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We're Dwayne and Hanna,
compulsive readers whose
growing book collection sadly
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We're 23 and 15, and we live in London.

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Showing posts with label 2011 Debut Author Challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2011 Debut Author Challenge. Show all posts

28 January 2011

Book Review: My Soul to Take (Rachel Vincent)



She doesn't see dead people, but…
She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next…

Rachel Vincent should be a name readers should always, always categorise under 'bloody amazing'. Her shifters series is noteworthy in the Urban fantasy genre and her newly published (in the UK, at least) Soul Screamers series is just as fantastic! I love it! It has in its pages the exact reasons why I love YA - and why it is bound to be one of my favourite series!

My Soul to Take hooked me from the very beginning. Despite paranormal YA being very popular in the market today, I am drawn to the book even before it began introducing its paranormal element. Rachel's writing is magnetic - her no nonsense prose is witty, direct and thoroughly enigmatic. The way it delivers exactly what is just right - without taking the wit off the narrative voice - is truly captivating. It is a very comfortable read, smooth in both its prose and pace. Before I knew it, I was half-way thru it!

I don't think I've ever read a book about bean sidhes before. I have come across the notion of course, particularly in highland romances, but I have yet to read one which focuses entirely on it. The Soul Screamers series fits the bill entirely, and I have been completely enthralled by its mythology.  It is incredibly well-imagined, and so easy to drown in! It is not only rich and particularly exciting, it is also a joy to gather and discover more of it with Kaylee as I read along.

Kaylee Cavanaugh is one funny, sassy and witty heroine. At times even confused, as well as horrified by her abilities. She is the perfect complement to Nash's laidback, protective personality. While she is a risk-taker unaware of the consequences, Nash is a guarded and a careful assessor. This pair is - there is no other word for it - sexy. Yes, My Soul to Take is definitely more seductive than many YA books I've read - and I am not complaining!

Apart from the obvious pair, there are also a number of secondary characters that not only surprises you, but ones you know will play an increasingly important role in the succeeding books. One of those is Tod, who has a hugely surprising relationship to one of the characters - I will not ruin the surprise for you, but it has a completely huge twist I never would have guessed! The book has a whole lot of it on hand for the readers - brace yourselves! You're in for a definite treat! The fact that everything is well balanced with some very nerve wracking instances just adds to the general marvelousness of this series.

Fast-paced, engaging, enthralling, magnetic, seductive - My Soul to Take definitely has the best of YA!

Five Stars!


* Review copy courtesy of Mira Ink. Thank you!

27 January 2011

Book Review: The Iron Witch (Karen Mahoney) + Giveaway!


Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma.

When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend—even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect.

I rarely pick up to read fey novels, but for once I am glad I started The Iron Witch - it turned out to be so bloody good it was impossible not to love it. As it turns out, this is the only book that has a fey element that worked for me. Surprisingly, it doesn't even revolve much around it; I was surprised and intrigued to find dark elves instead! What a phenomenal debut this book is - truly a pleasure to read.

Donna Underwood is a reserved sort of character. Inherently isolated from the rest of her contemporaries, it is easy to see that her character is born out of her experiences and difference from the norm. She is very observant and is weary of many things; at times even paranoid of what might crawl out of the darkness. Her longing for the parents she has lost and the happiness she had to give up is so palpable in her words it is easy to sympathise with Donna. It is also apparent that she holds many secrets and is yet to discover more, so readers are drawn to her very nature.

There are not many secondary characters in The Iron Witch but Navin and Xan are both (HOT - I mean...) noteworthy and will clearly play bigger roles in the succeeding books. Nav is Donna's best and only friend, and between them is a friendship that is tiptoeing on something more. Although we do not actually see literal proof of this, Donna and Navin share such a comfortable, secure relationship with each other, that is quite difficult not to draw any conclusions. Donna is very expressive of how important Nav is to her - which is why when gorgeous half-fey Xan enters the picture, the tension becomes immediately clear. How to balance two gorgeous boys? Xan is both strong and yet vulnerable. Head strong and willing to take chances, I feel that Xan is a worthy choice for Donna, although we can never truly rule out Nav. It would be interesting to see how the romance sparks further in the series, and for the record I am unequivocally team Xan!

The Iron Witch is written very eloquently and never beats around the bush. It is very good in setting up the mystery early on in the book and is equally good in parting with the answers in a controlled way - much like enticing readers with deliberate gaps in the plot and then filling them out afterwards. It has a clever way of ensnaring its readers into the dark and twisted plot. It is also a book with a touch of magic, alchemy and steps into the realm of supernatural. The Iron Witch felt like an adventure book, an action book, a magical fairy tale and a romance book all rolled together as one.

Like I said - a phenomenal debut from Karen Mahoney!

Five Stars!


Giveaway!
Wanna to win a signed copy of The Iron Witch?

Basic Rules.
  • Open to everyone, everywhere.
  • Non-followers are welcome. But you do have to spread the word anywhere in cyberspace to enter.
  • Ends 5th February 2011 12MN GMT
  • E-mail will not be passed on to any third party.
  • The winner will be chosen by random.org
  • The winner will be e-mailed shortly after and will have 48 hours to reply. Otherwise a new winner will be chosen.



* Thanks to RHCB for both review copy and giveaway book and to the lovely Kaz for signing it :)

20 December 2010

2011 Debut Author Challenge


2011 Debut Author Challenge
Hosted by Kristy @ The Story Siren

It's my first time to join the Debut Author Challenge (DAC) and I am hugely looking forward to it this coming year! Last year's debut novels were superb, so there should be equally brilliant books in store for everyone this year.

As I am a UK book blogger, I am limiting my list to the UK debut titles I am most excited about, but to be honest I know I'll be reading far more US debuts. I cannot resist!

Titles for 2011 Debut Author Challenge
  1. Alexandra Adornetto - Halo
  2. Andrea Cremer - Nightshade
  3. Curtis Jobling - Wereworld: Rise of the Wolf
  4. Julie Kagawa - The Iron King
  5. Rachel Vincent - My Soul to Take
  6. Kiersten White - Paranormalcy
  7. Brenna Yovanoff - The Replacement
  8. Karen Mahoney - The Iron Witch
  9. Ivy Devlin - Low Red Moon
  10. Will Hill - Department 19
  11. Sophie Jordan - Firelight
  12. Yvonne Woon - Dead Beautiful
  13. Beth Revis - Across the Universe
  14. Veronica Roth - Divergent
  15. Caragh O'Brien -  Birthmarked
  16. Morgan Matson - Amy -  Roger's Epic Detour
Progress will be noted in the challenges page - I'm hoping I can read all of these titles as planned!

To find out more about the 2011 DAC, check out the links below:

What is DAC?
FAQs Section
Sign Up!
Grab a Button

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Since 06 September 2010