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| # | cover | title | author | isbn | isbn13 | asin | num pages | avg rating | num ratings | date pub | date pub (ed.) | rating | my rating | review | notes | recommender |
|
votes | read count | date started | date read | date added | date purchased | owned | purchase location | condition | format | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B004G5ZUB4
| unknown
| 3.91
| 172
| Dec 13, 2010
| Dec 13, 2010
|
4½ Out of 5 Stars Yuki is special: she can smell the dead. She is also running out of time. Samhain is fast approaching – as is the storm of spirits it...more 4½ Out of 5 Stars Yuki is special: she can smell the dead. She is also running out of time. Samhain is fast approaching – as is the storm of spirits it will bring with it. Yuki needs to find a way to get through the night. Preferably with her sanity. To make everything worse, a murderer is out there – a murderer who seems to be targeting werewolves. And then, just when Yuki is starting to think that her life cannot get any better, a disaster strikes. And still, time is running out. On the bright side, she’s found something to deal with her ghosty problems. The downside? It involves stealing. From witches. Wonderful, just wonderful… Oh, how I missed Yuki! Which proves how addictive this series is, seeing as I read Spirit Storm straight after I finished She Smells the Dead, but there you go. And what a wonderful sequel! It was just as quirky, cute, fun and such a pageturner! I found myself sitting in bed, my kindle on my lap, reading way into the wee hours. I love this series! Vanessa Stennings, more commonly known as Yuki, was just as wonderful as she was in the first book! She had the craziest ideas (wearing a shirt full of safety pins to keep the spirits away. Who else?), as well as being insanely excitable and energetic. Her dress sense: amazingly wacky, featuring gourd spiders and shoulder-bag pumpkin ghosts. And they were called Legs and Boo. Don’t you just love her already? She’s so cute, hilarious, and her wonderful madness was just contagious! Calvin Miller was amazing. And also an alpha wolf. Basically, he says “jump”, the other wolves say “how high”. He, too, was wonderfully mad. And adorable. He was so brave and strong: just what Yuki needed. And, I can tell you now, that Cal and Yuki were the cutest. Ever. They’re soulmates, but it actually works. Cal’s soul is special: he has a spirit wolf. And Yuki’s just plain special: hence, she smells the dead. So, really, it’s more spirit mates. Either way, they’re adorable. So, so, so, so, so cute! It also felt wonderfully real, all the way through the book. It was the light in the spirity dark. Emma was officially the best friend ever! She was totally sweet and the “normal” thing grounding Yuki. Plus she was completely addicted to research – how completely weird? And she Training to be a vet, Emma named her cats Van Gogh and Chairman Meow! Plus, I love her diabolical plans…! Simon was kind of a jerk. He was also sarcastic and very funny. And a wolf. An old one! Seriously, he was born with the wolf spirit. Which meant he was kind of, in Yuki’s own words, “off”. He was, uh, “ancient”. Y’know. Thirty! Man. In the first five pages: a murder! That is just how I like my thrillers! And a deranged, symbolic, werewolf-hating murder? Does it get any better? Yes. When you throw in ghosts, eminent danger and a brilliantly wacky heroine. I adore E.J.’s writing and plot, even if some parts felt a little skipped-over, a little anti-climatic. But the ending? Wow. Let’s just say, if I didn’t already have the third book, there’d be a pretty impressive chance that I’d lose my sanity! Plus, on a completely unrelated topic, isn’t this cover just the most beautiful thing ever?(less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
Once, But I Could Read It A Million Times Without Getting Bored!
| Sep 08, 2011
| Sep 11, 2011
|
May 02, 2011
| Kindle Edition
| |||||||||||||||
| 0141333685
| 9780141333687
| 4.13
| 14,727
| Jan 10, 2012
| Apr 05, 2012
|
It’s been three months since Eldest died and since Elder took over running Godspeed. He only wants to make life better, but the pressure is intense an...more
It’s been three months since Eldest died and since Elder took over running Godspeed. He only wants to make life better, but the pressure is intense and a rebellion is threatening to destroy the life they know. While Amy wants to help him become the leader she knows he can be, she is fighting with secrets of her own and the pain of never seeing her parents again. As the terrible truth about Godspeed is revealed, Amy is determined to follow the clues left to her and her alone, certain they hold the key to their survival. They need to get off of Godspeed. Before the mutiny pulls it apart… I absolutely adored Across the Universe, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book! But because I loved the first so much, I was really worried A Million Suns wouldn’t be able to live up to it. I should have known better than to underestimate Miss Revis! A Million Suns was a book as beautiful as it was utterly shocking – literally everything was unexpected, a total surprise. And I loved: Every. Single. Second! Oh, I love Elder! He had so much responsibility now, but he was strong and clever and a frexing good leader in my opinion – yeah, it’s all the others who are wrong! And through it all, through everything going on, Elder was sweet and brave and cute, always doing what was best for the ship and his people, no matter what. This just made me love him more! And seeing all his childhood memories made me even more real. Amy was so much stronger now than she was in Across the Universe. I really don’t know how she kept going – I would have fallen apart from the word go. I loved her sense of humor, her determination, her snark. All of the things she was struggling with – keeping her parents frozen, trying to remember Earth –really broke my heart. She really had to fight to keep her own identity, and I admired her so, so much for that. The relationship between Elder and Amy felt so, so real – even more so than in Across the Universe. I loved seeing them get to know each other. And oh my God, I really felt it this time: felt the confusion, the hunger, the pure love. Even more, though, I found it intriguing, getting to know the Previous Elder better. I, of course, hated him by the end of Across the Universe, but I did start it off liking him. I loved how we slowly go to see why he did what he did, who he really was. But who is he, you may ask? Well, read the book and find out!! Again, I have to touch on how real the world and characters all felt. That’s what I loved about the first book, and something I still felt in A Million Suns. Even though it was a rather unbelievable place, the way Revis described everything just made it so real to me. Love it! The world building Revis does is one of the best and most thought-out ones I’ve read! The plot was… well, just incredible. I had no idea where it was going and I swear I was literally, physically gaping at times. There were so many secrets to discover, so many clues to keep me guessing. The plot was just like a treasure hunt, the kind I had as a little kid with Easter eggs. This book? Just as rewarding as nummy chocolate! And the ending? Well, I need Shades of Earth. NOW! The writing I also adored. The split POV lets us see into all the action, all the emotions and let us really get to know Amy and Elder. What I love most about the writing is that I see everyting I my head: the ship, the people, Amy, Elder, everything. Simple and descriptive, my favorite kind of writing! All the twists, turns and secrets made A Million Suns so exciting! I was hooked to every single word. And how, how, how can they make us wait until March 2013 for the next book? HOW?! Rant over. In other words? Absa-frexing-brilly! (Sorry, I just love Revis’ slang!)(less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
Once, But I NEED Book Three!!
| Mar 24, 2012
| Mar 26, 2012
|
Aug 31, 2011
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 1595143971
| 9781595143976
| 3.81
| 40,906
| Jan 11, 2011
| Jan 11, 2011
|
I’ve seen rave reports for this book all over the place. My expectations were so high I was sure that it couldn’t possibly live up to them. Well. I wa...more
I’ve seen rave reports for this book all over the place. My expectations were so high I was sure that it couldn’t possibly live up to them. Well. I was wrong. It exceeded them by a long shot. Starting with the first few chapters, that had me so hooked I didn’t notice how late it was getting as I read. The novel begins with Amy (our female protagonist) undergoing freezing, the process that will allow her to be alive when the ship reaches her new home, three-hundred years away. These chapters scared the life out of me, and I could imagine the ice filling my veins. But what was worse was that her mind was awake while she was trapped in that ice: she had nightmares, memories, dreams all mixed up. It would have driven me insane. And then there’s the unfreezing as well, another few chapters that felt scarily, horribly real. (I had nightmares about it; ice everywhere: in my veins, my lungs, my heart. No book has done that to me for as long as I remember. Which is why this one stayed with me.) Someone tried to murder Amy, and she doesn’t know why. She was just baggage, non-essential. There was no point to it. But they still tried. And she has nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. She doesn’t even know who she can trust. But Elder is determined to be that person, the one she can rely on. He wants to keep her safe. Only, there’s a killer aboard the ship; but can they stop him before he strikes again... Amy was a brilliant character, vibrant, strong and so brave. She made an impossible decision, one I know I wouldn’t have been able to make. My heart went out to her: she felt like a freak on the ship, and had no way to escape it. I loved her determination and goodness, and completely understood – and felt – her confusion and anger at being on a strange ship where absolutely nothing makes sense. I loved Elder too, the way he was determined to find the truth; his independence. I felt for him: his childhood was absolutely horrible. His life was completely believable, and so was the pressure on him as the next Eldest (leader) of the ship. Now Harley was so incredible! He was just so mad, funny, and, well, I loved him! Plus, gotta love the whole is he-isn’t he insane. Kept me on my toes. And his nickname for Amy: Little Fish, had me laughing. Everything was one-hundred-per-cent believable; the ship (it was perfectly and convincingly described), the flaws the main characters had: it made them so real and interesting: three-dimensional. The relationships between the characters was amazing, especially the one between Elder and Amy. But most of all, I loved not knowing who I could trust. Never a dull moment: so many lies, secrets, and mysteries to unfold. I was constantly on my toes: there were so many twists and turns: I sped through the book and had finished it far too soon. The short chapters were perfect, and each left me something to think about. And I really liked how the POV jumped between Elder and Amy, so I could see the events from both an insider and outsider’s views. The murder-mystery side of the story was absolutely amazing as well: I can honestly say that I had no idea who the killer was. Well, I kind of did, but I didn’t guess the exact character... Well, that will make no sense to those of you that haven’t read this, but if you have, maybe you can relate. But the mystery was brilliant, and I loved it all. (I’ve very into all the crime-drama, like CSI, Bones, NCIS, Law & Order, etc.) Then there’s the concept, which is something I’ve never come across before. Humans controlled by drugs, like animals. And how everything from earth (Sol-Earth to the people of the ship) was twisted around and used to control them. It was weird, but really interesting the way they used some key points in history. It was so beautifully written: haunting and quite frankly genius. And it really made me think “what if”. Should we let science control us? And if we do, how far do we go? Have you ever read a book that leaves you longing for more, desperate for more? Well, I have to say Across the Universe left me like that. I can’t believe I have to wait until Spring 2012 for more, to know what happens aboard the Godspeed. Already counting down the days! Oh, and I loved ‘frex’, a swearword aboard the ship. It made me laugh. As did their use of “brilly”. I’m going to guess it means brilliant. Gotta love it!(less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
Once, But I Want To Read It Again
| Mar 28, 2011
| Apr 26, 2011
|
Mar 02, 2011
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 1849904251
| 9781849904254
| 4.55
| 346
| Oct 25, 2012
| Oct 25, 2012
|
"You're keeping A SCRAPBOOK. Only old ladies and pre-pubescent girls keep scrapbooks, John." "It's not a scrapbook, Sherlock. I'm collecting papers rele...more "You're keeping A SCRAPBOOK. Only old ladies and pre-pubescent girls keep scrapbooks, John." "It's not a scrapbook, Sherlock. I'm collecting papers relevant to the cases. It helps me remember the details. And it was locked away in my desk drawer." "The lock on your desk drawer was insulting me with its pretences at security. IT'S A SCRAPBOOK..." Holy Crab, this book was awesome!! I absolutely love the original Sherlock Holmes books; adore the Sherlock Holmes movies (y’know, the new ones, with Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law) and totally freaking LOVE BBC’s Sherlock. So how, how, how was I meant to just leave Sherlock: The Casebook on the shelves in Waterstones?! I just wasn’t. That’s how. To a total Holmes addict such as me (I’ve got a post of Hounds of the Baskervilles on my wall – it’s the whole book, written in a way that shows a picture! It’s awesome!), this book was perfection. It may have focused on the TV series (my fave Sherlock adaptation ever, btw), but there was loads of non-Sherlock info in here too. Like did you know that Arthur Conan Doyle absolutely hated writing the Sherlock Holmes books? All he wanted was to write this big 'serious' novel, and all everyone wanted was for him to write about Holmes and Watson! Ha! That one made me laugh no end. And the non-Sherlock info didn’t end there, and got more fascinating as you got in. I loved learning about how Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss came up with the show idea, and all the characters and everything. Oh, I just loved it all! But to find the other stuff out, you’re just gonna have to read this… But onto the Sherlock stuff now! I adore the show. Obviously. And my God, this Sherlock stuff was just awesome! It was laid out like a scrapbook, showing detailed info on all of the cases Sherlock and John have done. It's written by John and was utterly fascinating. And then there were the post-its Sherlock had stuck all over the place, offering snide comments and random remarks. And then there was the banter between the two of them, which is so true to the show and had me cracking up. Oh, I just loved it! I loved it so, so much. It was just so much fun and, despite what Sherlock may say, was utterly fascinating. I will admit now that this whole review has been the ramblings of a crazy fan girl. But that's only because I am a crazy fan girl. I am totally, 100% Sherlocked. Sherlock Holmes is just so legendary. It's the first crime novel I ever read and fell totally in love with. Holmes is the reason I love shows like CSI and Criminal Minds and The Mentalist. I just love how he's so, so smart that he's not really human. He's amazing, incredible, beyond description. His mind... oh, how I'd love to be in his mind, at least for a little while. Though afterwards, I would probably be quite pleased to be back inside my own "vacant" little mind. So yes: whatever kind of Sherlock Holmes fan you are, this book is definitely for you. If you love Sherlock, read this to get even more into the show, to find out things you didn't know before. If you aren't, read this and I promise you that you are going to be 100% Sherlocked too. And if, like me, you're going crazy waiting for the next series - why is Autumn so flipping far away?! - then this is the perfect gift to tide you over 'til then. It's a fun read that you can gobble up in one sitting (like me) or dip in and out of. Sherlock Rules! :D(less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
Like Three Times Now...
| Mar 28, 2013
| Mar 30, 2013
|
Mar 28, 2013
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 140883233X
| 9781408832332
| 4.14
| 14,994
| Aug 07, 2012
| Aug 02, 2012
|
‘[Prince] Dorian steepled his fingers. "I have a proposition for you." "I'm listening," was all she said.' Celaena Sardothien is known as Adarlan's A...more ‘[Prince] Dorian steepled his fingers. "I have a proposition for you." "I'm listening," was all she said.' Celaena Sardothien is known as Adarlan's Assassin. She is the most skilled, deadly and infamous assassin in all of Erilea and in all her time she made but one mistake. She got caught. Celaena may only be eighteen, but she was charged with a life sentence at the saltmines of Endovier. She was only expected to last a month, to be broken by the dreadful work and abuse and die a dreadful death. But one year into her sentence, she is still alive and strong as ever, even though she has been scarred by her dreadful work. And then she is offered a deal. Her freedom will be returned to her - if she agrees to be the Prince's champion in a fight to be the official assassin of the King. Celaena must fight thieves, murders and assassins in a battle to the death - literally, it appears, when dead bodies start popping up left right and centre. As she desperately tries to catch the killer and win the competition, she slowly realises that her freedom might not be her only motivation any more... That her cold, assassin's heart may just be melting... I can't even describe to you how excited I was to read Throne of Glass. There's been so much hype and excitement and I've seen so many amazing reviews of it. Ergo, my expectations were super high going into this book. And y'know what? Throne of Glass lived up to every single one! It was one of those rare books that outshone all the hype. It was the most amazing debut and one of the most addictive books ever. It's got to be one of favourites of the year and I'm now desperate for another book in the series! I seriously can't wait for more, ‘cause everything just blew my socks off! I loved all the characters, 'cause they were all so 3D and there were just so many to love! Celaena was totally badass: ruthless, clever, snarky, hilarious and always planning her next move. I loved that she wasn’t perfect and that she was this little teenaged girl who could kick everyone’s butt and leave them all dead, should she so desire. It was awesome. What I loved most was that she was so human too, so loving and kind. Prince Dorian was just too cute – I loved his mischievous side: it was irresistible and so, so funny! He was the cutest, sweetest thing – I could just take him home! And Chaol was totally hot too: he was kinda serious-soldier and I loved how Celaena constantly exasperated him! He was strong, silent, honourable and yummy. But the supporting characters were just as brilliant. Take the Princess Nehemia Ytger of Eyllwe, for example. She was brilliant and just as strong willed and feisty as Celaena! And the bad guys - so well done! They were oh-so easy to hate! Now, thanks to the two totally yummy guys in this book, there kinda was a love triangle. Why the 'kinda' you might ask. Well. Besides being both utterly yummy, the boys are also best friends and obviously respect each other a lot. Ergo, no fighting over the girl, nada unhonourable. Somehow, Maas wrote a love triangle manages to be a triangle without really being one. Amazing! The writing just really, completely let Celaena get into our hearts and us into hers. I loved being in her mind - seeing her mental calculations, how she could take someone out by planning ahead. And I really loved how we got to see the story from everyone's POVs - it rocked! The blend of action and romance, humour and suspense was just perfection and I can honestly say I was cracking up many, many times throughout the book! And I just adored this plot! It found that perfect balance between world building and action - and I do so love my action! The plot was brilliantly twisty and utterly unpredictable. And, HALLELUJAH! An ending that leaves me wanting more, with just the right number of unanswered questions without an evil cliff-hanger! The world itself was so well built and rich, like I was there myself. I loved the court life mingled with assassin action and really hope that there will be more of the magical side in the series! I think Throne of Glass might just be one of the best debuts I've ever read. It's definitely one of my favourites in 2012. There is basically nothing bad I can say about it. The only thing would be I want to know more about Celaena’s past – and that’s literally it! And I seriously just can't even put into words how awesome this book is. I could ramble on forever, but as that would probably bore you, I'll shut up now. But seriously. Read this! It is epic - one of the best books of 2012 by far! I am now preparing myself for a long wait 'til Book Two - and, of course, the withdrawal and insanity that will therefore follow. Woe is me! Oh, and side not: I also learned the plural of sarcophagus is sarcophagi. So there ya go! Informative too!(less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
Twice Now! I NEED A Sequel!!!
| Jul 27, 2012
| Aug 2012
|
May 06, 2012
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 1402789572
| 9781402789571
| 3.33
| 1,255
| Aug 23, 2011
| Aug 23, 2011
|
It’s taken me forever to write this review. Not because I didn’t like Envy – I absolutely loved it. No, it was because I wasn’t sure what to say witho...more
It’s taken me forever to write this review. Not because I didn’t like Envy – I absolutely loved it. No, it was because I wasn’t sure what to say without giving away the whole plot. I hope I did the book justice! One evening, Sandra Berkley finds her daughter Katelyn in the bathtub. Dead. Also inside is an espresso machine, still plugged into the wall. Her death is heard all over town. No one knows how Katelyn died. Suicide? Murder? Accident? No one knows. Twins Hayley and Taylor Ryan need to know the truth. With their unique powers, they are determined to find out how Katelyn died. What they don't know is that in the process, they will shed light on a hidden secret from their past... Me, I’m a mildly twisted person who dotes of TV shows like Criminal Minds and CSI. However, whenever I try to read a crime novel, it’s either Sherlock Holmes or waay too graphic! But Envy was perfect and new and amazing! Two twin sisters with paranormal abilities, solving the death of an old friend, while struggling to keep their abilities hidden? Safe to say, I loved this book! I was constantly on the edge of my seat, desperate to find out who the killer was. Envy has gotta be one of my favourite crime novels ever and I really think everyone should read it! It is an exciting and entertaining read, but it has a hidden message too: bullying hurts and even the silliest thing can make someone feel horrible about themselves. It was strong, powerful, amazing and perfect for CSI-loving teens! Hay-Tay, the twins were just amazing: I loved them both. Hayley, the more practical and level headed twin, was really into forensic science and liked to have a reason for everything. With her analytic mind, she actually sort of reminded me of Sherlock Holmes! I loved her and really related with her because, like me, she seemed to love sharing random facts and her mind went to the strangest places. Taylor was ruled more by her emotions and a real outspoken, feel-good kind of girl. She was very clever too but kind of more squeamish and peace-loving. And they were so close – they told each other everything. I loved seeing the similarities and differences between the two girls. Both had strong morals and the most awesome gifts! They knew things they couldn't know, felt things, saw things. They were like Nancy Drews with really special powers! And their bond was really sweet and really powerful. And, in a horrid way, I loved getting to know Katelyn. It was obvious straight away that she had been hurt – badly. The loneliness she felt was dreadful; she felt like she had no one. So many terrible things had happened to her, and she just cut herself off, thought she was worthless. Words really can have absolutely dreadful consequences. And Katelyn lived through the twins - we saw into her head, her life, through the girls. As the book went on, I must have had about a million suspects, quite literally suspecting everyone in the plot. But a few of the characters I liked and actually didn’t suspect (yeah, I suspected loads of the characters I liked… I may be slightly paranoid) were the twins’ family. Their dad Kevin was brilliant, with strong morals and a family orientated feel. Also, he role played serial killer scenarios with his kids over the dinner table: he was just brilliantly odd! Their mum Valerie was really supportive and I loved learning about her past. The whole family love and closeness really made the whole crime thing stand out even more. I can’t say anything else about the characters without giving the killer away, but I will say the vast range of people was brilliant, different and ever-so brilliantly described. Just amazingly padded out and real – every single character. Some I loved, some I hated, all were brilliant. I loved the writing: Gregg had the suspense thing down to a fine art. He gave us titbits about the bad guy – who was totally sadistic, btw – and I just had to know who he was! Also, Gregg totally got teenagers, how they think, talk, act. I loved the snark and that we also got to see everything from the adults' POV too. It was brilliant to see how the two age groups saw everything differently. And I just loved all the facts! About what goes on in the pathologist, how Katelyn died (call me morbid and twisted, but I swear I was a CSI in a past life). I also liked how everything was closed and how we got to see how everyone coped after. And that I was still left with so many questions that left me desperate for Book 2! I must say, normally, I'm good at guessing killers. But Envy... I had three suspects and four pages worth of notes, obsessing over movements, conversations. Well. I was wrong. I had an inkling at one point, then settled on a different - wrong - prime suspect. The way Olsen wrote made me completely oblivious and suspecting everyone. And left me honestly surprised at the outcome. Envy was amazing. I really loved it. It was exciting and new, thrilling and chilling. I write notes as I read, and I ended up with four whole pages worth of notes. Suspects, plotlines, theories, gushing about the twins and other characters. That, more than anything to me, is a sign of a good book. I mean, there really wasn't a bad word there. Well, unless you want to count a very, very bad word about a few of my least favourite characters. I just can't help being stunned by Envy. It pushes all the limitations of YA fiction, yet never actually crosses the line. And it does all that without speaking down to the reader. Gregg Olsen: you are amazing! I cannot wait for Betrayal! I may even check out some of his adult fiction! Afternote: Cybercrime. While Envy's characters and paranormal sides were obviously fiction, the girls' death and the cyber bullying case was taken from a true story: The suicide of Megan Meier from Missouri in October 2006 brought about by the horribleness of cyber bullying. It's just as dangerous as physical bullying, maybe more so. You never know who someone is on the Internet, and cyber bullies use that to their advantage. So please, please be careful! And if all of you would like to know more, I'd tell you to you where Gregg told all readers to go: www.emptycoffinseries.com. After-Afternote: Ok, so there are these letters in the front and back pages of my hardcopy that are meant to mean something to the readers. After hours of trying to solve the mysterious letters like an anagram on my scrabble board, just like the girls did, I realised something: I. Was. An. Idiot! I am, apparently, not-so-mildly stupid. So there you go.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
Twice Now!
| Oct 18, 2011
| Oct 20, 2011
|
Oct 05, 2011
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 978161766
| unknown
| 4.48
| 21
| Apr 29, 2010
| Mar 2011
|
4½ Out of 5 Murders have been happening all over New Jersey, each with a common thread: a red pawn left on the bodies. Kat and Lucien investigate the m...more 4½ Out of 5 Murders have been happening all over New Jersey, each with a common thread: a red pawn left on the bodies. Kat and Lucien investigate the murders, and discover that they’re all connected to one genetic company or another. And then… a new side comes into the light, leaving black pawns behind on the corpses. In the biggest adventure yet, our characters have to fight against corruption, politics, new scientific creations and dangerous players who believe that human-pawns can be killed for their own gain… This is one of my favourite thriller series out there, and I’m not entirely sure what I’m going to do without it! All three in the series so far have kept me up late, so full of adrenaline I can’t get to sleep for hours afterward. Leonard D. Hilley is one of the most amazing thriller-suspense writers I’ve ever read, and I honestly do not think he gets the attention he should. My favourite characters are all back, and just as strong as ever. There are even a few new additions including talking rats! (I know: cool, right?) They were a welcome breathe of humour throughout the non-stop suspense. Oh, and I love Kyle and all the awesome psychic stuff he can do. Plus, characters who have only been in the background before now have bigger roles: Carpenter, Typhis… I could go on, but I guess unless you’ve read the book (which you should do), none of these names will mean anything to you… What I really liked about The Game of Pawns is that was far more emotional than the others in the series. Plus there was lots of humour, generally in the form of Morton (a talking cat) and the gang of talking rats. And yet, I was still scared out of my mind, constantly looking over shoulder. The suspense and action is just so addictive: completely, overwhelmingly, truly. I was unable to put my kindle down, reading far too late into the night. The characters, plot, and world were all so unbelievably believable, if that makes any sense. It’s a terrifying thought, but oh-so true. So much thought went into all aspects of the book, and if I closed my eyes, I could see the plot playing in my mind, could see all the characters. I have less than no idea how Hilley manages to make the connections and lives so realistic, but I love that he does. The Game of Pawns was the biggest, hardest, more exhilarating adventure in the series so far. It answered many of my questions. And left dozens more in their place. I can’t wait to see where Leonard D. Hilley takes the series next: this one ended on the worst cliffhanger yet!(less) | Notes are private!
| none
|
Just The Once
| May 24, 2011
| May 30, 2011
|
May 24, 2011
| ebook
| |||||||||||||||
| 1907410392
| 9781907410390
| 4.03
| 10,081
| Sep 01, 2012
| Sep 18, 2012
|
4¾ Out of 5 "The time is now. They are coming... Diviners." Evie O'Neill loves to party and have fun. Her parents aren't so keen on her life-is-for-liv...more 4¾ Out of 5 "The time is now. They are coming... Diviners." Evie O'Neill loves to party and have fun. Her parents aren't so keen on her life-is-for-living attitude and decide to send her to New York to live with her uncle as a means of avoiding further scandal. Evie, though, is just overjoyed at heading to Manhattan, the city of parties. The only downside is living with her dull, occult-obsessed Uncle Will. And that she lives in fear of Will discovering her secret gift... But with a murderer on the loose and Will being called in to offer occult-based insight, Evie realises that maybe - just maybe - her gift could be used to catch the killer... But Evie's isn’t the only going on in New York: Memphis, Sam, Theta, Jericho and Henry each have a fight of their own... As they all attempt to deal with their problems, what none of them know is that in the shadows, evil stirs and lurks, ready to strike... Will the prophesied Diviners be enough to stop it...? And all the while, the fire of the comet blazes ever closer... I jumped at the chance to read The Diviners. I've never read anything by Bray, but I've heard so many good things about her and The Diviners just sounded so good! And Miss Bray lived up to all my expectations! It was an amazing book, as funny as it was spooky, and I found myself hooked from the very beginning. And while the book was really rather long, I found myself zooming through it, loving every second. When you mix crime drama with the historical and paranormal, it's safe to say you have one overjoyed Meg on your hands! Ergo: I cannot wait for the next in this series! It just can't come quick enough! The characters were all brilliant and so 3D. I loved how even the in-it-for-a-chapter characters felt totally real and believable. And while I loved them all (well, not Naughty John), Evie just totally took the biscuit. She just really made me laugh - her snark and wit and one-liners constantly had me cracking up! I also loved how we got to see how sad and lost she was, and that she wasn't perfect and, even though she was a bit selfish, I loved her. Plus: evil genius alert!! Memphis was really charming and sweet and a seriously good brother - and so hurt too... I loved Theta and Henry, their relationship especially - Theta had bravado and a great sense of humour! Jericho was an academicy, broody type and super mysterious - he made me giggle too! I loved Sam: he was charming and funny and yummy! As for the killer, the bad guy, well, he was scary as hell! The writing was so beautiful - I could see everything in my head, like a movie or a time machine. And I just loved the humour and how it jumped between all the characters, letting us get to know them all - and their secrets too. Now, with so many various storylines, the plot could have been so confusing so easily. But it just wasn't - it was rich and complex and addictive - an elaborate web of stories, winding together to create one masterpiece tapestry of a book. I was so totally hooked to each characters' story, desperate to discover their gifts, to unlock the secrets if their past. But the ending? Evil, evil, evil! I am certain it's gonna drive me insane - I need the next book! Needless to say, I'll be first in line for Book Two. I loved the supernatural side of everything, especially Will's lectures - and listening to Will and Jericho talk about various mythology. Even more, though, I loved the '20s setting - especially the phrase "pos-i-tute-ly"! I must admit, I know very, very little about '20s America, but it seemed really real to me - you could tell Bray really, really did her research. And I so want to read more '20s book - this time rocks! Pos-i-tute-ly rocks! And the only things I'd change was that we didn't know the green-eyes-China-Town-girl's name and that there was a hint of insta love... And that's it. With one kickass setting, a cast of brilliant characters, a host of amazing supernatural powers and one creepy-as-hell killer in the loose, The Diviners was one helluva book. It ticked all the right boxes, had me hooked from the very start to the very last word, and I just can't wait for a sequel. Plus, it was just so epic it's untrue! If you haven't got how much I love this book from my rambling, here's an extra hint: Picture your favourite historical, paranormal and crime novels in your head. Take the best bits from them all, add a large helping of humour and a dash of creepiness, and you can start to get the amazingness of The Diviners. So please give it a go! You so won't regret it!(less) | Notes are private!
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Once, But I NEED Book Two - Like NOW!!
| Aug 06, 2012
| Aug 08, 2012
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Jul 18, 2012
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 0575095547
| 9780575095540
| unknown
| 3.65
| 1,201
| Jul 07, 2010
| Feb 01, 2011
|
4½ Out of 5 April Dunne has been dragged from her home in Edinburgh and her friends. Unsurprisingly, she isn't happy. The fact that she's been enrolled...more 4½ Out of 5 April Dunne has been dragged from her home in Edinburgh and her friends. Unsurprisingly, she isn't happy. The fact that she's been enrolled in Ravenwood School, or academy for the wealthy and brainy, just makes everything worse. And then... Pupils start turning up dead, murdered, and her father has some weird conspiracy theory. It involves murders past and the paranormal. Something is going on. Something iffy. And with a beautiful, mysterious boy constantly telling her to "get out" and get new best friend thinking the school is controlled by supernatural nasties, April doesn't think that school could get any weirder. Only... it turns dangerous instead... I love paranormal books. I love murder mystery books. Ergo, I loved By Midnight. It had all the awesome paranormal stuff a girl could want, with the most amazing conspiracy theory-slash-mystery on top of that. It was literally awesome with extra awesomesauce. It was so brilliantly gothic and addictive and twisty. The moment I finished By Midnight, I instantly needed the next in the series. I needed to know what would happen next. It was just so much fun – and so brilliantly original! I loved it! I absolutely loved all the characters – especially April: she was just someone I instantly liked. She was funny, in a kinda wry, snarky way, but she was also stubborn and practical: she was always rationalizing and weighing everything. I found her hilarious, with loads of personality and strength. Plus, I love that she’s the “unofficial Nancy Drew of the underworld” and found her reaction to the whole supernatural news utterly believable and wonderfully refreshing. I also loved her new friend Caro – she’s sweet, snarky and a total conspiracy theory addict, as well as being completely bonkers and so wonderfully crazy. I loved how she got completely outraged at being considered “fairy harmless” and just found Caro overall hilarious – she was so brilliantly wacky! Gabriel was one of those “unattainable” types and for ages my question was: “Who is he?!” Well, he was cute and rather romantic and sweet and brave and perfect... I may have liked him. Just a little… And his relationship with April… oh, I loved it. It felt really real and I can’t wait to see where it all goes next… There were loads of other minor characters that really stood out. I found April’s family intriguing and especially loved her relationship with her father. Her strong friendship with her Scotland-based best friend Fiona was also really sweet. The Faces were all evil, two faced witches (Caro talkin’, honest) and I found their interactions with everyone intriguing, even though I hated them. I loved Caro’s best friend Simon, who was a bit of a diva and a total evil genius. Yeah, they were all just amazingly created – all really alive and jump-off-the-page. I adored the writing: it was third person, concentrating of April, and was fast paced, full of mysteries and was just really beautifully written. It was simply, effective, powerful, and oh-so addictive. And the plot – ohmigod! It was amazing! I loved the conspiracy theory, mystery and cold case angle: that, tied up with the paranormal aspect, made for a killer book. No pun intended. And it was just so amazingly twisty – I was never bored: never! It had more twists than… Um, a really twisty thing. Plus, that prologue: God! Talk about hooking! And the supernatural, myth aspect was awesome! Like, so totally epic and unlike anything I’ve read before ever. I just loved it all so much! And I loved all the twists the myths had – I never knew what was going to be revealed next! It was so cool! Ok, so there were some parallels to two big cult-classics – one book, one show (those who have read this might know what I’m talking about), but By Midnight was just so different it was untrue. It was new. It was fresh. It was exciting. It is one of my new obsessions. I can’t wait for the second in the series! I mean, paranormal with a mystery and murder thrown in. Does it get any better? No. It doesn’t. Ever. Because By Midnight? It had secrets, murders and vampires – oh my! Sorry. Couldn’t resist it. You should all really read this book though. It is literally the coolest, bestest conspiracy book EVER!(less) | Notes are private!
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Once - Can't Wait For Book Two!
| May 04, 2011
| May 06, 2011
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Jul 29, 2011
| Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| B004089FCC
| 3.48
| 387
| Aug 19, 2010
| Aug 19, 2010
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4½ Out of 5 Yuki’s more-or-less your average girl: she has great friend Emma, she has a crush – who doesn’t crush back on her – and awesome boots. Exc...more 4½ Out of 5 Yuki’s more-or-less your average girl: she has great friend Emma, she has a crush – who doesn’t crush back on her – and awesome boots. Except Yuki can smell the dead. Yeah, that’s right. It’s not glamorous, and it makes it a lot harder to figure out what the spirit haunting you actually wants. Now it’s senior year, and Yuki is being haunted by someone who smells like vinegar. But that’s not the worst part. She’s suddenly got strange feelings for Calvin Miller, her other friend and is having prophetic dreams at night. And she knows – knows – that something odd is going on with Calvin… Can Yuki save Vinegar Man? Before she loses herself? I loved this book! It had action, romance, humour, dead-smelling: everything a girl wants in a paranormal book. And – more importantly – it was wonderfully written with great characters and plot. Thanks E.J.! Yuki (her real name’s Vanessa, but she changed it because of some unfortunate nicknames) was just a character I instantly liked. I liked her habit of exaggerating, her sarcasm, her brilliantly mad fashion sense: everything. Especially that her spirit animal is a dung beetle. I laughed so much at that one. All her strange, unique little sayings made me laugh, too. How can you not at things like: “son of a dung beetle”, “holy heck”, or “this sucks eggs”? She was just awesome, from the way she dealt with her gift – in a great, sometimes-funny and always relatable way – to the way she always called Cal by his full name to the habit she had of saying things like: “crow dude” or “doctor man”. I loved her! (Did she remind anyone else of Abby from NCIS? Abby is my favourite TV character ever!) Calvin Miller was sort of New Agey, into mystical, um, stuff… He was just adorable: strong, cute, forgiving. I loved him! He really made me laugh. Although, his big secret was kinda obvious. To me, anyway. Emma was the best! She was a vegan and always laid into Calvin for eating meat. As a vegetarian myself, I loved her: “Can you taste its fear?” comments. She was really into human rights for everyone – people in the dark ages, bees. Also into the whole herbal remedies, she was practical, cute, and funny. She was awesome! And Calvin and Yuki were really cute. Their relationship was easy, natural, and oh-so sweet. They constantly teased one another, and had funny conversations with words like “Smellavision” and “Technosmellor” in them. However, their friendship changed lately. Suddenly Calvin was flirting and interrupting Yuki’s daydreams about the studded, Emo-ish guy she was crushing on. That’s what I liked most about this couple: the fact that they were friends first. It wasn’t a love-at-first-sight connection, instead being a sweet and one-hundred-per cent believable romance. Plus there’s the whole adorable: “Beetle Princess” and other nicknames as well. I can’t wait to see where this couple goes! I have to mention E.J.’s writing once again: it was amazing. Easy and funny, I completely felt like it was Yuki talking, not an author writing as her, if that makes any sense. It sounded like a teenager speaking, without having to try too hard by using irritating words such as too many “like”s or “totally”s. It was believable and completely addictive. Now, I have to admit something. Before I read this book, I just assumed it would be a ghost haunting a girl, who would give him peace and everyone would be peachy. I was wrong. Yes, there was murder mystery, but it was so much more than that. There was a whole other side, one that was so new and so amazing: a brilliant new take on many popular folklores. I adored She Smells the Dead, and have only one major fault: it was too short! And it had a terrible cliff-hanger. I’m over the moon that I have the rest of the series so I can get my ghostly fix and find out what will happen next!(less) | Notes are private!
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Once, But It's Left Me NEEDING The Next In The Series!
| Aug 21, 2011
| Aug 23, 2011
|
May 02, 2011
| Kindle Edition
| ||||||||||||||||
| 1408806479
| 9781408806470
| 2.96
| 93
| Jan 04, 2011
| Jan 04, 2011
|
Bibi feels alone in the world, having been adopted by family friends after her parents died. And although they love her and she loves them, she’s not...more
Bibi feels alone in the world, having been adopted by family friends after her parents died. And although they love her and she loves them, she’s not theirs, and they’re not hers, not really. She doesn’t feel at home anywhere, longing for her birthplace in the Middle East. Nowhere, that is, apart from Tyme’s End, the old house in the village where she lives. There she feels safe, she feels as if she belongs. And so, when the mysterious owner, Oliver, appears and claims he is going to sell that house, she just has to change his mind. But why? What enchantment does Tyme’s End have over her and what possibly could have happened there for Oliver to be so desperate to get rid of it? And what scared him enough to stay away for ten years? As the first part of the story goes on, Bibi’s and Oliver’s lives become entwined, as they experience the beauty of first love. But all the while, through all the magic, there’s Tyme’s End, hanging over the story remotely, hinting at the darkness to come... For Tyme’s End has a sinister past that involves death, betrayal, and an evil, manipulative owner, H. J. Martin... (See why it had me hooked?) Tyme’s End is made up of three parts, that start in 2006 and end up in 1936, the year of the events leading up to the murder of H. J. Martin. Each of the three narrators feels real; each has their own unique voice, and I found it incredible that the tale slipped so smoothly between the generations. I must admit, the first part of the tale is a little slower than the rest of it, but it’s so beautiful you really don’t care. And, besides, from the first page, even if you don’t really notice at first, B. R. Collins winds up the suspense, tempting you with snippets that make it impossible to stop until you know the reason of the house’s evil: this book is absolutely addictive! I also love the way the story started at the end and slowly went backwards to the core of the tale; the reason the house is malevolent and evil, the death of the owner. Beautifully written, Tyme’s End had me hooked from the first page, and haunting and scary, I knew that B. R. Collins could make me believe anything after the first few paragraphs. A psychological thriller, with a side of ghosts; it builds suspense from the first page, tightening its grip on you with every chapter. Managing to both shock me by the twists and causing me to be riveted by the evil of the house, I needed to get to the end, to find out who killed H. J. Martin. An absolute page turner that promises to both chill and absorb you, this book is a must read for all readers who want to be on the edge of their seats for an entire story. With a killer ending – literally! – this book is absolutely sensational!(less) | Notes are private!
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Once, But I've Passed It On To My Friend!
| Jan 03, 2011
| Jan 05, 2011
|
Jun 25, 2011
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0752879642
| 9780752879642
| 3.92
| 12,702
| 1995
| 2006
|
'He leaned back and wondered how to handle his three big problems: Chaz Landreaux's sudden departure, Kathy Culver's possible re-emergence, and the To...more
'He leaned back and wondered how to handle his three big problems: Chaz Landreaux's sudden departure, Kathy Culver's possible re-emergence, and the Toronto Hilton's plumbing. He decided to forgo the last. Only so much one man can do.' Myron Bolitar is a sport agent. His clients are all pretty uneventful. All except Christian Steele, an up-and-coming American football superstar quarterback. So when Christian rings Myron in a panic, Myron rushes to his star's aid. Turns out the athlete's missing-presumed-dead girlfriend could be very much alive. After all, how does a dead girl make a phone call? But as Myron begins to dig, he realises Christian's career might not be the only one on the line. Can he unravel the web of secrets surrounding the missing girl - how, for instance, she ended up posing in a porn magazine - and discover the truth? With other sports agents circling like sharks, it doesn't look promising. Not even with the slightly unhinged Windsor Horne Lockwood III on his side - and watching his back... Because let's face it. With this case, Myron will need all the help he can get... My aunt told me I had to read this series. She adores Coben and said I would too. Man, was she right! I was hooked from the first page, cracking up at the wit and wry humour. And, oh, it just got so much better from there. Even though I seriously avoid any sport-related books like the plague, I found myself loving Deal Breaker to pieces. The characters were all so brilliant. Admittedly, some were kinda stereotypical or flattish or whatever, but all the main characters were so real and brilliant and most? So funny! Like Myron: he was so brilliant - witty, smart, brave. He constantly had me cracking up! His wisecracking was addictive - so witty and just hilarious. As for Win, he was just classic! Is it wrong that my favourite character is a slightly unhinged, maybe-a-little-psychopathic millionaire? Maybe. But I don't care! Sure, he was totally crazy and a little scary, but he literally killed me - in a really, really good way! Jessica was a good character too. She was strong and smart and determined, but there we too many "beautiful" references - I was like, ok, I get it already!! But my opinion based mostly on personally issues aside, Jessica was a strong woman - not an idiot airhead or anything, which was a good thing. And I adored the relationship between Myron and Win. I just loved the banter and quips and how Win always had Myron's back. The two of them killed me! I loved Coben's writing - it was so witty and gritty! I loved how at times it was almost like Coben was making fun of himself. He said things like: "Clever interrogation techniques. Pay attention" and stuff, which obviously had me cracking up. I'd die to possess the wit Coben so effortlessly writes. The plot was so, so awesome. I wasn't really sure what to expect - I mean, how do you write a crime thriller when your main character is a sport agent? But it really, really worked. More than that - it blew my socks off! I loved the fast pace, all the subplots and the secrets. Yay! Now, I must admit, I'm not a sport fan. I barely know the rules of the games in my own country, let alone American football. So I didn't get many of those references. Luckily, though, after the first few chapters there were very few of them at all - it was all action. So yay again. Ok, so this book had its shortcomings – namely the frequent bad language and some minor character clichés – but overall it was such a fun read because of our two main characters, the humour, and the suspense. It was just so freaking addictive and suspenseful and more than I'd suspected. I'm wishing my aunt had made me pick it up sooner – ‘cause it was awesome. And I loved that even though it was a crime book with action and violence and whatever it wasn't completely scarring or damaging. Whoopee! A book full of action, suspense and wisecracks, Deal Breaker had me hooked from start to finish. It was twisty, and gripping and shocking. I loved it to pieces! Forget deal breaking - it was a complete deal maker in making me desperate to read the rest of the series! I can't wait for more Myron and Win!(less) | Notes are private!
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Once - Can't Wait For Book Two!
| Nov 12, 2012
| Nov 14, 2012
|
Nov 08, 2012
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0857531565
| 9780857531568
| 4.09
| 11,595
| Sep 01, 2011
| Jul 19, 2012
|
4¾ Out of 5 Now I’m going to warn you before this review really starts: this is hard-core fantasy, meaning the emphasis is on the world building – and...more 4¾ Out of 5 Now I’m going to warn you before this review really starts: this is hard-core fantasy, meaning the emphasis is on the world building – and the world does so kick butt! Ergo: there isn’t non-stop dragon-fighting action. But even without a fight a second, Seraphina kicked plenty of butts. It’s a must-read for you fantasy lovers! "Prince Rufus was just murdered in a suspiciously draconian manner…" For forty years, there has been an uneasy truce between humans and dragons in the land of Goredd. Although the peace is shaky, it is peace all the same and is far better than the fighting before. The dragons, or Saar as they are also known, live among people in human form. It's coming up to the treaty's fortieth anniversary when the Crown Prince Rufus is killed in a suspiciously dragon-like fashion. It's in the middle of all this that Seraphina enters the Royal Court. Seraphina, who has a dark secret she must protect at all costs. She even has to keep her phenomenal musical gift hidden, for fear of her family's safety. But can she keep her secret when she's pulled into the mystery surrounding the Prince's death, when she realises that the humans and dragons could be on the verge of war once again? When she begins to fall for someone when she knows to love would be to reveal what she truly is...? I adore fantasy books - maybe 'cause I live in my own imaginary worlds much of the time. And Seraphina was a prime example of a totally kickbutt-amazing fantastical novel. It's one of those books that puts you under a spell and just doesn’t let you go. And I loved that even though it was an epic fantasy with dragons, it had so much heart and love. But even more, I loved that it was a murder mystery and not a journey over a desert that takes a whole freakin' book. Plus: dragons. How can you possibly say no?! The characters were brilliantly done - from the leads to the minor characters, those in the royal court to the ones in Phina's head. Phina was a brilliant heroine, so instantly loveable. She was brave, kind, bold and clever, and so not a damsel in distress. I loved how socially awkward she was: she was just the perfect heroine! Oh, and I have to mention the garden in her head: it was her way of keeping her “ard”, internal balance, in harmony and was inhabited by avatars she called “grotesques” – I mean, how cool?! I also loved Prince Lucian: he was so clever and intuitive and witty and ironic. He was, as Phina said, “adorable” – and loving and cute and noble and, well, kinda perfect! And the Princess Glissenda was another brilliant, brilliant character: she could have been a brat so easily, but she just wasn’t. I loved Gliss and her hidden wisdom and “mother hen” fussing! Oh, and I loved the strange Orma too: he was so marvellously odd! And the minor characters were just as brilliant too, just as three-dimensional and padded-out. I just loved how all the characters were portrayed - the prince and princess weren't bratty or spoilt in the slightest, the girls were all girl power, the love interest was sexy but not withdrawn or broody. They were all just perfect! I adored this writing: it was so beautiful, so lyrical. I'll admit that it may be a little too tricky in places for younger readers to understand without assistance (some things I myself struggled with) but for me, personally, it didn’t take away from the beauty of the writing. And the plot was admittedly a little slow in places, but nonetheless it was utterly addictive. Hartman found the perfect balance between an exciting plot and not just throwing us in unaware, between keeping us informed and not overwhelming us with informative. I loved the murder-mystery side of the story and how everything kicked off towards the end - and how I couldn't guess the twists! Maybe most of all, I loved all the emotions in this book, all the kinds of love. How it was different from just YA romance, how the plot didn’t revolve around the romance side… And there was more than just love-love, there was just so, so many different human emotions, some even felt by those who weren't even human... And, man, this world rocked! It was so rich, so vibrant, like I was really there. Sure, it took a while to get the hang of, but isn't that so for all fantasies? And all that really counted was how utterly amazing the dragon lore was. And let me tell you: it was amazing! I also couldn't help admiring the way Hartman drew parallels between the conflict of dragons and humans and the conflict between races in our past and present. I know I'm probably reading too deeply into a kids book, but I can't help it: I just really liked the parallel and applaud Hartman for it – genius! With magic, science, friendship, love, mystery, murder and dragons, Seraphina was one kickass fantasy book. I loved it so much I couldn't put it down! It just knocked my socks right off! There was so much to love about the book and very, very little - next to nothing, really - to hate. I can't wait for the next book - and not because there was some evil cliff-hanger! My first YA book in ages to end without sendin' me crazy, yet leaving me yearning for more! Yay to Rachel Hartman, and thank you for leaving me with my sanity! I'll be eagerly anticipating Book Two!(less) | Notes are private!
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Once, I Can't Wait For Book Two!
| Jul 21, 2012
| Jul 24, 2012
|
Jun 10, 2012
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 1408803976
| 9781408803974
| 4.33
| 21
| May 10, 2012
| May 10, 2012
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4½ Out of 5 "With Wishing Comes Grieving" (Traditional Proverb) Neccessity Bonehill's uncle sent her a bottle, along with instructions to never, ever...more 4½ Out of 5 "With Wishing Comes Grieving" (Traditional Proverb) Neccessity Bonehill's uncle sent her a bottle, along with instructions to never, ever open it. Only she did. What Ness didn't know is that her uncle and six others summoned a djinn. And when she opened that bottle, she unleashed it on the world. She has only seven days to repair her mistake. If she doesn't manage to get the djinn back in the bottle, he will destroy the world Ness knows... Can she succeed? How can one girl, her new-found friend Azuli and an untameable flying carpet unravel the conspiracy and destroy one of the most powerful magical beings - the last djinn Zaakiel...? Before he carries out his final, destructive wish...? I love the Arabian Nights, the Victorian era and djinn - so this book was right up my alley! I found out only after reading this that it is the third in a series set in the same world. As I adore this world and can't wait to dive right back in, I'll be getting my hands on those two books ASAP! I loved all the characters, the world, the magic, the writing, the setting, the... well, everything! An incredible book that left me wanting more! Ness was amazingly kickbutt and could totally hold her own! To begin with she was a real piece of work - a bully - but I loved how she grew and developed. She was just so alone, so young despite her toughness. And as stubborn as a mule! I felt so sorry for her - her name said it all "Neccessity". No wonder she didn't feel loved. Azuli was brave, impulsive and dedicated. He just wanted to prove he was worthy, to be accepted as a Lashkar. He was kinda withdrawn to begin with, but I quickly came to love him! He was also a teeny bit arrogant - but Ness soon knocked that out of him! All of the characters were so well padded out, and so many of them completely surprised me. I loved Sergeant Major Morris, the scatter-brained, determined, funny and loyal man who taught Ness to fight. And I also loved how Mayhew wrote the djinn Zaakiel. Sure, he was creepy and hell-bent on vengeance, but his story was so…. Rich and believable and he just had so many levels. He was the most amazing and utterly compelling villain ever, and I loved how strangely relatable he was! I also adored how the main characters changed and grew as well... Mr Mayhew sure know how to write wonderfully strong characters! The writing was amazing - I really felt like I'd gone back in time! And I could see everything! It was all simple, descriptive, beautiful addictive, spooky and rather gory - and I loved every second! I adored all the creepy Proverbial-snippets at the start of each chapter. They were majorly spooky! I just adored Mayhew's writing and also the plot: it was so addictive! As it says of the back of the proof copy, this book really is "Arabian Nights meets Indiana Jones"! Awesome!! I loved the quest-like-adventure feel of the book. It was action-packed, spooky, addictive! I was left wanting more, more, more! And the setting was just amazing - so rich and vivid and real. Again, like I'd gone back in time! And all the magic and history was just stunning - breath-taking and amazing. I especially loved the djinn and Lashkar mythology! And all the supernatural things in this world... well, I have to get my hands on the other books - I can't wait to see more of this world! I loved how the Oliver-Twist-London was made new, exciting and exotic by the magic and djinn. Man I love this world! A djinn bent on revenge, a secret society bent on stopping him and a girl caught in the middle... An amazing, magical, addictive, action-packed, mythical, awesome book that had me hooked from start to finish. I sped through this book and was left desperate for more. I will be getting my hands on Mr Mayhew's other books as soon as I possibly can - I adore this world and everything about this book, and simply must get back into it!(less) | Notes are private!
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Just Once, But I'm Desperate For The Other Books!
| May 02, 2012
| May 04, 2012
|
May 01, 2012
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0141034335
| 9780141034331
| 4.10
| 67,972
| 1887
| Mar 06, 2008
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4½ Out of 5 Let’s face it: everyone knows about Sherlock Holmes: some from reading one of the books; some from watching one of the movies; and some fro...more 4½ Out of 5 Let’s face it: everyone knows about Sherlock Holmes: some from reading one of the books; some from watching one of the movies; and some from watching some of the TV series. He’s the character that led to all the modern detectives that we read about, and Arthur Conan Doyle is the man who made modern crime drama what it is. And – if you haven’t already gathered from my rambling – I loved A Study in Scarlet, the first in the series revolving around the brilliant Sherlock Holmes. It starts with Watson returning from the war, having served as an army doctor, because he’s recovering from a bad injury. While looking for an apartment, who else does he find that wants to split the costs: Sherlock Holmes, of course. From there, the story dragged me in, whether it was telling me the story of Watson and Holmes, or flashbacks from the build-up of the murder. Holmes is absolutely brilliant, and definitely didn’t let him reputation down – he’s a genius, unbelievably logical and more than a little eccentric. I loved the way his mind worked: all the tiny clues he noticed absolutely fascinated me, and the way he had of figuring complexion, height, etc from the tiniest clues was just mind-blowing. And, although no one wants to admit it, Sherlock is the one everyone – and I mean everyone, including police officers – turns to when they can’t figure the problem out themselves. His observation and analytical skills are second to none, and everyone knows that. It was because of these astonishing talents that Sherlock felt real to me, if a little mad. But, hey, I like mad, especially when it’s paired with genius. Watson was more-or-less how he’s portrayed in all of the films/TV shows: smart, sensible and stable, compared to Holmes’ mood swings. Unsurprisingly, Holmes intrigues him, even if he’s a little sceptical of Sherlock’s hidden detective talents to begin with. Most of the story is told from Watson’s point of view, and it offers an interesting perspective of Holmes, and how he analysed everything. And the way it was written... wow. I honestly couldn’t put the book down. The second part confused me a little to begin with, but then I just got sucked into the story. Once more: unable to put the book down. Also, I can completely see why Sherlock Holmes is so huge, even nowadays. To put it plainly, he’s brilliant. The mystery itself was gruesome, but exciting, gripping hold of me, and winding tighter as I learnt more. It’s pretty safe to say that I love the classics – the feel of the world the author was in when they were written – and A Study in Scarlet really made me believe I was in Conan Doyle’s era. Plus, it was a bite-size read, especially considering the lengths of some of the other classics out there. I recommend this to everyone: it’s a masterpiece, with mystery, broken hearts and murder. Really – what more do you want from a murder-mystery? P.S. Small fact for you: Sherlock Holmes never says “Elementary, my dear Watson” in the books, as it was added to the films only for theatrical purposes. Why it was added, though, I have no idea.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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Once, But I'm Gonna Read It Again!
| Feb 16, 2011
| Feb 19, 2011
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Jun 25, 2011
| Paperback
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| 1408800136
| 9781408800133
| unknown
| 3.57
| 365
| Oct 04, 2010
| Oct 04, 2010
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I don’t know whether it was the writing, the characters or the anticipation and hints of what was to come, but I sped through this book, completely ad...more
I don’t know whether it was the writing, the characters or the anticipation and hints of what was to come, but I sped through this book, completely addicted from page one. It starts off at the end of the story, with flashbacks that make no sense at the time, but make you want to read on to find out what they’re about more than anything. You know something huge and scary is there in the book, but you don’t know where or what and you just need to find out. Told from the point of view of the main character, Michael, it is about how after his mother dies, he is sent to live with a man (Lord Stephan) he’s never met, but knows because his father died to save him. The house he’s sent to is thoroughly depressing from the beginning, the only points of light being the servants. But there’s something evil, dangerous in the house... Is Michael just going mad or did something terrible really happen there? Was the woman he saw really there? And if so, why could no one else see her? Well, I just had to know the answer to that question from the first sighting of her. Michael’s a good character, smart, brave and very good at noticing the little things. The other characters are good too, getting a nice range, from the mad Lord Stephan to the beautiful Miss Charlotte to the cheerful . And I must admit, I really didn’t see what happened in the end coming, although I had a mild suspicion on a couple of things. I would definitely recommend this book, as it has a nice blend of ghosts, scare-factor, and mystery. Perfect mix! The only downside is that it’s too short, which makes the end a little abrupt, and that I never found out the time period it’s set it, which kind of bugged me all the way through. But, despite all of that, a brilliant, smart and spine-tingling read that’s positively addictive. A must read!(less) | Notes are private!
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Just Once, But I'll Read It Again
| Jan 10, 2011
| Jan 14, 2011
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Jun 25, 2011
| Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| 9780099541
| 3.79
| 5,458
| 2000
| 2004
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"I am HIM." An old man called Holberg was found murdered in his home. On top was a note no one understands and a further search of his home revealed a...more "I am HIM." An old man called Holberg was found murdered in his home. On top was a note no one understands and a further search of his home revealed a photo of a child's grave. Detective Erlendur can't make heads or tails of the murder, until he begins to unravel the dead man's life. And finds he was suspected in a very, very violent crime four decades ago. Which leaves the question of why was he killed now? All these years later? Was it just his crime coming back to haunt him? Or does the mystery run even deeper than that...? I do love crime thrillers. I love to watch them, love to read them. So when my aunt told me she had a brilliant crime book that I had to read, I jumped on the chance! My aunt has a good taste in murder mystery, so I knew this would be good! I'll admit I've seen some not-stellar reviews of Jar City, but I personally really enjoyed it. I really liked Erlendur. He was very old school and logical, kind of brash and straight-to-the-point. He was a generally good person and a caring one. I'll admit, he wasn't like Sherlock-exceptional, but he was so intuitive and so good at his job. I must say, the father-daughter relationship between Erlendur and Eva Lind was intriguing, mainly 'cause Eva Lind was such an intriguing character. I can't wait to see where everything between them goes. Admittedly, the other detectives weren't as padded-out as Erlendur. Elínborg especially seems like she could be extended more - I barely felt like I knew her. I knew a little more about Sigurdur Óli, but not quite enough. I only mention this because I think both characters could be so much more. I loved the writing, all the random little details. It was a wonderfully simple style, really easy to read, but full of descriptions and mystery. And the plot was equally brilliant and wonderfully twisty. It wasn't sensationalised or out of the ordinary. The plot and murder all felt really realistic and gritty real, if that makes sense. I'll admit it sometimes wasn't the most suspenseful or mind blowing plot, but it was really effective and I have a feeling the author is only going to get better from here. Plus, I loved learning more about Iceland, about their surnames: the father's name and "dóttir" for daughter and "son" for son. Cool, huh? The one thing I don't get about the book is the mystery surrounding Marion Briem. All the descriptions were so cryptic - we had no idea whether Marion was male or female. It was ANNOYING. As I love thrillers, I've read a lot of twisted crime thrillers - some were mentally scaring really! - but I've never read any by an Icelandic author. After reading Jar City, I can't wait to read more! The story is twisty but not scarringly twistED. I really enjoyed the setting and mystery and the genetic/forensic twist to the story, as well as the moral and ethical themes: it wasn't heartbreaking, but it was thought-provoking and complex. Anyway, I'm super excited about the rest of this series! Yay to Icelandic crime thrillers!(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Aug 14, 2012
| Aug 14, 2012
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Aug 14, 2012
| Paperback
| ||||||||||||||||
| 9781409547280
| 3.63
| 27
| Oct 01, 2012
| Oct 01, 2012
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4¾ Out of 5 “Ashleigh Jarvis was lying bleeding and unconscious in the gutter behind him. “She was no longer hugging herself though, and perhaps that'...more 4¾ Out of 5 “Ashleigh Jarvis was lying bleeding and unconscious in the gutter behind him. “She was no longer hugging herself though, and perhaps that's why she looked as if she had finally fallen apart...” The police service has just set up a pilot scheme called the Trainee Police Officer program. It lets exceptional young people join the force at the age of sixteen and fast track them those with the ability to be amazing officers through the ranks... Holly Blades is one if those people. Her first serious case is that of Ashleigh Jarvis. The fourteen year old girl ran shoeless and terrified through the streets before running into the road and into the path of an oncoming lorry... Holy knows she shouldn't allow herself to become emotionally involved in cases, but she can't help it. She is determined to solve the case for Ashleigh. Even if she puts her future as a TPO in danger... Oh, how I love crime fiction! There seriously isn't enough YA stuff around and Knock Down was such a gem! Gritty, addictive, thrilling and unique, it had me hooked from start to finish. I even missed my favourite shows to finish gobbling it up! Now that's a sign of a good, good, good book if ever there was one! Knock Down was amazing and Ould is definitely a YA author to look out for! I loved this book to pieces – all sixteen-year-old must read this! The characters felt so real to me. Even if I didn't know much about them, they all really jumped off the page. None of them felt like they were stereotypes or just walking props. All of them had a personality, all of them had secrets and hidden agendas. I loved that. How they were all so complex. Take Holly for example: she was caring and devoted, and knew how to stand up for herself – which was important as people didn’t always take her seriously, since she was only sixteen. I felt like I really knew Holly’s personality and character but not much about her past – what made her her, if that makes sense. But I didn’t care: she was such a good person and such an amazing copper and I can’t wait to see where she goes. Plus, she’s really relatable, even though she’s a policewoman (girl?). I also really liked her fellow TPO Sam: I don’t really know why but I found Sam really, really cute! He was funny and protective and dedicated: I can’t wait to see more of him! Plus, I just really loved all the cops – they were all awesome. And while I didn't really like them, I loved getting to know all the gang people - they were all really complex. I found myself addicted to the gritty realism in Ould's writing. It was so realistic and authentic. The writing was very detailed yet simple, a real pleasure to read. Plus, I just loved all the cop stuff – and how real it made it all. And I was just as intrigued as Holly was about the events behind Ashleigh’s accident. The pace was non-stop and action-packed, full of suspense and thrills. And I did not see anything in the whole darn plot coming! On top of that, the chapters were so short – a danger! danger! alert on that front, I'm afraid! But as well as the police stuff, I was thrilled and intrigued by all the gang related chapters and trying to figure out what was going on on that front. And all the unanswered questions - well, I just can't wait to get them answered! I need a new book, a new case - ASAP! I loved how real all the police stuff was. I loved all the cop talk and cop procedures. It was awesome! You could tell that Ould had a background in the genre – his The Bill experience definitely came across in his gritty, realistic writing style. Loved it! And I loved even more that Ould doesn't talk down to you – he shied from nothing and sugar-coated nothing. Loved that! Speaking of the awesomeness of crime fiction and gritty realistic, anyone else notice that crime thrillers are sneaking and coming into YA fiction? Gotta say, can't wait for it to explode! Teens love CSI and whatnot and there's nothing more gripping than a good crime thriller - especially if we wanna get teens back into reading! And it's even better when our leads are people teens can relate to - say, teen cops! Plus, all the issues tackled were just so relevant, so current, which is just the cherry on the cake of crime awesomeness! A totally kickbutt crime drama, the first in a series I just know I'm going to love to bits and never want to end! Twisty, gritty, action packed and just plain awesome, Knock Down has just left me desperate for more, more, more! I'm always saying we need more crime fiction in YA lit and I so wish there are more now I've read how freaking AMAZING Knock Down was! I can't tell you how bad I want - no, need - a sequel! Crime loving people, young or old, you all have to read this! It's so awesome, awesome, awesome, AWESOME!! I can't wait for Case número Two!(less) | Notes are private!
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Once - Can't Wait For Book Two!
| Oct 18, 2012
| Oct 19, 2012
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Aug 26, 2012
| Paperback
| ||||||||||||||||
| 0099543931
| 9780099543930
| 3.88
| 14,833
| Nov 01, 2010
| May 12, 2011
|
4½ Out of 5 Six months ago, tragedy struck fourteen-year-old Tory Brennan. Her mum died. She moved in with her father – the father she has never met a...more 4½ Out of 5 Six months ago, tragedy struck fourteen-year-old Tory Brennan. Her mum died. She moved in with her father – the father she has never met and who didn’t even know she existed. They moved to Morris Island for his work. There, Tory met Hi, Ben and Shelton, and the gang soon become friends, doing everything together. But when they stumble across a skeleton in the restricted part of Loggerhead Island and rescue a sick puppy from the research institute, everything changes. Now they have people after them, who want to keep the skeleton’s cold-case-murder just that – cold. And then, once more, it gets worse. Suddenly… they have abilities. With unknown forces hunting them down, Tory, Hi, Ben and Shelton only have one another and their new gifts. But where did they come from? And what is going on at Loggerhead? Who’s after them? Can they stay alive long enough to find out…? I love Bones the TV show, though I’ve never actually read anything by Reichs before. When I saw this, a sci-fi book, written by the lady behind one of my favorite shows, I just couldn’t resist! Virals was a book that sucked me in: Tory’s snark and the group dynamics were perfect and just made me want to read on. A brilliant, twisty, sci-fi mystery that I was just addicted to. I loved it! And thank God I have Seizure already! The characters… I loved them all! They all felt so real, so loveable, so alive. And they were all so relatable – they were the odd-ones-out at their school, even before the “incident”. Their dynamics were excellent: teasing, tight, loads of sarcasm, completely hilarious. I loved them all! Tory was great: funny, kinda nerdy, pure genius and just all-round loveable. I loved her snark and how she exaggerated: she always managed to make me laugh! Plus, she was just completely and utterly, wonderfully insane – something I love in my characters! Hi was also bonkers: he was hilarious and "the master of sarcasm". Clever, logical and an evil genius, the hilarious Hi was my personal favorite! Ben was a straight-to-the-point kinda guy, though. At one point, I was undecided about whether Ben looked out for himself first, or if he was just a really, really good hider... Either way, he was a man of little words - and the ones he said were usually snarky. Brilliant! Shelton Devers, mechanic extraordinaire and whiz at all things technical, he too was a master of sarcasm (d’you see a pattern here?). He had a strange repertoire of skills (such as lock-picking) and a fear of creepy crawlies... I loved him as well! The writing was brilliant - told primarily in Tory's 1st person, but with bits in 3rd person, revolving around the 'bad guys' and what they were up to, an extra little insight I adored. I loved Tory's voice: it was both super teen and super intelligent (she is a freakin’ genius!). The description was vivid – I saw everything – and not at all dull, not even for a moment. Overall, the writing was addictive, engrossing and brilliant - there were so many little hints that drove me insane, even though sometimes I thought there were too many... And the plot was awesome, full of twists and mystery and it had me hooked onto every single word. The mystery was intriguing, the excitement addictive and the humor intoxicating: it was just amazing! The perfect voice, the perfect characters, the perfect plot. And also, the perfect, flawless blend of science and paranormal. Reichs is a genius and I so wanna be a Viral! With a snarky, witty heroine, her genius group of friends, a sick puppy, strange powers, a secret experiment and an unknown enemy, Virals was addictive, exciting and pure awesome! Think Famous Five with a wolfdog, superpowers, forensic science and murder - yes, I'd take Virals over Famous Five anyday! There are not enough mystery-forensic-paranormal books out there – but after Virals, I’m desperate for more! And now I need more of the Virals! I shall end with a quote from Miss Tory herself: “God help anyone who messes with the Virals”...(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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Once, And I Can't Wait To Read Seizure!
| Jan 03, 2012
| Jan 05, 2012
|
May 04, 2011
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 0141337117
| 9780141337111
| 4.28
| 49,225
| Aug 23, 2011
| Aug 25, 2011
|
Ever since Sydney Sage helped dhampir Rose Hathaway, she has been shunned by the rest of her secret organisation, the Alchemists. Their goal being to...more
Ever since Sydney Sage helped dhampir Rose Hathaway, she has been shunned by the rest of her secret organisation, the Alchemists. Their goal being to protect humanity from vampires, associating with a half-vampire is not helping Sydney’s case. So when a job pops up, Sydney sees a chance to redeem herself. Until she finds out that it involves living with a Moroi. And not just any old Moroi – Queen Vasilisa Dragomir’s younger sister and only relative, who is a being targeted by rebels. This will not help Sydney rid herself of the name ‘vamp lover’… Of course, it doesn’t help that darker goings-on are happening in their new home. Ones that could prove to be deadly… I have to admit, when I saw that a spin-off series of Vampire Academy was coming out, I thought: “Oh! It’s not going to be the same – can’t be the same – without Rose!” I was, of course, a total fool to doubt the brilliance of Richelle Mead. Sure, I missed Rose. But Bloodlines just blew me away completely. The characters, the action, the humour, the plot, the setting… everything was just perfect! I loved every single moment, just zooming through the book at break-neck speed. And, as I read, I just thought how much I wanted the book to go on and on and on… Yeah. It was just that good! Sydney was awesome. Eighteen, an Alchemist, Sydney was smart, practical and… well, awesome! When she first appeared in Blood Promise, I wasn’t too keen on her. But I got past the suits and righteousness quickly and realised I really, really liked her. She has this wonderful, dry kind of humour about her: she made me laugh – and grin – a lot. She was also wonderfully bad in social situations – she really didn’t get people. It was hilarious! So, ok, Sydney wasn’t a kick-butt guardian like Rose. But she was smart, funny and would do anything for the ones she cared about – die for them, fight for them. And, in that way, she was very much like our dear Miss Hathaway. Oh, and I loved Sydney, if you hadn’t gathered. Now for the ‘supporting cast’. Jill: I’ve always loved her! She’s so full of energy and often nervous, but she’s just so cute! And all rambly! But, in the events preceding this book, she’d had to go through so much – it was terrible… (Intrigued, yet?) And then we have Adrian Ivashkov. I have always loved Adrian Ivashkov. Now, this is how it went down: Adrian enters the cast. And, instantly, I’m laughing. He’s just that brilliant. And, even better, underneath the sarcastic, snarky, I’m-so-wonderful exterior is someone who is damaged, but amazingly sweet and deep. This is blatantly obvious whenever he’s around ‘Jailbait’ – Jill for those who haven’t read the books. I love him! Oh, and Eddie Castille makes an appearance! I really liked Eddie – always have, ‘cause he’s sweet and brave, and very sarcastic when needed – which, basically, is whenever Adrian is involved. I’ll end with a sort-of badguy. An Alchemist. Keith Darnell. Grr. Sydney didn’t like him – at all. And I hated him from the moment he walked in. He was smug, arrogant and just rubbed me the wrong way. Bloodlines was super-fast pace and exciting! Even when there was no action, it was so, so addictive! And, as usual with Richelle’s books, I guessed some of the more basic twists, but there were more where my guesses were way off mark. Like out-of-the-park incorrect. Really, it was so cool to see the problem – and world – from the Alchemists’ point-of-view. It was amazing to see more into the Alchemist organisation, their secrets and mission. Even if I didn’t entirely like all of their beliefs and strict social rules. And, true to all Richelle’s novels, I felt so much throughout the book. I laughed – a lot – I held my breath, I hoped, I smiled, I felt like crying… How does she make me feel every.single emotion Sydney does? I need The Golden Lily. ASAP. Now. Its release honestly can’t come soon enough! Bloodlines ended on one of the worst one-sentence cliffhangers ever! And, in the sequel, can we look forward to a few new love triangles? We’ll just have to wait and see… But, I’m tellin’ you now, I am packing my bags and moving here, to this wonderful, wonderful world. I don’t think I can wait until next year! So… Bye!(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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Once, But I'm Reading It Again As Soon As Possible!
| Aug 30, 2011
| Sep 04, 2011
|
Jun 25, 2011
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 1408811316
| 9781408811313
| 3.92
| 3,249
| May 24, 2011
| Jul 09, 2011
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Since she was nine, Violet has helped her mother achieve fame as a talented spiritualist. This talent is faked. Tools such as bellows, laudanum and sa...more
Since she was nine, Violet has helped her mother achieve fame as a talented spiritualist. This talent is faked. Tools such as bellows, laudanum and salt are used to trick the rich into believing in her séances. So when Violet, her mother, Colin (an Irish orphan, taken in by her mother – not due to the kindness of her heart, but for the labour he provides) and their maid Marjorie travel to the country to entertain Lord Jasper and his guests, they all know the stakes are higher than ever. They’d put on a good show, get paid and be able to keep their respectable house for a little longer. But then Violet starts to see ghosts. After all that time with her mother, she was certain ghosts aren’t real. Apparently, the ghosts don’t agree. Especially one particularly persistent ghost, who has lilies in her hair and bruises round her neck and wrists. She was murdered. And it’s up to Violet to find the killer... I absolutely adored Alyxandra Harvey’s Drake Chronicles, and I am anxiously awaiting the release date of the next in the series. And as I read Haunting Violet I fell just as much in love – more even. With a backdrop of Victorian England, the setting was just as enchanting and believable as that in books written by Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters. All the little details built together to create a world so historical and so British that I honestly felt like I travelled back in time. The customs, the dress, the speech, the behaviour: all of it just added to the magical Victorian world. And all this was before the ghosts came into the story. Violet I just liked instantly. We meet her when she was nine: the first time she was taken along to one of her mother’s séances, and forced to help her drug two elderly women. Violet hated it then, and grew to resent it – and her mother – as she got older. From the very beginning I was sympathetic towards her: her mother was just horrible. Plus she was a bookish little girl, and a bookish young woman, and I loved her “I'd rather have books than chocolate" quote as I agreed with it wholeheartedly. I was a little worried at the beginning, scared that the brilliant kick that Harvey’s other female leads wouldn’t exist in this polite world. My fears were ill found, as Violet had that brilliant attitude I love about Harvey’s girls. The way she handled her rather unwanted gift was realistic, and she was somehow very modern. Collin was another winner, with his good sense of humour and subtle Irish accent. He and Violet look out for each other – after they’d outgrown the putting worms in one another’s beds phase, of course. I loved Collin, and I’m telling you now that he is just as good as Nicholas and the other Drake boys, so you won’t be disappointed on that front. And there was also a Lucy-like best friend. Elizabeth is nobility, but I fell in love with her from her very first sentence: “I once fitted five of those little egg things in my mouth in one go”. She really made me laugh, and the scenes between her and Violet made me actually feel their friendship: it was completely believable. Now, this book seriously has everything. It has a brilliant setting, amazing historical and paranormal influences, authentic romance, friendship and general relationships, as well as the most brilliant and new murder-mystery. I loved the ways Violet, Collin and Elizabeth tried to figure out who the killer was, from using spirit boards to subtle conversations with the living upper class. Somehow Harvey had me laughing one minute, then on the edge of my seat the next as she cranked up the suspense. All the spirit and psychic parts of the story were absolutely convincing, plus seeing how old-days mediums (without powers) pulled off their performances was intriguing. I love a good ghost story, especially one with so much realism, plus I’ve seen the length of this review, so I’m going to end on this note: please let there be a sequel!(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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Once, But I've Started Rereading It: Already!
| Jun 27, 2011
| Jul 2011
|
Mar 17, 2011
| Paperback
|
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