Birthday Contest Winners!

The winner of War of the Witches is...

Eleni!!

and

the winner of Diary of a Chav is...

Lauren!!

I've sent you both emails. Congratulations!

Sophie

The Agency: A Spy in the House - Y.S. Lee

The Agency: A Spy in the House - Y.S. Lee

Pages: 341
Publisher: Walker Books
Release Date: 6th April 2009

Other Titles in this Series: The Girl at the Tower (Spring ‘10), The Traitor and the Tunnel (Spring ‘11)

Mary Quinn leads a remarkable life.

At twelve, an orphan and convicted thief, she was miraculously rescued from the gallows. Now, at seventeen, she has a new and astonishing chance: to work uncover for the Agency.

It is May 1858, and a foul-smelling heat wave paralyzes London. Mary enters a rich merchants household to solve the mystery of his lost cargo ships. But as she soon learns, the house is full of deceptions, and people are not what they seem - including Mary herself.

The first books in a riveting new Victorian detective trilogy.

A Spy in the House is the first in a fantastic new trilogy full of secrets, lies and uncover missions.

I really enjoy reading about Victorian London. The image of hansom cabs flying through grungy streets and people dashing around always comes to mind. This was actually true for some parts of A Spy in the House! I also like that there was a dark underbelly to the city that contrasted with the falseness of high society perfectly in A Spy in the House.

There is a whole cast of brilliant characters. Mary is brave, gutsy and clever; James is charming and arrogant; Angelica is selfish and annoying but eventually redeems herself and the Thorold’s aren’t at all what they seem. I loved them all. Each of them was beautifully crafted and added something to the story to make it even better.

All of the cloak-and-dagger elements made the story exciting and I was always wondering what would happen next. I kept trying to put the pieces together and solve the puzzle before Mary and James. But Y.S. Lee’s plot was far to intricate and clever for me to figure it out!

I loved this book and can’t wait for the next in the trilogy, The Girl at the Tower, when it’s released next Spring.

Sophie

In My Mailbox 22

This was started by the fabulous Kristi who was inspired by Alea. If you want more information check out their blogs. All summaries are from the book jackets.

Selina Penaluna - Jan Page

Dropped as a baby into a deep pool on the Cornish shore, Selina Penaluna emerges a different child - a mermaid changeling - and is forever drawn to the sea. Abandoned by her mother, neglected and abused by her father, she desperately wants to escape her lonely life.

Ellen and Jack are twins, evacuated from East London to Cornwall at the start of the war. The family that takes them in are well-off and a little stuffy. Ellen relishes this opportunity to better herself, but Jack finds his new life stifling and seeks freedom in the arms of Selina, the mysterious fisherman’s daughter whose wild beauty turns every man’s head.

Selina’s siren song has Jack captivated - but leaves his sister cold with jealousy. Can the young lovers find solace and build a new life together? And how will Ellen deal with being left behind?

A spellbinding novel full of passion and tragedy, that will enchant older readers.

Thanks to Georgia from Random House for sending me this. You can see my review here.

The Agency: A Spy in the House - Y.S. Lee

Mary Quinn leads a remarkable life.

At twelve, an orphan and convicted thief, she was miraculously rescued from the gallows. Now, at seventeen, she has a new and astonishing chance: to work uncover for the Agency.

It is May 1858, and a foul-smelling heat wave paralyzes London. Mary enters a rich merchants household to solve the mystery of his lost cargo ships. But as she soon learns, the house is full of deceptions, and people are not what they seem - including Mary herself.

The first books in a riveting new Victorian detective trilogy.

Thanks to Ying Lee for sending me a copy of this via her agent. My review will be up Monday.

‘Are these my basoomas I see before me?’ - Louise Rennison

Oh yes, the hilariosity goes on for one last time. Here it is…maybe probably…pants for the memories!

My marvy Luuurve God boyfriend has got the full Humpty Dumpty with me for accidentally twisting with Dave the Laugh.

Which is not actually my fault. I cannot be expected to control my body parts, they pop out unexpectedly and so on.

For instance my lips do ad-hoc puckering up every time Dave the Laugh comes near them, I don’t know why.

Ditto jelloid knickers.

Anyway shut up about Dave the Laugh, he has got a GIRLFRIEND.

Not that I care. Or do I?

Oh I don’t know, so many boys, so little time.

Brilliant. Absolutely genius, though I am sad that they’re over. You can see my review here.

The Bride’s Farewell - Meg Rosoff (UK proof)

On the morning of her wedding, Pell Ridley creeps out of bed in the dark, kisses her sisters goodbye and flees - determined to escape a future that offers nothing but hard work and sorrow.

The road ahead is rich with longing, silence and secrets, and each encounter leads closer to the untold story of her past.

And then she meets a hunter - infuriating, mysterious and cold. His fate appears to be strangely entwined with her own. Will he help her to find what she seeks? Or must she continue to search the earth, searching for love and lost things…

I love Meg Rosoff’s books so I’m extremely excited to start this one. Thanks to Hannah from Penguin/Puffin for sending me this.

That Summer - Sarah Dessen

For fifteen-year-old Haven this is the summer where everything changes.

Dad is remarrying. Her sister Ashley is planning a wedding of her own. They’re both moving on, but Haven is lost in memories of a time when her life was happy and her family was whole.

And then Ashley’s ex, the charming and funny Sumner Lee, arrives in town. He reminds Haven of carefree days gone by, and she can’t help but wonder - has fate brought this person back from her past to change her future?

I really love Sarah Dessen’s books so I’m so happy to finally read her first novel. Thanks to Hannah from Penguin/Puffin for sending me this.

Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher (UK proof)

You can’t stop the future
You can’t rewind the past
The only way to learn the secret…
is to press play

Clay Jensen returns home to find a strange package with his name on it. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker - his classmate and first love - who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

Hannah’s voice explains there are thirteen reasons why she killed herself. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out why.

All through the night, Clay keeps listening - and what he discover changes his life…

Forever.

I’ve heard nothing but good things about this so I have very high expectations that I know it’ll meet. Thanks again to Hannah from Penguin/Puffin for sending me this.

Kiss of Life - Daniel Waters

When Phoebe’s best friend Adam takes a bullet for her, it proves everyone right - Adam is in love with her. And now that he’s come back to life, Phoebe’s more important than ever. A zombie can come back from death faster if they’re loved - and kissed…which means Phoebe has to say goodbye to Tommy Williams, the other zombie in her life.

While coaxing Adam back to reality and fending off Tommy’s advances. Phoebe tries to carry on as normal. But what’s normal when teenagers are rising from the dead and scores of others want nothing more than to send them back to their graves? And does having a zombie boyfriend make Phoebe a target too?

I’m so excited to read this. I’ve been waiting to find out what happened since Generation Dead’s evil cliff-hanger when I read it last July.

Chasing Daisy - Paige Toon

If you fall too fast…you might just crash

‘You don’t have to worry about me. I have no intention of getting my heart broken again.’

Of course, I’m lying. I feel like Will is chipping a little piece of it away, day by day, it’s killing me…

Daisy Rogers is in love - and that’s no good thing. It’s not just that her very famous ex is neither out of sight nor out of mind, but that man of her dreams, William Trust, has a girlfriend - a childhood sweetheart, no less. And as a Formula 1 racing driver, he puts his life at risk everyday he goes to work.

From Melbourne to Monte Carlo, and Sao Paulo to Singapore, daisy and her best friend Holly travel the world as hospitability girls on the Grand Prix scene. But with more secrets between them than Paris Hilton has shoes, life promises to be nothing short of a whirlwind.

Paige Toon is one of the few adult authors that I read. Her books are pure girly fun.

Oh.My.Gods. - Tera Lynn Childs

Phoebe’s life is about the get ungodly…

All Phoebe Castro has to do is keep her grades up and have another stellar cross-country season and her dream of attending USC with her friends on a track scholarship is a reality. So it’s a complete shock when her mom announces that she’s marrying a near-stranger and moving them to Greece.

Before Phoebe knows it, she’s stuck on a secret island in the Aegean and attending the super-exclusive Academy, where her new stepfather is the headmaster and the kids are anything but your average students - they’re descendents of the Greek gods, superpowers included. If regular high school wasn’t bad enough, this is mortal misery.

Phoebe’s only chance of reclaiming her old life lies in securing that scholarship. But managing that may be an ungodly challenge, considering she’s got a sabotaging stepsister from Hades and a gorgeous guy - what a god! - in her way…

This sounds like such a cute read!

How to Be Bad - Lauren Myracle; Sarah Mlynowski; E. Lockhart

Vicks is the wild child whose boyfriend has gone suspiciously quiet since he left for college; Mel is the newcomer desperate to be liked; and Jesse will do anything to avoid a life-altering secret. Each one has her own reason for wanting to get out of their nowheresville town, even just for the weekend. So they climb in Jesse’s mom’s “borrowed” station wagon and head south.

Hearts will be broken, friendships will be tested, and a ridiculously hot stranger could change the course of everything.

I love books about road trips so I can’t wait to get stuck into this.

City of Glass - Cassandra Clare (!!!)

Amid the chaos of war, the Shadowhunters must decide to fight with the vampires, werewolves and other Downworlders - or against them. Meanwhile, Jace and Clary have their own decision to make: should they pursue the love they know is forbidden?

I actually squealed when this came through the door. I just wish they hadn’t changed the covers; they don’t match now!

This is one of the best book weeks I’ve had. I just don’t know what to read first!

Sophie

‘Are these my basoomas I see before me?’ - Louise Rennison

‘Are these my basoomas I see before me?’ - Louise Rennison

Pages: 315
Publisher: Harper Collins
Release Date: 25th June 2009

Other Titles in the Series: Angus, Thongs and Full-frontal Snogging; It’s OK, I’m Wearing Really Big Knickers!, Knocked Out by my Nunga-Nungas; Dancing in my Nuddy Pants; ‘…and that’s when it fell off in my hand.’; ‘…then he ate my boy entrancers.’; ‘…startled by his furry shorts!’; ‘Luuurve is a many trousered thing…’; ‘Stop in the name of pants!’

Oh yes, the hilariosity goes on for one last time. Here it is…maybe probably…pants for the memories!

My marvy Luuurve God boyfriend has got the full Humpty Dumpty with me for accidentally twisting with Dave the Laugh.

Which is not actually my fault. I cannot be expected to control my body parts, they pop out unexpectedly and so on.

For instance my lips do ad-hoc puckering up every time Dave the Laugh comes near them, I don’t know why.

Ditto jelloid knickers.

Anyway shut up about Dave the Laugh, he has got a GIRLFRIEND.

Not that I care. Or do I?

Oh I don’t know, so many boys, so little time.

The last instalment of Georgia Nicolson’s dairies is just as brilliant as the rest of them. I absolutely loved it!

‘Are these my basoomas I see before me?’ was so, so funny. I’d forgotten about Louise Rennison’s ability to make you laugh out loud. She writes the most absurd situations and has her characters have the strangest conversations that you’d burst if you didn’t at least giggle at. She is a comedy genius.

The characters each have distinctive personalities and compliment each other perfectly. I love the Ace Gang. I’d do anything to be a part of that group! But Libby is my favourite character. She is really cute, but a complete and utter nutcase; just like her sister actually! The whole of the Swiss Family Mad, as Georgia calls them, are fabulous creations that I’m very glad that I don’t have to live with.

Although I enjoyed ‘Are these my basoomas I see before me?’, I’m really sad that this fabulous series is over. It’s sad to one of my favourite series’ ending, even though it ended how I wanted it to end. I think that the ending has been left open and that Louise Rennison could pick up Georgia’s story again at any time. I really hope she does!

This is a series that everybody should read, and re-read. It’s brilliant! And, by the way, the cover is actaully gold; it looks so pretty on my shelf!

Sophie

Selina Penaluna - Jan Page

Selina Penaluna - Jan Page

Pages: 371
Publisher: Corgi
Release Date: 2nd July 2009

Other Titles by This Author: Juggling Lessons, Drummer, Rewind

Dropped as a baby into a deep pool on the Cornish shore, Selina Penaluna emerges a different child - a mermaid changeling - and is forever drawn to the sea. Abandoned by her mother, neglected and abused by her father, she desperately wants to escape her lonely life.

Ellen and Jack are twins, evacuated from East London to Cornwall at the start of the war. The family that takes them in are well-off and a little stuffy. Ellen relishes this opportunity to better herself, but Jack finds his new life stifling and seeks freedom in the arms of Selina, the mysterious fisherman’s daughter whose wild beauty turns every man’s head.

Selina’s siren song has Jack captivated - but leaves his sister cold with jealousy. Can the young lovers find solace and build a new life together? And how will Ellen deal with being left behind?

A spellbinding novel full of passion and tragedy, that will enchant older readers.

Selina Penaluna is a story full of mystery and intrigue set on the stunning Cornwall coast.

I was surprised that the narration was split between Selina, young Ellen and old Ellen. It gave a dimension to the story that couldn’t have been obtained from just one narrator. Seeing the events from two different points of view and also as a memory gave different takes on events and also displayed the widespread effects. It was a very clever way to tell the story and suited Selina Penaluna perfectly.

After reading the blurb on the back of the book I instantly expected to dislike Ellen. I don’t know why, but I did. So imagine my surprise when it’s Jack I take dislike too. He was whiney, selfish and incredibly rude. Although I understood why he was like this it still irritated me. Ellen was everything that I expected her to be but she had a charm that just wouldn’t allow me to get annoyed at her.

The ending was the most dramatic part of Selina Penaluna. It packed a subtle punch; it crept up on me and I was so surprised that I forgot to be shocked! I didn’t seeing it coming at all and I thought it ended brilliantly, though it did just increase my dislike for Jack!

Selina Penaluna is the perfect read for lovers of stories full of magic, mystery and the tragedy of World War II.

Sophie

The Field Guide: The Spiderwick Chronicles - Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi

The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide - Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi

Pages: 107
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Release Date: 4th August 2003

Other Titles in the Series: The Seeing Stone, Lucinda’s Secret, The Ironwood Tree, The Wrath of Mulgarath

From Amazon: We are very proud (and a bit wary) to announce the publication of The Spiderwick Chronicles. But beware, the faeries will use all their power to stop you from reading these books. Book 1 of The Spiderwick Chronicles in which Mallory, Simon and Jared get acquainted with their new home but find many unexpected things. It all starts when Jared Grace find their great uncle's book, "Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastic World Around You." and realises that are not alone in their new house. Now the Grace kids want to tell their story but the faeries will do everything to stop them...Its up to you to spread the word about their discovery. But heed their warnings, wear some red, turn your clothes inside out - all anti-faerie devices - and get ready to enter a world that you never knew existed...Its closer than you think!

As an official fan girl of Holly Black’s books, I fully expected to love The Field Guide. I wasn’t disappointed.

This book was very short but filled with Tony DiTerlizzi’s beautiful illustrations that made up for it’s lack of length. They complemented the story perfectly and helped to build a really clear picture of Aunt Lucinda’s house and the Grace children. Their rough and sketchy quality suited the angry Jared and the falling-down, ramshackle house full of mystery.

I loved the house that the Grace family moved into. It’s a house full of history and secrets that you could explore for a week and still have corners left untouched. Aunt Lucinda’s house seems to me to be the type of house that lays hidden deep in the woods and is surrounded by tales of magic and haunting. I’ve always wanted to stay in a place like that and have a huge magical adventure!

Another part of The Field Guide that I really enjoyed was the rhyming riddles, messages and speech of Thimbletack. I revert to being a child when I hear rhymes, for some reason, and repeat them over and over again. I just love the way they sound! I really wish I could make up such clever rhymes.

I really enjoyed The Field Guide and I’m looking forward to reading The Seeing Stone which is the next book in The Spiderwick Chronicles.

Sophie

Wake - Lisa McMann

Wake - Lisa McMann

Pages: 210
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: 23rd December 2008

Other Titles in the Series: Fade, Gone

Not all dreams are sweet.

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people’s dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie’s seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can’t tell anybody about what she does - they’d never believe her, or worse, they’d think she was a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn’t want and can’t control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else’s twisted psyche. She is a participant…

I was a little bit disappointed in Wake. The raving reviews I’ve read from other bloggers set my expectations very high and it didn’t quite meet them for me.

Despite this, I was sucked into Janie’s story just like she is pulled into the dreams of other people. Her determination to make the best of her gift, or curse, along with the strength it must take to hide it, is admirable. I also liked how hard Janie worked at school and at her job so that she could go to college. She made me feel kind of lazy actually!

Cabel surprised me. He completely changed from how he was at the beginning of the book in both personality and appearance. Cabel’s reputation didn’t seem to affect him, even though it changed what everybody else thought about him. Even Janie. But I soon realised what a sweet guy he is and how perfect he is for Janie, as well as being a generally nice guy. What he was willing to sacrifice for Janie just reinforced this.

I enjoyed Wake and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens with Janie and Cabel in Fade.

Sophie

In My Mailbox 21

This was started by the fabulous Kristi who was inspired by Alea. If you want more information check out their blogs. All summaries are from the book jackets.

My little sister bought me an Edward t-shirt and bookmark for my birthday. I know they aren’t exactly books, but I had to share anyway!

The Reformed Vampire Support Group - Catherine Jinks

Fifteen-year-old Nina has been a vampire since 1973, and she’s hated every day of it. It has really cramped her style and social life - and it’s boring. Plus, she has to wear wrap-around shades 25/7 and she can’t get a decent hair cut. But things take a turn for the worse when a member of her therapy group is killed by an unknown vampire slayer.

Threatened with extinction, she and her fellow vampires set out to hunt down the culprit - and soon find themselves caught up in a dangerous quest full of guns, thugs and a very sexy werewolf. Perhaps there’s more to being a bona fide vampire after all…

I think this sounds really different and completely fabulous.

Take Me There - Susane Colasanti

The ups and downs of love and friendship

Rhiannon is devastated after the break up with her boyfriend and desperately wants him back. But love comes easy for Nicole. Her ex is still in the picture, pining for her, but she can’t help having a new crush. And then there’s James, hopelessly in love with his best friend, Rhiannon, who is too blind to see that their friendship can be so much more. Just when things couldn’t get more complicated, the school’s resident mean girl decides she is intent on ruining everyone’s life. James, Nicole and Rhiannon are not going to let slide, but will their desire to take down the mean girl bring these three friends exactly what they want

I loved When It Happens so I have high hopes for this one.

Frostbite: A Vampire Academy Novel - Richelle Mead

When love and jealously collide on the slopes, winter break turns deadly…

Rose Hathaway’s got serious guy trouble. Her gorgeous tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason has a huge crush on her, and she keeps get stuck in her best friend Lissa’s head while she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian.

Then a massive Strigoi attack puts St. Vladimir’s on high alert, and the Academy crawls with Guardians - including the legendary Jeanine Hathaway…Rose’s formidable, long-absent mother. The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy’s not taking any risks. This year, St. Vlad’s holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only provide the illusion of safety. When three students run away to strike back against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. Only this time, Rose - and her heart - are in more danger than she ever could have imagined…

Shadow Kiss: A Vampire Academy Novel - Richelle Mead

What if following her heart means Rose could lose her best friend forever?

Rose Hathaway knows it is forbidden to love another guardian. Her best friend, Lissa - the last Dragomir princess - must always come first. Unfortunately, when it comes the gorgeous Dimitri Belikov, some rules are meant to be broken…

But since making her first Strigoi kills, Rose hasn’t been feeling right. Something dark has begun to grow in her mind, and ghostly shadows warn of a terrible evil drawing nearer to the Academy’s iron gates. And now that Lissa and Rose’s sworn enemy, Victor Dashkov, is on trial for his freedom, tensions in the Moroi world are higher than ever.

Lying to Lissa about Dimitri is one thing, but suddenly there’s way more than friendship at stake. The immortal undead are on the prowl, and they want vengeance for the lives that Rose has stolen. In a heart-stopping battle to rival her worst nightmares, Rose will have to choose between life, love, and the two people who matter most…but will her choice mean that only one can survive?

The Bad Tuesdays: Strange Energy - Benjamin J. Myers

Splinter, Chess and Box…are The Bad Tuesdays.

What has happened to the children stolen by the Twisted Symmetry?

The Committee is determined to find out and enlists the help of Chess Tuesday and her brothers, Box and Splinter.

Is this a desperate gamble by the Committee, or a calculated move in a deadly game?

What will happen when the Tuesdays journey to the heart of the very power that is hunting them?

Sprout - Dale Peck

A move from New York to rural Kansas following the death of his mother uproots Sprout. He’s sure he’ll find no friends, no love, no beauty there. But then friends find him, the strangeness of the landscape fascinates him and, when love shows up in an unexpected place, Sprout realises that Kansas is not quite as empty as he thought.

Subverting stereotypes and packed with gritty humour, Sprout is an inspirational coming-of-age story about a boy who knows he is gay in a town that seems to have no place to hide.

The Summoning - Kelley Armstrong

All Chloe Saunders wants is a life like any normal teenager - the chance to get through school, make friends, maybe meet a boy. But when she starts seeing ghosts, she knows that life will never be normal again.

Soon the ghosts are everywhere, demanding her attention. When Chloe finally breaks down, she’s admitted to a group home for disturbed kids. At first Lyle House seems okay, but as she gets to know the other patients - charming Simon and his ominous, unsmiling brother Derek, obnoxious Tori, and Rae, who has a ‘thing’ for fire - Chloe begins to realise that something strange and sinister binds them all together, and it isn’t your usual ‘problem kid’ behaviour.

And they’re about to discover that Lyle House is not your usual group home, either…

I got such a great group of books this week that it’s going to be impossible to decide which to read first!

Sophie

The Book of a Thousand Days - Shannon Hale

The Book of a Thousand Days - Shannon Hale

Pages: 306
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: 2nd March 2009

Other Titles by This Author: Princess Academy, Enna Burning, The Goose Girl, River Secrets, Austenland, The Actor and the Housewife

This is no ordinary fairytale.

The hero isn’t charming, the heroine is a brat.

And you certainly won’t guess the ending.

When a beautiful Lady refuses to marry the Lord her father has chosen, her father is furious. So furious he locks her in a tower with her maid.

But the maid realises there is something deeply sinister behind her Lady’s fear of the Lord, something which means they could be in more danger beyond the walls of the tower than imprisoned within them…

A spellbinding story of love, fear, courage, and one true heroine.

The Book of a Thousand Days wasn’t nearly as good as I wanted it to be. It wasn’t a hard book to read, but I was reluctant to pick it up.

Dashti was a charming narrator whose soft, old-fashioned tone was a pleasure to read. She was a true heroine; loyal, honest, brave and strong. Lady Saren was weak, irritating and a general pain in the butt that she loved and cared for anyway. I also loved how she overcame the social divides and learned how little they actually mattered.

I thought that Tegus was a realistic hero. He was very human in his fear and regret but also a strong and fair Khan. His sense of humour and belief in and appreciation of the Mucker’s songs made him Dashti’s perfect match. I liked that Tegus wasn’t a traditional fairytale hero because Dashti definitely isn’t a typical heroine.

The happy fairytale ending was everything that I wanted and expected. I do like a happily ever after! However, I don’t think that the ending was as exciting as it could be because I guessed what the secret was surrounding Lord Khasar that Lady Saren hid from Dashti very early on. I thought it was kind of obvious!

The Book of a Thousand Days is a good fairytale retelling with a very beautiful cover that left me with a smile on my face.

Sophie

Stolen - Lucy Christopher

Stolen - Lucy Christopher

Pages: 300
Publisher: Chicken House
Release Date: 4th May 2009

It happened like this.

I was stolen from an airport. Taken from everything I knew, everything I was used to. Taken to sand and heat, dirt and danger. And he expected me to love him. This is my story.

A letter from nowhere.

I’ve never read anything like Stolen before, and I don’t think I’ll get to again. Lucy Christopher has written a stunning debut that will capture the imaginations of everyone who reads it.
it’s hard to put into words how much I loved Stolen. it was captivating, compelling and utterly compulsive. Gemma’s voice drew me into her world and her story from the very first page. Even after I finished Stolen I couldn’t stop thinking about, I even lay awake thinking about it.

Lots of elements of Stolen were new to me. It was written in second person which I’ve never read before. This increased the sense of intimacy as Gemma was writing to her captor, Ty, telling him her side of their story. The sparse, beautiful landscape of the Australian Great Sandy Desert was also new to me. I loved how there was so much life hidden in that desert, along with it’s complete isolation and Gemma and Ty’s connection to the land. In all it’s harsh reality it was still magical, especially with the inclusions of the legends of the Aborigine’s that Ty told Gemma.

Ty is one of the most difficult characters I’ve read about in a long time. I hated him at first and I was constantly wishing him to let Gemma go. But then I began to get to know him as his story unfolded. He is a sympathetic character and sometimes very vulnerable but also frightening with the power he holds. My head and my heart were fighting in their opinions of him so much that I still can’t make up my mind writing this nearly two days later. But saying that, my favourite scene in the book centred around him - during and just after the reveal of Ty’s painting shed. It’s a stunning scene that will stay with me for a very long time. Those who’ve read this probably know exactly what scene I mean, but those who haven’t, I’m not going to tell you, you’ll have to read it for yourself!

I can’t wait to see how Lucy Christopher will follow Stolen, but I can’t wait to find out!

Sophie

P.S. I just want to thank all of you who left me lovely birthday messages. So, thanks guys!

Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead

Pages: 332
Publisher: Penguin Books
Release Date: 2nd July 2009

Other Titles in the Series: Frostbite (UK - 06/08/09), Shadow Kiss, Blood Promise (25/08/09)

Only a true best friend can protect you from your immortal enemies..

Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with an unbreakable bond to the earth’s magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest and most dangerous vampires - the ones who never die.

The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa’s best friend, makes her a Dhampir. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making her one of them.

After two years of illicit freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir’s Academy, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. Rose will continue her Dhampir education. Lissa will go back to being Queen of the elite Moroi social scene. And both girls will resume breaking Academy hearts.

Fear made Lissa and Rose run away from St. Vladimir’s - inside the Academy’s iron gates, their world is even more fraught with danger. Here, the cutthroat ranks of the Moroi perform unspeakable rituals, and their secretive nature and love of the night creates an enigmatic world full of social complexities. Rose and Lissa must navigate through this dangerous world, confront the temptation of forbidden romance, and never once let their guard down, lest the Strigoi make Lissa one of them forever…

Vampire Academy is the brilliantly compelling first in a series that I absolutely loved.

The variety of vampire lore that authors imagine never fails to amaze me. I don’t think I’ve read two different authors that use the same lore. Richelle Mead’s vampires are some of the most individual that I’ve come across with their feeders, elemental magic and different types of vampires. The Dhampir’s, Moroi and Strigoi vampires allowed lots of conflict at the Academy that was great to read about and set up some brilliant possibilities for a plot line. But the element of the lore that fascinated me most is Lissa and Rose’s bond.

Rose is a fantastic main character. She is feisty, strong and very clever. Her sarcastic, and usually rude, comebacks had me giggling aloud to myself and wishing that I could think of things like that on the spot. Rose’s characteristics also made her very vulnerable to rumours and ridicule from the other students at the Academy which I thought that she handled brilliantly. It was great that she also had to deal with the problems of a normal seventeen-year-old girl such as boys and dealing with the Queen Bee.

One of these problems was Dimitri. A nice problem, though! I know I talk about ‘the guy’ a lot in my reviews, but there’s nearly always a guy worth writing about! Dimitri reminded me of Jace from The Mortal Instruments; a strong, silent warrior-type with a heart that a girl would give a limb for. He’s a very complicated character that I hope to see a lot more of as the series goes on.

I loved Vampire Academy so much that I ordered the rest of the series while I was only half way through the book! I highly recommend it.

Sophie

Birthday Contest! (CLOSED)

It's my 17th birthday today and to celebrate I decided to hold another contest. This time there will be two winners. One person will win the first two of Grace Dent's Diary of a Chav series and the other will win an ARC of Maite Carranza'a War of the Witches.

- Trainers vs. Tiaras

From Waterstones.com: For now, Shiraz is stuck on an estate in Goodmayes, Essex, with her sister Cava-Sue, her nightmare mum Diane and her loved-up mate Carrie. Hoodies, hip-hop and hanging about outside Claire's Accessories, taking her flatulent Staffy for a walk, lusting after local lad Wesley Barrington Baines II. It's a limited world for this loveable Essex dreamer. But when new English Teacher Miss Brackett arrives at Mayflower Academy, Shiraz is made to see there's more to life than getting excluded, suped up Vauxhall Novas and Chicago Town pizza. It's time Shiraz began thinking what she wants to do with life. And what sort of person she wants to be. A lot of snooty folk call Shiraz Bailey Wood a chav. Well if by 'Chav' you mean 'Charming, Hilarious, Articulate and Vibrant', Shizza doesn't mind that at all. Call her what you want. She don't care. She's keeping it real.

Slinging the Bling

From Waterstones.com: The divine Shiraz Bailey Wood is back to enlighten us on the multi-layered, rich tapestry that is her life in Goodmayes Essex. Shiraz is astonished to discover that she has passed eight GCSE's and is actually clever! Emboldened, she decides she can't waste her brain power on a job at 'Mr Yolk', the local greasy spoon. No, she'll stay on at the Mayflower Sixth Form 'Centre of Excellence' and get even brainier. Best friend Carrie is of a like-mind and so, armed with text books and pencil cases, the intrepid pair set forth into the heady world of academia. Soon Shiraz is hanging out with other boffin types, amongst them the gorgeous Joshua, with the sharp cheekbones and the whopping allowance. But will Shiraz really dump the devoted Wesley Barrington Bains II for a smooth-talking lad with an Oxbridge future? Read SBW's hilarious, heart-rending, irresistible diary to find out!

- War of the Witches

From Waterstones.com: When her mother disappears without a trace, Anaid is baffled. Taken in by friends, she learns a shocking truth: her mother is a witch, but not just any witch ...She is the chosen one who is prophesied to end a bloody war with the cruel Odish clans who are intent on attaining eternal life, at whatever cost. As Anaid struggles with this discovery, she starts developing powers of her own, and sets out on a dangerous journey to rescue her mother and, ultimately, herself. This magical fantasy by internationally acclaimed author Maite Carranza delves deeply into the unspoken ties between mothers and daughters and the mysteries of growing up.

To win:
+1 leave a comment containing your email address and telling me which you would like to win
+2 blog about the contest or put in your sidebar
+2 become/are a follower
This contest will be international and will end at 11:59pm Monday 29th June GMT.

Good luck!

Sophie

In My Mailbox 20

This was started by the fabulous Kristi who was inspired by Alea. If you want more information check out their blogs. All summaries are from the book jackets.

Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead

Only a true best friend can protect you from your immortal enemies..

Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with an unbreakable bond to the earth’s magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest and most dangerous vampires - the ones who never die.

The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa’s best friend, makes her a Dhampir. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making her one of them.

After two years of illicit freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir’s Academy, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. Rose will continue her Dhampir education. Lissa will go back to being Queen of the elite Moroi social scene. And both girls will resume breaking Academy hearts.

Fear made Lissa and Rose run away from St. Vladimir’s - inside the Academy’s iron gates, their world is even more fraught with danger. Here, the cutthroat ranks of the Moroi perform unspeakable rituals, and their secretive nature and love of the night creates an enigmatic world full of social complexities. Rose and Lissa must navigate through this dangerous world, confront the temptation of forbidden romance, and never once let their guard down, lest the Strigoi make Lissa one of them forever…

Thank you to Louise at Penguin for sending me this. I’ve already read it and I loved it. My review will be up tomorrow.

Sophie

Wings - Aprilynne Pike

Wings - Aprilynne Pike

Pages: 360
Publishers: Harper Collins
Release Date: 30th April 2009

Laurel has always lived as an ordinary girl - but now something is happening to her. Something magical.

In this enchanting tale of magic, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

Wings isn’t like any fairy story I’ve read before. These fairies were traditional Tinkerbell-like fairies that are nothing like those of Holly Black and Melissa Marr.

The fairies were the delicate, ethereal creatures that I imagined as a child and the Flower Fairies that my Nan loves. They are beautiful, seemingly fragile and have subtle magic that live hidden away from prying human eyes. I loved the traditional fairy lore; it was very different to the dark, dangerous world of Faery that I’m used to.

Old human myths, legends and stories were twisted and shaped to fit Aprilynne Pike’s tales of the history of her fairies. The stories of King Arthur, Merlin and Shakespeare’s King Oberon were among those that were woven into the story along with the mesmerising idea of Avalon. Even the description of the entry gates made me eager to go in. It sounded absolutely magical.

I also loved the competition between David and Tamani that started before they even met. Until Laurel met Tamani I was eager for her and David to get together. Then I changed my mind. Why is it that the magical un-human guys always win? They set the bar really high for normal guys! My only complaint about the characters in Wings is Laurel’s perfection. This really annoyed me until I got to know her better and she started to have some difficulties to deal with. That’s really mean of me, isn’t it? Oh well.

I thoroughly enjoyed Wings and I hope that Aprilynne Pike writes a sequel. I want to see some more of Avalon. And Tamani.

Sophie

Fragile Eternity - Melissa Marr

Fragile Eternity - Melissa Marr

Pages: 389
Publisher: Harper Collins
Release Date: 28th May 2009

Other Titles in the Series: Wicked Lovely, Ink Exchange (my review)

Seth never expected to settle down forever - but that was before Aislinn. Unfortunately, forever takes on a whole new meaning when your girlfriend is a faerie queen…

Aislinn never expected to rule the very creatures that had always terrified her - but that was before Keenan. He stole her mortality, and now she faces challenges and enticements beyond any she’d ever imagined.

In Melissa Marr’s third mesmerising tale of Faerie, Seth and Aislinn struggle to stay true to themselves and each other, in a world where one false step could plunge the Earth into chaos…

Once again I was blown away by Melissa Marr’s writing in her third magical tale of Faerie. I loved Fragile Eternity just as much, or maybe even more than the previous two.

I’m really glad that we got to hear from Seth this time. It was a great way to really get to know him, not just Aislinn’s view of him. The hints that he has not always been as calm and moral made me love him even more as well as making him more real. His internal struggles with keeping his cool and dealing with Aislinn’s growing bond with Keenan made my heart break for him. I really love Seth’s character, he’s one of my favourite in the whole of YA.

The changes in Niall seemed to further enhance his appeal that I discovered in Ink Exchange. He seemed to mould to his position as King of the Dark Court without losing his loyalty to and friendship with Seth which surprised me. I though that a change like that would have affected him a lot more than it did, though I’m glad that it didn’t because I really like Niall for some reason!

The world of Faerie was amazing. The beauty and the magic that Melissa Marr created was mesmerising and made a beautiful veil for the underlying danger of Faerie. I loved that nothing was as it seemed and that Sorcha could control it all simply with a thought. That was pretty cool. Okay, extremely cool! Faerie would be a fabulous, albeit very perilous, place to be.

The choices that were made by the characters in Fragile Eternity will change everything in the world that Melissa Marr has created and I hope that there will be another book in the series so I get to see the affects of these changes.

Sophie

The Sweet Far Thing - Libba Bray

The Sweet Far Thing - Libba Bray

Pages: 819
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Release Date: 5th May 2009

Other Titles in the Series: A Great and Terrible Beauty (my review), Rebel Angels (my review)

It has been a year since Gemma Doyle first arrived at the foreboding Spence Academy and much has changed. Having bound the wild, dark magic of the realms to her, Gemma has forged unlikely and unexpected friendships with Ann and Felicity, and Kartik, the exotic young man whose companionship is forbidden. She has also come to an uneasy, tenuous truce with the fearsome creatures of the realms.

But the time has come to test the strength of these bonds. As her friendship with Felicity and Ann faces its gravest trial and with the Order grappling for control of the realms, Gemma is compelled to decide once and for all which path she is meant to take. Her destiny threatens to set chaos loose, not only in the realms, but also upon the rigid Victorian society whose rules Gemma both defied and followed. Where does Gemma really belong? And will she, can she, survive?

The Sweet Far Thing is the thrilling conclusion to Libba Bray’s elegant gothic trilogy.

The Sweet Far Thing is the very long conclusion to the Gemma Doyle trilogy. It is the best and most exciting of the three in my opinion, although I did find it slow to start.

After the first hundred pages or so, I became completely absorbed in Gemma’s story. I found this one full of funny one liners and lots of little situations that made me laugh, especially those involving Tom and Gemma. Their banter and constant trading of insults often had me giggling to myself.

The supporting characters were all very different and I didn‘t like very many of them. There was something about Felicity that put me on edge, I hated the way that Pippa manipulated Gemma’s emotions and I just found Cecily and Ann irritating. Though for different reasons. Ann refused to do anything to improve her situation but just moaned about it and Cecily was whiny and far too perfect. So annoying. Kartik, however, I love. He’s kind, sweet and protective, but also stubborn and strong. I only wish that Victorian society would have allowed them to be together, or even just friends.

Gemma was my favourite part of The Sweet Far Thing. She’s brave, strong and ready to take on the world but also very vulnerable. Her vulnerability comes from all of the outside threats to her life and magic as well as her overwhelming desire to fit in and be loved. All of these conflicting emotions made her a very real teenage girl whom almost every girl could identify with. I love how she overcame the restraints of Victorian society to become her own woman, knowing that it wouldn’t be easy.

This is a great trilogy full of magic, mystery, romance and adventure that will appeal to fans of Maria V. Snyder.

Sophie

In My Mailbox 19

This was started by the fabulous Kristi who was inspired by Alea. If you want more information check out their blogs. All summaries are from the book jackets.

Creature of the Night - Kate Thompson

I could hear Dennis talking to my ma. ‘She was little,’ he said. ‘Little like me. But old. Older than you.’ Those words gave me a cold shock. I could see Dennis imagining fairies, but old ones?

When Bobby’s mother moves the family into a rented house in the country, a neighbour tells him that a child was once murdered there. Bobby doesn’t care. All he wants is to get back to Dublin and resume his wild life there, stealing from the crowded shopping streets and racing stolen cars at night. But getting his old life back doesn’t turn out to be so easy, and the longer he spends in the old cottage, the more convinced he becomes that something strange is going on there.
Was there really a murder?

And if so, was it the one he had been told about?

Thank you to the fabulous Jenny at Wondrous Reads for this. I’m looking forward to it.

Sophie

Stargazer - Claudia Gray

Stargazer - Claudia Gray

Pages: 326
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: April 2009

Other Titles in this Series: Evernight (my review)

!SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read Evernight yet but plan to, you might not want to read any further because even the synopsis gives away major plot points of Evernight.

The vampire in me was closer to the surface…

Evernight Academy: an exclusive boarding school for the most beautiful, dangerous students of all - vampires. Bianca, born to two vampires, has always been told her destiny is to become one of them.

But Bianca fell in love with Lucas - a vampire hunter sworn to destroy her kind. They were torn apart when his true identity was revealed, forcing him to flee the school.

Although they may be separated, Bianca and Lucas will not give each other up. She will risk anything to see him again, even if it means coming face-to-face with the vampire hunters of Black Cross - or deceiving the powerful vampires of Evernight. Bianca’s secrets will force her to live a life of lies.

Yet Bianca isn’t the only one keeping secrets. When Evernight is attacked by an evil force that seems to target her, she discovers the truth she thought she knew is only the beginning…

Stargazer was really amazing. I loved is so much; maybe even more than I did Evernight. Pure fabulousness!

Claudia Gray really knows how to construct a plot. There were constant hints and ambiguities that made you wonder until it all suddenly fell into place with a bang. She keeps you gripped and guessing all the way with her beautiful, sensuous writing. Stargazer didn’t let me out of it’s pages until the very last sentence, and even then I was left wanting more.

The twists and turns of Stargazer kept on surprising me. Nearly all of them were completely unexpected and all of them took the story in a different direction like they did in Evernight. They also often changed the dynamics and my opinions of the characters.

Speaking of the characters. They were part of what made Stargazer so good. All of the supporting characters were developed more thoroughly and I learnt things about them that helped to explain why they are how they are. Racquel is one of my favourite characters and all of the horrible things that she faced and her reactions to them and the discoveries she made made me see her very differently - brave and strong. My opinion of Balthazar also changed. he went from being just a sweet guy who would do anything for those he cares about to a very old and lonely vampire hiding a very big secret. But Ranulf. He just made me laugh. His stiff old-fashioned comments contrasted brilliantly with Vic’s laid-back remarks.

I loved this book and I can’t wait for the next book in this amazing series. Go and read these books if you haven't. You don’t know what you’re missing!

Sophie

Books, Books and More Books

My little sister has set up her own blog

Books, Books and More Books

and we'd both love it if you went to visit her while she's just starting out.

Thanks!

Sophie

Lord of Misrule: The Morganville Vampires - Rachel Caine

Lord of Misrule: The Morganville Vampires - Rachel Caine

Pages: 348
Publisher: Allison and Busby
Release Date: 10th July 2009

Other Titles in the Series: Glass Houses (my review), The Dead Girls‘ Dance (my review), Midnight Alley (my review), Feast of Fools (my review)

Morganville, Texas. Just south of normal.

In the college town of Morganville, vampires and humans coexist in (relatively) bloodless harmony. Then comes Bishop, a master vampire who threatens to abolish all order, revive the forces of the evil dead, and let chaos rule.

But Bishop isn’t the only threat.

Violent black clouds promise a storm of devastating proportions. As student Claire Danvers and her friends prepare to defend Morganville against the elements - both natural and unnatural - the unexpected happens: Morganville’s vampires begin to disappear one by one. Discovering why leads Claire one last choice: swear allegiance to Bishop…or die.

Lord of Misrule is the amazing fifth instalment of The Morganville Vampires series that finished on the most evil cliff-hanger of the series so far. I can’t tell you how much I loved this book.

It was fast-paced and full of heart-pumping action that kept me on the edge of my seat. So much happened that there wasn’t even enough time to draw breath. I raced through this book and it was impossible to put down due to the utterly relentless place that gave no nature lulls where I could stop.

The guys in this series are all very different and I love them all. Shane is, well, Shane, Michael is gorgeous and fiercely protective of his friends, Sam’s love for Amelie breaks my heart and Myrnin is just so cheeky. He is very dangerous yet clever and also desperate and that gleams lots of affection from me. He’s like the slightly nutty uncle that everyone loves and humours because they don’t want to upset him.

Something that struck me more than ever in Lord of Misrule is Claire’s unyielding good nature. She helps Monica whenever she needs it even though she doesn’t want to and Monica is always so horrible to her. She trusts Myrnin and helps him regardless of the danger he poses and that he has broken her trust before. Claire also puts the lives of Shane, Michael and Eve before her own and she will do anything for them. This makes Claire a very likable heroine that I was championing all the way.

Lord of Misrule is fantastic and waiting to see what happens next in Carpe Corpus is going to cause me physical pain! Anyone who hasn’t read this series yet needs to. Right now!

Sophie

Winner of Beautiful Dead

Congratulations to...

Liyana!!

I've sent you an email so please get back to me with your address as soon as possible please.

Hopefully, I'll have another contest soon.

Sophie