+poppy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Nayuleskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-56482638124956824662011-05-18T00:15:00.054+01:002011-05-18T10:50:25.180+01:00Quarry by Ally Kennen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B61BmBGPAas/TdOWU4k72HI/AAAAAAAADRQ/PduucMHEvIc/s1600/quarry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B61BmBGPAas/TdOWU4k72HI/AAAAAAAADRQ/PduucMHEvIc/s400/quarry.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><br />
February 2011, Scholastic<br />
240 pages, Paperback<br />
Review copy<br />
<br />
Young Adult, thriller<br />
<br />
School life, living in a run down area, mental health, dementia, divorce, dares, mobile phones, pranks which aren't funny, secrets, pushing the boundaries, training to be a thug, exams, mild teen romance<br />
<br />
Summary from <a href="http://www5.scholastic.co.uk/zone/book_ally-kennen.htm">Scholastic </a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Someone knows all the secrets of Scrappy's troubled family – and, by text message, is luring him into a deadly trap ...</i></span><br />
<br />
<b>Nayuleska's reason for loving Scrappy</b>: he's the total opposite of me, I respect the bravery he shows, and his compassion to his grandfather, and his more deeply buried sibling love for his sister.<br />
<br />
<b>Is there another character who deserves a special mention? </b>Sheeley, Scrappy's sister. I wish there had been more appearances from her.<br />
<br />
<b>How evil/nasty is the enemy? </b>All I'll say is it starts with a dead cockroach...and gets much worse. Scrappy's on target for being a criminal...if he carries on.<br />
<br />
<b>Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? </b>Although the main one I'd had my suspicions and was proven correct, there were all the minor plot twists which were very well written.<br />
<br />
<b>One of my favourite parts was...</b>whenever he realises how much he cares for his sister.<br />
<br />
I give it....9/10<br />
<br />
Check out Ally's blog <a href="http://allykennen.blogspot.com/">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Suggested reads</b><br />
Jason has a similar level of hardship to deal as Scrappy does in <i><a href="http://cemsbookhideout.blogspot.com/2011/01/crazy-by-han-nolan.html">Crazy</a> </i>by Han Nolan<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-siLfQtYglOQ/TdAOzn3bobI/AAAAAAAADQo/zylsyVPssdk/s1600/crazy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-siLfQtYglOQ/TdAOzn3bobI/AAAAAAAADQo/zylsyVPssdk/s200/crazy.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br />
<br />
For an equally funny and mysterious read, check out <i><a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2009/12/scat-by-carl-hiaasen.html">Scat</a></i> by Carl Hiassen<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GkFr-rUflIo/TdAO3kJFnoI/AAAAAAAADQs/QUGqR2tAfcs/s1600/scat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GkFr-rUflIo/TdAO3kJFnoI/AAAAAAAADQs/QUGqR2tAfcs/s200/scat.jpg" width="129" /></a></div>Nayuleskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-69709545871354523422011-05-16T00:15:00.048+01:002011-05-16T00:15:00.326+01:00City of Bones by Cassandra Clare<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0HNEM91i0AA/TdAKSLLVrQI/AAAAAAAADQk/DlzOgEp6aPo/s1600/city+of+bones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0HNEM91i0AA/TdAKSLLVrQI/AAAAAAAADQk/DlzOgEp6aPo/s320/city+of+bones.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />
July 2007, Walker Books<br />
448 pages, Paperback<br />
Personal copy<br />
<br />
Young Adult, Fantasy<br />
<br />
Lots of thrills and mystery, runes, magic, betrayal, family secrets, family ties, friendships, misunderstanding, werewolves who are good, vampires who aren't fabulous hosts, lots of confusion, some teen romance, some gore, 100% fun!<br />
<br />
Summery from <a href="http://www.walker.co.uk/The-Mortal-Instruments-1-City-of-Bones-9781406307627.aspx">Walker </a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Clary Fray is seeing things: vampires in Brooklyn and werewolves in Manhattan. Irresistibly drawn towards a group of sexy demon hunters, Clary encounters the dark side of New York City - and the dangers of forbidden love.</i></span><br />
<br />
<b>Nayuleska's reasons for loving Clary: </b>everyone knows what's going on apart from her, I like her spirit in finding out the truth, plus her admirable skill of being prepared and making sure a weapon is to hand just in case....<br />
<br />
<b>How evil/nasty is the enemy? </b>Very - some are physically scary, others are psychological scary. All are evil. Or are they...?<br />
<br />
<b>Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? </b>So many I gave up counting them on my fingers. There isn't a single element of Clary's past, current or future life that is predictable (apart from death, but she's very much alive at the end of the book).<br />
<br />
<b>One of my favourite parts was...</b>I have to pick on? Try the whole book! Ok, I'll be good and pick....when Clary gets rescued by Luke midway and she learns his secret. Well one of them.<br />
<br />
I give it 10/10 hands down!<br />
<br />
Make sure you read <a href="http://cemsbookhideout.blogspot.com/2009/09/city-of-bones-by-cassandra-clare.html">Cem's review</a> (I didn't read it before I read the book).<br />
<br />
<b>Suggested reads: </b><br />
Chloe Neill has created quite a powerful force in <i><a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2010/11/some-girls-bite-by-chloe-neill.html">Some Girls Bite</a></i> where Merit's personality captured me from start to finish.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aI3ma-aLFiU/TdAJ2U4KdrI/AAAAAAAADQc/aak6UZJPqvQ/s1600/some+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aI3ma-aLFiU/TdAJ2U4KdrI/AAAAAAAADQc/aak6UZJPqvQ/s200/some+girls.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><br />
For a darker read with a character who isn't at school, try <i><a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2010/12/black-swan-rising-by-lee-carroll.html">Black Swan Rising</a> </i>by Lee Carroll<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CvQU5CdniJc/TdAJ8Klpg1I/AAAAAAAADQg/nJklV5bSHaM/s1600/black+swan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CvQU5CdniJc/TdAJ8Klpg1I/AAAAAAAADQg/nJklV5bSHaM/s200/black+swan.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>Nayuleskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-62831454315523858362011-05-13T17:50:00.000+01:002011-05-13T17:50:32.146+01:00Jessica's Trap by H K Hillman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ow6NVTCY1Ek/TcayDdHLl1I/AAAAAAAADOY/5VuziYXJwkc/s1600/JessicasTrap_200x300_dpi72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ow6NVTCY1Ek/TcayDdHLl1I/AAAAAAAADOY/5VuziYXJwkc/s320/JessicasTrap_200x300_dpi72.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">April 2011, Eternal Press</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">175 pages, e-book</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Review copy</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Horror, Thriller (Although personally this feels more like a Young Adult Paranormal book and fits in with a lot of what I read in those two genres)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Some quite strong gore (demons), witch trials, betrayals, well hidden secrets, magic, superstition, some humour, lots of action</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Summary from <a href="http://www.eternalpress.biz/book.php?isbn=9781615723690">Fiction Express </a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>In a corner of the Civil War, a demonic battle is stirring.<br />
<br />
An inexperienced young witch calls on demonic help to capture an ancient creature, an evil as old as Time and which inhabits the one known as ‘Witchfinder-General’.<br />
<br />
Inexperience is no match for the wiles of demons and Jessica soon loses control. The demons will build the trap she wants but…<br />
<br />
She is to be the bait.</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Reasons for loving </b>Jessica - aside from sharing a name with her, I admire her persistence in never giving up, and thinking the best of people.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Is there another character who deserves a special mention? </b>Yes - Brifons who does so much good for Jessica.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>How evil/nasty is the enemy?</b> Super evil - come on, it's a demon! If other demons fear it, it has to be extremely evil.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises?</b> Yes! Especially at the end.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>One of my favourite parts was...</b>the incident involving Jessica at the mill pond.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I happily give this 10/10.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Suggested reads</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2009/10/heretics-daughter-by-kathleen-kent.html">The Heretic's Daughter</a> by Kathleen Kent (more witch trials)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OgsmRT2cxu0/TcawIVkO2oI/AAAAAAAADOQ/TW7yWN7sgxc/s1600/the-heretics-daughter1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OgsmRT2cxu0/TcawIVkO2oI/AAAAAAAADOQ/TW7yWN7sgxc/s200/the-heretics-daughter1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="131" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2010/01/soul-slayer-by-paul-doherty.html">The Soul Slayer</a> by Paul Doherty - history and evil combine</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zc1IynMKMds/TcaweLCqR9I/AAAAAAAADOU/xWJSz-NNsXQ/s1600/soul+slayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zc1IynMKMds/TcaweLCqR9I/AAAAAAAADOU/xWJSz-NNsXQ/s200/soul+slayer.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="121" /></a></div>Nayuleskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-8099070306388904602011-05-11T00:15:00.000+01:002011-05-11T00:15:00.581+01:00Virals by Kathy Reichs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HBtX2pN6abo/Tb6WOyX1emI/AAAAAAAADMg/WURU6j4ZrKg/s1600/Kathy+Reichs+Virals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HBtX2pN6abo/Tb6WOyX1emI/AAAAAAAADMg/WURU6j4ZrKg/s400/Kathy+Reichs+Virals.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
12th May 2011, Young Arrow<br />
Paperback, Review copy<br />
Young Adult, fantasy/paranormal<br />
<br />
Summary from <a href="http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/catalog/book.htm?command=Search&db=main.txt&eqisbndata=0099543931">Random House</a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Tory Brennan is as fascinated by bones and dead bodies as her famous aunt, acclaimed forensic anthropologist, Tempe Brennan. However living on a secluded island off Charleston in South Carolina there is not much opportunity to put her knowledge to the test. Until she and her group of technophile friends stumble across a shallow grave containing the remains of a girl who has been missing for over thirty years.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">With the cold-case murder suddenly hot, Tory realises that they are involved in something fatally dangerous. And when they rescue a sick dog from a laboratory on the same island, it becomes evident that somehow the two events are linked.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">On the run from forces they don’t understand, they have only each other to fall back on. Until they succumb to a mysterious infection that heightens their senses and hones their instincts to impossible levels. Their illness seems to have changed their very biology – and suddenly it’s clear that the island is home to something well beyond their comprehension. It’s a secret that has driven men to kill once. And will drive them to kill again</span></i></span><br />
<br />
Bones! Bones are in this book, but I meant <i>Bones</i>, the TV series. Thanks to a very close friend I love Bones. I got curious and read the first book in Kathy's series which <i>Bones</i> is based on. I'm glad I read it in French. As soon as I translated the word <i>maggots</i> in a sentence I skipped the entire paragraph. Turns out it's a bit too gory for me. Maggots & dead bodies go hand in hand, so I haven't tried the other books. However, I loved her writing, all the twists and turns so jumped at the chance to read Virals.<br />
<br />
Virals is awesome. There is that paranormal/fantasy element, which is strong but not necessarily the whole of the story. There is a lot of investigating of details, Tory is involved in a lot of breaking and entering with her friends, which includes a lot of trauma when they get caught/nearly caught. Tory is a strong, vibrant personality who is really funny at times. She cares about finding the truth everything, to help people. It's this characteristic which gets her into trouble. But I think at the end of the book she would agree the trouble is worth it.<br />
<br />
It is a little bit odd that Tory's group consists of herself and three guys. You'd think there'd be another girl. There were a few in the story, who were secondary characters. Tory isn't a girl's girl. She gets bullied into being a debutante, something I didn't think even happened any more (not that I have a clue what happens in that social circle). It was quite a funny prospect, and had wide reaching consequences.<br />
<br />
Much of Tory's life happens outside school, but there was a glimpse into American school life which I always enjoy (and feel familiar with, even though it's a totally different continent to me). I liked how the adventure spilled out into every aspect of Tory's life, school and family. Like her aunt she will keep going until the mystery is solved. Which means her life will be full of adventures now she and her friends are infected. Although it doesn't get openly stated, Tory acts a bit like an alpha wolf, which I understand thanks to having read other similar books.<br />
<br />
There wasn't anything I didn't like in this book, it was a real thrill-fest and I'm glad I read it mostly in one go. This gets awarded 10/10! Go check it out!<br />
<br />
Suggested reads: Rachel Vincent's Alpha series, (<a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2010/10/alpha-by-rachel-vincent.html">Alpha</a> = last one), <a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2010/01/meteorite-strike-by-g-taylor.html">Meteorite Strike</a> by A G Taylor, <a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2009/12/mini-review-15-strange-power-by-l-j.html">Dark Visions</a> trilogy by L J SmithNayuleskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-76250095375221011472011-05-09T00:15:00.008+01:002011-05-09T00:15:00.456+01:00Bloodline by Kate Cary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M_dGTot5068/TcVvx0tmQcI/AAAAAAAADN8/uQx_PKgVivo/s1600/newbloodlinecoverUKEgmont.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M_dGTot5068/TcVvx0tmQcI/AAAAAAAADN8/uQx_PKgVivo/s400/newbloodlinecoverUKEgmont.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><br />
October 2010, Egmont<br />
336 pages, Paperback<br />
Review copy<br />
<br />
Young Adult, Paranormal<br />
<br />
Summary from <a href="http://www.egmont.co.uk/product.asp?prodid=2367&catid=#">Egmont</a><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #666666; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Blood from last nights raid has hardly dried on my uniform, still the familiar craving builds in my belly, I long to wield my sword. I can feel the blade slicing through the air then skin then flesh then bone. - <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Captain Quincy Harker.</span></i></span></div><div style="color: #666666; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>When nineteen-year-old John Shaw returns from World War I, he is haunted by nightmares – not only of the horrors of battle, but of the brutal midnight exploits of his superior, Captain Quincey Harker.</i></span></div><div style="color: #666666; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>When Harker appears unexpectedly in England and lures John's sister, Lily, to Transylvania. John must confront the truth. Only the love of pure Mary can save him from Count Dracula's poisonous bloodline. But the line goes further than John and Mary can possibly imagine.</i></span></div><div style="color: #666666; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>A new seductive evil walks among the living..</i></span></div><br />
(Note: I have neither read books nor seen films on Dracula - this is a sequel to Dracula)<br />
<br />
<b>Reasons for loving Mary: </b>She keeps a firm head even when reading and living in terrifying conditions.<br />
<br />
<b>Is there another character who deserves a special mention? </b>Lily - she's naive and drove me potty with her love-sick ways, but I feared and felt sorry for her too.<br />
<br />
<b>How evil/nasty is the enemy?</b> People, we are talking relatives of Dracula - of course they are evil! I'm genuinely freaked out enough that I'm not looking forward to it going dark tonight (and yet I know I'm going to read the sequel)<br />
<br />
<b>Are they plenty of plot twists and surprises? </b>Yes, big ones I didn't see coming.<br />
<br />
<b>One of my favourite parts was</b>....when it ended. Not because the horrors were over (which warrants a 'yay'), but because something truly wonderful happens with Mary which pushes aside the horrors.<br />
<br />
<b>Content: </b>a lot of gore (quite graphic, of the vampire kind) moderate romance,<br />
<br />
Despite being freaked out over it (more than when I came to a certain point involving Mogget in Sabriel (by Garth Nix) (which I will re-read sometime)), I give this an 9/10.Nayuleskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-49162850402449512982011-05-04T00:15:00.045+01:002011-05-04T00:15:00.611+01:00The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zCEMhoFO1jQ/Tb7ab5p0MUI/AAAAAAAADMo/d7VQ7-vzz_g/s1600/IronDaughter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zCEMhoFO1jQ/Tb7ab5p0MUI/AAAAAAAADMo/d7VQ7-vzz_g/s400/IronDaughter.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><br />
April 2011, Mira Ink<br />
430 pages, Paperback,<br />
Review copy, Young Adult, Fantasy<br />
<br />
Summary from <a href="http://www.miraink.co.uk/books/Young-Adult/The-Iron-Daughter.htm">Mira Ink </a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.</i></span><br />
<br />
To find out the reason why I read this book, check out my review of the first book, <a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2011/02/iron-king-by-julia-kagawa.html">The Iron King</a>. Meghan is still a brilliant character. Ok, so personally it was a bit annoying at how gooey eyed she went over Ash, even when he was colder than ice to her, but I admit she makes good decisions. That isn't to say everything ends up smelling like roses. It doesn't. Some of the modes of transport must make the air smell distinctly unpleasant. Parts of the story might look like a rose, in so far as there is a fair amount of deep, red blood, caused by weapons much bigger and deadlier than tiny annoying thorns.<br />
<br />
Time to quit the rose analogy :) Meghan was really living among the enemy when she was at the winter court. Her dire circumstances plummeted even more when An Event happens with the court, making her a fugitive (again - this happens quite a bit in this book). I thought the situation couldn't get much worse, but it really does. Thankfully when life is pelting her with rocks and 'stuff', she doesn't have to face it alone. Allies - not necessarily friends but they do help her occasionally - as well as friends fight beside her as they race to secure the source of the war. I wished she could use her magic more - the little she did she wasn't sure what had happened (I think I figured it out). She had to think. She managed to get rescued a few times, usually acquiring a bruise or cut along the way.<br />
<br />
Her brother barely features in this book - and when he does I had an awww moment when I found out something relating to him. It was sweet and touching that even when things were turned upsidedown, Meghan didn't have to worry about him. She did have to worry about making sure a disguise stayed in place, as well as surviving a school dance (of all the things to happen!), the humour of the lovely cat Grimalkin, and the power of her fairy father, Oberon. Yes, he's quite the authority figure in this book. Especially at the end. Which is <i>good</i>. Very, very good. And that's all I'm saying on the matter.<br />
<br />
As it turns out, I've written this up without realising Cem has already reviewed the trilogy. Her review is<a href="http://cemsbookhideout.blogspot.com/2010/08/iron-daughter-by-julie-kagawa.html"> here</a>. I'm glad to see that we both liked Puck & Ash more in this book than the first.<br />
<br />
This book certainly lived up to expectation, and I happily give it 9/10.<br />
<br />
Make sure you check out more information about The Iron Fey series on Julie's <a href="http://www.juliekagawa.com/">website</a>,Nayuleskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-15871413721695857722011-05-02T00:15:00.053+01:002011-05-02T00:15:00.520+01:00The Taming of Lilah May by Vanessa Curtis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a_rWOXl3s_Y/TbvPp2nLHyI/AAAAAAAADLw/CflAZ1QHXA0/s1600/9781847801494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a_rWOXl3s_Y/TbvPp2nLHyI/AAAAAAAADLw/CflAZ1QHXA0/s400/9781847801494.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><br />
<br />
12th May 2011, Frances Lincoln<br />
192 pages, Paperback<br />
Review copy<br />
Children's/Young Adult<br />
<br />
Summary from <a href="http://www.franceslincoln.co.uk/en-gb/C/1/Book/2872/The_Taming_of_Lilah_May.html">Frances Lincoln.</a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Lilah's Anger Diary, March 26th<br />
Anger levels: 11/10<br />
<br />
I'm Lilah May and I'm ANGRY.<br />
So angry that I'm about to be excluded from school, my parents can't control me, and only one person in the world understands me. And that's my best friend, Bindi.<br />
I haven't always been this way. It all started with my brother Jay. And what no one realises is that it's all my fault.</i></span><br />
<br />
I totally queue-jumped with this book. I adored her previous two books, <a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2010/08/zelah-green-who-says-im-freak-by.html">Zelah Green: Queen of Clean/Who Says I'm a Freak?</a> and the sequel <a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2010/08/zelah-green-who-says-im-freak-by.html">Zelah Green:One More Little Problem.</a> As soon as I saw this, I sensed it would involve all aspects of emotion, exploring sides of society that aren't scented with roses. It's not even published yet. But it's one you definitely need to pre-order.<br />
<br />
I haven't ever had anger issues. At least I didn't think so, not to the extent which Lilah gets mad. There's a deep rooted reason for that, linked to when her brother disappeared. Initially I didn't have a clue what happened to her brother, but slowly as Lilah revealed more information drip by drip, I had ideas floating around my head which eventually became concrete. I really enjoyed how I didn't find out the full reason as to why Lilah blames herself as the end. I wanted to capture in her a tight squishy hug and not let go until all the held in emotions were let out.<br />
<br />
I think it was after half way through the book that I connected with Lilah on a deeper level than I had in the beginning. Anger isn't just kicking things and being violent. It has a unique mindset, one which it turns out I really related to in my teen years (like Lilah it was rooted in situations out of my control). I think it was more the not knowing of how Jay was which hit her hardest. She'd become like a little tank, strong on the outside, locking away everything inside herself. Or more accurately a rusty tank which held something very explosive inside, that made people handle her with care. It was beautiful to read how her father figured out a way to tame her - you could see the tenuous father-daughter bond start to grow (there were 2 methods used, both very sweet). I enjoyed watching her anger levels go up, then slowly go down again. Equally fun were the doodles on the pages - it makes it feel like her diary. Oh and watching how her family almost disintegrated, then slowly started to help themselves was also a pleasure to read.<br />
<br />
Just as with the Zelah Green books, I enjoyed how there are other big issues explored - Lilah's closest friends (well, the only friends really) end up having their own problems too. Although their problems were preventable, and Lilah's wasn't (not directly), it is through the problems that Lilah realises she can interact with the world, that other people have problems too, even if their lives seem perfect on the surface. Her friends cause her heartache, but they are there when she needs them the most.<br />
<br />
I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel, due out January 2012!<br />
<br />
Check out Vanessa's other books on her <a href="http://www.vanessacurtis.com/">website</a>.Nayuleskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-90229578354217323402011-04-30T09:33:00.000+01:002011-04-30T09:33:51.216+01:00Author Interview with Julie Patricka!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ogtQW0-TD0E/TbvJPgI9lsI/AAAAAAAADLs/Xu-CPibsi1g/s1600/PrettySoulsCOVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ogtQW0-TD0E/TbvJPgI9lsI/AAAAAAAADLs/Xu-CPibsi1g/s320/PrettySoulsCOVER.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Yesterday I reviewed <i><a href="http://cemsbookhideout.blogspot.com/2011/04/pretty-souls-by-julie-patricka.html">Pretty Souls</a></i> by Julie, which was a great read. Julie was more than happy to answer some questions, so here's the interview with her, which includes links to more material! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<div class="im" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #500050;"><div style="text-indent: 0px !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1) A werewolf and a vampire, working together while pretending to be normal teens makes for a pretty funny read. Do you know why you opted for the two different species (three if you include the later addition) work together to solve paranormal crime? </span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; text-indent: 0px !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">My initial plan had been for one of them to be human, but every time I tried to write it that way, something felt off. So I started thinking about these girls and how they were kind of thrown together and looked at what would be the most naturally antagonistic races. Most mythology that deals with both has werewolves and vampires hating each other. So, the idea of them not only working together but having such a tight bond really appealed to me. Plus, it allows for some fun dynamics when their natural instincts try to take over. </span></div><div class="im" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #500050;"><div style="text-indent: 0px !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="text-indent: 0px !important;" /></span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2) Cass and Elle are closer than foster sisters, even if they don't always like each other. In future books, will there be more dwelling into their past which was briefly touched upon in <i style="text-indent: 0px !important;">Pretty <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #c4f1f4; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">Souls</span>?</i> </span></div></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; text-indent: 0px !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; text-indent: 0px !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, book two is Cass's book, and she has a very, very messed up past (as sad as it sounds, hers is worse than Elle's). I'm not sure how much of it will come out in the actual book (definitely some, but there's a lot of it since her powers came at birth). However, I have a couple pieces of flash fiction written for her backstory that I will probably publish on my website right around release time. As for their friendship, I have a story that I published a couple years ago with an online magazine that deals with how they first met (<a href="http://gothhuntress.com/crimson/volumeone/0609welcometotheclub.html" style="color: #0089aa;" target="_blank">http://gothhuntress.com/<wbr></wbr>crimson/volumeone/<wbr></wbr>0609welcometotheclub.html</a>), and there are periodic little flash pieces that will make it onto the website (here's a funny little one that's up now: <a href="http://www.julieparticka.com/Julie_Particka/Free_Reads/Entries/2011/3/13_Theres_No_Such_Thing.html" style="color: #0089aa;" target="_blank">http://www.julieparticka.com/<wbr></wbr>Julie_Particka/Free_Reads/<wbr></wbr>Entries/2011/3/13_Theres_No_<wbr></wbr>Such_Thing.html</a>), but for the most part, there will just be little tastes of the year they spent together prior to Pretty <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #c4f1f4; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">Souls</span> interwoven into the novels as they fit. </span></div><div class="im" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #500050;"><div style="text-indent: 0px !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">3) Is there any particular reason why you chose to tell the story from Elle's point of view, rather than Cass's? </span></div></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; text-indent: 0px !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; text-indent: 0px !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For this particular book, I knew it was at it's heart about Elle finding herself. As Elle says in one section, she's the heart, Cass is the brains. As such, it was "easier" for something to push Elle toward understanding. For Cass, the push is going to be much bigger because she'll try to reason her way through everything rather than react to it. So ultimately, Elle had to go first. Plus, from a romantic angle, this one was completely Elle's story. Like I said though, book two is from Cass's point of view, so you'll get to see a lot more of her there. </span></div><div class="im" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #500050;"><div style="text-indent: 0px !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">4) How much research about wolves, and stalking animals, and all the heightened senses which wolves have did you have to do? Did you need much research on the other dark denizens in <i style="text-indent: 0px !important;">Pretty<span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #c4f1f4; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">Souls</span>?</i> </span></div></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; text-indent: 0px !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; text-indent: 0px !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I've been fascinated by wolves since I was a little girl, so most of the research into actual wolves was done ages ago. There were some things that received creative license. (For example, hunting is naturally a pack activity and lone wolves have a difficult time bringing down game unless it is sick or domesticated. I didn't feel wrong tweaking that for the simple reason that she was hunting in a suburban area and the prey species in the Portage/Kalamazoo area are truly as "brave" as I made them out to be. Very very easy prey.) Also, one great thing about writing the supernatural is that you get to create the natural laws of the creatures in your stories. So Elle's heightened senses got to be a combination of animal senses with both human and wolf interpretation. Best of both worlds. To go with that, most of my other characters/creatures have bits and pieces of information garnered from research melded with what I wanted as far as limitations for the world. And, yes, I may at some point in the series return to that dreaded Punnett Square and see what other sorts of mischief I can concoct. </span></div><div class="im" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #500050;"><div style="text-indent: 0px !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="text-indent: 0px !important;" /></span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">5) A few easy ones: when is your preferred time of day for writing? What's your favourite snack and drink while writing? </span></div></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; text-indent: 0px !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; text-indent: 0px !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I do my most productive writing at night after the rest of the house is in bed. I sit in the (mostly) dark, and it helps make the rest of my responsibilities disappear. Music helps for that too. Ugh. I'm supposed to be watching what I eat, but I've been really bad the last couple days. Two favorites are pretzels (the saltier the better) and chocolate (I love Ghiardelli's dark chocolate squares). As for drinks, we'll pretend I never imbibe in alcohol and go with either Diet Mt. Dew or Cherry Coke Zero to help keep me awake (if you wanted the other...it changes a lot LOL).</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; text-indent: 0px !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; text-indent: 0px !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks for the interview Jessica! And I will be posting on Facebook and Twitter as soon as I have details about book 2 :) </span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; text-indent: 0px !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; text-indent: 0px !important;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you Julie! Lots of interesting things here - it's nice to find more people who like wolves (I liked them before learning about shape-shifters) I'm definitely looking forward to book 2. </span></b></div>Nayuleskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-47837521144673164222011-04-29T00:15:00.054+01:002011-04-29T00:15:00.388+01:00Pretty Souls by Julie Patricka<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nphj9328yW0/TbGu9Trky7I/AAAAAAAADJ0/-sD9HUq9-wU/s1600/PrettySoulsCOVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nphj9328yW0/TbGu9Trky7I/AAAAAAAADJ0/-sD9HUq9-wU/s400/PrettySoulsCOVER.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
Feb/March 2011, Paperback & ebook<br />
Decadent Publishing, Review copy<br />
<br />
Young Adult, Paranormal<br />
<br />
Summary from <a href="http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=63&products_id=222&osCsid=6d10377fd7d4760eff038092d663f7be">Decadent</a><br />
<br />
<h3 style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i>My life followed a simple pattern.<br />
Run to keep my inner wolf asleep. Make sure my blood-sucking foster sister, Cass, feeds. Hunt for supernatural trouble when we should be sleeping. Keep my grades up and my head down.<br />
It was mostly a game.<br />
Until people started wandering around like living zombies. Until people I care about started getting hurt. Until the menace came knocking on my front door.<br />
Game’s over.<br />
Time for the soul-stealer to realize just because he’s hunting something doesn’t make it prey.<br />
Cass and I bite back.<br />
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~The Paranormal Response Team~<br />
Saving the World Before Breakfast</i></span></h3><br />
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I'm currently having an 'I love shape shifters' phase, so the moment I read the blurb I put in my request. That was after being intrigued with Julie chatting about Cass & Elle over on Enduring Romance (another blog I review on). Perfect cheerleaders are annoying. Cass annoys Elle a lot. But know what lies behind the necessary persona, I actually really like Cass. She stabilises Elle. Yes I know she can lose it a bit/a lot when she's around blood. It's cool how her eyes change when she vamps in/out. She may be the youngest of the two foster sisters, but she acts like the oldest. She's the one who makes sure Elle has enough food to keep her wolf at bay. She's the one who covers for Elle when she returns from a late night run, with virtually no clothes due to the change.<br />
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I really enjoyed having a vampire and shapeshifting wolf work together like a detective team. There's a lot of friendly banter between the two of them. Personally I loved it when Cass pelted Elle with stuffed toys. They are a pair, and they do fall out. It gets awkward when that happens, especially when they have to work together. But they do forgive each other and get on with their mission. It's quite something to try and figure out who is creating zombies, why, and how to get rid of them. I really don't like zombies. I'm glad that neither Elle nor Cass was a zombie, or that a zombie played a protagonist, because they freak me out a lot.<br />
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Both the title and the front cover really suit the story. Content wise there is a little bit of swearing, some teen romance but nothing too heavy, a little bit of violence (Elle is a wolf and Cass is a vampire. Neither are vegetarians) I think it'll be hard for readers not to be annoyed with Julie for leaving us on such a cliff hanger ending. It's not 100% cliffhanger, but enough that I <i>really</i> want to read that second book right now. Although the original mystery of the zombie creator has been solved, there are so many other questions surrounding Cass & Elle's lives, and the lives of those precious to them. I give this book 9/10.<br />
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Check out more about the series including two free short stories on Julie's <a href="http://www.julieparticka.com/Julie_Particka/Welcome.html">website</a>. If you click <a href="http://enduringromance.blogspot.com/2011/03/pretty-souls-by-julie-particka.html">here</a> you can find Julie chatting about Cass and Elle on Enduring Romance, which got me into the book.<br />
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This will suit anyone who loves shapeshifter stories like Rachel Vincent's series which starts with<a href="http://cemsbookhideout.blogspot.com/2009/08/stray-by-rachel-vincent.html"> Stray</a>, <i><a href="http://cemsbookhideout.blogspot.com/2010/06/raised-by-wolves-by-jennifer-lynn.html">Raised by Wolves</a></i> by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, and <i><a href="http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.com/2011/03/nightshade-by-andrea-cremer.html">Nightshade</a></i> by Andrea Cremer to name a few.Nayuleskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721184541027047173.post-55240148699853927152011-04-27T00:15:00.042+01:002011-04-27T00:15:00.614+01:00The Devil's Triangle by Mark Robson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Om30eLodcTc/Ta8IqDuoqxI/AAAAAAAADJE/wBAf0M2vcnc/s1600/The+Devil%2527s+Triangle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Om30eLodcTc/Ta8IqDuoqxI/AAAAAAAADJE/wBAf0M2vcnc/s400/The+Devil%2527s+Triangle.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br />
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March 2011, Simon and Schuster<br />
400 pages, Paperback (also available as an ebook)<br />
Review copy Children's, thriller, 10+<br />
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Note: There is a minor spoiler in this review which gives away something that isn't reference in the book blurb. I'm putting it in smaller print so if you want to, you can skip reading it.<br />
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Summary from <a href="http://books.simonandschuster.co.uk/Devil's-Triangle/Mark-Robson/9781847389787">Simon & Schuster UK</a><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The Bermuda Triangle has cast a shadow over Sam and Niamh Cutlers' lives since their mother vanished nine years ago. Her whereabouts remains a mystery and every year they return to the Florida Keys with their father, Matt, who is obsessed with solving the haunting puzzle.<br style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />But Sam is bored with lazing around by the pool while his father hunts for the truth. Craving excitement, he and his friend, Callum, "borrow" Matt's boat. At first it's great fun, but when they find themselves marooned in a terrifying land, the boys realise they too have fallen victim to the Triangle's mysterious effects. Can they find a way home, or will they be lost forever?</span></i><br />
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*waves book in the air* This is amazing! I know I say that about a lot of books - I feel privileged that I read so many good ones - but it really has a wow factor. I admit the cover is ok. It does give an indication of what the book is about, but it's not one I adore. But a book is rarely all about the cover. It's the delights which are inside it that I'm keen on.<br />
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Things I love in a book (and does the Devil's Triangle have them?) <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(I hasten to add most of the criteria here are for thrillers. I like a wide range of books which have different criteria.)</span><br />
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<ul><li>Strong female lead</li>
<ul><li>Yes. Two points of vieew of Niamh and Sam. Both are equally important and play a crucial role.</li>
</ul><li>Lots of action </li>
<ul><li>Yes!!! Chock full of it, with danger around most turns, some obvious, some subtle. Sometimes the characters know about it, sometimes they don't (and honestly speaking, I'm not sure which is more tense for me)</li>
</ul><li>Lots of plot twists</li>
<ul><li>Yes. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Come on - intelligent raptors who are into nuclear power? That's a neat concept.</span> </li>
</ul><li>Lots of emotional moments</li>
<ul><li>Yes. I wanted to cry at quite a bit. My heart got tangled both for Niamh and Sam, who both go through so much. I was so proud of them at some moments too. There's a lot relating to the close ties of twins, to lost/missing relatives, to looking after loved ones and also losing them. </li>
</ul><li>Evil enemies</li>
<ul><li>Definitely yes. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Hello - raptors? Thanks to a famous dinosaur film, I'm really scared of them. The idea that they are sentient, well, they are worse than evil humans!!! </span></li>
</ul><li>Plenty of on the edge of the seat moments</li>
<ul><li>Yes. So much is going on that every other sentence something new happens. In some ways I was more worried for Niamh than Sam, because although Sam's life is in danger more, at least he's not on earth (the same one) where Niamh and her father are getting in trouble with the authorities</li>
</ul><li>Imaginative </li>
<ul><li>Yes (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">see previous raptors' comments</span>), </li>
</ul></ul><div>I've always been intrigued by the Bermuda triangle (especially when my uncle used to go there on holiday, and come back safely). I love the concepts of what is causing the strange occurrence, although I'm pretty sure there are more twists in the next book (out in the autumn!). </div><div><br />
</div><div>This one without question gets 10/10. </div>Nayuleskahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.com0