tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3604322391375523222Sun, 19 Jul 2026 18:58:41 +0000book reviewrandomSeries spotlightteaser tuesdaySuzanne Collinsblog awardsgiveawaymini reviewLuisa PlajaMary HoffmanOperation retirement rescueSarah DessenScott Westerfeldchildrens bookAbout meAuthor interviewBBAWCassandra ClareCat RoyalDiana PeterfreundGayle FormanJaclyn MoriartyJulia GoldingKristin CashoreLisa ShearinMary Hooperadult bookbook coverscontestskat fallstrudi canavanwhat not to doAdele GerasAlly CarterAndrew KlavanAnne CassidyAnne OsterlundAnthea BellAprilynne PikeAvisBali RaiBernard BeckettCaro KingCatherine JinksCathy BrettClare B. DunkleDanielle JosephDominic BarkerElizabeth VaughanEmily GeeFilmGemma MalleyJames DashnerJan PageJay AsherJean-Claude MourlevatJennifer EcholsJennifer Lynne BarnesJenny ValentineJulia HobanK. M. PeytonL. Lee LoweLaurie Halse AndersonLili St. CrowLinda NewberyLisa McMannLiz RettigMaria V. SnyderMarie-Louise JensenMary HoganMary RosenblumMeg RosoffMegan Whalen TurnerMelissa MarrMelissa de la CruzMichael GrantMonthly roundupPamela BrownRobin BenwayRosemary Clement-MooreRosy ThorntonSandra GloverSarah Beth DurstSarra ManningSeries spotlight indexShannon HaleSherwood SmithSimone ElkelesSue MayfieldTamora PierceTanya LandmanY S Leeauthor spotlightblogger interviewbook awardsbook releasesbook review indexbook talkbook tourgail carson levinejessica verdaytwitterAbout Booksnoreply@blogger.com (H)Blogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3604322391375523222.post-6822515663769282826Sun, 03 Oct 2010 11:54:00 +00002010-10-03T13:02:16.613+01:00James DashnerJennifer Lynne Barnesmini reviewRecommendationsI know I've been remiss in the past months, but not having time to write full reviews, I'd still like to share a couple of great books I've read recently. Reviews should be coming soon:<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#339999;">Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes</span></strong> (In my opinion, there are too many werewolf books. There are not enough werewolf books as good as this one. Listen to a sample chapter <a href=";)<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#339999;">The Maze Runner by James Dashner</span></strong> (Even if the non-ending is completely frustrating, it's definitely a series to keep an eye on. Read some sample chapters <a href=";)2010/10/recommendations.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (H)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3604322391375523222.post-7895276695600479758Fri, 20 Aug 2010 19:45:00 +00002010-08-20T21:04:35.179+01:00book reviewJaclyn MoriartyBook review - Dreaming of Amelia by Jaclyn Moriarty<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507581531221648114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 132px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a><strong>In their words:<br /></strong><span style="color:#3366ff;">‘<strong>The first time I saw her I knew that my Amelia was a ghost.</strong><br />Amelia and Riley have transferred to Ashbury High for their final year, and the whole school is completely obsessed with them. Glamorous, gifted and totally devoted to one another, they seem to be perfect. But there’s more to them than beauty and talent. Riley and Amelia have secrets. And everyone at Ashbury is about to find out that the past has a very long shadow...’<br /></span><br /><strong>In other words:</strong><br />It’s a ghost story. It’s a story about love, illusions, black holes, and Irish convicts. It’s a story about endings and beginnings. It’s a story about the last school year of a group of clever, witty, over-dramatic, endearing teenagers.<br /><br />To me, Jaclyn Moriarty’s writing is special. Really truly unusual, even next to other teenage books. Why? Because she creates characters that come across as effortlessly genuine. They face real problems with varying capabilities, they’re individual, and they’re likeable. Other authors manage to write about teens well enough to convince you that they’re real. Very few can make you feel as though for the entire story, you’re eavesdropping on a real group of teens that you might overhear on a bus or at a school or cafe.<br /><br />So now you know. I adore her characters and in this book they’re no different. There are some new ones to the Ashbury-Brookfield series and there are some returning characters (Lydia, Seb and Tony to name a few!). Regardless, I think if you were new to the stories then you’d still be able to follow it all perfectly. It’s a standalone that links in to the others, but you don’t need to have read them.<br /><br />I was a bit worried starting the book because I’d found her last one (The Spell Book of Listen Taylor) very hard-going. Thankfully I didn’t need to be at all. In fact, I thought it was up to the same standard as <a href="2009/01/series-spotlight-jaclyn-moriarty.html">Finding Cassie Crazy</a> (though I should mention it’s <em>much</em> longer weighing in at over 500 pages!). It’s cleverly written in the shape of exam essays, meeting minutes and online conversations, with themes and seemingly unconnected details and multiple point-of-views all blending to create a gem of a book. Put that way, it sounds kind of like high literature. And it could be. This should be read in schools and then maybe more people would read. But that’s by the by because what really matters is that it is a book that teens will love.<br /><br /><strong>Pages: 578<br />Publication date: 2nd April 2010<br />AKA: Ghosts of Ashbury High (US)</strong>2010/08/book-review-dreaming-of-amelia-by.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (H)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3604322391375523222.post-4255480517027013249Tue, 20 Apr 2010 09:49:00 +00002010-04-20T10:49:00.692+01:00book reviewSarah DessenBook review - Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460764728710265010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 131px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a><span style="color:#3366ff;"><strong>In their words:</strong><br />'Auden has always felt like the odd one out. Since her parents’ divorce she’s shied away, studying lots and staying out of the party scene. But now Auden’s realised there must be something more and, just like that, she changes everything. Moving to her dad’s house opens up a whole new world of beach parties, food fights – and simply having fun. As she starts to get to know herself – and a secretive boy with dark, brooding eyes – can Auden begin to let go and finally feel like she truly belongs?'</span><br /><br /><strong>In other words:<br /></strong>Auden’s grown up pretty much all work and no play, but the summer before university she has nothing to work towards – she’s already been accepted to her preferred uni, but in the meantime, has a summer to kill. Staying with her dad in a small town, she gets to know the teenage population. For Auden, who’s more at home behind a textbook, this summer is all about learning to let go.<br /><br />Sarah Dessen’s books tend to follow not exactly the same formula, but similar themes. Family, friendship, love, and the main character is on a journey of self-discovery and growing up. She’s a master at writing books not only for teens, but books <em>about</em> teens. Each book, though similar, brings a new character with authentic issues and an authentic story.<br /><br /><div>So where does Along for the Ride fit into this strong repertoire? In my opinion it’s solidly in the middle. Auden is a character easy to relate to – she’s a product of her parents and her upbringing, slowly learning how to become her own person. The cast of characters are interesting – those who you’d least expect it of seem to be the most insightful. I did have a quibble: everyone in the town is essentially good – there are those with faults, but these are usually people from Auden’s past.<br /></div><br /><div>Eli is an interesting love interest, but I actually didn’t feel that I got to know him. Similarly, he was just too nice; going so far out of his way for a stranger reads as a little bit unlikely to me. Maybe I’m just too cynical. This small issue aside, I’m constantly amazed at Sarah Dessen’s ability to weave a story from almost mundane events and little action. She manages to do so without ever letting the story become stagnant or dull.<br /></div><br /><div>So where does it rate? I’d put it on a par with <a href="2009/03/book-review-lock-key-by-sarah-dessen.html">Lock & Key</a>. A solid new read for any Sarah Dessen fans (especially as you will recognise cameos of characters from previous books). If you haven’t read anything by Sarah Dessen before then this is still worth reading, but my advice is to get yourself a copy of <a href="2009/02/book-review-truth-about-forever-by.html">The Truth about Forever</a> to read – one of my favourite contemporary books for teens. These books lean more towards a female readership, but I'm sure lads could enjoy them too.</div><br /><div><strong>Pages:</strong> 424</div><div><strong>Category:</strong> Contemporary teen fiction</div>2010/04/book-review-along-for-ride-by-sarah.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (H)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3604322391375523222.post-1807248963152101403Thu, 15 Apr 2010 11:50:00 +00002010-04-15T12:50:00.325+01:00book reviewkat fallsBook review - Dark Life by Kat Falls<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443626950085038706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 132px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a><span style="color:#3366ff;"><strong>In their words:<br /></strong>'When the oceans rose, entire continents were swallowed up by the rising water. Now humans live packed into high rises on small tracts of land, while those willing to forge new frontiers settle deep beneath the waves. Ty has lived under the sea his entire life, helping his family to farm the ocean floor. But when outlaws attack, Ty finds himself in a fight to save the only home he has ever known. Joined by Gemma, a girl from Topside who is looking for her missing brother, Ty ventures into the frontier’s rough underworld – and discovers some very dark secrets. Secrets which threaten to destroy everything ...'<br /></span><br /><strong>In other words:<br /></strong>Dark Life is set in a future in which Global Warming has swallowed up most of the land. Some people cling to the small remaining patches of land in ever-increasing sky-scrapers. Others take to the seas.<br />The science of this is mostly glossed over; people breathe in ‘liquigen’ just before leaving air. This allows them to breathe and also appears to alleviate effects of water pressure. In short, anyone can go underwater. The dangers arrive with what is an alien environment.<br /><br />Dark Life actually manages to make a life under the sea sound tempting. In a world we know so well, the sea is a whole new frontier. Complete with some underworld pirates, an unsympathetic government and a group of children with strange secrets, it is a clever, exciting and compelling read. There is a relatable and diverse cast of children and teens, fighting to protect the homes that their parents have worked so hard to create. I loved the government cover-up aspect and the elements of mystery, though some parts are predictable.<br /><br />I loved this world that Kat Falls has created and hope she’ll revisit it soon. With its unusual setting, interesting characters, layers of secrets and surprising powers, Dark Life is a book I would heartily recommend. It’s accessible to young teens while not alienating older readers. It actually makes me wish I’d been born under the sea myself a little bit!<br /><br /><span style="color:#336666;"><strong>Pages:</strong> 304<br /><strong>Publication</strong> <strong>date:</strong> 29th April 2010 </span><br /><span style="color:#336666;"><strong>Category:</strong> Slightly futuristic dystopia<br /></span><br />Thank you to Simon and Schuster for providing me with a review copy.2010/04/book-review-dark-life-by-kat-falls.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (H)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3604322391375523222.post-192166254203712014Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:22:00 +00002010-03-31T21:23:21.887+01:00randomTop 100 PollAdele of <a href=" Snark</a> is compiling a list of the top 100 YA books of all time. Go <a href="; to find out more and vote for your favourites.2010/03/top-100-poll.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (H)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3604322391375523222.post-8912622784218807895Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:03:00 +00002010-03-10T20:27:12.987+00:00book reviewSimone ElkelesBook review - Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447099230653420818" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 131px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a><span style="color:#3366ff;"><strong>In their words:</strong><br />Brittany Ellis seems to have it all; wealthy parents, the perfect boyfriend and the “right” group of friends. But when Brittany is forced to become lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the wrong side of town, her perfect life starts to unravel. Alex is a bad boy, and he knows it, so when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it.<br />But as Alex and Brittany grow closer, sparks begin to fly and they both realise that sometimes appearances can be deceptive. Will their emerging feelings be enough to keep them together when the world is determined to tear them apart?</span><br /><br /><strong>In other words:<br /></strong>Perfect Chemistry is most definitely a story that has been told before – that of the age-old star crossed lovers –in this case, rich white girl meets poor Latin-American boy. As to whether it offers something new? Possibly.<br /><br />In terms of plot it was predictable, even formulaic, but where this book shines is the characters. Brittany and her family are believably flawed, Alex and his fellow gang-members are realistically conflicted. At the start of the book both are carefully maintaining their reputations, but as the story progresses each realises that the other is far more than the facade that they present to the world. Chemistry teacher Mrs Peterson completely steals the show despite relatively little page-time.<br /><br />I did find it overlong – towards the end I was rushing my reading, hoping for the conclusion to come sooner. Though the last third of the book drags on, the epilogue redeems this somewhat. Slightly too much angst and a little too formula driven, still the message of the book is one which will never, I believe, grow old.<br /><br /><span style="color:#336666;"><strong>Pages:</strong> 357<br /><strong>Guidance:</strong> Contains some violence and sex<br /><strong>Category:</strong> Modern life</span><br /><div><span style="color:#336666;"><strong>Publication date:</strong> 1st April 2010</span><br /><br />Thank you to the publisher for sending me a review copy.<br /><br />Perfect Chemistry has the <a href=" book trailer</a> I’ve seen to date</div>2010/03/book-review-perfect-chemistry-by-simone.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (H)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3604322391375523222.post-3863329576968450980Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:06:00 +00002010-03-01T11:32:20.515+00:00giveawaykat fallsGiveaway - Dark Life by Kat FallsThe lovely Simon and Schuster UK have donated two advance copies of Dark Life by Kat Falls for a giveaway! I really enjoyed this book - my review will not be going up until closer to the publication date, but I can tell you that it is positive!<br /><br /><div><div>The synopsis:<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443626634385914834" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 132px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a></div><span style="color:#3366ff;">‘When the oceans rose, entire continents were swallowed up by the rising water. Now humans live packed into high rises on small tracts of land, while those willing to forge new frontiers settle deep beneath the waves. Ty has lived under the sea his entire life, helping his family to farm the ocean floor. But when outlaws attack, Ty finds himself in a fight to save the only home he has ever known. Joined by Gemma, a girl from Topside who is looking for her missing brother, Ty ventures into the frontier’s rough underworld – and discovers some very dark secrets. Secrets which threaten to destroy everything ...’</span><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#333333;">I'm afraid that this competition is only open to UK readers. For all of you international people, I'm sorry but I do believe that my next giveaway will be open to you. </span><br /><br /></div><div><span style="color:#333333;">UK readers, you have a chance to win one of two advance copies of Dark Life; all you have to do is comment below telling me in ten words or less what you'd like best about living under the ocean. I'll pick my favourite answer and that person will win one book, the other will be selected randomly. You will get an extra entry if you Follow this blog (please remember to tell me in the comments). You don't need a google account to comment, but<strong> please leave an email address so that I can contact you.</strong></span><br /><br /></div><div><span style="color:#333333;">Alternatively, if you're not comfortable with commenting, you can email your entry to me at bookshelfbabble(AT)yahoo(DOT)co(DOT)uk.</span><br /><br /></div><div><span style="color:#336666;">This giveaway will close on the 15th March.</span></div></div>2010/02/giveaway-dark-life-by-kat-falls.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (H)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3604322391375523222.post-8098203720764110859Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:53:00 +00002010-02-22T16:04:53.394+00:00book reviewRosemary Clement-MooreBook review - The Splendour Falls by Rosemary Clement-Moore<a href=" style="color:#3333ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441097309687887010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 131px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong>In their words:<br /></strong>'Sylvie Davies is a ballerina who can’t dance. A broken leg ended her career, but what broke her heart was her father’s death, and what’s breaking her spirit is her mother’s remarriage. Still reeling, Sylvie is shipped off to stay with relatives in the back of beyond. Or so she thinks, in fact she ends up in a town rich with her family’s history ... and as it turns out her family has a lot more history than Sylvie ever knew. More unnerving, though, are the two guys she can’t stop thinking about. Shawn Maddox, the resident golden boy, is the expected choice. But handsome, mysterious Rhys has a hold on her that she doesn’t quite understand. Then Sylvie starts seeing things – a girl by the lake and a man with dark unseeing eyes peering in through the window ... Sylvie’s lost nearly everything – is she starting to lose her mind as well?'<br /></span><br /><strong>In other words:<br /></strong>Ex-ballerina is sent to the country, where she finds out that her dad has buried a long family history. Paranormal adventures ensue.<br /><br />I’m not usually one for ghost stories, but for The Splendour Falls I have to make an exception. It’s creepy without being scary and more importantly, the creepiness comes without a sacrifice of the plot. The supernatural aspect seems to take a backseat to the characters – it’s very present throughout the story, but the characters are just as, if not more, interesting.<br /><br />While a little predictable in some places, and sporting a couple of characters who seem to have come straight out of a formula machine, The Splendour Falls still manages to be original. I loved the idea that the supernatural can be BAD. Many books nowadays like to give characters supernatural powers, but this one explored the idea of the balance of nature.<br /><br />The Splendour Falls is a compulsive read, an entertaining, almost Gothic novel, with an interesting cast of characters and an exciting mystery element. I really enjoyed it, though I’m not enamoured of the cover.<br /><br /><span style="color:#336666;"><strong>Pages:</strong> 528</span><br /><span style="color:#336666;"><strong>Category:</strong> Modern-day Paranormal</span><br /><br />Thank you to Random House for providing me with a review copy.2010/02/book-review-splendour-falls-by-rosemary.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (H)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3604322391375523222.post-6337856389914090878Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:54:00 +00002009-11-17T23:05:20.358+00:00adult bookbook reviewMary RosenblumTamora PierceBook review - The Dragon Book edited by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405211110629981234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 128px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a><span style="color:#666666;">The Dragon Book is a collection of short stories featuring dragons. It includes prolific fantasy authors such as Diana Wynne Jones, Tad Williams, Bruce Coville, Tamora Pierce, and Naomi Novik.<br /></span><br />I was eager to read the dragon book because of the authors attached to it – either I had read their work and enjoyed it, or I had heard good things about them and wanted to see for myself. I also wanted to see how all of these authors dealt with dragons in new and interesting ways. There was certainly a spread of genres and writing styles, from alternate reality to historical fantasy to present day. Each author took a completely different approach to dragons, creating an interesting variety of creatures in a mix of genres that I don’t usually read.<br /><br />However, just as the dragons varied, so did the quality of the stories. Many were awkward and rushed, some were downright cheesy and painful to read. The vast majority of the stories were spectacularly mediocre. They weren’t particularly memorable – they were clever in their use of dragons, but that seemed for some of them to be their only aim. Those didn’t have enough plot to sustain even the short length of their stories.<br /><br />There were of course exceptions. Tamora Pierce’s <em>The Dragon’s Tale</em> stars Tortall’s Skysong, aka Kit. It was an entertaining story and up to her usual high standard of writing, but I wonder how accessible it would be to readers who hadn’t read her ‘Immortals’ series. On a side note, I have to say that ‘kraken spit’ may be the best fantasy expletive I have read to date! The definite highlight for me was an author I hadn’t read before, Mary Rosenblum’s <em>Dragon Storm</em>. Of all of them, it had the best premise and an actual plot, one which could have sustained a longer story. I’ll definitely be reading more by this author<br /><br />To be fair, several others were fairly good and most had at least some good points. Some were simply not my style, as you should expect in any collection of stories. It’s an interesting look at the various takes on dragons, it’s inventive in most cases, and probably worth reading. But I found that there is definitely chaff there. If you are an ardent fan of dragons, this may be worth reading for you. If you like collections of short stories, likewise. Overall, the book is ok. There will probably be several stories that you like. Maybe even one or two that you love. Whether you think that makes it worth trying is up to you. Perhaps one to borrow rather than buy.<br /><br />Thank you to Anderson Press for sending me a copy.<br /><br /><span style="color:#336666;"><strong>Pages:</strong> 448<br /><strong>Category:</strong> I think some stories are for children/teenagers, but some are adult. I’d rate some of them at a 12+<br /><strong>Authors:</strong> Cecilia Holland, Naomi Novik, Jonathan Stroud, Kage Baker, Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple, Liz Williams, Peter S. Beagle, Diana Gabaldon and Samuel Sykes, Garth Nix, Sean Williams, Tad Williams, Harry Turtledove, Diana Wynne Jones, Gregory Maguire, Bruce Coville, Tanith Lee, Tamora Pierce, Mary Rosenblum, Andy Duncan</span>2009/11/book-review-dragon-book-edited-by-jack.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (H)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3604322391375523222.post-7052702329772740925Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:30:00 +00002009-11-17T13:30:01.132+00:00Emily Geeteaser tuesdayTeaser Tuesday<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402591185620386914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a>The Laurentine Spy by Emily Gee<br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">'The secret passages didn't extend to the newer portions of the citadel - the men's wing and the royal chambers, the rooms where matters of military intelligence were discussed. If they did, there'd be no need to ask questions and draw attention to herself, no need to guide conversations to risky subjects.'</span><br /><br />- page 16 US edition2009/11/teaser-tuesday_17.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (H)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3604322391375523222.post-6780677396019228036Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:16:00 +00002009-11-11T22:25:32.409+00:00book reviewKristin CashoreBook review - Fire by Kristin Cashore<a href=" style="color:#666666;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402974898253324562" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 140px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#666666;">In a world full of beautiful monsters that can bend men to their own will, Fire is that most dangerous of things – a human monster. Exceptionally beautiful and irresistible to all those who cannot guard their minds against her, she could even make men stick a knife in their own eye if she wished. But Fire is afraid of her huge capacity for power and influence, having seen her father abuse his own power so extremely that he almost brought about the downfall of the kingdom for his own amusement. Under her attractiveness, Fire is struggling with her own morality. She lives far away from court, afraid of both her influence and those people who hate her for it. Yet trouble is brewing in the Dells, a generation paying for their fathers’ mistakes, and Fire must master her own power to protect her home.<br /></span><br />I’m of the opinion that <a href="2009/06/book-review-graceling-by-kristin.html">Graceling</a> was good, but not great. I think I should mention that so you have some context for this review, because I thought that Fire definitely was amazing.<br />Fire was stunningly crafted and filled with an array of excellent characters. There was a depth to even minor characters, making for a truly believable tale. It’s not hard to believe that these characters have an existence outside of the limited page space given them in the story. Fire herself was a great main character, both interesting and likeable. She’s also incredibly strong, battling the guilt of her own existence, unsure of her place in her world.<br /><br />I’m beginning to get the impression that Kristin Cashore is incredibly interested in the psychological effects of events, rarely investigated in young adult fantasy. Cashore marries classic elements of fantasy – fighting for a kingdom, love, huge climactic events – with smaller, more individual elements – confusion, loss, subtle power shifts, – producing some of the most realistic fantasy I’ve ever read.<br /><br />I love this world that Fire lives in, with its beautiful but deadly monsters. The country itself is completely unstable, establishing a world fraught with everyday dangers. It is so rare that a book combines all of these elements so successfully, and it engaged me completely. The plotting was nicely done, and although I predicted most of the revelations early on, still it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of it at all. For me, Fire was almost a perfect fantasy novel.<br /><br /><span style="color:#336666;">Also, just look at that cover! I mean, how could anyone resist!? (This is written as a YA book in the US, but for some reason, it's printed as an adult fantasy in the UK, so you'll find it in the adult sci-fi/fantasy section instead of the teenage one.)</span>2009/11/book-review-fire-by-kristin-cashore.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (H)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3604322391375523222.post-7039273063680182398Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:50:00 +00002009-11-10T21:15:03.556+00:00Elizabeth Vaughanteaser tuesdayTeaser Tuesday<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402580702422282066" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a>Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughan<br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">"I have sworn the same oaths." He tilted his head. "Xylara ..."</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">"You can't get away with disobeying the King, Eln." I flashed him a smile, "he's not your half-brother."</span><br /><br />- page 8 UK edition<br /><br /><br /><br />I'm about halfway through and enjoying it thus far. Life has sort of got in the way for me recently, but I'm going to make an effort to post at least two reviews a week.2009/11/teaser-tuesday.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (H)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3604322391375523222.post-455586277052302884Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:20:00 +00002009-11-12T19:22:23.899+00:00book reviewLisa McMannBook Review - Wake by Lisa McMann<a href=" style="color:#666666;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398151658268152818" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 131px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#666666;">Janie often races out of a classroom in a panic and avoids sleepovers like the plague. The other kids just think she’s a little strange, but the truth is that Janie gets sucked into peoples’ dreams. If anyone falls asleep near her, she’s dragged along to watch the dream. She’s seen all of the mundane ones, the bizarre ones. She’s even gleaned surprising information about her classmates from them. But when she’s dragged into a nightmare with a sinister monster, she’s amazed to see herself in the dream as well. And there seems to be more than her strange ability than she’s ever realised, for in one strange dream, someone sees her watching.</span><br /><br />The levels of coincidence in Fade were perhaps on the outskirts of believability. Several chance coincidences went by unexplained, possibly for use in further books, but it stretched my credulity at times. On the whole, I found Wake entertaining, clever, and interesting. The premise was fairly well explored, focusing more on Janie’s character and struggles with her powers than the origins of the powers themselves.<br /><br />The dream culture was intriguing, though I’d say a little skewed. A lot of the dreams Janie finds herself in are ‘falling’ dreams or ‘being naked in a public place’ dreams, which I’m not convinced that all that many people have. Also, she learns many useful things from her dream walking. I would guess that for every person who dreams of true events, there must be dozens more who dream utter nonsense.<br /><br />I found the set-up of Janie’s past helped me to understand her as a character. Her past and relationship with Cabel was especially touchingly written. I do wish though that there had been a bit more interaction and closure with her mum. I’d also say that the ending was quite rushed, and a certain revelation was more convenient than credible. Fade was far shorter than I expected, but despite this managed to tell an engrossing and original story. It was fleeting yet lasting, beautifully written, the writing evoking the feeling of a dream itself. The characters were especially well drawn and I look forward to reading more about Janie.<br /><br />Thankyou to Simon and Schuster for sending me a review copy.2009/10/book-review-wake-by-lisa-mcmann.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (H)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3604322391375523222.post-1116798151782889481Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:44:00 +00002009-10-27T10:44:00.438+00:00Anthea BellJean-Claude Mourlevatteaser tuesdayTeaser Tuesday<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393596183506720290" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 131px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a>Winter Song by Jean-Claude Mourlevat (translated by Anthea Bell)<br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">'In the next row little Catharina sat up, unable to believe it. Buta glance at Milena's empty bed, impeccably made and empty, immediately told her what was in store for her. She tried to catch Helen's eye, but Helen turned her head away.'</span><br /><br />- page 42 UK edition2009/10/teaser-tuesday_27.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (H)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3604322391375523222.post-8286289909977416108Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:38:00 +00002009-10-20T10:38:00.369+01:00Diana Peterfreundteaser tuesdayTeaser Tuesday<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393594507148983762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 132px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a> Rampant by Diana Peterfreund<br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">'I might as well have gone crazy, judging by my new status as social pariah. And it's not as if the Myersons wanted to hire me again. After all, I was the girl who hung out with rabid goats.'</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">- page 22 US edition</span>2009/10/teaser-tuesday.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (H)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3604322391375523222.post-6469396822728820916Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:49:00 +00002009-10-19T21:55:05.362+01:00book reviewDiana PeterfreundBook review - Rampant by Diana Peterfreund<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394416573668496978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 132px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a><span style="color:#666666;">Astrid’s mother has always told stories of killer unicorns. These stories have gone from fun to embarrassing as Astrid grew up with her eccentric mother. But these stories turn out to be less myth than history. Astrid is a Llewelyn, one of the few families that produced unicorn hunters hundreds of years ago. The unicorns were supposedly hunted into extinction three hundred years ago, but an increasing number of sightings suggest a re-emergence. Astrid’s mother is thrilled, and packs her off to a cloister in Italy to train to continue the family tradition.</span><br /><br />Rampant was enthralling and entertaining, a cleverly constructed fantasy. The writing and the characters deserve a special commendation. Astrid’s cousin Phil is bubbly and engaging, though perhaps a little naive. Her new friend Cory is determined and wilful, yet also too bloodthirsty. Each character has depth, not only multiple facets, but also reasons for these facets, events that have shaped the personalities. Astrid herself is interesting, though I would say too weak-willed. I can’t really understand how her mother could force her to go to Italy to kill unicorns if Astrid didn’t want to – surely most teenagers would be able to say no to that?<br /><br />Of course, the aspect of virginity is interesting, especially when some interesting guys come on the scene. The use of mythology to illustrate the plight of the hunters is clever – some are eager to do war on the unicorns and some are very reluctant warriors. The unicorns themselves are of course more complicated than they first seem. All-in-all, an excellent adventure with romance, action, fantasy and a cast of memorable characters. I can’t wait for the next book.<br /><br /><span style="color:#339999;">My copy is a US edition, I don't think it's being printed here in the UK at the moment, but it's available from Amazon.</span>2009/10/book-review-rampant-by-diana.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (H)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3604322391375523222.post-38981278104446950Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:43:00 +00002009-10-10T11:43:00.419+01:00book reviewSarah Beth DurstBook review - Ice by Sarah Beth Durst<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382014319179205106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 131px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a><span style="color:#339999;">Ice will be published in the UK on the 29th October</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Cassie has been brought up in the Arctic with her father, a polar bear researcher. When she was younger, her grandmother would tell her stories of how her mother had been taken to the kingdom of the trolls when Cassie was only a baby. Now almost eighteen, she knows this is just a fairy story but this doesn’t stop her from imagining life with a mother. The day before her birthday she tracks the largest polar bear she’s ever seen. He’s fast and she loses him at a wall of ice she could have sworn he just <em>walked</em> into. As Cassie begins to learn the truth about this unusual bear she’s plunged into an adventure full of magic. Her past is entwined with this huge polar bear and Cassie has to decide how far she would go to bring back the mother she doesn’t remember.</span><br /><br />This modern day fairy-tale is a good read. Sarah Beth Durst has created a modern world full of hidden magic, yet remarkably has also managed to achieve a fairy-tale quality to her writing. Bear’s history is far more complex than the usual ‘I did something wrong so the fairy turned me into a bear,’ consequently making the character himself more interesting, though I’d have liked to have learned more about his past. Cassie is a strong main character struggling with the impossibility of this new world she’s found herself in.<br /><br />The new mythology Sarah Beth Durst has created fits seamlessly into descriptions of the modern world, perhaps because Cassie’s existence is so isolated and different from most other peoples’. Apart from filling the modern world with unseen magic, I have to say I didn’t find the book too special. The 'circle-of-life' theme was rather sketchy and the plot was predictable - there was nothing too surprising in there. But then, aren’t all fairytales like this? And don’t we just enjoy them for what they are no matter how many times they are retold? I know I keep reading them.2009/10/book-review-ice-by-sarah-beth-durst.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (H)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3604322391375523222.post-6933845040182629320Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:03:00 +00002009-09-27T21:10:46.503+01:00book reviewScott WesterfeldBook review - Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386241060931240626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a><span style="color:#666666;">The world is on the edge of a battle between the Clankers and the Darwinists, two sides with very different weapons. Prince Alek, the son of the Archduke, is forced to flee from his own people after an assassination leaves him orphaned. Deryn, a British midshipman aboard the famous Darwinist airship Leviathan, is actually a girl in disguise. These two people must navigate their way through the ugly outbreak of war that will eventually lead them together.</span><br /><br />The idea of Leviathan, that in an alternate reality, World War One was fought between the Clankers (those who use machines) and the Darwinists (those who've evolved several ‘fabricated’ living creatures to replace machinery). It’s an unlikely premise and a wonderful idea, one that I would say was underutilised in the book itself. The idea of members of these two opposing sides colliding is creatively executed, resulting in neither a ‘good side’ or a ‘bad side,’ but an exciting mix of the two.<br /><br />Alek was an interesting hero, confined by the lack of experience that often comes alongside privilege. I sometimes felt he was a little inconsis