Wednesday 31 August 2011

EVENT NOW CLOSED Win a copy of Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith



This event is now closed.

Unusually I'm holding a competition without reviewing the book, but this is because it currently hasn't been published in the UK yet. It sounds pretty awesome, and I wanted to give my readers in USA and Canada the opportunity of winning a copy from Macmillan.

Here's a summary of the book, for more info see Macmillan's website 
Beneath Heaven is Hell....Beneath Hell is Furnace! Furnace Penitentiary: the world’s most secure prison for young offenders, buried a mile beneath the earth’s surface. Convicted of a murder he didn’t commit, sentenced to life without parole, “new fish” Alex Sawyer knows he has two choices: find a way out, or resign himself to a death behind bars, in the darkness at the bottom of the world.

You can find out more on Alex's website

You can follow on Facebook




The prize One copy of Lockdown 



The rules: You don't have to be a follower to enter, although that would be nice. Please make sure you are familiar with my protection policy regarding age of entrants. 




Winners of Morris Gleitzman's Too Small To Fall!


I love entering the number ranges into the random number generator site, because within a few seconds it picks winners! The winners of this good read, Too Small To Fall, by the talented Morris Gleitzman are....

For the UK entry..

Victoria48! 

For the international entry...

Margaret! 

Whoohoo! Congratulations to you both, I'll be in touch soon regarding sending on the prize to you. 

There are plenty more competitions to win books - there's one for Maggie Stiefvater's The Scorpio Races which I'm holding jointly with a friend in Australia, Amy Laurens whose blog is Inkfever, as well as a copy of The Fearsome Beastie by Giles Paley-Phillips which includes an axe wielding granny. Both are international competitions. 

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (fantasy)


October 2011, Scholastic
404 pages, Paperback
Review copy

Literary fantasy
Some brutal, horrible deaths

Summary from Scholastic:

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

Amy's Thoughts:

This is not a book to squee over; this is a book to quietly die for. I really, really don't know how to do this book justice in a review, so bear with me while I try.

The Scorpio Races is set on a small island in the UK, and the ocean permeates the story. More. This story IS the ocean. The ocean is vast and deep and dangerous and compelling, moody and tempestuous and utterly, utterly charming while at the same time pervaded by a dangerous undercurrent. Ocean, water, blue-brown-grey, gull crying in loneliness from the craggy cliffs and the wind whipping in your face - this is Maggie Stiefvater's The Scorpio Races.

It's quiet, and compelling, and oh, so utterly, utterly true. No, it's not a factual story, but what it says about people and life and grief and love - it's real. It's true.

I've never in my life hated an author before, not even when J.K. killed off beloved characters in her Harry Potter series. I cried, sure, just like I bawled my eyes out for the last three chapters of Marley and Me; but I've never hated an author for something they made happen in a book.

I hated Ms Stiefvater. At a certain point in the last quarter of The Scorpio Races, I wanted to throw it against a wall and scream in outrage and horror at the unfairness of it all. But I couldn't, because what she'd written was right; it was true. And I couldn't bring myself to not read the end, not see how it finished. And I'm so, so, so glad I did finish it, because the ending was worth waiting for, and is so bittersweetly beautiful that I'm literally crying again now remembering it.

I love this book. If you love human-animal connections, real romantic relationships that are more about mutual respect and understanding than mushiness, difficult decisions, wild places, bittersweet endings and of course, killer water horses, please: love this book too.

Final Conclusion:
This is the most heart-wrenching book I can ever remember reading. I want to carry it around with me forever to remind me of all that is beautiful and important in life - and what exactly love is.

Find Maggie Stiefvater on her website, and view the trailer for The scorpio Races here.

Tuesday 30 August 2011

Raising Demons by Rachel Hawkins


March 2011, Simon Pulse
358 pages, Paperback
Review copy 

Young Adult, Paranormal

Themes: boarding school life, magic, consorting with the enemy, ghostly goings on, teen romance, family relationships, surprises, lots of super scary dangerous situations, taking risks, figuring out place in life, betrayal, life no longer black or white, some magical fighting, lots of humour. 

Summary from Simon and Schuster
Sophie Mercer's first term at Hex Hall turned out to be quite eventful. First the ghost of her evil grandmother haunted her every move, then her best friend was accused of murder and of course there was the discovery that Archer Cross, aka the boy of her dreams, was actually an undercover demon hunter - which would probably be something she could have worked on, if she hadn't also discovered that she was actually the demon Archer was hunting....

So, despite their issues, Sophie is actually relieved to be spending the summer in London with her father. But when your father is Head of The Council of Prodigium and your summer is being spent at the headquarters of everything magical, then a quiet holiday isn't really that likely. And, as Sophie struggles to come to terms with her new found demon powers, she finds herself thrust again into a world of dark magic and conspiracies. The only thing that could possibly make things more complicated would be for Archer Cross to show up again, which of course he wouldn't, would he? 

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Sophie...she's got a hilarious voice that had me laughing away to myself. I didn't like her obsession with Archer but I did like how she's developing more magically in this book. 

Is there another character who deserves a special mention? Jenna, who is always there for Sophie...or she used to be. When things get scary Sophie is almost on  her own. 

How evil/nasty is the enemy? I can't say much without spoiling the plot. The book title says it all, plus there are the assassination attempts on Sophie. 

Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? So many that I kept skipping breaths. The ending is incredible. I feel emotionally attached to Sophie and got butterflies at the end. 

One of my favourite parts was....when she and Jenna have a laugh together, as it's a prime example of how good friends can take each others minds off the not always pleasant life. 

This thrilling, tummy twisting read gets 10/10 from me. Roll on Book 3! 

Suggested read
Make sure you follow Sophie from the start of her adventures in Hex Hall 


Monday 29 August 2011

What are you reading? #80

What are you reading on Monday? is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Home Girl's Book Blog where you post books completed last week and plans for upcoming books. Jump over to her blog and see who else is participating.

Books I've read this week



Starring Tracey Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson
Children's, 9 years +
(Tracey loses her temper big time but also learns to control it with help from others...)
10/10






The Dare Game by Jacqueline Wilson
Children's, 9 years +
(Tracey finally gets what she seems to want, but it doesn't work out as expected...)
9/10



 
 
 
Ultraviolet by RJ Anderson
Young Adult
(You're imagination and senses will be blown away by the magic of the words used in telling Alison's story...)
10/10
 
 

Merlin: The Nightmare Begins (Children's, 11 years +)


September 2010, Bantam Children, 
176 pages, Hardback
Review copy

Children's, 11 years +, TV Tie-in, fantasy

Themes: magic, Arthurian legend, secrets, persecution, evil creatures, flight, lots of moderate peril, some humour

Summary from Random House
When Morgana's nightmares spill into waking house she becomes terrified that she has magic. Gaius is determined to keep her in the dark for her own good but Merlin won't stand by and watch his friend suffer. He knows exactly what she's going through and he knows she needs the truth. Is Merlin about to reveal his secret at last? 

Willfully disobeying Gaius, Merlin risks everything to help Morgana, little guessing what the far reaching consequences might be. Lives are put in danger, loyalties are tested, and Morgana is reunited with the strange young druid Mordred, who the Dragon predicted would one day kill Arthur...

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Merlin: he has a good heart and wants to save everyone, but in this book learns sometimes taking what seems like a cruel action will be the best in the long term. 

Is there another character who deserves a mention? Morgana: This is the one where her evil side begins to stir. It should really be renamed Morgana: The Awakening

How evil/nasty is the enemy? If something injures you with poison it isn't an act of friendship. Most of the the threat from the druids was ill conceived. Beware cute looking children! 

Are there lots of plot twists and surprises? I had seen this episode on TV so knew what was happening, yet I loved the insight into each character's thoughts which aren't examined as deeply in the drama. 

One of my favourite parts was...when Merlin was dodging Arthur's questions - it was hilarious on TV and I instantly remembered the way Merlin reacted. 

This fantasy tale gets 9/10. 

You can find out more about the show here

Suggested read
Try another Merlin book Merlin: The Mark of Nimueh


Saturday 27 August 2011

Jack Stalwart: The Hunt for the Yeti Skull: Nepal by Elizabeth Singer Hunt (Children's, 7 years +)


June 2011, Red Fox 
124 pages, Paperback
Review copy

Children's, 7 years + 

Theme: adventure, rock climbing, traps, danger of ice environments, working as a team, equipment glitches, funky gadgets, enemies, friends

Summary from Random House 
Jack Stalwart may be a top rock climber, but no amount of practise can prepare him for the most gruelling climb of all, Mount Everest. When a skull believed to be that of a yeti is stolen by an evil collector of curiosities, Jack must brave one of the most inhospitable places on earth to retrieve it...

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Jack....he has oodles of gadgets, isn't the best climber (truly, others beat him) but that makes him more human. 

How nasty/evil is the enemy? Not only do Jack's enemies fight back, they are bad winners too. 

Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? There's a huge story twist in the middle which made me blink a few times. 

One of my favourite parts was...when Scarlett set up one of the gadgets because she did it so casually and it was pretty cool. 

I did like the information at the front about Nepal and Jack, but it took several pages to get to the start of the story. Some of the information, especially how the gadgets worked, was explained in the story itself and I felt that the extra explanation wasn't that interesting. That's why I give this 7/10. 

Find out more about Elizabeth on her website (which is really cool!) 

Suggested read
For action and adventure try Andy McNab's Drop Zone 



Friday 26 August 2011

EVENT NOW CLOSED Win a copy of The Fearsome Beastie by Giles Paley-Phillips INTERNATIONAL, ends 9th September 2011

This competition is now closed. 

In conjunction with my review of The Fearsome Beastie , Giles has provided a copy of the book for giveaway! And...as he kindly sent it straight to me, it means I can make this competition international!



The prize: one copy of The Fearsome Beastie 


The Fearsome Beastie by Giles Paley Phillips Illustrated by Gabriele Antonini (Children's, Picture Book)


May 2011, Maverick Arts Books 
32 pages, Paperback
Review copy 

Children's, Picture Book 

Themes: beasts and monsters that can get you, grandmothers with tricks up their sleeves, helping others, saving the day, 

Summary from Maverick Arts Publishing
The fearsome beastie is searching for something to eat and the children are at the top of the menu. 

Will they be fooled by the fearsome beastie and his clever tricks? 

Nayuleska's reasons for loving this book....the pleasant rhyming verses are fun and should be easy for readers to remember. 

What style are the illustrations? For a book about a beastie it is surprisingly light in colour, and has a smudged style. 

Are there any messages put forward to the reader? If you fear a beastie, go find a granny who loves chopping wood! 

One of my favourite parts was...when the granny got her axe because her expression means the beastie was in deeeeeeeep trouble!

This is a fun read for those who fear monsters, especially in the still of the night and gets 10/10 from me. 

Check out Giles's blog

Suggested read
Another book about beasties (no granny with an axe) try The Beasties by Jenny Nimmo and Gwen Millward

Thursday 25 August 2011

My Name is Rose by Sally Grindley (9 years +)


June 2011, Bloomsbury, 
240 pages, Paperback
Review copy 

Children's, 9 years + 

Themes: tragedy, family love and loss, separation, high expectation, cruelty, fake personality, discord, accusation, injustice, fear, happiness in music, hope, tissues are needed. 

Summary from Bloomsbury
Rose is a young Romany gypsy girl who travels around Romania and Europe in a caravan with her family. Playing music - on their own or with extended family and friends - her life is happy, until Rose suddenly finds herself an orphan after a dreadful car accident. 

This is the beginning of many changes for Rose as she is forced to adapt to another country and a new family, and she realises that she's not sure of her identity. 

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Rose...she is a sweetheart, shoved into a life which doesn't suit her and people who have their own agenda. I was mildly annoyed that I didn't get to learn what happened in her immediate future, but it looks to be a bright one. 

How nasty/evil is the enemy? Rose is stuck in a world mostly without true love and a sense of belonging. There are mean characters wanting to get rid of her. 

Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? I loved the blend of Rose's memories about her family compared with the state of her current life. The unexpected kept happening in the Luca household. 

One of my favourite parts was...when Rose got to spend time pursuing hobbies she is passionate about even when she was taking great risks to do so. 

This slightly horrifying tale of what some people will do, evolving around a sweet girl who is trapped, gets 10/10 from me. The cover matches the feel of Rose's story perfectly. 

Suggested read
Follow the life of Nettie as she discovers all the secrets in her family in The Robber Baron's Daughter by Jamila Gavin

Wednesday 24 August 2011

Winners of Sarah Anderson's Hunting Lila


This fast paced read, Hunting Lila, will be winging it's way shortly to 5 of you, thanks to Simon and Schuster publicity. 

The winners are...

cathryn1!

steve! 

Emma Reardon!

alexlukeshelby!

katylittlelady!

Many congratulations, I will be in touch soon to confirm you winning, and will pass you details on to the Simon and Schuster publicity team so they can arrange sending the prize out to you. 

Remember there's still a competition going on (and another coming very shortly) - so keep an eye out on the menu to the right for competition details! 

Winners of Suzanne Lafleur's Eight Keys


I've managed to coordinate remembering to choose competition winners with actually being in front of my laptop (a tricky feat), so it's time to see who has one the incredible read, Eight Keys by Suzanne Lafleur! I'd like to say thank you to the publicity team over at Puffin for providing copies of this book for giveaway. The five winners are....

Dogcat!

angelle88!

hotkee!

debwh142!

wooohooo!

Many congratulations! I'll shortly be emailing you to confirm you've won, and I'll pass your details on to the Puffin publicity team so they can sort out sending the books out to you. 

Remember, there is still one (and soon to be two) competition still running - just check the menu on the right and click on the pictures to get taken to the entry forms. 

Eva's Holiday by Judi Curtin (Children's, 10 years +, 10E/10E)


29th August, O'Brien Press
256 pages, Paperback
Review copy 

Themes: summer holiday, circles of friends, accepting differences, protection special things, lies, growing up, becoming a better person, standing up for beliefs, mystery, relationship with parents, close knit village community, lots of humour, some tissue moments. 

Summary from Frances Lincoln
I thought Mum was joking when she said that we were going to spend five weeks of the summer in a cottage in the country. How was I going to survive for five whole weeks without my best friends, Ella and Victoria? To make things worse, we had to bring Mum's friend totally annoying eight-year-old son with us. To make things even worse again, the cottage was a total dump, and was exactly in the middle of nowhere. Then, when we got to the cottage, it turned out that the only neighbour was a girl called Sam, who looked like a boy, and who seemed to want to be my friend. It was like my worst nightmares had just come true. 

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Eva...Eva is what I call a little madam with a kind heart. Slowly she learns to be less judgemental and to find fun in everything. 

Is there another character who deserves a mention? Kate is more my kind of girl, who keeps her problems hidden and who wants to save the world. She's a good influence on Eva. 

How evil/nasty is the enemy? A man with a chainsaw can be a threat, but the more people who stand up to him, the less scary he is. Mean girls don't need chainsaws - they are mean enough with their mouths. 

Are there lots of plot twists and surprises? The end was quite easy to guess, but I liked the little twists the story took in making Eva a better person and giving Kate some love. 

One of my favourite parts was...when Eva kept agreeing to do things with Kate, even when she didn't want to. Deep down she knew Kate was nice. 

I give this enlightening read 10E/10E

You can find out more about Judi's other books on her website). 

Suggested read
Check out another book by Judi, Friends Forever: The Time Spell (Children's, 8 years +, 9/10E) 

Tuesday 23 August 2011

The Leopard Boy by Julia Johnson (Children's, 7 years +, 8/10E)


4th August, Frances Lincoln
96 pages, Paperback
Review copy 

Children's, 7 years + 

Themes: mountain life, conservation, greed, deception, unexpected help, cruelty, kind hearts, a tissue needed

Summary from Frances Lincoln
Khalid spends his days looking after his uncle's goats. One day he follows the goats higher up the mountain than he has ever been before, only to discover that one of the kids is missing. But he does stumble upon the home of an old man who tells him about the danger faced by the last of the loepards. When Khalid gets home, his uncle angrily sets a trap for the creature he is sure has killed the lost goat. In the following days, Khalid and the old man discover signs of a leopard and determined to save it from Khalid's uncle. Then Khalid learns that his uncle plans to allow a mining company to destroy the mountain and the last thing he needs is to be foiled by the presence of an endangered and protected animal. 

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Khalid...he cares for and respects the area he lives in, and treats his mother in a similar way. He knows right from wrong and tries to safeguard animals from his uncle's cruelty. 

Is there another character who deserves a mention? Khalid's mother leads a trapped life. She has a strong bond with Khalid and uses her intelligence to sneak her son out without permission of Khalid's uncle who looks after her now her husband isn't around. 

How evil/nasty is the enemy? All Khalid's uncle sees are money symbols in front of his eyes. He is the the total opposite of Khalid. 

Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? I had butterflies for a few of the parts where Khalid was in danger, and smiled when justice was served. 

What style are the illustrations? Pen and ink, which works well with the feel of the story.

One of my favourite parts was...when the leopard cub was spotted because the illustration is adorable! It's cute and fluffy. Equally nice was when Khalid's mother gave him extra provisions because it shows the love between them. 


Available from bookstores including NRC affiliate Foyles.

Suggested read 
If you're looking for the harsh realities of life, try First Girl by Gloria Whelan which looks at what happens when a second child - a girl, no less - is born in China. 

Monday 22 August 2011

What are you reading? #79

What are you reading on Monday? is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Home Girl's Book Blog where you post books completed last week and plans for upcoming books. Jump over to her blog and see who else is participating.

Books I've read the past TWO weeks...

Blood Ninja by Nick Lake
Young Adult, Historical/Paranormal
(Ninja vampires are an awesome combination, plus all the girls have equally strong characters against the boys!  My review...)
10/10





Children's, 9-11 years
(Its amazing how a child's imagination can misunderstand a situation, but it all turns out for the best.  Check out my review here and don't forget to enter for your chance to win a copy of your own!)
8/10





Children's, 7 years +
(A tale of a brave boy who seeks a way to stand up to his cruel, greedy uncle.  Watch for my review...coming soon!)
8/10




Children's, 9 years +
(Rose gets trapped in a restrictive world, yet through breaking one of the many rules she sets about gaining her freedom and her voice.)
10/10






Sequins, Stars and Spotlights by Sophia Bennett
Children's, 11 years +
(Nonnie and her friends learn the essence of life and friendship.  Check out my review here....)
10/10





Young Adult, Historical/Paranormal
(Full of gore, adventure, fighting with the brave Hana who endures tough things, and Taro who is a bit of an idiot in places.  Check out my review....  )
10/10




Children's, Picture book
(Great happy feeling bedtime read for those scared of monsters...review coming very soon!)
10/10




Children's Fantasy, TV Tie-in; 11 years +
(Or....The One Where Morgana Turns to the Dark Side...  O_O.  Review to come.)




Children's, 7 years +
(Nifty gadgets don't always work well in extreme environments as Jack discovers...review coming soon.)






Momentum by Saci Lloyd
Young Adult, Dystopian
(Slow and clunky in the first quarter but picks ups to thrilling action packed adventure there after!)
7/10





Children's, 10 years +
(Eva learns how not to be a madam from a girl who is a little wild.  A sweet story of friendship.  Review coming soon...)
10/10





Young Adult, Paranormal
(The 2nd book in the Hex Hall series sees Sophie with more power, in more peril and her life is drastically changed. It's a series which has a lot of humour which helps prevent the feel of the book from becoming too dark.)
10/10





Mystery/Suspense
(I've waited years for this to be published and I'm delighted with the final version.  Full of action and turmoil...)
8/10




 Young Adult, Paranormal Romance
(An intriguing read about crucial differences between shapeshifters and werewolves which create tension between Deanna and Eric.)
9/10




Young Adult, Paranormal Romance
(Werewolves, vampires, sort of an apocalyptic world, and survival...all await Rachel as she turns 16.)
9.9/10







Be Mine (A Fall Into the Night novel) by Kelly Daniels
Paranormal Romannce
(Super creepy stalker doesn't care who he hurts as long as he gets Elle into his arms and in reaching distance of his fangs, but he doesn't count on how much her family loves her...or what lengths Larik will go to protect her, even if it means making her very angry at him.)
10/10





Friends Forever:  The Time Spell by Judi Curtin
Children's, 9 years +
(Time travel thanks to a cat and a crazy lady.  I dont believe in boredom, and Lauren endures a great adventure on the Titanic to learn her life is actually rather good.  My review....)
9/10





 Children's, 11 years +
(Jess finally learns to stop others making her feel bad, as well as what true beauty means.  Review coming soon...)
10/10







Gargoylz Spring Mayhem by Burchett & Vogler
Children's, 6 years +
(This omnibus not only has stories taken from other Gargoylz books but it also has fun crosswords and other puzzles!)
10/10



 
Chips, Beans and Limosines:  The Fantastic Diary of Bathsheba Clarice de Trop by Leila Rasheed
Children's, 9 years +
(Bathsheba is a true drama queen, and it doesn't make her happy as she finds out people actually don't like boasters...)
9/10

Million Dollar Mates: Catwalk Queen by Cathy Hopkins (Children's, 11 years +, 10/10E)


July 2011, Simon and Schuster
240 pages, paperback & eBook
Review copy 


Themes: friendship, mean/spiteful/jealous girls, school life, fashion world idea of beauty, real beauty, beauty mistakes, having to put on a brave face, finding out who you are, taking a risk, strength of family love, being used,

Content: teen romance (mild), a lot of laughs, pack of tissues needed

Summary from Simon and Schuster
A pop diva comes to live at Porchester Park and is involved in a modelling competition. Jess is encouraged to enter too. But does she really want to be a catwalk queen?

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Jess...she is still a drama queen but slowly she is figuring out what others think doesn't matter - it's who she is that's important. She finds that hard to put into practice but does so at the end and produces a memorable school show. 

Is there another character who deserves a mention? Yes - Pia. She has to face the music when a beauty therapy treatment goes wrong with her and Jess, but she does so with a huge dose of humour. 

How evil/Nasty is the enemy? Self doubt and negative thoughts attack everyone, and when backed up by a mean girl's comments Jess is made to feel worse than dirt. 

Are there lots of plot twists and surprises? It felt so good watching one character get her comeuppance. Plus I was surprised at those who pitched in and helped Jess in her hours (there was more than one) of need. 

My favourite part was....when Jess was able to smile over Pia's abduccted by aliens excuse for why they looked different at school. 

Find out more about Cathy and her books over on her website.

Suggested read
Definitely check out the other books in the series which include book 2, Paparazzi Princess

Sunday 21 August 2011

Friends Forever: The Time Spell by Judi Curtin (Children's, 8 years +, 9/10E)


April 2011, Puffin Books
240 pages, Paperback
Review copy

Themes: history, Titanic, life for different classes in 20th century, childhood boredom, adventure, boats, being disbelieved, fear of never returning home, friends making a difference, survival, satisfaction, a very special white cat, some humour, tissues needed. 

Summary from Puffin
Can true friendship survive the test of time? 

It all started when Lauren got a cat. No ordinary cat! Saturn has long white hair, eyes that don't match and... it seems...strange powers. One minute she's cuddling Saturn, the next thing she knows she's not just miles but YEARS away from home. It's 1912, she ends up on board a ship - and THEN discovers it's the Titanic! It was like some crazy dream, except the new friends she made were real...

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Lauren...she thinks about how people in the past were just like us - people who loved and lost. Unlike Lauren boredom isn't in my vocabulary. 

Is there another character who deserves a special mention? Saturn. Cats are special, and Saturn is extra special, even if he does cause a lot of worry for Lauren. I wonder if she'll have more adventures with him...

How evil/nasty is the enemy? Both now and in the past some people don't look favourably on others who are less fortunate. Those people should have kept a closer eye out for icebergs...

Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? Yes - I was toally wrong in my guess about the ending, which was brilliantly written. 

My favourite part was when....Lauren and Mary sleep in the same room, as it connects them on a deep emotional level. 

This time travel read where a young girl learns how fortunate she is gets 9/10E from me.

 When I first picked the book up off one of many reading piles, I couldn't figure out why it was so popular. So I Googled Judi, and realised that I'd recently read one of her books, Eva's Holiday which will be reviewed soon.

You can find out more about Judi's books on her website.

Suggested read
For another thrilling time travel where a young girl affects the course of history, read The Queen Must Die by K A S Quinn (Children's, 9 years +, 10E/10E)

Saturday 20 August 2011

Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart (Young Adult, Fantasy)




Sept 2011, Random House
290, Paperback
Review copy

YA fantasy
Occasional mild violence, a kiss or two


Summary from Random House Australia:

When her sister becomes betrothed to a prince in a northern nation, Zeraphina's only consolations are that her loyal animal companions are by her side - and that her burning hunger to travel north is finally being sated.

Already her black hair and pale eyes mark her out as different, but now Zeraphina must be even more careful to keep her secret safe. Craving blood is not considered normal behaviour for anyone, let alone a princess. So when the king's advisor, Rodden, seems to know more about her condition than she does, Zeraphina is determined to find out more.

Zeraphina must be willing to sacrifice everything if she's to uncover the truth - but what if the truth is beyond her worst nightmares?

Amy's Thoughts:
I must confess, my thoughts as I waded through the first three chapters of this book were - oh no, not another 'Just Another Vampire Story' (J.A.V.S.). Somehow, I'd missed the (totally obvious) references in the back cover copy and HELLO, THE TITLE, and I was worried I wouldn't enjoy the book after all. But I DID like the back cover copy, and that kept me going.

I'm so, SO glad I did. As soon as the MMC is introduced somewhere around chapter 4 or 5, this book morphed from being my few-pages-every-few-days bathroom book to an un-put-down-able story that I HAD to finish RIGHT THEN. Rodden, the MMC? SO. MUCH. AWESOME. He and the FMC Zeraphina play off each other perfectly, and there's snark, and attraction, and it's just all so shiny.

Plus, the books is definitely NOT a J.A.V.S. Hart's take on 'vampires' is refreshing (more in line with historical perspectives of vampirism, not the new-fangled vampires-are-sparkly-and-sexy) and fits well into her original world building. Plus, hello, telepathic connections with animals. I'm in. (That's part of what attracted me to the story in the first place).

Final Conclusion:
I'll be looking out for the next book in the series, for sure. This was a fun read :)

Find out more about Blood Song and Rhiannon Hart at her blog, Dangers Untold and Hardships Unnumbered.