Percy Jackson And The Lightning Thief

Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1
Genre: Young Adult, Greek Mythology
Release Date: June 1st 2005
Source: Bought
Overall Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Cover Rating: 2/5 Stars
Synopsis: Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school... again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus' master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus' stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

First Line: "Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood"


Okay, I know I'm probably a bit over the age that this book is aimed at but after very high praise from some of my friends I absolutely had to try it. I am a huge fan of Greek mythology but I have found, in a lot of books I've read on the subject, they just don't get it right. I don't mean the myths are wrong but there was always something off. Although this book isn't the best I've read, I found the use of myth very entertaining - I do find it strange that one of the only mythology books I've liked is aimed towards nine year olds though. The book follows recently discovered demi-god who must find and return Zeus' lightning bolt before war breaks out among the gods.

I did enjoy all of the characters but I didn't really find them remarkable. Percy was entertaining but slightly boring, Grover was loyal but again boring. I did really like Annabeth though because, as well as having an awesome name, she was fierce and lethal and I like that. The gods though were quite interesting as I enjoy seeing different interpretations of them. In this book they seemed intriguing but we didn't see nearly enough of them. I hope to see more of the gods in the next book so I can properly make up my mind about them.

Overall, the book was highly enjoyable and entertaining but it wasn't spectacular. I will definitely keep reading the series for the fun of it but if you're looking for a book that'll knock your socks off then perhaps this isn't the one for you. Unless you're nine years old like its meant for, in which case it may well b the best book you've ever read - I hadn't read anything like it when I was that age, that's for sure. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, light read or those who want to read an alternate interpretation of some Greek myths. This book is already a film and I can truly say the film isn't half as good as the book is.

My Favourite Quote: 
“If my life is going to mean anything, I have to live it myself.” 

Game Of Thrones By George R. R. Martin

Series: A Song of Ice and Fire #1
Genre: Adult, Epic Fantasy
Release Date: 1996
Source: Bought
Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars
Cover Rating: 1/5 Stars
Synopsis: Summers span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun. As Warden of the north, Lord Eddard Stark counts it a curse when King Robert bestows on him the office of the Hand. His honour weighs him down at court where a true man does what he will, not what he must … and a dead enemy is a thing of beauty. The old gods have no power in the south, Stark’s family is split and there is treachery at court. Worse, the vengeance-mad heir of the deposed Dragon King has grown to maturity in exile in the Free Cities. He claims the Iron Throne.

First Line: '"We should start back," Gared urged as the woods began to grow dark around them.'

I doubt there are many people in the world who haven't heard of A Game of Thrones left after the huge success of the television series but to tell you the truth, it just didn't sound like something that I would enjoy reading. I got the book ages ago but never read it until recently for no reason other than the fact that no one likes to be left behind in the hype. So needless to say, my expectations were not all that high on starting this book. Due to the sheer size of the book I presumed it would start slow but I was very wrong. From the first page the action begins and it keeps that pace through the entire book. The plot was smooth and a lot more together than I thought it would be, add to that the flawless character development and you have the perfect concoction for a five star book.

I wasn't kidding when I said the characters were flawless, I always say its a sign of an amazing author when they can make you like and sympathise with the villains and Martin sure has it. There are way to many characters to talk about them all but I will discuss a few. Firstly, one of my favourites, Tyrion Lannister. I found his sections the most entertaining and liked his character far better than the rest of the Lannister's no matter how intriguing that family is. Another favourite of mine was Daenerys Targaryen, the growth of her character throughout the book was astounding. I loved how she went from a weak little girl to an independent strong willed woman. As much as I want to go on about the characters, I'm afraid that because of the constant drama it would be almost impossible for me to do so without spoilers so you'll just have to find out for yourself.

The world building was one of the most convincing I've ever read - the book itself read like Martin was recounting real events instead of fiction - yes that's how good it was. I believe this book is not nearly as appreciated as it should be, with many opting just to watch the TV series. I for one suggest you read the books first in order to get the background because it seemed to me that the series would've been slightly confusing if hadn't. I'd recommend this book to fantasy lover and those, like me, who just want to test the hype.

My Favourite Quotes:

“A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.” 

“Bran thought about it. 'Can a man still be brave if he's afraid?'
'That is the only time a man can be brave,' his father told him.” 

“There is only one god and his name is Death. And there is only one thing we say to Death: “Not today.” 

I haven't written a discussion post in quite a while and I decided that I really should. Everyone has different opinions about classics and there are probably more people talking about them than actually reading them so I decided as an avid classic reader I would write a two part post about why people don't read classics (but they really should.

There is a quote by Mark Twain that defines a classic as "a book which people praise and don't read". At first I denied it to myself but after thinking about it I realised just how true that really is. There are hundreds of different reasons to explain.

1. Size - The first and probably most common reason is the sheer size of the books. I mean of course you have the really short ones but many of the most highly acclaimed ones are huge! Les Miserables has a whopping 1463 pages and War and Peace is close behind standing at 1392 pages. People may argue that the page count is irrelevant because the Harry Potter books are huge and almost everyone has read them. To those people I say; Harry Potter is aimed at children therefore it is bound to be 100 times easier to read than say, Wuthering Heights.
2. Cover - We've all heard the saying 'don't judge a book by its cover' but how many of us actually abide by it? I'd guess not many. So if you're in a book shop you're not all that likely to pick up a book without a cover, and perhaps not even a title on the front. Many publishers are now trying to overcome this problem by re-releasing books that have covers that one could only describe as Twilight esque. That move gets huge complaints from people who liked the books in the first place and don't want books laying around that look like they were aimed at teenage vampire wannabes.
3. Relatability - Another reason classics are not as widely read as they were is that they are no longer relatable to today's generation. Whole books can revolve around a courtship or a witch hunt the concepts of which are now laughed at. In today's day and age we don't tend to read about dashing gentlemen attempting to win a ladies affections, instead we're used to weepy girls chasing brooding, evil guys and forcing them into relationships. Its a sad day when you realise that most of today's generation relate to Twilight more than The Catcher in the Rye.
4. Language - Many believe that it's a sign of intelligence to read classics but in reality I believe it's just a sign of patience and imagination. For many people difficult language is a put off and if you read negative reviews of classics they're often criticized not for the plot but for the effort it takes to read them.
5. Being Forced To - Everyone knows that if you have to read a book for school then there is a huge chance you will hate it. Not because it's a bad book but because you probably had to read it again, and again and then analyse every word. By the time you finish, if you don't hate it you have the patience of a saint! These memories tend to make a lot of people think of classics negatively and therefore avoid them (and other books for that matter) as much as they can. You'd be surprised about the amount of people who never read another book after finishing school.
6. Repetition - When reading most classics you will probably get a sense of deja vu. Take 1984 for example - its a new world controlled by a benevolent dictator who takes away everyone's choices except from a pair of defiant lovers who try to beat the system. It sounds familiar right? Some of you would spot it right away as 1984 but others may say something different like The Hunger Games or Divergent. If you didn't know when 1984 was written then you'd probably write it off as yet another dystopian copy but as it was published in 1949 I wouldn't say that was likely. The thing with many classics is that they are the originals! Many, many authors take inspiration from classics which leads to a lot of people not reading the older books because they don't want to read the same kind of story for the hundredth time.
7. Characters - Many of the characters in classical books are described as pretentious and women as weak but what many people don't think about is that back then 'pretentious' was probably just them being well spoken (which we really need more of). And for women it wasn't weak to rely on their husbands, it was normal. Then we have characters such as Jane Eyre, who made their way through the world using their intelligence and wit, who're described as dull and weepy. What we need to do is realise that when they were written, those women were considered strong.
8. Meanings - You may be surprised at the amount of people who don't read old books because they don't want to search for the inner meanings behind everything and to that I can tell you their is nowhere near as many inner meanings as your English teacher would have you believe. I can almost guarantee that most authors did not make the room blue in order to show the desperation of the situation or the chair comfy to show how at ease they are. The story will be plain to see even if there is hidden meanings because the author must've known not everyone would look that in depth.   
9. Seen The Movie - Finally a common reason why people don't read classics is because they have seen the movie so don't see the point. As much as I stress that it is worth it, frankly I'm just happy that the classics are gaining fans even if it's just through the movie versions.

Phew, my list turned out much longer than I anticipated. Look out for my next post on why you should read classics and please voice your thoughts in the comments.

Graceling By Kristen Cashore

Series: Graceling Realm #1
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Release Date: January 22nd 2009
Source: Bought
Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars
Cover Rating: 4/5 Stars
Synopsis: In a world where people born with an exceptional skill, known as a Grace, are both feared and exploited, Katsa carries the burden of a skill even she despises: the Grace of killing. 
Feared by the court and shunned by those her own age, the darkness of her Grace casts a heavy shadow over Katsa’s life. Yet she remains defiant: when the King of Lienid’s father is kidnapped she investigates, and stumbles across a mystery. Who would want to kidnap the old man, and why? And who was the extraordinary Graced man whose fighting abilities rivalled her own? The only thing Katsa is sure of is that she no longer wants to kill. The intrigue around this kidnapping offers her a way out – but little does she realise, when she takes it, that something insidious and dark lurks behind the mystery. Something spreading from the shadowy figure of a one-eyed king...

First Line: In these dungeons the darkness was complete, but Katsa had a map in her mind.

I had heard about this book though a number of other book bloggers and after all the positive reviews I decided to check it out myself. I wasn't to sure about it in the beginning but once I got into the story it consumed me. I have found books that are set in variations of the dark ages tend to be very good, it reminded me greatly of The Study Series by Maria Snyder which is another favourite of mine. I found the concept of Gracelings wholly unique and hugely entertaining. The book is long but the pace of the plot makes you wish it were much longer and  for one am excited to get into the next in the series.

The characters in Graceling were all expertly crafted and not one was any less than fully developed, not even the hugely minor characters. Katsa quickly became one of my favourite heroines (trust me its hard to do). She was brave and strong but the author didn't fall prey to making her heartless and cold as many do when trying to make a badass female character. Another character I really liked was Po, despite the peculiar name he actually turned out very likeable and his good humour balanced out Katsa's seriousness at times. I really enjoyed the chemistry between the two of them. You get to meet an additional main character, Bitterblue, later into the book. I can't say much about her without spoiling it but I can tell you that she is a very interesting character. Of the minor characters I especially loved Raffin, he was smart, eccentric and nothing like you'd expect the kings son to be like - we didn't see much of him but he did leave a lasting impression.

One of my favourite things about this book is the flawless world building. With such rich description I felt like I was actually there more than a few times. I can definitely see why this had such huge hype and, being yet another fantasy book that I've enjoyed despite not liking the genre,  it's shown me that fantasy is not bad at all - the ones I had been reading just were. I would recommend this to lovers of fantasy and those who are not alike. If it can convert me, it can convert you!

My Favourite Quote:
“When a monster stopped behaving like a monster, did it stop being a monster? Did it become something else?” 

Oracle of Delphi Blog Tour - Review and Giveaway

As many of you know, I am a huge fan of Diantha Jones' Oracle of Delphi series so it's only natural that I would participate in the blog tour for book three. I warn you this is going to be a long post but don't fret reading it will be worth it. And there may be a giveaway in it for you if you reach the end...
But first things first - my review!

Series: The Oracle of Delphi #3
Genre: Young Adult, Greek Mythology 
Release Date: July 15th 2012
Source: From author for review
Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars
Cover Rating: 4/5 Stars
Synopsis: Summer Solstice is here. Let the games begin.
Nothing but lies (some of them her own) and deceit have brought Chloe to Olympus for the Solstice Olympic Games. As the Oracle and the special guest of the King of Myth, Chloe becomes immersed in a life of unfathomable luxury, taunting history, and overwhelming excitement. Though scheming and untrustworthy, the gods remain on their best behaviour as the tension and anticipation builds around the outcome of the Quest of the Twelve Labors, the deadliest competition of the Games. All seems well on the celestial front...until athletes start turning up dead and a philosopher missing for months returns with a most terrifying story...
But that’s not all. As Strafford confronts his troubled past and more is learned about the Great Unknown Prophecy, Chloe grows close to another, setting off a chain of events that will bring her face-to-face with a truth that will rock both of her worlds to their core.
And it’ll all happen before Solstice’s end...
First Line: Besides hating to be stared at and despising P.D.B.H (Public Displays of Boo-Hooing), Chloe hated to wait.

The problem with sequels is that more often than not they do not live up to their original counterparts. The second book in this series managed to be just as good but the third has exceeded them both. Book three carries on quickly after two ended with Strafford training for his Olympic quest. The quest had always intrigued me so this was a promising start for me. I was worried for a second that we wouldn't see much of the Olympics but luckily for me Chloe was also invited so I got fully involved in all the action the quest brought forth. Add to that the fact that the gods may be approaching war and Chaos is threatening to destroy Myth and you have the perfect plot line.

I always go on about how much I love the characters in this book. Chloe, although badass, just can't live up to the amazingess that is Ace Remedy. I love Strafford also of course but Ace is just... incomparable. My thoughts about the main characters are literally the same as in the other two books so I will not bore you with repetition but will instead tell you about my newly found loves. The first being Torrent. Yes, I know he was the villain of the last book but there is something about him that intrigues me, something good and brave in him. I may be totally wrong but his tortured soul vibe makes me believe there is something deeper to him. The other character that surprised me was Apollo, again he's played off as the villain but I do sense that he's not as bad as everyone makes out. I believe he really does care but his need for power often gets in the way - he may be cold hearted but I don't believe his soul is totally corrupt.

This series is a favourite of mine partly because of the many dimensions of the characters but also the amazing world building. The rich detail that's put into the mythology that is always in the background is astounding and the authors ability to give the many characters individual personalities that reflect their original myths or heritage is hugely admirable. I am a huge fan of Greek Mythology but most books I read on the subject are let downs using the myths as a basis for undeveloped romance. I can truly say that the Oracle of Delphi series is not one of these books and if you're going to read a mythological book it should be this one.

Diantha Jones was born the day thousands of turkeys sacrificed their lives to fill millions of American bellies on November 22 which also happened to be Thanksgiving Day (Her mother says she owes her a turkey). She is a Journalism graduate who wants to be a career novelist (of books, not Facebook posts). When not writing or working, she is reading on her Nook, being hypnotized by Netflix or on a mission to procure french fries. The Oracle of Delphi fantasy series is her first series. She is also the author of Mythos: Stories from Olympus, a companion series, and there is another fantasy series in the works. She also writes (new) adult fantasy/paranormal romance under the name A. Star. Invasion (An Alien Romance) is her first title released under this pen name. Future releases under A. Star include, the Love & Steampunk series, the Purr, Inc. stories, and more.

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  

Pinterest  |  DJ's Book Corner

The Oracle of Delphi Series
Click the link above to visit the series page for synopsis' and reviews.

Book One

eBook: Amazon  |  Barnes&Noble

Paperback: Amazon

Goodreads

Read My Review

Book Two

eBook: Amazon  |  Barnes&Noble

Paperback: Amazon

Goodreads

Read My Review

Mythos, Book One (OOD #2.5)

Visit the series page

eBook: Amazon  |  Barnes&Noble

Paperback: Amazon

Goodreads

Read My Review

Book Three

eBook: Amazon  |  Barnes&Noble

Paperback: Amazon (Coming Soon!)

Goodreads

The Unknowing Series

    

Unleash Coming Soon!

(Available in eBook only)

Unknowing: Amazon  |  Barnes&Noble

Unburden: Amazon  |  Barnes&Noble

Unchain: Amazon  |  Barnes&Noble

An Alien Romance by A. Star...

I did not want to come here. Earth is but a lifeless ball of matter. Yet, it is worth more than all the galaxies combined. These creatures, these hu-mans, are not worth the labor we exert keeping them alive. But we need them. And I need him. The hu-man who has turned me from my duties, has made me forget my purpose. Everything has changed now. And we are all going to die.

Amazon  |  Barnes&Noble

For a list of future releases, click here.

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I hope you enjoyed my stop on the tour and make sure to hop over to the other stops using the button above!

The Fault In Our Stars By John Green

Series: Standalone
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction 
Release Date: January 10th 2012
Source: Bought
Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars
Cover Rating: 3/5 Stars
Synopsis: Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumors in her lungs... for now. Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumors tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault. Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

First Line: “Late in the winter of my seventeenth year, my mother decided I was depressed, presumably because I rarely left the house, spent quite a lot of time in bed, read the same book over and over, ate infrequently, and devoted quite a bit of my abundant free time to thinking about death.”

I've put off reviewing this book for a long time because I don't know how to do it justice without sounding like an obsessed fan girl. This book is surrounded by a huge hype which at first I found slightly threatening. You know how it is, every time a book is so highly acclaimed you can't go into it without huge expectations. I was almost positive that my expectations were much to high for me to properly enjoy this book but you know what? I was wrong. I absolutely loved it! The book has a very different tone to any illness books I've ever read, instead of focusing on death as many do it focused more on life and relationships. The illness was always there but the characters were so expertly that you forgot at times.

I always love John Green's characters but these ones beat nearly every character I've read about. Hazel was a very real character to read about; everything about her was relate able and she wasn't one of those whiny female characters that YA lit is so fond of. I may have even forgiven her if she was whiny given her circumstances but she reflected what so many of us want to be; brave even when facing almost certain death. I don't know where to begin with Augustus... He was so charming and charismatic but at the same time he had a real depth to him that you don't often see in bookish pretty boys. I also admired his bravery as I did Hazel's but his seemed different in a way, he wasn't brave for himself but for other people. I also enjoyed the lesser characters such as Isaac, one of the things I love about John Green is even the smallest character has lots of depth.

This book is a raw and accurate portrayal of how cancer can affect not only the sufferers but the people around them. This book made me laugh almost as much as it made me cry and I don't believe I will ever read another one like it. The writing was flawless and filled to the seams with emotion. The Fault in our Stars is a contemporary masterpiece that I would recommend to absolutely everyone! If I could, I would have given it more than 5 stars as it by far superior to many of the books I have given that rating.

My Favorite Quotes:

“That's the thing about pain," Augustus said, and then glanced back at me. "It demands to be felt” 

“The marks humans leave are too often scars.” 

“Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.” 

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

Waiting On Wednesday (#1)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted over at Breaking the Spine - an event spotlighting the upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

I have taken part in this meme before but I wasn't very constant so I'm starting afresh which is why I've listed this post as '#1'.

So what book am I eagerly anticipating today?


Title: The Dream Thieves 
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Series: The Raven Cycle, #2
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Release Date: September 17th 2013
Cover Rating: 3/5 Stars
Synopsis: Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...


What's so good about it?
After utterly adoring everything about the first book, The Raven Boys, I absolutely have to read this! This series has some of the best character development of any books I've read so it's only natural I want to see what happens next. One thing I am disappointed about is the cover, I thought the first one was gorgeous and, although this one is nice, it's nowhere near as good as the  first.

What are you looking forward to this week?

Top Ten... Most Intimidating Books

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish. As many of you know, I love top tens so naturally this is my favorite meme and I'm so glad to be getting back to it at long last! So today's theme is...
Top Ten Most Intimidating Books!

Here are mine in no particular order:

1) War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy - With almost 1400 pages, anyone who said this wasn't intimidating is clearly lying to you! The concept does look interesting though so I am planning to read this someday. 

2) A Game Of Thrones by George R.R. Martin - This one I have already read but with the huge size, it took a lot of courage to start. Some of the other books in the series are even larger so it will take a lot to continue.

3) Les Miserables by Victor Hugo - This beats even War and Peace's word count at over 1450 pages. After loving the musical version though I vowed to read it.

4) Anything by Charles Dickens - I am actually yet to finish a Dickens book mostly due to the fact that last time I tried I wasn't really old enough to appreciate. I am planning to read his full works some day though.

5) Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver - I know what you're all thinking, how can Pandemonium possibly intimidate me? Well, the answer is - I have no clue. It's been so long since I read the first that I don't even remember whether I liked it and I just don't want to start this one.

6) Monsters Of Men by Patrick Ness - I absolutely adored the first book in the series but the second one fell a bit flat for me so, one reason is I don't want the series to end on a low. Another reason is that Ness has a way of making you love a character then he kills them off at the end of the book. Think its a fluke? It's happened in both books, it's safe to assume he's doing it on purpose.

7) Paradise Lost by John Milton - Four words: 400 page epic poem.

8) A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess - I have been informed this book is not even in English but a mixture of Cockney and Russian. I absolutely despise slang  - I'm a Queen's English girl - so I don't know if I have much hope of getting through it.

9) Battle Royale by Koushun Takami - I've been told  its a more violent version of The Hunger Games and the concept scares me.

10) City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare - This one isn't even out yet and I know I will have trouble reading it. It is the last ever book in the Mortal Instrument series. Last. Ever. I may have to stretch it until the sequel series comes out...

So... what are your most intimidating books? And do you think you'll ever read them?

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

Series: Standalone
Genre: Classics, Science Fiction
Release Date: 1949
Source: Library 
Overall Rating: 1/5 Stars
Cover Rating: 0/5 Stars
Synopsis: Winston Smith works for the Ministry of truth in London, chief city of Airstrip One. Big Brother stares out from every poster, the Thought Police uncover every act of betrayal. When Winston finds love with Julia, he discovers that life does not have to be dull and deadening, and awakens to new possibilities. Despite the police helicopters that hover and circle overhead, Winston and Julia begin to question the Party; they are drawn towards conspiracy. Yet Big Brother will not tolerate dissent - even in the mind. For those with original thoughts they invented Room 101 . . .

First Line: It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.

I had high hopes for this book after hearing so much about it. I imagined adventure, romance and an interesting dystopian world. Did I get it? Not in the slightest. This is the book that first put the phrase 'Big Brother is watching' in our vocabulary. It probably spurred thousands of conspiracy theory's around the world. The premise was way before it's time but I didn't like it in the slightest. I know it's millions of fans would argue but I do not believe it was very well written. It felt to me as if the author had come up with the great idea of a dictatorship but with more technology than could have even been imagined back then and then his ideas had fizzled out. The characters and plot just came across to me as an afterthought.

The characters were my biggest problem. Winston was made out to be so amazing because he was capable of original thoughts and didn't conform to societies ways but I didn't see it. Sure, he was more rebellious than the others but there was something about him that I hated. He threw threats around for absolutely no reason and went from hating someone to loving them in seconds. I also didn't like the other main character Julia. There isn't much I can say about her except she is one of the most one dimensional characters I have ever come across.

Before reading the book, I had watched the film and I can honestly say I vastly preferred it. Everything about it was ten times better than the book and that is not something I say often. Normally, I would say here how I recommended this book to no one but as it is so iconic and has so many fans, I will leave you to make your own decisions on it. Who knows, I may be the only one out there who genuinely hates it.

 Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

I'm Back!!

Hi everyone! It's been so long I'm surprised if you still remember me. But I have some good news; I'm back!! Yes, I will once again be posting reviews and just bookish talk. There are some meme's I've been hoping to restart so you'll have to look out for them.

Of course I have to say a huge thank you to Sarah for taking care of the blog for me - go and follow her over at Enchanted By A Book. I am hugely appreciative and I really hope you enjoyed reading her reviews as I did. Speaking of which, I wasn't originally planning to review anything she already did but I have decided I will. This is because I think it's really important to see other point of views so that readers can make informed decisions on what books are worth their time (and which should be promptly thrown out of the window, never to be spoken of again).

Anyway, I'm going to plan my reviews - hopefully - weeks ahead this time around so I'm not caught out by computer malfunctions again. I'm so glad to be back and I hope you didn't miss me too much!

Blood Red Road By Moira Young

Series: Dustlands #1
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia
Release Date: June 12th 2011
Source: Bought
Overall Rating: 2/5 Stars
Cover Rating: 2/5 Stars
Synopsis: Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back. Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilisation.

First Line: Lugh got born first.

Blood Red Road is one of those books that is surrounded by a huge hype. I have seen hundreds of shining reviews for this book so was very excited to get into it. Who I think it lived up to the hype? No I do not. I thought at first it was the grammar and spelling mistakes that stopped me getting into it but I now think their presence wasn't the cause but the execution of them. I loved the Chaos Walking series where a similar technique was used but in this I just don't think it worked. I could probably have gotten over it though if it weren't for the plot... And the characters for that matter. Blood Red Road follows Saba who, after her brother is kidnapped, sets out to find him. Which means crossing the Dustlands which is almost impossible. After that the plot seems to just be random; it involves cage fighting, a gang of girls and killer worms.

I absolutely hated nearly every character. Saba is unbearable. She is a horrible, selfish person who people seem to see as a heroine. I'd put Bella Swan in that category just to keep her out! Saba is constantly beyond mean to her little sister, Emmy, and at one point decides not to leave her to die only because Lugh wouldn't like it. The only bearable characters were Emmy and Jack. Emmy would have made a much better heroine than Saba; she's selfless, brave and much kinder. Jack was a stereotypical YA love interest but he had slight depth to his character which made him more likeable.

Overall, I don't believe that the intentional mistakes worked in this book and instead worked just as an extra obstacle in liking this book. The only reason this book isn't a one star review is that I found aspects slightly entertaining. I normally would now recommend you not to read this book but as I seem to be the minority in disliking it, I won't.

My Favourite Quote:
“Ever heard of the rule of three? he shouts as we run.
No!
If you save somebody's life three times, their life belongs to you. You saved my life today, that makes once. Save it twice more an I'm all yers.”

What's Left Of Me By Kat Zhang

Series: The Hybrid Chronicles #1 
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia
Release Date: September 18th 2012
Source: Bought
Overall Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Cover Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Synopsis: I should not exist. But I do. Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren't they settling? Why isn't one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn't . . . For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

First Line: Addie and I were born into the same body, our souls' ghostly fingers entwined before we gasped our very first breath.

I love dystopian books, my only problem with them normally is that the originality that used to make them so special is slowly evaporating. We are now getting titles advertised as 'the next Hunger Games' but do we really want that. The thing that made the Hunger Games so popular was the fact it was so unique, I for one had read nothing like it. This is why I was a little skeptical of What's Left Of Me to begin with. Luckily, this book was about as original as they come. The book is set in a universe very much like ours but with one small difference, when a baby is born they have two souls instead of one. As they grow up the more dominant soul takes over and the other one just fades away. Eva and Addie are different though, Eva was thought to have faded away years ago but she didn't. Addie and Eva are hybrids, feared by the rest of the world, no one can know about them otherwise the consequences will be monumental...

I am ashamed to say that before reading this book I was afraid the characters might be bland and too similar, I mean with sharing a body and all. This was most definitely not the case. Eva was quick thinking and intense. Addie was more artistic and fiercely protective. Both sister's had an unbreakable bond which I envied but at the same time they were like normal sisters. They argued and ignored each other but there was an undeniable connection between them which accurately reflects most sibling relationships. I enjoyed reading about the other characters just as much. Hally, although annoying at first, turned out to be a great addition to the book. And Ryan, he was just perfect; sweet, kind, funny... I could go on forever.

The thing that drew me right into the book was the flawless, elegant writing style. There is nothing I love more than writing that is so beautiful that it flows effortlessly. Even the first sentence is rich in gorgeous metaphors. The story building was amazing and the book has me craving for the next one. I would recommend this book to both dystopia and non dystopia lovers alike because I promise you, you have never read a book like this one. I am hoping the next book lives up to the bar that this one has raised. It will be difficult but anyone who can write a masterpiece such as this one can do it.

My Favorite Quote:

“I was caged in our body and caged in his arms and, somehow, the former was the real prison.”

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

Bitter Blood By Rachel Caine

Series: Morganville Vampires #13
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Release Date: October 24th 2012
Source: Bought
Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars
Cover Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Synopsis: For years, the human and vampire residents of Morganville, Texas, have managed to co-exist in peace. But now that the threat to the vampires has been defeated, the human residents are learning that the gravest danger they face is the enemy within… Thanks to the eradication of the parasitic creatures known as the draug, the vampires of Morganville have been freed of their usual constraints. With the vampires indulging their every whim, the town’s human population is determined to hold on to their lives by taking up arms. But college student Claire Danvers isn't about to take sides, considering she has ties to both the humans and the vampires. To make matters worse, a television show comes to Morganville looking for ghosts, just as vampire and human politics collide. Now, Claire and her friends have to figure out how to keep the peace without ending up on the nightly news… or worse.

First Line: Claire Danvers was in a rare bad mood, and nearly getting arrested didn't improve it.

Every time I read one of the Morganville books I profess that it's my favorite so far (with the exception of Bite Club, which I didn't like much) and this time I think it might actually be true. Though I say that every time as well so who knows. One thing is certain though, I love this series and I will be so upset when it ends in two books time. Originally it was supposed end two books ago so maybe I still have hope. Anyway this book follows on straight from the last. The Draug are finally gone and the vampires are once again top of the food chain but this time the rules are changing in their favor. The hunting licences which Amelie had got rid of are back so vampires are allowed to kill one human that they choose with no consequences but if they go over that limit the then the consequences are... well literally non existent. The humans are in more danger than ever. To add insult to injury a ghost hunting show arrive to look for paranormal creatures and it is imperative that they don't find anything otherwise they'll get much more than they bargained for...

I love all the characters in this series and have done in every book, they just get better and better. You can tell the author is good when they make you feel for even the evil characters. Claire manages to fight vampires, keep peace and look after her friends all while going to university and for that I love her. Shane is amazing as ever; he's funny, kind and loving, what more could you want? Eve whom I have always liked is just as badass as she always is but she has a vulnerability about her which makes it so easy to relate. Michael is a very real character who has a protective aura about him which I admire though he seems to have very bad luck. Last but not least is Myrnin who (anyone who read my reviews for previous Morganville books will already know this) is my absolute favorite. He is crazy, charming and intriguing. This time around we actually got chapters from his point of view which all tore my heart out. On the plus side we had appearences from Bob the spider and the vampire bunny slippers!

As always I love Caine's writing style and the multiple point of views she uses have grown on me slightly though I don't fully love them. Her story building is phenomenal and I am sucked into every book that Miss Caine writes right away. I always want to savor them but the pace is so fast that it's impossible. I always recommend this series to anyone and everyone and I'm looking forward to her next books, as well as praying she keeps extending the series. It will never get old!

My Favorite Quotes:
I lifted one foot from the brackish water, and the bunny slippers were soaked and drooped pathetically. Even the fangs seemed robbed of any charm. 
"Don't worry," I told it. "Someone will pay for your suffering. Heavily. With screaming." 
I felt I should repeat it for the other slipper, in case there should be any bad feelings between the two. One should never create tension between ones's footwear. ~ Myrnin

“Stop being so..." 
"Charming?Attractive?Irresistible? 
"I'm going with arrogant.” 

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

Stacking The Shelves (9)

Stacking the Shelves is hosted over at Tynga's Reviews. I went kinda mad on Amazon the other day and, although I still haven't got my hands on Clockwork Princess, I did get a few that I have been eagerly awaiting!

All covers link to Goodreads.

Bought:

At the risk of many disproving looks that I thankfully cannot see, I confess that I bought Graceling purely based on the cover without any idea of what it was about. Can you blame me? She looks like some kind of ninja assassin which is, of course, immensely badass!

The Evolution Of Mara Dyer, on the other hand was bought because the previous book was absolutely amazing. So amazing in fact that I couldn't wait long enough for the price of it to go down and I bought it at (gasp!) full price which is a rarity for me.

Hereafter is another book which I didn't bother to read the blurb of. I'd heard good things and apparently at the time I thought that was a good enough reason to buy it. Although I doubt my reasoning for getting it, I was incredibly glad when I found out it was a ghost book. YA doesn't have enough of those and if it's anything like Anna Dressed In Blood I will love it.

Prodigy I bought for obvious reasons. Though it just occurred to me they wont be obvious to you since I haven't got around to posting the review of Legend as of yet. To be clearer, I bought Prodigy because Legend was breathtaking and I needed the next one.

My reason for buying The Indigo Spell WILL be obvious this time if you have ever read anything on this blog. Third in the Bloodlines series it has been eagerly awaited by me and not just because I need my Ivashkov fix. If the Indigo Spell is half as good as The Golden Lily then I will be ecstatic!

Until I Die is the sequel to Die For Me which I actually have reviewed. As Die For Me managed to break most YA stereotypes out there I hope for similar things from this one.

After loving Paranormalacy and not loving Supernaturally I was really torn whether I should buy Endlessly. In the end I decided, in respect to the impressive first book, I would give this one the benefit of the doubt. Hopefully it will not be in vain.

Unravel Me was a must buy from the moment it came out and actually one of the only books I've bought within a month of it's release date - they are just so expensive! I couldn't help myself. Shatter Me was outstanding so I am desperately praying my expectations do not fall short in this one.

Library:

After giving up Anna Karenina as my March classic because of irritating font in the book (yes that is a good enough reason for not reading it) I picked Emma up from the library instead. I have already read it and was presently surprised and, frankly, astounded that Pride and Prejudice is generally considered Austen's best work. No, Emma is the best by far.

What books have you got for me to be jealous of? If anyone says Clockwork Princess I may cry!

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

Classic Of January: To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

Series: Standalone
Genre: Young Adult, Classic Literature 
Release Date: 1960
Source: Borrowed From The Library
Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars
Cover Rating: 2/5 Stars
Synopsis: "Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." A lawyer's advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee's classic novel—, a black man charged with the rape of a white girl. Through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with rich humor and unswerving honesty the irrationality of adult attitudes toward race and class in the Deep South of the 1930s. The conscience of a town steeped in prejudice, violence, and hypocrisy is pricked by the stamina and quiet heroism of one man's struggle for justice—but the weight of history will only tolerate so much.


First Line: When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow.

I don't often read classic books so I challenged myself to read one a month for this year and this was the one I was most eager to read. To Kill A Mockingbird is told from the point of view of Scout who is six years old at the start of the novel. It's very difficult to describe what To Kill A Mockingbird is about because there are so many aspects to it. There is the mystery of Boo Radley, Scout's fathers court case and the prejudice of the neighborhood.

I enjoyed reading from the perspective of Scout, my only problem was I thought she was a he for quite a while and thought her brother was just calling her a girl as an insult. When I realized my mistake I felt very stupid. From the moment I realized she was a girl I began to like her character a lot more, she still wanted to play with her brother and wear overalls but she's disapproved of by the ladies of the neighborhood that believe she should act more ladylike and wear dresses. I liked that rebellion. My favorite character by far was Atticus, he was the perfect parental figure, we need more Atticus's in contemporary YA lit.

The book has quite a modern feel to it which is unusual considering the fact it was written over 50 years ago. Lee's writing pulls you into the 1930s and gives you an accurate portrayal of what it was actually like. This book is one of my favorite classics and it has put my challenge up to a good start. I would recommend this book to anyone whether they normally like classics or not because as I said before, it doesn't have the feel of a classic book.

My Favorite Quotes:

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”

“Atticus said to Jem one day, "I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird." That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it. "Your father’s right," she said. "Mockingbirds don’t do one thing except make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corn cribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

Looking For Alaska By John Green

Series: Standalone
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction
Release Date: January 1st 2005
Source: Bought
Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars
Cover Rating: 2/5 Stars
Synopsis: Miles has a quirky interest in famous people's last words, especially François Rabelais's final statement, "I go to seek a Great Perhaps." Determined not to wait for death to begin a similar quest, Miles convinces his parents to let him leave home. Once settled at Culver Creek Preparatory School, he befriends a couple of equally gifted outcasts: his roommate Chip―commonly known as the Colonel—who has a predilection for memorizing long, alphabetical lists for fun; and the beautiful and unpredictable Alaska, whom Miles comes to adore. The kids grow closer as they make their way through a school year filled with contraband, tests, pranks, breakups, and revelations about family and life. 

First Line: The week before I left my family and Florida and the rest of my minor life to go to boarding school in Alabama, my mother insisted on throwing me a going- away party.

This was the first John Green book I ever read and it will not be the last. I have heard great things about the legendary John Green so I went into this book with the highest expectations. Exceptionally, this book exceeded them. Looking for Alaska was completely different than what I thought it was going to be like,. Actually, I didn't have much clue what it was about, only that it was amazing and that it was. Looking for Alaska follows Miles who convinces his parents to let him attend his Dad's old boarding school in search of 'a Great Perhaps'. Once there he finds himself with an unlikely group of friends including the self destructive, bold and beautiful Alaska. But as time progresses Miles is led to new conclusions about the value of his beloved 'Great Perhaps'.

I heard from someone that the point of John Green's characters were not necessarily to be liked but to be truthful and I think that is an amazing approach to character building because to like a character you have to be able to relate to them. I both loved and hated all of the characters in Looking For Alaska. I loved them because they were so real and I think I hated them for the same reason. It's not often you come across characters that you can relate to so completely and when you do the effect they have on you is momentousness. Miles is just like any teenage boy you'd meet. He's awkward, kind and smart and although I don't hate characters who are described as witty, chiseled by angels and romantic (at all) this was a refreshing change. I also loved Alaska, she has such a convincing personality that it isn't difficult to think of at least one person you know like her. The Colonel was also a great secondary character in the book, he was totally loyal and surprisingly smart which made me like him even more.

One thing that's individual about John Green's books is that the characters always have something about them that separates them from the crowd. In Mile's case it was last words, one of the best parts of the book was reading all of the last words he's collected, I loved the idea. Looking For Alaska is about as realistic as books come and I would recommend it to absolutely anyone. This book put me through so many different emotions, I went from laughing one second to nearly crying in the next. It has very mature themes for a YA book which has caused much controversy so when I say anyone I mean older young adults. John Green is a genius and I will be reading every one of his books, he has officially been put on my automatic buy list.

My Favorite Quotes:

“When adults say, "Teenagers think they are invincible" with that sly, stupid smile on their faces, they don't know how right they are. We need never be hopeless, because we can never be irreparably broken. We think that we are invincible because we are. We cannot be born, and we cannot die. Like all energy, we can only change shapes and sizes and manifestations. They forget that when they get old. They get scared of losing and failing. But that part of us greater than the sum of our parts cannot begin and cannot end, and so it cannot fail.”

“Sometimes I don't get you,' I said. 
She didn't even glance at me. She just smiled toward the television and said, 'You never get me. That's the whole point.”

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK