I loved this book despite starting off thinking I probably wouldn't. I'd heard a few things to say it was little slow (which it is to start with) and...moreI loved this book despite starting off thinking I probably wouldn't. I'd heard a few things to say it was little slow (which it is to start with) and that the main character was very much focused on hunting (which she was) but I don't really think these were faults. I loved how the story started by filling you in with the background giving you time to get properly introduced to the characters. I loved the bond between the two sisters. Scarlett reminded me a little of Buffy the vampire slayer in her drive for the hunt. It is what she is all about and what drives her. I think it takes you right until the end before you really grasp the point of it and click why it is so important. On the other hand I totally understand rosie and how she doesn't want to be labelled and is torn being being loyal to her sister and doing her own thing. I must admit I saw the first of the twists but not the second. Both of those things made the end of the book amazing. I would not have been abl to put it down if I'd tried. Fab book, brilliant reworking for an old fairy tale. Fingers crossed for a sequel!(less)
Where she went picks up three years after if I stay. It is told from Adam's point of view he is a Rock star, Mia is a a rising star having graduated J...moreWhere she went picks up three years after if I stay. It is told from Adam's point of view he is a Rock star, Mia is a a rising star having graduated Julliard early and they haven't seen each other in three years.
I did enjoy this book. I loved getting back to Adam and Mia as I really loved If I Stay. I thought the idea of it (even though it almost pained me to think that they weren't together) was awesome and I loved getting into all the whys and wherefores of how it went wrong from them both. I thought Adam was brilliant gorgeous in this and actually felt bad for him throughout the whole book and cross with Mia for treating him as she had. I think it also had an interesting messgae about fame and the reality of it for those who achieve it.
As the story progressed I loved getting under the skin of the characters once again and finding out about them and what went wrong between them. I thought it was brilliantly done and loved how the story was teased out by the author throughout the story.
The final ending was awesome and I was really pleased with how it turned out. I love nothing more than a book that finishes well which this certainly did.
All in all a worthy sequel which was as well written as the first instalment and just as engaging! (less)
I don't think there are the words that will do this book justice. It is truly awesome and possibly the best I have read so far this year.
This book is...moreI don't think there are the words that will do this book justice. It is truly awesome and possibly the best I have read so far this year.
This book is set during World War Two and focuses on the atrocities carried out by the Soviet to the people under their rule. I may be wrong but I think this is the first time this topic has been tackled in young adult fiction with the atrocities committed in Nazi Germany being more commonly covered. I don't think it is commonly known that Stalin's government killed far more people than Hitler's and I am very glad to see that someone has finally done something to draw attention to it and go someway to making the story more well known.
This story is based on the experiences of the author's family who lived in Lithuania during Soviet rule. The book itself is an fantastic example of how to engage young people with history. It tells a huge story by focuses down on one individual who has lived it and follows that story through that one person's experiences and really makes you empathise with what they are going through. The story follows the main character Lina from the day her family is rounded up by the soviet and follows them as they are deported from labour camp to labour and gives a realistic and graphic account of the horrors inflicted on these people. The descriptions of life and the conditions people were forced to live with day to day are truly horrendous and really make you think about the value of life.
A startling realistic account of life under soviet rule. One of the best books I have read this year and certainly one I will be recommending frequently to ensure the suffering of the people the book is written about is never forgotten. A brave and powerful debut.(less)
not entirely sure what this book was actually about and a it worried that it was just too clever for my brain to comprehend. The main character was a...morenot entirely sure what this book was actually about and a it worried that it was just too clever for my brain to comprehend. The main character was a bit of a moaner who spent a lot of time obsessing over the fact her friend had a new friend and didn't really seem bothered by things that should have upset her like people dying. (less)
I really enjoyed this book. I have had it for a while and haven't got round to reading it but after my recent historical fiction/fantasy stint this lo...moreI really enjoyed this book. I have had it for a while and haven't got round to reading it but after my recent historical fiction/fantasy stint this lovely little contemporary book was a welcome breathe of fresh air.
I liked the main character of Seth because he has no airs or graces or pretences about him.. He is who he is, flaws and all and I enjoyed (it doesn;t seem like the right word) seeing how he was trying to put his life back together after the death of his friend Isaac. I particularly liked his blossoming relationship with Rosetta and how their personalities balanced one another out well.
The main character I loved in this book was Kendall. The girl was quirky and crazy and totally adorable and funny in the way she dealt with her life.
The main story was nice I loved seeing how the characters grew as the story went one but for me if wasn;t so much about the story and more about the characters and their interactions that made me like this book. I simply enjoyed seeing a snapshot into their world.
A fab debut and awesome book and definately worth a read.(less)
I really enjoyed this book. It's a really original twist on the werewolf theme which was totally engaging to read. The book was quite slow on the whol...moreI really enjoyed this book. It's a really original twist on the werewolf theme which was totally engaging to read. The book was quite slow on the whole and not all that much actually happened. In fact at the end of the book I had lots of unanswered questions rattling around my brain. While this would normally be a bad thing, this book had me totally hooked and I am desperate to know more.
I loved the main characters of Pietre and Jessica and I am dying to know how their relationship develops. I hope they get it sorted and Jessica shows Sarah what for. I have the feeling that Pietre is going to be a fascinating character who has a huge amount more than has already been revealed. I loved the whole Russian thing that this book had going on and I can't wait to find out if more about the Mafia Links. I also liked the that for the first half of the book (or more) the story could just be a boy meets girl in high school book, until it twists and becomes so much more.
Don't pick up this book expecting it to be a stand alone - it is a fab introduction to what will hopefully be a cracking series but it will leave you with far more questions than answers but if you are anything like me you'll be hooked.(less)
Birthmarked is one of those books that I have been wating to read for a while as the concept is a fascinating one. I have read a lot of dystopian fict...moreBirthmarked is one of those books that I have been wating to read for a while as the concept is a fascinating one. I have read a lot of dystopian fiction of late but this one definitely stands out as a good one.
Birthmarked is a story based in a future world in which the priveleged few live in a walled city and while the majority live in villages surrounding the city. The majority have to provide a quota of babies for the families in the city each and every month in service of the Enclave. This is the role of Gaia a trainee midwife who lives in one of the villages.
The Enclave appears to be this all seeing, all knowing, intolerant and ruthless big brother which rules the lives of everyone with an iron fist. While Gaia is doing her job everything is going on fine but one day she returns to find her mother and father have been taken for being traitors and her world is thrown upside down.
Gaia finds herself the centre of attention, in the middle of something she doesn't quite understand, being interogated about a code what she knows nothing about. The Enclave has got themselves in trouble. Taking babies from the outside had meant that people didn't know who they were biologically related to meaning they were growing up and having relationships with relations leading to a whole generation with birth defects. This makes anyone who knows in more detail about where the children actually come from very valuable.
What I enjoyed about this book is that it had shades of 1984 in how the society and the authority within it was written mixed in with ideas taken from the Handmaid's Tale. The ideas used were cleverly written and twisted and turned as the story progressed. By the end of the story the pace of the story was break-neck and so engaging that I couldn't put it down as I needed to know what was going to happen next.
All in all a awesome offering in full-to-bursting dystopian market which I thoroughly enjoyed and am looking forward to reading the sequel of.
Infinite days was an awesome read and a welcome relief in a market inundated with Vampire Novels as it featured scary real vampires who wouldn't think...moreInfinite days was an awesome read and a welcome relief in a market inundated with Vampire Novels as it featured scary real vampires who wouldn't think twice before ripping your throat out rather than the cuddly variety we all seem to be reading about all the time at the moment.
For me this book had several things I loved about it
I loved seeing how Lenah adjusted from being Vampire back to being a human. Seeing the way in which she viewed both the world as it was but also how she compared it to the world from her time (e.g. 500 years previous) was absolutely fascinating to me.
I loved the scenes in the book where you flashback to different parts of Lenah's past as and when it ties in with the current storyline. I loved seeing where she had come from and difference between the Lenah of now and the Vampire Queen she used to be.
As I said in the start I loved that this books was about Vampires which were actually evil and quite happy to kill people at random. I loved seeing how evil Lenah's coven were and what lengths they were quite happy to go to get their own way.
The book has two distinct parts. The first section is all about getting to know Lenah and her new life which was interesting throughout albeit slow paced. The final third however is when things really kick off and the pace of the story changes completely after the vampire coven finally catch up with now human Lenah. This section was brilliantly engaging as you were left on the edge of your seat wondering what was going to happen to Lenah.
The end of the book left me stunned and while it is open for a sequel I don't have any idea how or where it would go which is quite exciting. Looking forward to it already. (less)
I fell in love with the cover of this book and it was probably the only reason why I bought it. (the black trees are all cut on on the cut with the pu...moreI fell in love with the cover of this book and it was probably the only reason why I bought it. (the black trees are all cut on on the cut with the purple bit being the first page). I did enjoy the whole story a fair bit although I do get a bit annoyed with books that don't really have a point. I liked the main character and could totally see where she was coming from in the things that she did but I couldn't say the same for her friend. I though she got away with too much considering what she did. I would certainly recommend it as a book to read and will be looking out for new things the author writes. (less)
I don't like to write less than good reviews but I just didn't get on with this book. The ideas behind it are original and could be very engaging but...moreI don't like to write less than good reviews but I just didn't get on with this book. The ideas behind it are original and could be very engaging but the story just doesn't deliver. I feel it was too rushed with too much content. I didn't warm to any of the characters as I didn't feel there was enough for me to get to know then. Therefore as things were happening I was often thinking "do I actually care". I didn't think effort background was explained so when different events happened I didn't really fully understand their significance. That said I think the series has potential but it won't be one I will rush out to buy any time soon and instead wait until I can get it on readitswapit.(less)
The whole story was set up around a group of midnighters - people born at the stroke of midnight who get to experience the...moreI really enjoyed this book.
The whole story was set up around a group of midnighters - people born at the stroke of midnight who get to experience the 25th hour of the day. I loved idea from the outset. The focus of this book is the discovery of a new midnighter - the new girl in school. This book was fast paced and action packed. Whilst readint it you got brief overviews of each of the characters involved and the whole world built up around them It was really creepy in a lot of places when the group were coming up against the creatures that lived in the midnight hour which played on people's nightmares and could can form. I loved the different relationships between the characters and would like to see how they develop. All the characters themselves were interesting by my favourite by far was Dess and her weird and wacky ways.
To have given the book 5 stars I would have liked a little more background on the characters and whole midnighters world as I already have lots of unanswered questions. Let's hope they are answered over the course of the series.
Fast paced, action packed and leaves you wanting for more.(less)
I really enjoyed this book, an awesome follow up to the first book in the series. It picks up pretty much where the first book left off. What I enjoye...moreI really enjoyed this book, an awesome follow up to the first book in the series. It picks up pretty much where the first book left off. What I enjoyed about it most is the book is finally giving the story a bit of backgroun looking in more depth to the whole notion of midnighters. You are introduced to a new character who opens an awful lot of the story up and the main plot is superfast, gripping and suspenseful.
The thing that I still don;t fully like about this series is some of the main characters. It's not that I don't like them its more than I don't know them as well as I'd like to care enough about them. This book did go someway to remedy this but still not far enough for my liking.
Looking forward to reading the final book in the series.(less)
I really didn't get this book. I'd like to think I'm reasonably intelligent and all (what with having a degree, although I will admit I am still dizzy...moreI really didn't get this book. I'd like to think I'm reasonably intelligent and all (what with having a degree, although I will admit I am still dizzy the difference between left and right still mystifies me) but I just didn't get it. Maybe it was because it just got too complicated and I gave up concentrating or maybe it was Westerfeld trying to be too clever but I just didn't get it.
I liked the idea that the history of the midnighters was being explored. I didn't like what happened to Rex, I didn't understand really why all these normal people are wandering around the blue time and I hated the ending (and I had to read it three times to make some sense out of it). It is quite repetitive in its plot line at the beginning and I just didn't get it. Am I being thick?(less)
I enjoyed reading this book for variety of reasons.
I thought the world set up in the novel and concepts within it were totally unique. The idea of a w...moreI enjoyed reading this book for variety of reasons.
I thought the world set up in the novel and concepts within it were totally unique. The idea of a world where all people under a certan age can see and inact with ghosts was quite creepy and quite a brave choice for a YA audience. It was nice to read something so refreshing different in the genre
The character of Aura was interesting. I loved how completely normal she was in dealing with how her life was and all the things that were happening to her. I also enjoyed her interactions with both Logan and Zachary.
This book isn't afraid of hitting the emotions with a variety of different scenes, both happy sad and downright steamy in places. I don't often read something YA which is so realistic and raw.
The only thing I found frustarting was the end. I am left with loads of questions and am hoping that they are resolved in future books. Definately a cliff hanger that is going to royally bug me.(less)
I don't usually like books that are very slow to start like this one it but I found this book incredibly engaging and enjoyed it quite a bit.
The main...moreI don't usually like books that are very slow to start like this one it but I found this book incredibly engaging and enjoyed it quite a bit.
The main thing I loved about this book was the historical setting the story was based in. I loved reading about how things were done and about a world which is both so similiar and so different to ours in its values and customs.
I felt this book was setting up what could be an excellent series. A lot of seeds were sown of future plot lines which did mean that not a lot was resolved. I am hoping that they are played out and resolved well in future books
I liked the main characer of Lia although she is quite reserved and a little hard to warm to. I enjoyed her relationship with the other girls in the book and enjoyed following their investigations into the prophecy and the world surrounding it. I found Alice to be an incredibly creepy character and often found myself dreading what she was going to do - I hope she gets what's coming to her.
A highly original concept that appears to be well thought out. I hope the next books in the series deliver - if they do and do it well this will be an epic series.(less)
I can't say that I enjoyed this book as I don't think it was one you are meant to enjoy.
The story was very bleak as it follows the story of a suicidal...moreI can't say that I enjoyed this book as I don't think it was one you are meant to enjoy.
The story was very bleak as it follows the story of a suicidal teen in her "last" days. As a character Daelyn is clearly broken. She has suffered years of abuse at the hands of bullies and you can understand why, after years of the torment, she has finally decided to end it all. This book teaches you a lot about bullying and the profound effect snide remarks and teasing can have on someone long term.
I enjoyed the character Santana and for me he was a breath of fresh air in what was a miserable story. He was clearly one of those wonderful lovely people who accept anyone and everyone as they are and goes about his life as positively as possible.
Where I had a huge problem with this book (and why I have given it a low rating) is because I think this book would not be suitable for the age range it is aimed at especially if the young person in question was vunerable (I'm thinking with my professional head on as I work in education). I think this book would give a vunerable young adult ideas and help to convince them that the whole concept of suicide was a good thing. The whole notion on suicide is glorified in a twisted way (although I'm hoping that wasn't what the author was hoping to do) and the ways and means of completing such an act are given and rated out of 5 which I think is very irresponsible. I know people are going to come back to me and say that someone who is thinking about suicide wouldn't need this book to figure that sort of thing out but I still think it is very irresponsible when aimed at an impressionable audience.(less)
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