Book Review: Everneath (Brodi Ashton)

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she’s returned—to her old life, her family, her boyfriend—before she’s banished back to the underworld . . . this time forever. She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can’t find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these precious months forgetting the Everneath and trying to reconnect with her boyfriend, Jack, the person most devastated by her disappearance—and the one person she loves more than anything. But there’s just one problem: Cole, the smouldering immortal who enticed her to the Everneath in the first place, has followed Nikki home. Cole wants to take over the throne in the underworld and is convinced Nikki is the key to making it happen. And he’ll do whatever it takes to bring her back, this time as his queen.

As Nikki’s time on the Surface draws to a close and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she is forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole’s queen.

What can I say? The cover? Captivating. The blurb? Awesome. Everneath had me in the first few pages and I could never let go. It was that good. The plot was unique and exciting from the beginning so I found myself always wanting to know more even until the end and with Ashton bringing the story of Hades and Persephone together with Orpheus and Eurydice to produce Everneath, it just became too much for me to contain my excitement throughout the whole book.

Everneath follows the character Nikki in her hopes of finding redemption among her family and friends after being taken to the Feed to - of course - feed the everlivings. Unlike most YA books, Everneath not only explores the relationship between Jack and Nikki but with her best friend, brother and father as well, which is why I like it so much.

How Ashton sometimes inserted a memory from the past within a chapter made me realize how empty Nikki was when she left the Feed, that even some of her memories were lost so I always end up looking forward to the walk down memory lane, this brings more of the Jack and Nikki love story and we see glimpses of their past together. Not only that, 'Nik' or 'Beks' - as she is sometimes called- is able to taste the emotions of others and this emphasizes the emptiness within her. So Nikki became one of my favourite characters, not just because I felt sorry for all her troubles, but because of her selflessness and it's because of her selflessness that made such a strong character in the book.

With Cole's offer of ruling the Everneath or end up in the tunnels, I personally would rather feed of people's emotions than suffer in the tunnels as a battery. But as Nikki is the protagonist, she has to be selfless and her time during the Feed led her to believe that there is no hero for her. Which is where Jack - lovely lovely Jack- comes in. My super most favourite character on top of all. Why? Jack never gave up on her at all, ever. Jack was a super sweet character most will definitely fall in love with.Well, I did anyway. So I found it hard to believe that she felt that heroes did not exist and ended up shouting 'Jack's your hero, you fool!' most of the time.

The character I wasn't particularly fond of was Jules. For Nikki's best friend to lose hope in finding her and is then disappointed when she return because of her unrequited love for Jack is just... ugh. I liked her for trying to make things normal again when Nikki returned but at the beginning, Jules wasn't the best friend character I liked at all, but made it up towards the end. Jules' love for her best friend's boyfriend is just one I find too cliche.

I love the love triangle! Add this to the story's twist and you will find yourself wanting and craving more. Cole or Jack? Hmmmm I find it to decide, so we'll leave that to Nikki. While reading Everneath, I found my self captivated by its unique, fast-paced plot and twists with hints dropped from the very beginning. It's a must read and I cannot wait for the next book!

Four Stars!

Fury UK Blog Tour: An Extract from FURY!

Second day of the FURY Blog Tour here at Girls at Without a Bookshelf and your treat for today is an extract from FURY! Check it below -

Out of the snowy fog emerged one girl, then two more. Chase couldn’t help but let his jaw drop a bit; these chicks were amazing. The one in front, a redhead with fair skin, was smiling, while the other two—one blonde and a little curvy, the other petite with wavy, honey-colored hair and a paisley scarf around her neck—stood behind her with serious expressions on their gorgeous faces. All three of them seemed to be enveloped in some sort of white light; probably the moon, playing tricks with the snow.

Or maybe he was still drunker than he thought.

“Hey, sorry to startle you,” the redhead said, stepping toward him. “I’m Ty.  These are my cousins, Ally and Meg.

Chase stuttered, “Um, hi. Hey. I’m Chase.”

“Hi Chase,” all three girls said, practically in unison.

“Our car ran out of gas.” Ty motioned up the road a bit, where Chase thought he could just see the outline of a vehicle. “Any chance you could help us?” For a girl stranded in the middle of a snowstorm, she seemed fairly relaxed.

“Do you want me to, um, drive you to the gas station? Or something?”

“That would be great, thanks,” Ty said. “Why don’t I go with you, and Ally and Meg can wait in the car?”

Chase wasn’t one for new age crap—his mom had been to see a psychic a few times and always came back muttering voodoo bullshit, all about “affirmations” and chakra. Not to mention the fact that she’d gone to the psychic in the first place to try to communicate with Chase’s dead father, the deadbeat who’d leave them for week-long drinking binges and come back to eat their food while he “cleaned up.”

Nevertheless, for a split second, he felt like this was fate—like a sign from the universe.  Sure, the party might have been a bust—the Sasha news was pretty much the definition of a buzzkill, and he’d been in no shape to get numbers or hook up—but now he would get alone time with the hottest girl he had ever seen in his life. It was fate, clearly.

Everything was going to be okay.

“So, was there a party tonight?” Ty asked, once they were in the car. He could barely resist the urge to brush the snowflakes from her hair, to lean over and breathe in her musky, floral scent. He silently thanked the dudes at the local garage for letting him use their cleaning supplies for free in return for a couple hours on Saturday mornings. Without them, he couldn’t perform his bi-weekly car-cleansing ritual—the only thing that combated the stale smell of his mom’s Pall Malls.  As he put the car in drive, he felt like he was launching a spaceship into the night, into the snow. He and Ty would explore the dark, winding roads and stark, branch-lined fields between Minster’s street and the gas station.

“Yeah, a Christmas party type thing,” he said, mentally kicking himself for sounding so uncool. She was probably picturing people dancing around in elf costumes. He quickly added, “You know, just some high-school kids.” He was sure this girl must be in college.

“Sounds like fun. I love parties,” Ty said, smiling at him in the dark. “Don’t you wish we could go back to having parties like they did centuries ago? With dance cards and formal invitations and choreographed dances? Or masquerade balls? I’d love to go to a masked party. Wouldn’t you?”

“Totally,” he said, thankful she hadn’t been there to see him try to set up the beer pong game. “You, um, study history or something?”

“Or something,” Ty said, laughing. Her laugh was like the sound of clinking coins. Chase couldn’t think of anything else to say. He fumbled with the radio dial, trying to tune in to something sophisticated and moody.

“God, the snow is amazing,” Ty said, looking out the window. “It reminds me of that old poem—you know. Something about the snow in the air, something something, the secret of despair.”

Chase was so entranced that he could barely focus on anything outside the car; the trees blended together outside his window like a movie in fast-forward. This girl was driving him crazy. It was like she was wearing one of those pheromone perfumes.

Then she turned to him, her eyes piercing. “Did you hear all those sirens before? Any idea what that was about?”

His mouth went dry. The sirens were the last thing he wanted to talk about. “Nope. Maybe some kind of accident…Lots of people just don’t know how to drive in this weather.”

“Nothing’s ever really an accident,” Ty said, once again smiling at him. Her eyes glittered, cat-like. “Don’t you think?”

Chase didn’t really know what she meant, but he nodded anyway. One thing he was sure of: meeting Ty was no accident.

If that's not enough to entice you, I don't know what will! :) Check out the banner above for the rest of the stops for the FURY UK Blog Tour - and don't forget to visit The Crooked Shelf for tomorrow's feature post!

Immortal War Blog Tour: Playlists & The Music of Vampirates!

Hello Vampirates fans! Welcome to the sixth stop at Justin Somper's Vampirates: Immortal War blog tour. I'm sure a lot of you have been enjoying the treats from this exciting blog tour so far and there's more fun to come! Today we get a glimpse at Justin's tastes in music as he reveals the music behind Vampirates!

Check it out below!

VAMPIRATES: PLAYLIST

Warning: this is a decidedly eclectic mix!

1. MC Sultan - Der Bauch (Arabesque) – I don’t usually listen to music when I’m actually writing or about to write but this track was my inspiration for the mesmeric music used to annouce Feast Night.

2. Camille O’Sullivan - Whatever Lola Wants (A Little Yearning) – “Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets. And, little man, little Lola wants you!” Originally she was going to be called Lady Angelika Lockwood but I though the alliteration of Lady Lola Lockwood sounded better and then the lyrics to this song removed any further uncertainty.

3. Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West - Run This Town – This was chosen by the Nocturnal who won a competition on vampirates.co.uk to select Sidorio’s theme song. Actually, it also connects with my characterisation of the pirates. Warning: some versions of this have explicit lyrics!

4. The Eagles – Desperado (Very Best of) – “Desperado, why don’t you come to your senses?... These things that are pleasing you can hurt you somehow.” Every cowboy Vampirate needs a theme tune and this is Johnny’s.

5. Carter Burwell – End Titles (Theme from Miller’s Crossing) – If Lorcan had a theme, it might just be this. It would take him right back to his Celtic routes.

6. The Wannadies – You and Me – This song makes me think of Connor and Grace. As much as circumstances tear them apart, they will always be united.

7. Jack Johnson – A Pirate Looks at Forty – I just really like this song. “Mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call. I’ve wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall… you’ve seen it all.” I’d say it was a good anthem for Cheng Li if it wasn’t so mellow! Maybe for Bo Yin then.

8. Norah Jones – Chasing Pirates (The Fall) – Both this song and its accompanying video me think of Jasmine and her often challenging relationships with Jacoby and Connor.

9. Carla Bruni – You Belong to Me (Comme si de rien n’etait) – Bruni’s fragile voice and the romantic lyrics makes me think this is the kind of song Darcy might have sung aboard the Titania before its fateful crash. With its theme of exploring the world, this might also be a fitting song for Grace and Lorcan too.

10. Coldplay – Viva la Vida – This song has a strong sense of power lost and power won. It was one of those rare pieces of music that I did listen to to get me in the mood for writing. It made me think of both Sidiorio and Stukeley.

11. Sam Sparro – Black & Gold – Lots of oceanic and nocturnal lyrics here and I reckon this could be a great summary of Sid’s feelings for Lola. “If you’re not really here, then I don’t want to be either.”

12. 6 Day Riot – Reinkarnation of Take the time (The Folie a Deux LP) – I love this band and their distinctive sound. I met them at a radio show and have seen them live. This song is nostalgic yet timeless and suffused with yearning. It’s the kind of mood I’ve often tried to capture in the books. Incidentally, I wrote the group into EMPIRE OF NIGHT (they’re the ones massacred by Sid and Lola on their honeymoon!). It was my idea of a tribute!

13. Marianne Faithful - Pirate Jenny (20th Century Blues) – The Nina Simone version is on the Dirty Dolphin jukebox at Vampirates fansite www.tempesttwins.co.uk, which reminded me that this song was a definite inspiration for the books and, in particular, for Ma Kettle – the character and the tavern. Though it’s more likely it would be Sugar Pie who would sing this song than Ma! Warning: explicit lyrics in Marianne’s version!

14. Neil Diamond – Captain of a Shipwreck – A gem of a song (no pun intended!) from Neil Diamond. His voice as well as the lyrics make me think of Molucco’s awkward relationship with Connor.

15. Nina Simone – Here Comes the Sun (Soho Hotel) – a beautiful song with rather sinister implications for a number of my characters, especially in IMMORTAL WAR. If VAMPS ever does become a movie, this song might be a cool choice for the closing credits.

BONUS TRACKS

16. Jeff Buckley – Grace (Mojo Pin). A small but nonetheless heartfelt tribute to my infinitely accomplished heroine.

17. Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra – Snakecharmer (The Hours Between Night and Day) – for Scrimshaw. Picture the scene…. Molucco’s cabin. Two old comrades. A plate of honeyed dates. Sheer bliss!

18. Angus & Julia Stone – I’m Not Yours (Down the Way) – a haunting song that makes me think of the complicated relationship between Darcy and Stukeley and in particular their return encounter in IMMORTAL WAR.


You can also check out some of the songs in the playlist below, or click HERE to listen on Spotify!

Special thanks to Justin for sharing with us his very eclectic taste in music indeed! Don't forget to head off to Wondrous Reads tomorrow for the next stop in the Immortal War Blog Tour!

Book Review: Crescendo (Becca Fitzpatrick)

Nora should have known her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described as anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away, and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

The farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch, or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

Sequel to Hush Hush, Crescendo is undeniably my most awaited book of the year. I'm pleased to say it is indeed worth the wait. Missing Patch was dreadful, so reading Crescendo felt like an indulgence - needless to say, I treasure this book!

Crescendo is a build up of everything in Hush Hush, only a whole lot more complicated. The complexity in Crescendo, including the surprising and sometimes jaw-dropping twists had me flipping the pages back and forth to re-read key parts of the plot. Compared to its predecessor, Crescendo has a lot more of these surprises, a fuller background story and a stronger mythology. I was thrown off balance by some turns I had not expected, but it is all amazingly well handled. I'm certain Tempest will answer some of these questions, just as Crescendo answered those from Hush Hush.

There are more fantastic characters in Crescendo too, and I'd highlight two I have had fun reading. Scott Parnell and Marcie Millar. Oh, I hate Marcie Millar alright - there's no use denying that. Her character develops more in Crescendo, and we understand a lot more as to how she came to be Nora's archenemy. At points I thought she was going to redeem herself, but she never does, and worse still, taunting Nora seems to be her regular past time. She is evil. I felt Nora's emotions about Marcie and Patch strongly, and I stubbornly refuse to like Marcie!

Now - Scott is a different case. Scotty the potty, how cute is that? He is an absolute delight of a character and I'm glad he's a strong presence in the book.No one can ever be better than Patch, but Scott does terribly well :)  He's arrogant, but he seems quite unsure of himself, in a very very cute way - which makes him such a darling. Next to Patch, I am most looking forward to him in Tempest.

Speaking of the angel, Patch does a lot of disappearing in Crescendo. I was not happy about it, but it was necessary as Nora grows and develops a lot on her own. I also seriously miss Patch's bad boy image in Crescendo. I wanted more of his might-as-well-drive-me-insane lines and his general hotness. Then again he is a guardian now, right? He gets to behave :)

Crescendo is essentially Nora's story - it's about her journey to discovering herself and finding her place in the world. She makes mistakes, yes, but she grows more confident, more outgoing and infinitely matures more.

I believe no review is quite complete without talking about the ending. Crescendo ends explosively, and leaves a lot of questions unanswered, both implicitly and explicitly. This book gnaws at you. I kept turning the page in the vain hope that it will somehow procure the continuation I was so direly looking for, but that will have to wait until Tempest. Here's an interesting bit: just before the explosive ending, readers get a very brief sense of satisfaction which I'm sure everyone is yearning for since the first chapter. It's a second away from the chaos that is the cliffhanger, but caution: you might be tearing your hair out with it.

I loved Crescendo, though I am not as crazy for it as I was with Hush, hush. But then again, I was ridiculously insane with the first book in the series. I waited eight months for this book, but waiting a year for Tempest? UNBELIEVABLE.

PS. You'll find out Patch's real name in Crescendo! I found myself being ridiculously crazy about that name afterwards, so girls, your hearts beware!


Four Stars.

Book Review: The 13 Treasures (Michelle Harrison)

While visiting her grandmother's house, an old photograph leads Tanya to an unsolved mystery. Fifty years ago a girl vanished in the woods nearby - a girl Tanya's grandmother will not speak of. Fabian, the caretaker's son, is tormented by the girl's disappearance. His grandfather was the last person to see her alive, and has lived under suspicion ever since. Together, Tanya and Fabian decide to find the truth. But Tanya has her own secret: the ability to see fairies. Can it help them to unravel the mystery? Soon they are facing terrible danger. Could the manor's sinister history be about to repeat itself?

This. Book. Is. Sooo. Amazing! This is all I can say. I love this book, It's just thrilling and exciting, this book is definitely going on my top ten list. The cover is perfect to represent the thirteen treasures and the plot was promising. My sister showed my this awesome book and told me how everyone was just going crazy about it. I have to agree to all those who love love love this book. It's a fantastic novel with a mixture of cool characters.

The characters are very nice. The ability to see fairies is a lovely idea...... I just wish I could also see them. Anyways, Tanya, in terms of characterisation was mostly the focus of the novel. Fabian, the science geek, is one of the funny characters and is always on to science. Florence is the grandmother of Tanya and lives in an enormous manor. Why won't she speak of the girls disappearance as is said on the blurb? It's just tempting to find the answers, aren't they? In my opinion, these three chracters are the main ones in the story.

Somehow, this book scared me, I didn't want to be left alone, I even jumped nearly out of my skin when my sister made a sudden noise. Even if this book is full of thrill, mystery and fantasy, it's still a very worthy book to read and just one of the best books I have ever read. I was entirely fascinated by this book.

I would really really really recommend it to everyone and I would rate it FIVE STARS!

CRESCENDO: Prologue and Chapter One preview!

I was in the middle of a revision break earlier when I popped in at Fallen Archangel and almost died hyperventilating when I read that they are exclusively posting the prologue and the first chapter of Crescendo!

(Even better than the Crescendo prologue which is the bonus material included in the Hush Hush paperback release d in the UK on 27th May!)

If that isn't enough to excite you lot, there is more fabulous news! Whilst the Brits have always been proud to have an earlier release date for Crescendo (14th Octover as opposed to 16th November in the US), our lead has dramatically been lessened as Simon and Schuster have moved-up the US release date of the Hush Hush sequel to October 19th!

Now, I know you're excited, so why don't you head over to www.fallenarchangel.com for your Crescendo preview? Don't forget to head over to the Ezine Newsblog to comment your reactions! :D

(Now back to revising maths...)

UK ARC TOUR: Forget You (Jennifer Echols)

After pining for it and visting Jennifer's website twice a day every day to check on updates, I finally had the chance to read Forget You today.

It's bloody awesome.

Now,my review here will tell you how much I loved it, but to keep it short, I loved every single bit of it. Fraught with sexual chemistry and emotionally-charged, it's unmissable. Which is why, I reckon you all should read it early too :) It will be out 20th July, but you wanna read it now, right? :D

Jennifer has very kindly provided me with an advance copy which I will be circulating to UK bloggers for review. It's not as pretty as the real book - which you should also pre-order, by the way, because the cover is beautiful - but it's the inside that counts! :D

I know I have several bloggers interested in the tour from twitter, but I will arrange the order as I get comments for sign-ups. The details of the tour will be as follows:

* Open to all UK bloggers (Are there any EU bloggers interested?)

* The book should be sent out a week after you have received it.

*The review should be posted on your blog within a week of sending out the book.

* No tacking information needed, but could you please get certificate of posting (you can get this for free)?

*E-mail me at dwaynehalim@hotmail.co.uk if you have received the book and I will reply with the next recepient's address. Can you also e-mail me if you have sent it, please?

* Comment with your blog and e-mail address.

That's it! I hope UK bloggers sign up. Forget You really is a beautiful book.

PS. As it is my signed personal copy, please do take good care of it!

Book Review: Forget You (Jennifer Echols)

There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four-year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. With her life about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon.

But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people—suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug.

I have pined for this book since I first read the blurb. I wanted it so much I visited Jennifer's website for teasers and/or extracts twice a day, every day. So you can only imagine the excitement and the height of expectations I hold for Forget You!

My judgment in five words: Jennifer has done it again!

Forget You is a delicious and a bewitching romance, with a bucketful of sexual chemistry between an endearing heroine searching for answers and a seductively sexy hero who holds the key to it all.  Complex, hugely addictive and ultimately mersmerising, Forget You is an unmissable treat! I found Forget you to be more emotionally-charged, whereas Going Too Far is more psychologically defined. I love love love them both!

Zoey and Doug are both charming characters, brought to life with their respective fears and insecurities. The complexity of their personalities and the demons that shape them - Zoey's family problems and Doug's past - opens the ground for a richly developed set of protagonists. Between Zoey's problems and partial amnesia - forgetting such a consequential night - and Doug's own concerns, they evoke sympathy from readers without forgoing their relatability. I love how Doug is immediately introduced and is prominent in the narrative - I'd like to think that as Zoey's subconscious being extremely aware of him. Around them, secondary characters are equally loveable, with flaws that reflect the imperfections of humanity. Between them, a disarming connection with each other that shatters their defenses.

And I have to add that Doug is unbearably sexy. And sweet. And cute. With or without crutches. Oh heck.

Undeniably, Zoey and Doug are sultry in their own right and are scalding together - the sexual tension between them have reverberated throughout my entire reading experience! Their romance I found was built on an attraction that has long been denied; each attempt at turning away from each other only leads to taking a step towards each other. The contrast between their relationship and Zoey and Brandon's are glaringly obvious, but with a different feel.

Sexy and full of surprises, Zoey and Doug's relationship takes root from a shared past and blossoms to an enchanting tale of of searching and finding. Each of their shared moments are addictive and special, and oh-my-God, so searingly sexy, unmasking qualities of they would not have otherwise discovered in each other. Emphasis here on searingly sexy.

The also setting is adds to the dreamy pair - the lull of the sultry beach in inescapable and welcoming. The unravelling of the twists in the plot is heart-stopping and delivered in short, surprising bursts of revelations. Not to mention that structure of the narrative mirrors accurately Zoey's thoughts and the extent of the the effect her partial amnesia has on her life, especially on her relationship with Brandon and with Doug. And the ending - I wish it was longer! I know I might sound terribly selfish - because even though Forget You is not yet released, I am ready for a sequel!

Five stars, of course!

Forget You will be out 20th July. Don't you forget! :)

*Thank you to Jennifer for my copy. I totally heart you!

Book Review: The Hollow (Jessica Verday)

When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead?and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her best friend, but privately, she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special.

Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her—one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.

I have never quite read a book that drove me to tears and chilled me to the bones from beginning to end. The Hollow is one such book, and it is definitely my type of read. Jessica Verday effortlessly combines the mind-numbing emotions of mourning the loss of a loved one with a spine-tingling mystery that once unveiled, would sure be a shocker that I could not help but be entirely fascinated by this book.

What I found most remarkable about The Hollow is how the narration perfectly captures the numbness of grief. Abbey's mourning of Kristen's sudden disappearance seems so real; her longing is palpable and tangible in her voice. I felt that the book, the beginning especially, reflects just how blank and how numb one bereaved can be. While reading I was transported into seeing everything in Abbey's perspective, including the dragging of days, each pitiful stare, and that gut-wrenching pain of emptiness inside...it was enough to make anyone cry. Wonderfully captured - I can only praise the author for this.

I believe the pace of this novel may appear slow and tedious to some. Personally however, I thought it exhibits the author's sensitivity to small details that would or might be later relevant, as well as her careful  setting of the romance. With such intense emotions involved the slow pace helped in allowing the reader to reflect, and ultimately makes the reading experience much more engaging.

The intensity of the emotions in The Hollow is but one part of the novel; the other, the one that scared me half to death rests well with its backdrop of the town of Sleepy Hollow, the notorious setting for Washington Irving's 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'. Having said that, the novel contains and revolves much on this - I have not read it but found no difficulty following the plot. From both this elements spring an unlikely romance between Abbey and Caspian - a romance with such an unlikely twist I was floored. The addictive romance - and the possibility of another with a secondary character - creates such a wonderful blend.

In terms of characterisation, Abbey was mostly the sole focus of the novel. Again, it is the writing that reflects the characters; Caspian is charactertised by his mysteriousness and distanced approach while Abbey is drawn by her grief and penchant for making perfumes. The secondary characters I felt were not properly developed. However, I did not mind this at all considering the complexity of the twists and turns in the plot. I believe that with simple characterisation, Jessica has given the twist more focus and attention - hence the overall result is not crowded and suffocating.

The resolution sealed the deal for me. The mystery took me completely off-guard, and although I have thought about it as a possible twist, I was still in disbelief by the end of the book. The resolution was duely believable, leaving just enough unanswered questions so as to make me want to read the sequel without making it appear like a cliffhanger.

There are questions, I believe, that will arise at the resolution. However, I felt that The Hollow comes close to a tale that will last long - it is open-ended, with just the right amount of mystery and emotions - not to mention symbolisms and literary devices - to remind me of a classic.

I believe I did not give this book justice with this review. It's a haunting tale with ripe, intense emotions to lift it to a pedestal. A must-read.

Five stars.

Book Review: Hex Hall (Rachel Hawkins)

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect...

This debut novel from Rachel Hawkins is hilarious! The character Sophie is funny and invigorating, with a wit and personality that attracts rather than repels. Her humour is especially amusing, and her fresh, vibrant voice captured me from the very first page. Sophie was such a loveable, enjoyable character at times I wanted to yank her out of the pages and transform her into someone I could physically interact with! Which says a lot since Sophie isn't even my favourite character - Jenna the vampire is. Unique, extremely loveable and very pink - although she is anything but a barbie girl. 

Sophie and Jenna aside, I felt that the novel was a gentle read. The plot was not as complex as other fantasy novels and the creepy factor was either eliminated or toned down. Its occasional distinctions from conventions were, I felt, slightly on the safe side and were crafted to be easily understandable for younger readers. I should say Hex Hall definitely seemed to be aimed for slightly younger teens - though I must also add that I enjoyed it no less.

The book also features mystery and a dash of romance. I like how the plot reflects a weave of all these themes together; not one is dominated by the other. I was not suffocated by the mystery surrounding Hex Hall but only intrigued. The addition of romance in times where the tension settled was a well welcomed distraction. Sophie's wit and hilarious sarcasm thrown to the unavailable campus crush, Archer Cross, creates a wonderful blend of romance.

Although I was very much interested in the mythology Hawkins drew, I was not entirely fascinated by it. I did not 'ooh' or 'aah' at any particular points in terms of the descriptions and I wanted more details at most parts of the novels. I do take this is the first in the series so maybe the succeeding books should compensate for this.

The ending, or lack thereof, took me off-guard - I was really pleased with the twists in the plot. It made the mystery and romance all the better and answered most of my hanging questions. My only complaint was that I felt it ended with a cliffhanger - I wanted more! I kept turning the page to see if maybe I just missed an extra page, but it really does end where it did. It definitely had me wanting the sequel for a resolution.

Hex Hall is a fairly enjoyable read which should suit younger teens and avid fantasy fans.

Three stars.

CRESCENDO: The Cover Revealed!

Alright!

So I spent most of my day with the rest of the Hush, Hush fandom waiting for and watching artist Laurie Maves draw it for us in chalk. We also had the chance to speak and greet Becca, who was as excited as everyone in Crescendo's cover reveal!

It was a very fun day tweeting and guessing what the cover might hold. Some of the (hilarious) guesses were as follows:

1. Nora and Patch making out.
2. Patch's hotness wings surrounding Nora.
3. More Nora-Patch making out photos.
4. Patch's sexy back with wings.
5. Nora in a bikini. ( I cannot believe this!)

We were all super excited when half-way through, Becca and Laurie sent the admin @ Fallen Archangel pictures of the cover half-done, which they immediately shared with us (thank you guys!). But we were a lot more excited when we saw the finished cover! Without further ado, here it is!

How awesome is that? Laurie, you're amazing! And of course, here is the real cover for CRESCENDO!

Doesn't it just make you beg for a copy? :D

We don't have Patch's sexiness but hey, Nora (it is Nora, isn't it?) is most welcome! So we have two matching covers, one of Patch and the other of Nora - and we're hoping there's more! I am intrigued however, as to the symbols. What might the lightning mean? And the lone feather? Could it probably mean Patch's absence, as taken from the blurb?

Damn, the excitement is killing me. I just have to have this book!

Thoughts?

Book Review: Perfect Chemistry (Simone Elkeles)

A modern tale of star-crossed lovers with a fresh urban twist. 

At Fairfield High School, on the outskirts of Chicago , everyone knows that south-siders mixing with north-siders can be explosive. So when Brittany Ellis and Alejandro “Alex” Fuentes are forced to be lab partners in chemistry class, this human experiment leads to unexpected revelations – that Brittany ’s flawless reputation is a cover for her troubled home life, that Alex’s bad-boy persona hides his desire to break free from gang ties, and that when they’re together, life somehow makes more sense. Breaking through the stereotypes and expectations that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart, Perfect Chemistry takes readers to both sides of the tracks in a passionate love story about looking beneath the surface.

I have read so many rave reviews about Perfect Chemistry. I'm just about to add another, so brace yourself!

I was terribly excited for this book, taking into account it has been released in the US a full two years prior to its release here in the UK, which was only yesterday. To be honest I was worried that my expectations would ruin the book for me. I knew it was going to be a good read, only I was not certain it was ever going to meet my expectations - after reading I decided it was a ridiculous thought after all; it actually surpassed my expectations.

What makes Perfect Chemistry a book in its own league is not the fact that everyone is in love with the tale of star crossed lovers, but because Simone has crafted and perfected such endearing characters in both Alex and Brittany. Their voices were strong, were personalised realistically and were very relatable to any reader. I found that Simone has synchronised each of her character's thoughts, words and feelings into the narration. Of course, the sassy, witty, and sometimes deliriously sexy dialogue is incorporated well.

And although the romance is of course a main theme in the novel, for me it is this depth given to her characters that makes the romance special. I found that it is the coming together of such beautiful characters in midst of the social tension and skepticism that swirls around them which makes Perfect Chemistry such a loveable novel.

Although I struggled with the Spanish phrases (needing to consult an online translator to aid my basic, patchy Spanish), its use was very effective and adds flavour to the characters and to the overall plot. I found that and the touch of Mexican culture unique and very enlightening. Not to mention the sense of brotherhood, loyalty, danger, and most of all the sense of self present in Perfect Chemistry very gripping.

I hugely enjoyed the divided neighbourhood that dominates the setting. It creates ample tension and provides a background which reflects the characters. I loved the feeling of tension that lurks whenever the narration is taken over by Alex as equally as I enjoyed the feeling of rich-but-empty lifestyle that Brittany's voice offers. Together, they weave perfectly, further highlighting such a beautiful romance.

The plot was given time to develop - never did I feel rushed - which results to a well-founded, well-narrated and very solid love story I could only love. The uncertainty and the many twists and turns of this novel was engrossing - much so that I was hooked from beginning to end.

Perfect Chemistry is definitely more than just a romance novel. It focuses on not only the coming together of a bad boy Romeo and a princessy Juliet, but also of choices, and carving one's path and of change.

I'm desperate for 27th April - the date the sequel, Rules of Attraction will be out! :)

Five stars!

Book Review: Hush, hush (Becca Fitzpatrick)

Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those who have fallen -- and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.

Oh Patch!

Yeah, that pretty much sums up what I sighed after I read the book. And probably what I was sighing throughout my entire read. Really, Patch is the character. The one. My literary boyfriend.

So now it's obvious I'm hooked to this book, I'll try to write a not-so-bias review.

The concept of fallen angels is currently the new trend in YA fiction. I love how Hush, hush rides the wave and tweaks it to really get into the badass nature of fallen angels. Afterall, they have fallen for a reason - this book does not make you forget that. Becca Fitzpatrick manages to convey the alienation of these fallen angels while effectively giving them their humanity. By doing so, she has highlighted their weakness and the distance that makes Nora and Patch's love story very difficult, at the same time very enticing. Now, who doesn't love forbidden love?]

And I luuuurve the sexy interactions between Nora and Patch and the whole concept of fallen angels Becca created. Gripping, thrilling, and tucks you in the story as if you're part of it.

I won't gush over the super sexy, amazingly laid out, drool-worthy falling Drew Doyon Patch Cipriano cover. Instead I'd rather cut this review short before I ended up spoiling the plot to those who haven't read it yet (like my sister *evil laugh*).

So, if, like me, you're into YA fiction with a sexy, dangerous romance, complete with the seductive-perfect-bad-boy love/lust interest and a fast-paced, plot that will have you turning the pages until you're breathless and exhilirated and screaming for more, get Hush, hush!

Crescendo (which by the way will reveal Patch's real name) tops my can't-wait-to-read books of 2010, and I think I might actually beg Becca Fitzpatrick for an ARC soon.

Definitely five stars!