Holding Every Breath

Every Breath (Every #1) by Ellie Marney

Rating: 5 out of 5 hearts
335 pages
Released: September 2013
Buy it @ Angus & Robertson

Rachel Watts is an unwilling new arrival to Melbourne from the country. James Mycroft is her neighbour, an intriguingly troubled seventeen-year-old genius with a passion for forensics. Despite her misgivings, Rachel finds herself unable to resist Mycroft when he wants her help investigating a murder. And when Watts and Mycroft follow a trail to the cold-blooded killer, they find themselves in the lion's den - literally.

A night at the zoo will never have quite the same meaning again...

Review

Such a captivating story with a modern twist to that detective everyone loves so much. I was sucked in from the first few pages. Ellie Marney has a fantastic way of capturing Melbourne so that I could picture every detail in my mind so clearly. 

Rachel Watts is a fresh, new type of character who I liked straight away! A country girl trying to fit in while in the big city. The romance between Mycroft and Watts was something, after hearing reviews, that I was looking forward to and boy was I happy with what I got. It slowly crept up on me, it happened so quickly and all of a sudden I was left feeling all warm and gooey inside. 

There was also a lot of depth to both Mycroft and Watts. Their friendship is something I savoured and enjoyed. I was learning things about them that they were finding out for themselves and because of this I could really connect with them. 

The grisly murder that kick starts Mycroft and Watts into a duo detective team was developed perfectly. Little tastes of what may have happened were ever so slowly revealed until the most unlikely character is found out. I liked how the whole story seemed real, I didn't think while reading that certain things they were doing seemed too ridiculous. I believed that two teenagers can solve a murder. Although there is quite a unique and frightening escape made by Mycroft and Watts at the end which I found to be a bit unbelievable, but I can let that slide because it was so quirky. (there are others books in the series so I'm not giving any spoilers away by telling you they lived!)

I have heard even better things about "Every Word", so I'll have my magnifying glass ready. I fell into this book head first hoping and wishing for it to be wonderful, and I got that and SO much more! The game's afoot and I never want it to end!

On the cover

It's so awesome to see a local landmark on a book!! It's Flinders street station from Melbourne in the background. Both people on the front look very alike what I imagine the main characters to look like. It's a shame though that the girl on the cover is the same girl on the cover of "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher.

What I'm reading next: Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Just want more!

Just One Year (Just One Day #2) by Gayle Forman

Rating: 3 out of 5 hearts
323 pages
Released: October 2013
Buy it @ book depository

Just One Day. Just One Year. Just One Read.

Before you find out how their story ends, remember how it began....

When he opens his eyes, Willem doesn’t know where in the world he is—Prague or Dubrovnik or back in Amsterdam. All he knows is that he is once again alone, and that he needs to find a girl named Lulu. They shared one magical day in Paris, and something about that day—that girl—makes Willem wonder if they aren’t fated to be together. He travels all over the world, from Mexico to India, hoping to reconnect with her. But as months go by and Lulu remains elusive, Willem starts to question if the hand of fate is as strong as he’d thought. . . .

The romantic, emotional companion to Just One Day, this is a story of the choices we make and the accidents that happen—and the happiness we can find when the two intersect.

Review

I'm going to keep this review short and sweet. I enjoyed this book, although I think I had built it up a little bit too much because I was hoping for a bit more than what I got. 

It didn't take long for me to pick up where things left off in the first book, when Willem disappeared after that perfect one day. The story was a little slow around the middle, but the pace picked up again towards the end. It was great getting to know Willem more, I loved travelling around with him all over while he was trying to find himself. Just like Allyson in "Just One Day", Willem changes and grows so much over his travels. We see him make new friends and strengthen friendships with old friends. Something that made my heart melt were the moments between him and his mum. Finally realising that she has been caring for him all along when he thought she hadn't.

The ending was nice, but I wanted more! I found out that there is going to be an ebook called "Just One Night", which sounds like a nice taste to that more I wanted. I will always read Gayle Forman's books because they are fantastic and such a lovely read. I recommend her as an author for those people looking for a romantic contemporary novel.

To read my review of Just One Day - click here

 

On the cover

I don't particularly like this cover. I don't like when couples are making out on the front cover, especially when it doesn't even happen in this book. I like the purple though, and the cool color flare.

What I'm reading next: Every Breath by Ellie Marney

 

How to get inside a serial killers head

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

Rating: 4 out of 5 hearts
361 Pages
Released: April 2012
Buy it @ book depository

What if the world's worst serial killer...was your dad?

Jasper "Jazz" Dent is a likable teenager. A charmer, one might say.

But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could—from the criminal's point of view.

And now bodies are piling up in Lobo's Nod.

In an effort to clear his name, Jazz joins the police in a hunt for a new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret—could he be more like his father than anyone knows?

Review

This book should come with a warning "Not for the faint hearted"! It was very disturbing at times. But don't think that I didn't like it, because I did!

Serial killer Billy Dent has taught his son, Jazz Dent, everything there is to know about how to kill people and get rid of their bodies - how to become the perfect serial killer just like him. Jazz doesn't want to like his dad though and tries hard to get him out of his head, which is hard when dead bodies start showing up in his local town. Jazz desperately wants to help the police in figuring out who the killer is. As the bodies pile up will they be able to find the killer before he/she moves on? You will have to read to find out.

Jazz is a hard character to like - he's a bit like Dexter (for any one who has ever watched that show like me). In the TV show you come to love Dexter because he has real feelings and is a good person even though he has evil tendencies and wants to kill people. Jazz is similar because he hunts down serial killers like Dexter except he doesn't kill them. Jazz is trying to fit into society after his father is convicted and thrown into jail. Before this Jazz had been there for all of "Dear Old Dad's" triple number kills, he didn't witness them all but he may well have because his father would give him a play by play how it happened. Poor kid!

The secondary characters were very easy to like. Jazz's best friend, Howie, is a hemophiliac (someone who's blood is thin and would bleed out quite quickly with a small cut). He has a quirky sense of humor and lightens, at times, a dark novel.

Then there's Connie, Jazz's level headed African-American girlfriend and lastly G. William, who is the typical round, older sheriff of the town. He already has a connection with Jazz because of their past, but they become closer as the book goes on.

There's a little twist at the end and I didn't guess who the killer was which as always is a good thing. I can not wait to read the rest of the books. Even though this is in the teen books, I think adults who love crime would love this series. I don't recommend this to younger teens, some sections are gruesome.

On the cover

This cover depicts the grisly things you can expect on the inside, blood splatter and all. This time you can definitely judge a book by it's cover.

What I'm reading next: The Reluctant Hallelujah by Gabrielle Williams 

 

I loved living in the wild

Wildlife by Fiona Wood

Rating: 5 out of 5 hearts
384 pages
Released: June 2013
Buy it @ angus & robertson

Life? It’s simple: be true to yourself.
The tricky part is finding out exactly who you are…

In the holidays before the dreaded term at Crowthorne Grammar’s outdoor education camp two things out of the ordinary happened.
A picture of me was plastered all over a twenty-metre billboard.
And I kissed Ben Capaldi.

Boarding for a term in the wilderness, sixteen-year-old Sibylla expects the gruesome outdoor education program – but friendship complications, and love that goes wrong? They’re extra-curricula.

Enter Lou from Six Impossible Things – the reluctant new girl for this term in the great outdoors. Fragile behind an implacable mask, she is grieving a death that occurred almost a year ago. Despite herself, Lou becomes intrigued by the unfolding drama between her housemates Sibylla and Holly, and has to decide whether to end her self-imposed detachment and join the fray.

And as Sibylla confronts a tangle of betrayal, she needs to renegotiate everything she thought she knew about surviving in the wild.

A story about first love, friendship and NOT fitting in.

Review

 

What a lovely surprise of a book. I'm a bit over reading series at the moment, so I thought I'd read a stand alone novel for a change. Little did I know this could be seen as a companion type novel to Fiona Wood's first book "Six Impossible Things". Oh well, I will just have to read that one now because I'm completely hooked on Wood's writing. She has created the perfect teenage voice in her book.

Now for the characters. Sibylla (interesting name) is such a sweetie but is also a little lost. At times I felt for her. She's searching for herself and what better place to do that than the quiet wilderness. Lou is the broken girl, who, even though she may not think it, is actually quite strong. I want to read Six Impossible Things so I can see the Lou from the photobooth pictures she treasures so much. Another character which I probably loved the most was Michael. He is a super genius, nerdy guy which I think would be fun to be around. He's an interesting character.

I didn't read the blurb so I didn't know that we are reading from two character's point of view. Sibylla is written from the first person and Lou is written in the form of journal entries. It took me a couple of chapters to figure it out, so you can imagine it was a little confusing.

I wanted to read this because I had heard about it at one of the State Library's seminars and one of the presenters raved about it. I'm finding that Australian authors are amazing and their writing/books should be read all over the world. Makes me proud to be Australian. 

If you're looking for a quick read with lots of heart, and things that will make you think about long after reading, then this is the book for you!

On the cover

 

Such a bright, pleasant cover. I can imagine laying/sitting along with those boots and looking up at the clouds and making shapes out of them. Being lazy and wasting the day away, dreaming of all those things you want in life. 

What I'm reading next: I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

The Darkest Minds Never Fade

Never Fade (The Darkest Minds #2) by Alexandra Bracken

Rating: 3 out of 5 hearts
507 pages
Released: October 2013
Buy it @ book depository

Ruby never asked for the abilities that almost cost her her life. Now she must call upon them on a daily basis, leading dangerous missions to bring down a corrupt government and breaking into the minds of her enemies. Other kids in the Children’s League call Ruby “Leader”, but she knows what she really is: a monster.

When Ruby is entrusted with an explosive secret, she must embark on her most dangerous mission yet: leaving the Children’s League behind. Crucial information about the disease that killed most of America’s children—and turned Ruby and the others who lived into feared and hated outcasts—has survived every attempt to destroy it. But the truth is only saved in one place: a flashdrive in the hands of Liam Stewart, the boy Ruby once believed was her future—and who now wouldn’t recognize her.

As Ruby sets out across a desperate, lawless country to find Liam—and answers about the catastrophe that has ripped both her life and America apart—she is torn between old friends and the promise she made to serve the League. Ruby will do anything to protect the people she loves. But what if winning the war means losing herself?

Review

 

To be honest I was a little disappointed when I first started reading. I loved the first book so much and it took me until halfway through the book before I started to truly enjoy this. I think this could have been because the first part of the book was Ruby being part of the league. Ruby had been taken by the league and helped them with their missions. She had changed so much since she had been with the league, it's like she had become numb and empty and because of this the story also came across a bit dull.

Once Ruby went on her secret mission and we come across some of those favourites characters from the first book does the pace pick up again. I can look past this slow start because the rest of the book was so good.

I mentioned in my review for the first book that I hope we get a bit more information about why/how the kids got their powers, we don't know exactly why/how but we are given hints and I can't wait to see everything revealed in the last book.

There was a jaw dropping moment at the end of the book (not as much as the first) but it was devastating enough. Those who have read this may know what I'm talking about, I almost cried :(

Thank you to Disney Hyperion and Netgalley for my copy.

On the cover 

 

I read this book on my kindle so I didn't really have a proper cover on this. So I've decided to talk about the above cover because I think it looks wicked! To me this looks like a compass crashing through ice and wire which has a lot do with the story. I think this cover is good for guys or girls and makes it look like an epic book!

What I'm reading next: Graceling by Kristin Cashore

There aren't always perks to being a wallflower

The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Rating: 4 out of 5 hearts
231 pages
Released: February 1999
Buy it @ book depository

Charlie is a freshman.

And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it.

Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mix tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But he can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.

Review 

I watched the movie and adored it, once I finished I wanted to watch it all over again. It was amazing! So because of this I HAD to read the book and see if there were any differences. I did really enjoy the book, but not as much as the movie. Of course there was more detail in the book and certain scenes and issues were explained a lot more.

I liked the writing style - the book is written in letters from Charlie and as the book goes on you can see how Charlie's own writing gets better, which I think was done well.

Then there's Charlie and his band of misfits. I felt connected to the characters so much more since already watching the movie. I think I brought along those feelings I already had for them all from seeing the movie that it was hard to imagine them any other way. They all touched my heart in one way or another.

There were so many mature themes running through this: homosexuality, drugs, under-age sex and sexual abuse. It was unexpected when I first watched the movie because I didn't think it had such deep issues in it. I don't really recommend anyone under the age of 15 reading this.

It's a shame that the author didn't write anything else because this was so good - I guess maybe it was a one hit wonder or he thought why not quit while I'm ahead.

On the cover

I don't particulary like this cover. It is a bit old fashioned but I love the title/author font. The other cover I've seen is the movie cover, which I like better probably because I loved the movie.

What I'm reading next: Something like normal by Trish Doller

 

Wishlist #6

1. Ladybug & Flower Tea cup, Saucer & Spoon ~ $27.99

2. "On the Patrol" Harry Potter Sticker ~ $2.30

3. Cute Bunnyclub Hand Painted Brooch ~ $35.00

4. Rainbow Dash Hooded Onesie ~ $39.99

5. Spook's Revenge by Joseph Delaney ~ $14.33

1. I love drinking tea and this is gorgeous, There's so much detail and is a lovely collectible.

2. How cute are these Harry Potter stickers! You can also get this design on a t-shirt.

3. Who wouldn't want to be a part of the cute bunnyclub. I know I would and would be proud to wear this brooch.

4. OMG! This onesie is awesome and I want it so badly! I would never get out of it haha.

5. This is the final book in a series that I have enjoyed a lot. It'll be sad to finish such a great series.

What's on your wishlist?

Epic storytelling at it's best!

Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1) by Laini Taylor

Rating: 5 out of 5 hearts

418 pages

Released: September 2011

Buy it @ book depository

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands", she speaks many languages - not all of them human - and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

 

Review

What can I say that hasn't already been said? This is so beautifully written, I read it in about 3 sittings which could've been less but unfortunately I had to sleep and work. Laini Taylor has given a whole different take on the old fashioned feud between good and evil - Angels & demons.

Karou was such an interesting character, how can you not love someone with blue hair and able to kick anyone's butt with her mad fighting skills. She is a girl with lots of secrets, but there are also a lot of secrets going on that she doesn't know about. There's a lot of mystery shrouding Karou's birth and where she comes from. It was written really well and kept me guessing until everything was revealed.

I LOVED the backdrop of Prague - I felt like I have travelled there by the amazing way Taylor described all the different places. Anyone who has been there before may feel like they are reliving some of their moments there (sadly I've never been).

There's a bit of a cliffhanger at the end, so I have already reserved the next book at the library, The third book comes out in April next year (2014) so I won't have to wait too long to finish the trilogy -  thankfully! I'm glad I finally got round to reading this because it has lived up to all my expectations, maybe even surpassed my expectations.

On the cover

This is the cover I'm most used to seeing on the Internet, which I think is so awesome!! But I haven't actually seen it in person. I always wondered why the mask is blue but after reading I know. There are two other covers floating around that I've actually seen which is the one above and another one that looks like it has a door on the cover. All of these covers mean something to the story but I like the one of the left the best.

What I'm reading next: The Perks of being a wallflower by Stephen Chboskyc

This book is not defective

Girl Defective by Simmone Howell

Rating: 4 out of 5 hearts

312 pages

Released: March 2013

Buy it @ Angus & Robertson

We, the Martin family, were like inverse superheroes, marked by our defects. Dad was addicted to beer and bootlegs. Gully had "social difficulties" that manifested in his wearing a pig snout mask 24-7. I was surface clean but underneath a weird hormonal stew was simmering...

It's summer in St Kilda. Fifteen-year-old Sky is looking forward to great records and nefarious activities with Nancy, her older, wilder friend. Her brother – Super Agent Gully – is on a mission to unmask the degenerate who bricked the shop window. Bill the Patriarch seems content to drink while the shop slides into bankruptcy. A poster of a mysterious girl and her connection to Luke, the tragi-hot new employee sends Sky on an exploration into the dark heart of the suburb. Love is strange. Family Rules. In between there are teenage messes, rock star spawn, violent fangirls, creepy old guys and accidents waiting to happen. If the world truly is going to hell in a hand-basket then at least the soundtrack is kicking. Sky Martin is Girl Defective: funny, real and dark at the edges.

Review

I could not put this down, I read it in two sittings! The way Simmone Howell sucks you into her story and characters is magic. This book is about a girl discovering who she is and finding "her people". It's a story of finding love, uncovering secrets and lots of music.

I felt like such a loser when I was reading this! There were so many music references that I didn't get because I didn't know the artists that the characters were talking about. It's another book I've read that is set in Australia, specifically St Kilda (a suburb in Melbourne). I live close to St Kilda and have visited many times so it was cool to read about places I have been.

A huge part of enjoying any book is enjoying the characters and Simmone knows how to write a good character. Sky is a rebel teenager, more than I ever was, but I guess living in St Kilda can do that to a girl. Gully is Sky's younger brother and when reading this you know that Gully has Asperger's or is on the autism spectrum but it's never spelled out. I really liked that about this book, everyone accepts him for who he is but doesn't label him. He could be difficult at times but I really liked Gully and thought he was a cool little dude.

Other than the characters, the intrigue was a big reason for my want to keep reading. I NEEDED to know why the girl in the graffiti was so sad. There were also moments of romance that were really nice, they gave me all the normal butterfly feelings in my stomach.

I have listened to Simmone Howell talk about writing and she also read the first chapter from this book. It made me want to read it oh so more. Now that I've read it all for myself I want to get my hands on Simmone's other books!

On the cover

This cover is so cool! The girl on the front looks so sad and I want to know why. It reminds me of Graffiti Moon and I almost feel like Shadow could have painted it. 

What I'm reading next: Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

I went along for the ride

Along for the ride by Sarah Dessen

Rating: 3 out of 5 hearts
424 pages
Released: January 2010
Buy it @ book depository

Ever since her parents began fighting, Auden has been unable to sleep at night. Now, spending a summer at a charming beach town with her father and his new family, she has to find new places to pass the time she spends awake. And so she meets Eli, a fellow insomniac who becomes her nighttime guide. Together, they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she has missed; for Eli, to come to terms with the death of a friend. In her trademark blockbuster-style, Sarah Dessen creates a powerful and irresistible story of two people learning how to connect. 

Review

"So I decided to relax into it, bumpy and crazy as it might be, and try for once to just go along for the ride"

This is my first Sarah Dessen book and I wasn't won over. I've been wanting to read one for quite some time now and felt like this was a good one to start with because I had been recommended it. Not to say I hated this book, it's just that I found myself thinking it was a little mediocre.

The story started off pretty boring and I believe this is because Auden was a boring person. Perfect student, always studying hard, never goes to parties and does things by the book. Because she has always tried hard to be perfect and make her mother proud she never got to experience normal teenage life. As the book progresses though, Auden changes, she and the story start to transform. She becomes friends with girls from her stepmother's clothes shop and Eli, the quiet and brooding guy, who teach her how have fun, ride a bike, become a store goer and maybe even fall in love. The transformation of Auden is one of the things I really enjoyed about this book but something (more like someone) I really fell for was Eli. I don't think I would've liked this as much if Eli wasn't in it. He is sweet and makes rice crispies from scratch! How can you not fall in love with that! There's also that mysteriousness about him, there's something about his past that is slowly revealed and makes him all the more dreamy for his reasons behind his mystery.

As I was reading I was thinking to myself that this would make a perfect summer movie - It's set in a town that's close to the beach, a girl who meets a boy, they go on nightly adventures together and of course there's a prom like party towards the end of the book. It would be the perfect Chick flick to cuddle up with, eat popcorn and maybe even need some tissues...

One minor character I want to mention is Auden's father. I hate him, he's selfish and so horrible. He deserves a bad father award...BOO to him! The book was enjoyable but I've only given it 3 stars because it was slightly predictable and long winded. I've read other reviews where people have enjoyed the slow unraveling of the characters, but for me I felt that over 400 pages was too much. I will probably try another Dessen book, I've got my eyes on Dreamland as I've heard interesting things about it.

On the cover

The cover above is ok, but I saw the same cover with a white background and it made the cover so much nicer. There are two other covers which feature a girl on a bike which would be better covers than this one because the book is called 'Along for the ride' and bikes are a main part of the story. To the left is one of the new covers which I LOVE! Blue is my favourite colour so I love this cover a lot!

What I'm reading next: Two & Twenty Dark tales by multiple authors

Hugo and his magical inventions.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Rating: 5 out of 5 hearts
525 pages
Released: April 2007
Buy it @ book depository

ORPHAN, CLOCK KEEPER, AND THIEF, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.

Review 

This isn't just a book, it's an experience! The pictures and story are so absorbing, it transported me straight to Paris 1930's. I love when a book doesn't end when I finish it, it inspired me to want to know more about cinema during that era. At the end of the book in the credits & acknowledgements the author gives you websites where you can find more information. I had fun learning all about the first movies.

I saw 'Hugo' the movie and I adored it! I watched it before I read this which I think it would've been better if I had watched the movie after reading the book because I knew the mystery behind the mechanical automan and I would've loved to see the pictures come to life! I will definitely watch it again since I've read the book. 

Now that I have read this I would like to read 'Wonderstruck' to see what it's like. I loved how the illustrations told the story at times. One of my favourite instances was when Hugo was running from the station inspector through the walls of the train station. I really felt the tension and turned the pages so quickly to see whether he got away!

I recommend this to people of all ages. It's a story of finding yourself, overcoming loss, making friends & having your dreams come true! 

On the cover

Isn't it beautiful! The moon plays a part in this story and the cogs & gears look like a hot air balloon. The border reminds me of a theatre curtain like I'm getting ready to sit down and watch a show.

What I'm reading next: Amber House by Kelly Moore

Murder & Fire, good mix? I think yes...

FireProof (Maggie O'Dell #10) by Alex Kava

Rating: 4 out of 5 hearts
320 pages
Released: May 2012
Buy it @ book depository

When a building bursts into flames on a cold winter night in D.C., investigators see a resemblance to a string of recent fires in the area. There is one difference, however: This one has a human casualty. The local team insists they're looking for a young white male, suffering from an uncontrollable impulse to act out his anger or sexual aggression. But when special agent Maggie O'Dell is called in, everything she sees leads her to believe that this is the work of a calculating and controlled criminal.

Jeffery Cole, a reporter looking for his big break, is also at the scene of the crime and decides to make Maggie part of his news piece, digging up aspects of her past that she would rather forget. Maggie's brother Patrick is also back in DC where he is working for a private firefighting company and is frequently called in as these fires continue to light up around the city.

As the acts of arson become more brazen, Maggie's professional and personal worlds begin to collide dangerously. The killer may be closer than she imagines.

Review

I love the Maggie O'Dell series, I can't remember why I decided to pick them up and read them from the beginning. I think a patron of the library recommended them to me, so because I can't read a series from the middle I had to start from the beginning. 

Since then there have been some that I've really enjoyed reading and then there's been others that have been very so so. This one is one of the better ones. I know a lot of people are complaining that Maggie O'Dell hasn't done much profiling in this one, but I didn't think that was an issue because I found the story to be intriguing and I love the characters. Yes I do feel like the writing style has changed slightly and there isn't much profiling going on (seen as though O'Dell is an FBI profiler) but most book series change in some way and I will still be happy to continue to read them.

I can't remember the murders in the previous books but they were very gruesome and very detail in this one. If you don't like to read about that sort of thing then you shouldn't read this. I read this in a day, I found it (like the others) to be very easy to read as the writing style flows nicely and the reader is kept interested. Like for example; every now and again there will be a short chapter from the 'killers' point of view, I like that we get a taste of being inside their head but still not knowing who it is. I don't know if other murder mystery books are like this but I had never read something like that.

Something else to mention that I found interesting is that the ending felt like it will lead straight into the next book. From memory I don't think any of the previous books have done this. Please correct me if I'm wrong!

On the cover

The cover is quite boring but it depicts what you can expect from the book. I also find it interesting that the author's name is bigger than the title, I'm assuming the publishing company thinks you will pick up the book because of the author not because of the cover or even the title...

What I'm reading next: The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Very Unique but something was missing

What's left of me (The Hybrid Chronicles #1) by Kat Zhang

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
352 pages
Buy it @ book depository
Released: September 2012

I should not exist. But I do.

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . .

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

Review

I had high hopes for this book. I was really looking forward to reading it because it sounded so interesting. Unfortunately it wasn't as good as I had hoped. I don't know what it was about this that I didn't like. Maybe it was the worldbuilding, I couldn't get sucked into it because a lot of things weren't really explained. Like why society decided to get rid of their other souls? What's so wrong with having another soul? I know it's picky but neither the mystery behind why or the characters were engaging enough to make me want to gobble it up.

The book is from Eva's point of view even though she is the soul hidden within Addie. It was very easy to get used to the idea of two people living within one body and I think it's very unique. I really liked Eva and I feel bad for rooting for her to take over their body because that meant Addie would be the one stuck inside.

This book felt more sci-fi than dystopian to me, which I have to say I really liked! I don't normally read sci-fi books but this may have opened up a whole new genre for me.

Overall I did like it and will most likely read the next book in the series but the story & characters weren't flawless in my eyes.

*I received my edition of this book from HarperCollins Australia and NetGalley*

On the cover

What a unique cover! It's like an optical illusion with the face inside a face, It reminds me of the rubin vase image. I also really like the colours on this cover, it makes the book seem sterile on the outside but there's something beautiful hidden beneath.

What I'm reading next: Fireproof by Alex Kava

Has Felix's story ended this time?

After (Once #4) by Morris Gleitzman

Rating: 5 out of 5 hearts

209 pages

Buy it @ book depository

Released: July 2012

"In the fourth part of Felix's story, continuing his adventures in World War Two, he faces perhaps his greatest challenge - to find hope when he's lost almost everything, including his parents. As Europe goes through the final agonizing stages of the war, Felix struggles to reconcile hatred and healing. He's helped by a new friend, but if he should lose her as well ..."

Review

Another great Felix story narrated on Audiobook by Morris Gleitzman. Felix feels so real to me, he is a character that will stick with you forever and so will his stories. I'd love to see these books made into a movie, I wonder who they would get to play Felix.

We continue Felix's story from the end of the second book "Then", after having spent two years in a hole in a barn Felix ventures out and comes across a group of partisans who are fighting against the Nazi's. He joins this group and so his story continues. As with the other books in this series you will be in for a tear jerker and horrifying war scenes. If you would like to read the first chapter of this story then click here. These books are aimed at a younger audience but I think someone of any age would enjoy these stories. I also feel that lower primary aged children might not be able to read this one specifically as there is a scene towards the end that may be too mature for them.

I believe there's still more we need to find out about Felix. What happened to him after the war and there's the story of how and why he immigrated to Australia. I reckon that Morris Gleitzman should call it "Before" because it's before his happily ever after.

Click on the links to read my reviews of 'Once', 'Then' & 'Now'.

On the cover

This cover depicts exactly what you will expect from this book. Lots of snow, war & forests.
I really love this cover, the red jumps right off the page like blood maybe?

What I'm listening on Audio to next: Blood Red Road by Moira Young

The best books tend to hide behind unlikely covers

The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds #1) by Alexandra Bracken

Rating: 4 out of 5 hearts
488 pages
Buy it @ book depository
Released: December 2012

"When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living."

Review 

 

“The darkest minds tend to hide behind the most unlikely faces”

I love this quote! It really jumped out to me as a perfect sum up for the whole book. The feelings I got while reading this were the same sort of feelings I got when I was reading Divergent.  I was thinking that this was like nothing I’ve read before, I love the idea behind the story.

Ruby is a great character, she is beautiful but doesn’t know it because she’s been locked up in a camp for children with special powers for about 6 six years. She's also very strong and loyal. I liked her almost straight away and wanted to know more about her. The other characters that Ruby befriends were also really likeable. They make a great mix of kids and I'd love to ride around with them in Black Beauty.

What I really liked most was the slow paced romance between Ruby and Liam. In my books I like the the story to be fast paced but I like my romance to be slow paced. I like it when the connection between the love interests slowly bubble into something truly swoonworthy. That's what I got with these characters. Their feelings for each other couldn't always be shown because of Ruby's special powers and what might happen if she touches someone.

The small thing that stopped it from getting to 5 stars was the why? Why do the kids have super powers? How does it only effect them and not the adults? Where did it come from? I hope some of these questions are answered in the next book but other than that very small issue I loved this!

Oh and I can not forget that ending! This is going to be really hard to have to wait til November to find out what happens next. Maybe I might read her first book Brightly Woven (which is not part of this series) before then.

On the cover

 

This cover is totally wicked and now I know what the symbol on the front cover means. It tells you a lot about what you're going to expect from this book, i'll give you a hint - dark and intriguing.

What I'm reading next: What's left of me by Kat Zhang