From the very first page Whit’s enchanting story just catches you in a rip, taking you on a wild va’a ride full of naiads, magic and intrigue, putting you under an incantation which refuses to let you go until the very last page.
I felt drawn to Maren, our daring and sassy FMC with tightly guarded secrets held close to her heart, and who is often misunderstood by her superstitious Leihani Islander neighbours and family. While finding refuge on the accursed island of Neris (we love a girl with a green thumb!), Maren seeks the companionship of her somewhat questionable two friends of the Sea’n’Fin persuasion, but who do you ask just happens to be drowning nearby? Someone tall, sunburnt and handsome, a Calder stranger by the name of Kye with secrets of his very own that threatens to tear apart Maren’s world but just might see her for who she truly is.
The book was easy to devour and though a tad predictable in places, there was enough twists, turns and fun banter to keep the entertaining momentum going to propel you through the pages. I was fairly impressed with the Polynesian inspired world building, a magic system which delves into siren/mer mythology of old and the comprehensive glossary of words that Whit included in her book (just don’t get me to speak any of them out loud! *shame*).
Both the main and supporting characters are endearing and charming, at other times infuriating (dear gawd, I wanted to yell and slap certain characters so HARD!) but again, all will be revealed in good time.
And yes, there is romance but leans more towards a slightly confusing blend of slow burn enemies-acquaintances-enemies-friends-enemies-lovers due to various events and influences which you will just have to read to find out (*lips are zipped shut*).
🌊 🧜♀️ 🌊
Overall “A Sea of Song and Sirens” is a breath of fresh sea air, a captivating adult fantasy read with a strong and independent underdog FMC you want to root for with a decent helping of romance, intrigue, sisterhood, magic, Naiads and rich Leilani Islander mythos.
Nothing is what it appears and at times I could almost feel the sea breeze in my hair, the sand and ocean between my toes, and the dried salt on my lips. Fair Warning, this debut ended on a cliffhanger, but considering how much fun the first book was, I cannot wait for what Whit has instore for us next.
🌊🧜♀️🌊
Please Note: 🌊 I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 🌊 A Content Warning with a full list of potentially triggering tropes can be found at the beginning of the book.
This book is like no other fairy tale retelling I have ever read before and that is certainly saying something.
I was intrigued by the quick plot synopsis but boy, was that just the tip of the iceberg. There is really much more to the story than meets the eye and a lot of it I really didn't expect when I started reading it, which was really refreshing and an awesome way to splice a few genres together.
The heroine Bellamy is kind, sassy and knows her mind, a typical Beauty. Tate is wounded and surly, with a temper, a typical Beast with dark secrets. Together though they are so much more and their story has its own surprising twists and turns that often keep you guessing and at the edge of your seats.
The story didn't lag, I didn't find myself getting bored or skipping a few filler pages. The characters were well rounded, not two dimensional and I enjoyed their believable development throughout the story.
I picked this book expecting one thing but was pleasantly surprised by the turn of events and the direction it took me in. I wonder if this is the last that we hear of Tate and Bellamy, that duo can face anything.
So I have been waiting for the next big space opera to hit the big screen and save me from the disappointment that was Jupiter Ascending. Seriously if I hear one more person say "I love dogs" I might vomit and reconsider my love for the genre altogether but I digress.
So when I saw the buzz surrounding the new sci-fi Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets I admit I took the bait, hook, line and sinker. Now if you were hoping for a full comparison of the movie to the comics go somewhere else. This will be an opinion purely based on the film as is.
Now the film is visual stunning and the CGI is breathtaking, a given judging by all the movie trailers, tv spots and bus advertisements that have been haunting my days these past few weeks. Some shots like the exploration of the alternate dimension marketplace and Alpha city fly through seemed made just for 3D viewing, that little extra to make you feel inspired but you can still appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of the film just as well in 2D.
The world building involved in this film is amazing, coming pretty close to Star Wars for all the different species of aliens you see throughout the film. Seriously, who doesn't want to be a pastel silk wearing alien with skin full of electro glitter, wash your face with pearls every morning and live in a utopia by the sea? I actually squealed a little in the cinema because I thought I saw the Mondoshawans at the beginning of the film when Alpha was beginning to form and grow but not 100% sure... They looked pretty similar! With Luc Besson who knows?
(Above - A Mondoshawan from The Fith Element)
In the whole film you only see perhaps 2-3 locations, one of which being Alpha the City of a Thousand Planets a whole universe in and of itself. The cityscapes remind you of a little of Fifth Element mixed with Blade Runner and, dare I say it, Ghost in the Shell. The complex world of different habitats that co-exist on Alpha creates a breeding ground for some interesting, scary and sometimes crazy yet funny characters which often make an appearance in the film just to add a little more spice to the movie.
Costuming was ok, not breathtaking. I guess I have to give more props to Jupiter Ascending or John Carter of Mars for daring to be different as this film's style was a tad mediocre and dare I say it, boring. Sure, they do wear combat suits or military gear for a majority of the film but the rest of the time it just looks like Valerian and Laureline wore a mish-mash off the rack ensembles which just end up destroyed, lost or replaced with same-same. No outfit that would would make you stand up and say, take my money or take quick mental notes to sketch out a cosplay later, unless you want to cosplay an alien hooker... You read it right and you'll see what I mean. As there was nothing particularly stand out or remarkable about anything that they wore which may have added to the visual feast I'll move on.
(Above - An example of off the rack ensembles)
Now I guess another let down of the film was the lack of backstory when it comes to the main characters. Sure, there is always the little inside jokes that no one else really understands but seriously, the dynamic between these two is a little hard to fathom at first. If you read up on the comics you would probably have had a better understanding of the relationship between Valerian and Laureline than I do but since I didn't I had to work with what I was given.
Valerian comes across as a player who aspires to be as cool as James Bond when he grows up but hasn't quite gotten there yet. It's hard to take Dane DeHaan seriously as a smooth and somewhat cocky male lead as he looks about twelve and that haircut does not help. Sure he has a little virtual black book full of females that could rival a secret agent plus the melee, hand to hand combat and shooting skills that comes with being a sci-fi hero but it was hard to believe the sincerity of his awkward sometimes painful to watch tween wooing of Laureline throughout the film. Can't blame Cara Delevingne's character for not taking all these declarations of love seriously. Also Dane DeHaan looks like he could use a decade of sleep, someone get this guy a hot chocolate, soft pillow and fluffy blanket stat, as he looked damn tired throughout 90% of this film.
Laureline came across as a beautiful, tough as nails, ice queen with a hidden heart of gold... shocker there. So the originality was lacking in the character development department when it came to Laureline but it was somewhat amusing to see her continuous brush offs of Valerian's undying affections. Her attitude towards Valerian is often of a babysitter fond of her young unruly charge than a blossoming romance between two adults. Kind to little alien critters, her combat skills rival Valerian's and her cool-headed solutions in stressful situations are also impressive. Given her skills and quick thinking smarts I found it hard to swallow some plot points in the film that left her in somewhat less desirable damsel-in-distress situations but alas tough heroines must fall prey to such film tropes in order for the plot to progress to it's predictable end.
Although Valerian and the City of Thousand Planets is a visual feast and CGI masterpiece like the space operas before it unfortunately the story was also predictable and the characters personal development somewhat stunted and hard to invest in. A pretty gem to go and view but with somewhat less than desirable flaws that left it with less than stellar grades. I wanted to love Valerian and the City of Thousand Planets but just ended up liking it.
For the big budget effects this film deserves to be experienced on the big screen just to appreciate the all the hard work that went into it and perhaps I'll watch it again just for the visual effects but I'll wait for the Blu-ray release.
What an intense, fun ride Sugar Skulls is. Though I am previously familiar with the literary concept of a young adults utopia where your main goal in life is just to party and have fun (The Uglies Series by Scott Westerfeld and Night Creatures Trilogy by Marianne de Pierres), this has a fresh spin to it which I quite enjoyed.
In this dystopian world where regular energy sources are depleting, people are searching for a new sustainable energy. Cyrene is a unique pioneer city which is harnessing the energy created through one's pleasure, both on a physical and emotional level, via thrum-collectors and a grid that keeps track of it's citizens. (Big Brother is totally watching you... right now... just kidding... Or am I?)
Enter stage left is Vee, our scrappy, no bull, punk-rockette leading lady; the Corporate's songbird whose voice has an amazing siren-like power over the masses. Along with her two friends, Sasha of the hot-pink punk style and retro-goth with Victorian flair Jax, they make a band called Sugar Skulls whose fan base is ever growing. In a city where it's power if you can heighten the citizens excitement and adoration, Vee and her friends are pretty close to being a gods, or so it seems.
Beneath the shiny surface of Cyrene there are hidden dangers and with the appearance of Micah, an untraceable ghost to Cyrene's grid, the dark secrets in Vee's forgotten past come to the surface threatening to swallow her whole and take all she loves with her. Does she have the strength to overcome her demons, both in her past and her present, in order to save her future?
This tale is a power ballad of dark and light, glitter and ruin, love and hate. Vee is both tough and fragile, her vulnerabilities making her human and relatable. I would have loved to have read more about her band mates and seen more interactions between them all as their relationship did seem a little disjointed but I guess there can only be so many pages right?
The plot was interesting and seeing the story unfold from the viewpoints of both Vee and Micah made it a fascinating read. The story was relatively fast paced and the climax though exciting, was a little bit underwhelming but didn't detract from the overall tale. The story can stand alone but perhaps, just maybe, there is an opening for a sequel? I just didn't get my fill of Cyrene and the Sugar Skulls.
Overall I devoured this story of song, grit and glitter in one sitting; it was an enjoyable read, the cover is amazing and I am seriously considering getting a hardcopy for my bookshelf.
I have never read a book that so thorough in drawing back the curtain on all the glitz and glamour of being one of the popular kids in high school. If you think this is just another Gossip Girl you are very, VERY, mistaken.
For a girl who seems to have it all, the hot boyfriend, the right friends, the right clothes and the assertive attitude, Liz Emerson realizes she is a cataclysm of bad luck to everyone she meets, friends and foes alike. Sick of the lies, the depression, the loneliness and the affect she has on others, Liz is determined to end it all and stop the vicious cycle.
An interesting, engrossing read that begins at its climax, it swings between flashbacks and present time to explain how it all came to a head. As much as the story is about Liz, it is also about her friends, family and the people whose lives she changed for better or worse, sometimes both. I had come to know all of the main and supporting characters so well they became unmasked before my very eyes.
As much as I really, REALLY, wanted to hate Liz for all the nasty things she did and the lives she ruined, surprisingly, I could not bring myself to I was able to connect with Zhangs characters in way I wasn't able to in other young adult books; their secrets, heartbreaks and tragedies are so real and relatable to youth today as they were when I was in high school.
Amy Zhang strips the high school caste system bare, until all we see is the bare bones and hidden secrets of those we thought we knew well and those we didn't. Falling into Place really makes you re-evaluate what it means to be a friend, a parent or how you treat people you barely know or just met.
A beautiful and powerfully emotive book. Buy it, read it and realize that in your deepest despair you are not alone.
Please Note: I received this copy from Bookworld (now Angus & Robertson Bookworld) in exchange for an honest review.
Every once in awhile you come upon a gem of a book that will leave a mark upon your bookworm heart, regardless of the somewhat bleak cover. Orphan Train is neither a fairy tale nor a tragedy but rather a story of survival of the darkness that life can throw your way.
A series of unfortunate events in her young life come to a head when a very badly thought out action leads Molly Ayer to choose between juvie or 50 hours of community service... Seems life has hit an all time low for this smart talking, angst ridden, OCD 17 year old Native American Goth.
Clean out an old lady's attic, a pretty straightforward task right? But the prim Vivian Daly is not at all what she seems and as each box is opened Molly uncovers a hidden past, buried secrets and perhaps a kindred soul. Suddenly a community service project evolves into something much more, with the potential to change the life of more than just one woman.
This book surprised me on many different emotional levels and I found it easy to read, devouring it in one day. Orphan Train is truly a hidden treasure, a great bookclub suggestion with interesting historical facts to discuss and a reading group guide enclosed at the back of the book.
If you are a fan of Posie Graeme-Evan's The Dressmaker or The Linnet Bird by Linda Holeman and therefore not afraid of gritty historical fiction with heart, pick up Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. You will not be disappointed.
Please Note: I received this copy from Bookworld (now Angus & Robertson Bookworld) in exchange for an honest review.
"It came on the wind of Ramadan..." And with those few words I am once again immersed in the aromas and surrounded by the characters that made me fall in love with Joanne's creative storytelling. Vianne Rocher and her two daughters are drawn back to Lansquenet at the behest of a letter from a much loved yet dearly departed friend from the past. Once she arrives Vianne realises the quaint little town she left behind 8 years ago has changed but not in the way she had hoped...
Things are not as they seem in Lansquenet... Veiled secrets have ignited prejudice in an already tense atmosphere and misunderstandings have caused strife among neighbours. Can Vianne and her chocolates heal the rifts between Lansquenet and Les Marauds? Or will tragedy hit before the truth can be revealed?
The book confronts many issues faced by women of different cultures whose beliefs and customs are not readily accepted in today's mainstream idea of a normal society. Some of the more shocking situations in the story are handled delicately by Joanne Harris and treated with respect which seems fitting for this tale.
When you have spent your whole life living outside society's expectations and have moved from place to place, following where the wind takes you, can you ever truly call one place home? With the plot's many twists and turns the climax will end up surprising you and maybe make you re-assess how you look at the world.
A bitter-sweet tale you will end up craving like your favourite piece of dark chocolate, Peaches for Monsieur le Curé will draw you in until the last page.
If your curiosity for this tale has been piqued please see the below book trailer.
A reading of the book by the author herself, Joanne Harris.
If you would like like to learn more about Joanne Harris just meet up with her at:
Lisa Mantchev, Author of the Theatre Illuminata trilogy, has announced the release of a animated book trailer for SO SILVER BRIGHT her latest book. Check it out below!!!
If this trailer has piqued your interest have a look-see: So Silver Bright
In honour of the release of her animated clip Lisa is holding a contest with awesome goodies to give away. Check it out at So Silver Bright Contest.
I don't know how many of you are out there but raise your hand if you most beloved toy when you were little was a soft toy tiger *raises hand*. Yep, his name is Rajah and he was my beloved golden brown tiger soft toy who was as big as I was when I first got him when I was 8.I took him everywhere & slept with him at night. I still have him now, lying across the foot of my bed. If you like tigers as much as I do and wished you had a tiger companion just like Jasmine in Aladdin you will no doubt enjoy this book.
Anyway, back to Tiger's Curse, this story is well & truly EPIC. So much happens in this book I really couldn't get into it all without ruining the story for you, which I seriously do not want to do. If I had to condense it to maybe one sentence: Beauty & 2 x Beasts (long forgotten Indian princes/Tigers)go on a quest to search for magical treasures mentioned in myths that will help them break an ancient curse that dooms the princes to their tiger forms for all but 24 minutes of the day, every single day...
Summary: We find 17 year old Kelsey Hayes in Oregon/America looking for a summer job to fill in the time/earn some money before she heads off to college only to end up as an assistant at a circus... There she feels drawn to the gorgeous yet lonely white tiger Dhiren a.k.a Ren and strikes an odd friendship with the strange animal who seems to have also taking a liking to her as well.
As her period of employment comes to a close she is offered the once in a lifetime, all expenses paid opportunity to escort Ren to a tiger sanctuary in India. There Kelsey finds not all is what it seems with her furry friend and learns of the Tigers' Curse. Kelsey, though a little frazzled by her companion's transformation, vows to help the strange (Cough*Totally HOT*Cough) prince Ren earn his freedom. Oh, did I forget to mention that Ren has an equally handsome younger brother called Kishan? Yes, he of the white coat & cobalt blues eyes has a rascally sibling with the black coat & golden eyes. My OH My, what is a girl to do?
I love the beauty & the beast spin on ancient Indian myth & legend, as well as interesting facts about Indian culture, not to mention the lovely Indian words of endearment you can pick up just by reading the story. It really is a treasure of a book.
The only downside is how much of an idiot Kelsey becomes towards the end with her self sacrificing attitude. Think Edward in New Moon. I felt like slapping her. I finished the book & said to myself "Kelsey, you Bl**dy Idiot!!" in true Aussie style.
Didn't stop me for picking up the second book and delving right back. H*ll no!!! If you like action, adventure, mythology & tigers you cannot miss this book. Are you Team Ren or Team Kishan?
And the random Winner is......(drum roll please)...........
Brittany
(hernameisavril@yahoo.com)
CONGRATS!!!!
You will be contacted soon for details.
For your chance to Win a Copy of Passion signed by Lauren Kate
Each of the Following counts as one entry
(Maximum of 3 entries):
Follow my blog with Google Friend Connect
Follow me on Twitter @MystGrrlDreamz
Post a comment below letting me know who your favourite Fallen character is and why. Please include your email address or Twitter @ so I can contact you if you win .
Aussie-wide and International entrants welcome.
A Random Winner will be selected 7th September 2011
Spread the word and Tweet about this giveaway
"Every single lifetime, I will choose you. Just as you have always chosen me. Forever."
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.
But Daniel is chasing her throughout centuries before she has a chance to re-write history.
How many deaths can one true love endure.
And can Luce and Daniel unlock their past in order to changed their future?
Madly is your average nearly-eighteen year old girl—for a mermaid princess, that is.
Madly James is thoroughly enjoying her internship in Slumber when the unthinkable happens—there’s a prison break in Atlas, Madly’s home beneath the sea. A traitor has set free eight Lore,the spirits of what humans know as fairy tales, and they are making their way to Slumber to awaken their descendants.
The first spirit to arrive is that of Ulrich Wolfhardt, a man that was once obsessed with wolves and a young maiden he would follow through the woods. After a bite from a wolf, Wolfhardt’s obsession with the girl became an unnatural hunger and the young maiden’s grandmother cursed him with a fate worse than death. And now he’s back…with a vengeance and a bite that can infect others as well.
Madly must learn the identity of Wolfhardt’s descendant and stop him before he kills again and spreads his curse across the earth. But the only person strong enough to help Madly is Jackson, the Sentinel who vowed to protect her and the one person capable of breaking her heart. Can Madly resist forbidden love long enough to save the world from Wolfhardt? Or will she have to sacrifice her heart and her destiny to save the ones she loves?
M. Leighton is a native of Ohio, but she relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: writing fiction. Four of Michelle's novels can now be found on Amazon, as well as several other sites. She's currently working on sequels, though her mind continues to churn out new ideas, exciting plots and quirky characters. Pick one up and enjoy a wild ride through the twists and turns of her vivid imagination.
Interesting characters, banter was at times childish yet amusing but overall a slightly mediocre story. I felt I spent most of my time while reading just waiting for something to happen and when something did happen it seemed a little anti-climatic...
I don't think it will deter me from reading the second book in the series Beelzebub Girl: Dating a Demon. If anything Cass was my favourite character of the lot and I'd like to see how her story progresses.
I've just finished this story and first of all I have to say... THIS STORY WAS EPIC!!!
The main character of this tale is called Acacia Moirgetes, seemly dull orphaned teenager who works as a librarian and yearns for something more in her life. Acacia then finds herself randomly teleporting to a place that seems vaguely familiar yet completely foreign and is now convinced that she is going mad. Enter hottie (and I mean that in every sense of the word...) Blaise who appears at her latest teleporting episode to advise that she is on Mount Olympus and is in fact Lady Acacia, a goddess and not just any mere goddess but the time traveling Bringer of Fate!!!
It's Acacia's duty to uphold justice as sister of the three Fates and as her word is law her powers make the current Gods quake in their leather sandles. Oh and it's her job to hunt down errant deities to drag their butts back to Mount Olympus before it all crashes down. (Pressure much?) Unfortunately 2 years ago she just up and disappeared without a word. Blaise paitently waited every day for her return and, as it turns out, is her personnel (steamy) bodyguard called a Pyroskia (fire shadow) created especially for her protection and is utterly devoted to, er, his job?
And exactly how, I hear you ask, does she not remember this? Acaica, one of the most supremely powerful deities, has lost her memory. That's right, besides her mortal life, a few visions here and there, Acacia has no memory of her life as a goddess. Determined to find out exactly why Acacia and Blaise, along with goat-like mentor Amal and another seriously hot Pyroskia (& brother of Blaise) called Ash (yaay twins!!!), they set off on quest for truth that will change their lives forever. But will learning the truth make her happy? Secrets, Lies and Betrayals lay in store before this tale is told.
Ok, so the first few pages leaves you feeling a bit up in the air as you try to understand what in the world is going on and though it might be tempting to put the book down, DO NOT DO IT!!! I promise the story will definitely get better and will be worth the wait.
Not since The Strangers of Paragor series have I been sucked into the heart-wrenching plight of the the main characters and dilemma of their emotional turmoil. If their hearts break, mine would along with them, it was that INTENSE.
Not don't get me wrong,this isn't another Greek tragedy, there was definitely some hilarious banter and character interactions to have you chuckling or gasping in mock horror as well as some toe curling delightful scenes that would make you wish you had a Pyroskia of your very own... or two... hmmmm... but I digress, this story is not for the lighthearted, as it will definitely leave it's mark on your heart even after you have read the last page.
I only hope this is not the last we hear of Acacia and her Pyroskias...
*Edit* 8/07/11 from Mericful FB page: "Hey Boys and Girls! I've had a lot of requests for info on upcoming books... I am pleased to announce that Temperance is in the works and will be Book Two of a Three Book Series featuring all your favorite Pyros and Acacia of course! Amal is also begrudgingly being dragged along for the ride... along with some new and exciting characters.
Chapter 1 will be titled: Never Trust a Drunk Goat.
Thank you for your support!"
When the opening line of this book made me giggle I knew I was going to like this book. Now I was slightly hesitant to read Storm Born, as I was afraid I would end up just comparing this book to Richelle's other series Vampire Academy but after the first line (and a good giggle) I relaxed and got into the story.
Odile Dark Swan a.k.a Eugenie Markham is a trained Shaman who specialises in kicking supernatural butt and sending unwanted visitors back to the Otherworld or the Underworld if they are the particularily nasty sort. When a paranoid old ball of a man approaches Eugenie requesting she rescue his long lost sister from the fairies, it certainly raises an eyebrow or two, especially considering how dangerous the Otherworld can be. But knowing from experience how cruel and evil the fey can be leaving a defencless human girl in their midst is not an option for Eugenie. Flagged by her 3 ghostly/fey/demon minions Eugenie enters the Otherworld to complete what she thought was going to be just another job, if slightly more dangerous than the others. It actually turns into much more as what she discovers changes her life forever as secrets from her past come to the surface and she begins to question things she's been told and taught.
Now I really did enjoy this book. The story was funny, amusing and eyebrow raising, the plot definitely kept me going with a few surprises here and there that got me hooked. Certain pages definitely had my eyes widen but I won't spoil it for you. For those who want the "eye candy" there is Kiyo, the hunky kitsune who stole my heart at the beginning and then had me wanting to kick his butt after certain information came to the surface and Dorian, the Oak King, also hunky, funny and slightly weird... you'll find out what I mean.
If you are a fan of urban fey fantasies, steamy romance and a strong kick-ass female starring lead, this book might just be for you. I can't wait to read the next installment of the Dark Swan series, Thorn Queen.
I love fairy tales and when authors re-tells an old favourite with their own spin on it my curiousity is always piqued.
The story is mainly about Rosamund (Rose Red) and Blanche (Snow White) who live with their mother at the edge of the forest that borders the Fairie realm. While the family makes their living off the herbs and plants they collect from the outer fairie territory, they've never offically met a fey creature and their mother intends to keep it that way. That is until a spell cast by two amatuer sorcerers is hijacked by a fey with dark motives and the essence of a fairie prince is stolen.
Suddenly the widow's worst fears are realised when a unique bear appears on her doorstop and even though the threat of the hangmans noose for witchraft has crept closer to her door, her daughters and herself do all that they can in a race against time to find the cure to the poor bear's enchanment. As Blanche forms an attachment with the mysterious bear, Rosamund strikes an unlikely aquaintance with a strange tinker who can make dormant roses bloom at a touch.
Now while this story wasn't bad it wasn't exceptionally great either. It had it all at the beginning, the story had a great start up but somewhere along the middle it lost me and I found myself putting it down time and time again to do something else. I felt that though the story was predictable the author could have done so much more with it, especially in the bits that seemed created as filler that would just drag on.
On the upside the banter between Rosamund and John was pretty entertaining, not to mention the funny yet sometimes utterly confusing comments from Robin. On the whole an ok read, just for curiousity sake.
Now this book is one big twist and the surprises don't stop coming. The closest I could come to describing this book in one sentence is: A dark tale set in a youth only utopian styled party island blanketed in enternal night where drugs come free, dream outfits are a locker away and dark secrets are hidden around every corner.
The story centres around Retra, a girl branded as a Seal with no rights what so ever who lives a seriously sheltered life in a place called Grave... the name pretty much says it all doesn't it? Following in the footsteps of her brother Joel, Retra leaves all she has ever known behind and escapes her suffocating community in the hopes she will be reunited with him on Ixion, the island of no Elders, no rules, no punishment. Only music, laughter and freedom.
In no time Retra finds herself changing as she forms friendships, makes dangerous enemies and unwittingly secures the affections and protection of a seriously hot admirer. But will she find her lost brother or lose sight of her sole purpose for coming to Ixion? As not all is what it seems on the island designed soley for the pleasure of the young...
It's a pretty good original read and you can never really guess what will happen next. I ended up cheering Retra on when she finally began to break out of her shell for the better. The ending isn't what you expected either. I'm looking forward to the next installemnt called Angel Arias.
It's a little hard to put into words what I think of this book.
The story is split in the middle between the two viewpoints of the March sisters Scarlett ("Lett") and Rosie. The sisters who share one metaphorical heart. When Scarlett's M.I.A woodsman hunting partner Silas returns to the neighbourhood things start to heat up in more ways than one and a whole can of worms opens up for the sisters as they have to face a few tough choices and dangerous new foes.
Even though I was intrigued by the idea of a present day red riding hood tale I was still a little skeptical about the story at first and there's one area I plain didn't like, for example Scarlett slightly 2 diminsional character. Scarlett is horribly scarred & has one good eye while wearing an eye patch over her other thanks to a childhood nightmarish experience that has turned her into what she is today. She loves her sister Rosie, respects her hunting partner Silas... and simply LIVES for the hunt. No seriously, hunting Fenris (souless, lusty, male werewolves who eat young girls... I kid you not. The skankier clad the lass the better and dressing in shades of red sends them off the deep end) is her sole drive, her passion, her respite. Hobbies: Hunting Fenris. Goals: Wiping Fenris off the face of the earth, one Fenris at a time if need be. Sleeps better at night: After killing a Fenris or two. Loves: Her sister Rosie; Oh and hacking Fenris with her axe while occasionally stabbing it with a hunting knife... Am I sensing a theme here?
While doning the red hood and equipping the battle axe to save mankind is admirable and all, there is obviously more to life. Though her sister Rosie realises this as she begins to experience feelings that have been lying dormant till the reappreance of older sexy Silas, Scarlett's character doesn't seem to develope much besides going off the deep end once or twice when things begin to change around her... Then Scarlett just realises that while she shares her heart with her sister, the rest of her is devoted to hunting with room for nothing else. So yeah, I was somewhat disappointed in that regard.
Overall it wasn't a bad read and I did enjoy it. Besides the occasionally witty remark from Silas, it was entertaining to see the relationship between Rosie and Silas blossom into something neither of them expected. There's one particualarily funny bit with Rosie living a little in a community life drawing class and a crazy tango class. Not to mention it was pretty awesome to read about girls that lure and dispatch evil furry monsters with axes and knives.
I seriously hope there is a sequel to this book, even though the author advised that writing this book was near impossible. I know Scarlett will never give up the hood but at least give her a second chance at getting a life or at least a seriously hot woodsman of her own.
I just finished this book on my kindle and I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. It's rare these days to come across a fairy/vampire book that has a plot that has not been done before and grabs your attention from the get go, The Demon Girl hooked me in from the very beginning and definitely would not let me go.
The story centers around Rae, a girl living in a post Rapture (apocalyptic) world were the Demons (classified as basically anything that is not human) had declared themselves to the general public and then proceed to nearly wipe out the human race off the face of the planet a few hundred years before. In response the humans, lead by a faction of Priests, literally walled themselves up from the outside world in little pockets of land and set up training temples to create the warriors Clerics to defend the human race.
Rae here is a Disciple (Cleric-In-Training) who is a little weird but consider human, until she takes off for her usual early morning jog beyond the Wall. Things take a rapid turn in just 24 hours after she witnesses something the Clerics don't want known as common knowledge and pretty soon she's running for her life. Throw in a fairy-boy, a vampire-boy, 3 magical amulets, Demon politics, the threat of another Rapture and suddenly things are not so clear cut black and white as Rae thought as she faces some difficult decisions.
I'm not saying anything else, as I definitely do not want to ruin the story for you but if you are over the same old fairy or vampire story, this yarn is a breath of fresh air you do not want to miss. The Demon Girl made me giggle, laugh outright and then gasp in shock, thoroughly enjoyable. Cannot wait for the next installments: A Demon Day and Demon Dark.
I loved PS I Love You, so I thought I'd give another Ahern book a go. I wasn't to fazed by the fact the story of Where Rainbows End is completely written as a correspondence, mostly between the two main characters, family and friends. I had read The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot which was written in a similar style and stilled loved the story.
The gist of Where Rainbows End is have you ever had someone, a boy or girl, who you had been friends with for long period of time and even though it seemed that you both liked each more than just friends, the circumstances where never quite right? You'd be single but he'd be dating someone else or vice versa? This story is what happens when two best friends Rosie and Alex are separated and the wrong set of circumstances keep tearing them apart though fate kept bringing them back together.
This book kept making me want to bash my head against a brick wall. Though I'm familiar with the situation, the fact that the story of this book takes place over a few DECADES with the same vicious cycle repeating itself over and over and over and over (x10) again, was really quite painful to read. By the end of the book I really pitied both Alex and Rosie for all the time lost and wasted.
Though you might enjoy the development and drama of the main characters, their friends and family, it might take you a while you get through this book as there is only so much repetitive/depressing events you can take in a space of time. I found myself repeatedly putting the book down and doing something else just to take a break from the same cycle of events.
The story wasn't bad but it wasn't great either and though the ending finally gave me a sigh of relief, I don't think it will be enough for me to pick up this book again.
Based in England in 1582 this is story of Lady Eleanor "Ellie" Rodriguez of San Jaime. Thanks to her "Alchemist" father's endless pursuit of turning base metal into gold, all Ellie has is a worthless title and herself to offer in marriage. As the daughter of a failed Alchemist and a Spaniard mother, her chances of making a match, let alone a good match, are slim to none.
As her feisty spirit captivates the elite in Queen Elizabeth's Court, she finds unlikely friends in unexpected places but among the courtiers there are some that despise her father for the trail of financial ruin that he leaves in his wake. One of which is the Earl of Dorset, William Lacey. Ellie's father financially ruined the Lacey Estate when William's father caught the "gold" fever. Now it is up to William to make a good match at Court and restore the family fortune.
But his eye has been caught by a beautiful yet elusive countess at court. Unknownst to him that same mysterious countess is the same beggar brat daughter of Sir Arthur Hutton that he had banished from his lands after his father's death years before. If William discovers the truth it will be the beginning of Ellie's downfall and William will find more than one dilemma on his hands as he questions his motives and beliefs.
Although it was an ok read the story seemed one massive cliche and you get the feeling that it all has been done before. I got the feeling that maybe, with a few twicks here and there the story would have better suited as an adult romance novel but ended up as romance "light" for a younger reading auidience.
The synopsis was intriguing and was what had originally sucked me in but the story was somewhat of a let down as you could pretty much tell how things were going to work out and what was going to happen as it happened. Ellie goes through trial after trial because her father's misguided pursuits and self centered nature, which after a while does get a bit irritating so you end up wishing he would just blow himself up and free poor Ellie from being continually dragged down with him. But for all it faults, it was an Ok read. Who knows, maybe the sequel The Queen's Lady will redeem the series?
A Sea of Song and Sirens by Whit Stanfield
