The Prince – Kiera
Cass
Pages:
128
Publisher:
Harper Teen
Release
Date: 5th
March 2013
Series:
The
Selection #0.5
Edition:
e-novella,
bought
Synopsis
Before
thirty-five girls were chosen to compete in the Selection...
Before
Aspen broke America’s heart...
There
was another girl in Prince Maxon’s life...
Mini-Review
I loved Prince Maxon in The Selection so I was really looking
forward to reading about the girl before the novel. It wasn’t quite what I
expected, but I loved seeing how difficult the whole competition was for him.
The pressure on him and his loneliness only made me love him more and I’m now eager
to get my hands on a copy of The Elite.
Witnessing Maxon’s first
meeting with America and his first official meeting with the rest of the girls
was unexpected and I really enjoyed seeing his first impressions of her. I
finished reading championing America and Maxon even more than I already did. The Prince is a lovely teaser for fans
of the first book waiting for the second and to whet people’s appetite to start
the series.
Paper Aeroplanes
– Dawn O’Porter
Pages: 258
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Release Date: 2nd May 2013
Edition: UK proof, review copy
I just can’t imagine me without you...
It’s the mid-1990s, and Guernsey teenagers Renée
and Flo are not really meant to be friends. But extroverted Renée and
introspective Flo are united by loneliness and their dysfunctional families,
and an intense bond is formed. Fifteen is an age when anything can happen, where
life stretches out before you, and when every betrayal feels like the end of
the world. For Renée and Flo it is the time of their lives.
I was
really quite disappointed by Paper
Aeroplanes. I had heard from other bloggers that it was a breathtakingly realistic
look at friendship and being a teenager and it was. I just think it went a
little too far for me. Most of the characters were horrible and miserable and
instead of coming across as gritty realism, it was depressing. It was
emotionally exhausting, but not in a good way, and I found myself reliving my
miserable secondary school days.
Even
though I wasn’t keen on the actual plot, I loved Dawn O’Porter’s writing style.
Frank, sharp and completely on point, it was very British and it worked with
Flo and Renée’s story perfectly. I was so relieved to see a positive ending and
certain characters get their comeuppance, though I didn’t think this quite
reflected the honesty and truth in the misery of being a teengaer, though that
could be more personal experience clouding my judgement!
On Dawn
O’Porter’s writing alone, I’ll definitely give her next novel a go; I just hope
it’s a little lighter!
For my 2013 Debut Author Reading
Challenge, 2013 YA Contemporary Reading
Challenge and 2013 British Books Challenge
The Bridge – Jeri
Smith-Ready
Pages:
-
Publisher:
Curtis Brown
Digital
Release
Date: 22nd
April 2013
Series:
Shade #2.5
Edition:
e-novella,
bought
Synopsis
Logan is barely seventeen, and barely dead. To find
eternal rest, the ghost rock star must make peace with his brother Mickey,
before his guilt over Logan’s death drives him to suicide.
Krista sees ghosts everywhere, but never the one
she needs most. A chance boardwalk encounter with Logan turns her Senior Week
party into a rescue mission. Can her own grief give her the strength to save
Mickey’s life?
Mini-Review
Bridge
is told like a
prose poem or even song lyrics and I was very surprised at first, but I really
enjoyed the form. Logan’s voice came through loud and clear and it was lovely
to be back with him – I’ve missed the Shade
series since it ended last year!
It was very emotional and
Mickey breaks my heart, though I didn’t cry like I had expected to. I think it
may have had more of an impact on me if I had read it in sequence and not known
how everything would end in Shine.
Nonetheless, it was a really enjoyable snippet of the Keeley Brothers for fans
of the series!
Sophie
I loved The Prince, too! I have a soft spot for Maxon. He's adorable! Lovely reviews! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's really interesting to see a negative review of Paper Aeroplanes as all the others I've seen have been so positive. I totally get what you're saying though, sometimes you just want a character to be happy.
ReplyDeleteCait x