Book Review: Entangled by Cat Clarke

Title: Entangled
Series: N/A
Author: Cat Clarke
Publisher: Quercus Publishing Plc
Publication Date: 6th January 2011
Pages: 372
Special Features: N/A
Goodreads Average Rating: 3.92

 The same questions whirl round and round in my head:
What does he want from me?
How could I have let this happen?
AM I GOING TO DIE?
17-year-old Grace wakes up in a white room, with a table, pens and paper - and no clue how she got here.
As Grace pours her tangled life onto the page, she is forced to remember everything she's tried to forget. There's falling hopelessly in love with the gorgeous Nat, and the unravelling of her relationship with her best friend Sal. But there's something missing. As hard as she's trying to remember, is there something she just can't see?
Grace must face the most important question of all. Why is she here?

Despite my rating, I did really enjoy this book, but it managed to let it's self down in certain places.

What caught my attention was the very interesting plot line, and I was so excited when I started reading it.
The book started out very interesting and I was already captured by the first page, but after a while it just began to loose it's effect on me, yes I was still interested but for me there was too much flashback then there was present time.

The book left me in streams of tears, it really caught my heart and ripped it into pieces. It talks the truth, it shows that the life of a teenager isn't just fine and dandy like many adults seem to believe, but instead we are forced to put up with a lot of drama.
For a stand alone book this was left with a cliffhanger and many knots needed to be tied, this affected my rating alot. Also the present time writing confused me a bit especially near the end, I kept constantly having to re-read pages and lines etc... but still couldn't figure it out.

The author touches on some very important topics, aimed at teenager's in the book, which I personally believe were tackled with class and maturity.

I liked Grace the main character, and she is anything but forgettable, but on occasional she was too much in your face, too talk-a-tive, pushy and well a number of other things. There was times I just couldn't stand her one bit.
The other characters well represent who they are portrayed to be, but also who they come after overcoming a number of obstacle's, they are faced with.
This book is....

Book Review: Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott

Title: Love You Hate You Miss You
Series: N/A
Author:  Elizabeth Scott
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: 1st June 2009
Pages: 276
Special Features: N/A
Goodreads Average Rating: 3.76

Get this, I'm supposed to be starting a journal about "my journey." Please. I can see it now: Dear Diary, As I'm set adrift on this crazy sea called "life" . . . I don't think so. It's been seventy-five days. Amy's sick of her parents suddenly taking an interest in her.
And she's really sick of people asking her about Julia. Julia's gone now, and she doesn't want to talk about it. They wouldn't get it, anyway. They wouldn't understand what it feels like to have your best friend ripped away from you.
They wouldn't understand what it feels like to know it's your fault.
Amy's shrink thinks it would help to start a diary. Instead, Amy starts writing letters to Julia.
But as she writes letter after letter, she begins to realize that the past wasn't as perfect as she thought it was—and the present deserves a chance too.

Elizabeth Scott has produced yet another emotional read.
This is the second book of her's I have read in two days, and both have been fantastic.

Love You Hate You Miss You, focuses on grieving for the loss of a friend, something which is so rarely touched upon in book's, but also how the girl blame's herself for the death.
It's a book that basically everyone is able to relate to because of the use of friendship, throughout the book I couldn't help but picture myself in the place of protagonist Amy, which I believe would be almost un-avoidable for any reader.

Elizabeth's writing style in this book is unique... the story is told in the form of 2nd person and also uses Journal entries and letter's to tell the friend. This helps increase that the reader has on the book. Also the book is written is quite an informal and chatty way, engaging more with the reader and allow more of a connection to be made with the main character.

Amy is a likable character, though not the best I have come across. There is not much to her, and in a way she seemed a bit more of a follower to her bestfriend.
Her bestfriend who died, Julia is also featured in the book and a character I did not like very much. She was annoying, and despite being a great friend to Amy she seemed a bit selfish in some ways.

All round this book was an enjoyable and light read, though there is better.

I give this book....

Teaser Tuesday (5)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Love You, Hate You, Miss You by Elizabeth Scott

“Then the car—we went around a corner and spun out,” I said. “It happened so fast. There was so much noise, this weird ripping screech, and then it was like we were flying for real. I could feel it.
                         ------Page 140 

Book Review: Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

Title: Living Dead Girl
Series: N/A
Author: Elizabeth Scott
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: 2nd September 2008
Pages: 188
Special Features: N/A
Goodreads Average Rating: 3.84

Once upon a time, I was a little girl who disappeared.
Once upon a time, my name was not Alice.
Once upon a time, I didn’t know how lucky I was.

When Alice was ten, Ray took her away from her family, her friends her life. She learned to give up all power, to endure all pain. She waited for the nightmare to be over.
Now Alice is fifteen and Ray still has her, but he speaks more and more of her death. He does not know it is what she longs for. She does not know he has something more terrifying than death in mind for her.
This is Alice’s story. It is one you have never heard, and one you will never, ever forget.
I would just like to start off my saying, this book isn't for everyone, it may be marked as a Young Adult, but some reader's will disagree with that.

Many people will use the word 'distrubing' to describe this book.... I would also use that word, but I would also use 'truth', I've seen many reviews where people have just hated it for it's content and what is said in the book, but many reader's have ignored the fact that this book may be fictional but is also 'real'.

It's a book full of raw emotion. Straight from the beginning we are told the horrible and sorrow-filled story of a girl. A girl, who was taken from a happy life full of freedom, and forced into the arms of a 'sick' and mentally dysfunctional man. It is a hard issue to tackle and I believe Elizabeth Scott did this to near enough perfection.

It is the first Elizabeth Scott book I've read, and I can't wait to read more. I became attached to her wonderful writing style and story idea's. The book in a whole is something which will always lingering in the back of my mind, never to be forgotten

The book is short, something which I'm not a big fan of when it's a book I really enjoy, but it's perfect for the story it tells.
It's far from a book full of useless information, it only tells what is needed to be said and this it's self gives such an effect to the reader. I guess you can almost say it's not a book to entertain, but instead a book to tell. It says that despite our happiness, there will always be someone suffering, someone who could even be close to us, a neighbor, or friend.... anyone!

The book in some places repeated it's self, for example the use of Once Upon A Time, this helped build the story line, but also the emotion. Each time we see Once Upon A Time, we are supplied with new information about 'Alice', this was probably my favourite bit about the whole book.

I do not know what to say about the character's in this book.
'Alice', is a character I believe I have no right to judge. Not only is she a fictional character in the book, but a fictional character to herself. She is not who she is by choice, but instead forced to be someone she is not. But still is an incredibly strong character.
Ray, is 'Alice's' kidnapper, the antagonist in the story. The reader is made to hate such a sick man, but I will admit there were times I found myself feeling quite sympathetic towards him. We witness fragments of his childhood, he like 'Alice' is not who he is by choice, but is also forced to be someone who he isn't, by the past he has experienced.

I could not find myself able to rate this any lower than five, because it deserves nothing less, it entertains (I guess could be said), it tells and most importantly it teaches.

Review: The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade

Title: The Ghost and the Goth
Series: The Ghost and the Goth #1
Author: Stacey Kade
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Publication Date: 29th June 2010
Pages: 288
Special Features: N/A
Goodreads Average Rating:  4.02

 After a close encounter with the front end of a school bus, Alona Dare goes from Homecoming Queen to Queen of the Dead. Now she’s stuck as a spirit (DON’T call her a ghost) in the land of the living with no sign of the big, bright light to take her away. To make matters worse, the only person who might be able to help her is Will Killian, a total loser outcast who despises the social elite. He alone can see and hear (turns out he’s been “blessed” with the ability to communicate with the dead), but he wants nothing to do with the former mean girl of Groundsboro High. 

Alona has never needed anyone for anything, and now she’s supposed to expose her deepest, darkest secrets to this pseudo-goth boy? Right. She’s not telling anyone what really happened the day she died, not even to save her eternal soul. And Will’s not filling out any volunteer forms to help her cross to the other side. He only has a few more weeks until his graduation, when he can strike out on his own and find a place with less spiritual interference. But he has to survive and stay out of the psych ward until then. Can they get over their mutual distrust—and the weird attraction between them—to work together before Alona vanishes for good and Will is locked up for seeing things that don’t exist?

My expectations were pretty average on this book. I didn't expect anything amazing, nor anything completely rubbish, but I expected better than I received.

The book didn't manage to hold onto my interest, after the first few chapter's. The beginning was strong, and kept me interested, but afterwards lacked any excitement. When I was about 3/4 way through the book I really couldn't believe it, it felt almost as if the story was still in the beginning stages. The story plan didn't seem very well-developed, and with a little bit more time spent on the planning, it could of been dramatically improved.

The book was also quite short and very fasted paced in someways, I would of enjoyed to see much more time of Alona getting over her death, and also on Will's past.

The book is set in the POV's of two characters: Alona Dare and Will Killian. This was one of the good things about the book, it allowed you to see stories from both point of views and also learn more about them.
Though both character's had disappointment's about them.
Let's start off with Alona, she plays the ghost in the story and she was head-cheerleader, prom queen etc.... when she was alive. Her parts of the story, were written in a way that you could see Alona saying this, and is was completely believable, though she seemed un-phased about being dead and a ghost. Also she is not exactly the most like-able character in the book, she's cruel and hurt-full, yet I will admit she did have her nice moment's.
Then there is Will, who has a special ability to communicate with ghost's, but due to no-one believing him, he has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. He's my favourite of the two, but also he's kind of a 'what you see is what you get' character, almost one dimensional.

I will not be carrying on with the series.

I really do wish I could give this book more....

What I did This Week??... (18-24 July)

So this week I would say has been a pretty good week for me, in terms of reading and blogging.
Firstly I managed to write a chapter and continue on the plan of my story.
I also changed my blog slighty, I made a new header (Tell me what you think???) and changed the sidebar a bit.

So anyway:
Books I have Read:
Legacy of Lies by Elizabeth Chandler (Tuesday)
Forever by Maggie Stiefvater (Wednesday)
Radiance by Alyson Noel (Thursday)
Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles (Friday)
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson (Sunday)
I managed to catch up with my reading challenge, and hope to read 6 books next week :D

I reviewed:
Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Radiance by Alyson Noel
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stones by JK Rowling
Forsaken/The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
I was also able to catch up slightly on reviews :D

In My Mailbox:
Well this week I bought LOADS of books, leaving after all my time of saving offically poor. The majority of my money went toward E-books in preparation for my Amazon Kindle which I will be getting on August 1st for my birthday and well I just couldn't resist:
In My Mailbox: Part 1
In My Mailbox: Part 2
Other Posts:
Book Discussion: Controversial Issues in books

Challenge Updates:
To find out full information on my challenges and what books I have read in these challenges click here or if you are looking for my 2011 challenge click here.
E-book Challenge: COMPLETE
Vampire Challenge: 1/20
Summer Reading Challge: 13/25
2011 Reading Challenge: 31/55

Participate in: The Blogger Behind The Book

I don't know many blogger's and have instead decided to create a hmmmm, I don't know what it is called.
Basically the idea is to have 7-14 book blogger's to answer some questions, about their life, the books they read etc.... so fellow blogger's and book lover's get to know each other, and hopefully more followers to your blog EEE!!!!!
To be in a chance of participating please email me at: onceuponabooknerd@hotmail.co.uk , the chance to become a part of this will end when 7 or 14 people have entered. I will then instantly get back to you, with more information.

These are the questions I am thinking of:

1. Name, Blog Name and Blog URL
2. Age and Location
3. An embarrassing picture of you
4. What do you do in day to day life?
5. Do you have any pets?
6. Last song you listened to?
7. What is your favourite food?
8. How many books do you own (This can include E-books)?
9. How many books to you plan to read at the end of the year?
10. If you could be one author, who would you be?
11. What book would you turn into a film?
12. What is your favorite genre?
13. Do you have any reading companions/friends?
14. What is your favourite book?
15. If you could kill any character who would it be and why?
16. If you could write a book, what would it be called, about and maybe add a cover for it?
17. If you could be any character who would you be?
18. If you were stuck on a desert island which 3 author's would you take?
19. Favourite film/movie based on a book?
20. Favourite book cover?
21. Which blogger do you look up to most?
22. Are you surprised by the amount of reader's?
23. What are your opinions on negative reviews?
24. Have you received any ARC's, if so how many?
25. Do you have a certain schedule for posts?
26. Link us to your favourite review you have written?

So remember if you are intrested in participating email me at onceuponabooknerd@hotmail.co.uk, or get in contact with me over Goodreads or Twitter (find the links of the side bar)

Book Review: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Title: Wintergirls
Series: N/A
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Publisher: Marion Lloyd Books
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 278
Special Features: N/A
Goodreads Average Rating: 3.95

“Dead girl walking,” the boys say in the halls.
“Tell us your secret,” the girls whisper, one toilet to another.
I am that girl.
I am the space between my thighs, daylight shining through.
I am the bones they want, wired on a porcelain frame.

Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the skinniest. But what comes after size zero and size double-zero? When Cassie succumbs to the demons within, Lia feels she is being haunted by her friend’s restless spirit.

In her most emotionally wrenching, lyrically written book since the multiple-award-winning Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson explores Lia’s descent into the powerful vortex of anorexia, and her painful path toward recovery.

This book was heart wrenching, emotionally and most importantly inspiring.

Book Discussion: Controversial Issues in Books

Controversial issues are and always will be quite a sticky subject, especially in the Young adult book market.
All Young Adult books include many different issues and obstacles the character's face, this doesn't just include book's such as those written by Sarah Dessen and Jennifer Echols, but also Suzanne Collin's Hunger Games series, or Maggie Steifvater's Wolves of Mercy Falls. Just some books use mythical creatures, instead of people.

Author's are constantly criticized because apparently they didn't deal with writing about issues such as self-harm or grief in the 'right' way, but is there honestly a right way?

No. Each person differs depending on their past and present experiences and what kind of person they were raised to be. For example two people going through the same thing, like the divorce of their parents will tackle this sticky situation in completely different ways, one may turn to drugs, the other an eating disorder.
I think it is wrong that a reader can criticize a book, for apparently being wrong without any proof or evidence to back-up their accusation. We don't know everyone in the world, we don't know how they deal with things, therefore we don't know if there is a possibility that at least one person in the world will act like that.
Also many writer's base character's on themselves or people surrounding them, such as Laurie Halse Anderson, who wrote Wintergirls, based on information she has received from her reader's and even had a specialist in treating patients with eating disorders to check over her manuscript to make sure all psychological deterioration was accurate. But I have read countless reviews on blogs and Goodreads, along with a number of other websites, where people have criticized Laurie's books for not being accurate or realistic, in the way main character Lia dealt with things.

I think it is about time for reader's to realise that firstly author's write for themselves and not other, and also the majority of writer's WILL obsessively RESEARCH about the issues their story is based on.

Thank you for reading, feel free to voice your opinion in the comment section below.
Also please suggest any book discussion ideas for me to write about.

In My Mailbox 10 Part 2 (17 books)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and is a weekly meme which allows people to share what books they have recieved during the week.
My In My Mailbox this week is going to be in 2 parts, Ebooks and physical books. Part 1 Click here

Books I recieved/bought:

Dark Secrets by Elizabeth Chandler (Dark Secrets #1+2)

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White (Paranormalcy #1)

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

Uglies by Scott Westerfield (Uglies #1)

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini (Starcrossed #1)

Between the Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

Entangled by Cat Clarke

Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen

Mercy by Rebecca Lim (Mercy #1)

The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong (Dark Rising #1)

Beauty by Robin McKinley

Radiance by Alyson Noel (Riley Bloom #1)

Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Raised by Wolves #1)

Die For Me by Amy Plum (Revenants #1)

Necropolis by Anthony Horowitz (Power of Five #4)

How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell (Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III #1)



In My Mailbox 10 Part 1: E-book Edition (72 E-books)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and is a weekly meme which allows people to share what books they have recieved during the week.
My In My Mailbox this week is going to be in 2 parts, Ebooks and physical books.
Part 2 Here

E-Books in no partcular order:

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Bite Me by Parker Blue (Demon Underground #1)

Try Me by Parker Blue  (Demon Underground #2)

Fange Me by Parker Blue (Demon Underground #3)

Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles (Perfect Chemistry #2)

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K.Hamilton (Anita Black, Vampire Hunter #1)

Wither by Lauren DeStefano (The Chemical Gardens #1)

Divergent by Veronica Roth (Divergent #1)

Enclave by Ann Aguirre (Razorland #1)

Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

Rest in Alphabetical order:

A Kiss In Time by Alex Finn

Across the Universe by Beth Revis (Across the Universe #1)

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Before I Die by Jenny Downham

Bloom by Elizabeth Scott

Claimed by Lauren Barnholdt (The Witches of Santa Anne #1)

Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors

Crank by Ellen Hopkins (Crank #1)

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain (The Dark Divine #1)

Darklight by Lesley Livingston (Wonderous Strange #2)

Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz (Touch #2)

Delirium by Lauren Oliver (Delirium #1)

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins (Hex Hall #2)

Deadly Little Secrets by Laurie Faria Stolarz (Touch #1)

Diva by Alex Flinn

Falling in Love with English Boys by Melissa Jensen

Falling Under by Gwen Hayes (Falling Under #1)

Flawless by Sara Shepard (Pretty Little Liars #2)

The Forbidden Game by LJ Smith

Forget You by Jennifer Echols

The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade (The Ghost and the Goth #1)

Out of Sight, Out of Mind by Marilyn Kaye (Gifted #1)

Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Going too Far by Jennifer Echols

Gone by Michael Grant (Gone Novels #1)

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins (Hex Hall #1)

InkHeart by Cornelia Funke (Inkheart #1)

InkSpell by Cornelia Funke (Inkheart #2)

Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder (Insider #1)

Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz 

It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han (Summer #2)

Lies by Michael Grant (Gone Novels #3)

Love Story by Jennifer Echols

Love You, Hate You, Miss You by Elizabeth Scott

The Fallen by Celia Thompson (The Nine Lives of Chloe King #1)

One Night That Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdt

Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott

Plague by Michael Grant (Gone Novels #4)

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard (Pretty Little Liars #1)

Siren by Tricia Rayburn (Siren Trilogy #1)

Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Take Me There by Susane Colasanti

Ten Things We Did by Sarah Mlynowski 

The Ex Games by Jennifer Echols 

The Maze Runner by James Dashner (Maze Runner #1)

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han (Summer #1)

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain (The Dark Divine #2)

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia #1)

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber (Vampire Kisses #1)

Waiting For You by Susane Colasanti

We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han (Summer #3)

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

When it Happens by Susane Colasanti

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Witch and Curse by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie (Wicked #1+2)

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston (Wondrous Strange #1)

Book Review: Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

Title: Rules of Attraction
Series: Perfect Chemistry #2
Author: Simone Elkeles
Publisher: Walker and Company
Publication Date: 13th April 2010
Pages: 324
Special Features: N/A
Goodreads Average Rating: 4.34

When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado . Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.

I had high expectation for this book, being the sequel to Perfect Chemistry it had allot to live up to, yet it didn't reach those extremely high expectations.
The book was really enjoyable, and instead of being a follow on book to Perfect Chemistry, it follows the story of Alex's younger brother Carlos. I liked the fact it didn't carry on because it is rare to find a book with this kind of storyline and for it to be good.

Despite having a similar kind of storyline, in some ways to Perfect Chemistry it also stands out as being different.
The book was quite humorous for me, for example the use of 'perky privates' to replace the word breasts, and other small thing's like this, which had the book not only enjoyable but also standout.

The characters:
The book is set in the perspective of two protagonist's: Kiara and Carlos.
Carlos is from Mexico and after getting in a bit of trouble at home, is moved to Columbus with his brother, Alex. He is portrayed as the typical bad-boy perfectly: stubborn, arrogant, good-looking and very egoist. He was a great and well developed character.
Kiara, is a school outcast with a half-cured stutter. She perfectly show's a large amount of traits from real-life outcasts. She tries to be unique, and ok with who she is, she doesn't care about her appearance, she gets nervous and develops a stutter, and most surprising of all has quite a skill of repairing cars.

The only character who annoyed me in the book, and did in fact cause me not to like the book is: Tuck, Kiara's gay bestfriend. Like many gay people who I have came across (BTW i am not being steroypical or in anyway homophobic) he is kind of in your face. He also is quite rude, and cruel towards Carlos, and I barely see a friendship between him and Kiara.

If this book wasn't the sqeul to Perfect Chemistry it may of been rated a five, but as I have said it had allot to live up to.


I give this book...


 

Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent
Series: Divergent #1
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: 3rd May 2011
Pages: 299 (E-book)
Special Features: N/A
GoodReads Average Rating: 4.5

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

This book is a magical piece of YA Literature

Book Review: Forsaken/The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

Title: Forsaken/ The Demon Trapper's Daughter
Series: The Demon Trapper's Daughter
Author: Jana Oliver
Publisher: MacMillian's Children's Books
Publication Date: 1st Feburary 2011
Pages: 448
Special Features: N/A
Goodreads Average Rating: 4.02

 Riley Blackthorne just needs a chance to prove herself – and that’s exactly what the demons are counting on…

Seventeen-year-old Riley, the only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper, Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father's footsteps. The good news is, with human society seriously disrupted by economic upheaval and Lucifer increasing the number of demons in all major cities, Atlanta’s local Trappers’ Guild needs all the help they can get – even from a girl. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing crush on fellow apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving distressed citizens from foul-mouthed little devils – Grade One Hellspawn only, of course, per the strict rules of the Guild. Life’s about as normal as can be for the average demon-trapping teen.

But then a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood. And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, sudden tragedy strikes the Trappers’ Guild, spinning Riley down a more dangerous path than she ever could have imagined. As her whole world crashes down around her, who can Riley trust with her heart – and her life?

This book was so fasinating and intriguing, well worth a read.

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by JK Rowling

Title: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Series: Harry Potter #1
Author: JK Rowling
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication Date: 1997
Pages: 223
Special Features:
Goodreads Average Rating: 4.23

Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility. 

All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley—a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years. 

But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry—and anyone who reads about him—will find unforgettable. For it's there that he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything from classes to meals, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter.

...A book and film series which everyone knows and loves, but for some reason I had never been able to find a connection with the 1-4 Harry Potter books. I had tried countless times to complete the first book, but somehow managed to get distracted. So I vowed a week before going to watch the last film that I would actually complete this book which I did.

I managed to read it in a day, which I will admit surprised me. I was completely hooked and am looking forward to reading the second book.

I'm sure there is not much in this review that I can say to convince someone to read the book, because I'm guessing a large majority of reader's already have. The storyline was one which is unique, and already starts the complex and excellent storyline which is shown in rest of the 7 book series.
Harry Potter is a series mainly aimed at children, but has been proven to be enjoyed by all ages.

The boy who lives, Harry is a character who I am not really that keen on, but in this book I see him as bearable, he is a great role-model for younger reader's. He teaches very valuable and responsible lessons throughout the book
Hermione, is another great rol-model for people of all ages, she shows that intelligence and brains are qualities worth having, and a great influence for reader's.
Ron, is the one in the golden trio who adds humor and a bit of a laugh within the book.

Each character shows and brings something to the book, despite the ages of the young characters, there is someone for everyone to relate to.

I give this book...

Book Review: Radiance by Alyson Noel

Title: Radiance
Series: Riley Bloom #1
Author: Alyson Noel
Publisher: Macmillian Children's Books
Publication Date: 24th August 2011
Pages: 183
Special Features: 1st Chapter of Shimmer
GoodReads Average Rating: 3.55

Riley has crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. She has picked up life where she left off when she was alive, living with her parents and dog in a nice house in a nice neighborhood. When she’s summoned before The Council, she learns that the afterlife isn’t just an eternity of leisure. She’s been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a possibly cute, seemingly nerdy boy who’s definitely hiding something. They return to earth together for Riley’s first assignment, a Radiant Boy who’s been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But all of that was before he met Riley . . .

 I will honestly say that I was quite disappointed with this book.
I had first read Evermore, which is the first book in Alyson Noel's more popular series The Immortals, Evermore happens to be the book where Riley the main character of Radiance, appears as Ever's younger sister, who is a ghost.
She was my favorite character in Evermore, which was the main thing which attracted me to reading this book. She seemed like a pretty awesome and funny character. But this did not follow through in Radiance, she is quite annoying, mean and I kind of just wanted to hit her, but I guess you can say she does well at portraying 12 year old girls.
Riley also quickly goes to judge her guide, Bodhi, as a dork, just from how he looks, but there is no evidence in the way he acts to support this, and well also supports my reason to hating Riley.

The writing in the book is set in first person, from Riley's perspective, the words and writing style used with in the book, was almost perfect for her, informal and chatty, but I came across some complex words which would not be used by a 12yr old.

The book was short, and lacked any sort of decent story-line, I do personally believe it could of been improved by making the book longer. At the beginning there was the usual 50 page introduction to the book (which was more than a quarter of the book), then it went straight into the story, where as I believe a decent book slowly progresses in the central story-line and problem.

The whole trying to convince ghosts to cross the bridge and into the afterlife/heaven, was just not believable it was too easy and silly.
Riley also had to leave her parents to go and fulfill the job she receives, but has no problem with that at all, when a 12yr old in fact would, the writer almost tried to forced Riley's character to be much older than she is.

The story had nothing that seemed to pull me into it, and I was more of skim-reading the last 100pages, than I was reading it.
The reason this book did not receive a 1 star rating, was because it was quite bad, but not horrible, it just managed to cling onto being read-able and would be a good book for younger readers.

I give this book....

Book Review: Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Title: Raised by Wolves
Series: Raised by Wolves #1
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Publisher: Quercus Publishing Plc
Publication Date: 30th September 2010
Pages: 418
Special Features: N/A
ISBN: 9780857380296

He's in a cage, I reminded myself, but the words meant nothing to me, because I just couldn't stop staring into his wild eyes and playing the last words he'd said before he Shifted, over and over again
I got bit
I got bit.
I got bit.
At the age of four, Bryn watched a rabid werewolf brutally murder her parents. She was rescued and taken in by the mysterious Callum, the alpha of his pack. Now fifteen, Bryn's been as a human among werewolves, adhering to pack rule.
But the pack's been keeping a secret, and when Bryn goes exploring against Callum's orders, she finds Chase, a newly turned teen Were locked in a cage. Bryn needs answers, and she needs Chase to get them. Suddenly, it's Bryn and Chase against the werewolf world, whatever the consequences.

Raised by Wolves was a good book, just not for me.

Once Upon A BRead-a-Thon Introduction

Once Upon a Read-a-Thon is hosted by Pure Imagination, Candaces Book Blog and Reading Angel. It runs from 12:01 am on July 11 to 11:59 on July 13th.

What is a Readathon?

A Readathon is where you set a goal for yourself to read more books that is beyond your average number of books you read. There is no minimum, it's all up to you, and you can read any book that suits your fancy! Push yourself to get some of those books read that have been sitting on your shelves for awhile!

So why am I doing the Read-a-Thon, well I appear to of fallen behind on my 2011 Reading Challenge, only by 3 books though. Plus seeing as it is my summer  holiday and by September the 4th I hope to read 25 books, so far I have managed 5, I hope to increase it.
I will be starting tonight at midnight and finishing on Wednesday at midnight, GMT time.
I have tried Dewey's 24hr read-a-thon and almost completely failed, but I enjoyed the experience.

What Books Do I Hope To Read?
To find out what I plan and am reading, along with any other updates check out my sidebar, for more information.
My main ambition and purpose of taking part is to decrease the amount of books on my TBR pile, therefore i will be mainly focusing on books which I need to read. I will be mixing long an short books together, to increase my chance of getting through more books but to also decrease the chance of being struck by boredome.



I will be updating on my blog, and twitter (click on link in side-bar) throughout the experience, hopefully every two hours of course except when I'm sleeping etc.

I hope you join me on my Read-a-Thon and if you are taking part I wish you goodluck.