Before I fall by Lauren Oliver

Reviewed by Katie

Date Published: 22nd July, 2011

Date Read: 30th October, 2011

Blurb: What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Review: Wow, breathtaking, incredible, and its something that makes you think.
I haven't cried, but I can feel it in the back of my throat. Wow, that was an incredible book.
___________________

I keep writing things, then back spacing them. Words just don't describe this book, but what I'm trying to say is that Before I Fall is breathtaking and really makes you think about your life. Whether you are making a misery on others lives, or whether you’re a barrier in their lives to what they want to be. It's a book that really gets you thinking, and that you can relate to your life. Whereas a supernatural book you can't. Lauren Oliver, you are an amazing author! They say to live every day as if it's your last - but you never actually think it's going to be. You always think you'll have more time.
That's what I thought. But I was wrong
The thing is, you don't get to know when it happens. You don't remember to tell your family that you love them or - in my case - remember to say goodbye to them at all.
What if, like me, you could live your last day over again? Could you make it perfect? If your whole life flashed before your eyes, would you have any regrets? Are there things you'd want to change?

I like Sam because she is a character that you can probably relate to, not because of her lifestyle but because of who she is. Let's be honest, we all judge people by their appearence. The other day I was walking my dog and there was a gang of lads, so I turned back and took another route. I judged that the group of lads would probably hit me or something because they were stood on a corner in tracksuit and hoodies. But, apart of this book is about judging people; Juliet Sykes. Just because Juliet was lonely and had no friends, everybody assumed that she was a freak. But as the story continued we learned about Juliet, and there is an explanation to why Juliet is the way she is. Basically, something has made us be the person of who we are; so in Juliet's situation it was Lindsey, and in Sam's situation it was also because of Lindsey.

I wasn't keen on Rob from the beginning especially when he got drunk at the party. I just wasn't keen on him.

Kent. Oh, he's adorable! I don't care if he's the nerdy type, he was sweet and I loved him. He went out of his way to try and impress Sam which was cute because you would've thought that Sam and Kent wouldn't look good as a couple (see, I'm judging! Hahaa!).
I loved reading this book because I actually saw that Sam had changed throughout the book instead of seeing her change at the end of the novel.

I couldn't believe the ending, I didn't cry like I thought I would but I could feel it in the back of my throat.  :) Lauren Oliver is an amazing author, I love her style of writing and I look forward to reading Delirium. I have something to look forward to at Christmas!

Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.

Instead, it turns out to be her last.

Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

Cover Battles (#6)

This week I (Gina) have chosen Dearply, Departed by Lia Habel because i just got that book last week and i think the covers would be great to analyse on this feature. Here we go :D

US                                            UK


Gina


US: I really adore this cover because i love the colour purple on book covers. There's just something about it that catches my eyes. I think the model is beautiful but in a way this cover is kind of dull compared to the UK one. But i do love the victorian style of the umbrella and her lacy sleeve (all we can see of the dress).

UK: I love this cover!! It stands out from all the others and it's different. Although the guy is supposed to be dead he is definitely hot!! And i love that this cover shows what the book is about in the background (they are zombies for those of you who can't see). I LOVE the title fonts as well and they match the words perfectly. I definitely prefer the orange and red cover to the US one.

Conclusion: The UK wins!! I love everything about it and i cannot wait to read this book :)


Katie


US: I love this cover! I love the colours and the font and the tagline! I like how the model is looking down whilst holding an umbrella. You can also tell by this cover that it is obviously set in the past. I also like the background in this cover too!

UK: I’m not keen on this cover, the guy looks creepy looking. I know he’s a zombie but I just don’t like it. I like the colours in the background and how the sun is setting/rising (not sure which) and it reminds me of fire. I like the font, its delicate yet strong which could have to do with something in the book. By the clothing in this cover you can tell that it’s set in the past, I think.
Conclusion: Overall, the US cover wins, no doubt about it! :)

And for this week I (Katie) have chosen to do Angel by L. A. Weatherly which i am currently reading and loving.

US                                           UK


Gina


US: Different title, same book. But if i saw the two on a shelf i would go to this one as the title sounds interesting and different. I think the font is a bit too plain but i love the pattern around the outside of the words. The image is captivating and i like the hair blowing in the wind and she's glowing too.

UK: I love the backgroun colours as the arm different but i hate the model. I don't know why but there's just something about her that's off and she's not very pretty. But i do like the wings and the title font, very delicate.

Conslusion: It's a draw. I can't decide because i love and hate these covers so i can't choose.


Katie


US: I don’t understand why the US has to have a different title name, but it does go with the book which is good. Comparing the title names I think that Angel Burn is better because it sounds more interesting whereas Angel is sort of plain and doesn’t grab your attention fully. If I’m honest, on Goodreads it was the US title that drew me to read the blurb.

I prefer the model on this cover because you can’t see her face and I like that on covers so you can picture the character in your head yourself. I like that her hair is glowing and fits in well with the book. I like that the font is big and stands out to you. The Burn part really stands out and shouts at you, I also like that it’s white behind it, showing the angel in it, obviously to do with Angel Burn (if you’ve read it you’ll probably understand what I’m talking about!)

UK:  like this cover, there has been thought into designing this because of the designs around the edge and the wings behind the model. Speaking of the model; I’m not sure about her, I mean I’ve only read half of the book but I have not got the impression in the book that she is a nasty character (that’s how the model looks to me), her head is slightly tilted which reminds me of the picture that Alex finds of Willow. I think that the model is trying to look like the picture that Alex finds and I can honestly say that she isn’t meant to look creepy!

I love the design and colours on this cover which draws me in and I love that there is a border a swell, don’t see that on many covers!

Conslusion: In conclusion, I don’t really know…I like both covers for different reasons. If the model didn’t look so creepy on the UK cover it would’ve gone to the UK. But I’m going to give it a draw for this one. There’s something about them both that I like, but they both have their faults.

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Reviewed by Gina

Date Published: 29th September, 2011

Date Read: 30th October, 2011

Blurb: The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities


Review: I’ve been looking forward to reading this book for a while and I loved it! The idea is different and unique with having a Jack-the-Ripper copycat which instantly made me want to read it even more. Who doesn’t love a good book with a bit of romance, horror, thrills, action and a few gory parts that would definitely freak me out? Well if you love all these things then pick it up and get stuck into it!

This novel focuses on Rory (Aurora) Deveaux who is a normal girl who moves from Louisiana to London with her family. There in London she attends a boarding school called Wexford and it’s nothing like she expected. Once she is there the brutal murders committed by a Jack the Ripper copy-cat soon reach her. London breaks into panic mode with some people creating clothes about it, some betting on where the next murders will take place and some people just freaking out. But when Rory meets a man she thinks is behind all of this Rippermania everything changes and confusion sets in when she finds out she is the only one who can see him.

I honestly didn’t really know what to expect from this novel. I definitely expected a thrill ride filled with suspense and action (along with some gore) and to my surprise I got exactly what I wanted (without too much gore). To start off with, the novel mainly focuses on developing the characters and building up to the mystery that is the murderer. I do enjoy reading more about the characters because I feel as though I get to know them better. But if you easily get bored don’t give up on this book because it gets wayyy better later on.

I thought the plot was amazing and at first I was wondering how this would all spread into a series but Maureen has done it (not that I’m gonna give it away or anything). The detail about London was incredible and it made me want to go there. I wanted to absorb everything and I feel as though I have succeeded in doing that thanks to Maureen’s style of writing.

If you are one of those readers who enjoy a lot of romance in your YA novels with the gooey love talk and the “you’re all I think about day and night” stuff then you might not like this aspect of the novel. There is little romance but what we do get is nice seeming as though the book isn’t based on a relationship but mystery and suspense. You might also need a little patience with this one because the plot isn’t extremely fast but I think that it’s made that way to build up the tension.

The Name of the Star was a novel I thoroughly enjoyed and I cannot wait to read more of this series. This is for anyone who loves novels that have twists and turns, suspense and action (but ya also gotta have a little patience). I’m giving this 4.5 stars!!

In My Mailbox (#4)

IMM is a weekly event hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren.
This features books that we have either bought, borrowed, recieved or traded over the last week :)






Hi guys, it's Gina!! (Just me this week)


So this week I got some really awesome books that I cannot wait to read and review!! Opened three of them when i got home and i was so happy that i finally had them in my needy little hands haha :) So here they are.....

Destined (House of night #9) by P.C. and Kristin Cast
Dearly Departed by Lia Habel
A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies
Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon
The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

I love all of the covers, so pretty (but i'm still not sure about Destined yet.....It doesn't match the other english ones but i guess it's the words that count!)
I look forward to reviewing all of these for all you lovely book people out there :D

Have a good day!!

Cover reveals we love: Hallowed and Until I die

Hi guys, sorry this is a bit late. The feature is meant to be on a thursday but as you can probably tell, it's a friday (YAY for the weekend).

Gina


So once again this is the place where you find the new books covers that have just come to the surface or ones we have just seen. Like the one i am about to show you which is Hallowed by Cynthia Hand.

I'm not sure about the cover much as i dont like the model on the cover but it might look better on an actual book. But here it is alongside the first one (these are the UK covers).

What do you guys think of it?
Just so you know, the guy on the front isn't Tucker (boohoo) but it's Christian so anyone out there who loves him should be happy with it. I like the little pattern behind the title though, very pretty :)
I cannot wait for the story as it should be an amazing sequel, so many things to find out!!


Katie

Hey guys, this is going to be short and sweet because I’m currently reading Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver and it’s gotten so interesting, I need to find out what’s going to happen next!

So, have you seen the cover for book 2 in the Revenants series? Here it is with the first!

When I saw it, I thought, ‘ooh, it can’t be long until it’s released then!’ So I’m happy about it! Loved the first one and I think I shall read it again to freshen my memory about it.

I quite like the cover, and it’s pretty like the Die For Me one, but if I’m honest, I’m not so keen.

You can kind of tell that the model has been photoshopped/edited (whatever they do on book covers!) onto the scene because of the way the light is on her hair.

I do like this cover, so don’t get me wrong, but I really do like the white design around the model and title name. Ooh, just seen there’s a hint of red in the title, I like that!

Anyway, so glad that Until I Die will be released soon, and if you haven’t yet read Die For Me, then please do because it’s a fantastic read. And I love Vincent so much! Toodles for now! :)

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

Reviewed by Gina

Date Published: 14th June, 2011 (US)

Date Read: 27th October, 2011
Blurb: Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be captured or caged. When a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the dead body of her classmate London Hayes left floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby.

But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns to town two years later, deadly surprises await. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has hidden deeply away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood.

With palpable drama and delicious craft, Nova Ren Suma bursts onto the YA scene with the story that everyone will be talking about.


Review: Imaginary Girls had such an eerie atmosphere to it that at some points the hairs on my arms stood up and it unsettled me a little. The style of writing Nova Ren Suma has is beautiful and it got under my skin. This is her YA debut and her second novel and it’s as though she has been doing this for years.

The story centres on Chloe and her older sister, Ruby. Ruby has everyone who lives in their town wrapped around her little finger. The girls want to be just like her, the boys will do anything to gain her love and everything happens for Ruby in a way that makes you wonder about what’s really going on. She pays no attention to anyone in town and acts spontaneously but with Chloe she is grounded. She has reason and Ruby will do anything for her. Anything. Everything revolves around Ruby and no one else.

But after an unsettling disturbance of the towns peace, Chloe goes away and doesn’t go home for two years. But when Ruby shows up, she has no choice but to go back. And when she does, there is a surprise waiting like no other...

I loved this book so much. Even though it confused the hell out of me – and trust me, it did – it was still an amazing and compelling read. I’ve never really read a book quite like this. I’ve read books where the younger sister lives in the older sister’s shadow but it was nothing like this. Their bond was so strong and it was easy to see why Chloe looks up to her and treasures her. But I found myself feeling a little sad as the story progressed and Ruby loosened her hold on Chloe.

The plot wasn’t fast paced and that was the great thing about it. As the plot progressed the suspense built up until it was over flowing and so many times I had to stop myself from skipping ahead to try and release the tension and to see if everything was okay. The imagery of this book created a vivid mental picture in my mind and I could see everything as if it were a movie.

I like that we still don’t know what is happening at the end of the book and it’s almost as if Suma wants to leave the ending up to us and leave it to play on our minds which it has definitely done with me. The supernatural element to this novel was threaded into it so quietly and creepily that it isn’t obvious until a lot later in the novel and you will find yourself waiting for it to show through. Even after finishing this book you will be wondering what actually happened.

The ending to this book was perfect and made sure the eerie atmosphere stayed with us all the way, even when we closed the book. I won’t be forgetting this one anytime soon.

Imaginary Girls was an amazing, thrilling, haunting and creep story about sisterhood that has no boundaries, where they will do anything for each other, no matter the consequences. 5 stars!!

Breaking News (#3)

Hi guys, it's me, Gina!!

Just wanted to tell you some news about two books that i am patiently awaiting (well...I'm trying to). Those two books are Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon and A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies.

I cannot wait to read these two books when they arrive!! And look at these beautiful covers :) Aren't they amazing?! And in a way they look kind of alike and i think it's because of the background :) but I know that they will look amazing on my shelves :)

Cover Battles (#5)

Hi guys, this week I (Gina) have chosen The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson because I just got this book and love the cover :)

US                                                UK

Gina


US: This was the cover that first drew me to checking out this book on Goodreads. It was mystical, eerie and set me on edge. I love the man fading into the mist, making him disappear from sight. It isn't too in your face which is the good thing about this cover.

UK: I really love this cover. It's dark, haunting and i like that the cover is mainly black. I much prefer this title font compared to the US one because it isn't boring. The whole cover just works perfectly and you instantly know what you're going to get with this book.

Conclusion: I think the UK wins this one, even though i love them both, there is just something about it that catches my eye. If i saw them both in a shop then i would be instantly drawn to the UK one as it is bold and dark.


Katie


US: I’m not keen on this cover, I’m not sure why but I just don’t like it compared to the UK one. Don’t get me wrong, when I saw it on Goodreads I wanted to see what it was all about, especially because of the name of the book. But I just don’t like the cover. I have seen that its got top ratings, so I think that it should have a better cover, especially  because it’s American because they’re a bigger country and more people to lure into the book.

UK: I quite like this cover because it’s dark and foreshadows something bad to happen in the book. I really like how the model is pale making her stand out of the cover and I like how her body fades into a graveyard, then smack bang in the middle is red writing which makes it creepy because of the font. To me the red is the only colour on the cover which also stands out and because it’s the tag line it lures you in even more. I really love that the authors name is sort of fuzzy (or is that because I haven’t got my glasses on?!) Either way, I like it! :)

Conclusion: I prefer the UK cover because it’s more appealing and it’s what would make me want to pick the book up.

I (Katie) have chosen My Soul to Steal by Rachel Vincent. First of all let me just say that I love this series!

US                                                   UK

Gina

US: I love the dress that this model is wearing and how it seems to turn to mist. I think it's an okay cover but i think that if i saw this on a shelf, it wouldn't catch my attention as much as the UK one. The US one is a little bit plain but i do like the font for the title.

UK: I love all the UK covers for this series. Because they're all in black and white with one piece of colour to match the colour of the title. Here are the first three below to show you what i mean.

Very creative and they catch your attention immediately. That's why i love this series, and the words are really good too :)

Conclusion: No competition, UK wins!! Love it!!

Katie

US: If I’m honest, I’m not really keen on the US covers for the Soul Screamers series. I prefer the UK one’s a lot more because they seem really interesting and stand out to you more. I quite like the font but when you put the UK and US version together I’m not so keen.

UK: I really love this cover; I love the design that it’s wispy and blends into the model whereas the writing and butterfly stands out to you because it’s the only colour that is on the cover. I just really love this cover, end of! Haha.

Conclusion: The UK wins this without a question!

Between by Jessica Warman

Reviewed by Katie

Date Published: 3rd October, 2011

Date Read: 23rd October, 2011

Blurb: Only the good die young. Right? Elizabeth Valchar has it all: friends, money, beauty, a cute boyfriend and assured popularity. But on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, she is found drowned next to her parents' boat. Everyone thinks it was a tragic accident - teens drinking on a boat, a misstep leading to a watery death. But Liz is still here after death, and she doesn't know why. There are gaps in her memory. Her only company Alex, a boy killed by a car a year earlier, Liz sets out to piece together her life. But their small coastal town is hiding many secrets - about families, boyfriends and friendship. Plus, Alex hates Liz for being mean when they were alive. Was she as squeaky clean as she thinks she was? Could it be that she herself is hiding the biggest secret of all? Can Liz discover the truth? And if she does, who can she tell? An engrossing, compelling thriller that peels back the layers of small-town life to expose true, ugly, cruel human nature.

Review: This is such an incredible book that I still can't bring myself together. As soon as I finished it, I wanted to cry, but I wanted to jump on bed aswell as dance - I have no idea why! -, but this is a book that I know will always have a place in my heart. Not just because it's outstanding, but because it shows you what life can be really about. Even though there is paranormal in this book, it seems so realistic.

Eliazabeth Vachar is young, beautiful and popular. Everything is right in her expensive, glossy life...until the night of her eighteenth birthday party, on her parent's yacht. A persistent thumping noise from outside the boat awakes her. What Liz finds changes everything she thought she knew about her life, her friends and what lies in-between...

Elizabeth Vachar seemed like such a spoilt brat to me, the biggest worries she had to face was something so simple for us, like getting her hair wet or chipped nails. But even though she was very spoilt I still loved her, I liked following the story of someone who 'has it all'. It was different compared to other novels where they have the simple things in life, but Elizabeth could have anything she wanted at the click of her fingers. But, Liz didn't have her mother alive with her so in a way that seems like a reasonable excuse why Liz has become so spoilt by her father.

'It's funny,' Alex says. 'I always thought you guys has such simple, perfect lives. Everything seemed so easy for you.'

To start with I wasn't so sure about Richie and I always thought that he was quite shifty and wasn't up to anything good, but I grew to like him and his love for Elizabeth was true and most importantly real.

Josie, Josie, Josie. I was never keen on you in the beginning and I was always suspicious of your actions, no matter what you did. You just wanted to be the next Elizabeth Vachar, and in my opinion, I didn't think you would ever be. Just the trouble maker in the story.

In conclusion of the charcters, I really like Elizabeth and I don't think that she deserved any of the shit that she got. Yes, she was spoilt and nasty but that doesn't change anything and whilst Liz was in the Between, she had changed as a person. I think that this is because she realised what she had done to affect others lives - such as Alex - and see what pain they were going through. I admire Elizabeth greatly for taking notice of what she had done other peoples lives.
Richie had changed because he saw the more important things in life, such as Elizabeth because his emotions were starting to show through towards the ending of this fantastic novel.
Josie's heart is just made of steel and when I read what she did to Elizabeth I gasped and nearly cried because I couldn't believe how someone could be so heartless...

Such a breathtaking novel that actually tore out my heart. It was hard for me to grasp that even though Liz was Between, she would never get in contact with any of her family or friends, she could only sit on the sidelines and watch their lives unfold, or let the past take her and discover what really happened in her life.
It still gets to me that even though Elizabeth was there, nobody else knew. It really touches me!


It just proves that because somebody has everything they want on there command, doesn't mean they have a better life than anybody who is less fortunate.

In My Mailbox (#3)

IMM is a weekly event hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren.
This features books that we have either bought, borrowed, recieved or traded over the last week :)





Hey guys, it's me, Gina!!

So this week I am on holiday in Ireland seeing my dad and today i went shopping :D I wasn't intending on buying any books but the temptation was too strong so i got two and one of them was free!! :) so I was a very happy bunny. I did get another one last week but it is at home in england so i will just put a picture of the cover on to show you guys :) Here they are....

I have been waiting for so long for the first two books :)

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson (cannot wait to get stuck into this)
Divergent by Veronica Roth (been waiting too long for this to get into my needy hands)
Vanish (Firelight #2) by Sophie Jordan (already reviewed)

I am very happy with these books and cannot wait to review them all :)




It's Katie guys and here are my books :)

So from the 17-21 October I had to do Work Experience (which I loved!) and there are two Waterstones nearby so I couldn’t resist buying books! :D

The other week I got Passion by Lauren Kate and Ashes by Isla J. Bick. I’m looking forward to reading Passion but I need to read Torment first. Although, because it’s been so long since I read Fallen, I think I’m going to read it again.

This week I bought:

My Soul to Steal and Stray by Rachel Vincent. Love Vincent’s writings so much!!

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Blue Bloods Melissa de le Cruz

Angel by L.A Weatherly

Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

Evernight by Claudia Gray

Vanish by Sophie Jordan

Reviewed by Gina

Date Published: 6th September, 2011 (US)

Date Read: 22nd October, 2011

Blurb: To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

In bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s dramatic follow-up to Firelight, forbidden love burns brighter than ever

 

 

Review: Vanish was a good sequel to Firelight. It wasn’t as good as the first but it still had me and once again I flew through it. The main reason I didn’t like it as much as the first all went down to one thing: Jacinda moaned wayyy too much about missing Will. Trust me, if I wasn’t with the guy I was in love with of course I would miss him but I wouldn’t go over the top and think about it all the time. There are more important things to think about which there were.
Anyway, now that I have my ranting put of the way we can get down to the important stuff.

I love the world that Sophie Jordan has created because there is nothing else like out there in the book world. So for those of you who don't know, Draki are descended from dragons and there are hunters who hunt them for different reasons, but mainly to get rid of them and to sell them for money.

Vanish picks up exactly where Firelight left off which was with Cassian Bringing Jacinda, Tamra and her mum home to the pride. Also, some pretty bad stuff happened to Will and Jacinda had to act pretty fast and made a huge mistake!! But I’m not gonna reveal that to those that haven’t read the first one. So Will and Jacinda are torn apart and Cassian begins chasing after Jacinda’s heart.

The cover of this book gives away a lot considering it is supposed to show Tamra as, you know, one of them. Anyway, the characters in this book really grew, especially Jacinda and Tamra. With the romance in this book I’m not sure who I like anymore. Will is obviously really romantic, coming after her and all, but I am starting to like Cassian because of the things he has done for Jacinda. It’s a messy love triangle indeed!! But I’m sure we’ll know who it is in the next and, I think, final book, Hidden.

I couldn’t get into this book more than I did; I really did love it, just not as much as the first. But anyway, I will be reading the next one and can’t wait to find out what happens. 4 Stars!!

Cover Reveals we love: Pure and The Savage Grace

Gina


As you know I finished reading Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout yesterday and LOVED it so much :) I fell in love with the story and i think that the front cover is beautiful. so here it is along with the second instalment called Pure which will be out in April, 2012 (US).

Look how amazing they look together!! I love book covers that are like that and follow a pattern. I'm glad they stuff with the flower theme and the colours suit each other and contrast well. I cannot wait until I get my hands on Pure but that's a little while away unfortunately :'(

But here is the short blurb for Pure!! And it makes me want it even more.

Some rules are made to be broken. but breaking the ultimate rule can change everything. Alex lives--and loves--recklessly, until a single decision leads to a heartbreaking revelation. As a mysterious threat closes in and she confronts a Council that wants to see her in servitude, Alex face a choice between love that is fated... and love that is forbidden.

Sounds good?? I bet it might even be better than the first and the first was magnificent!!


Katie

Hey guys, so the other day the third instalment of Bree Despain’s The Dark Divine trilogy book cover came out….and I don’t like it.

I honestly think that it’s ruined. The Dark Divine and The Lost Saint are beautiful book covers so I was excited to see what The Savage Grace would be like, and I can tell you, I was so disappointed. Here they are... and it's ovbious how different the cover looks......

Here are some things I don’t like about it;

-For a starter, the cover doesn’t match the other in the series at all.

-We can see the back of model whilst The Dark Divine and The Lost Saint only have the legs.

-Bree Despain’s name goes across the bottom of the cover, not the top.

-The title doesn’t go across the model, it goes to the side.

-It should be the model’s toenails painted, not her fingernails.

I was also hoping for a yellow cover, but if I’m honest you can’t judge a book by its cover, (although we all do!) and the cover isn’t going to change how much I love this series! It’s the words that count.

Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Reviewed by Gina

Date Published: 18th October, 2011 (US)

Date Read: 19th October, 2011

Blurb: The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden.Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

Review: When I finished this book the first thing I thought was....April, 2012!!?? I can not wait that long for Pure, the second instalment, to come out! I need that book right now but I know that it isn’t possible.

Wow. Freakin’ wow. I didn’t know how to start this review off but I think that is a pretty good beginning. I honestly don’t have any words to describe this book. It took my breath away and had me hooked from the first page.

When I first saw the cover I thought, well that looks pretty, I’ll check out the synopsis. And once I’d read that I knew that I’d have to have it. Thank god for The Book Depository because without it I wouldn’t have this book. This book is definitely one of my favourite reads this year and right now, April seems really far away but at least it’s near my birthday!! :D

Half-Blood tells the story of Alex, a seventeen year old Half-Blood who has just returned to the covenant after her mother was murdered by a daimon. She has missed nearly three years of training as her mother took her away, but Alex is thrown into the deep end and begins training with Pure blood Aiden, a very gorgeous Pure blood indeed. And Alex is instantly attracted to him. But relationships between halfs and pures are forbidden. Alex knows that but she doesn’t care. Not even about the consequences which are extreme and can ruin her. But when someone she thought was dead comes back to has to face the realization that it’s either kill or be killed. And the heartache begins...

I would just like to say thank you to Jennifer L. Armentrout for creating this beautiful start to a series and for making me fall in love with her book!! I has everything I love in a book. Danger, action, suspense, thrills and forbidden romance. What kept me turning the pages were the cliff-hangers and the twists and turns that graced the pages.

I love Greek Mythology so much and this was a great take on it. Not once was I confused or lost with all the information and I could imagine that it was real. It felt real. Especially the characters.
Alex was amazing to read about. She made me laugh quite a few times and she is smart, cocky, and brave but she also has a heart and loves to do things her own way. Even if they’re not the right way. I wished I could live as her just for one day to see what it would be like and to be with Aiden....my Mr. Perfect! I fell in love with him instantly and is one of my favourite YA guys!! He’s very stubborn when it comes to Alex and her safety but he is also sweet, kind and loving. I could write so many good things about him and it wouldn’t be enough. I really want them to be together and I hate the stupid rule for getting in the way. Some of the scenes between them actually took my breath away and I loved every second of it.

More characters that I love include Caleb, Alex’s best friend who would do anything for her (a plus) and the mysterious Appolyon, Seth. The twist that Jennifer has put in including Alex and Seth shocked me. I kind of saw it coming but it was still a shock. A good and interesting shock. I cannot wait to see how it develops and changes.

If Pure is anything as good as Half-Blood then I am going to be blown away all over again :D Jennifer’s style of writing captivated me and always kept me wondering. I am so looking forward to finding out how Alex, Aiden and Seth’s stories will shift and change throughout this wonderfully crafted series :) 5 stars!!

Breaking News (#2)

Gina

On the 21st October, 2011 the third installment of the iron fey series comes out, The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa, in paperback by Mira Ink.
I am really looking forward to what the future holds for all of our favorite characters and i would buy it but I have it down on my bookmas (xmas) list.

Here is the lovely cover in all it's pink glory :)

And also the blurb...

My name is Meghan Chase.
I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.
This time, there will be no turning back.

Sounds good doesn't it :D I cant wait to read it and then i will get the Iron Knight when that comes out too :D

Cover Battles (#4)

The book cover that  I (Gina) have chosen for this week is Abandon by Meg Cabot. I have yet to read this book but Katie has already read it :) 

US                                                    UK

Gina


US: I loved this cover from the moment I saw it. The colours aren't overly bright but they are subtle and elegant. I especially love the gold flowery pattern that goes around the cover. I also think that the model is very pretty and suits this cover down to a tee. You can that by looking at this cover it is a book with a greek twist which is what it is. I love the browns and golds because it's different and i like different.

UK: I thought that they would keep the US cover but they obviously didn't and in a way i am disappointed about that fact. Don't get me wrong, our cover is different, unique and totally not like any other book i have seen. I think that it is clever having one side light and the underworld part dark and evil looking, making to two contrast well. I'm not sure about the models but i like that she is looking down at him. The red vines stand out against the black and white and i think i prefer the title font on this one than the US one.

Conclusion: Winning only by a fraction is the US. I smiply love this cover and i wish i had this version of it on my shelves :D Both are lovely but i definitely have my favorite :)


Katie


US: When I first saw this cover on Goodreads, I really liked it and it made me want to read it even more. I love how the model has mirrored the meaning of Abandon. The colours are slightly faded and aren’t in your face which I quite like. The design around the cover is really pretty which makes it stand out even more.


UK: I quite like this cover but I’m not really fussed. I love that it adds the story up into one picture with Pierce in the white showing she is living in the world but John is upside down and dark showing the underworld. No offence but the guy is not good-looking at all and when I read this book, John was sexy, however the male model on the cover is not. The girl model is okay and I love that her white dress fans out around her which then looks like a pool of water that has been encircled around her. I also love the red design around the sides, which in real life it shines which is nice and catches your attention more! :)

Conclusion: I prefer the US cover because the colours are more appealing and looks more like a young-adult book, whereas the UK one doesn’t as much.

I (Katie) have chosen Unearthly by Cynthia Hand which both of us have read and loved by the way. Here are the beautiful covers :)

US                                                UK

Gina


US: I love this cover so much. It was this cover on Goodreads that drove me to checking out the book and then buying it in the first shop i got. I really liket he dress that the model is wearing as well, even though the title is covering most of it. And speaking of the title, i really like the way there is a feather in the tangles. Having the whole cover tinted purple is different and makes us look at the whole thing instead of just one specific spot on the cover. And because i have read the book i get why she is in a forest.

UK: Our version is differnt. But the thing i don't like about this cover is the model. She looks quite scary actually and wayyyy too white for my liking. I know she is supposed to be glowing (Clara the angels glows) but it's just too much. It should be subtle and it isn't. The title font is very bland which is bad but at least they still have the tress surrounding her. Not the best cover ever.

Conclusion: US wins!! Everything about their cover is better than our one :)


Katie


US: I really like this cover; it’s pretty and stands out to you for all the right reasons. The font is appealing and stands out. The model looks natural whereas in the UK one she looks stiff which isn’t cool for a bestselling book that needs a striking cover! The dress is lovely yet simple which I like. Obviously the model is in the forest which links to the plot. This is an amazing book so this cover definitely sells it!

UK: This cover is okay but I’m not its biggest fan. There is meaning in this cover such as the glowing dress and the woods but it seems too boring for me, I’ve wanted this book since I signed up to Goodreads in March and when it came out I was so happy, but the only reason that made me want to have this book was the description, but it was the US cover that won me over.


Conclusion: US cover wins because it’s so much more interesting with the font, model and background. Totally deserves it!!

In My Mailbox (#2)

IMM is a weekly event hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren.
This features books that we have either bought, borrowed, recieved or traded over the last week :)





Gina

Hi guys :)
So this week i only got two of the books I have ordered and I was so happy when they came through I lterally danced around my kitchen and i was in a good mood for the rest of the day. So here they are..... (drum roll please)........

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

Half-blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I have been waiting so long for these books to come out and I am so looking forward to reading them and writing my reviews. I have heard that both books are amazing and the covers are just gorgeous :)

In the comment box give me the link to your mailbox and i'll check them out :D

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Reviewed by Gina

Date Published: 1st December, 2009

Date Read: 16th October, 2011

Blurb: Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

Review: I really enjoyed this book. I’ve had it sitting on my shelf for quite a while now (almost two years) and I just decided to pick it up and give it a go. And I’m glad I did because Beautiful Creatures is very different to other YA novels and that is why it is great! It has the forbidden romance that nearly every YA novel has but this one was different to the others. The others sometimes don’t have a strong enough reason to why they can’t be together but the reason in this book was good and it made sense.

Having the POV from a guy’s perspective was great and these are the reasons why:
1.They don’t complain or moan as much as girls do!! I hate that in a book and in a way the moaning makes me dislike the characters.
2.They don’t always talk about how hot the person they love is. Ethan (POV) talked about Lena’s beauty but he didn’t go over the top with it like some people do.
3.You got a different view of the world. Guys see things differently and it was nice to get this view.
4.The whining about their troubles is kept to a minimum.

And I really liked Ethan as a character. He was kind, sweet and really did love Lena enough to do anything to stop her being claimed by evil.
Lena was a character! At times she could be confusing, funny, sad and also completely in love. The character development of Lena was really good and the authors got it just right. I loved the magic that she had and it made me wish I could do the things that she did which were very cool indeed. Ethan and Lena’s love story was beautiful and real. It wasn’t fake, it didn’t have too many steamy scenes (which can be long, boring and not-needed in a YA novel sometimes) and I cannot wait to see where this series takes them.

I have never read a book quite like this one before. I’ve read books about witches but this one was so interesting and different that it grabbed me from the beginning (even though I took a while to finish it as I have been so busy with school and the blog lately). The history of the Casters interested me and I found myself wanting to know more about them. The idea that on their 16th birthdays they are claimed by either the dark or the light (unable to choose which they wanted) was unique and I like that in a book.

Beautiful Creatures is very family orientated and I like that in a book because it makes in seem even more real rather than having the teenagers separate from their families, making them seem as though they are in a world of their own. I loved Amma, who was like Ethan’s mum who had died the year before. Amma was so sweet and I loved the fact that she was into Voodoo which was funny and cool. I also quite liked Macon who was Lena’s uncle and the town “shut-in”. He was interesting to read about and the house...I want a house like that!! I would be changing it around every few hours (which is practically what happens).

Another unique thing about this book is that it often refers to other writer’s work. For example, To Kill a Mockingbird is mentioned a lot in this book because the town is so much like the one in the novel (which I read last year for school). A closed community where everyone is the same and doesn’t like people who are different and aren’t like them. It was different.

Overall this book wasn’t your average YA novel and that’s what I like about it. I love books that aren’t the same as all the others out there and that grab your attention with their originality. I have the second one waiting for me on my shelf and I cannot wait to delve into this series in the near future :) 3.5/4 stars!!

To the BIG screen (#1)

To the Big screen is another weekly feature here at Fantasia books where we choose a book which is being made into a film, has sold it's film rights or that we think would be good as a film and who we would like to act in it (which can be really hard to decide).

So to start this feature off, we will talk about the upcoming movie The Hunger Games which is based on the book by Suzanne Collins.

Below is the book cover (US and UK) and the poster.

The film will be released 23rd March, 2011 (the day before Gina's birthday - guess we know what she'll be seeing on the day). Here is what we have to say about the book and the upcoming film and our expectations.

Here's the trailer for the film :) Enjoy!!

Gina


I fell in love with the books instantly and read the whole trilogy in a week (which is extremely quick for me). I just loved that this book was different, that it didn't have a sappy romance story like so many YA novels and it was actually my first dystopian novel and now i love that type of YA genre. The amount of cliffhangers the books had blew me away :)

When i found out that this book was being made into a film i was over the moon. But i also wanted them to choose the right actors for the characters and i got a bit worried. When i first saw the actors and actresses i didn't like them because they weren't how i pictured them in my mind. That's always going to happen with any book that gets made into a film but they've grown on me. So here they are - Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence), Gale (Liam Hemsworth) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson).

At first I thought that Jennifer was too pretty to play Katniss but when i saw the trailer I thought that she quite suited the role. And talk about the muscles on those guys!! Josh buffed up just a bit for the role of Peeta and may i say he does look nice. And light hair suits him too :D

I cannot wait until this film comes out and then i can ask to see it as a birthday gift and i will bring Katie along with me :)


Katie

I have only read The Hungers Games but not the other two novels of Suzanne Collin’s amazing trilogy. Although, I have just watched the trailer again (that Gina put up) I just want to read it all over again! Sometimes when I buy a series and take breaks between the books i have to re-read the one before or else i forget certain things. But not The Hunger Games. I feel ready to read Catching Fire because The Hunger Games is just phenomenal that it’s impossible to forget about what’s happened in it. It’s like it’s glued to your brain!

I am not a fan of dystopian novels, although I have read Matched by Ally Condie but I wasn’t fussed about it, although I still enjoyed reading it. The only thing that made me want to read The Hunger Games was that it was being made into a film -and Gina nagging me!- and I like to read the novel before I see the film. So I decided to read The Hunger Games and see what all the fuss was about, and I can tell ya’, I can see why!

I love it when one of your favourite books are being made into films, because it totally makes your day so I am so glad they are making The Hunger Games appear on the Big screen. But the only doubt I have is if they don't make it as incredible as the books, and if the actors don't fit the part and most importantly look and act as though the character do in the book. I’m not sure about Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson playing the characters because I don’t think they look as what I pictured them to be as. Although, I really like Jennifer Lawrence being cast as Katniss because in the trailer she sort of looks like how I pictured her.

I’m really looking forward to the trailer and writing about this is making me want to read Catching Fire very soon! :)