Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick

Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick

Pages: 391
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Release Date: 29th October 2009

Other Titles in the Series: Crescendo (2010)

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She’s never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgement.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora’s not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and to know more about her than her own mother. She can’t decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of a centuries-old battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and sooner or later, she’s going to have to pick sides…

Hush, Hush is just as amazing as everybody has been saying it is. I completely and utterly loved it.

Becca Fitzpatrick is a fantastic new addition to the YA fantasy world. Her writing is dark, atmospheric and absolutely addictive. The world that she creates is creepy and mysterious, which is only intensified by the winding country lanes of Maine shrouded in fog that the story is set. Becca Fitzpatrick is going to be a huge talent in the world of young adult fiction.

The story is laced with mystery and danger. There are surprises on nearly every page and I never knew where the story was going to take me next. I couldn’t stop reading. By half way through Hush, Hush I kept on telling myself that I could read just one more chapter, but I ended up finishing it. It was completely compulsive.

But it was the characters that made Hush, Hush so phenomenal. Nora is a brilliant heroine; she’s a fantastic mixture of teenage girls everywhere. She’s hard not to like and care for really. Nora’s best friend, Vee, is brilliant. She’s incredibly funny, adventurous and impulsive; an excellent compliment to Nora. But what to say about Patch. He’s cheeky, unnerving and extremely difficult to ignore. Everything he knew about Nora and everything he said just made him more complicated and even harder to decipher. Nora had no chance but to fall for him!

I adored Hush, Hush and I can’t wait to find out what Nora and Patch get up to in the sequel, Crescendo.

Sophie

In My Mailbox 29

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.

The Cinderella Society - Kay Cassidy (signed ARC)

What’s a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn’t want to wear it anymore?

Sixteen-year-old Jess Parker survives by staying invisible. Then she gets the chance of a lifetime: an invitation to join the Cinderella Society, a secret club of some of the most popular girls in school, where makeovers are the first order of official business. Catching the eye of her popular crush, and with a chance to finally fit in, Jess feels like she’s found her fairy tale.

Until the Wickeds - led by Jess’s archenemy - begin targeting innocent girls, and Jess learns that there’s more to being a Cindy than reinventing yourself from the outside. She’s become part of a battle for good vs. evil, and now the Cindys need Jess on special assignment. Is honouring her new sisterhood worth destroying her dream life?

The Cinderella Society is a chick-lit novel with a twist, introducing a secret, prestigious society that teens will love to read about.

I won this from Kay’s monthly contest over at her fabulous You 2.0 blog.

Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick (ARC)

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She’s never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgement.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora’s not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and to know more about her than her own mother. She can’t decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For Nora is right in the middle of a centuries-old battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and sooner or later, she’s going to have to pick sides…

I‘ve already read this and it‘s as amazing as everybody is saying it is! My review will be up Monday.

Eyes Like Stars - Lisa Mantchev

All her world’s a stage.
Beatrice Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theatre.
She’s not an orphan, but she has no parents.
She knows every part, but she has no lines of her own.
Until now.

ENTER STAGE RIGHT
Nate: Dashing pirate. Will do anything to protect Bertie (as she’s known to the theatre).
Cobweb, Moth, Mustardseed, and Peaseblossom: Four tiny and incredibly annoying fairies. Bertie’s sidekicks.
Ariel: Seductive air spirit and Bertie’s weakness. The symbol of impending doom.
Bertie: Our heroine.

Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the characters of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book - an ancient magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family…and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.

All of the raving reviews made me finally succumb to buying this. I’m so excited to read it.

Beautiful Americans - Lucy Silag

What happens in Paris…

Secrets. PJ’s deep blue eyes and angelic long blond hair conceal a truth that’s anything but. Will her dark past stay where it belongs in the backwoods of Vermont, or haunt her in the city of light?

Passion. Always the good girl, Olivia plans to twirl her way to the top of the Parisian ballet scene. But that’s not supposed to include dancing on a table all night…or stumbling into the arms of the wrong boy.

Lies. With his emo-trendy behead, hilarious comebacks and Southern drawl, Zack could win over anyone. Too bad he’s after the only on who’s forbidden…

Scandal. All Alex wants from Paris is to nab that berry-red Dior coat and seduce the perfect penny-loafer-wearing boy - and Alex always gets what she wants. But will her scheming pay off? Or is she risking more than she knows…?

Alex, Olivia, Zack and PJ are spending a year at the prestigious Lycé e de Monceau in the sparkling city of Paris. This is their chance to sip café au lait in Le Marais, throw secret parties in their families’ Versailles-size apartments, and have the time of their lives. But when the secrets they thought they left behind come out, everything could be ruined…

I've wanted to read this for so long.

The Extraordinary and Unusual Adventures of Horatio Lyle - Catherine Webb

The Bank of England robbed!
Murder on the streets of London!
Hypnotism! Mystery! Pursuit!
Saint Paul’s Cathedral ablaze!

Horatio Lyle is a former Special Constable with a passion for science and invention. He’s also an occasional sleuth. Thrown together with Tess (a reformed pickpocket) and Thomas (a rebellious young gentleman), Lyle and his faithful hound Tate find themselves pursuing an acient Chinese plate, a conspiracy that reaches to the highest levels of polite society and a dangerous enemy who may not even be human…

Welcome to the world of Horatio Lyle: when mystery beckons, he gathers his courage, sharpens his wits and fills his pockets with things that explode.

Thanks to Sam from Little, Brown for this.

I was also meant to get Blood Promise by Richelle Mead yesterday but we weren’t in when the post was delivered so I have to go and pick it up from the Post Office tomorrow morning. I nearly started crying!

Sophie

Featured on Friday: Malorie Blackman

Malorie Blackman is the bestselling author of over 50 books for children and young adults. Malorie has also written TV scripts for Byker Grove, Whizziwig and the television adaptation of her novel Pig Heart Boy.

1. Where did you get the idea for the Noughts and Crosses series?
From a number of places really; events from my own childhood, things I’ve seen and heard and experienced over the years, a number of injustices which made my blood boil – they all inspired me to write the Noughts and Crosses books.

2. You tackle some intense and serious issues in your books. Is this something that you set out to do when writing?
Well, I’ve written over 50 books and most of them are pure adventure, suspense, mystery or funny stories for all age ranges. Not all my books are ‘serious’ in tone by any means, but I certainly had a few things I wanted to express in the Noughts and Crosses books and I hope I’ve done that. I don’t believe in hitting my readers over the head with a message saying this is right and that is wrong. What I wanted to do with the Noughts and Crosses books was present the world that Sephy, Callum and their daughter Callie Rose live in and have the readers of the books make up their own minds as to the rights and wrongs of that world.

3. Noughts and Crosses has parallels with Romeo and Juliet. Was this something that you intended to do?
I didn’t set out to do it but I became aware half way through writing the story that there were some parallels.

4. Do you do lots of research before you begin writing a book?
It depends on the book but I’m quite happy doing research if it’s required. For example I did quite a lot of research for my book Pig Heart Boy. I read up about heart transplants, xenotransplantation (transplanting the organs of one species into another), etc and watched a couple of documentaries about organ transplants too. To be honest, I didn’t have to do much research for the Noughts and Crosses books. They were written straight from my head and my heart.

5. In The Stuff of Nightmares, why did you make Kyle’s dad come back as Death?
Kyle’s dad didn’t come back as Death. Death was in the carriage with Kyle almost from the beginning but as quite a different character. But I wanted Kyle’s dad to come back so he and Kyle could have the conversation they should’ve had when Kyle’s dad was alive. Kyle’s dad came back to stop Death from taking Kyle as well.

6. Will there be any more books in the Noughts and Crosses series?
I currently have no plans to write any more in that series. None of the characters from those books are whispering in my ear, urging me to write their story the way Callum, Sephy, Callie Rose and Tobey did!

7. Is there a particular time or place that you do your best writing in?
I do most of my creative writing in the mornings. I prefer to edit/rework later in the day and during the evening.

8. Can you tell us anything about what you’re working on at the moment?
I’m currently working on my next novel but I never talk about the story I’m currently writing as I find I lose all enthusiasm for finishing it if I do that!

Thank you very much, Malorie! You can visit Malorie at her website here.

Sophie

Ghost Huntress: The Awakening - Marley Gibson

Ghost Huntress: The Awakening - Marley Gibson

Pages: 338
Publisher: Graphia Books
Release Date: 4th May 2009

Other Titles in the Series: The Guidance (07/09/09)

Kendall Moorhead can’t sleep. Not a wink.

Ever since her family moved from Chicago to the small town of Radisson, Georgia, Kendall hasn’t gotten a decent night’s sleep. It’s just too freaking quiet.

To remedy the situation, Kendall’s father brings home a white noise machine. The soothing sound of static should Kendall drift off to la-la land.

But what Kendall hears is anything but relaxing: A voice comes through the machine. A Voice? Has Kendall completely lost her mind? Or is she waking up to a world she never knew existed?

I didn’t expect to enjoy Ghost Huntress: The Awakening as much as I did. It was really, really good.

It was clear that Marley Gibson has done her research and really knows what she’s talking about. All the ghost hunting equipment that Kendall and the gang used was explained clearly and in just enough detail to be completely understood. I was completely surprised at the range of devices used to capture every second of the hunt and I watch Most Haunted!

Marley Gibson’s debut novel is fantastically written. She gets right into the mindset of a teenager and captures our essence perfectly. There are also lots of pop culture references scattered throughout The Awakening that really enhance Kendall and her friend’s personalities. Kendall herself is very funny and loves Justin Timberlake, which makes her a brilliant heroine in my opinion.

The only qualm I have about The Awakening is that it was loaded with religious references. It’s probably just down to personal taste but I really didn’t like that about this book. Occasionally it seemed to border on preachy, but most of the time I was able to simply ignore it and enjoy the story.

The Awakening is a fabulously written start to what I’m sure will be a brilliant trilogy. I can’t wait to read the next instalment, The Guidance, when it’s released in September.

Sophie

Skinned - Robin Wasserman

Skinned - Robin Wasserman

Pages: 361
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Release Date: 3rd August 2009

Other Titles in this Series: Crashed (US 8/9/09, UK 1/4/10)

Lia Kahn is beautiful, popular and destined for success…until a horrific accident nearly kills her.

Lia wakes up in a body that is not a body. It’s a machine, designed to look and feel human. She need never feel pain again. She will never age. And, as long as she is vigilant about backing up her memories, she need never die. For Lia is now a “mechanical” or “mech” - a living experiment.

Lia tries to return to her old life, but is shunned by her friends and boyfriend. Even her own family can’t seem to understand that underneath she’s still the same person. But is she? Can be a human without a body? And is it technically murder to “kill” a machine…?

Skinned took me by surprise. It wasn’t what I expected at all, but I really enjoyed it.

This book strongly reminded me of Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies series. There was lots of similar technology, such as the network that everybody was connected to and lived through, in a way. The playing around with their genes and appearance also played a part in the way that they chose how the children looked and constant up-keep operations. But unlike Uglies there was no equality and control over society, in other words, a lot more similar to our world.

Even though most dystopian novels have a cataclysmic event that sets a new world in motion; the events in Skinned surprised me. All of the nuclear wars, Water Wars and lots of other types of wars made a scarily clear picture of all the plausible ways that we could destroy the world. Because they are all such real possibilities, they jumped out and scared me a little. Especially when it came up that the pollution caused by our life and wars blocked out the moon and the stars. I was kind of horrified at that.

Although I enjoyed the plot, I found the characters quite difficult to connect with. All of the girls, including Lia, were shallow and a little heartless and her sister, Zoey, was just plain horrible. It wasn’t until we were introduced to the mechs that I began to warm to Lia and the other characters. The mechs were different and, ironically, real.

I really enjoyed Skinned and I’m looking forward to reading Crashed when it’s released in the UK next April.

Sophie