Book Review: Popular (Gareth Russell)

'AND HOW ARE WE?'

'BETTER.'

'THAN?'

'EVERYONE.'

MEREDITH HARPER is rich, popular, manipulative and almost unnaturally beautiful. At the age of sixteen, she's already a social legend.

IMOGEN DAWSON, beautiful and sexy-chic, she's Meredith's best friend and a total bombshell. And doesn't she just know it. Then there's . . .

KERRY DAVISON, daddy's little princess with a passion for pink and a penchant for Fabulous Induced Breakdowns. Now meet

CAMERON MATTHEWS, six-feet tall, blue-eyed and the most popular guy in school.

Together they're unfathomably gorgeous and like, totally beau. But under the glamorous surface of parties and spa-days is a wealth of comforting lies and convenient silences, bitching, break-ups and scandal. Let the games begin . . .

Popular by Gareth Russell was a very fun read. It was hilarious and exciting, which you could probably guess by the blurb, and it is such a girly-girl book, as you can totally tell by by the cover! It really was funny and full of typical high school socialites. It's like gossip girl and mean girls and ... you know, those girls!

The characters were funny and beautiful popular high school socialites. The life the characters live is an almost perfect one, although behind those parties and glamour were a pile of lies and scandals. This book is mostly based on high school life. They all have their own personalities and they are very (as you may have already known) rich, rich, rich. Made me envy them, but made me see how easily money can get into someone's head also.

I liked the plot and it showed high school life. It sounded like a typical high school I expect, too. Parties, secrets, break-ups. As it turns out, the life of the unmistakably gorgeous socialites aren't perfect at all. It's always good to appreciate the little things in life!

What I didn't really like was how some characters were without common sense sometimes. It happens in real life I know, but I felt like the book exaggerated and it became annoying. Maybe it's just the socialites in the characters that make them annoying, but I wish I liked them better.

I would recommend this book to readers who like the drama and flair of high school life and Gossip Girl. Popular is the perfect read for those of you wanting to read a very fun and glamorous book.

Three Stars.

* Thanks to Razorbill for my review copy!

Book Covers: The Last Echo (Kimberly Derting) & Bloodlines (Richelle Mead)

Two very exciting cover releases that I wish to share with you guys tonight. First up is the third book in one of my favourite series - The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting! I am absolutely in love with Violet and Jay and can hardly do more waiting for the third book!

Kimberly has hinted on her blog that the colour is significant - perhaps there will be an echo with the colour purple in the book? What do you think?

Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet’s talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers.

Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it’s Violet’s job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by “the girlfriend collector” she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new “relationship” and Violet may have caught his eye....

Now for another much-awaited cover...

Fans of Vampire Academy rejoice! The UK cover of the much awaited first book in this brand new trilogy by Richelle Mead has finally been unveiled! May I present to you the cover for BLOODLINES?

LOVE AND LOYALTY RUN DEEPER THAN BLOOD…

Sydney protects vampire secrets – and human lives. As an alchemist, she is part of a secret group who dabbles in magic and serves to bridge the world of humans and vampires.

But when Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, she fears she’s still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. What unfolds is far worse. Jill Dragomir—the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir—is in mortal danger, and goes into hiding. Now Sydney must act as Jill’s protector.

The last thing Sydney wants is to be accused of sympathising with vampires. And now she has to live with one . . .

Published by Razorbill 25th August 2011 - mark the date!

Book Review: The Eternal Ones (Kirsten Miller)

What if love refused to die?

Haven Moore can’t control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother’s house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.

In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves¸ before all is lost and the cycle begins again.

This book tested my patience in so many levels. I was constantly swinging between loving it and hating it, and it was not until the end that I realised it was all so very worth it. To say it's an engaging book is an understatement. The Eternal Ones will invoke readers to feel, think and try to guess all sorts of things.

Haven Moore is a protagonist I have not settled my mind about. She is like a swinging pendulum, constantly undecided and going back and forth about trusting, loving and believing. On the one hand, I think she is practical in keeping her walls up and not trusting Iain - the reincarnated Ethan - wholeheartedly until she finds the answers he cannot and will not give her. She is aware of her visions being only snippets and not the full picture of her past - and despite her yearning for him, she reserves her judgment on Iain until she finds those elusive answers. On the other hand, it seems rather stupid of her to trust fully someone else who she cannot recall at all nor is she related to, while not trusting Iain when she knows and feel their love and history. She wasn't a character easy to relate to, no. I could not imagine a toddler having visions from previous lives, let alone visions about a lover. Her reserved attitude and need for answers are believable, but her rationale and actions are sometimes questionable.

I was surprised to not have read much of Iain in this book. There is little characterisation on his part, and often times I found him overshadowed by the wonderful secondary characters - like Beau, Haven's best friend. I really would have liked to know more of Iain and to see more of Ethan in him too. He appears in crucial, defining moments but I felt the need for more romance. What Iain shared with Haven is brief but intense, and their connection well-played. The mystery and secrecy behind their relationship adds flavour to the romance, while the twists and turns that had me gaping is a good bonus.

The concept of reincarnation is fascinatiing to say the least, but The Eternal Ones takes that concept and wields it with mystery, romance and religion to become one bloody good book. I personally love how the characters connect with each other, and how they fit together in the greater scheme of things. It's worth noting that there are major religious undertones in this book. Haven springs from a small, close-knit and religious town in Tennesee and that, and her grandmother's religious fervor portrays a very realistic small town narrow-mindedness which I enjoyed reading. With the other half of the book being set in New York, the contrasts in the atmosphere and environment is well highlighted.

I had a small issue with the narrative. Don't get me wrong, the Eternal Ones is well-written, but I was not sure what the time frame was in the first few pages because the words used seem to indicate a usage in a different time. It took me some time to get used to it but when I did, it was a blessed relief. Although I thought the climax was not a climax at all, I can hardly complain - I really enjoyed this book. It ends in a way that is open and ready for the sequel.

Recommended!

Four stars.

* This book was received for review from UK Book Tours.

The Eternal Ones UK release promo

My internet has been patchy at best as of late, so this post should really have been posted earlier. Now my internet has been resurrected (Oh I do try to make up jokes and puns sometimes...), it's time for a little promo for the UK release of Kristen Miller's The Eternal Ones! I have yet to read this, but I am so very excited!

It was published by Razorbill on 19th August, but to those who have yet to read about it, here's the blurb, trailer and samplers for you. Enjoy!

The Eternal Ones (Kirsten Miller)


What if love refused to die?

Haven Moore can’t control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother’s house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.

In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves¸ before all is lost and the cycle begins again.






The Eternal Ones - Sampler #1

The Eternal Ones - Sampler #2

The Eternal Ones - Sampler #3

Thanks to Jenny @ Wondrous Reads for the all information! :)

Book Review: I am Number Four (Pittacus Lore)

In the beginning we were nine.

We left when we were very young, almost too young to remember. Almost. And now . . .

Three are gone.

We are here to keep our race alive, which was almost entirely obliterated. We're just trying to survive.

Six are left.

But we are hunted, and the hunters won't stop until they've killed us all.

They caught Number One in Malaysia.

Number Two in England.

And Number Three in Kenya.

I am Number Four.

I know that I am next.

I was right to be excited and downright giddy for I am Number Four because it totally rocks my sock. No wonder it's been optioned for film even before the book has been published. It's so brilliant it has got to be epic.

I was in awe with the concept of the Lorien Nine. Sent to hide on Earth after the destruction of their planet Lorien, they are hunted by the destroyer of Lorien, the Morgadorians. A Loric charm protects these nine so that they may only be killed in order. The first three are now dead, and Number Four - otherwise known as John Smith-, being the next target, hides in Paradise, Ohio with his guardian Henri. The danger that surrounds both John, Henri and their every move creates tension of the best kind. That lurking, dangerous feel of the unknown is well depicted by this book, and culminates in an action sequence so intense reading it drained me afterwards, as if I myself was part of it!

Though not a usual fan of sci-fi, I found it hard not to be amazed by the Loric way of life. Reading about it felt like a discovery of a rich culture I wanted to indulge in, and the Lorien Nine in particular had me reading in slack jawed fascination. Everything that binds them together and all that they share are completely mersmerising - their legacies, the loric charm, their fight for survival against the Mogadorians. It's fascinating, and it was so very difficult not to indulge in exploring more about Lorien and its people!

Our Hero, Number Four, is one swoon-worthy alien. His voice is authentic, characterised by the brief, punctuated sentences. His narrative intensifies the tension and works particularly well in the fast-paced action scenes. Despite his otherworldly roots, the book takes some time showing just how human John is. He is an alien with a heart, and one easy to adore. Like any typical fifteen year-old boy, he gets into fights, vies for female attention, and makes some genuine mistakes.

Despite his otherwordly roots however, John's battles are not only of extra-terrestial origins, but are also comprised of those which he has wielded for himself and for those whom he has grown to care. In particular, for his love interest Sarah and best friend Sam. The sense of brotherhood and friendship is also strong in I am Number Four - in John's closeness to Henri and his friendship with Sam's. Relationships are at the heart of this book and it was a delight to read bout Henri and John in particular. I adore and admire Henri as a character - his selflessness shines in this book and his affection for John unforgettable! Of course, I must also note the romance. Sarah and John share something innocent yet moving, one I'm sure readers will root for.

I am Number Four is one brilliant book. With an epic concept, a heart-stopping action sequence, a wonderful romance and an emotionally charged resolution, this sci-fi thriller is unmissable. It's gripping, it's exciting, it's bloody brilliant. Like I said, epic!

Five Stars.

Did you know? Pittacus Lore is actually James Frey. I am Number Four is currently being filmed for a movie release on February 2011 and it stars Alex Pettyfer (sigh!) as John Smith. Yes, I am one very happy gal :)

I am Number Four will be out in the UK on 26th August 2010. Visit the official website here to find out more.

* I received this book from Waterstones for review.

Book Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty (Jenny Han)

Some summers are just destined to be pretty

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer -- they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

I almost regret reading The Summer I Turned Pretty. I found it to be rather distasteful.

I should start with the few strengths of this book. Firstly, I thought it really captures the essence of summer. While reading I could almost feel the warmth of the summer breeze seeping through the pages of the book and the smell of the ocean in Belly's narration. It's also a wonderful book with regards to its portrayal of family life and friendships. The relationship between the Fishers and Belly's family is uplifting to read about. Their closeness is enviable, and although Belly is often bullied by the three older boys - Steven, Conrad and Jeremiah - it is obvious that they all love and care for her.

Realism is also strong factor in The Summer I Turned Pretty. It's not about a perfect summer, but is about its many imperfections and how one grows in facing it. Hence it's not a light-hearted book per se, it's also about the heavy problems that life throws at you, summer or not. Towards the end of the book, Belly begins to understand this and hence mature, and it becomes clear how the book chronicles different people's way of coping.

Unfortunately, developments appear to occur only towards the end. The first three-quarters of the book is a pain to read. Belly is the type of person that I don't mind meeting but I certainly would not want to hang out with. She's immature, whiny, possessive and self-centered. The narrative is told in her perspective and is a criss-cross of the present and the past. While the flashbacks serve to elaborate on present events, I found that Belly hardly matured. She is constantly obsessing about being a grown up (while not acting like it), and this becomes a constant drone that has irritated me. I also felt that a lot of her attention were drawn to inconsequential matters, which was a waste of time. I could not get the point up until three quarters of the book. Shame.

The secondary characters were not all bad, of course. I like Susannah and Jeremiah, whom I thought were perfectly drawn. However, I felt Conrad needed more development. Belly is always constantly mentioning changes in his attitude, but he's such a vague character I thought his reactions were anything but abnormal. Which is another reason why I never really connected with the book.

Finally, I had issues with Belly's relationship with her mother and Cam. Belly is borderline ignoring her mother - she loves Sussanah so much, but her affection for her mother is so limited it is almost inexistent. To make it worse, she hardly appreciates her mother's efforts - no thank yous or I'm sorrys - which annoyed me to no end. Meanwhile, Cam is just like a passing breeze that shows how Belly is completely insensitive, which is no excuse for anyone to be, summer fling or not. His presence is misleading because here I was thinking there were only two boys for Belly, when there was actually three. It's a little over my limit, especially if the aforementioned two are siblings.

I'm not a fan of this book, I'm afraid. Sorry.

Two stars.

Book Review: Sing Me To Sleep (Angela Morrison)

THE TRANSFORMATION

Beth has always been “The Beast”—that’s what everyone at school calls her because of her awkward height, facial scars, and thick glasses. Beth’s only friend is geeky, golden-haired Scott. That is, until she’s selected to be her choir’s soprano soloist, and receives the makeover that will change her life forever.

THE LOVE AFFAIR

When Beth’s choir travels to Switzerland, she meets Derek: pale, brooding, totally dreamy. Derek’s untethered passion—for music, and for Beth—leaves her breathless. Because in Derek’s eyes? She’s not The Beast, she’s The Beauty.

THE IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE

When Beth comes home, Scott, her best friend in the world, makes a confession that leaves her completely torn. Should she stand by sweet, steady Scott or follow the dangerous, intense new feelings she has for Derek?

THE HEARTBREAK

The closer Beth gets to Derek, the further away he seems. Then Beth discovers that Derek’s been hiding a dark secret from her …one that could shatter everything.

I'm still too distraught to even begin thinking of writing a review, but I will try. This review was written two days ago. I have recovered.

Sing Me to Sleep tortured me through and through. I have actually predicted the ending correctly, but it didn't lessen the impact one bit. I thought I was ready when I finally summoned enough courage to turn the pages and start reading, but I never really was. I don't think anything would have prepared me for it - except maybe tissues. Tissues would have been helpful. Lots and lots of tissues.

I have been told this novel is heartbreaking, but it's not. It's devastating. The elegant writing is executed with a natural grace that makes it so beautiful. All the emotions that it evokes are real and powerful; rarely does a book exhibit such power over my emotions. Sing Me to Sleep reminded me of the strength of words - just how much impact words can have - and the power of literature - exactly how deep a story can move.

Beth's insecurities begin the novel and is a constant factor in her growth. Her experiences are raw and passionate - hence her emotions, mistakes and reactions are equally passionate and the author translate these effectively through her lyrics and songs. She's a strong character; with every heartbreak thrown at her, Beth endures.

Her princes are two of the most self-sacrificing characters I've met in a long while. What Beth shares with Derek is a consuming romance that connects them both deeply. Though a late bloomer, I'm glad Beth found a pure, untainted love with Derek. However, I couldn't seem to disregard her best friend Scott. I was conflicted between these two. Derek shares a connection with Beth through music - something Scott will not understand. On the other hand, Scott is the one person who stood by her all those torturous years, the person who knew and accepted her inside out. It's an impossible choice, even for me as a reader. I'm pleased with how the author gave weight to the difficulty of Beth's choice.

I rooted for Scott from the beginning but couldn't help but warm to Derek - it's equally torturous to choose one over the other because someone is bound to get hurt, and the least Beth wants is to hurt any one of them. It's a rough emotional road to write but this book captures this perfectly. Her choice measures the power of love and friendship.

Morrison's portrayal of loss is almost brutal, but it's as real as you can get. Perhaps it appeals to me so strongly because I have felt that feeling before - that all-consuming grief that almost deprives you of your heart - and also because I am so familiar with the agony of Derek's 'secret'. But I also am familiar with setting someone free, with letting a loved one go - somehow it was easier with that knowledge, because it can be a relief.

I must admit I did not understand the way the book ended. Somehow it was abrupt, too short for my liking, but it did point out one thing: that love does hurt, but it can also heal. If I think about that, then I think that seals the book quite well.

I'm torn between tucking this book away so I don't have to relive the pain and re-reading it again and again relish the many loving, tender moments that makes this book so beautiful. I want to keep it to myself and share it with the world. Derek and Beth's story is unforgettable. I can never forget this one novel that shook me and touched me more than any other. I would always remember it, and would always cry when I do.

Five tear-filled stars.

P.S. Have you read the prologue yet? Warning, it has spoilers, so strictly for readers only. You can visit Angela's site HERE.

Book Review: Taken by Storm (Angela Morrison)

Leesie Hunt has many rules: No kissing. No sex. No dating outside the Mormon faith.

When Michael Walden--a deep-sea diver who lost his parents in a violent hurricane--arrives in town, Leesie sees someone who needs her. They fall for one another, even though his dreams are tied to the depths of the ocean and hers to salvation above.

Will their intense chemistry be too strong to resist?

Leesie and Michael must make the hardest choice of their lives: whether to follow their beliefs or their hearts.

Angela Morrison's debut novel is a stunning piece of work. Michael and Leesie's story is in itself, moving - but Angela delivers this through a superb writing that is both poetic and honest. It's hard to tear myself away from this book. It's so beautiful.

Taken by Storm will introduce into a romance that will take your breath away; heartbreakingly sad yet honest in every turn, Michael and Leesie's story will challenge, question and provoke readers. The author's impeccable writing style will touch your emotions and will make you ask for more, despite the ache it might bring. Angela perfects the pang of yearning, the heat of passion and the gut-wrenching feel of loss. In short, perfectly constructed phrases, her writing hits the target and stays there.

Michael and Leesie are equal in strength of character. Michael is broken, aching, mournful - his words are coated with grief and loss. His passion for diving, and later for Leesie, is described so accurately. Leesie's ability to heal Michael and guide his lost soul back to his body brings them together. I marvel at Michael's humanity in this novel - the author's ability to paint his emotions accurately does not smother his humanity, but reiterates it. His flaws - particularly his detachment and tunnel vision - made me dislike him at many points in the novel. Even Leesie's indecisiveness at times made me frown. However, their growth is also strongly noted in the novel. They undergo a transformation only they can bring to each other. Michael and Leesie introduce each other to a different outlook in life. 

With an ending that is devastating, moving, poignant and satisfying, Taken by Storm is a novel about loving, yearning, moving forward and remembering. It's about friendship, companionship, passion and love - ultimately, it's about Michael and Leesie. I will remember it as such.

Five Stars.

P.S. I just realised that the title is perfect.

P. P.S. The sequel, Unbroken Connection, will be released next month in E-book format (hoorah!) You can find out more and read the prologue on Angela's website HERE.