Spinning Starlight by R C Lewis (Young adult, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

  October 2015, Disney-Hyperion, 336 pages, Ebook, Review copy from NetGalley

Content: drama, a bit of humour, tissues needed

Summary from NetGalley 

Sixteen-year-old heiress and paparazzi darling Liddi Jantzen hates the spotlight. But as the only daughter in the most powerful tech family in the galaxy, it's hard to escape it. So when a group of men shows up at her house uninvited, she assumes it's just the usual media-grubs. That is, until shots are fired. 

Liddi escapes, only to be pulled into an interplanetary conspiracy more complex than she ever could have imagined. Her older brothers have been caught as well, trapped in the conduits between the planets. And when their captor implants a device in Liddi's vocal cords to monitor her speech, their lives are in her hands: One word, and her brothers are dead.
 

Desperate to save her family from a desolate future, Liddi travels to another world, where she meets the one person who might have the skills to help her bring her eight brothers home-a handsome dignitary named Tiav. But without her voice, Liddi must use every bit of her strength and wit to convince Tiav that her mission is true. With the tenuous balance of the planets deeply intertwined with her brothers' survival, just how much is Liddi willing to sacrifice to bring them back? 

Haunting and mesmerizing, this retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's The Wild Swans fuses all the heart of the classic tale with a stunning, imaginative world in which a star-crossed family fights for its very survival. 

Nayu's thoughts

This is one of the most spectacular sci-fi books I've ever read! I adore fairytale retellings, and the sci-fi take on sweet tale is a pure delight to read. There is an awful lot of hardship for Liddi, but there is hope too. She has a fierce determination to save her brothers, no matter the cost to herself. Staying silent is harder than you might think, but Liddi was able to find a way around not speaking, although communicating in that way wasn't always practical.

I loved the level of futuristic technology, how there was often someone that she needed to hide from which caused obstacles she had to overcome. The way her brothers manage sparse communication gave both her and me hope that they could be reunited eventually. They care a lot for her too, which makes the separation heartwrenching. Liddi isn't completely alone, for she unexpectedly finds a few allies who help her the best they can. 

There is tragedy in the story, I can't lie about that, so make sure you have tissues. The reason for the separation of Liddi's family is one of the many plot twists which made me squee. It's not an overly sci-fi read, if that makes sense, so even if you don't usually read sci-fi do give this captivating book a shot! You won't regret it, I promise!

Find out more on R C Lewis's website. 

Neptune's Tears by Susan Waggoner (Science Fiction & Romance, good read)

1st September 2012, Piccadilly

224 pages, Paperback

Review Copy

Science Fiction, Love Story

Some non-graphic violence with the emphasis on the love story

Summary from Piccadilly Press

What would you risk for the one you love?

It is love against the odds. There is his world, and there is hers. How can they feel so connected?

It's 2218 and Zee McAdams is in her second year as a healing empath at a busy London hospital. When a mysterious young man arrives for treatment, Zee's hard won calm is pierced. She will need all her courage if she's to follow her heart. Especially when David reveals a devastating secret.

The Mole's Review  

I picked this one up, reading between the lines that it would be science fiction with a love story. I can go with that as I have read many Sci-Fi and Fantasies with a love story included. And the Sci-Fi element is a powerful one with plenty of scope to create a really good story. Sadly I found it the other way round. A good love story with a bit of Sci-Fi thrown in. Well that's not fair really, but all the Sci-Fi is rushed and the tension doesn't build up. It's a shame really because the story has lots of potential and the possibilities for the action that does happen in this book were really under done. 

Overall though I did enjoy the book but nothing like as much as I expected to.

Another book with a better (for me anyway) action/love balance is Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Across The Universe by Beth Revis: Review as part of the Blog Tour

3rd March 2011, Razorbill 

416 pages, Paperback

Review copy 

Young Adult, Science Fiction

Dystopian society, spaceship, murder, mystery, high levels of creepiness, solitude, being different, repression of many things, abnormal society, genetic engineering, advances in medical science, human emotion, made up swearing but occasional real word swearing, adult relationships, an attempted rape scene, the aftermath of attempted rape.  

Summary from Penguin

Amy has left the life she loves for a world 300 years away

Trapped in space and frozen in time, Amy is bound for a new planet. But fifty years before she's due to arrive, she is violently woken, the victim of an attempted murder. Now Amy's lost on board and nothing makes sense - she's never felt so alone.

Yet someone is waiting for her. He wants to protect her; and more if she'll let him.

But who can she trust amidst the secrets and lies? A killer is out there - and Amy has nowhere to hide . . .

Nayuleska's Thoughts

This is an oh wow book. As soon as I started reading I was captivated. I mean, I learned about Amy before she got frozen. Along with all the emotions that brought about. I could barely breath as it all happened - the book makes you think you're there, just by her, witnessing it all. And then there is Elder. Now I've finished the book, I like Elder. I liked him after Amy woke up. However, before Amy woke up, there was a lot about Elder. It was a way to get information about the ship across to the reader. But I got bored. The chapters with Elder seemed to go on and on. I just wanted Amy to wake up. The only reason I kept reading was because I knew the book was good. And it really is good. Just not the Elder bits pre-Amy. Perhaps that isn't entirely accurate. They were interesting, but they went on too long. I'm amazed I didn't skim read the paragraphs. 

Aside from that strange boredom with Elder before Amy woke up, I really like Elder. He has so much to think about because of his privileged position. He loves Amy - well, he falls in love with her. He wants her to be happy. He wants to make everything right. He questions his relation with Eldest, the current leader. The problem is, Eldest doesn't seem to like people questioning him. Especially Elder. So he punishes Elder in ways which make me doubt the sanity of Eldest. Unfortunately, compare to the nutcases who crawl out from the ship later on, Eldest is semi-sane. I never thought I'd say that about him. Although near the end her really loses it. 

The characters are lovable, because I don't like one of them. There's a lot of dislike of Amy, and the people on board the ship are told to view her in a certain way. This probably provides an excuse for attempted rape, during 'the Season' when everyone mates. It seems that people are more like animals than humans on the ship, when it comes to doing things. There is a distinct lack of personal modesty, which both Amy & I find disturbing, but it is part of the story and quite intriguing. The plot twists are huge and unexpected, and made me go wow a lot. The thought of what would happen if this was real is quite chilling. I'm glad I live on a planet, and not in space! It's a scary place to be. 

Final conclusion. 

This book is chock full of adrenaline pumping moments, I need a tissue moments, no way! moments, that I'm eager for the rest of the trilogy. 

You can check out an extract of the book here. 

Suggested reads:
Matched by Ally Condle - Young Adult Dystopian, similar themes explored in a society where everything is controlled, which can also be said for Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series (which I will try and re-read this year because they are awesome books),
 The Search For WondLa by Tony Diterlizzi, which really deals with being different and in a dangerous environment.
We by John Dickinson, a chilling sci-fi read. 

The Third Bear by Jeff Vandermeer

August 2010, IPG (but sourced through Gazelle Books) 

274 pages, Paperback

Review copy 

Science Fiction (although I add horror as a genre too!) 

The unexpected, oodles of tension, savage behaviour, gore, death, tragedy

Summary from Gazelle Books

The award-winning short fictions in this collection highlight the voice of an inventive contemporary fantasist who has been compared by critics to Borges, Nabokov, and Kafka. In addition to highlights such as "The Situation," in which a beleaguered office worker creates a child-swallowing manta ray to be used for educational purposes and "Errata," which follows an oddly familiar writer who has marshalled a penguin, a shaman, and two pearl-handled pistols with which to plot the end of the world, this volume contains two never-before-published stories. Chimerical and hypnotic, this compilation leads readers through the post-modern into what is emerging into a new literature of the imagination.

Nayuleska's thoughts

I need to make it clear that I've only read one and a bit of the stories in this book. It's not that I don't like it - I do. But I have a low tolerance for things that I class as having horror elements. I was suitably freaked out by the Third Bear story. Jeff is a mastermind at building up suspense, creating a creepy atmosphere and creatures that both baffle, intrigue and torment humans. The best part of the writing (which was also the worst points for me as a reader) was knowing that some of the characters were doomed to die from the moment they set on their mission to face the Third Bear. That was worse than if it had all been a surprise, because I was mentally going 'no, turn back' at them. The characters themselves know their own fate - but it shows how desperate the situation is for them to carry on regardless of the consequences. 

I think the need for me to stop reading shows exactly how good Jeff is as a writer. The emotions I'm feeling as a direct result of reading the stories are pretty intense. I will eventually read the rest of the stories, there are 16 in total, but it might take a very long time. The second story that I'm part way through isn't as gory or as horrifying in there's-a-strange-beast-among-us of The Third Bear. But it's creeping me out by having such an innocent creature being distinctly not normal. 

I encourage everyone to give this a go, whether you read it one story at a time with long intervals between each one (like me), or have the stomach to read it all in one go (I applaud you for doing so!). It's very well written, engages the readers imagination, and will make you think about the stories long after you've read them. 

Final conclusion 

Brilliantly creepy and descriptive short stories, ideal for bedtime reads, or someone who likes stories with horror elements, but can't necessarily stomach a full novel of horror. 

Check out more of Jeff's work on his website.

Suggested reads: Gone by Michael Grant and 0.4 by Mike Lancaster 

0.4 by Mike Lancaster

Make sure you pop over to Enduring Romance to check out my review on the children's, science fiction novel 0.4 by Mike Lancaster! It'll make your spine tingle with the level of horror in it.

Acorna's Quest by Anne McCaffrey and Margaret Ball (part of the Human Trafficking Awareness Week reviews)

Read as part of

and

July 1999, Corgi
416 pages, paperback
Personal copy

Fantasy

Outer space, planets, bug-like evil killer aliens, more unicorn-like people, thieves, extortionists, pirates, hostage situations, spaceship taken over, young teens coping with extraordinary life circumstances, self-preservation, search for identity, facing and encountering horrific fears, telepathy, healing, weapons, inventive cursing that avoids cursewords, old characters reunited,

Summary from Transworld 
Found as an infant drifting alone in an escape pod in deep space, Acorna was reared by three young asteroid prospectors who raised her as their mascot, their miracle girl, and saved her from those who would destroy her mysterious powers.

But now Acorna has become a young woman who has dreams of a shining world with blue grass and green skies. She still has the translucent horn in the middle of her forehead - she still has her powers to make things heal, and grow, and purify, but she longs to know where she came from - what world in the galaxy was her home?

With one of her old protectors, she sets off on a quest to find her own kind, but even as she leaves a strange craft appears in the skies, peopled by gentle and mysterious telepaths who bring, not only terrible news of a frightening race of invading space killers, but also the memory of an infant, lost in space, long ago...


Nayuleska's thoughts
I distinctly remember the last time I read this book, I enjoyed it but was annoyed that every single page wasn't devoted to Acorna. I have progressed a little further in my reading, and now appreciate viewing the story from several different angles. I enjoyed the non-Acorna characters more because they bring out Acorna's characteristics. Having Callum who admits he isn't the best person to deal with an emotional female try to reassure Acorna as she figures out an outfit for her family was hilarious. I could feel Acorna's distress - not solely by the way she reacts. That's part of Acorna's appeal. I like the slightly non-human gestures she makes: how her eyes narrow, how she sort of whinney's when distressed. Little details like that add so much to a story like this one.

Like Acorna there are several point of views and several story lines to juggle. I think I understand them more on a re-read - either that or I'm just getting used to some books where a lot goes on! I was able to understand most of the technical jargon - the essential points were always explained easily. There is a lot of humour with Rafik and Gill around. There are some emotional parts too, so make sure you've got a few tissues ready. All of the character view points were necessary. It might seem a little odd to watch the two peacekeepers from Acorna see a bit of action, but their lives are tangled up with  Acorna's in this and other books. I think that's what I understand more, that the different points of view all influence Acorna in one way or another. I guess you gain maturity in reading over time.

The alien invasion is providing a foundation for what happens in subsequent books. Hafiz's new wife (by the end of the book) has a more significant role to play later too - she is very away with the fairies. I loved Acorna's relations, especially they way they speak telepathically and how they can convey images by touching  horns, as well as ease and comfort Acorna as they reveal atrocities to her.

This book is predominantly about Acorna's search for her people - but in doing so she grows in experience and proves that unlike her earlier life in Acorna, she has a solid head on her shoulders and rushes into trouble with a little planning, rather than none at all. She still has a tendency to overdo things, much to the consternation of her friends. But they make sure she gets the rest she needs, and do all they can to help Acorna be happy.

There isn't much of an emphasis on human trafficking in this book - obviously it is there because the rescued children are on the moons. Either the third or the fourth book returns to this emphasis, which makes for a brilliant read.

Final Conclusion 
She may be a race incorporating unicorn features, but Acorna has the same worries about fitting in and not making a fool of herself as any young girl would when finally meeting her relatives.

Be sure to read Acorna, the first in this awesome series.

More information about Anne McCaffrey can be found on her website.

Acorna by Anne MCaffrey & Margaret Bell (part of the Human Trafficking Awareness Week reviews)

Read for

This book will also counts as part of

January 1998, Corgi

416 pages, Paperback

Personal copy 

Science Fiction (mixed with fantasy) 

Futuristic space setting, what happens when companies are taken over, space mining, children used for slave labour and prostitution (nothing detailed or graphic), hope, friendship at times of adversity, compassion, caring for orphans, different species, space ships, assassination, humour, a few tissues needed

Summary from Transworld

Three old space mining prospectors in their beat-up space ship discover a small pod floating in space. Inside is a tiny girl child, with funny little hooves, a wealth of silver hair growing on her body, and a lump in the middle of her forehead which, as time elapses, grows into a horn. It is a sort of unicorn. 

When the old prospectors come to sell their ores on the home planet controversy breaks out. Bureaucrats want to put her in a home and cut off her deformity, scientists want to study her and isolate her, and so the old three kidnap her back on their ship and go roaring off round the universe, having adventures, saving her, and finally having her save all the child slaves on a terrible planet called Kezdet. It is space opera at it’s best and will be followed by more in the series, no doubt tracing Acorna to her home planet.

Nayuleska's thoughts

I sort of remember when I first read Acorna. I know I was just branching out into sci-fi and fantasy. I loved the concept of a unicorn girl having magical powers. I ended up loving the book so much I've read it over 5 times, it has a few pages bent in the corner, it has lots of creases in the spine...(you know I'm telling this just because I know a lot of you keep your books in much better condition than mine, right?) Sometimes when re-reading books after many years they aren't as exciting any more. I'm delighted to say that this isn't the case for Acorna. As I read the first chapter, I was beaming at the book (in between needing a tissue because it's so sad). 

I haven't read all the books in the series yet, but having read a few of them, I was able to read with a better understanding of all the different relationships in the book. There are a lot of them, but this actually doesn't make it difficult to understand (and I sometimes struggle if I'm reading a story with lots of plot lines, especially if I'm tired). 

First of all there is Acorna. She is the sweetest, funniest character ever. Three miners, Rafik, Gill and Calum are out in space earning their money. They come across Acorna's pod. They bring it in, open it, and discover her. Their love for her is extremely sweet. They want to make sure she is happy - that takes some creative thinking so that they can do their job and look after her (she gets upset if they go away from her). They make sure she is well-nourished - their ponics section only suffers a little bit, and because of her special abilities the air and water quality actually improve. 

It's a good thing that Acorna can heal people, because the miners are ever so popular in the book by people who want them to suffer (and kill them). Some of the reasoning is a case of mistaken identity. Others are just plain mean and evil. However, the horrid treatment that Acorna suffers at the hands of her enemies mean that her three guardians meet up with some pretty extraordinary people who have connections and can help Acorna use her talents for good. It is because of her that lots of children get rescued and given a safer home. Part of the story follows three girls, telling of their lives before Acorna, as well as how they play a part in bringing down part of the large tower of human trafficking on a particular planet. 

Acorna is so memorable because she's sweet and innocent. She follows orders, but the miners aren't used to children and don't realise they have to be one step ahead of her. She comes from an equine race of people who mature far quicker than humans. She ventures out and takes matters into her own hands. There are several scenes where she gets told off for risking her life and others. What started as an innocent outing ends up being a life lesson on what horrors there are in the world. This only fuels her desire to help others. She is full of kindness, yet is prone to jealously and frustration. 

This is a science fiction book, but I don't class it as super hard to understand sci-fi. There are instances of space terminology, but they are usually explained. It helps that Acorna was so inquisitive because the miners explain everything to her. I feel these and the rest of Anne's books are a perfect place to start for newcomers to science fiction, because they aren't stuffed full with technical jargon. I liked the rich details in the different places the miners visit: some areas are sterile, others are definitely on the nastier side of town. Almost every single character introduced in this book plays a big role in Acorna's life in the following books, making it a real pleasure to learn more about them and why they have a connection to Acorna.

Final conclusion

Acorna opened up more than just a new genre of books. Her tale opened my eyes to the darker side of humanity, and also to the generosity of a few people who fight for children in similar situations. I definitely recommend it! 

Acorna's series and other books by Anne McCaffrey can be explored on her website.

Be sure to read the next in this thrilling series: Acorna's Quest 

We by John Dickinson

Check out my review of this book over on Cem's Book Hideout.

The Age of Zeus by James Lovegrove

April 2010, Solaris Books

688 pages, Paperback 

Review copy 

Science fiction, 

Moderate to graphic violence, some moderate to graphic innuendo/adult situations, awesomely cool attack suits, great twists

Summary by Solaris 

The Olympians appeared a decade ago, living incarnations of the Ancient Greek gods on a mission to bring permanent order and stability to the world. Resistance has proved futile, and now humankind is under the jackboot of divine oppression. Until former London police officer Sam Akehurst receives an invitation too tempting to turn down: the chance to join a small band of guerrilla rebels armed with high-tech weapons and battlesuits. Calling themselves the Titans, they square off against the Olympians and their ferocious mythological monsters in a war of attrition which some will not survive.

Nayuleska's thoughts

The blurb on the back cover intrigued me. I was delighted at 4.30am in the morning when I first started this book that Sam was female. The book started with everything I wanted. Strong female lead, who ends up with a brilliant opportunity in a world gone mad. I was thinking Percy Jackson gone wrong type of Olympian (yes some of them were evil in PJ, but even the 'good' ones were evil. The TITAN suits are everything I dreamed of. They move beautifully. They offer both offensive and defensive protection. They enable to wearer have super strength, super speed. My eyes were shining (not just because of the early hour). The pacing was relatively fast, with lots of elements of a thriller. I wanted to know what Sam's secret past was. Why she'd been chosen to be in charge of the group. 

Then it started to drag a little. I understood that the reader needed to know what happened on the missions, but for me when the results of the missions were explained as interlude chapters, my eyes began to glaze over. I carried on, because of the how it all started. Sadly I confess to skim reading most of the second part of the book. The pacing was quite slow in places for me. I felt there was quite a lot of explanation, and not as much action. I loved the twists in the plot regarding the Olympians, that was nicely done. It just took a long time in arriving. Even near the end where I did read more than I skimmed, it was a bit anti-climactic. I've spoken to someone who has read the previous book, The Age of Ra and they raved about it. Like me their concentration wandered a little in the Age of Zeus, so I think I will give the forthcoming title a go when it comes out. There were a lot of good points about this book. Sam is very human, very approachable. She sees what other people don't. She tries the impossible with a few characters. And the ending is a happy one. 

Final conclusion: 

Aside from the pacing which veers off halfway, this was an enjoyable read. Definitely an author to keep an eye on. 

If you like this, check out The Age of Ra which I hear is really good :) 

The Tomorrow Code by Brian Falkner

May 2010, Walker Books
432 pages, Paperback
Review Copy

Children's, sci-fi thriller

Cushions: 5
Daggers: 4
Smiles: 3
Tissues: 1
Nayuleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+

Summary from Walker Books

An apocalyptic sci-fi adventure with an ecological twist

Break the code – or tomorrow is history... Teenagers Tane and Rebecca are receiving messages from the future; messages that predict the end of the world. They have only days to decode them before the mysterious Chimera Project will wipe out the entire human race. Can they change the past and save the future?

If there is one book every person should read it is this one. All adults should read it. The thriller element made my stomach drop (yes, my stomach, as in I was so surprised/scared/unsure what would happen I held my breath as I turned the page). And as for the ecological part of it - wow. Talk about a good way to wipe out the human race.

Tane and Rebecca both have different skills. Individually there is no way they could have figured out what the code meant. Together they do break it. But breaking it is only half the battle. What the code says scared me. Especially when obstacles made it almost impossible for them to achieve their task.

I never thought Tane and Rebecca would go sneaking into secret facilities, get guns shoved in their faces, be threatened with death, buy a submarine (trust me, the whole story behind that is really clever and funny). And that's not all the book! That doesn't include the tension when each have to deal with their families who, like every other person on the planet, will be affected by the disaster. Or how frustrating it is when people in power don't listen to them just because they aren't adults.

This book is just so good! It's one I would insist is read in schools everywhere. It will appeal to all ages, and all readers. Definitely one for those liking action and suspense.

Brain Falkner and his books can be found on his website here

If you like fast-paced, apocalyptic books check out Meteorite Strike by A G Taylor

Darkscape: Redemption by R Garland Gray

This is from Thursday 1st July, so please head over to Enduring Romance to check out my review of this sci-fi romance.

Seeds of Earth by Michael Cobley

January 2010, Orbit

656 pages, paperback

Science-fiction

Ease of reading: 2

Daggers:2

Martin's recommended rating: ♥

The first intelligent species to encounter mankind attacked without warning. Merciless. Relentless. Unstoppable. With little hope of halting the invasion, Earth's last roll of the dice was to dispatch three colony ships, seeds of Earth, to different parts of the galaxy. The human race would live on ...somewhere. 150 years later, the planet Darien hosts a thriving human settlement, which enjoys a peaceful relationship with an indigenous race, the scholarly Uvovo. But there are secrets buried on Darien's forest moon. Secrets that go back to an apocalyptic battle fought between ancient races at the dawn of galactic civilisation. Unknown to its colonists Darien is about to become the focus of an intergalactic power struggle, where the true stakes are beyond their comprehension. And what choices will the Uvovo make when their true nature is revealed and the skies grow dark with the enemy?

Science fiction has never been first on my reading agenda and after reading Michael Cobley's new space opera 'Seeds of Earth' I won't be rushing to add the genre to any future reading agenda either. There's no doubt that this is a very well written piece of literature, told in the third party, but it fails in my opinion to captivate the reader. Some chapters of the book are extremely captivating, whilst others are too descriptive and quite honestly - boring.

There are many interesting characters throughout the book, namely those based on the forest moon of Darien. The Uvovo people in particular are almost evocative of characters from a Tolkien novel. But the interaction between the Humans and Aliens generally fails to work. Cobley's use of third party narrative brings in the main characters, Greg, Catriona, Theo, Robert and Chel of the Uvovo amongst others.

Michael Cobley is planning a sequel to 'Seeds of Earth' entitled 'Humanity's Fire'. I for one will not be at the head of the queue for a copy on its release.

Cosmopath by Eric Brown

November 2009, Solaris

416 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Science Fiction

Cushions: 5

Daggers: 4 for intensity, not frequency

Paperclips: 4 for intensity, not frequency

Smiles: 4

Tears: 4

Yunaleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Summary by me

Jeff Vaughn has the power of telepathy. In previous books (unread by me), he became a necropath: a person who can read the minds of the dead. It's worse than it sounds, because Jeff experiences all the person's thoughts before death - it is like he is dying. He gave up this path once, but when his daughter's life is at risk he is forced to return to that profession. He is sent to Canopus VII by a rich patron, to find out what happened to the crew. Nothing is to be taken at face value.

With a snappy first paragraph full of mystery and the promise of a smile filled story, Cosmopath earned a thumbs up from me early on. There's a great cosmopolitan feel to most of the settings, including the alien world. A fair amount of the cast and culture came from India and Asia. It wasn't only the setting and description that was well executed. The speech mimicked a non-native English speaker perfectly. I'm convinced non-natives of any language miss out slang and possibly speak too formally or casually. As a language lover its something I always look out for in books.

My favourite elements of sci-fi are found here:

• Technology. There were terminals that provide a fountain of information for Vaughn, just never exactly the information which is really needed. Even with telepathy, that information can only be found through investigation. (Having extra senses is always a plus in sci-fi).
• Aliens: there are the stranger aliens which Vaughn encounters, and there are the cute fluffy kind Vaughn and Sukara's daughter Li wishes to buy. Who wouldn't want one based on the following description from pg 57 "a snowball with six legs and four eyestalks"
  

With an assassin trying to kill Vaughn in the first chapter, I had half-wondered if it was going to be action packed. The action was sprinkled throughout the story, especially at the end. In my view one a key focus in the story was character development. I realise this is a trilogy, and I would love to read the other two books at some point, but I didn't feel that I had missed out on the history of the characters. Snippets of information was revealed at relevant times, and it felt like I knew the characters from another story. By this I mean it didn't feel like I was meeting the characters for the first time. Their thoughts and feelings rang out true from the pages. I grew attached to all of them.

Going back to the assassin, having someone who wants you dead is a pretty big deal. But for Vaughn it takes a back seat in his life when his daughter is diagnosed with a serious disease. He does all he can to provide the best treatment for her. Even though it means visiting a life he never wished to return to, he would probably have given his right leg if it meant his daughter would live a healthy life.

Vaughn isn't the only main character. This is a family based novel, with the focus on both parents. I hadn't expected to read Sukara's pov. I hadnt expexted to get Sukara's pov. Her view on events has me in tears. I relate to her plight on a variety of levels. I hope her harrowing back story is included in the previous two books because some day I would like to read them. Sukara's story focuses heavily on the emotional aspect of raising children, having to support her husband through difficult times. She has to put on a strong front so her children don't worry. The rare moments of privacy are spent being both the consoled and the consoler. Sometimes the truh has to be kept hidden from loved ones to keep them safe.

One small grumble with the story was that it would have been nicer to have events in chapter 21 happen earlier, because I was really concerned for Sukara. The alternative way of looking at chapter 21 is that Eric knew the emotional investment readers have in Sukara's character, and deliberately makes them (and me) read several chapters on tender hooks.

The antagonists' motives range from the obvious I-want-to-kill-you manner of the assassins, to the initially uncertain darker side of significant others in Vaughn's life. I failed miserably in working out what one person's true motives were: when revealed, they made sense and had me going 'oooh'. (I am not giving the story away by saying any more.) They know which buttons to press to make Vaughn cooperative, something that makes me hate them because they know so much about his life.

The book ends high on action, emotion and suspense. I truly thought there might be a 'to be continued in a new series' note at the end of the book. But when Vaughn's saviours made an appearance, I knew everything would be fine. I guessed incorrectly what would happen to Vaughn and his family at the end, but I feel aspects raised at the end of the story could make a brilliant fourth book (please?).

Make sure you check out the first two books in the trilogy (currently not read or reviewed by me) Necropath and Xenopath.

Mirror Space by Marianne de Pierres

5th November 2009, Orbit

394 pages, Paperback

Review Copy

Science Fiction

Cushions: 4

Paperclips: 5

Yunaleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥

Sci-fi with jellyfish! Not literally jelly fish, but jelly fish type beings are keeping Mira Fedor. imprisoned. All because she's pregnant. Apparently they are interested in the regeneration abilities she possesses, and her fetus has them in a higher ability. It's a good thing for her that she's got a few mercenaries looking to rescue her. Although she was doing a good job on her own, by befriending one of the jelly-fish like creatures she escapes her prison. Or tries to. You can only get so far when a planet is in the process of regenerating.

The story follows the point of views of the other characters, including the evil man Tekton who raped Mira and is in love with himself, the female mercenary Rast who is looking to save Mira for what appears to be similar reasons as Jo-Jo, and Thales who learns a few things about a friend which he'd rather not know.

I didn't get much further into the highly imaginative world of alien beings in different worlds - I stopped at half way. The content had a few blushables up until then, but the S&M content wasn't for me.

Marianne de Pierres has written several series, which can be found on her website. I'll be checking them out when I can.

Like this? Try Nova War by Gary Gibson

Astrosaurs: Megabookasaurus! by Steve Cole

September 2009, Red Fox
224 pages, Paperback
Review Copy

Children's, 7+

Cushions: 3
Smiles: 5
Yunaleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

(In my version the two circles on the cover are yellow, not blue)

In this omnibus there are three stories involving Captain Teggs Stegosaur, First Officer Arx Orano, Communications Officer Gipsy Saurine and Chief Engineer Iggy Tooth. These astrosaurs are the crew of the DSS Sauropod, a ship in the shape of the egg which undergoes missions throughout the Jurassic Quadrant. This region of space is divided into the Vegetarian Sector and the Carnivore Sector, which are separated by a neutral area of space known as Vegmeat Zone. (Needless to say I love the concept of all of this - there's heaps of scope for many books in the future).

These astrosaurs have graduated from the Astrosaur Academy. I doubt the academy's lessons could have prepared them for saving eggs from greedy, egg hungry oviraptors (The Hatching Horror), scrawny, evil-scientist type carnivores who swap bodies with Teggs and Arx (The Mind-Swap Menace) or figure out how to literally get them out of hot water when T-Rexes believe they are thieves (Teeth of the T.Rex).

I believe this is a brilliant introduction to science fiction for children. It engages the reader in mild peril (always with a happy ending - for the good guys), distant planets, strange objects in space (a planet which is actually a giant egg), different species (not that they are truly alien - they did originate from Earth at some point in history), spaceships (which are always cool) and a lot of humour. Having read one book involving students from the Astrosaurs Academy, it is fun to learn the career path they could follow after their education.

This book is crammed with lots of illustrations. The bonus part is that there are four cards at the back, with information about astrosaurs on them, as well as an in depth history fact-file on the crew at the back. I had no idea one of them is several hundred years old.

I have one small comment: the third story, Teeth of the T.Rex is significantly shorter than the other two. I had expected all three to be roughly the same length. The length doesn't detract from the story. I loved the idea of the alarm dinosaur, whose soul purpose is to alert the crew if something goes wrong. Although I do wonder what would happen if it suffered a cold...

I for one look forward to reading more adventures about the DSS Sauropod crew.

Like this? Try reading about Teggs's student years at the Academy in Astrosaur Academy: Deadly Drama! also by Steve Cole

Nova War by Gary Gibson

September 2009, Tor
407 pages, Hardback
Review Copy

Science Fiction

Cushions: 4
Daggers: 2
Paperclips: 3 (language, nudity)
Tissues: 1
Smiles: 5
Yunaleska's recommended rating:♥♥♥♥

If a title has war in it, you can pretty much assume the book will entail a war. This book, second in the Shoal series, not only has war...but it has explosions on an epic scale. As in stars (in the sky) go BOOM! And smaller objects. But star exploding = pretty!

Dakota's life isn't all about explosions. It's mostly about trying to escape from the prison that an bat-like species the Bandati have captured her in. And trying to figure out where her really cool special skin isn't kicking in. Or why an acquaintance gets thrown into her cell with her. Also why she's not allowed any clothes...

Dakota's secret weapon is that she can speak to machines. Not just any machines, but her own flying ship. This is what got her into trouble in the first place - well, its keeping her alive. She and Corso were both captured by the Badati, but they get a slightly different experience from their hosts. Corso is, in my opinion, a traitor. I only started warming to him near the end, where he repents for what he did to Dakota. His words, although they keep Dakota alive, does endanger her. I think its justice when assassins after Dakota near the end nearly get Corso.

Her own ship isn't the only machine she can communicate with (although that skill saves Corso's life at some point in the story - unfortunately!). She can communicate with a vessel that two other species, the Shoal and the Emissaries really want to get their hands on. If you're thinking shoal = fish you aren't far wrong. They are fishlike in their ways. And the Emissaries - they are something from a horror movie. You donn't want to meet one. Ever.

The depth of detail behind the non-humanoid species is part of what makes Nova War stand out for me. I could have perhaps done with all the worm variants, but they make brilliant antagonists. Nova War definitely has a squeamish factor with hem.

As a second book, I have missed a lot of background information, but there are little recaps throughout the story which helpd clarify things. I really liked the way the end was written, nearly two chapters of winding down the story, showing where all the main characters were, and also setting the scene for book three. The writing is full of action (lots of things going boom); the humour made me laugh out loud at several points. For sci-fi lovers, there is lots of technology and space travelling with explanations included (some passed by me: I appreciate the complexity of it all but there are some things, no matter how well explained, which my brain just slides right past.)

Dakota's isn't the only point of view in the story, but it is the one which I enjoyed following the most. The way her character develops, from wanting to die for her past to needing to keep living at the end, is affected by actions of the other characters. Some are better beings for having met Dakota. Others get what they deserve. She is one protagonist I wouldn't want to get the wrong side of, although she does have weaknesses which make her strengths shine even brighter.

Gary has his own website here.

Liked this? Try The Cassini Division by Ken Macleod

Gone, by Michael Grant

2009, Egmont UK Ltd
270 pages
Review Copy

YA, sci-fi, paranormal

Cushions: 5/5
Daggers: 3/5
Paperclips: having a mind blank, so probably 1 maximum
Smiles: 1/5 (not funny per se, but there are sweet moments)
Yunaleska's recommended rating ♥♥♥♥♥+

Those of you who see me on Twitter (nayuleska) have heard my despair of waiting five whole months for the sequel. Although, a small part of me doesn't want to read it (see 5 paragraphs down).

Parents, who needs them, right? You would think the children in Perdido Beach would celebrate when their teacher disappears. No more lessons! Only, its not just the adults. Everyone over the age of 15 disappears. They literally go 'poof' into thin air. If you think that's scary, wait until you learn about the entity behind the disappearances. I was afraid of the dark before, now I'm doubly so. Oh, and by the way - upon the rough moment a child was born, they'll disappear on their fifteenth birthday. Unless someone finds a way around it.

Gone follows the lives of the children left behind. Sam, who on the surface appears ordinary but is hiding a secret linked up to the strange goings on, gains leadership among most of the children left behind. Those who don't follow him are under the dark shadow of the gang from the elite school children who venture out of their posh school grounds to instill fear into the children's hearts. For these school children have frightening special powers, which they use to keep control of the town. You don't want to mess with their leader, Caine, trust me on that. Not when objects - and people - can be be sent flying. That boy is definitely a psychopath.

Mary, one of my favourite characters, ends up looking after the babies and preschoolers. She shows a lot of courage, especially when her own secret comes to light. I admire her for carrying on caring for the youngsters while she wrestles with her own demons (metaphorial). There are other characters; the girl who gets abducted by wolves, the boy whose love of violence is obscene, who you'll have to discover for yourself.

Gone is pretty hard to sum up without giving the whole story away. It has everything, explosions, boat chases, suspense, cool super-human powers, scary super-human powers...

..and there are the scary parts which nearly made me put the book down without finishing it. I am petrified of anything that wiggles (w*rm, sn*ke, tent*acles). There's one mutation which almost made me physically sick. Such is the power of the imagination when it concerns a phobia. I think I may skip re-reading the first chapter of Hunger, which has one too many w*rms for my liking.

As for that entity which is responsible for half the mayhem - let's just say this is a book I won't be reading at night. Or in the winter. It borders on a horror level which is one step too far for this reviewer.

The concept behind Gone is briliant. I couldn't predict anything in here. Having the inability to escape from the town heightens the suspense. A lot of issues are explored what, hypothetical situations of what would happen in a world with no adults, how some children lose control, or suffer from addictions and disorders due to the adult disappearance. I love stories that involve people having to make do with what they've got, improvise for medication, equipment, search for food...no wait, that issue is the drive behind the second book Hunger. Out January 2010. Have I already mentioned that? Five whole months of waiting, of recovering from the image of the entity...

There is a warning on the back cover, that this contains scenes of cruelty and some violence. I can vouch for that. Ideas in this book are disturbing. Not for my fainter hearted readers. I know some who'll love this.

If they ever make a film of Gone, I will not be watching it. Never. The book - sits firmly on my bookshelf. Chained.

Check out the website for Gone and Hunger here. I'm aware it's Harperteen - over here in the UK this series is with Egmont Books.

Like this? Be sure to check out book 2, Hunger.

Daniel X: Watch The Skies by James Patterson and Ned Rust

July 2009, Doubleday (Random House Childrens' Imprint)
288 pages
Review copy
Childrens: 11+ Sci-fi

Cushions: 3/5
Daggers: 1/5
Smiles: 2/5
Tissues: 2/5
Yunaleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥.5

Alien invasion, not a new theme, right? You may well be correct in thinking that, but I doubt you've heard of aliens invading for the sake of producing entertainment for the greater alien population. Or the List of aliens, including the monstrous number 1 against whom Daniel X doesn't, yet, have a chance against.

I'd say this is aimed at boys. I was hooked after half way. In truth, I would have been hooked from the beginning, but I read the first half at a different sitting, clearly on a reviewer's off day because I just didn't get the story. I didn't get how Daniel could recreate members of his family by imagining them, or weapons in the same way. Upon the second sitting, I was thinking 'this is so cool, why didn't I think like this earlier?' As an alien hunter, the skill for creating people and objects out of thin air comes in handy. It certainly can't be done as easily under pressure.

All in all this is a good read. It's an even mix of laughs and tension, wtih the short chapters leaving on the edge of my seat , and the chapters are rather short, but they often leave the reader on tenderhooks. I loved the concept of the List of aliens, with there being different types. Huge shouts when a few of the higher numbers were eliminated, in rather ingenious ways. Daniel's main for in this installment: number 5.

The way the aliens choose breed in this novel is rather gross - I'm pretty sure I know an 11 year old who will love what I view as disgusting details. Not for the really squeamish. Or those who like caviar...

As for the characters themselves, I think there's something for all readers to relate to, be it Daniel's desire to save the world (well, who else will?) his new friend Judy's interest in Daniel and annoyance at the alien invasion (how dare they!), his sort of resurrected family and friends who try and give advice to him, and the evil aliens themselves. What? I have to give them credit, the way they turn people into slime so they can....oops, that would be a big spoiler :)

James Patterson's website is here. (I couldn't find one for Ned Rust).

If you liked this, why not try Astrosaurs Academy: Deadly Drama! by Steve Cole or Escape by Shadow Island, by Paul Adam (to be reviewed on Friday).

The Cassini Division, Ken Macleod

1998, Orbit
240 pages
Science Fiction

As well as 21st century books, naturally books I review hail from the 20th Century. The Cassini Divison is beyond doubt a sci-fi lover's dream. Spaceships. Alien races who need nuking. Almost sentient spacesuits that can change swiftly from combat gear to pyjamas and a duvet. Not to mention Ellen's quick thinking mind which gets her into trouble as well as out of it.

Part of an elite force, acting to defend those in the Solar Union, the Cassini Division is Ellen's family. Initially on her own, she seeks out her target for extraction. As her mission progresses, the rest of her team accompany her on a mission which, if they fail, could wipe out humanity.

What appealed to me here was the fact that Ellen isn't developing her abilities, she already knows how to use her special suit. It's how she explains her world to her target, and the female who tags along with him. Through their experiences thoughts on morality and ethics are discussed at length. Life on board a spaceship has both highs and lows, all of which are delved into.

I definitely want a spacesuit. It has a mind of its own: tailoring clothes usually to the wearer's choice. Lace, trousers, dress - any material and any outfit can be created within a few seconds. No need for a wardrobe. Dirt is absorbed into the suit. Any unwanted particle is also absorbed into the suit. It can even - no, I mustn't tell you about what it can do to a person's soul. You'll have to read for yourself :)

Paperclips: 2 (reference to physical relations, some language)
TGB: 1 or 2 (I'm sure things got blown up...I've read 8 books since!)
Daggers: 1 (mild)
Tissues: 0

Overall rating: 5

I'm now more immersed in sci-fi than I ever have been. Now, where's my suit...

Ken Macleod can be found here.

Liked this? Try Hybrids

Hybrids, David Thorpe

2007, HarperCollins

304 pages

Young Adult: Science Fiction

Set in a world like our own, in a place where a virus causes body parts to take on the form of technology, David Thorpe teaches not to judge by appearances alone.

The virus took away Johnny's face. The computer screen replacement has those of the Centre for Genetic Rehabilitation unit seeking him out, since he refuses to register as a hybrid and let his whereabouts be put under constant surveillance. Kestrella, daughter of a man who plays a role in this story, crosses paths with Johnny, changing his life forever. Intially he sees their encounter as a negative one, but over the course of the story he gains an unbreakable bond with her, while taking actions to help others.

I haven't read much sci-fi recently, and seem to have the initial reaction of wanting to put a book down when things are a bit strange (having a phone instead of a hand is strange in Kestrella's character). However, it was the character's attitudes to their changes which drew me in. They usually didn't see them as an impediment. Yes, the differences were something to hide at times, but most of the time they just got on with it. I think this is a brilliant book for those who are different from so-called 'normal' people. It doesn't stop them loving, or being loved. It doesn't stop them from making a difference in the world.

I couldn't predict where this story took me, and thoroughly enjoyed the biggest twist at the end. I'm one of those readers who wants 'more' from a book, and it would be great to see another book carrying on with the story where it ended here. For it isn't really the end at all, but another beginning.

Paperclip rating: 0

Tissue rating: 2

Overall rating: 5. I want this on my bookshelf!