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Thursday, December 05, 2013
Saturday, November 23, 2013
by Mia Hoddell
Genre: YA/Romance/Paranormal/Fantasy
Blurb:
A broken promise is all it takes.
Becoming an E.K isn’t a choice for Serena – it’s a necessity to survive. To destroy the Elementals she has to leave her old life behind. She has to train and follow a strict regime. But with time against her, she has only a few weeks to master the skills Kai spent his whole life perfecting.
The knowledge passed down from her ancestors is crucial to the Elementals demise and the success of their mission. However, the path they must follow is lined with riddles, each more confusing than the next. It doesn’t matter how close to succeeding they get, it’s never enough. The Elementals are one step ahead at every revelation and that can only mean one thing – the E.Ks have a traitor among them.
For one week only, both Deadly to Love and Deadly to Promise are 99c / 77p!
Excerpt
“Have you ever
been swimming here?” I asked moving my head to watch his reaction as I brought
my feet up out of the water and folded them beside me.
been swimming here?” I asked moving my head to watch his reaction as I brought
my feet up out of the water and folded them beside me.
“Yeah, most
summers when I came here. We all used to use it as a way to cool off or just
have some fun in between training.”
summers when I came here. We all used to use it as a way to cool off or just
have some fun in between training.”
“How about
skinny dipping?” I asked my grin growing due to the thoughts running through my
head.
skinny dipping?” I asked my grin growing due to the thoughts running through my
head.
“Why? You want
to try it?” he challenged.
to try it?” he challenged.
“Only if you go
first,” I laughed but stopped instantly when he removed his shirt and tossed it
behind us. My eyes widened in surprise and I started to regret my words.
“You’re not being serious are you?” I stuttered as he pulled off his shoes,
throwing them over to where his shirt was crumpled.
first,” I laughed but stopped instantly when he removed his shirt and tossed it
behind us. My eyes widened in surprise and I started to regret my words.
“You’re not being serious are you?” I stuttered as he pulled off his shoes,
throwing them over to where his shirt was crumpled.
“You can’t chicken
out now Rea. It was your idea,” he said smiling as he removed each sock,
teasing me as they ended up with the rest of his discarded garments.
out now Rea. It was your idea,” he said smiling as he removed each sock,
teasing me as they ended up with the rest of his discarded garments.
I just stared at
him, my lips moving but not making a sound as I tried to find an excuse.
him, my lips moving but not making a sound as I tried to find an excuse.
He laughed at
me. “Relax Rea, I’m just teasing you. Well unless you’ve changed your mind. In
that case I’m being deadly serious.” He had a cheeky grin on his face as he
spoke and I pushed him hard, toppling him into the water below.
me. “Relax Rea, I’m just teasing you. Well unless you’ve changed your mind. In
that case I’m being deadly serious.” He had a cheeky grin on his face as he
spoke and I pushed him hard, toppling him into the water below.
There was a lot
of splashing but Kai surfaced finally, taking a deep breath as he flicked the
hair out of his eyes. I was clutching my stomach in fits of laughter as I bent
over. The shock on his face was priceless.
of splashing but Kai surfaced finally, taking a deep breath as he flicked the
hair out of his eyes. I was clutching my stomach in fits of laughter as I bent
over. The shock on his face was priceless.
“Oh you are so
dead Rea, so, so dead,” he said, his voice ragged as the cold water and shock
affected his half naked body. I just continued to laugh as he floated in front
of me, his head bobbing up and down in a comical way.
dead Rea, so, so dead,” he said, his voice ragged as the cold water and shock
affected his half naked body. I just continued to laugh as he floated in front
of me, his head bobbing up and down in a comical way.
Deadly to Love (Elemental Killers #1)by Mia Hoddell
Genre: YA/Romance/Paranormal/Fantasy
ASIN: B00BDQ3QGA
ISBN: 978-1-291-41025-9
Blurb
The world is dangerous – but love will kill you.
Little did Serena Jackson know that one simple, flirty remark to an anonymous guy online would lead to her world being changed forever.
She doesn’t know him, but inexplicably, is drawn. She knows it is wrong but she agrees to meet.
His real name is Kai. He is beautiful. And immediately Serena feels herself blindly falling for him even though she senses a lie. She knows he is hiding something and it terrifies her.
What she doesn’t realise is that her entire life has been built on secrets and lies. The people she loved left her in the dark for a reason.
She trusted them. She trusts Kai. But as he pulls her straight into the heart of the danger the lies and deadly secrets are revealed. They overwhelm her, and the person she once was no longer exists as she is thrown into a ruthless world of elemental forces. The price of truth is her life—and now the world wants her dead.
Praise:
“I couldn't put it down. So I finished it last night and all I can say is WOW! This book was amazing and different.” Brianna (Book Blogger)
“I loved how the author took a different approach to writing a love story in modern times with the paranormal element present. I thought it was absolutely wonderful and refreshing. Marvelous!” Kathy H (Amazon Reviewer)
“In the end I had fallen in love with this story…completely untraditional it was a very original idea, not to mention modern. This story had such a good plot and the story structure was sound.” Kacii – The Kooky Bookworm (Book Blogger)
About the Author
Mia Hoddell lives in the UK with her family and two cats. She spends most of her time writing or reading and loves anything paranormal. Mia always had a love of writing but never reading. She was more interested in sports and hated sitting still - despite getting three poems published before the age of sixteen. Finally though, she found some novels that captured her interest and developed a love of reading which is now one of her favourite hobbies.
Mia began with poems before moving on to short stories. Although she enjoyed this, Mia found she had too much to tell with too little space, so later on she created her first series 'The Wanderer Trilogy' and from there other ideas have emerged. With a total of nine books planned at this moment, she is busy working on her second series 'Elemental Killers' before moving onto the next idea on her ever growing list.
Links:
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| The final cover... isn't it fierce? |
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Monday, September 30, 2013
I'm at University!
Hey guys,
Sorry it's been a while! I'm at Bath Spa University now! I moved in last Saturday (21st) and have been spending the week getting to know where I live, my flatmates, enjoying freshers and going to introductory classes! I don't actually start learning until tomorrow, although a lot of people start today - as I have Monday's off weekly (great for when I wanna go home and have a long weekend!)
My uni room is stacked with books of course... five boxes (all of my books basically) I brought with me... barely fit in the car!
Sorry it's been a while! I'm at Bath Spa University now! I moved in last Saturday (21st) and have been spending the week getting to know where I live, my flatmates, enjoying freshers and going to introductory classes! I don't actually start learning until tomorrow, although a lot of people start today - as I have Monday's off weekly (great for when I wanna go home and have a long weekend!)
My uni room is stacked with books of course... five boxes (all of my books basically) I brought with me... barely fit in the car!
Here's my room, you may be able to see the stacked book shelf with books behind books and books on top of books!... Also the ones in the corners and over my desk and right there on my bedside table (as well as in the little space under the draw which you cannot see)... yep they're hidden every where!
I love it here, though its hard being away from family and my boyfriend!
My first post arrived... guess what... it was Resist by Sarah Crossan... second book of Breathe! I loved the first book so it jumps right to the top of my reading list, be expecting that review soon!
Hope all is well, happy reading...
Love, Mazz
Friday, September 13, 2013
Harry Potter spin off!
NEWS RELEASES
Warner Bros. Announces Expanded Creative Partnership with J.K. Rowling
Warner Bros. Entertainment today announced an expanded creative partnership with world-renowned, best-selling author J.K. Rowling. At the center of the partnership is a new film series from Rowling’s world of witches and wizards, inspired by Harry Potter’s Hogwarts textbook “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” and the adventures of the book’s fictitious author, Newt Scamander. The announcement was made by Kevin Tsujihara, Chief Executive Officer, Warner Bros. Entertainment.
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” will be an original story and will mark Rowling’s screenwriting debut. It is planned as the first picture in a new film series. Set in the wizarding world, the story will feature magical creatures and characters, some of which will be familiar to devoted Harry Potter fans.
“Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for seventeen years, ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world,” said Rowling. “The laws and customs of the hidden magical society will be familiar to anyone who has read the Harry Potter books or seen the films, but Newt’s story will start in New York, seventy years before Harry’s gets underway.” (Expanded Rowling quote at bottom of release.)
“We are incredibly honored that Jo has chosen to partner with Warner Bros. on this exciting new exploration of the world of wizardry which has been tremendously successful across all of our businesses,” said Tsujihara. “She is an extraordinary writer, who ignited a reading revolution around the world, which then became an unprecedented film phenomenon. We know that audiences will be as excited as we are to see what her brilliant and boundless imagination conjures up for us.”
In addition to the film series, “Fantastic Beasts” will also be developed across the Studio’s video game, consumer products and digital initiatives businesses, including enhanced links with Pottermore.com, Rowling’s digital online experience built around the Harry Potter stories.
The Studio’s expanded partnership with Rowling also covers the continued expansion of its Harry Potter activities, including the wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme parks in conjunction with partner Universal Parks and Resorts (currently in Orlando, FL; opening in Hollywood, CA and Osaka, Japan), digital initiatives (including Pottermore), video games, consumer products and visitor attractions.
In addition, Warner Bros. will serve as the worldwide TV distributor (excluding the U.K.) of J.K. Rowling’s upcoming television adaptation for the BBC of “The Casual Vacancy,” her best-selling first novel aimed at adult audiences. This miniseries begins production in 2014.
The relationship will be managed in London by Neil Blair of The Blair Partnership, Rowling’s literary agency, and Josh Berger, President & Managing Director, Warner Bros. UK, Ireland and Spain, who will serve as Warner Bros.’ chief business contact for all J.K. Rowling initiatives going forward.
Rowling’s expanded quote regarding “Fantastic Beasts” is below:
“It all started when Warner Bros. came to me with the suggestion of turning ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ into a film. I thought it was a fun idea, but the idea of seeing Newt Scamander, the supposed author of ‘Fantastic Beasts,’ realized by another writer was difficult. Having lived for so long in my fictional universe, I feel very protective of it and I already knew a lot about Newt. As hard-core Harry Potter fans will know, I liked him so much that I even married his grandson, Rolf, to one of my favourite characters from the Harry Potter series, Luna Lovegood.
As I considered Warners’ proposal, an idea took shape that I couldn’t dislodge. That is how I ended up pitching my own idea for a film to Warner Bros.
Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for seventeen years, ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world. The laws and customs of the hidden magical society will be familiar to anyone who has read the Harry Potter books or seen the films, but Newt’s story will start in New York, seventy years before Harry’s gets underway.
I particularly want to thank Kevin Tsujihara of Warner Bros. for his support in this project, which would not have happened without him. I always said that I would only revisit the wizarding world if I had an idea that I was really excited about and this is it.”
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Review: Stardust by Neil Gaiman: Book vs Film
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Stardust is an utterly charming fairy tale in the tradition of The Princess Bride and The Neverending Story. Neil Gaiman, creator of the darkly elegant Sandman comics and author of The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish, tells the story of young Tristran Thorn and his adventures in the land of Faerie. One fateful night, Tristran promises his beloved that he will retrieve a fallen star for her from beyond the Wall that stands between their rural English town (called, appropriately, Wall) and the Faerie realm. No one ever ventures beyond the Wall except to attend an enchanted flea market that is held every nine years (and during which, unbeknownst to him, Tristran was conceived). But Tristran bravely sets out to fetch the fallen star and thus win the hand of his love.
Review
Stardust has been one of my favourite all time films that I have watched and watched again, because it makes me happy. Then in town the other day I stumbled across this little version of the book the movie was based on, and although I tried to walk away (as my hands were already stacked with books) I just couldn't, I mean how adorable is this cover? I knew I had to read it. And sure enough not long after my purchase I put this book at the top of my TBR pile (oops) and read it in a day or two.
I found it slightly unnerving how different the book was from the film version I knew so well, for starters there is much more detail and background about Tristan's father at the beginning of the book, where the film features him for so little a time. However, cautious as I was, wondering whether for once I would love a film version of a book more than the book itself (a no no for us readers it seems?)... I enjoyed the book with it's differences and quirks and extra detail and much much more action. Also the magical element I find is slightly more increased as well as the whole idea of the moon and the stars and their nature... which gives the whole story more stability.
I cannot tell which I love more, as I have read the book only once and watched the film a dozen times, but I think I love each version equally in their differences. I find that the book was slightly harsher, colder and built with more suspense where as the film was to me a soft, warm fantasy full of romance and magical feelings. This is due mostly to the characters themselves and how they act in the book and the movie.
This is particularly shown through each version's ending, the book ending... I was not expecting, having falling in love with the lovely, no loose ends, gushy ending of the film. It broke my heart, I must say... but isn't that what all great books do in the last page? And isn't feeling gushy after a romantic fantasy movie how you're suppose to feel? So therefore i conclude.. each version is magnificent in their own rights.
I know I will read this book till the bind is broken in so many places the cover may start to peel... and I will watch the film too... as much as possible I'm sure. (Think this is a DVD purchase awaiting).
I'd love to know what you guys think... if you have read the book or seen the film and which you preferred or if it is one of your favourites.
And if you haven't stumbled across Stardust yet... or have never given it ago... I say please do... it comes at a high recommendation above a lot of stuff out there from me!
5/5 of course!
I shall end here with a film still from the movie... to entice you into watching! Have a lovely day!
Review
Stardust has been one of my favourite all time films that I have watched and watched again, because it makes me happy. Then in town the other day I stumbled across this little version of the book the movie was based on, and although I tried to walk away (as my hands were already stacked with books) I just couldn't, I mean how adorable is this cover? I knew I had to read it. And sure enough not long after my purchase I put this book at the top of my TBR pile (oops) and read it in a day or two.
I found it slightly unnerving how different the book was from the film version I knew so well, for starters there is much more detail and background about Tristan's father at the beginning of the book, where the film features him for so little a time. However, cautious as I was, wondering whether for once I would love a film version of a book more than the book itself (a no no for us readers it seems?)... I enjoyed the book with it's differences and quirks and extra detail and much much more action. Also the magical element I find is slightly more increased as well as the whole idea of the moon and the stars and their nature... which gives the whole story more stability.
I cannot tell which I love more, as I have read the book only once and watched the film a dozen times, but I think I love each version equally in their differences. I find that the book was slightly harsher, colder and built with more suspense where as the film was to me a soft, warm fantasy full of romance and magical feelings. This is due mostly to the characters themselves and how they act in the book and the movie.
This is particularly shown through each version's ending, the book ending... I was not expecting, having falling in love with the lovely, no loose ends, gushy ending of the film. It broke my heart, I must say... but isn't that what all great books do in the last page? And isn't feeling gushy after a romantic fantasy movie how you're suppose to feel? So therefore i conclude.. each version is magnificent in their own rights.
I know I will read this book till the bind is broken in so many places the cover may start to peel... and I will watch the film too... as much as possible I'm sure. (Think this is a DVD purchase awaiting).
I'd love to know what you guys think... if you have read the book or seen the film and which you preferred or if it is one of your favourites.
And if you haven't stumbled across Stardust yet... or have never given it ago... I say please do... it comes at a high recommendation above a lot of stuff out there from me!
5/5 of course!
I shall end here with a film still from the movie... to entice you into watching! Have a lovely day!
Thursday, September 05, 2013
Guest post: Top five favourite movies by Elizabeth LaBan author of Tragedy Paper
Hey bloggers,
If you've been following by blog you might have seen back in March, my review for Elizabeth LaBan's Tragedy Paper... and if not you can see it here. I really enjoyed the novel and therefore was welcoming to hear more from Elizabeth.. so welcome to Words on the shelf and take it away....
Top five favorite movies – and my runners up!
As
I sat down to decide on my favorite movies of all time, I found myself choosing
mostly older movies. At first I thought that was because I went through a phase
when my kids were little when we watched only Barney and The Wiggles, both of
which I was very grateful for because they gave me time to sit and rest while
my children were entertained. Things have changed since then and my kids are
older. In the last few weeks we saw The
Way Way Back, which we all loved, but I wouldn’t put it on my top ten list
just yet. We also saw The Spectacular Now
– another great one which almost makes my favorites. And then it suddenly hit
me why all the movies on my favorites list are from the past – I can’t blame it
on my kids! It’s because movies need a little while to settle in – maybe even
years. There are many that I watch and love, but only time will tell if I think
about them often, or if one scene or another will pop into my mind when
something reminds me of it, or if I will quote the movie. So it is in that spirit
that I present my top five list of favorite movies – with a few runners-up. Ask
me again in ten years and I’ll let you know how The Spectacular Now settled in – the title alone is so quotable!
St.
Elmo’s Fire – I think my kids are old enough to watch
this one now. I’ve watched it about thirty times. Flashes of the movie come
back to me often – the group riding in the jeep as they antique shop in
Georgetown, Judd Nelson’s character throwing the football and saying, “Wasted
love – God I just wish I could get it back.” Rob Lowe’s character explaining
the meaning of St. Elmo’s Fire and how it relates to all of them. Excuse me for
a minute, I’m going to go watch it again now!
Kramer
vs. Kramer – I’m not sure why this one had such an impact
on me – but it did. I remember seeing it over and over again in the theater –
and being scolded because I said the dialogue along with the actors. That’s how
well I knew the movie. It is a great film – and won lots of Oscars the year it
came out including best picture. But I think one of the reasons I was drawn to
it in the first place is the boy who played the young kid in the movie lived in
the next town over from where I lived – and I was fascinated by that.
Prelude
to a Kiss – Such a good movie! I love the idea of
switching souls and actually having someone realize it even though you look
exactly the same. I refer to this movie in one of my not-yet-published women’s
fiction novels.
The
Princess Bride – This one wins a place on my list not
only because it is an entirely entertaining movie, but also because it is one
of the most quotable: “Marriage is a dream within a dream,” or,
“Inconceivable,” or, “Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father,
prepare to die,” or maybe the most recognizable, “As you wish.” In fact, I took
my kids out for pizza the other night and my daughter thought the waiter looked
just like Westley from the movie so we spent the whole night saying, “As you
wish,” quietly when he walked away from the table. I tweeted about it, and it
turned out to be my most popular tweet yet. People love this movie!
Rocky
– I loved this movie even before I moved to Philadelphia. It is a great sports
film about the underdog rising up and winning. The music is amazing. Now that I
actually live here, and have for more than fifteen years, I love the movie even
more. I find it interesting, and endearing, that it is completely embraced here
– from the Rocky statue near the Art Museum to a sign on a store door in the
Italian Market that says “Yo – We’re Open.”
Annie
Hall – I love most Woody Allen movies – but this is
my favorite. I think of it and talk about it often, and I find it fits into so
many different corners of my life. As far as my kids go, I always laugh when we
take them to the suburbs or the country (we live right in the city) and they
don’t like the dark or the bugs, and I tell them about when Allen’s character
Alvy Singer leaves the city to go to the Hamptons and talks about hating when
the mosquitoes get stuck on the screen door. And then there’s the famous scene
when he is a boy and he refuses to do his homework because he says there is no
point, “The universe is everything, and if it’s expanding, someday it will
break apart and that would be the end of everything.” I refer to that often
when my kids don’t want to do their homework.
Since
this list is constantly changing I want to add a few runners-up to round out
the ten you asked for: Dead Poets Society,
Good Will Hunting, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, When Harry Met Sally, and Breaking Away. I’ll leave you with a
quote from one of these movies that I also think of often, can you guess which
one it comes from?
“Carpe
diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.”
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Review Sundays: Blood Moon by Alyxandra Harvey
Blood Moon by Alyxandra Harvey
When the vampire tribes convene for the rare Blood Moon ceremonies, Solange’s fight with her feral nature, a mysterious stranger, family secrets and forbidden magic put all of the Drakes in danger.
And when Nicholas Drake is torn between saving his little sister, Solange, or his girlfriend Lucy, who will he choose?
Review
Blood Moon is the fifth instalment in the Drake Chronicle series, a series which I have followed with releases over the past few years and have enjoyed at that younger age and still enjoy now. I find on a whole the Drake Chronicle books are humorous, romantic, dangerous and action packed all in one. Harvey has taken a more original approach to the vampire novel, creating complicated rules and systems within the book, such as how the vampire children turn into vampires when they reach a certain age, the different types of vampires and the league of vampire hunters.
I found Blood Moon to probably be the most action packed book in the series, as of far, due to it not focusing in on a couple people's story but seeing one big story that involves all of the characters from all of their points of view. It still involves relationships, danger, action and comedy... but in a more saturated way.. so there is more of it.
You know I always imagined Solange Drake as blonde? Until this book mentioned her black hair in one of the dramatic scenes.. I have a tendency to vision someone's hair colour by their personality.. including Quinn with dark hair - yet his identical twin Connor with Blonde and Nicholas with golden blonde/brown.
I found the relationship parts of this book particularly interesting, as it wasn't about getting the girl... it explored the difficulties of keeping up a relationship through differences and after bad situations and also shows how you can lose someone not physically but in the way their character changes - this was shown through couples, friendships and sibling relationships.
I found I had empathy for Lucy in particular throughout the book, and I believe she is the character a lot of the readers will use as their point of view even in the parts when it's narrated by another character. For most of the book I didn't agree with the outrageous and uncontrollable behaviour of Solange, until the change in her, which gives extreme tension to her actions and the situation... where I begin to feel empathy for her. By the end of the book, I am confused about how to feel about Nicholas, I believe he cares a lot about Lucy, but there could be damage to his character from what happened to him in this book which I am eager to find out in the next and last book in the series - Blood Prophecy.
This book has an extract at the back which when reading I forgot about, so it was one of those horrible moments, when you are so into a book believing you still have a fair few pages left and then it suddenly ends right in the middle of everything. Now that's a cliff hanger if I've ever read one.
I love the Drake Chronicles, especially this instalment in the series and can't wait to read the last book - but am a little sad it's the end. I think this kind of story that could go on for much longer as so much could happen - but all series have to end and sometimes the shorter the sweeter. I would recommend the Drake Chronicles to all readers, from about 15 and up, young adults, older readers - female and male - there are male perspectives too! It's not a mushy vampire love story - it's action, danger, fun, with a little tension between opposite sexes thrown in!
5/5 what else?
Not convinced? Here are some quotes...
“Oh Crap," Connor muttered. "She's going Darth Vader on us.”
“I knew damn well if Lucy broke up with me I'd still love her until I turned to dust.”
“With her long dark hair and green eyes, she was pretty as a doll. You know, the kind of doll that came to life at night to kill monsters.”
“what happens when all you love, becomes all you hate?”
Reviewed for Bloomsbury Publishing UK
And when Nicholas Drake is torn between saving his little sister, Solange, or his girlfriend Lucy, who will he choose?
Review
Blood Moon is the fifth instalment in the Drake Chronicle series, a series which I have followed with releases over the past few years and have enjoyed at that younger age and still enjoy now. I find on a whole the Drake Chronicle books are humorous, romantic, dangerous and action packed all in one. Harvey has taken a more original approach to the vampire novel, creating complicated rules and systems within the book, such as how the vampire children turn into vampires when they reach a certain age, the different types of vampires and the league of vampire hunters.
I found Blood Moon to probably be the most action packed book in the series, as of far, due to it not focusing in on a couple people's story but seeing one big story that involves all of the characters from all of their points of view. It still involves relationships, danger, action and comedy... but in a more saturated way.. so there is more of it.
You know I always imagined Solange Drake as blonde? Until this book mentioned her black hair in one of the dramatic scenes.. I have a tendency to vision someone's hair colour by their personality.. including Quinn with dark hair - yet his identical twin Connor with Blonde and Nicholas with golden blonde/brown.
I found the relationship parts of this book particularly interesting, as it wasn't about getting the girl... it explored the difficulties of keeping up a relationship through differences and after bad situations and also shows how you can lose someone not physically but in the way their character changes - this was shown through couples, friendships and sibling relationships.
I found I had empathy for Lucy in particular throughout the book, and I believe she is the character a lot of the readers will use as their point of view even in the parts when it's narrated by another character. For most of the book I didn't agree with the outrageous and uncontrollable behaviour of Solange, until the change in her, which gives extreme tension to her actions and the situation... where I begin to feel empathy for her. By the end of the book, I am confused about how to feel about Nicholas, I believe he cares a lot about Lucy, but there could be damage to his character from what happened to him in this book which I am eager to find out in the next and last book in the series - Blood Prophecy.
This book has an extract at the back which when reading I forgot about, so it was one of those horrible moments, when you are so into a book believing you still have a fair few pages left and then it suddenly ends right in the middle of everything. Now that's a cliff hanger if I've ever read one.
I love the Drake Chronicles, especially this instalment in the series and can't wait to read the last book - but am a little sad it's the end. I think this kind of story that could go on for much longer as so much could happen - but all series have to end and sometimes the shorter the sweeter. I would recommend the Drake Chronicles to all readers, from about 15 and up, young adults, older readers - female and male - there are male perspectives too! It's not a mushy vampire love story - it's action, danger, fun, with a little tension between opposite sexes thrown in!
5/5 what else?
Not convinced? Here are some quotes...
“Oh Crap," Connor muttered. "She's going Darth Vader on us.”
“I knew damn well if Lucy broke up with me I'd still love her until I turned to dust.”
“With her long dark hair and green eyes, she was pretty as a doll. You know, the kind of doll that came to life at night to kill monsters.”
“what happens when all you love, becomes all you hate?”
Reviewed for Bloomsbury Publishing UK
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Released this week
From Bloomsbury Publishing...
CROWN OF MIDNIGHT by Sarah J. Maas
Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2)
An assassin’s loyalties are always in doubt.
But her heart never wavers.
After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new royal assassin. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown – a secret she hides from even her most intimate confidantes.
Keeping up the deadly charade—while pretending to do the king's bidding—will test her in frightening new ways, especially when she's given a task that could jeopardize everything she's come to care for. And there are far more dangerous forces gathering on the horizon -- forces that threaten to destroy her entire world, and will surely force Celaena to make a choice.
Where do the assassin’s loyalties lie, and who is she most willing to fight for?
CROWN OF MIDNIGHT by Sarah J. Maas
An assassin’s loyalties are always in doubt.
But her heart never wavers.
After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new royal assassin. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown – a secret she hides from even her most intimate confidantes.
Keeping up the deadly charade—while pretending to do the king's bidding—will test her in frightening new ways, especially when she's given a task that could jeopardize everything she's come to care for. And there are far more dangerous forces gathering on the horizon -- forces that threaten to destroy her entire world, and will surely force Celaena to make a choice.
Where do the assassin’s loyalties lie, and who is she most willing to fight for?
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Cover Reveal: Skulk by Rosie Best
Skulk by Rosie Best
To some, Meg Banks’ life might look perfect – she lives in a huge house in West London, goes to a prestigious school and has famous parents. Only Meg knows the truth: her tyrannical mother rules the house and her shallow friends can talk about nothing but boys and drinking. Meg’s only escape is her secret life as a graffiti artist.
While out tagging one night, Meg witnesses the dying moments of a fox… a fox that shapeshifts into a man. As he dies, he gives Meg a beautiful and mysterious gemstone. Soon Meg realises that she’s also inherited his power to shift and finds an incredible new freedom in fox form.
She is plunged into the shadowy underworld of London, the territory of the five warring groups of shapeshifters – the Skulk, the Rabble, the Conspiracy, the Horde, and the Cluster. Someone is after her gemstone, someone who can twist nature to his will. Meg must discover the secret of the stone and unite the shapeshifters before her dream of freedom turns into a nightmare.
Isn't it beautiful? I love, love, lover this cover! Do let me know what you think!
Released in October from Strange Chemistry
Review: Extreme Survivors
Extreme Survivors: 60 of the most extreme survival stories!
Anyone with a taste for adventure will love this book.
Extreme Survivors is packed full of stories of the utmost bravery.
The adventure book details 60 of the most daring escapes of all times, from Mary Queen of Scots’ escape from her remote Scottish castle and Shackleton’s incredible shipwreck journey to South Georgia to the miraculous escape of 16 people from Stairway B of the Twin Towers.
With a foreword by celebrated English adventurer Bear Grylls, this inspiring book is crammed with statistics, archive photographs and maps that bring these amazing events to life.
264 pages. Paperback.
(blurb from Presents for Men)
Review
I don't usually review books like this, that are non-fiction/factual, but when I was requested by a company, I thought - why not try something new?
I have not read the entire book as I
believe that will take me a fair bit of time, compared to novels, which you
would usually find reviewed on this blog, the pages of Extreme Survivors
are jam packed with facts and stories. I would describe Extreme Survivors as an encyclopaedia of many journeys and real experiences people have gone through and
recorded for our knowledge and entertainment.
Features of the book
As the book is rather large, with a wide range
of survival stories, the contents page is helpful to pick out the few stories
that interest you by title, and then you can go back and read others at another time. For example, this story interested me ‘The Sole Survivor of Flight 626, 2009’ by title. (I guess extreme stuff entertains me)
When you come to a story page beneath the title, there is a quick brief
of the story - outlining the events which can inform you how interested you are in reading on. Below this are photographs and a table showing the main
facts/details of the story including date, situation and dangers (which can
show how severe the conditions which the person survived).
The stories are then laid out in the format
of a newspaper article in columns, with sections, subheadings and quotes. The
subheadings divide the story into parts of the experience such as before, many
parts during depending on the story and after; which provides a deeper detailed
insight of the story.
The stories usually consist of photographs of
the survivor and other visual stimuli such as maps and beautiful landscape
images.
Extreme survivors consists of in total, 60
stories which I believe any reader from teenagers, to young adults and older
readers who have a desire to learn, or a passion for history, geography or
maybe just find reading extreme stories with danger exciting and entertaining
(I fall into this category of reader I must confess) will thoroughly enjoy this
read. It can be a book that always belongs on your shelves, next to the encyclopaedias, dictionaries and thesauruses’. Its a great thing to keep one quiet and entertained, maybe for this summer whilst at the beach, if your wife is sunbathing and the kids are playing in the sand... pick up extreme survivors... I'm sure it'll keep you interested longer than a newspaper.
'Informative, interesting and insightful'
Extreme Survivors, reviewed for Presents for Men
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