Feed by Mira Grant

Title: Feed
Serious: Newsflash Trilogy #1
Author: Mira Grant
Average GoodReads rating: 4.01

The year was 2014. We had cured cancer. We had beaten the common cold. But in doing so we created something new, something terrible that no one could stop. The infection spread, virus blocks taking over bodies and minds with one, unstoppable command: FEED. Now, twenty years after the Rising, bloggers Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives - the dark conspiracy behind the infected. The truth will get out, even if it kills them.

YAY!!! Book 1 of the year, down, just 52 left!
This is the kind of book, which despite the fact that all you have heard good things about it, it still manages to surprise how amazing it actually is.

I began reading this book, in a half hour break between college classes, and almost refused to put it down. In such a little amount of time I had already managed to be dragged into the world of the book and not wanting to leave.
The book is about a world, the same as ours, though no longer plagued with the common cold or cancer, but instead a new kind of illness. When each person dies, they do not stay dead, they come back of zombie's roaming the streets trying to find someone to turn into one of their own.
Georgia, Shaun, Rick and Buffy are a group of bloggers, who base their lives on writing, filming and reporting zombie attacks. But the blog is given an offer which can't be refused, to follow a presidential campaign.
The book goes straight into the action, automatically hooking the reader, and leaving them on the edge of their seats, and even each time beyond the first chapter, it's near impossible to put the book down.
The writing is a mixture of two. The normal, every day book writing style, telling the story and also casual writing coming from the character's in the occasional blog post, which was a really nice added factor in the book and probably my favourite bit.
I loved the story of how it mixed such an adventurous story plot in with a storyline partly evolved around politics's. The zombie's may take a back seat in the book, but you know that they are constantly there as a threat. The storyplot altogether was slightly confusing, it took a while before I could fully understand what was going on, though this did not pose much of a problem.

The character's were unique and strong.
Georgia, otherwise known as George is the character who stands out the most, and not just due to her narrating the book, but to how much of a strong and inspirational character she is portrayed to be. She's strong, stubborn but also such a lovely person.
Shaun, is George's adoptive brother. He is known in the bookworld as an Irwin, someone who seeks danger/adrenaline, and the kind of person who will willingly go and poke a zombie, either hes crazy or suicidal, but one thing  I know for sure he is, is a rather humorous character, he compliments the book so nicely, stood next to his sister, and the relationship they have is amazing, despite being in their twenties, the sibling's are unbelievable close.
Buffy, is a very unique character, well not just character, but person altogether. She's almost distant in the world, and serves her life as a Fictionist, making up poems and stories, but she's also the techie of the group. You can tell within the story she is not that close to the sibling's, but still she holds a level of commitment, but due to the limelight of the story not overly focusing on her I felt as though I didn't get to know her so well.
I could go on and on about all the good things about this book, and find it very hard to mention a bad thing. But here is the bad thing:
This book is wonderful for the way it portrays it's female character, they are all inspirationally strong, except one. A politician, known to get so far in her career due to her sexual assets, due to being a bit 'dumb' according to the book. She is the only female politician in the book, and despite politics being largely known as a male dominated career, it does not put us women in the best of light's, slightly ruining the book for me.
I give this book a well earned:

Book Review: Birth of a Killer by Darren Shan

Title: Birth of a Killer
Series: The Saga of Larten Crepsley #1
Author: Darren Shan
Pages: 256 
Special Features: N/A 
Goodreads Average Rating: 4.26   

Before Cirque Du Freak...
Before the war with the vampaneze...
Before he was a vampire.
Larten Crepsley was a boy.
As a child laborer many centuries ago, Larten Crepsley did his job well and without complaint, until the day the foreman killed his cousin/bestfriend  as an example to the other children. In that moment, young Larten flies into a rage that the foreman wouldn't survive. Forced on the run, he sleeps in crypts and eats cobwebs to get by. And when a vampire named Seba offers him protection and training as a vampire's assistant, Larten takes it.
This is his story.

This book follows the story of Larten Crepsley, as a young boy, working in a silk factory with his cousin and best friend, Vur. After a number of unfortunate events, Larten is forced to flee from his home and ends up in the arms, and protective care of, Seba, a well respected and very old vampire, where Larten than takes the opportunity of becoming his assistant, and be potentially blooded.
We see as Larten grows from boy to man, from human to vampire, and we follow the story of the much loved man who was originally featured in Darren Shan's: Darren Shan Saga.

Book Review: The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Title: The Forest of Hands and Teeth
Series: The Forest of Hand and Teeth #1 
Author: Carrie Ryan 
Publisher: Gollancz
Publication Date: 10th March 2009
Pages: 310
Special Features: Preview of The Dead Tossed Waves 
Goodreads Average Rating: 3.61

In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

I don't know what to say about this book really. It is one full of different things and can be described and reviewed in many ways.
It was a great and enjoyable read, though a book which before I started reading it never caught my fancy. I did expect a lot from it, I saw many good reviews on the book, and I will be one of the first to admit it was good, and well worth a read, though the book did not provide me with what other books do.

The story line was one which is rare, and very unique within it's self, not like any dystopian I have read before, but part of the book I just hated.
I felt like the whole trilogy was forced into one quite short book, and that too much happened, which despite what you may say is not always a good thing. This book alone could of made a trilogy, and I partly wish that the first half was a bit more stretched out.

Review: Soul Beach by Kate Harrison

Title: Soul Beach
Series: Soul Beach #1
Author: Kate Harrison
Publisher: Orjon Children's
Publication Date: 1st September 2011
Pages: 256
Special Features:
Goodreads Average Rating: 3.8

When Alice Forster receives an email from her dead sister she assumes it must be a sick practical joke. Then an invitation arrives to the virtual world of Soul Beach, an idyllic online paradise of sun, sea and sand where Alice can finally talk to her sister again - and discover a new world of friendships, secrets and maybe even love . . . . But why is Soul Beach only inhabited by the young, the beautiful and the dead? Who really murdered Megan Forster? And could Alice be next? The first book in an intriguing and compelling trilogy centred around the mystery of Megan Forster's death.

 This was a book I had hear near to nothing about, yet it beat expectations and went beyond.

For me it is a proper British book, which follows simple yet effective storyline, has well done characters and a book due to it's English background I could feel as though I related to it much more.

Soul Beach, is about Alice who six months after the death of a reality TV star sister, Megan received an email from Megan. At first Alice ignores it and see's it as someone's version of a sick practical joke, until another email arrives, but this time from Soul Beach, an interactive website, leading straight to a waiting room for the young, beautiful and dead.

The book was original, fantastic and relate-able for today’s teenage generation, Kate Harrison doesn't just create the 'world' of Soul Beach, but instead creates it to be an interactive website, exclusive only to those invited. In a way it is more of the social-networking site for the dead and there loved one's. Also another thing which makes the book appeals to teenager's in the use of trends used, for example Facebook, which made me as a reader be able to go 'Hey I use that' or 'Oh yeah, I've heard of that', making it a perfect read for someone not overly obsessed with reading.

I managed to read the book in one afternoon, and was completely tangled within the enticing storyline, and was flipping through the pages until there was no pages left to turn. Yet the book itself lacked something, something which bought it from the outstanding five star rating, to the respectable and good 4 star. Despite my addiction to the book, and inability to put it down, there was nothing to keep me going, excluding the all round storyline, I didn't expect much to be on the next page, though maybe the page after that.

Someone which I really enjoyed was: every now and then there would be chapter's, not proper chapter's but more of thoughts of Megan's killer, I believe that this was the perfect choice which the author made to keep the reader interested and hopefully these small 'chapter's will follow through till the end of the series, leaving the reader's to make there own decisions on who is the murderer.

This book hosts one of the best collection of character's I have ever came across, and it's very rare to have all character's are so well developed, also there is a mixture of character's coming from all different backgrounds and stereotypes, something for everyone.
Take Alice for example, despite being the main character of the story you see her obvious thoughts of always being over-shadowed by her sister, before her death, yet any rivalry that went on she soon forgot about. Also we see a rather dramatic, yet expected development within her character. Towards the beginning of the story she is a very timid and shy person, though as the book goes on she becomes much stronger and inspirational, not just as a person but a character too.
Another character I liked was Danny, Danny is a friend of Megan's from the island, and one of my favourite character's due to his story of why he is the way he is. Danny during the book is quite friendly, sympathetic and wise, though as we find out in the book he was once quite a spoilt and self-centred brat, his death which is believed to be his fault was what changed him, realising he needed to be a better person.

This book can't be compared to know another books, because it's nothing like anything else I've read or came across. It really is in a league of it's own.

I give this book....

Book Review: Click, An Online Love Story by Lisa Becker

Title: Click: An Online Love Story
Series: N/A
Author: Lisa Becker 
Publisher: I am assuming self-published, am unable to find out publisher information. 
Publication Date: 29th March 2011
Pages: 347
Special Features: N/A
Goodreads Average Rating: 4.11

Buy:

Print version of Click: An Online Love Story (USA)
Print version of Click: An Online Love Story (UK)

Kindle version of Click: An Online Love Story

Fast approaching her 30th birthday and finding herself not married, not dating, and without even a prospect or a house full of cats, Renee Greene, the heroine of Click: An Online Love Story, reluctantly joins her best guy pal on a journey to find love online in Los Angeles. The story unfolds through a series of emails between Renee and her best friends (anal-compulsive Mark, the overly-judgmental Ashley and the over-sexed Shelley) as well as the gentlemen suitors she meets online. From the guy who starts every story with "My buddies and I were out drinking one night," to the egotistical "B" celebrity looking for someone to stroke his ego, Renee endures her share of hilarious and heinous cyber dates. Fraught with BCC's, FWD's and inadvertent Reply to All's, readers will root for Renee to "click" with the right man.

Firstly I would like to say this is being rated in comparison to other Adult Fiction books I have read.

This book is the first review book I received.
The storyline really drew me in, and I was so excited to read it.

I started it almost instantly and was pleasantly surprised. This book is not set out in the way many other's are, but instead in the form of emails. The story lacks description and information that was not really necessary for the book, therefore was not even considered to be a bad thing to me. When I first came across the email writing style I hated it, though I will say it was quite easy to get used to, just a bit of a change from what all reader's are used too.
The email format does also improve the effect of the story. It allows quite chatty language to be used between the group of friends. The author clearly thought this book through.

The storyline is not the best, but was good enough to draw me in. As the book slowed in odd places I began to think that what was happening was beginning to get slightly repetitive.
The character's are the usual type which I come across in Adult book, and was a great change to the one's I am used to. Each of the main character's represent different people within society and make up a quite believable friendship group. We learn much more about them, than we usually would because of the use of personal emails, which also allows us to witness there friendship with each other, and really see what each of them see within one another.

Do not let the fact that this book was self-published put you off purchasing it, the writing style and her ability to create a book was better than many published author's I have came across. I even spent a while trying to find out who the publisher was.

I give this book....

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....

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: 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: Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Title: Starcrossed
Series: Starcrosses #1
Author: Josephine Angelini
Publisher: Macmillian's Children's Book
Publication Date: 5th April 2011
Pages: 514
Special Features:  N/A
ISBN: 9780330529730
Goodreads Average Rating: 4.17

Set on the island of Nantucket, STARCROSSED tells the tale of Helen Hamilton, a young woman whose destiny is forever altered when she meets Lucas Delos and tries to kill him in front of her entire high school. Which is terribly inconvenient, not only because Lucas is the most beautiful boy on the island, but also because Helen is so achingly shy she suffers physical pain whenever she is given too much attention.

Making matters worse, Helen is beginning to suspect she’s going crazy. Whenever she’s near Lucas or any member of his family she sees the ghostly apparitions of three women weeping bloody tears, and suffers the burden of an intense and irrational hate. She soon learns that she and Lucas are destined to play the leading roles in a Greek tragedy that the Three Fates insist on repeating over and over again throughout history. Like her namesake, Helen of Troy, she’s destined to start a war by falling in love. But even though Lucas and Helen can see their own star-crossed destiny, they’re still powerfully attracted to each other. Will they give up their personal happiness for the greater good, or risk it all to be together?

Starcrossed, a book which has recently been quite popular in the YA world, is a MUST-READ!!
It is such an addicting and enticing read, great writing style, story line and characters.

Recently I have shown quite an interest in Greek Mythology and didn't even think twice about picking this book up. But was kind of surprised and slightly dis-appointed by what I read. There is part of the story which I would class as cliche, for a YA book, for starters main character Helen, has two best friends: one a female who is well her best friend, another a male who is in love with her. Also whilst reading the book I saw a slight resemblance of Twilight, in many ways and you can tell there is a possibility it may of accidentally influenced the story-line. But I will just have to say that this book still has its own individuality.

As I have said the storyline is pretty amazing, this is something I will stick to, I really did enjoy it. The book was full of twists and turns, but the occasion individuality. Also you can see the author's love for her writing in many one's. One way being the obsessive research she has appeared to of done, to make the book perfect and to make sure she got her Greek Mythology right.
This is what made me really like this book, the meaning and the love not just within the book, but also in the background.

I will admit I didn't pay that much attention to the character's, there was nothing which stood out to me, they are almost the normal character's within YA books, but also showed a unique aspect.
I do wish I as a reading was able to witness more of a development in Lucas and Helen's love, as I believe it just more of suddenly happens.

I will recommend this book to anyone, there is something for everyone.

I give this book....

Book Review: Once A Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

Title: Once A Witch
Series: #1 Witch
Author:Carolyn MacCullough
Publisher:Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication Date: September 2009
Pages: 292 
Special Features: Extract of sequel, Always a Witch 
Goodreads Average Rating: 3.81

Tamsin Greene comes from a long line of witches, and she was supposed to be one of the most Talented among them. But Tamsin's magic never showed up. Now
seventeen, Tamsin attends boarding school in anhattan, far from her family. But when a handsome young professor mistakes her for her very Talented sister, Tamsin agrees to find a lost family heirloom for him. The search—and the stranger—will prove to be more sinister than they first appeared, ultimately sending Tamsin on a treasure hunt through time that will unlock the secret of her true identity, unearth the sins of her family, and unleash a power so vengeful that it could destroy them all. This is a spellbinding display of storytelling that will exhilarate, enthrall, and thoroughly enchant.

I've never came across many witch books before so I was full of excitement to read this book, but didn't know what to expect, therefor I was pleasantly surprised.

The book gave me an all round warm feeling within me, it was one of those book which just a few pages in I knew I would love. I was completely hooked from page 1, and sat in blistering sun for 200 pages, definitely worth it. The book is flawlessly paced and well written, but as the book got towards the end I was slowly losing interest.
Parts of the story were very predictable but other were completely unexpected.

What I loved most about the book was learning the large amount of history within the Greene family, which shows author Carolyn's obvious love and dedication to her book. Also I enjoyed learning about the individuality of these witches compared to one's from other books, and also the talents each witch has.

All of the characters are absolutely amazing and completely right for the roles they play within the story, and each create a great effect to how I saw the book.
Tamsin is the main girl in the story and who the story is in the perspective of. She is an outcast of her family and tries to escape the torture of being a failure by going to boarding school in New York. Also Tamsin is faced with sibling rivalry with her sister, Rowena, due to her lack of magical ability, and her sister's power within the family. Tamsin and Rowena remind me slightly of my sister and myself, which helped me love the story much more.
Gabriel, is Tamsin's childhood best friend, who moved away, but then returns with his mother. Gabriel is typical sweet, good looking and adorable male protagonist, who constantly pulls my heart closer and closer towards him.

Once A Witch was a great and addicting read, especially something I would recommend to anyone. I'm now moments away from going and preordering the sequel Always A Witch.

I give this book...

Book Review: Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz

Title: Blue Bloods
Series: #1 Blue Bloods
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Publisher: Atom
Publication Date: May 2006
Pages: 302
Special Features: First chapter of sequel Masquerade
Goodreads Average Rating: 3.77

'They're Young, Fabulous and Fanged... And they rule Manhattan from the trendy uptown clubs to downtown boutiques. fifteen year old Schuyler Van Alen has never quite fit in at her exclusive prep school- she's more of a vintage than a Versace girl- but all that's about to change...
Because Schuyler has just found out she's a Blue Blood. The Blue Bloods are the city's glamorous and secret vampire elite. They're young, beautiful and powerful. But now they're being murdered. And Schuyler must find out who- or what- is behind it, before she's next.

A year ago I bought 'Blue Bloods'. A year later I read Blue Bloods.
For a while now as you may of gathered Blue Bloods has been sitting on my shelf for a while calling out to me, but every time I picked up the book I always found a petty excuse not to read it, and man do I regret it.

Melissa creates a whole new kind of vampire books, which are aimed at girls but not completely evolved around romance. It's a cross between Gossip Girl and Twilight, both of which I and numerous YA reader's love.

The vampire's in the book are Melissa own unique version, vampires who are rich, fabulous and completely secretive. They are not just a type of creature, but a community of some of the most prestigious people in society, who have came from generations of Blue bloods.

As the story progresses we, the readers are given numerous subtle hints to the concluding on the book and smaller plots, but some of the outcomes were pretty obvious, these are all things which added intrigue and suspense to the book, aswell as an air of curiosity to seeing if my suspicions were in fact correct.

The book is set in glamorous Manhattan, NY and follows the story of three girls as they are introduce into their new lives of Blue Bloods. Each of the characters throughout the book leave their own impression and mark, giving somethign unique to the book and the plot line. All of the characters are 100% believeable and for most reader's they are relatable. But a downside some of the characters also had cliche aspects about them, which I guess to be honest didn't bother me, because it works on creating more realisitic characters.
The main protagonist in the book is social outcast Schuyler, who goes against everything in Manhattan and is an individual instead of a follow along.
Mimi Force, one half of the Force twins, is another protagonist within the book. She is the queen-bee of the school and the teenage generation of Manhattan, she is used to getting her own way and is a complete spoilt brat, something which Melissa de la Cruz creates so wonderfully throughout the book.
The third of final protagonist is Bliss, who starts out as Mimi's follower, but as the story goes on and the girls are introduced more into their futures, she becomes a whole new character, gaining a personality and opinion of her own.

I thought the book was an amazing and enjoyable read, definitely a series  I will carry on reading, and would recommend to anyone who has any interest in female aimed books or vampire books.

I give this book...

Book Review: You Against Me by Jenny Downham

Title:   You Against Me
Series: N/A
Author: Jenny Downham
Publisher:  David Fickling Books
Publication Date: December 2010
Pages: 411
Special Features: N/A
ISBN: 9780385613507
Average Rating on Goodreads: 4.23

'If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge, right? If your brother's been accused of a terrible crime and you're the main witness, then you banish all doubt and defend him. Isn't that what families do? When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her at a party, his world of work and girls begins to fall apart. When Ellie's brother is charged with the crime, but says he didn't do it, her world of revision, exams and fitting in at a new school begins to unravel. When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide. Brave and unflinching, this is a novel of extraordinary skillfulness and almost unbearable tension. It's a book about loyalty and the choices that come with it. But above all it's a book about love - for one's family and for another.'

You Against Me is a book which has stood out towards me for a while, but it took a while for me to get round to reading it.

It's a British book which I admit is probably one of the reasons I was mainly drawn into it, along with a large assortment of excellent reviews.

The story revolves around Mikey and Ellie who meet and fall in love at a disastrous time. Mikey's younger sister claims she was raped by Ellie's  older brother.

Now Mikey and Ellie must choose how far they will go not just for each other but also to protect their family.

The story is centred around the themes of love and loyalty. It shows how far someone may go to protect and save someone they love. The book constantly made me question how would I react if my brother was being accused of rape or if my sister had been raped.

The book is wrote beautifully, and Jenny Downham perfectly writes about something so heart wrenching and effective.

The characters I believe are so believable, realistic and make the book how it is, but neither of the main characters are in anyway remeberable.

Mikey would do anything to protect his sister and has a keen eye for revenge. The typical older brother.

Ellie is a daughter in a family where she is hardly paid attention too, and all she wants to do is have her parents be proud of her for once.

All in all this book was enjoyable and definitely worth the time taken to read it.

I give this book..

Book Review: Lost Voices by Sarah Porter

Title: Lost Voices
Series: Lost Voices, book 1
Author: Sarah Porter
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's
Publication Date: 4th July 2011
Pages: 291
Special Features:
ISBN:9780547482507

'Lost Voices is a story which could almost be compared to Peter Pan in some context. Luce the protagonist of the story who after her father death whilst out at sea, has been forced to live with her abusive Uncle for the past year. As thing began to get too bad Luce transformed into a mermaid and was welcomed into a tribe of other mermaids which is ruled by Catarina the best and most marvalous singer. But after Luce discovers that her fellow mermaids take joy out of sinking boats and drowning humans she discovers it to be her life ambition to change that.'

I had never read a mermaid book before, so was quite excited for Lost Voices. The synopsis instantly drew me in, and I can guarantee it really lived up to what I expected.

Lost Voice's is Sarah Porter's debut novel and the only word I can use to describe this is... WOW!!! Sarah Porter created such an amazing imaginative novel. She manages to turn a once innocent creature such as mermaids into quite dark and dangerous creatures of the sea.

The book created such an effect over me that I actually felt myself going into this other world, almost turning into a mermaid, something I have never experienced before.
Sarah Porter also has an amazing skill at creating depressive and heart-wrenching scenes, thanks mainly to her large selection of different vocab.
She also has an amazing ability to describe scenes, in her own unique way, where I can imagine every little bit, from the rock a few feet away to a simple bird flying overhead.
But I couldn't seem to fully get into the book until the end, it was a great book with an awesome and unique storyline, but there's something about the book that made me not want to read it.
What I loved most about this book had to be that despite it's quite dark moments it still managed to have some factor's of a teenage book directed towards the female audience, by the use of the tension between the female mermaids.

The characters were utterly fantastic.
Though honestly the main character Luce was a slight let down, to me it seemed as though she has two sides: one a lovable caring side and other an emotionless (sorry for my language) bitch, luckily the side i hate is one which is rarely present. Throughout the book Luce does change into a much stronger character, but the change unfortunately isn't over an amount of time, but suddenly happens.
One character I did love the personality of was Anais. Anais is the typical spoilt brat, but she was perfect for her part in the novel, a bit extreme at times but perfect still.

Recommendations
The book was amazing and I believe would be enjoyed by most, but as most of the characters are females this could potentially put off some of the male readers.
I give this book...

Book Review: I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Title: I Am Number Four
Series: Lorien Legacies
Author: Pittacus Lore
Publisher:  Razor Bill
Publication Date: August 2010
Pages: 400
Special Features: 
ISBN: 978-0141330860

In the beginning we were nine.

We left when we were very young almost too young to remember. Almost. And now...

Three are gone.

We are here to keep our race alive, which was almost entirely obliterated. We were just trying to survive. 

Six are left.

But we are hunted, and the hunters won't stop until they've killed us all.

They caught Number one in Malaysia.

Number Two in England.

And Number three in Kenya.

I am Number Four.

I know that I am next.

One word- AMAZING

What I thought of the cover?

The cover, like the book i believe is aimed at the male audience, that doesn't particually appeal to me nor make me want to buy it. The cover has the space theme which is one of the main themes in a book.

What I thought of the title?

Without originally knowing slightly what the book is about by the constant trailer for the film which currently seem to be stalking me I would be interested in the book ignoring the cover. It's a title which creates mystery, a title you can tell there is much more to it, which would lure me into picking up the book.

The Characters?

None of the characters are particularly special, nor bad. The characters dont stand out from other books, which i guess isn't exactly a bad thing. I cant really pick my favorite characters, maybe the main character, John's dog: Bernie Kosar he made the book what it is with a tad bit of humor, really brighten the book up.

What I thought of the book?

The book has the most unique story line i have ever came across, and nothing will be able to compare. I was hooked throughout the whole book and their was never a boring moment in it.

On the down side the writing was a problem for me, the majority of the book had a great selection of vocabulary and also varied sentences etc... but there was some occasionally pieces that sounded so simple, so child like: paragraphs of short sentence, bland words, and occasional repeated words. Also there were small mistake throughout the book which i noticed, but nothing major.

All round its a great and enjoyable book, full of action and romance. With one of the most gripping first chapters ive ever came across. This book doesn't mess around it gets straight to the point.

I give this book...

It was completely enjoyable and i loved it, but the writing brought it down.

Book Review: Marley and Me by John Grogan

Title: Marley and Me
Author: John Grogan
Release Date (England): 26th July 2007
Publisher (English): Hodder and Stoughton
Price (UK pounds): £7.99
Genre: Adult- Animal/pets
Series: None
No. Pages: 384

Marley and me is the story of the narrator John Grogan and his troublesome Labrador Marley.
This book follows Marley from birth to death through all his mischief and adventures, along with his companion and owner John. It was also made into a film in 2008 staring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Anniston.

Marley and Me has been described as a definite tearjerker but will also make us all laugh.

This is a wonderful and great book, also a very simple book, with no complications, nothing to get your head around. Also for me it was nice to change from all these vampires and other supernatural creatures, to reading about the love of a man and his dog, a normal book for once.

The book really shows that a mans best friend really is his dog, and how much man and dog really do care for each other, a dog is just like another member of the family, which brought John, his wife, and children all closer together through the happiness of laughter created by Marley.
Also I think the fact that the book if true adds to the effect. The love and friendship wasn’t just something, someone randomly though of one day, this was real, an experience the author had lived himself.

Throughout the whole of this book I was nearly in tears from laughter, as was my mum when she read it. It’s a definite read for everyone, especially the whole family. But Marley and me is not just a novel, Marley also stars in four cartoon books for children, which John Grogan made himself.

I give this book

Due to the fact it is a good book, but not the best ive ever read.

Book Review: My Sister's Kepper by Jodi Picoult

Author: Jodi Picoult
Release Date: May 2004
Publisher: Hodder
Price (UK Pound): £7.99
Genre: Adult
Series: None
No. Pages: 432

My sister keeper is probably Jodi Picoults most successful book, which recently was turned into film which is an emotional, passionate, sad and heart wrenching story, which follows the Fitzgerald’s story, a family who love each other very much, but divide when it comes to the boundaries of family sacrifice.

The middle child Kate was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of 2. Five years later Kate’s body explodes with runaway cancer cells, she desperately needs a bone marrow transplant. Her mother Sara is determined to keep her daughter alive and persuaded her husband to let them make a genetically engineered daughter, Anna.

The story is mainly based around Anna who at 13 knows that her soul purpose in life and the only reason for her birth was to save her older sister, but now she’s expected to give up a kidney, and her mother is so intent of saving Kate she doesn’t see it as a big deal. But now Anna has had enough and hires a lawyer, to help her sue her parents over the rights of her body.

I bought this book just as the film was being released, and I had promised myself before I watch the film I will read the book. Which I did.

The book really lived up to my expectations, and better.

Jodi Picoult really did a good job at presenting the dilemma, and related to her own experiences with her son Jake who, who fortunately was not in a life-threatening situation.

The book shows how far a mother would go in an attempt to save a child, even if it means hurting the people around her, but sometimes a mother, doctor or others know what’s best, they just do what they can to save the patient in question.

Whilst reading this book I couldn’t help but hate the mother, Sara who thought it was ok to bring another child into the world, to save another, who thought that putting one of her daughters life at risk was ok as long as the other was saved. But then again wouldn’t most mothers do whatever they could if it means saving there child, even if it was just for a few more days. And the moment Anna came up to her mum and told her she no longer wanted to be forced, but wanted to choose if she was going to go through any more medical practises to save her older sister, I just wanted to strangle her.

Then there’s Anna, the girl who the story revolves around, obviously knowing her only meaning in life was to save her sister. Who more than likely thinks that her mother doesn’t love her as much as Kate, and makes the heart rendering decision to sue her parents, just so she has the chance to live a normal life, where she isn’t in hospitals with wires sticking out of her arm every other day, but instead wants to go to school, have friends and have a future, that’s not just putting her life at risk in an attempt to save another.

Brian the father, who is stuck between the tension of his wife, and daughter. Not being able to pick a side because he knows each are right in there own way, and refuses to choose.

Jesse, the older brother, who was unfortunately not a match to Kate. Jesse, was always left out in the family, with his mother and father being obsessed with the health of one daughter, and taking care of the other. Jesse was never properly cared for once his sister was diagnosed with cancer, so he started to rebel and getting slightly into trouble in a way of getting attention for once.

And then there’s Kate, the girl who everyone is obsessed with every time something slightly bad happens. Who just wants everything to end, to get rid of the tension in the house, and let her mum finally live on with her life.

My Sister’s Keeper is a very amazing book, which I recommend to everyone.
I give this book:

Book Review: Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire

Title: Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister
Author: Gregory Maguire
Release Date: 1st November 1999
Publisher: William Morrow
Price (English Pounds): £7.99
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Series: None
No. Pages:398
 
This is the second adult book written by author Gregory Maguire, who is well known for his different take on well known stories and fairytales.
 
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister is based on the fairytale Cinderella which is very well known, and Maguire take on the story has many similaties but also difference, almost making it a completely different story.
 
The story follows Iris, the plain younger daughter of Margarethe Fisher, as she takes care of her mentally-challenged older sister Ruth and her stepsister Clara. After the death of Iris's father and her mother being accused of being a witch, her family fled from England to Holland.While caring for her sisters and keeping the peace between Clara and Margarethe, Iris develops a painter's eye and spends time apprenticing with a local painter known as The Master, and his apprentice, Caspar.



On the verge of losing everything after a sudden drop in their stock market, Margarethe devises a plan for Iris and Ruth to attend the ball being held in honor of the Dowager Queen of France and her godson, the Prince of Marsillac. She leaves out Clara because she knows full well that if the girl wed the prince, she would abandon her family and they'd end up in the poorhouse. While at the ball, Ruth does the unthinkable for jealousy and love of Clara and Master. That night the fairy tale of Cinderella and her pumpkin carriage is spun, and the next morning her prince comes to collect her.

Gregory Maguire seems to have this ability to change your opnion of people such as the ugly stepsisters in the classic story, who everyone has grown to hate, and make you feel sympathetic for them. Especially Iris who is slightly at odds agianst the world due to her plainess, in a world who only properly accepts beauty into the higher society.

What i do like most about this story is how it does give us a different outlook on the ugly stepsister, yes this novel and classic story are not the same, so the sisters past will obviously be different, but it makes you think what really did bring the sisters and there mother to meet Cinderella's father, why are they so mean and cruel, and I guess it's hard when you have a strict and hateful mother like they do.

I only had one dissapointment about the book, but I see that as a fault to myself. I thought the end of the book wasnt as developed as it could be, but maybe seeing as I was almost asleep when I finished the book, i didnt fully understand the ending.

But all in all the book was very good and I recommend this book to anyone who is particually intrested in fairytales and think like this.

I give this book

Book Review: Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Title: Poison Study
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Release Date: September 2007
Publisher: MIRA
Price: (English Pounds): £6.99
Genre: YA, historical fantasy
No. Pages:409

Poison Study is an intriguing fantasy story, which could possibly be one of the best books I have ever came across. With a unique storyline and characters Maria V. Snyder sure reaches full potential with this novel, the first in the Yelena Zaltana trilogy.



Yelena lives in Ixia, a nation ruled by it's zero tolerance, Code of Behaviour, which massively effects Yelena, after killing one of the nations most powerful generals sons, Yelena is sent to be executed. But the day after before Yelena faces her execution she is given the choice, to be expected or to become the Commander's (the ruler of all of Ixia) food taster, where she could slowly die from poison at almost anytime.



She is put in the care of Valek, who knows that she is likely to try and escape, so he laces her food with a poison called Butterfly Dust, which is known for the torture it creates on the victim before dying, of course the only way for Yelena to avoid the painful death is to report to Valek every moening for the antidote. But as time goes by Yelena and Valek gain a deep and meaningful relationship.



General Brazell is furious that his sons death has not be avenged, and begin to take matters into his own hands, and constantly attempts to capture and kill Yelena.



I wasn't so sure about this book once I came across it, but I decided to give it a chance and am so glas I did. I had never expected myself to be in anyway intrested in a book based around the adventures of a food taster, but I just can't get over how amazing and brilliant it is, without a doubt this book is my second favourite book all time.


I would definately recommend this book to anyone, especially if you enjoy historical and fantasy type books.

I give this book