Review: Mystic City by Theo Lawrence

Date Read: January 26th, 2013
Date Published: October 11th, 2012
Publishers: Corgi
Format: Paperback
Pages: 397
Blurb: 
For fans of Matched, The Hunger Games, X-Men, and Blade Runner comes a tale of a magical city divided, a political rebellion ignited, and a love that was meant to last forever. Book One of the Mystic City Novels.
Aria Rose, youngest scion of one of Mystic City's two ruling rival families, finds herself betrothed to Thomas Foster, the son of her parents' sworn enemies. The union of the two will end the generations-long political feud—and unite all those living in the Aeries, the privileged upper reaches of the city, against the banished mystics who dwell below in the Depths. But Aria doesn't remember falling in love with Thomas; in fact, she wakes one day with huge gaps in her memory. And she can't conceive why her parents would have agreed to unite with the Fosters in the first place. Only when Aria meets Hunter, a gorgeous rebel mystic from the Depths, does she start to have glimmers of recollection—and to understand that he holds the key to unlocking her past. The choices she makes can save or doom the city—including herself.


Review: 
I really liked this book. It was definitely different and not like any I'd read before. I got into it right from the beginning and it kept me up until the early hours of the morning.

Aria lives in the Aeries above Manhattan which is flooded due to global warming. She has a great life and is to be married to Thomas, the son of her opposing family. The two families hope that their union will unite the two. Except Aria can't remember ever falling in love with Thomas and she doesn't quite believe the things that are being said to her. But when a Mystic shows up, beings with strange powers that live in the depths, she begins to realize that not everything is what it seems.

Right from the start I connected with Aria and who she was as a character. She was strong, both in mind and determination and she was different to her parents. I love characters that go against what's set out for them. If I had her parents I don't think I'd have the courage to stand up to them. They were scary at times, especially her dad.

Hunter, our beloved Mystic is oh-so-nice! I'd love to have a book from his point of view, even if it's just a novella, a prequel, because he is an interesting character. He'll do anything for Aria and it's sweet how connected they are. On the other hand we have Thomas who does have his moments but I don't want to give away too much.

I kind of guessed how the story would go but there were still some shocks in store for me. After the first 100 pages it really gets going and I found it hard to put it down. That's when you know a book is good. That you risk looking like a zombie for the rest of the day after a sleepless night.

Overall a great read that I would recommend to those who like the mystical and unique side to YA.

Review: Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris

Date Read: December 29^th, 2012

Date Published: July 12^th, 2011

Publishers: Delacorte Press

Format: Paperback

Pages: 201

Blurb: Someone's been a very bad zombie.
Kate Grable is horrified to find out that the football coach has given the team steroids. Worse yet, the steroids are having an unexpected effect, turning hot gridiron hunks into mindless flesh-eating zombies. No one is safe--not her cute crush Aaron, not her dorky brother, Jonah . . . not even Kate! She's got to find an antidote--before her entire high school ends up eating each other. So Kate, her best girlfriend, Rocky, and Aaron stage a frantic battle to save their town  . . . and stay hormonally human.

Review:

This was a fun and interesting read. I love zombies. I don’t know what it is about them but everyone has a different take and a unique story to tell. This was no exception. I love quick reads because they are fast paced and I have found that post have amusing characters and lines that have you laughing out loud.

So Kate’s got herself into a dilemma because the footballers are going kind of crazy. Zombie Crazy. Thanks to the drugs the coach is giving them she notices the changes and knows she has to stop it. But that’s easier said than done.

There’s quite a lot of action in this book so it was great to read something that wasn’t heavy or too long. Kate was an awesome main character because she was likeable and I love a geek heroine, I can relate to them. She’s a fighter and a brave one too. Let’s say something like this did happen, I’d be pretty pathetic and useless.

Aaron, the supposed love interest, wasn’t in it that much but I guess in a small book like this it’s not really about developing a love story. It’s an action; keep moving forward book, the love part just features. I prefer books that are a bit longer and have deeper emotions but this was fun, which is good every once in a while.

I think everyone will like this and I may just read the next one because everyone needs an easy read from time to time that gets them chuckling. 

Review: Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Date Read: December 25^th, 2012

Date Published: June 14^th, 2011

Publishers: Egmont USA

Format: Hardback

Pages: 390

Blurb: One hour to rewrite the past...

For 17 year old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may also change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older that Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened.

Review:

You know a book's good when it keeps you up until the early hours of the morning. I literally couldn't stop reading this book. It captivated me and with every page I fell more in love with the story. I've never read a book about time travel before so this was very interesting and I don't think I'll read another like it any time soon.

Emerson (Em) was a great character. I instantly connected with her from the beginning. She's feisty, sarcastic, funny, caring and she can do some pretty amazing things. She's vulnerable and I like that because it makes her more real. I think everyone will like her. Since her parents died she lives with her brother Thomas and his wife Dru. They're amazing characters, so caring and they acted like a real family. I look forward to reading more about them in the next book. They definitely love Em and want to help her with her ghost problems.

Ah Michael' the charming, handsome and swoon-worthy love interest. He doesn't want to mix business with pleasure but you can see there is an instant connection between the two of them. I loved reading their scenes with each other. There was banter, joking around and I liked the fact that they didn't get together straight away. He's always there for her and they're a couple you want to get together. Definitely book-crush worthy.

The actual story was impressive. It flowed naturally and everything that was in it was necessary to making the story what it is. It's original and I don't think there's anything like it out there. For a debut it's pretty amazing and you can enjoy it. So much happens' so many enigmas and twists and turns that it keeps surprising you. McEntire is a genius with words. Any book she writes I will gladly read.

Overall this book has pretty much everything. Lovable characters, a charming heroine who has a troubled background, a hot love interest, protective brother, mysterious association, sci-fi basis and great writing. Loved it!

Review: Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Date Read: December 22^nd, 2012

Date Published: 2011

Publishers: Marion Lloyd

Format: Paperback

Pages: 417

Blurb: Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when four cloaked horsemen capture Lugh, Saba's world is shattered, and she embarks on a quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the outside world, Saba discovers she is a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba’s unrelenting search for Lugh stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

 Blood Red Road has a searing pace, a poetic writing style, and an epic love story—making Moira Young is one of the most exciting new voices in teen fiction

Review:

It took a while to finish this one because I was moving house and coursework deadlines just kept coming at me. But last night I decided to pick it up again after not reading for a week and a half and i finished it in three hours. It's safe to say I got into it good and proper.

I've never read a book like this before. The writing style that Young used was so unique and different, I'd never seen it done like that before. What I found strange at first was that there weren't any speech marks. In my head I was going "Well, how am I going to know what's being said and what isn't?" But the fact is that I knew exactly when someone was speaking and it's funny because I could clearly hear what they would sound like. And that doesn't always happen with a book. But the thing that threw me the most with this book was that the whole thing, the description, the narrative, was written in the way that Saba, the main character, speaks. So that involved non-standard grammar and words spelt on the page how they would sound in her voice. It was refreshing because it was different and made the story more real for me.

Saba had such a strong and unique voice. She didn't stand for any nonsense, she was a fierce heroine and I liked that. She didn't moan, she was focused on the task at hand, finding her brother no matter what it took. And boy did she go through a lot. If I was her I would have given up but she didn't and I admire her character for that. She made me laugh at some of the things she said and I connected with her. And some may read this book and think of her as a mean character for not being friendly with her little sister but I see why she does it. But everyone can change.

There were a lot of interesting characters in this book and every single one of them was different. For the most part Lugh, Saba's brother, wasn't in it so we only got glimpses of him or what Saba described him as. I hope that in the next book I can learn more about him. Emmi, their little sister, was sweet and kind and put up with a lot. In the end she proved to be a fighter and a strong girl, who surprised quite a few people. At points in this book there were characters who I despised so much that I felt Saba's anger at them. I won't mention too much about them or what they do but it isn't nice! But the King, he was one strange being. You'll see for yourself if you read it or if you already have then hopefully you'll feel the same as me. He reminded me of one of those crazy villains you see and what clarifies this point is that he talks about himself in the third person. Gina thinks he is crazy.

There is one person in this book I feel a crush growing on. Jack. The handsome thief who is good looking, funny and has that arrogance about him that makes you like him for his witty comments. But it was so frustrating when Saba wouldn't let herself be close to him. I think I slapped my forehead at one point because she acted so stupid. But you can just tell that they are meant to be together and I look forward to reading more of them in the second book.

So overall this book has a strong story that is captivating and intriguing. The world is so different from ours yet it seems as though it could be real. The characters all have their place and everyone is important to making this book what it is. I enjoyed this very much and I think that Young is a magnificent author for creating this story.

Rating: 

Review: Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

Reviewed by Gina

Date Read: March 10th, 2012

Date Published: October 25th, 2011

Publishers: Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books

Format: Hardback

Pages: 4229

Blurb: For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren--the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood--a dashing young man named Alander, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alander band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.

Review:

This was just a fun read and it’s refreshing to read a stand-alone novel every once in a while. The characters were fun and loveable and I enjoyed this book.

Esmerine has finally become a siren just like her sister, Dosinia, but everything turns for the worst. Dosinia has run away and disappeared....with a human. The two have always shared a fascination with the land and the occupants but Esmerine never thought she’d do something like that. So Esmerine begins a quest to find her sister with her old friend who is a winged being. Together they set off on an adventure of a liftetime.

Technically this was my first mermaid book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I read Paranormalcy but the main character wasn’t a mermaid so it didn’t exactly count. I remember wanting to be a mermaid and playing in the pool with my sister pretending to be one (the joys of childhood) and I think that this book was a refreshing book on the mermaid myths (I’ve seen a few films about mermaids – do they count?).

I loved the character of Esmerine and the winged boy Alander and I thought there romance was very sweet and different. The world Dolamore created had a fairy tale feeling to it which I liked and it was a light and fun read. It was a detailed world that I enjoyed and in the future I’d like to re-read the book just for a light read as I enjoyed it that much.

An enjoyable read for people who like something fun and light and not too heavy. And for anyone who loves a little sprinkling of romance that is sweet and not full on love that overcomes the plot and storyline.

Rating: 4 stars!!

Review: Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

Reviewed by Gina

Date Read: March 7th, 2012

Date Published: March 1^st, 2011

Publishers: New American Library

Format: Paperback

Pages: 324

Blurb: Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

Review:

I really liked this book even thought the overall ratings for it are quite low compared to others. I liked that it was dark and kinda creepy at parts and I surprisingly liked the cliché romance it had. The dark guy warning the girl away from him. One bit that creeped me out was the faceless beings...talk about chills. But at the end something happened I didn’t expect and that is making me want to read the second very soon.

Theia dreams of a man falling from the sky on fire but what she doesn’t expect is him to turn up as the new guy at school, Haden Black, who is undeniably dark and handsome. Theia has always been secluded and overprotected but now she is getting a taste of darkness and is drawn to the Haden in both her dreams and real life. But when she finds out what he is she knows she can’t stay away, even when he tells her to.

I really liked seeing the world from Theia’s point of view. It’s always good to have a character lead an overprotective life and watch them slowly rebel. Another cool thing about her is that she is English, well she was born in the States but moved to England after he mother passed away. But then she moved back and attends school there. She has some GREAT friends that had me laughing so hard at times.

Haden was just hot, dark and brooding....THE clichéd guy but that made him great. Maybe that’s why some people didn’t like this book, because its too clichéd but I liked that about it. Made it interesting but familiar at the same time. He was a bit of a jerk at times and I wanted to smack sense into him but all ended well....kinda. But to find out you’ll have to read it for yourself.

This book was creepy and well-written and I can’t wait to start reading the second one soon

Rating: 4 stars!!

Review: Fracture by Megan Miranda

Reviewed by Gina

Date Read: March 1^st, 2012

Date Published: January 17^th, 2012

Publishers: Bloomsbury

Format: Paperback

Pages: 262

Blurb: Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?
Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

Review: I fell in love with this book so much! It is paranormal and has supernatural undertones that I loved! It was different and kept me on my toes. There wasn’t anything I hated about this book.

Delaney Maxwell should technically be dead considering she was under the ice for 11 minutes. But somehow she miraculously survived and her best friend Decker pulled her out. But everything is different. At the hospital someone tried to kill her and she has no idea why. Then she realises that she is drawn to the dead and can’t stop once she starts going. Then she meets Troy who seems to share her ability. But he’s dark and dangerous and he scares her. She knows she should stay away but when she has no one to turn to that is easier said than done.
As soon as I read about this book I knew I had to have it. It sounded interesting and I am glad that it was a stand-alone novel because turning it into a series could have ruined it. Megan Miranda created characters that I loved, hated, laughed with and who I found just creepy. You go through a lot of emotions when reading this book and I connected with it.

Delaney wasn’t what I expected at all which was good. I loved reading from her point of perspective and the things she went through sometimes touched my heart. There was one bit where I actually cried because it pulled on my heart strings. Decker, her best friend, was great. Although he went back and forth a bit and sometimes I wanted to slap him I loved him! I liked Troy but I had negative feelings for him and he was a bit of a creep. His looks were what I expected but not his personality or story.

The ending of this novel was totally unexpected but that made it great. This book is unpredictable and I loved every second of it. Readers who love YA, a bit of paranormal and a whole lot of mystery should get their hands on this soon!

Rating: 5 stars!!

Evernight by Claudia Gray

Reviewed by Gina
Published Date: February 10th, 2009

Finished Date: August 31st, 2011

Blurb:                        Bianca wants to escape.
She's been uprooted from her small hometown and enrolled at Evernight Academy, an eerie Gothic boarding school where the students are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in.
Then she meets Lucas. He's not the "Evernight type" either, and he likes it that way. Lucas ignores the rules, stands up to the snobs, and warns Bianca to be careful—even when it comes to caring about him.
"I couldn't stand it if they took it out on you," he tells Bianca, "and eventually they would."
But the connection between Bianca and Lucas can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.

Review: I really enjoyed this book. The idea was really good and there were a few things that really shocked me! Claudia's style of writing was really good and her characters were brilliant.


I would never have guessed what bianca was! It was so shocking and the thing was that it was never hinted at it. I knew there would be vampires at the school and that it was a vampire school but I thought bianca was human! Very good way of desribing as to not give it away too soon. I loved lucas though. Except for when I found out what he was. I couldn't believe that he was a vampire hunter! But the good thing is that he still loves biamca and she still loves him :)
I also liked Balthazar. He was really kind to bianca and I think that sme thing might happen between them in the next few books.I don't think that Mrs bethany is telling the whole truth and I think that she is hiding something.


Overall this book was really interesting and I can't wait to get the rest of the series soon. I am giving this 8/10 :) I would recommend it to anyone who loves books about vampires! 4 stars