Fantasia Books

Thursday, 17 January 2013

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.

Tuesday, 15 January 2013

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!

Liebster Blog Award

So I haven't been on my blog for a little while because I've had an art deadline that I needed to get my work finished for but I had a break and got some surprises. Two people who follow me nominated me for the Liebster Blog Award.

At first I had no idea what it was but it sounded like good news. So I went and checked it out. Basically other bloggers give this out to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers and the word 'Liebster' means favourite in German and I guess that means two people love my blog. I would like to say thanks to A and Dabin Han. I guess I have two lots of questions to answer then.

Here are the steps:

-Tell 11 things about yourself.

-Answer 11 questions from the blogger who nominated you.

-Post 11 questions for those who will be nominated by you.

-Nominate 11 bloggers who have less than 200 followers.

-Get in contact with those 11 bloggers in order to inform them that you nominated them.

So let's get started with the 11 things about me.

1. I have finished three novels but I am editing the third one because I think it's the best and I hope to send it off by summer (if I have the time).

2. My life ambition is to be an author. It's the best job out there and I don't think I could do a normal job, too boring.

3. But if I don't succeed then my back-up is to be a Lawyer (big difference but hey).

4. You have no idea how much I treasure my books. No one is allowed to touch them, they are mine and they sometimes find it funny to re-arrange them. Not cool.

5. I study Art, French, History and English Literature and Language at sixth form (I'm nearly 17 btw). It's a lot of work but somehow I manage and still have time to read.

6. I love Italian food. There's nothing better than a heaped bowl of steaming pasta or pizza with my favourite toppings.

7. I'm Irish, English, part Austrian and probably a few other things.

8. Inspiration for my novels can hit me anywhere; at school, in the car, just before I go to sleep, even when I watch a movie.

9. I'm such a geek when it comes to movies. I read Empire and Sci-fi now because I love finding out things about my favourite movies and upcoming ones. It's the media-geek coming out in me. (I get it from my dad).

10. I need more time to read. I wish i could sit down and read all day, every day but I can't and it makes me sad.

11. I have two crocodile teddies that I have had since I was born and they sleep next to me every night.

11 questions from A:

1. Why do you blog?

I blog because I want people to find out about the best books out there. I want to share my views with the world and when one of my followers comments on my review I know they understand me and it's the best feeling in the world.

2. Do you read other blogs and why?

I do when I get the time. I have a few favourites because I love their style and voice. I like to know what they think of some books and a lot of the books I buy are because of their reviews.

3. Which is your favorite book and why?

Don't do that to me! haha, umm I guess I'd have to say...Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion. A lot of people will look up what this book is or already know about it and wonder why I chose a book about Zombies. I do love a good zombie story but this was a beautiful read. R is such a sweet and caring character, I connected with him and felt for him. He has a great voice with awesome humour but more than anything this book is about love and finding it. It's a heartfelt book and everyone should read it. I'm also excited for the movie!

4. What writing means for you?

I can express who I am and in my main characters I put a bit of myself into them but also what I want to be. When I ask my friends for their opinions they also say it's like reading about me. That's what I love. That I can make a character real in so many ways.

5. How do you spend your free time?

Reading is a big part of that but I also like to write, watch my favourite TV shows (Fringe, Supernatural, Walking Dead, Vampire Diaries etc.). Action and sci-fi movies on a friday or saturday night but I also like just sitting and talking to my mum. I can tell her anything.

6. What was your greatest moment for the year that passed?

I'd say it would have to be when I realised I have lost over two stone since the end of September. It made me feel good and gave me the confidence boost I needed to stop being shy around everyone and to not care what people thought of me.

7. Which five words describe you best?

Artistic, Impatient, Friendly, Geek and .... Imaginative.

8. What would you encourage other people to do?

To do what makes you happy and don't care what other people think about it. Why should it matter to them?

9. What would you change in your life if you could?

I'd want to be richer so I could buy more books, haha.

10. What advice you would give to a new writer?

When you get a writer's block don't give up and wait for it to pass. Take a little break and re-read what you've written so far. I can guarantee that as you do you'll get ideas and you need to write them down. Even if it's something you want to happen at the end you will find a way to link the two together and before you know it you'll be writing again.

11. If there’s a word that would describe how you want this year to turn out, what is that word?

Successful.

11 questions from Dabin Han:

1. If you were to write a book, what book genre would it be?

I've already done three but they are the YA genre because I'm in that age genre at the moment. But with a dash of the paranormal.

2. What's your favorite book? I know. Such a generic question.

Well...considering this is a question from a different person I don't have to answer with the same book (I have too many anyway). I'd say the Vampire Academy series because it's got everything a good book should have. A kick-ass heroine, hot love-interest, fast paced story, action, sad scenes and a great author.

3. Favorite author?

That's a tough one. Probably Jennifer L. Armentrout because her Covenant series and Lux series are some of my favourites on my shelf. And she creates hot guys who I wish could be real.

4. Why did you start blogging?

To let the blogging world know what I think of the books I read and to get others reading them.

5. What's the first book you ever read?

Guess How Much I Love you by Anita Jeram. It's the first book I ever remember reading when I was a kid and it's one that is still on my bookshelf now. When I was younger it was something me and my mum used to say to each other so it holds some lovely memories.

6. Least favorite book?

The Twilight saga. Not because they aren't good, I loved them when I first read them. But now that I've read a lot more that are better I realise they aren't my favourite or even come close to some that I've read.

7. Who is your favorite female character in any book?

That's a tricky question. Emerson from Hourglass by Myra McEntire. She's feisty, sarcastic, funny, caring and she can do some pretty amazing things. I connected with her from the beginning.

8. What male fictional character do you wish was real?

Dimitri Belikov from the Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. Nom. he is everything I want in a guy, gorgeous, protective, tall, muscular and he has an awesome name.

9. Do you have neat handwriting?

Everyone always says I do but I just don't see it. I write in Italics and I guess people think it's cool.

10. When did you get into reading?

2009 is when I started buying my books and creating a collection but I've always read, I just started getting obsessed then.

11. What is your favorite book genre and why.

Paranormal YA because I can relate to the characters and meet some pretty interesting supernatural creatures along the way.

So now it's time for me to think of my own 11 questions for my nominees:

1. If you could be any character who would you be and why?

2. What do you want to be when you're older (or wish you could be)?

3. Favourite book? (Everyone asks this but I'm curious)

4. Have you ever met any of your favourite authors?

5. Your favourite fictional world created by an author?