I loved this. Read it in almost a single sitting (stopping only for food). Simmone Howell is right: Dan is an absolute sweetheart. I love that he has...moreI loved this. Read it in almost a single sitting (stopping only for food). Simmone Howell is right: Dan is an absolute sweetheart. I love that he has such little hope of success, but commits fully to every challenge. And yes, I loved sweet little Howard too.
Fiona Wood's writing is sharp and witty, and her characters are so likable and believable. I laughed out loud more than once and enjoyed the way all the emotional strands came together. Like I said: I loved it. (less)
My Aussie YA love fest continues. What an awesome read.
This novel works on so many levels. Characters who have quirks but are so grounded in reality i...moreMy Aussie YA love fest continues. What an awesome read.
This novel works on so many levels. Characters who have quirks but are so grounded in reality it's impossible not to connect with them. It's a coming-of-age story but also a page-turner. And it's a love letter to the weirdness of St Kilda - and vintage vinyl records.
Simmone Howell's writing...so witty, beautiful and original. I loved the grittiness and the poetry, and the great dialogue. I loved Sky and all her awkwardness, intelligence and strength, and Gully's sweetness and tenacity.
This was my first experience of Simmone's work. Definitely not the last.(less)
I loved that Kate was so real and vulnerable, a believable mix of rebellion, uncertainty and guilt.
I loved the family dysf...moreThis was such a great read.
I loved that Kate was so real and vulnerable, a believable mix of rebellion, uncertainty and guilt.
I loved the family dysfunction, particularly the simmering anger between Kate and her mother - and the underlying sense that there's enough love in this family to get beyond the hurt and tension.
I wanted to find out what it was that was so bad Kate was sent to boarding school, and I wanted her to face up to the consequences. I also wanted to see which new friendships stuck, and how things were going to work out with the very sweet Lachy.
Pip Harry's writing is fresh and witty, peppered with self-effacing humour, warmth and an endearing (and appropriately awkward) honesty.
It all added up to an addictive, page-turning read that I struggled to put down. I loved it. (less)
Christine Howe's writing is so evocative and moving in Song in the Dark, I kept making myself slow down to appreciate it.
This is a difficult to story...moreChristine Howe's writing is so evocative and moving in Song in the Dark, I kept making myself slow down to appreciate it.
This is a difficult to story to read at times because addiction is not an easy topic. But even though Paul's addiction is a key part of the story, it's his responses to it - and the consequences of his actions - that drive the story. And the hope he's going to have the courage to get his shit together.
I really appreciated the story's structure, moving backwards and forwards between the past and now, building a textured picture of Paul's life and what led to 'that' moment: the moment that becomes the trigger for change.
Christine says she wanted to write a story about hope, and she's delivered that for me. The story is powerful and poignant - particularly the relationship between Paul and his grandmother, and what that connection means to both of them.
This is another of those novels that could easily sit on the adult side of the bookstore. As a YA novel, it continues the trend of Australian writers rewriting the rules for how we tell our stories.(less)
I ordered this book at the library after reading Nomes' fabulous review on Inkcrush. I'll admit, when I took a closer look at the cutesy cover, I thou...moreI ordered this book at the library after reading Nomes' fabulous review on Inkcrush. I'll admit, when I took a closer look at the cutesy cover, I thought the library had wrongly marked it as adult fiction, because it definitely had a YA vibe (and while I'd read the synopsis and knew the story appealed, I obviously didn't read it enough to realise it wasn't YA).
I should know better: don't judge a book by its cover. The nature of the relationships and emotional struggles are definitely for an older audience, and Nicola Moriarty handles her story in a way that brings together a difficult issue with unexpected moments of serendipity.
I enjoyed getting to know Hannah and India, drawn in by their respective mysteries and what it is they're running from. And when the truth about each is revealed, their stories - and that of their families/other halves - become even more compelling. There were moments of honesty that resonated with me and I was well and truly caught up in the emotion of the final chapters.
Paper Chains tackles themes of friendship, family, forgiveness and twists of fate in a way that's original, with a subtle Australian flavour. I found it hard to put down.
Brilliant finish to a brilliant series. So many threads come together. So many scenes brought me close to tears (and at least two actually had me cryi...moreBrilliant finish to a brilliant series. So many threads come together. So many scenes brought me close to tears (and at least two actually had me crying).
There were resolutions for every character I've come to care deeply about, and all of those resolutions were hard-earned.
Again, Melina delivers meticulous plotting and world building, layered characters, plenty of tension, action and humour, and profound insights into the human capacity for love, forgiveness and hope.
Important relationships are on the line in this final instalment (on several levels), but I must admit the one I cared about most (at least early on) was Finn and Froi's. Their friendship is one of my favourite things in this series and I seriously fretted for them. Later, my stress was for **SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVEN'T READ FROI OF THE EXILES** Lucien and Phaedra. And then it was all for Quintana and Froi. I was exhausted by the end. In the best way.
How addictive was this book? I read it in a day - a day when I should have been doing other things.
It's a fun, quirky and erudite love story. It's lau...moreHow addictive was this book? I read it in a day - a day when I should have been doing other things.
It's a fun, quirky and erudite love story. It's laugh-out-loud funny and unexpectedly touching.
Don is a wonderfully offbeat narrative character and Rosie is his perfect foil. Graeme Simsion writes both characters pitch perfect.
I think one of the reasons the story is so appealing is that it's written by a man, from a man's perspective. And it's definitely not lad lit.
This book is going to be a huge hit and deservedly so. Highly recommended.(less)
Karou's steep learning curve. Akiva's atonement. The heartbreaking, Shakespearean epic this story is becoming...There's so m...moreStunning. Just...stunning.
Karou's steep learning curve. Akiva's atonement. The heartbreaking, Shakespearean epic this story is becoming...There's so much to be in awe of with this series.
Yes, it's dark. But it has to be. Karou and Akiva are caught up in a brutal war and both must face the consequences of their actions - whether they be fair or not.
Like Melina Marchetta's Lumatere Chronicles, Laini Taylor's fantasy (crossover?) series captures the shades of light and dark on both sides of a bloody conflict. It underscores the senselessness of brutality and cycles of violence and hatred.
Laini makes insightful observations about the nature of war and hatred, and Akiva gets two of the most profound lines of the book (made poignant by his impossible situation):
'What can a soldier do when mercy is treason and he is alone in it?'
'Mercy breeds mercy as slaughter breeds slaughter. You can't expect the world be better than we make it'
Everything that made Daughter of Smoke and Bone so amazing - beautiful writing, originality, meticulous world building, the sly humour - is all here, but now the stakes are higher. And seriously, the tension in the last quarter of this book was unbearable (in a good way).
I liked that there was more of Zuzana and Mik, and more of Liraz and Hazael. I liked the split between scenes in our world, and those in Eretz. I liked learning more about seraphim and chimaera societies. I loved the complexity of the relationship between Karou and Akiva, and how they are changing their respective worlds, even at great personal cost.
If it's not already obvious, I absolutely love this series. If it's going where I think it's going, it may well become my favourite of all time. (Of course, I've still got Marchetta's Quintana of Charyn to read, so it could be a close call...)(less)
Yep, this second instalment in the Lumatere Chronicles is something special.
Froi of the Exiles is a different, darker story from Finnikin of the Rock...moreYep, this second instalment in the Lumatere Chronicles is something special.
Froi of the Exiles is a different, darker story from Finnikin of the Rock, and – maybe because of that – is even more compelling and emotionally raw.
At the end of Finnikin there was hope for a new age of Lumatere. Three years on and the recovering realm is struggling to rebuild after its years of exile and suffering. The scars run deep for the Lumaterans, and there are divisions between the exiles and those who were trapped all those years with enemy.
While Isaboe and Finnikin deal with difficult issues at home, Froi sets off to Charyn on a mission to kill the man responsible for Lumatere’s decade of suffering: the King of Charyn. He enters enemy territory sure of who he is and what he believes. But the people he meets – scarred, cursed and broken men and women – and the things he learns about Charyn and himself, change him in unexpected ways.
The characters in Froi are all complex and layered (of course they are, this is Melina Marchetta). The plot is intricate and the world building again meticulous. But it's the themes and the way Melina handles them that truly sets this series apart for me. I know plenty of fantasy novels tackle themes of humanity, inhumanity, survival and hope. But it's not often you'll find this kind of mature approach in a YA series (although, honestly, the Lumatere Chronicles transcends the YA label on so many levels).
Things I especially loved about this book:
- Quintana: what a brilliantly complex, damaged and unpredictable character. Her suffering and humiliation is almost unbearable at times, but her strength in the face of that cruelty makes it impossible not to care deeply for her. (Even with her wildness - and wearing that pink taffeta dress.)
- Froi: He’s undergone such growth from Finnikin of the Rock, and in this story he’s stretched and tested in unexpected ways. I loved his gruff narrative voice, his fierce loyalty to Lumatere and the antagonistic bonds he forms with his new companions in Charyn. Especially Quintana. Theirs is a dark – but strangely endearing – relationship. There’s also the irony that the girl Froi falls in love with has suffered at the hands of brutal men; the kind Froi now fears he may have become like if not for Isaboe and Finn.
- The blurring of lines between ‘good’ and ‘bad’. Not every Lumateran shines with goodness, and some are so scarred they’ve lost their capacity for empathy for their own people, let alone others outside their borders needing help (reflecting geo-political situations in our own world). And – just like ‘enemy’ states in the real world – Charyn has scars and horrors of its own. As Froi discovers, the Charynites have suffered just as much as their enemies at the hands of corrupt and debase rulers.
- And then there’s the wealth of engaging – and heartbreaking – secondary characters: Lucien and Phaedra; Tesadora and Perri; Trevanion and Beatriss; Gargarin, Arjuro and Lirah.
Yes, I cried at the end. (But thank you Melina for those final lines. I wanted to hug you when I read them.)
I have Quintana of Charyn ready to go, but - just like after Finnikin - I want to sit with this novel for a while before launching into the final instalment.
You know how there are books that get under your skin? Raw Blue was well and truly under mine about 50 pages in. I had late nights so I could finish i...moreYou know how there are books that get under your skin? Raw Blue was well and truly under mine about 50 pages in. I had late nights so I could finish it. And now, three days later, I still can't stop thinking about it. About Carly and Ryan. Carly's brokenness. Healing.
This is one of the most gritty and moving novels I've ever read - and I've read a lot. It's unsentimental (but never cold); uncomfortably honest in parts and unexpectedly funny in others; and written so beautifully it hurts. Her characters are so raw and so real and I cared deeply for them.
Very much looking forward to reading Kirsty Eagar's other work. This book is why I love Australian YA authors so much.(less)
I've been meaning to read this book since it came out in 2008 and it was definitely worth the wait. This offbeat story about love and acceptance is fu...moreI've been meaning to read this book since it came out in 2008 and it was definitely worth the wait. This offbeat story about love and acceptance is funny, heartwarming, heartbreaking and completely addictive.
Toni Jordan tackles the issue of OCD with wit, insight and sensitivity (along a healthy dose of irreverence). And while there's a lovely romance at its core, Addition is really about Grace and her need to forgive herself, and her need for those she cares about to love her for who she is - not who they think she should be.
This is a love letter to individuality and a gentle warning that in our rush to normalise everyone around us, we sometimes rob them of the very things that make them unique.
The final two paragraphs provide the perfect finish to this cleverly crafted - and wonderfully Australian - novel.
And yes, in keeping with my recent reading track record, there may have been a tear or two towards the end.
A totally enjoyable read that I devoured in two days. Thanks to Nomes for reminding me I needed to pick this up.(less)
Okay, so you want a bit of erotica and you find a domineering man sexy? If you want a feisty rather than submissive woman, if you're okay with vampire...moreOkay, so you want a bit of erotica and you find a domineering man sexy? If you want a feisty rather than submissive woman, if you're okay with vampires, and if you can stomach some violence (not sexual and not relating to the core relationship), then you should give this latest offering from Jeaniene Frost a go.
For Frost fans, it harks back to the early days of her landmark Night Huntress series. Plenty of sexual tension, common enemies to be fought, lots of violent action and a couple of steamy (and explicit) sex scenes.
This is the first in a spin-off series featuring Vlad (aka Dracula), and - as he's proven as a supporting character in the Night Huntress series - he's interesting enough to warrant his own stories. (The other spin-offs featuring secondary characters seem to be stand-alone novels at this point.)
Be warned: Jeanine Frost is not afraid to put her characters through the ringer - especially her female protagonists - but at least the violence suffered by narrative character Leila is off the page.
Frost fans will eat this up. Given the renewed interest in erotica in popular fiction, it may not be too long before a whole new audience discovers Ms Frost. This is definitely a good place to start if this sounds like your cup of tea.
We all know dystopian is the new black in YA - the market is certainly awash with it - so it's refreshing to have a novel like The Interrogation of As...moreWe all know dystopian is the new black in YA - the market is certainly awash with it - so it's refreshing to have a novel like The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf in the mix.
The debut novel from Australian author Ambelin Kwaymullina is fast-paced, intelligent and highly original, with a wonderfully subtle Australian flavour.
I generally avoid comparing novels/writers, but if I were to break my rule on this occasion, I'd say The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf feels like Divergent (Veronica Roth) meets Genesis (Bernard Beckett); it has the intensity and action of the former and the clever twists and social relevance of the latter.
I really enjoyed the smart structure of the story: the memories with memories, the excellent twists. Ashala is an engaging narrator and her love for - and connection with - the land and all living things is palpable. The whole idea of a Reckoning and subsequent shift towards global balance (and then the inevitable politicising of that balance) is cleverly presented.
Ambelin's post-Reckoning world-building is solid, and the political and philosophical backdrop to the action intriguing. I hope the underlying theme of changing society without violence is further explored in future books.
While The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf (awesome title - and stunning cover) resolves a great many of the questions it raises, it leaves plenty of scope for the story and the characters to grow. Ashala herself shows late in the book that she still has some issues to deal with, which is what makes her interesting.
I've had a great run of late with books that shine with originality. Daughter of Smoke and Bone almost needs its own category. The wor...moreWow. Just...wow.
I've had a great run of late with books that shine with originality. Daughter of Smoke and Bone almost needs its own category. The world and mythology Laini Taylor has created (more gothic fantasy than paranormal) is nothing short of stunning.
Reading this was like reading Harry Potter for the first time: the world and characters feel so real you can't help but believe they've always existed.
The story is rich, complex and exquisitely heart-breaking. And Laini Taylor's writing. Sublime.
The Prague setting is breath-taking - actually the entire story is rich with evocative imagery. Karou and Akiva are multi-faceted, complex and utterly engaging narrators, and their supporting characters - especially the chimaera - add depth and colour.
The theme of the futility of war - and how it twists and taints those involved - comes through strongly, and I suspect this will be the driving motif of the series (along with the question of whether Karou and Akiva can ever find peace in the wake of the events in Daughter of Smoke and Bone).
And let's not forget the plot: the intrigue, heightened by a clever narrative structure, make this a tense page-turner.
The overwhelming praise for this book is so warranted. An instant favourite. I'll be getting my hands on Days of Blood and Starlight very, very soon.
(Thanks to Trinity for encouraging me to read this one now, rather than waiting...)(less)
While this one has been on my shelf as 'currently reading' for a while, it actually only took me a few sittings to rip through once I finally got back...moreWhile this one has been on my shelf as 'currently reading' for a while, it actually only took me a few sittings to rip through once I finally got back to it.
For a story about reapers and death, Inbetween is sweet and romantic - but still keeps the action, pace and tension at satisfying levels.
I liked Tara Fuller's reaper hierarchy, the dynamic between Finn and Emma, and the frailty of Emma's emotional state (and how it's interpreted by herself and those around her). I also liked that Emma and best friend Cash actually act like the teenagers they are.
Emma, Finn and Cash are engaging, likable characters and the threat posed by malevolent spirit Maeve helps turn this into a fast-paced page turner.
I would've liked Cash to have understood more about what was going on with Emma, but I'm guessing his story might be coming next in the series given how this instalment winds up. I'll be keen to revisit this world to see what happens.
What a wonderful, fresh, original, genre-defying novel.
It's the type of story that takes its time, creeps up on you, and before you know it, has morp...moreWhat a wonderful, fresh, original, genre-defying novel.
It's the type of story that takes its time, creeps up on you, and before you know it, has morphed from a light, whimsical tale into an addictive page-turner.
For the first hundred or so pages, A Corner of White feels like a fun and clever magical story - almost Rowling-esque in its quirkiness. But there's a darkness at the edges (that we only see a hint of in this first instalment) and a quietly compelling mystery about what's really going on in both worlds.
I loved the characters, especially Madeleine and Elliot. They are flawed but likeable, quirky (in Madeleine's case at least) but still very real. And I loved that even the most random piece of information has a part to play in the story. So many curiosities - things that seem just a bit of silliness - turn out to be meaningful.
Jacklyn Moriarty's writing is insightful, fresh and full of energy, and the worlds - on both sides of the crack - are vividly drawn. The way she uses colours in the Kingdom of Cello is pure genius.
I'm really looking forward to the next instalment of what promises to be a unique series.
(Another excellent recommendation from Nomes.)(less)
I loved this book. LOVED it. It was funny, heartbreaking and poetic. And so, so beautifully written. Lucy and Ed are so likable as narrative character...moreI loved this book. LOVED it. It was funny, heartbreaking and poetic. And so, so beautifully written. Lucy and Ed are so likable as narrative characters, with their honesty and humour. This is their love story, but it's also a story about the power and beauty of art - and the beauty of friendship. Leo and Jazz, Daisy and Dylan...all wonderfully fleshed out characters with their own hang-ups and quirks. I wish there had been books like this around when I was a teenager. I'm very keen to read more of Cath Crowley. :)(less)
This is a great read. Fast-paced, interesting characters and plenty of action and intrigue. I loved the Perth setting, the dynamic between Sadie and t...moreThis is a great read. Fast-paced, interesting characters and plenty of action and intrigue. I loved the Perth setting, the dynamic between Sadie and the people she cares about, and the brilliant way Myke Bartlett brings a fresh twist to some creepy ancient mariner myths.
There's a wonderful sense of menace and mystery as this story unfolds, and the last third of Fire in the Sea in particular is an absolute page turner as Sadie races to save her city - and the world.
Very pleased to hear Myke is writing a sequel. I'm keen to know what happens to Sadie and Jake next (and Tom and Kim), given there are a few loose ends still to be tied up.
Favourite moment: when Kim calls the minotaur a 'cow monster'. I laughed out loud.
A noteworthy addition to Australian YA adventure fiction.(less)
(I enjoy recommending books I love, so I'm still doing that - but my reviews no longer include ratings.)
The Bloodlines series really hits its straps w...more(I enjoy recommending books I love, so I'm still doing that - but my reviews no longer include ratings.)
The Bloodlines series really hits its straps with this third instalment. Sydney's character growth is even greater this time around, the main tension is taking shape and building nicely, and we learn more about the Alchemists and non-vampire magic. Oh, and there's more Adrian. Always a good thing.
As I've said before, Bloodlines has quite a different tone, feel and pace to Vampire Academy, which it had to, to be able to offer something fresh and new from that world. It's definitely enjoyable in its own right and The Indigo Spell nicely sets up future action and threats.
I'm curious to see where the series goes from here - and also to check out Richelle Mead's upcoming Age of X adult series (the first book is Gameboard of the Gods), which promises something different again. Of course, I've still got the Succubus series on my shelves too...(less)
I read The Opposite of Life (the first from this series) back in 2008 and thoroughly enjoyed its wit, originality and unexpected poignancy, s...more4.5 stars
I read The Opposite of Life (the first from this series) back in 2008 and thoroughly enjoyed its wit, originality and unexpected poignancy, so it was fun to get reacquainted with librarian Lissa and her very uncool (but lovable) vampire buddy Gary.
In The Opposite of Life, Lissa considers becoming a vampire to avoid the pain of losing people close to her. But she has a change of heart when she befriends Gary and understands there's more to being alive than having a heartbeat.
This time around, Lissa is drawn further into Melbourne's vampire underworld - not because she's a bad ass, but because she wants to protect Gary (the first of many wonderful ironies). Someone is hunting vampires and Gary's on the hit list, despite the fact he doesn't bite people or drink blood. (In this original mythology, vampires don't need human blood to survive, it simply enables them to feel alive.)
This sets the scene for a fast-paced thriller. There are still themes of death, grief and consequences of choices, but these are balanced by moments where simple joys in life are celebrated and relished. I really enjoyed the deepening friendship between Lissa and Gary - theirs is a unique relationship in the world of vamp-based stories.
Narrelle M. Harris clearly loves her home city of Melbourne (the good, the bad and the ugly) with Walking Shadows paying homage to its inner city and sub-cultures.
Walking Shadows is laced with wit, snappy dialogue and plenty of action as Lissa and Gary inadvertently keep having run-ins with vampire hunters and not-so-friendly vamps.
This is a great read and I look forward to more in this series. (And how can I not love a book that has rum baba in it?) (less)
This is a tense, fast-paced and satisfying conclusions to one of the most original YA series I’ve ever read.
There are answers to all the big questions...moreThis is a tense, fast-paced and satisfying conclusions to one of the most original YA series I’ve ever read.
There are answers to all the big questions, not to mention plenty of tension, action, and intrigue.
The ending is open enough for readers to form their own conclusions – or for Marianne to return to this world down the track (which, personally, I hope she does).
Burn Bright sets up the dark and dangerous world of party island Ixion, where all is not as it seems. The young people who flee to it from their oppressive societies revel in their new found freedom, but as Retra/Naif discovers, there’s a price for that freedom.
We learn more about the nature of that price – and the relationship between Ixion and Naif’s home of Grave – in Angel Arias, which ups the stakes and the tension.
In Shine Light, Naif returns to Ixion in the hope of saving her brother and her friends, and changing the dark world forever.
Even when she was still the uncertain Retra in Burn Bright, Naif was strong and determined. Now, she embraces her role as an unlikely leader – and the responsibilities that go with it.
I must confess, I missed Lenoir in Angel Arias, so was looking forward to meeting him again in Shine Bright. I wasn’t disappointed. (Yeah, okay, his reunion with Naif – as complicated and short as it was – was definitely a highlight.)
Their relationship continues to grow and change, just as the relationship between the island’s inhabitants – party-goers, Ripers, Night Creatures and uthers – shifts irrevocably.
There’s not just tension between the groups, but within them as well, with the Ripers fragmented and the humans still split between those willing to hear the truth and those intent on partying. And we learn more about the uthers and their relationship with the Ripers.
This all sets the scene for a highly-charged showdown between the rebelling humans and the seditious Ripers (with the terrifying Night Creatures swarming close by in the darkness).
Readers have discussed whether the Night Creatures series is paranormal, dystopian or science fiction, many settling on a combination of all three. I think it sits comfortably as science fiction, and it’s given a new taste for the genre.
I devoured the Night Creatures series. I loved the characters, the originality, the dark themes and the underlying message of the importance of taking responsibility for choices and having the courage to fight for what you believe.
This is a beautiful, heartbreaking and ultimately life-affirming novel. It made me cry. And when I finished, I just sat and hugged it for a while beca...moreThis is a beautiful, heartbreaking and ultimately life-affirming novel. It made me cry. And when I finished, I just sat and hugged it for a while because I didn't want to let it go.
I loved All I Ever Wanted, and with Friday Brown, Vikki Wakefield has created another collection of complex, fascinating characters in settings that are both familiar and unsettling.
Friday is a devastatingly real narrator. Her fear, loneliness and courage are palpable on the page. She's written in a way that's so painfully honest it's almost unbearable at times. But that's what makes her journey so mesmerising: that she bears the weight of her uncertainty and isolation to stand up for herself and those she cares about.
This story deeply moved me. It’s not only beautifully and cleverly written - with awesome dialogue and fully fleshed characters - it’s also a tense page-turner, particularly once Friday and her new ‘family’ go bush. The Brown family legacy also adds another layer of tension Friday can't quite shrug off.
This book has heartbreaking moments – and these are what make the story so powerful. But ultimately Friday Brown is a story about self acceptance, the value of friendship and family, and the importance of taking responsibility for our own life stories.
It's young adult fiction at its best (actually, it's an important book no matter where it sits in the bookshop).
This is not a book to pick up if you're after a relaxing reading experience. (But then neither was Divergent)
Insurgent picks up immediately after Dive...moreThis is not a book to pick up if you're after a relaxing reading experience. (But then neither was Divergent)
Insurgent picks up immediately after Divergent, with Tris dealing with the fall-out from the final moments of that excellent and riveting book.
Tris struggles with guilt from her actions - and while she's hurt by others' inability to forgive her, she still can't forgive herself.
There are some really interesting internal conflicts for Tris as she tries to make sense of her world, now mired in conflict and ambiguous faction agendas.
While there was plenty of action and violence in Divergent, both elements are ramped up even further in this book, which barely pauses to draw breath as the story races along.
What I enjoyed most about Insurgent plot-wise - and what beautifully sets up the next book - are the hints, and then partial reveal, about Tris' society and where it sits in a broader context. It's likely to change the way we perceive a number of characters and their actions.
This is a fascinating series and I'm definitely curious to see where Veronica Roth takes the story in the next (and final?) instalment.(less)
This is a fast-paced dystopian/vampire hybrid that delivers something new and interesting for both well-worn YA genres.
Immortal Rules was my first for...moreThis is a fast-paced dystopian/vampire hybrid that delivers something new and interesting for both well-worn YA genres.
Immortal Rules was my first foray into the writing of Julie Kagawa and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The opening to this new series is dark and violent, and Allie is a strong, flawed and interesting narrative character.
The synopsis gives away the fact that, when faced with death in her cruel, post-apocalyptic world, Allie chooses to become what she hates: a vampire. And it's this journey beyond death - fighting her new base instincts and longing for human connection - that creates such a page-turning read. That, and the increasing tension when she joins up with a band of humans looking for a fabled city untouched by the virus that ravages humanity.
I particularly liked Allie's growth as a predator with a conscious. And that becoming a vampire doesn't instantly make her a martial arts expert. Her skills come first through lessons from her vampire mentor - and then later through necessity when she's forced into the wider world on her own.
There's enough resolution in this instalment to be satisfying, but several key plot threads are left loose, nicely setting up the next book in the series. Which I'm about to add to my TBR list.
Wow, what an intelligent, mind-bending story. Only 145 pages long, but it packs in a lot of plot and some truly profound themes:the definition of life...moreWow, what an intelligent, mind-bending story. Only 145 pages long, but it packs in a lot of plot and some truly profound themes:the definition of life and thought, and the concept of the human soul. There's an unexpected twist at the end that I did not see coming. I love the original way Beckett tells this story, and the meticulously way he constructs his world (complete with complex history). There's a reason this one has picked up so many awards.(less)
What a brilliant second instalment of the Night Creatures series. But so stressful! This is such an intense book because Naif spends pretty much all o...moreWhat a brilliant second instalment of the Night Creatures series. But so stressful! This is such an intense book because Naif spends pretty much all of it on the run, but the pay-off is that we find out more about what's really going on on Ixion, and the forbidden island's relationship with Grave. (And it's so much more complex than I saw coming, which I loved.)
The feel this time around is even darker, and we get more of a look of what life is like on Grave. There were quite a few moments where I felt echoes of Margaret Atwood's brilliant The Hand Maid's Tale, which adds to the sense of menace and desperation.
In facing her fears - and the horrible reality of a wider conspiracy - Naif grows more into her role of unlikely leader, and we learn more about Markes and Lenoir.
Marianne de Pierres has set the scene for an intense finale. I can't wait for Shine Light later this year to see how it all comes together(less)
This wraps up the series nicely, with a satisfying ending.
The Nordic version of the apocalypse draws closer, and Zara, Astley and their allies must pu...moreThis wraps up the series nicely, with a satisfying ending.
The Nordic version of the apocalypse draws closer, and Zara, Astley and their allies must put aside their differences to fight together.
The mythology gets pretty complex at times, and some of Nick's behaviour is a little frustrating, but otherwise Endure is a fast-paced page-turner.
Zara is still a likable narrative character (and still flippant, even in the most dire of situations) who goes through significant growth through the series.
In Need, she had to deal with pixie situation in a way that went against her philosophies of pacifism and justice.
In Captivate, she had to deal with the consequences of her choices, and come to terms with the fact that ideals are never as black and white in the harsh light of reality.
In Entice, she becomes what she fears most and struggles with the question of whether you can fight evil without becoming evil.
And now, in Endure, she must make choices that will affect her friends (and the world) and come to grips with the fact that ideals can and do change with circumstance.
There are again plenty of pop culture references (two relating directly to Buffy finales - seasons 3 and 5) and a new take on some of the Nordic mythology (Loki is nothing like he is in Thor and Avengers..)(less)
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