I came to the realization today that this blog is TWO YEARS OLD in May (Whoa.) and also that I’ve never actually changed the theme. So, what do you guys think of this one? The colours are a bit in-your-face, but whatever. I might change them if I’m clever enough. Feel free to comment what you think!
By Marcus Sedgwick, published by Indigo (Orion).
What would you sacrifice for someone you’ve loved forever?
Eric and Merle meet each-other on the strange, childless island of Blessed in 2073. As soon as Eric, avid newspaper journalist, sees the beautiful Merle for the first time, he is certain that they have met before in past lives… and he is right. In fact, Eric and Merle have lived seven past lives, and in each one they have loved each other, whether they’re wife and husband or mother and child. Midwinterblood is a chilling tale told in seven riveting parts, one for each life and based around the times of seven different moons.
I’ve read this book before- just before it was released in 2011- but decided to re-read and re-review it as it has just been shortlisted for the Carnegie book award! It was as brilliant and as haunting as I remembered it. Marcus Sedgwick has written this brilliantly, and the connections between the different lives were spooky and clever. I especially loved how the seven stories were told backwards; starting in 2073, and working backwards to thousands of years before, as there was- for example- two bodies found by archaeologists in the 2011 part, then it revealed who the bodies were and how they got there a few stories later. Sounds confusing, doesn’t it? Well, it wasn’t. Marcus Sedgwick’s writing was very successful and made this complex, plot and novel structure understandable.
Eric and Merle’s characters were enjoyable. Their personalities didn’t really need to be visibly explained at all- their undying love was shown between the lines really well. I also thought it was a great twist that Tor, from the 2073 story, kept appearing in the backgrounds of the earlier ones. I would say he was the only antagonist of the story, as he seemed to be trying to draw Eric and Merle apart. Eric, Merle, and Tor, all had varying names throughout the stories- as an example, Eric’s- in the last story (the one furthest back in time) was Erikir. Still, like the complex plot, it was understandable.
In total, Midwinterblood was an amazing novel. I’ve never ever read anything quite like it before. It was beautifully written, and executed well- I don’t think any other author would’ve been able to pull off such a layered plot. I loved the unique layout and the undying love between the characters. It was a haunting story that will send shivers up your spine- It’s full of murder, betrayal and star-crossed lovers. I really hope this wins the Carnegie medal!
This week, I got seven books. Woo!
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare- I am now a total fangirl of The Mortal Instruments series. ‘Nuff said.
The Medusa Project: The set Up & Hostage (books #1+2) by Sophie McKenzie- I am a very big fan of Sophie’s Girl, Missing series, and thought I’d start her Medusa Project books.
The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham- I’ve always wanted to read this, and I found a copy in a bookstore today!
Partials by Dan Wells- After getting an email from HarperCollins saying the sequel to this is out in April, and after reading the synopsis, I knew I couldn’t miss these. It hasn’t technically arrived yet- it’s on its way from Amazon 😀
Also on its way from Amazon, and also for the same reasons as Partials- sequel out in April, and by the synopsis it sounds awesome. Can’t wait to read this, then the next- Impostor!
By John Green, published by Harper Collins.
First friend, first girl, last words…
Miles Halter is a misfit boy from Florida, with an obsession with reading biographies and memorizing peoples last words. After reading the last words of a celebrity, (“I go to seek a great perhaps”), he decides to set off on his own adventure, in the next state, in an old boarding school. Alaska young is a beautiful, hot, prank loving girl at Miles’s new boarding school in Alabama. It’s no wonder at all that he falls in love with her on his first day. Along with Chip, nicknamed ‘The Colonel’, and some others including, of course, Alaska, Miles starts a new life at Culver Creek preparatory school. He’s getting along great, partying, pranking and more. Then all of a sudden the worst thing ever happens, and brings Miles and his ragtag bunch of friends crashing down to Earth. Can Miles work out why the disaster involving Alaska took place?
**REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!**
After reading The Fault in our Stars, I really wanted to read something else by John Green. When I started reading this, his first ever book, I just couldn’t put it down! It was absolutely hilarious at points, especially during their last prank. At other points, it brought tears to my eyes. It’s so amazing how John Green can write books that are so full of humor, yet also so full of tragedy! Looking for Alaska was beautifully written and so captivating. I loved how the chapters were set out. It really built up suspense throughout the ‘Before’ part of the book, as each chapter heading began like ‘eighty-two days before’, and kept me guessing as to what might happen. It was very clever how, in so many of the scenes, there were very tiny-and-easy-to-overlook clues as to why Alaska was killed.
Miles was a great main character, and stayed strong throughout all of the difficulties he faced. Although I didn’t really connect with him as well as I did with any of the characters from John Green’s latest book, I still enjoyed reading his exciting, unpredictable story. I think I loved the character of Alaska Young more than Miles Halter, though. That was probably because, as she revealed secrets throughout the book, I really came to understand her and why she put on a strong face, despite being the broken girl who turned to alcohol when she reminisced about her horrible childhood which was full of loss. It totally broke my heart when the incident took place about two thirds into the book, and I couldn’t stop reading as I just had to know the full story behind her tragic death.
Overall, Looking for Alaska was a really great read, full of humor and heartache. It had a really imporant moral, embedded in a terrific plot. Not for younger readers, but a really good, gripping read for teenagers and adults alike. t was so realistic, and John Green really captured many teenage problems. Don’t miss it!
By Josephine Angelini, published by Macmillan.
Their love could last forever… if it doesn’t destroy them first.
After the events of Starcrossed, (Review HERE), Helen has been tasked with venturing into the underworld every night instead of sleeping in order to stop the furies- the terrifying, angry girls who are making the Delos family want to hurt their outcast, Hector. Helen knows that she can never be with Lucas Delos again, and one night as she’s in the underworld, she meets a new scion- Orion. He’s strikingly attractive, and Helen seems drawn to him as they team up to try and get through the hellish underworld together.
Suddenly, Helen’s small home-town island of Nantucket is thrown into chaos as the more evil side of Greek Mythology appear. What will be harder for Helen, saving everyone she loves, or controlling her heart which is torn between Lucas and Orion?
After reading Starcrossed and being totally blown away by it, I couldn’t wait to read Dreamless to see what happened next. I loved this sequel so much! The plot was epic, complex and I couldn’t stop reading. It was really interesting to see that some of the minor, normal school students from the first book, had developed into playing major roles. It really shocked me how Zach, and old friend of Helen’s, had gotten onto the evil side and was now secretly serving her enemy! That, and many other twists such as the mysterious, adorable character of Orion, was totally genius. The ending was really unexpected, and the last fifty pages or so were downright terrifying.
Helen was a great protagonist, as she was in Starcrossed. Only I thought she came out of her shell a bit more, and developed into an even stronger, even more determined main character- and it was the same with Lucas. Josephine Angelini has captured their doomed love story perfectly! Orion was a great love interest, and was brilliant. I fell in love with his three-dimensional personality right away, and I think the love triangle formed between Orion, Helen, and Lucas was a really great one. I could really sense the unspoken rivalry between the two boys, and felt a lot of sympathy towards Helen because she was so torn between these two heartthrobs.
Dreamless was a really enjoyable sequel, packed with lots of action and suspense. I fell in love all over again with the major character, and the new ones too. Highly recommended, and I really can’t wait for the third; out in June *runs around screaming impatiently*!
By Cassandra Clare, published by Walker Books.
**SPOILER ALERT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVEN’T READ CITY OF BONES! (And spoilers about City of Ashes, in the review)**
After the events that took place in the first novel in The Mortal Instruments, City of Bones, Clary just wishes that her life would go ack to normal, and that her mother would wake up from her life-threatening coma. But she can’t keep Jace out of her head… even though she discovered that he is her long lost brother. Can Clary try and forget about her old love for him as she builds a new relationship with Simon? And what will happen to Clary and Simon’s relationship when Simon becomes a monster?
I enjoyed this so much- just as much as the first book in the TMI series! Cassandra Clare’s writing has blown me away… again. I think that the style this book is written in was complex and clever- I loved how, within chapters, the scenes switched every few paragraphs to another major character. That was really well executed, and gave me a three-sixty degree view on what was happening. The plot was great, with some clever and unexpected twists. I really wasn’t expecting Simon to turn into a Vampire! That was very unexpected and I loved how that developed from the minor event of Simon biting a vampire in defense, in the first book. The only thing that confused me was that at the end of City of Bones, Clary and Jace rode off into the New York sunset on the back of a flying motorbike, in love, and at the beginning of City of Ashes, they were totally avoiding her. I would’ve like to have known what happened to make them grow apart so quickly!
Clary was a strong, fun protagonist, and was just as great as she was in the first book. Also, I feel that in City Of Ashes I got a much better insight into her feelings Simon. Her emotions about being torn between two boys were conveyed really well in the book. I think I got to know Simon a lot better as well; because he turned into quite a major character in this sequel, and he was really cool.
In all, City of Ashes was a brilliant sequel and definitely worth reading. I can’t wait to read the third!
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By Andrew Beasley, published by Usborne
Every coin has two faces. Every war has two sides. One boy must make the right choice…
Street urchin Benjamin Kingdom has always lived poorly, with his dad and brother who don’t even acknowledge him. One day, his father comes across a silver coin which could potentially get them out of poverty, but adventurous boy Ben discovers that this coin is the reason that a secret war is raging across London. Ben finds himself thrown into the midst of a battle, between the evil citizens who live in underground tunnels, and the ragtag band of watchers who stalk the London rooftops. What side will Ben choose?
Seeing this in a book magazine, I was totally captivated by the cover. It. Just. Looked. So. Awesome. As I’m getting into steampunky/fantasy fiction at the moment, I just had to buy it as soon as I saw it on a bookshop shelf… and it really lived up to my expectations. The Battles of Ben Kingdom had steampunk themes with essences of fantasy and hope. Andrew Beasley’s It was really fun to read, and although seemingly aged at children around 11, really enjoyable. I loved the setting of Victorian London, and how the battle was taking place above and below the city. It was really imaginative! At first I was torn between the two sides of the war- through Andrew Beasley’s writing I had grown to love and hate both sides. They both had strong leaders, and some really cool members. However, I was a bit disappointed how the cover ruined the truth about the leader of the Watchers. It wasn’t revealed until the end about his wings, and yet the Watcher leader is standing on the cover with them!
Benjamin Kingdom was a seriously cool protagonist. He was cocky, yet brave and intelligent. Ben was three dimensional and obviously well thought out, and his home life was pretty sad and almost brought a tear to my eye. It was really fun reading about him, and I don’t think I have ever read a book before where the protagonist starts to become evil halfway through. Yes, Ben did seem to go a bit bad, under the influence of the silver coin- named the Judas Coin, for it’s evil influences. That was such a cool twist! I also especially loved the supporting character, Ruby: a cool, quirky teenage girl from the underground. I would really like to see more of her in the sequel (OUT IN SEPTEMBER WOO-HOO)!
Overall, The Battles of Ben Kingdom was an incredibly fun read. Great for young teenage boys, and generally for YA steampunk fans. It had a solid plot, and the events were written brilliantly. There was a lot of action and adventure packed into the pages, and I can’t believe this was a debut novel! Keep on writing, Andrew, I so want to read more in this series!
Bittersweet- By Cathy Cassidy
Shay is the love interest of Cherry and the ex-boyfriend of Cherry’s stepsister Honey, and this short story is told from the viewpoint of Shay as he experiences lots of ups and downs. How can he stay with Cherry, whilst Honey is trying so hard to break them apart? And can he convince his fame-hating dad to let him go for a record deal after being spotted by a talent scout?
I read Cherry Crush, the first in the chocolate box girls series, ages ago. I have never been that much of a fan of teenage chick-lit stories, but I loved Cherry Crush, and all of the rest of Cathy’s books, so I just had to get her world book day title! I read this in about half an hour, and enjoyed it so much. Shay is one of the coolest characters in Cathy’s current series, as he’s the breezy surf boy with the guitar. It was great to read from his point of view, and experience his feelings about the raw jealousy and hatred of Honey towards Cherry. It also gave me a good insight into his problems at home- his over reacting father who won’t let him pursue his dreams. The story was fun to read, with quite a lot of exciting events packed into a roughly 100 page story. I loved it!
Hang in there Bozo- The Ruby Redfort emergency survival guide for some tricky predicaments- by Lauren Child
Ruby Redfort- thirteen year old school girl, spy, detective… and now survival expert. Have you ever found yourself in some tricky predicaments? Any involving man eating snakes, bears, the Queen of England, or a hot and dry desert? Well, don’t worry- Ruby Redfort has some great tips to show you how to survive, and keep you hanging in there, Bozo.
Confession; I have never ever read one of the Ruby Redfort books. So I thought reading her world book day title would be a pretty good introduction! However, it wasn’t exactly a story- it was a chapter by chapter survival guide, mostly based on the thirteen year old spy’s encounters. It was great, anyway. Ruby’s narration was brilliant- she was witty, and got straight to the point. I liked the snippets of chapters from her two books, every few pages, which showed what she did to get out of her own ‘tricky predicaments’. Also, there were some very informative-and very funny- diagrams of things too. Now I know how to kill a man eating snake, survive a forest fire, and escape a rip tide. Woo!
I’ll definitely read the Ruby Redfort books soon, they sounded great from the extracts in this hilarious short story.
By Josephine Angelini, published by Macmillan.
When sixteen year old Helen sees the new boy, Lucas Delos, for the first time, the first thing she feels is that she wants to kill him with her bare hands. The second thing; is that she is in love with him. Helen discovers that an ancient Greek curse set by the Greek Gods is forcing her to hate him, but as she finds out that he is descended from the fabled Greek Gods as well as herself, they find themselves drawn to each other. But they were never meant to be able to love one another, because of the war between the Gods thousands of years ago, which split the supernatural scions into four separate houses. As Helen begins an exciting adventure to find out what house she descended from, can she escape the clutches of the scions that want her dead? And can Helen control her feelings for Lucas, who the Gods have decided cannot be hers?
I received this book ages ago, and had already gotten halfway through, before I got distracted by some other reads. I rediscovered this the other day, and began from the beginning again. I was so annoyed I had left it- it was so brilliant! Josephine’s writing was great, and I couldn’t stop reading. The plot was epic and with lots of great shocks. I enjoyed how there was a small mention of a mother who had left home that Helen couldn’t remember, and then how the mother made an entry towards the ending and played a big part in the way the concluding events played out. The novel, as a whole, was terrifically structured with some great cliff-hangers at the end of the chapters. The ending was satisfying, but I would have preferred it to end on a climatic cliff-hanger, which would be resolved in the next book (‘Dreamless’ is the sequel, and yep, I’ll be reading that soon as I have a copy)!
Helen was a really effective protagonist. She was three dimensional, with some realistic emotions and a determined, adventurous personality. As I found out which Greek Gods she descended from, I looked back in the book and realised that the God’s traits (Aphrodite’s traits, among others) really reflected in Helens actions- which I thought was very clever. Helen had some great visible relationships with the other characters, too, especially her best friend Claire and Lucas (the love interest). Claire herself was a funny supporting character, and really made me laugh at points. It was fun to see how she played a big part in the ending, just like Helen’s mother. Lucas, on the other hand, was serious, strong, and an overall very likeable character. He made a great crush for Helen, and his ancestors reflected well in him too.
In all, Starcrossed is an absolutely amazing book that I couldn’t put down. I really loved it, as the plot was complex and kept me guessing at the ending. I can’t wait to read Dreamless, now, to see how Helen and Lucas’s story plays out!
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