Ember Fury - Cathy Brett

Ember Fury - Cathy Brett

Pages: 232
Publisher: Headline
Release Date: 6th August 2009

PYROMANIA: A mental derangement, excitement or excessive enthusiasm for fire.

Having celebrity parents isn’t as hot as it sounds. Yes, there’s money to burn, fame and some totally smoking guys…But when your dad’s more interested in blazing a trail to the top of the charts than why you got kicked out of school, again, it can make you seriously angry. And if there’s one thing Ember knows, it’s that the smallest spark of anger can ignite a whole heap of trouble…

Ember Fury was completely new territory for me and I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction into the world of graphic novels.

I’ve always been a bit hesitant of graphic novels so Ember Fury’s half-and-half format really appealed to me. The illustrations enhanced the story and I loved the way that they integrated with the text so that they didn’t feel separate from the story; you had to take it all in together. I also loved the stage directions at the beginning of some of the chapters. Very cool!

There was something about the writing in Ember Fury that is pretty rare, not just in YA, but generally. Ember as talking to me, and only me. Every word was for my benefit. I really love this in a story as it fully involves you in the lives of the characters.

Speaking of the characters; Ned’s my favourite. He’s witty, sarcastic and very cool. Ned and Ember’s adventures together are an unexpected, but brilliant, addition to Ember Fury. Though a little confusing at first, they soon became one of my favourite elements of the book.

I loved reading Ember Fury and I’d recommend it to anyone wanting a subtle introduction into the world of graphic novels.

Sophie

Beautiful Dead: Arizona - Eden Maguire

Beautiful Dead: Arizona - Eden Maguire

Pages: 276
Publisher: Hodder
Release Date: 15th October 2009

Other Titles in the Series: Jonas (my review), Summer (06/05/10), Phoenix (2010)

Not alive. Not dead. Somewhere in between lie the Beautiful Dead.

There’s been no sign of the Beautiful Dead for weeks. Darina achingly misses Phoenix all over again. Surely he will return to help her solve the remaining mysteries.

It’s been a year since Arizona drowned in Hartman Lake. Suicide, it would seem. But something doesn’t add up… Drowning herself in a lake does not sound like strong, confident Arizona: Ellerton High School’s high-maintenance drama queen.

Darina must help Arizona the way she helped Jonas. But invisible wings are beating, the Beautiful Dead are in danger and time is running out…

The second instalment of the Beautiful Dead series is as engaging and easy to read as the first.

I really love the mysteries of Jonas, Arizona, Summer and Phoenix’s deaths. the ones that we’ve explored so far are no where near as simple as they first seem. I love being so completely wrong about what really happened! To me, that’s one of things that say great writing.

In Arizona, we learn a lot more about Hunter’s history and also the level of control he has over the Beautiful Dead. Darina isn’t exaggerating when she calls him a ‘zombie overlord’! He’s the only one of them that actually seems like a zombie and scares me a little. I hated the fact that he kept Phoenix and Darina apart in the beginning and then continues to restrict their time together later on, though. Haven’t they been through enough?!

One of the things that I love most about the Beautiful Dead series is the atmosphere that the setting creates. It’s not explicitly stated what state they’re set in, but they have a laid-back, languid American Midwest feel to me. It makes me even more fed up with my boring and rainy English town than I already am!

I thoroughly enjoyed Beautiful Dead: Arizona and I’m really looking forward to reading Summer next year.

Sophie

In My Mailbox 42

This meme 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.

From my Secret Santa:

Graceling - Kristin Cashore

In a world where people born with an exceptional skill, known as a Grace, are both feared and exploited. Katsa carries the burden of a skill even she despises: the Grace of killing.

Feared by the court and shunned by those her own age, the darkness of her Grace casts a heavy shadow over Katsa’s life. Yet she remains defiant: when the King of Lienid’s father is kidnapped she investigates, and stumbles across a mystery. Who would want to kidnap the old man, and why? And who was the extraordinary Graced man whose fighting abilities rivalled her own?

The only thing Katsa is sure of is that she no longer wants to kill. The intrigue around this kidnapping offers her a way out - but little does she realise, when she takes it, that something insidious and dark lurks around the mystery. Something spreading from the shadowy figure of a one-eyed king…

With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerising world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will captivate you, and leave you wanting more.

Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris

Sookie Stackhouse is a small-tine cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She’s quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn’t get out much. Not because she’s not pretty. She is. It’s just that, well, Sookie has this sort of ‘disability’. she can read minds. And that doesn’t make her too dateable. And then along comes Bill: he’s tall, dark and handsome - and Sookie can’t ‘hear’ a word he’s thinking. He’s exactly the type of guy she’s been waiting for all her life.

But Bill has a disability of his own: he’s a vampire. Worse than that, he hangs around with a seriously creepy crowd, with a reputation for trouble - of the murderous kind.

And when one of Sookie’s colleagues is killed, she begins to fear she’ll be next…

Lament: The Faerie Queen’s Deception - Maggie Stiefvater

Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a prodigiously gifted musician. She’s about to find out she’s also a clover hand - one who can see faeries.

Unexpectedly, Deirdre finds herself infatuated with a mysterious boy named Luke who enters her ordinary life, seemingly out of thin air. But his interest in her might be something darker than summer romance. When a sinister faerie named Aodhan shows up with deadly orders from the Faerie Queen, it forces Dee right into the midst of Faerie. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is James, her wisecracking but loyal best friend.

Deirdre had been wishing her summer weren’t so dull, but taking on a centuries-old Faerie Queen isn’t exactly what she had in mind.

Ahh! I’m so excited to read all three of these. Thank you so much, Secret Santa!

Sophie

Demon Princess: Reign or Shine - Michelle Rowen

Demon Princess: Reign or Shine - Michelle Rowen

Pages: 274
Publisher: Walker Books
Release Date: 29th September 2009

Other Titles by this Author: Immortality Bites series, Warner Forever series

For Nikki Donovan, being a teenage can be hell. Literally.

As if trying to fit in at a new school and navigating the social scene isn’t enough stress for her, sixteen-year-old Nikki Donovan just found out that her long-lost father is, in fact, the demon king of the Shadowlands - the world that separates and protects us from the Underworld. When she is brought there by a mysterious - and surprisingly cute - messenger Michael she learns that he father is dying, and that he wants her to assume the throne. To complicate matters, a war is brewing between the Shadowlands and the Underworld, her half-demon qualities are manifesting, and her growing feelings for Michael are forbidden. Ruling a kingdom, navigating a secret crush, and still making it home by curfew - what’s a teenage demon princess to do?

Demon Princess: Reign or Shine is a cute, fun and unexpectedly brilliant read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Michelle Rowen crafted a tale full of excellent and likeable characters. Nikki is brave and stubborn and yet still manages to represent a loving and confused sixteen-year-old girl. Michael is so sweet and protective of Nikki. But he also has the mysterious thing going on and brings one of my favourite story elements to Demon Princess: forbidden love. In addition, you’ve got perfect popular Chris, insecure best friend Melinda and Nikki’s dad who she got totally wrong.

I also loved all of the magical elements in Demon Princess. The idea of the Shadowlands lying between the human realm and the Underworld and Hell and preventing the evil from passing through is genius. And the variety of creatures covers the favourites of every fantasy fan.

Towards the end of the novel, lots of possible new storylines were laid down that could be picked up later on in the series. I’m especially looking forward to learning more about Melinda, finding out how Nikki and Michael will work their relationship and, hopefully, seeing a lot more of Rhys.

The first instalment of the Demon Princess series has made me very excited for what I’m sure will be a great set of books and I’m eagerly awaiting the second book, Demon Princess: Reign Check, when it’s released next June.

Sophie

My Secret Santa Goodies!

Last moth I signed up for the Secret Santa with Kate at The Neverending Shelf and yesterday, I got my pressie! I got three amazing books that I can’t wait to start. Here’s what I got:

Graceling - Kristin Cashore

Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris

Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception - Maggie Stiefvater

I’d like to say a huge thank you to my Secret Santa. Thank you! I hope the rest of your Secret Santa's are as amzing as mine.

Sophie