Review: King's Warrior by Jenelle Leanne Schmidt

Series: The Minstrel's Song #1
Genre: Fantasy 
Release Date: February 29th 2012
Source: Received from author in exchange for an honest review
Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars
Cover Rating: 4/5 Stars
Synopsis: Six hundred years ago the land of Aom-igh was threatened with invasion by the Dark Country across the Stained Sea; in their danger King Llian sought the help of the dragons and the myth-folk. Graldon, King of the Dragons, granted the human king with a gift that would help him defeat his enemies. Graldon also promised King Llian that the dragons would come to the humans’ aid should Aom-igh ever be in such danger again. Years passed, and Aom-igh remained safe and isolated from its enemies. The dragons slowly disappeared and faded into legend and myth, and people forgot magic had ever existed. 
When her kingdom is threatened by the Dark Country once again, the headstrong Princess Kamarie sets off on a quest to find the man who may be able to save them all: the former King’s Warrior. Traveling with her are two companions: her eccentric maid, and a squire who resents his charge to travel with and protect the princess. However, finding the legendary hero proves to be the least of their worries. Together the companions encounter more than they ever bargained for. A beautiful gatekeeper, a sword fashioned by dragons, enemies who pursue them relentlessly and hound them at every turn, and an underground world full of mythical creatures are just the beginning of their adventures. 
As they search for the answers to mystifying riddles and seek a way to save everything they hold dear the comrades will learn a little about courage, a lot about truth, and more about themselves than they ever imagined. But if they can succeed in their quest, they may join worlds together. 
First Line:Graldon, King of the dragons, mighty lord of the skies over Aom-igh, handed the golden sword to the mere man who stood before him.

I always say that I am not a fan of fantasy but this keeps being disproved again and again as I delve further into the genre. I think what I actually don't like is a novel that focuses more on plot and events rather than character development and this does appear to be more common in fantasy than in any other genre. This does not apply to every fantasy, though, as I am slowly discovering after getting lucky with the genre recently. King's Warrior is another of those fantasies I have discovered which deviate from the tendency to focus entirely on plot, in fact, it focuses on plot and character development in equal parts and this works really well. The worldbuilding has often been compared to that of the Lord of the Rings but I think there is one significant difference, King's Warrior is a young adult novel and therefore the language is more suited to a variety of different people as opposed to the complex and sometimes dull language of the Lord of the Rings. When reading this novel I often forgot it was a young adult novel because of the gorgeous language, it was only when I got to the end that I realised it lacked the more gory and explicit aspects of the normal fantasy but this complemented the novel rather than detracted from it. The young adult tag of King's Warrior does not mean it cannot be enjoyed by all, it is one of the rare YA books which anyone can love.

The character development was definitely the best part of the novel, I loved every one of them. Kamarie in particular was a wonderful heroine in the way that she is very unique. In all literature, not just fantasy, a heroine is often at one extreme or the other - weak or ridiculously strong. Kamarie, on the other hand, has a very strong personality and is easily admirable but she still has feminine weaknesses. I know what you're thinking but I don't at all mean that in a sexist way. I mean, the environment in which Kamarie lives mirrors our medieval period and therefore also has the traditional gender roles, women are feminine and domestic and men were the warriors. Kamarie deviates from this by being a female trained as a female warrior but, unlike most strong female characters, this deviation isn't taken to the extremes, she still respects the role that her society has determined for her. While the feminist in me feels slightly conflicted about this, I really do appreciate the realism and the author's ability to craft such a lifelike character. The other characters were all also equally realistic and interesting, I loved every one of them. What I really enjoyed about the character were their relationships. The loving and, again, realistic relationship between Kamarie and her parents was refreshing to read and the sweet one between her parents themselves was a lovely contrast to the usual troubled relationships I was used to reading about. My favourite relationship was the love-hate one between Kamarie and Oraeyn, it was so amusing to read about and easy to relate to. It is the realism of Schmidt's characters that makes them so great.

This novel had me glued right away, some may call the plot slow but personally I think it is that aspect which enabled the characters to be so complex and developed. The plot itself is not sacrificed for the fantastic characters, this book could easily be used as a recipe for the perfect fantasy. I would recommend this book to everyone, even those who are not the biggest fans of the genre like myself. I loved every page and cannot wait to get my hands on the second book. The sooner I can get to it the better.

Saying Goodbye to Warsaw by Michael Cargill

Series: Standalone

Genre: Historical Fiction 

Release Date: September 7th 2013

Source: E-book received in exchange for an honest review

Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars

Cover Rating: 4/5 Stars

Synopsis: Like any girl who is loved by her family, Abigail Nussbaum loves to chase butterflies, enjoys lying on her back looking for shapes in the clouds, and happily teaches young children to make daisy chains. In the eyes of certain people, however, Abigail has committed a heinous crime. The year is 1940; the place is Poland; Abigail happens to be Jewish. Along with half a million other Jews, Abigail and her family are evicted from their home and forced to live in the bombed out ruins of Warsaw, the Polish capital. Although a handful decide to fight back, is the uprising strong enough to save Abigail’s spirit?

First Line: "When Abigail wriggled her toes, the tops of her shoes rippled as if a small rabbit were burrowing around inside them."

When I started Saying Goodbye to Warsaw I did not know what to expect. I had not read a wartime historical fiction in a long time so I was slightly worried that my review wouldn't do the book justice due to my lack of ability to compare it to others in the genre. However, as I read I found this problem nullified given that there is no need to compare a book when it is excellent in its own right. A problem that I always find with novels narrated by children are that they are much too simplistic, understandably so of course but it is still off putting. Abigail's narration did not have this problem; it was intelligent and complex while still very dreamy and childlike. The mix of these attributes was a risky one but it really paid off. Another problem of novels in which the protagonist is a child is that it usually results in much less concentration on other characters. Again, Cargill flawlessly avoided this through his choice of narration style. Not only do we see multiple perspectives within the story but we are able to connect with them just as easily as we do with Abigail. In fact, my favourite character, Borys, was one of the most minor but still so well developed that I couldn't help loving him. Not one of the characters is exaggerated or idealised, we can easily relate to the fear Chana's fear for her children's safety as well as Leo's anger at the Germans for forcing the Jews into the ghetto. It is impossible to read Saying Goodbye to Warsaw without identifying completely with the characters responses to their situation, not to mention counting yourself lucky not to have experienced such horrors if you are anything like me.

The plot of Saying Goodbye to Warsaw begins quite slowly but the undertone of the horrific war going on in the background plus the readers own knowledge of the persecution of the Jews means that the tension builds throughout even if the events are relatively calm. This clever plot device means that the eventual explosive climax is all the more shocking and effective in contrast to the calmer beginning. Speaking of the ending, it is not often that I am surprised by finales but this one caught me off guard. I cannot tell you any more about it but be prepared to be emotional. However, the comment on the emotional nature is not only reserved for the endings. The extreme tragedy of the story line is emphasised throughout. I promise you that if you pick up this book there will be times when you must fight the urge to internally scream in frustration, not to mention despair.

One element of the book I didn't enjoy is how unrealistic Abigail's character temporarily became. It was only brief, near the end of the book, and therefore excusable, but I did find myself forgetting how old she really was due to her seemingly innate skill at adult activities such as first aid and shooting. One scene in the novel had her learning to accurately shoot a gun in just three attempts, I am no expert on that kind of thing but I doubt most adults could do that, let alone ten year old girls. But, as said earlier, this flaw is only minor in an otherwise interesting and gripping story.

I would recommend Saying Goodbye to Warsaw to those who love historical fiction just as much as those who aren't such big fans for one simple reason, it doesn't read like your usual historical fiction. You don't need to remember vast amounts of historical detail in order to understand the plot like with many; this book could easily be read with minimal knowledge of the situation in Poland for Jews therefore no one should be discouraged. Saying Goodbye to Warsaw has a tense and gripping plot and realistic characters with whom you can easily empathise with and for this reason it gets 4/5 Stars from me. I certainly look forward to reading more of Michael’s work.

Best Quote: "There we are,' he said, shooting her a quick wink. ’You look so much prettier than your brother when you blush."

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?” 

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

The Immortal Rules By Julie Kagawa

Series: Blood Of Eden #1
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Dystopia
Release Date: April 24th 2012
Source: Bought
Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars
Cover Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Synopsis: To survive in a ruined world, she must embrace the darkness Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a walled-in city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten. Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them—the vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself dies and becomes one of the monsters. Forced to flee her city, Allie must pass for human as she joins a ragged group of pilgrims seeking a legend—a place that might have a cure for the disease that killed off most of civilization and created the rabids, the bloodthirsty creatures who threaten human and vampire alike. And soon Allie will have to decide what and who is worth dying for again. Enter Julie Kagawa's dark and twisted world as an unforgettable journey begins.


First Sentence: They hung the Unregistereds in the old warehouse district; it was a public execution, so everyone went to see.

Based on Kagawa's other series, I expected this to be quite light. I realized just how wrong that presumption was the moment I saw the cover. No, all trace of Faeies are gone replaced by bloodthirsty vampires nothing like the ones in Twilight. Was that a good thing? Yes! I loved the original idea that really shouldn't be so original. Who on Earth actually decided to transform those grizzly creatures that used to plague children's nightmares into civilized creatures that have fully functioning emotions and fall in love with humans? Whoever it was a whole generation of Twi-hards owe you their lives. Anyway, the book takes place in a dystopian universe where Vampires rule and humans are never safe. Allison Sekemoto and her group have to steal to survive and one day Allison is attacked by a rabid and given the choice to live on as a vampire or to die. She chooses to become the one thing she hates most in the world.

I wasn't expecting much of a heroine from Kagawa after I had to endure the obnoxious Meghan Chase from The Iron Fey but I was surprised. Allison was about as badass as they come and although some of her decisions annoyed me she was still a good heroine. I loved Kanin, her vampire mentor but we didn't see nearly enough of him. I'm looking forward to more of him in book two, possibly as a love interest. But then there's Zeke who I wasn't that keen on but he was bearable and also seems like a likely love interest. I do hope a love triangle doesn't emerge.

Kagawa's story building was exceptional and remarkably well written. The book was a compelling and unique take on the overused vampire genre. Her characters don't fall flat and although not as witty as in previous books, they seem more lifelike. I am looking forward to the next book, The Eternity Cure. I would recommend this book to those looking for something other than the typical 'vampire boy meets human girl' story line.

Favorite Quote:
“Words define us,' Mom continued, as I struggled to make my clumsy marks look like her elegant script. 'We must protect our knowledge and pass it on whenever we can. If we are ever to become a society again, we must teach others how to remain human.”

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

The Tower By Jade Varden

Series: Deck Of Lies #2
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery
Release Date: April 5th 2012
Source: Review Copy From Author
Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars
Cover Rating: 2/5 Stars - I may or may not have thought it was a Dalek when I first saw it
Synopsis: Death brings some families closer, but it’s ripped mine apart. I wanted to convince the police that they had the wrong suspect...but I never expected them to start suspecting me. Now, I have no choice but to keep searching for the truth, even if all my relationships fall to pieces around me. Someone is trying to make me look guilty. I never thought my mission to prove my own innocence would lead me to more family secrets. I thought I had already discovered the truth about myself. But every answer raises more questions, and everything I think I know is about to change...again. I have to find the truth, no matter how much it hurts -- before I get charged with murder. 

I started this book with huge expectations after reading and loving the first book. And did it meet my expectations? No. It exceeded them. The second book in the Deck Of Lies series has all the mystery and twists that drew me to the first book but they're multiplied ten times over. There is not a dull moment in this book and although the turns can make you slightly dizzy it's well worth it. It would be difficult to describe The Tower without giving too much away so all I'm going to say is that the plot this time around revolves around a murder case, some huge family issues and of course there is romantic aspects.

I have about the same opinion on the characters as I did first time around apart from two slight differences: One, I like Sawyer a lot more than I did originally and two, I do not like Owen. At all. At the end of the first book he was beginning to creep me out but now that feeling has been amplified. Rain grew on me and I began to like her way more than before. My problem was there wasn't nearly enough River, I missed him!

Overall the book is one of the best, most exciting mysteries I have ever read. Jade has managed to lure me into thinking I know who the killer is but then she blows it all out of the water and to keep me from guessing takes a very gifted author. The story building is amazing and the plot is seamless. I would recommend this to people who enjoy just the right mix of entertainment and mystery with of course the cliffhangers that I am beginning to associate with this series. I can honestly say it's one of the best self published books I've read.

My Favorite Quote:
“Lucy?” 
“Sure,” Sawyer smiled. “That’s the re­cep­tion­ist’s name.” 
Von Shel­ton charm.

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

The Luxe By Anna Godbersen

Series: Luxe #1
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction
Release Date: November 20th 2007
Source: Library 
Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars
Cover Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Synopsis: Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan’s social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City’s elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone—from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud—threatens Elizabeth’s and Diana’s golden future. With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love. But when her carriage overturns near the East River, the girl whose glittering life lit up the city’s gossip pages is swallowed by the rough current. As all of New York grieves, some begin to wonder whether life at the top proved too much for this ethereal beauty, or if, perhaps, someone wanted to see Manhattan’s most celebrated daughter disappear... 

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I originally thought I would. The book is set in 1899 so as you would suspect it focuses on class, balls and finding the perfect husband but there's a twist. The book begins with Elizabeth Holland's funeral and the rest of the book charts her life up until that point. We get to see what life is like being some of the most privileged people on New York plus the people who serve them due to the alternating narrators. We see just how catty people became when climbing to the top of the social ladder was concerned.

Because of the alternating narrators we got to see a lot of each character which I loved. The main character, Elizabeth, I found to be quite naive and a little too prim and proper for my liking. Everyone loved her because she was so lovely and kind but frankly I didn't see it. I didn't like how she treated people but throughout the book she grew on me. Her sister, Diana, was a much better character. She was brave, confident and reckless but also loving and kind. I liked how she treated her servants as friends and opposed her obligations to be just like her perfect sister. Penelope Haye's, Elizabeth's frienemy I found to be quite entertaining. I loved her little plots which may sound strange since in a way she's the villain of the story. I also loved Henry Shoonmaker, he was just as high as the Holland's on the social ladder but he was also the bad boy of New York - with a new scandal every week. He also seemed, like Diana, a lot more down to earth than any of the others. One character I hated was the maid Lina, I get that she was angry with Elizabeth for dumping her but I found her personality to be so clingy and irritating - I just didn't like her at all.

The detail and the story building in The Luxe was stunning, with the kind of description that you only find in historical fiction. I found the story to be thoroughly entertaining and very true to the historical facts which is always good. The story line was filled with that many scandals that I wondered how there were any respectable families left - not that it was a bad thing. I also enjoyed how each chapter was divided by a note, poem or extract from a book or newspaper, it made even the chapter headings just as flwaless as the book it's self. I will most definitely be reading the rest of the series and taking a look at Godbersen's other books.

My Favorite Quote:
“Don't go looking for boys in the dark 
They will say pretty things then leave you with scars. 
Do go looking for boys in the park 
For that is where the true gentlemen are.”

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

Prophecy Of The Setting Sunrise By Diantha Jones

Series: The Oracle Of Delphi #2
Genre: Young Adult, Greek Mythology, Romance
Release Date: November 12th 2012
Source: Review Copy From Author
Cover Rating: 4/5 Stars
Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars
Synopsis: It’s official. Myth is doomed. And it’s all Chloe Clever’s fault. Still as whacked out as ever, Chloe is now faced with an even uglier truth: Not only is she the Pythia of the Great Unknown, but she is more powerful than she ever imagined and only the manifestations of her prophetic mind can save them all now. With her Prince boyfriend, Strafford, and the Quad Fraternity always armed and ready to annihilate the opposition, she will embark on a mission to stop a great power that could consume every god in Myth...and everyone else she’s come to love. But the worst is still to come. Dark, painful secrets are revealed, threatening to tear Strafford from her arms, and just when she thinks the future could not look more grim, she is betrayed in the worst way. With the heavens crumbling down around her, she must hurry to find a way to set things right. But will she be in time to save the one she loves most in the world from a fate that may be more dangerous than her own?

I had high hopes for this book because I had really enjoyed the first and it lived right up to them. I think it may have been better than the first. What made me love this series in the first place was the rich world building detail and the charismatic characters and this book had all that and more. The book starts where the first left off, I was a little confused at first but after flicking through the last chapter of the first book I remembered what was happening. Chloe has accepted that she is the Oracle Of Delphi, Pythia, and she must use the prophecies that come with it to figure out how to save myth and her little brother before it is all destroyed. Luckily for Chloe she has her (awesome) group to help her out. Their strength and loyalty plus her prophecies may just be enough to succeed on her mission.

As I said before, the characters are one of the main things I love about these books. Chloe was my least favorite in the last book and she still is but I liked her a bit more than before. When she fully embraced being the Oracle and headed out to find her brother I began to respect her character more and who knows I might like her even more in the next book. I of course still love Stafford but I have to say my heart still belongs to Ace, he's such a sweetheart that I can't help loving him. When I finally get around to writing my top ten favorite characters list again he will most definitely be on it. I liked the twins Hector and Theseus and I am intrigued by Swindle's story and can't wait to learn more about him. Something I loved was meeting more of the gods and goddesses, I love Greek mythology so thoroughly appreciated that.

Overall this book is one that has me eager for the next. The lavish detail is what pulled me into the book but it is the characters that kept me captivated until the very end. If a book has horrible characters or little to no detail there is a huge chance I will hate it but this ticks both boxes on my vital list. Prophecy Of The Setting sunrise kept me up till 2am but I do not regret the lack of sleep and that's saying something. I would recommend this to those who enjoy greek mythology or are maybe just looking for a good story.

My Favorite Quotes: 
“I found something, jukkas,” he said,opening up a book onto the table. 
“I really wish you’d stop callin’ us bloody idiots,” Ace said, stuffing lo mein into his mouth. 
“Is that what jukkas means?” she asked and Ace nodded. “Rude, Swindle.” 
The demigod laughed. “I always mean it in the nicest possible way. Now hush up and listen. Jukkas.” 

"And speaking of, why didn’t you jump in sooner, Ace? You knew it was Smurfey!” The demigod grinned, handing her a bag of herbs for the bruises that were sure enough forming all over her face. She snatched it from him. 
“Why would I break up a perfectly good cat fight when the odds were so evenly matched?”
---
The herbs obviously hadn’t kicked in all the way yet. “Smurfey happened to my face.” “Smurfey?” 
She pointed and when he saw her friend climb out of the truck looking just as roughed up, he smiled. 
“Ah. Cat fight.” 
“You and Ace are sexist pigs.” 
“Don’t you mean sexy pigs…”

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK

Poison Study By Maria V. Snyder

Series: Study #1
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Release Date: September 1st 2007
Source: Bought
Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars
Cover Rating: 2/5 Stars
Synopsis: Choose: A quick death Or slow poison... 
Yelena has a choice – be executed for murder, or become food taster to the Commander of Ixia. She leaps at the chance for survival, but her relief may be short-lived. Life in the palace is full of hazards and secrets. Wily and smart, Yelena must learn to identify poisons before they kill her, recognize whom she can trust and how to spy on those she can’t. And who is the mysterious Southern sorceress who can reach into her head? When Yelena realizes she has extraordinary powers of her own, she faces a whole new problem, for using magic in Ixia is punishable by death...

Poison Study was a lot better than I thought it was going to be. It's the first book I have read by Maria Snyder though I had heard her name being thrown around the blogosphere. The only reason I picked up this book was because it sounded unlike anything I had ever read and I wanted a change - that and the fact the shop was having a 3 for 2 sale and I needed a third book. The book follows Yelena who's waiting to be executed when she gets a lifeline. She can be executed or be the royal food taster. Both of which almost certainly make her death inevitable but the latter gives her a bit longer at least. She chooses to be a food taster and is immediately made to train with the dangerous Valek. She is taught to identify the poisons but not before being given one herself to stop her running away, a poison that will kill her unless she takes the antidote once a day. With escape impossible Yelena adapts to life in Ixia but she is not safe...

Yelena was exactly how a heroine should be. She was smart, stubborn and strong. She didn't rely on anyone and didn't whine. Not even when she was waiting to be executed! There's nothing I hate more than a whiny heroine. Yelena wasn't described as pretty, she has personality instead of looks which I've noticed is becoming a more and more popular trait in Young Adult books. Valek was also amazing. He was a ninja! Well maybe not a ninja but assassin doesn't sound as cool. Anyway, I loved the chemistry between him and Yelena, their relationship was entertaining to watch. Two other characters, Ari and Janco were awesome. They are both guards so you would expect them to be hard and mean. Well they weren't. Once they became friends with Yelena their protective sides came out. They were fiercely devoted to protecting her and just very sweet.

I really enjoyed this book and am going to pick up the second as soon as I can. The world building in Poison Study was exceptional, there was even a map at the beginning of the book which I reverted back to at many points in the book.It was very helpful. I would reccomend this to those who enjoy fantasy or even those who don't have much experience with it (like me) because this makes a great first. One thing I should say is although the book is young adult it is a very adult, young adult book for more mature readers.

My Favorite Quote

“Poisoned, pursued and living with a psychopath. Not what I would consider the good life. Death has its perks.”

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Going Too Far By Jennifer Echols

Series: Standalone 
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary 
Release Date: March 17th 2009
Source: Bought 
Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars
Cover Rating: 2/5 Stars
Synopsis:  HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO? 
All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far...and almost doesn't make it back. John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won't soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won't be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge - and over...

I had never read a book by Jennifer Echols but I had heard great things about her. I originally wanted to read her book Such A Rush but I couldn't find it in my bookshop so I made do with this one. I'm glad I did because it was actually a really great book. It follows Meg and John. Two very different characters on the surface but deeper down you see how similar they really are. Meg want's to leave her suffocating town as soon as she can, she doesn't care how but she will. John chose to stay for reasons Meg can't understand. Both want to be in control of their lives and they are going to push each other to the limit.

One thing I loved about this book is how real the characters were. I really liked Meg, she made some stupid decisions at times but she acted like a real teenager which is rare in young adult books. Meg's rebellion is very real, something you would expect an actual teenager to do. Her reasons lie a lot deeper though which is one difference between her and the majority of teenagers I know. John was a really good character too. At times his controlling attitude annoyed me but his sweetness brought it back for me. His reason for his fixation on the bridge was obvious for me but it made a really good branch of the story. The minor characters like Will and Tiffany were really well developed and likable which is not a regular occurrence in the YA world.

Jennifer Echol's writing is amazing and flawless and I will most definitely be investing in more of Echol's books. This book has reignited my love of YA contemporary so I will be looking out for more in the genre (any recommendations?). I would recommend this book to those who enjoy more mature young adult books as this is not one for younger young adults.

My Favorite Quotes:

“Waiter, this is not the policeman I ordered. I wanted one with a lot less sauce.”

“But you can’t live your life worried about dying all the time. If you do, you’re dead already.”

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Unravelling By Elizabeth Norris

Series: Unraveling #1
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Mystery
Release Date: April 24th 2012
Source: Bought
Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars
Cover Rating: 3/5 Stars
Synopsis: Leaving the beach, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit head on by a pickup truck. And killed. Then Ben Michaels, resident stoner, is leaning over her. And even though it isn’t possible, she knows Ben somehow brought her back to life…
Meanwhile, Janelle’s father, a special agent for the FBI, starts working on a case that seems strangely connected to Ben. Digging in his files, Janelle finds a mysterious device – one that seems to be counting down to something that will happen in 23 days and 10 hours time. That something? It might just be the end of the world. And if Janelle wants to stop it, she’s going to need to uncover Ben’s secrets – and keep from falling in love with him in the process…

I lent Unravelling to a friend before I read it, she loved it and then insisted that I read it. So I did. It wasn't what I expected at all though I haven't decided whether that's a good thing or not yet. The whole concept of a countdown till the end of the world seemed a bit cliché but this was actually very interesting. The story centers around Janelle who is hit by a car and killed. But then she's alive again with a guy leaning over her. She is positive that he brought her back to life, no one believes her of course. When Janelle sees one of her FBI agent dad's files she finds out about a countdown that can't be deactivated. She has less than 24 hours to stop it and she's sure the boy who brought her back to life has something to do with it.

I actually really liked most of the characters in this book. Janelle was an awesome heroine! There were points where she got on my nerves but overall she was a strong, independent character. I love how even when she's falling in love with someone she doesn't let it interfere with stopping the countdown. Ben, the main love interest, was quite sweet and nice but his personality didn't go further than that. But what he lacked in personality he made up for in his romantic behavior. I really did like him but I liked his best friend more. Elijah was very entertaining and the misunderstood vibe worked for him which is a rare occurrence. My absolute favorite character was Alex. He was Janelle's best friend and a very good one at that. He was always there for her and risked everything to help her, he even took care of her little brother. At first I was rooting for them to get together but as the book goes on you see it's purely friendship.

The book started off pretty slow but after a while the pace quickened. Usually I am very good at predicting what is going to happen in books but in this one I just couldn't, the twists and turns are completely unpredictable. Even though it went very quick I enjoyed the romance and the authors world building was almost flawless. One thing I wasn't keen on was the swearing. I'm used to it in adult books but this was way more than most adult books I've read plus it was supposed to be YA. This book is advertised as 24 meets the X-Files, neither of which I've watched but after this I may check it out. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy sci-fi or a good mystery.

My Favorite Genre:
“I mean, contrary to popular belief, I'm actually not harboring a secret desire to grow up and become a bioterrorist.”

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Hallowed By Cynthia Hand

Series: Unearthly #2
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal
Release Date: January 2nd 2012
Source: Bought
Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars
Cover Rating:  3/5 Stars
Synopsis: For months Clara Gardner trained to face the fire from her visions, but she wasn't prepared for the choice she had to make that day. And in the aftermath, she discovered that nothing about being part angel is as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her love for Tucker and her complicated feelings about the roles she and Christian seem destined to play in a world that is both dangerous and beautiful, Clara struggles with a shocking revelation: Someone she loves will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.


I absolutely loved the first book in this series, Unearthly, and I had high hopes for this one. I have realized after many disappointments that my expectations are nearly impossible to meet, but this one got pretty close. I had the same problem with this one as Unearthly; it has a very slow start. Once you get into it though it speeds up tremendously. The book follows on from the previous one as Clara has failed her purpose - or at least she thinks she has. She's not all that sure to be honest. She has started to have a new vision. A new purpose maybe? She's not all that sure about that either. Not a very decisive girl. What she does know though is that someone she loves will die very soon. She doesn't know who, why or how they will die. But they will.

I don't remember if I liked Clara in the first book but right now I'm on the fence about her. She doesn't annoy me, but she doesn't entertain me either. She is a bit like a vessel that keeps the story going but doesn't leave a lasting impression. She's tolerable and acts the age she's supposed to be, which is more than I can say for a lot of young adult heroines. There is a love triangle in this book but wait before you put this on your 'stupid-teen-love-triangle shelf (and we all know you have one). This isn't the average love triangle, it's a triangle out of necessity. That may sound stupid but it actually is not. Clara has to decide whether to be with the one she loves or the one her purpose seems to be foretelling that she be with. The obvious answer is of course the one she loves but it's not all that simple. Christian, one of the guys in question, changed a lot since the last book. In the first I thought he was quite sweet and for a while preferred him to the other. In Hallowed, that all changed. Christian became a jerk going after a girl who was taken and being rather forceful about it. Sure he still had his sweet parts but I was never positive if there was a hidden motive behind it or not. Tucker on the other hand was as perfect as ever. He must be the only YA character I've come across who wants to be a farmer and goes to rodeo's. He is also one of the only characters who didn't  come to terms with something unbelievable within minutes.

Example:
Bella Swan: Your a vampire?
Edward Cullen: Yes I am, fear me little breakable human. I'm a monster!
Bella Swan: I don't mind. I love you! Vampires are like, so cool! *

* No disrespect to people who like Twilight, I actually don't hate it myself but it's just made to mock!

I may have misquoted that but it's something along those lines. Anyway overall the book although not as good as the last was one of my favorite Angel based books. The plot - yes it actually has a plot! Take that Fallen! - has many aspects intertwined. The whole idea of a 'purpose' is extremely original and I grab all the originality I can get when it comes to these kind of books. I would recommend this book to those who want a new twist on the over written angel genre.

My Favorite Quote's: 

“Before I moved here, I never got the whole love-triangle thing. You know, in movies or romance novels or whatnot, where there’s one chick that all the guys are drooling over, even though you can’t see anything particularly special about her. But oh, no, they both must have her. And she’s like, oh dear, however will I choose? William is so sensitive, he understands me, he swept me off my feet, oh misery, blubber, blubber, but how can I go on living without Rafe and his devil-may-care ways and his dark and only-a-little-abusive love? Upchuck.”

“Hi there," Tucker says brightly, like we're bumping into each other on the street.
"Uh, hi."
"Nice night for stalking," he observes.
"No, I was---"
"Get your butt in here, Carrots.”
---
“I sneaked out to his house a couple times in the middle of the night to watch over him while he slept, just in case, I dont know, his comic book collection decided to spontaneously combust. This was dumb and admittedly creepy in an Edward Cullen kind of way”
See even the book mock's it!

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Fever By Lauren DeStefano

Cover Rating: 4/5 Stars
Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars
Synopsis: Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind. Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.


I really enjoyed Wither so I was very much looking forward to Fever. It took me a while to get hold of it but I'm glad I did. Fever was not as good as Wither, in my opinion, but I still loved it. The thing I love about this series is how far fetched it is but at the same time the author makes it totally realistic, as if it could happen. Fever is completely unique. The story is based around a world in which women live till the age of 20 and men to 25. Young women are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages and then made to have children just to keep families going. Gabriel and Rhine have managed to escape the mansion and are on a quest to find Rhine's brother and their freedom. They find themselves in a sick carnival in which girls are captured and their only purpose is to have men 'visit' them.


The same characters are present in Fever as well as some new ones. Rhine, I found, a lot more annoying than in Wither but I still don't hate her. Her character seemed a lot more lifeless than in the first which was a shame. In Wither Rhine seemed hopeful and happier even in her confined environment but in book two all of that drained out of her though you would think it would be more prominent since they were technically free. Gabriel, I think, went through the same change Rhine did. He seemed to regret going with her. Although I think they are good together they have never really shown much chemistry between them and that is what I look for. Linden on the other hand seems to have a lot of chemistry with Rhine and I also love how sweet and trusting he is. We didn't see much of him in this book sadly. Before I was team Gabriel but right now I'm not totally sure.


Overall this book was very good and as always it keeps you guessing. The ending I feel was totally unexpected and I actually have hope of seeing Rowan in the next - and final - book. This is one of my favorite dystopian series' and I would recommend it to people who don't mind a gritty and  realistic view of the future. I have the third book sat on my shelf courtesy of the awesome Miss DeStefano herself so I am excited to delve into that. 


My Favorite Quote:
“Everyone should remember being born. It doesn't seem fair that we only remember dying.”


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Underneath By Michael Cargill (Review And Giveaway)

Cover Rating: 3/5 Stars
Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars
Synopsis: Look at the person sitting just across from you. 
It doesn't matter whether they’re a loved one, a friend, or a complete stranger. 
Now look at their face. 
Are they happy? Are they sad? Or are they angry? 
Can you even tell? 
How well do you actually know the people closest to you? 
Have you ever seen the real person that lies just underneath what you see…?


A copy of Underneath was kindly given to me by the author, Michael Cargill, in exchange for an honest review. Underneath was a short book but the story suited that. It is about seeing the side of a person that they keep hidden, we all do it but hopefully not as much as the main character Hugh. He can appear nice and pleasant but underneath he's a raving madman - to put it nicely. The whole story revolves around a number of characters whose stories all interrelate at some point. It was really interesting to see just how they would connect and why.


The characters were all really different and very developed. Hugh, as I said before, was crazy. He was a disturbing fellow who I would have hoped to never meet. He was like one of those psychopaths you hear about that can hide their disturbed characters so well that when they finally crack and do something horrible everyone claims they were a really nice person - they are the scary ones. There were two other main characters, Clare and Robert. These two were a lot more likable! Clare was a strong independent women who didn't need a man to lean on and Robert was just hilarious though you saw throughout the book just how strong his morels were and how he reacted when someone was going against them. I also loved Clare and Robert's relationship, they were so alike yet so different.


Overall I really enjoyed this book and my only negative is that I want another book - and that's not even a negative. I would love to see how Clare, Robert and even Hugh got on after this book ended. I've only read one of Michael's books before and it was so completely different to this one that I can't even attempt to compare them. All I can say is that I really like his writing style and I will be looking for future releases from him. I would recommend this to people who like suspenseful, layered novels.


My Favorite Quote:
 “Earth to Robert, earth to Robert, are you there?”
“Sorry, I was just thinking of steak and kidney pie,” he said with a grin.
“No, seriously, I was. Why would anyone want kidney in a pie? Why not double steak
instead? It would be much better.”
“It’s not really something I've thought about to be honest.”
“I used to get force-fed it as a kid. I dreaded going round my Nan’s house, as it was all
she ever seemed to bloody cook. In fact I think she even brought one round to our house at
Christmas one year,” he replied, scrunching his nose up."


Think it looks good? Want it now? You're in luck! Michael Cargill has kindly supplied some copies for a giveaway. Enter below and if you win I will send you a Smashwords coupon. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


I have lots more giveaways coming soon so look out!
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Prophecy Of The Most Beautiful By Diantha Jones

Series: The Oracle Of Delphi #1
Genre: Young Adult, Greek Mythology, Romance
Release Date: March 1st 2012
Source: Review Copy From Author
Cover Rating: 4/5 Stars
Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars 
Synopsis: Constant hallucinations and the frequent conversations with the voices in her head, have earned eighteen-year-old Chloe Clever the not-so-coveted title of "Whack Job" in her home town of Adel, Georgia. After living through an attack from her worst nightmare, she awakens to find herself far from home, surrounded by glorious riches and servants…and a few demigods who enjoy killing things. Upon learning that her favorite rockstar is an Olympian god, she is thrust into her new life as the Oracle of Delphi, the prophesier of the future, and the great Pythia that the gods have been anxiously awaiting to arrive for centuries. Setting out to fulfill the prophecy she has been given and to keep her family safe from a demigod Princess that wants her dead, Chloe learns of how great she is to become, all the while fighting mythical monsters, evading divine assassins and trying to outwit the ever-cunning Greek gods who harbor secrets of their own. In the hopes of discovering the Most Beautiful and the truth of her destiny, she strives to uncover the mysteries of the demigod Prince who has sworn to protect her with his life…and threatens to win her heart in the process.

This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. I can't say that I had huge expectations for Prophesy Of The Most Beautiful because I'm not all that familiar with this genre but if I had then I think it would have been better than them. I was surprised just how much I enjoyed the story really. The detail was rich and sucked you right in and there was some familiar characters including Apollo, Cupid and Aphrodite. I mean how awesome is that? Though it seemed you had to be careful of the Gods, they were not always to be trusted.

Chloe, the main character, had a very real personality and at the beginning struck me as kind of a rebel for being kicked out of school so many times but it turns out that it wasn't the case. I've got to say she was my least favorite character as she was quite annoying at some times but I loved the guys! My favorite had to be Ace, for one his name is awesome. He was just like the little brother that you never had but always wanted. I don't think there was one demigod prince that I disliked though.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to the sequel to it Prophecy of the Setting Sunrise. Diantha Jones is a gifted author who has managed to craft a believable and creative world in which demigods prance around with swords and crossbows. I mean what more could you want? I would recommend this book to lovers of Greek Mythology or others like me who had yet to experience this beautiful genre.

My Favorite Quote:
“His laugh was like nails to a chalkboard. "I cannot remember a time when anything was new to me. I only ever see the tattered remains of what once was.”

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Chill Factor By Rachel Caine

Cover Rating: 2/5 Stars
Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars
Synopsis: Weather Warden extraordinaire Joanne Baldwin, who protects the human race from monster storms, was killed, reborn as a Djinn, and then restored to her original form. She's been through a lot – and stuck her neck out many times – to save innocent lives. Now she is rolling the dice to stop an infinitely powerful, deeply disturbed kid from destroying the world... A teenager has holed up in style at a Las Vegas hotel with the most powerful Djinn in the world, planning who knows what kind of mischief. The Wardens' senior leadership is dead, Djinn are disappearing, and a secret society wants to help Joanne destroy the teenager, even if doing so kills her again. But everyone in Vegas has a game going, and Joanne has to learn the rules fast because the stakes have never been higher – and all hell is about to break loose...

Sorry this review is late but for some reason I haven't been able to work up the motivation to write it, no idea why but still. Anyway Chill Factor is book three of the Weather Wardens series and it's began to get a lot more interesting. Chill Factor takes place in Las Vegas so everyone's in the betting mood. Too bad most are betting against Joanne. Well she has died three or four times so I'm not sure I would put too much money on her. In this book you find out a lot more about Djinn and the way they work. That I liked because I am finding the Djinn very interesting. By the way Djinn are kinda like genies if you were wondering. The story line was clearer in this book than in the previous two. The action seemed more necessary also. I loved the development of the characters.

Kevin seemed less like a spoiled teenage boy and more like a weak, fragile child who was being taken advantage of by a very powerful Djinn. I pitied Kevin after all he'd been through but it didn't make me like him anymore than I already did. I didn't know what to make of Johnathan, sometimes he seemed totally insane but other times he seemed cold and calculating. All I know for certain is that it is not wise to get on the wrong side of him. Joanne I still like as much as before but I feel that she's a lot stronger. I'm very glad that Rachel Caine hasn't made the horrible mistake of making her rely fully on David. Speaking of David, I would have liked to see a lot more of him. He was barely in it. I still don't like Lewis but I've been told he gets more likable further on so I have not yet lost hope!

The Weather Wardens series keeps getting better and better and Rachel Caine has not disappointed so far. There was actually a decent amount of chapters in this book (compared to the 3 previously) so I had no complaint about that. I would recommend this book the people who like feisty heroines and also those who enjoy a unique twist on Urban Fantasy. I would give this book 4/5 stars and I'm eager to get into the next one in the series.

My Favorite Quote:
“God, it was hot! Forget about frying an egg on the sidewalk; this kind of heat would fry an egg inside the chicken.” 

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Heat Stroke By Rachel Caine

Cover Rating: 4/5 Stars

Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars

Synopsis: Accused of murder, Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin was chased across the country—and killed—by a team charged with hunting down rogue Wardens. Five days later, Joanne had a lovely funeral and was posthumously cleared of all charges. Her human life was over, but she had been reborn in Djinnhood. Now, until she masters her enhanced powers, Joanne must try to avoid being "claimed" by a human. But when a hazard that only a Djinn could sense infiltrates Earth's atmosphere, Joanne must somehow convince someone to do something about it—or the forecast will be deadly. So who said being all-powerful was going to be easy?


Heat Stroke is book 2 in the Weather Warden series by Rachel Caine. As you may know she is one of my favorite authors and she never disappoints. Although I prefer her Morganville series this one is really great. One thing I like about Rachel Caine is all of her heroines are as bad-ass as they come. Joanne Baldwin is smart and deadly, yes she has her barbie doll moments but I can get over that. I was kinda shocked when at the end of Ill Wind she was reborn as a Djinn because - apart from vampires - it's not often an author changes her main characters species and even when they do it's usually near the end of a series. Well this is book two of nine so I wouldn't say it was near the end. Another thing I love about Rachel Caine is her writing style, it's relaxed and not forced as some author's writing comes across. The Weather Wardens series is very unique, I mean we always complain about weather but Caine actually was genius enough to write a book about weather.


We had the same familiar characters as in book one including Lewis - whom I'm not particularly fond of - and David - who I like slightly more but still don't love. I think the story line seemed slightly better in this book than the first which didn't have much of one. I liked them both equally though. The only thing that annoyed me was the length of the chapters, there were about five in the first book and this one had three. Seriously they were about 150 pages each and I always like to read to the end of chapters before taking a break so it was very irritating. I would recommend this book to lovers of Rachel Caine and kick-ass heroines. I would gibve this book 4/5 stars. 
I've been reading a lot lately so reviews of Unearthly and Specials coming very soon.


My Favorite Quote:
“Paul?” I said.
My voice shook a little. “It’s Jo.” Silence. I couldn’t tell what was happening on the other end.
Then, very quietly, “Jesus.”
“No, just Joanne, although I can see how you might make the mistake, coming back from the dead and all.” 



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Justice By Jade Varden

Cover Rating: 2/5 - Not crazy about the pink myself
Overall Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: "A House of Cards... When you build an entire life on a foundation of lies, it only takes one truth for the whole thing to come crashing down. I never invited the truth in. I never went searching for it. I never had any reason to suspect that the two people I loved most were dishonest with me every second of every day. I made one bad decision, and in a single day my entire world changed. If I'm ever going to discover the truth about myself and my parents, I have to trace all the lies back to their source. I have to try to find the truth that they're hiding. The more I discover about myself, and my past, the more I realize that lies really are better than the truth. But now that I know the lies are all around me, I can't stop until I've discovered them all. I'll pull each lie away, one by one, and examine it to see what's underneath…until this house of cards crumbles into dust at my feet.  I just hope I can survive the crash."

This book saved my life, well not literally. I had run out of books and was about to freak out but luckily Melanie (Cusick-Jones) offered to ask the author of this book if I could have a review copy and I was given one. I really enjoyed this book and it had been one of the only ones I haven't been able to predict. I was constantly thinking I didn't see that coming! When usually I'm like I knew that was going to happen, I bet this will happen next... oh what do you know, I was right. Rain Ramey was quite a good main character and she didn't annoy me too much. There was the stereotypical mean girl character but I didn't hate her either weirdly enough, her brother was okay. I really liked Owen at the beginning and I loved River. The only character I actually hated was Violet, she was just so annoying.

The book is a mystery with a pinch of romance mixed in. Wow it sounds like a recipe now. When we got closer to the end I began to feel creeped out by a certain character - not saying who - and I have suspicions that I need validating! I think I know something important but knowing this book there will be another twist and my suspicions will prove to be wrong. I'm not really one for a mystery but after reading this I don't know why. It was a change from my usual genre but a good one. I would recommend this book to people who like working out mystery's along with the main character. Like a competition who can work it out first, usually I'm good at that. I would give this book 4/5 stars and look forward to reading the second book.

My favorite quote:
"I never meant to run off on you the other day. Believe me, I've got no problem with pretty girls who want to hit on me," he actually had the nerve to wink."

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Forgotten By Cat Patrick

Cover Rating: 3/5
Overall Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: "Each night at precisely 4:33 am, while sixteen-year-old London Lane is asleep, her memory of that day is erased. In the morning, all she can "remember" are events from her future. London is used to relying on reminder notes and a trusted friend to get through the day, but things get complicated when a new boy at school enters the picture. Luke Henry is not someone you'd easily forget, yet try as she might, London can't find him in her memories of things to come. When London starts experiencing disturbing flashbacks, or flash-forwards, as the case may be, she realizes it's time to learn about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future."


This book kept coming up in my Goodreads recommendations again and again so eventually I got curious about why Goodreads wouldn't stop recommending it to me no matter how often I pressed the ignore button so I borrowed it off a friend who conveniently had. Part way through the book I began wondering why I kept pressing ignore because I really enjoyed it. Forgotten has a really interesting concept; a girl who forgets the past and remembers the future. I have a bad memory myself but I doubt I could cope with my entire past vanishing every night. London coped with the help of notes, these notes had some important information and some not so  important information like what she wore. I thought that was very interesting because it showed things we take for granted like memory of what we wore yesterday would be important if we always forget. You know that moment when someone asks you what you had for lunch and you rack your brain for the answer but you just can't remember. How frustrating it is. How you may even sit for hours trying to remember. Well imagine feeling that everyday.

Forgotten had many characters that I could hate and rant about but for once I'm not going to. London herself I found slightly irritating at times but I looked past that because of all she had to deal with. I can't imagine what that would be like. Her best friend Jamie began to go off the rails but again I can't blame her for that. Then along comes Luke. An actual normal guy, he wasn't badass, he wasn't unbearably sweet or possessive. Just a normal guy and it was a refreshing change. I think he and London were perfect together and get this - no love triangle. I would recommend this book to people who need a change from their normal reads and I would give it 4/5 stars.

My Favorite Quote:
“Tears upon tears splat on to the lined pages in my hands as I read about a nightmare come true. Quickly, I wipe away the saltwater so it won't fade the ink. Because even as my chest caves in and makes me hate the chipper birds and everything else, I know that I needed to read this today, and I need to read it again tomorrow.  For me, reading is remembering.” 


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Ill Wind By Rachel Caine

I've read two books in one day, I think that may be a record! Anyway on with the review. I picked up Ill Wind thinking it was a Young Adult book because the author wrote my beloved Morganville series. I was mistaken. I really need to start checking books out, I think this has been the third I've picked up and found it was adult. I didn't mind too much though.

Ill wind is about Jo Baldwin, she's a Weather Warden... on the run. A Weather Warden's job is to keep people by delivering the world of dangerous weather but that's easier said than done. Joanne is searching for Lewis, the only person she knows that can help her avoid the certain death that is approaching. One problem, he's also on the run after having stolen three Djinn's. So not only is he on the run but he is the most wanted man in the world - things couldn't get much better for Joanna - but if she's going to survive then she has to find Lewis. And fast. 

"Joanne Baldwin is a Weather Warden. Usually, all it takes is a wave of her hand to tame the most violent weather. But now, she's trying to outrun another kind of storm: accusations of corruption and murder. So, she's resorting to the very human tactic of running for her life...  Her only hope is Lewis, the most powerful warden known. Unfortunately, he's stolen not one but three bottles of Djinn-making him the most wanted man on earth. Still, she's racing hard to find him-before the bad weather closes in fast..."

I enjoyed this book mostly because I love Rachel Caine's writing style, I don't know what it is but I always love anything written by her. This was a good book, not as good as Morganville, but good. As it's the first book I didn't really get to know any of the characters well but I quite liked Jo and David. Lewis, to say he's the main part of the book, is hardly in it so I don't know how I feel about him just yet. Some parts of Ill Wind confused me slightly but by the end I got it. I am really looking forward to book two. I wouldn't reccomend this to younger readers but its a good read. I would give it 4/5 stars.


My favorite quote:
“People talk about nature as a mother, but to me she's always been Medea, ready and willing to slaughter her children.” 


Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK