GUEST REVIEW: The Bone Dragon - Alexia Casale

GENRE: Fantasy
PAGES: 320
PUBLISHER: Faber
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

Evie's shattered ribs have been a secret for the last four years. Now she has found the strength to tell her adoptive parents, and the physical traces of her past are fixed - the only remaining signs a scar on her side and a fragment of bone taken home from the hospital, which her uncle Ben helps her to carve into a dragon as a sign of her strength. Soon this ivory talisman begins to come to life at night, offering wisdom and encouragement in roaming dreams of smoke and moonlight that come to feel ever more real. As Evie grows stronger there remains one problem her new parents can't fix for her: a revenge that must be taken. And it seems that the Dragon is the one to take it. This subtly unsettling novel is told from the viewpoint of a fourteen-year-old girl damaged by a past she can't talk about, in a hypnotic narrative that, while giving increasing insight, also becomes increasingly unreliable.

REVIEW

This will be a short review to avoid spoilersg. You’ll see in the review-at-a-glance graphic above that I avoided declaring a genre for this one. If pushed, I’d have to go for magic realist thriller (which I realise isn’t an official genre, but it’s the closest fit I can come up with). It’s more magic realist than full-on fantasy, dragon notwithstanding, as it clearly takes place in our world and the dragon is the only fantasy element. The thriller aspect is achieved by means of very close first-person narration by Evie, who is clearly hiding many things. The reader is left to tease out the fragments of information and decide where the half-truths and omissions lie.

This is a gorgeous treat of a read – which is an odd thing to say about such a trauma-filled book – due to its dark beauty and the lyricism of its prose. If the premise intrigues you at all, you should absolutely give it a go.

This is my initial comment on closing the book:

Beautiful, startling and tense. A real struggle to classify by genre, with magic realism elements within a coming-of-age narrative which, at times, feels like a psychological thriller. Evie’s anxieties, fears and development are conveyed perfectly; I have rarely felt I’ve known a character so thoroughly (especially given all the gaps in her narrative).

- Beth.

GUEST REVIEW: The Queen Of The Tearling - Erika Johnasen

GENRE: Adult Fantasy
PAGES: 448
PUBLISHER: Bantam Press
FORMAT: Hardback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

Kelsea Glynn is the sole heir to the throne of Tearling but has been raised in secret by foster parents after her mother - Queen Elyssa, as vain as she was stupid - was murdered for ruining her kingdom. For 18 years, the Tearling has been ruled by Kelsea's uncle in the role of Regent however he is but the debauched puppet of the Red Queen, the sorceress-tyrant of neighbouring realm of Mortmesme. On Kelsea's 19th birthday, the tattered remnants of her mother's guard - each pledged to defend the queen to the death - arrive to bring this most un-regal young woman out of hiding...

And so begins her journey back to her kingdom's heart, to claim the throne, earn the loyalty of her people, overturn her mother's legacy and redeem the Tearling from the forces of corruption and dark magic that are threatening to destroy it. But Kelsea's story is not just about her learning the true nature of her inheritance - it's about a heroine who must learn to acknowledge and live with the realities of coming of age in all its insecurities and attractions, alongside the ethical dilemmas of ruling justly and fairly while simply trying to stay alive...

REVIEW

I really loved this book! It had many flaws but I was so engrossed in the plot that I completely ignored them and absolutely loved the book anyway!

Kelsea Glynn is an amazing character! In fact she’s quite possibly of my favourite fictional characters (up there with Hermione Granger, Hazel Grace Lancaster and Celeana Sardothien!) She is strong (but not necessarily physically like Celeana, Tris or Katniss) ! I’ve never known a character with so much resilience! Despite the fact that attempts are constantly made on her life she stays determined and focussed on being a good queen and restoring the Kingdom. I found her incredibly inspirational! Kelsea doesn’t develop much over the book (she had her strength and courage from the beginning) but I still really loved her!

Out of all of the books I have read recently, I have found most of them predictable! However ‘The Queen of the Tearling’ had me gripped throughout trying to work out what was going to happen next! I really felt that anything could happen and that made my reading experience more thrilling!

My favourite genres are dystopian, fantasy and historical and I was delighted to find that this book is a combination of the three making it the perfect choice for me! Whilst being set in the future, the world was very simplistic and the whole book is centred around the Monarchy, giving The Queen of the Tearling a historical feel. There are a few fantasy elements too!

So this book is already set to become a film (starring the wonderful Emma Watson.) I think it would make a really awesome film and I would love to see the book come to life on screen!

- Priya.

Q&A With Lucy Inglis - City of Halves

London. Girls are disappearing. They've all got one thing in common; they just don't know it yet. Sixteen-year-old Lily was meant to be next, but she's saved by a stranger: a half-human boy with gold-flecked eyes. Regan is from an unseen world hidden within our own, where legendary creatures hide in plain sight. But now both worlds are under threat, and Lily and Regan must race to find the girls, and save their divided city.

Buy it here.

1. What inspired you to write City of Halves (COH)?

The City of London is my home and I love how it always feels there's a different story around every corner. I wanted to write a book about those stories.

2. What was the first story you wrote and what happened to it?

I was always writing, but the first story of any length I wrote was when I was 19. I wrote a shortish novel of 65k words about a mute Anglo-Saxon girl who survived a Viking massacre. Women with dialogue are very rare in Anglo-Saxon literature, so I had the idea to translate that into real life, with a girl who couldn't speak. I lost it in a hard drive crash that summer. Back up back up, people!

3.If you could only take 5 books to a desert island, what 5 would they be?

Ooooo. Wuthering Heights to remind me that people do very, very bad things in the name of love. The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations to remind me of thousands of different and important moments in history, seen through the eyes of poets, statesmen and women, and writers through the ages. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, because the two main characters live beyond the page and could keep me company. The collected poems of John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, because they're so funny and bawdy and clever. Tender Morsels, by Margo Lanagan, because, as one reviewer said, it feels like it was written by candlelight for future generations. 

4. What fictional character would you like to spend the day with and why?

I hope it isn't big-headed to say that at the moment I'd love to spent the day with one of the MC's in my new book, set in Montana. He's a railroad scout and he makes me laugh all the time.

5. Do you have a set writing process?

Previously, I would have said no. But I'm increasingly realising the value of very tight plotting. It makes everything much faster, but you have to know, absolutely, your characters and their motivations. For my most recent book I started with ideas, then on one A4 page I wrote out a list of chapters with a line about what happened in each, then I took that out to a page for each chapter, with detailed noted about what happens, why and the three most important things in that chapter. I revised that about five times until I had a working story. Then I started to write.

6. How did you celebrate when you knew COH would be published?

I went out for Japanese food with my lovely husband, which is what we always do when we have something to celebrate.

7.Do you have a dream cast for if COH were to be turned into a film?

Oh, really tough! Um, not as such. I think I have more really strong ideas about what they shouldn't look like. 

8. What books did you enjoy as a teenager?

I was particularly attached to a big book (actually a trilogy in one volume) by Gillian Bradshaw, called Down the Long Wind. It's about Arthurian legend and I loved it.

9. How did you create such a wide variety of characters, some human and some not so human. And do you have a favourite one to write?

Lots of the characters are part of London myth and legend, so I just had to give them their own personalities. I loved writing Felix, who is a real street sweeper in the City of London - always in his sunglasses! - and people seem to like him as a character. And I love Lily, obviously. I wanted her not to be drippy like loads of recent heroines. She tough, independent and has a really strong sense of herself and right and wrong.

10.If you were a bookseller, how would you recommend your book to customers?

An urban fantasy that will have you on the lookout for dragons, two-headed dogs, mermaids and secret agents around every corner.

REVIEW: Endgame (The Calling) - James Frey

GENRE: Fantasy
PAGES: 480
PUBLISHER: Indigo
FORMAT: Harpercollins
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

Twelve ancient cultures were chosen millennia ago to represent humanity in Endgame, a global game that will decide the fate of humankind. Endgame has always been a possibility, but never a reality...until now. Twelve meteorites have just struck Earth, each meteorite containing a message for a Player who has been trained for this moment. At stake for the Players: saving their bloodline, as well as the fate of the world. And only one can win. Endgame is real. Endgame is now. Endgame has begun. Google Niantic is building a mobile location-based augmented reality videogame inextricably tied to the books and mythology, a major prize will be tied to a puzzle in each book, and Twentieth Century Fox has bought the movie rights. 

Read the Books. Find the Clues. Solve the Puzzle. Who will Win?

REVIEW

An inventive and incredibly exciting new series! Following the exploits of several of the characters competing in Endgame as they battle for the opportunity to determine the fate of humanity... Each character was fascinating, they each had their own set of skills that they bought to the challenge and their personalities shone through as the stakes got higher. This will inevitably draw comparisons to the Hunger Games, but the only similarity is young people fighting for survival. It is much more than just a dysopitan novel, it's full of mystery and drama and I can't wait to read what happens next, and to see the film version. This book is going to take the world by storm!

- Gem.

REVIEW: Shadow and Bone - Leigh Bardugo

GENRE: Fantasy
PAGES: 352
PUBLISHER: Indigo
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness, crawling with monsters that feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka.

Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the lavish world of the kingdom’s magical elite—the Grisha. Could she be the key to unravelling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting Ravka free?

The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and terrifying power, leader of the Grisha. If Alina is to fulfill her destiny, she must discover how to unlock her gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him.

But what of Mal, Alina’s childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can’t she ever quite forget him?

REVIEW

An outstanding start to a fantastic trilogy. Any one who likes fantasy should read this trilogy, it's full of action, mystery, friendship, romance and drama. Alina is a wonderful character who is thrust into a situation like no other, and must be strong to survive the trials that lie ahead for her. As soon as you finish this you will immediately want to go on to Seige and Storm and then Ruin and Rising. I have read them all twice now, and will be re-reading them time and time again.

- Gem.

REVIEW: Dorothy Must Die - Danielle Paige

GENRE: Faiytale/Fantasy
PAGES: 464
PUBLISHER: Harper360
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 4 Stars

SUMMARY

I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero. But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still the yellow brick road, though—but even that's crumbling.

What happened? Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe. My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas. I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked. I've been trained to fight.

And I have a mission.

REVIEW

This. Is. AMAZING!

From the first page I was utterly hooked by this fabulous spin on the Wizard of Oz classic. It's been some years since I read the original novels, but reading this bought it all back. Amy's narration was compelling, at times I felt sorry for her, sometimes wanted to tell her to run away and always rooted for her to best her enemies and come out on top! It really is an incredible book, as soon as I finished it I wanted to reread it, and I know it's a book I'll read many, many times. The way it takes characters we all know and transforms them into something totally unrecognisable was so clever, and despite the macabre nature of the plot, Amy's sarcasm adds a element of humour and fun to stop it being too dark. It would work so well as a TV show!

- Gem.

REVIEW: City of Halves - Lucy Inglis

GENRE: Fantasy
PAGES: 352
PUBLISHER: Chicken House
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 4 Stars

SUMMARY

London. Girls are disappearing. They've all got one thing in common; they just don't know it yet... 

Sixteen-year-old Lily was meant to be next, but she's saved by a stranger: a half-human boy with gold-flecked eyes. Regan is from an unseen world hidden within our own, where legendary creatures hide in plain sight. But now both worlds are under threat, and Lily and Regan must race to find the girls, and save their divided city.

REVIEW

I absolutely loved this book! I really liked the fact it was set in London - the familiarity of the London backdrop made the whole thing seem real, despite the fantastical creatures and goings on. The plot was interesting and the prophecy element gave it an extra depth. I usually prefer novels in first person as it makes me feel closer to the character, but this was so well written that I felt like I'd been transported into Lily's world. I can't wait to find out what happens next!

- Gem.

GUEST REVIEW: Requiem - Lauren Oliver

GENRE: Dystopia

PAGES: 352

PUBLISHER: Hodder

FORMAT: Paperback

BUY IT: Waterstones

RATING: 4 Stars

SUMMARY

It is the rule of the Wilds You must be bigger, and stronger, and tougher. A coldness radiates through me, a solid wall that is growing, piece by piece, in my chest. He doesn't love me He never loved me. It was all a lie. 'The old Lena is dead', I say, and then push past him. Each step is more difficult than the last; the heaviness fills me and turns my limbs to stone. You must hurt, or be hurt. Lena can build the walls, but what if there's no one left to take them down?

REVIEW

Requiem is the third and final book for the Delirium series by Lauren Oliver. If you haven’t read the first two books of the series, I suggest that you do not read this review as THERE ARE SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST TWO BOOKS. (If you are unsure about reading the series, check out my review for Delirium and Pandemonium). Lauren Oliver writes this book in the same way as she has done in the previous books; gripping

So Requiem is written differently from the previous books as it is in the perspective of Lena and Hana which I really like as it shows that the book series goes in a full circle and we get to see the girls reunited again. It also gives the story extra depth as we get to compare a life with love and a life without love.

Lena’s POV: In Pandemonium, we see the rebellion underway and in Requiem, we see it turn into a full out revolution with Lena (of course) being in the centre of it. As you know, in Pandemonium, Alex returns and he is angry and cold at the fact that Lena has moved on from him, when Lena was only trying to forget him as she thought he was killed when he got captured (*sighs due to feelings*). Even though Lena does love Julian, the more she interacts with Alex, the feelings and memories are resurfaced and the guilt and pain of moving on gets to her, especially she sees Alex moving on himself with a a girl called Carol (WHY CANT REAL LOVE PREVAIL?). Trying not to show her jealously, Lena pushes her feelings to one side and tries to keep her family safe and also develops her romantic relationship with Julian.

Hana’s POV: In Portland, Hana has been cured and is planning her wedding with Fred Hargove, her pairing. Even though she is cured, and in the government’s eyes, her life is now ‘perfect’, she is afraid as new feelings are developed, and she relives her memories, she thinks of; Lena, her old life, how she resisted to be normal, being her own person and the feelings of regret, guilt and unhappiness of not doing something hits her hard. She is surprised when she sees Lena, part of the resistance and even more shocked when she finds out that she ran away from Portland, to fight the DFA. Hana also see a different side to her fiancé, which is very frightening and she feels that her life is in danger. She finds out that her fiancé had a wife called Mealana who was sent to prison for being ‘psychotic’, when actually Fred tried to kill her. When Hana and Lena do meet and Hana reveals something which takes this book into a whole new level.

Main Characters:

Lena Haloway: I love her character. Honestly. She gets put under so much guilt by Alex (I love you Alex but sorry you are stupid) and I feel so bad for because she has been told, once you’ve been captured by the government, the chances of you surviving (and escaping) are next to nothing, so of course she automatically thought that Alex and her were never going to meet again. she may have got over him a lot quicker if she fell in love with someone else so she seemed determined not to put herself through the misery she would have faced grieving Alex, so she was going to find some happiness so she moved on to Julian. I love the fact that she is so strong and so willing to put herself in front to defend in what she believes in.

Alex Sheathes: ALEX IS BACK, YAY!! I love Alex, I honestly do but he is a big, fat douche. When he was going out with Carol, all I kept thinking was, it should of been Lena (I am a Alena/Lenex shipper). I am upset in a way because I don’t like how his character develops.

Julian Fineman: JULIAN OMG!! I feel so sorry for him, I honestly do. He is an absolute cutie and he gets heartbroken. I don’t like what happens to his character so I prefer Alex over him.

Hana Tate: I don’t like Hana. I do feel sorry for her but she does something that disturbs my happiness (that’s not cool).

Overall I was disappointed with the ending (The ending was meh) because it didn’t live up to the hype and expectation I thought it to be. This book is my least favourite in the series however it is still beautifully written.

- Ambi.

GUEST REVIEW: Every Day - David Levithan

GENRE: Contemporary/Fantasy
PAGES: 384
PUBLISHER: Electric Monkey
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

Every day I am someone else. I am myself - I know I am myself - but I am also someone else. It has always been like this. Each morning, A wakes up in a different body. There's never any warning about who it will be, but A is used to that. Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere. And that's fine - until A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin's girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with - every day...

REVIEW

I personally enjoyed this book and thought that the idea was original because I haven’t read a book similar to this. The only book I’ve read by this other is Will Grayson, Will Grayson which is co-authored by John Green- an author I really enjoy reading the books of.

THIS WILL HAVE SOME SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!

This book is about a being who has named themselves A who borrows other peoples’ bodies for a day. This being goes to sleep and wakes up in a different body and this happens every day. A has no gender and no own physical body. 

Click through to read more.

GUEST REVIEW: Silver Shadows - Richelle Mead

GENRE: Dark Fantasy
PAGES: 400
PUBLISHER: Penguin
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 4 Stars

SUMMARY

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives. In The Fiery Heart, Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists. Now, in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other. But first, they have to survive. For Sydney, trapped and surrounded by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity and the memories of those she loves. Meanwhile, Adrian clings to hope in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle proves daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him...Their worst fears now a chilling reality; Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour.

REVIEWSo when Silver Shadows came out, I started fangirling slightly about the fact that I will finally be able to read this book after waiting months for it. I had to wait an extra day to get my hands on it and I didn’t really get to read it until yesterday because I have been quite busy over the last couple of days however when I did get into it, I couldn’t stop reading. I literally sat down for two hours and just read. If you’re unaware of what Silver Shadows is, it is the 5th book in the Bloodlines series by Richelle Mead which is a spin off series of Vampire Academy. I can’t tell you what Silver Shadows is about because I can’t even tell you what Bloodlines is about without spoiling Vampire Academy for you but know this, both of these two series are amazing despite the terrible names and covers. You should definitely go read the Vampire Academy series because it is honestly one of my favourite series.

Silver Shadows is most likely my favourite one in the series so far. This one is in duel POV which made me love it a bit more. As many people know Adrian is one of my top 10 bookish boyfriends(check out the list here) so seeing his POV was honestly amazing. I loved reading from his perspective because Sydney can get slightly annoying at times. The last half of the book was full of action which I loved but I also loved the first half. The first half was where we got to see the characters deal with some pretty difficult things especially Sydney(I’m trying so hard not to spoil the series for you!) and this was interesting to see just how strong willed these characters are. The plot of this book was intriguing and I kept wanting to read more of it.

Sydney has really grown over the books and I love that. At the start of the series, she’s quite uptight and reserved and a lot of people don’t like that. None of my friends have made it past Bloodlines because they really don’t like Sydney but they don’t release how much growth she goes through as a character. In this book, we really see just how much she’s changed and what she’d do to save those she loved. You really learn to respect Sydney a lot more in this book and she may even be one of my top 10 female protagonists now(I’ll make a list of them really soon). I honestly can’t wait to see just how amazing she’ll be in the final book in the series.

Oh Adrian in this book was honestly so perfect. The first half of the book made me upset because Adrian was in so much pain and I couldn’t take it but as the book goes on and he cheers up, I just kept smiling. Happy Adrian makes a happy Sofia. I love Adrian as a character and I can’t wait to read more about him in the next one. Adrian and Sydney in this book were so cute and I was just so happy for them. Throughout the whole book I went through a lot of emotions because of them. Definitely one of my main ships. I love them so much.

This was basically me throughout the book.

The thing that is making me sad right now is the fact that there is only one book left in this series. It comes out next year but there’s only one left. I don’t wait this series to end.

There’s only one left

I really hope that Richelle Mead decides to carry on writing in the Vampire Academy world because I am honestly not done with any of these characters especially Adrian. Adrian needs to be in more books because I need more of him. I’m excited for The Ruby Circle even though it’s coming out in February 2015! I need this book ASAP especially after that cliff hanger ending.

This review is all over the place because I found it hard to write a non-spoilery review of it because so much happened that I wanted to talk about. Also because I had to be careful not to spoil the rest of the series. I hope you enjoyed it anyway.

- Sofia.

GUEST REVIEW: Love Letters To The Dead - Ava Dellaira

GENRE: Contemporary/Fantasy
PAGES: 336
PUBLISHER: Hot Key Books
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

It begins as an assignment for English class: write a letter to a dead person - any dead person. Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain - he died young, and so did Laurel's sister May - so maybe he'll understand a bit of what Laurel is going through. Soon Laurel is writing letters to lots of dead people - Janis Joplin, Heath Ledger, River Phoenix, Amelia Earhart ...it's like she can't stop. And she'd certainly never dream of handing them in to her teacher. She writes about what it's like going to a new high school, meeting new friends, falling in love for the first time - and how her family has shattered since May died. But much as Laurel might find writing the letters cathartic, she can't keep real life out forever. The ghosts of her past won't be contained between the lines of a page, and she will have to come to terms with growing up, the agony of losing a beloved sister, and the realisation that only you can shape your destiny.

REVIEW

I received a free copy of this book from Hot Key Books in exchange for a honest review. This does not affect my review/opinions in any way. Thank you Hot Key!

I read Love Letters to the Dead during exam week and I seriously regret it. No, I don't regret reading it, I just regret reading it right before an exam.

Because... it's one of those books that stays on your mind for a long time. In that respect (and that respect only), I'd compare it to The Book Thief.

Because... it makes you think. Laurel's history is one quite similar, yet so different to my own. And I wonder, if I'd ever have written letters, or done anything like this, what difference it would have made to me.

Because... it shows what words can do. What they can do to heal. What they can do to help. What they can do to hinder.

Because... it has gorgeous writing. Dellaira captivated me throughout the book, and it never stopped. Even when I should have been thinking about chemical formulas, I just couldn't stop thinking about it.

Because... I loved it. Many are saying it is too much like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and I guess certain elements are similar, but this book, to me, is completely unique. It's absolutely beautiful, both on the inside and out.

- Charli.

REVIEW: The Bone Season - Samantha Shannon

GENRE: Adult fantasy
PAGES: 496

PUBLISHER: Bloomsbury
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

This review refers to an uncorrected advance edition.

SUMMARY

The year is 2059. Nineteen-year-old Paige Mahoney is working in the criminal underworld of Scion London, based at Seven Dials, employed by a man named Jaxon Hall. Her job: to scout for information by breaking into people's minds. For Paige is a dreamwalker, a clairvoyant and, in the world of Scion, she commits treason simply by breathing. It is raining the day her life changes for ever. Attacked, drugged and kidnapped, Paige is transported to Oxford - a city kept secret for two hundred years, controlled by a powerful, otherworldly race. Paige is assigned to Warden, a Rephaite with mysterious motives. He is her master. Her trainer. Her natural enemy. But if Paige wants to regain her freedom she must allow herself to be nurtured in this prison where she is meant to die. The Bone Season introduces a compelling heroine and also introduces an extraordinary young writer, with huge ambition and a teeming imagination. Samantha Shannon has created a bold new reality in this riveting debut.

REVIEW

Paige's world is so exciting; it's full of magic, mystery and danger!

It's a very refreshing take on a dystopian genre with the beautiful writing, the language which is used and the imagery that has been created. It's more literary, and more *clever* than The Hunger Games and Divergent etc., but by no means does that mean it's more boring; I was completely enthralled by the plot, I loved Paige and Warden! The relationship that builds between them is not what I expected, and as the plot progresses and we learn more of Sheol 1 and the Rephaim, this adds an extra element of intensity. To me it's one of those books that you just want other people to read so you can talk to them about it - there are plot elements that aren't resolved (as you'd expect for what is projected to be a 7 book series) so I want to know if other people think the same things as me!

What I will say is that I hadn't realised there was a glossary as if I turn to the back I have a naughty tendancy to read the last few lines, so make use of that, it will help you get to grips with the different characters much quicker than I did. 

I cannot wait for The Mime Order. So excited!

Look out for The Bone Season coming soon to the Waterstones Book Club!

- Gem.

REVIEW: Impostor - Susanne Winnacker

GENRE: Fantasy
PAGES: 304
PUBLISHER: Hodder Children's Books
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 4.5 Stars

SUMMARY

Tessa is a Variant, able to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches and mimic their appearance. Shunned by her family, she's spent the last two years with the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI. There she trains with other Variants, such as long-term crush Alec, who each have their own extraordinary ability. When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, Tessa is given a mission: she must impersonate Madison, a local teen, to find the killer before he strikes again. Tessa hates everything about being an impostor - the stress, the danger, the deceit - but loves playing the role of a normal girl. As Madison, she finds friends, romance, and the kind of loving family she'd do anything to keep. Amid action, suspense, and a ticking clock, this super-human comes to a very human conclusion: even a girl who can look like anyone struggles the most with being herself.

REVIEW

The tagline on the back of my proof copy of this was "Veronica Mars meets X-men" so immediately this drew my attention as I love both of those things!

I really enjoyed this book, the plot was exciting and a brilliant blend of crime and the paranormal. I really sympathised with Tessa, she was given a really dangerous mission but despite this she does her best to try and track down the killer, all the while battling with her personal feelings about the situation she is now in (don't want to give away any spoilers though!).

I've read another of Susanne Winnacker's novels, The Other Life, and I really liked that too. In both novels the tension increased throughout and the ending was dramatic and intense. Impostor wrapped up the initial mystery well but given how well thought out all the elements were - the FEA etc. - I'm really glad there is going to be a sequel and I'll definitely be reading it!

- Gem.

REVIEW: Fire and Flood - Victoria Scott

GENRE: Fantasy
PAGES: 384

PUBLISHER: Chicken House
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

Tella's brother is dying. He's got cancer, and Tella is helpless to save him. Or so she thought. When an invitation arrives for Tella to compete in the Brimstone Bleed, a deadly competition that will lead her through treacherous jungle and scorching desert, she doesn't think twice. Because the prize is a cure to any illness. But Tella will be facing more than just the elements.

REVIEW

I was so surprised by this book, the blurb makes it sound a bit Hunger Games-ish, but it is SO MUCH BETTER than that! It has a fantastic and unique twist that makes the plot unlike any other YA book I've read. Tella is a brilliant character; she's brave, feisty, determined but above all she feels "real". Coming from the present world, not a dystopian world, makes it much easier to relate to her as she strives to reach the end of the trials. I laughed out loud lots of times, and I also sobbed my eyes out at least twice! I can't wait for book 2.

- Gem.

REVIEW: Department 19 - Will Hill

GENRE: Adventure, Fantasy

PAGES: 496

PUBLISHER: HarperCollins Children's

FORMAT: Galley

BUY IT: Waterstones

RATING: 3 Stars

SUMMARY

In a secret supernatural battle that's been raging for over a century, the stakes have just been raised - and they're not wooden anymore. DEPARTMENT 6 IS THE ARMY, DEPARTMENT 12 is MI5, DEPARTMENT 19 IS THE REASON YOU'RE ALIVE. 

When Jamie Carpenter's mother is kidnapped by strange creatures, he finds himself dragged into Department 19, the government's most secret agency. Fortunately for Jamie, Department 19 can provide the tools he needs to find his mother, and to kill the vampires who want him dead. But unfortunately for everyone, something much older is stirring, something even Department 19 can't stand up against...

REVIEW

Department 19 is the coming of age story of Jamie Carpenter, descendant of John Carpenter - valet to the legendary Abraham Van Helsing. When Jamie's dad is shot by men in black, his mother is kidnapped by Alexandru, one of the 3 oldest vampires in the world. While trying to get her back Jamie is introduced to Blacklight, Department 19 of the British government, that deals with the supernatural dangers in the world. Unfortunately someone keeps giving away Jamie's whereabouts...

I really wanted to like this book. It has absolutely everything that I love: Dracula, Vampire, Frankenstein and a good bit of gore. But it really fell flat. I wrote my dissertation partly on Dracula and Frankenstein so I think there are grounds for arguing that I am just grumpy because of how much Department 19 takes liberties with the original stories. I think that if you were excited to read the classics after this you might have a bit of a shock. However, had those classics be written today perhaps this is what they would be like. I liked the idea of something major coming out of Dracula's world, even with the little addition of Vlad Tepes' background, but I have read reworkings that work so much better than this.

Boys and girls who love grizzly gore will love this and it's actually pretty disturbingly violent in places (like shoving a grenade in a mans mouth) so its definitely not for the younger readers. I felt that the characters weren't particularly fleshed out, I didn't associate or really care about any of them. I don't recall seeing one female Operator and would loved to have one of the descendants being a kick-ass girl. When Jamie is given his quick training at Blacklight it felt a little like 'Tron' and would transport well to the big screen. In fact a lot of the imagery is very bright and good, both the descriptions and the settings - I loved the village in Scotland in particular. However the rest of the description was overloaded with military terms and I became bored very quickly with it. There was very little emotion apart from "I miss my mom" and "your dad was my best friend". 

I found myself skim reading towards the end. I didn't care if Jamie ever found his mother. It's aimed more at YA boys who love constant action. I have to admit I was intrigued by the internal leak situation and finding out the truth about Jamie's dad but it didn't play out in a way that really kept my concentration.

I really wish I had more to say about this that was positive because its an absolutely brilliant concept. There are a lot of people that will find this fun and interesting and actually for people who have hated the classics you might find something more accessible here.

- Bex.

REVIEW: The Pledge - Kimberly Derting

GENRE: Fantasy/Dystopia

PAGES: 384

PUBLISHER: Allison & Busby

FORMAT: Paperback

BUY IT: Waterstones

RATING: 4 Stars

SUMMARY

Words are the most dangerous weapon of all...Seventeen-year-old Charlaina knows she has exceptional but perilous powers. In the far future, in a land controlled by an aged and ruthless queen, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. Even acknowledging a member of the ruling class while they are speaking their native tongue is punishable by death. Charlie can understand all languages, a secret she must protect to stay alive. When she meets the alluringly handsome Max, who speaks in a language she hasn't heard before, she is intensely attracted to him. Max believes that Charlie is the key to something bigger and he pledges to protect her. But as war descends, can she trust him?

REVIEW

This is another book I've picked up in order to fuel my obsession with Young Adult Dystopian novels and, thankfully, I wasn't disappointed. The main gist of the story is that Charlaina, the main narrator, is born with the power to understand any language. This is especially significant as the story is set in a country that specifically rules its class hierarchies through language. It is also reminiscent of the story of Anastasia and the Russian Romanov family (without giving too much away).

The Pledge has a very easy narrative, and I absolutely flew through it. It wasn't perhaps the most exciting book I've read so far this year but it did keep me on my toes. It successfully did what any Dystopia should do - kept you guessing where the characters loyalties lay. Was Charlaina about to be taken advantage of and duped, or is she actually playing a smart game? Being able to understand anyone puts her in the best position for gaining information to use for her advantage.

I did felt, though, that for a book that put so much emphasis on language it could have been a little more creative in its actual narrative, but perhaps it did benefit from having clean, straight writing. However I did enjoy place names becoming people's names in order to keep the old world alive. I would liked to have seen a little more of other characters; common every day people, just to see their thoughts on the society. It was obvious that the majority of normal folk went along with the class system and it seemed to suit them fine, even cheering along with the hangings to show their support for the Queen. I suppose I just wanted to hear more a little more general dissent!

At the beginning of the book we are told that the Queen is technically the same person that has been on the throne for a long time, just transferring her 'Essence' into another willing body as her current one begins to die. Although I found this bit of the story a little tedious, it did begin to explore the stories interesting take on the gender debate. Charlaina's society is primarily a Matriachy - but not Feminist in an extremist man-hating way. I felt that the story didn't always fully explore this, that it was just a fact that people lived with. The Queen herself dislikes men and feels that they are unsuitable for the throne but never really answers why. 

Men are actually portrayed in two ways: firstly the lecherous leering bouncer of the clubs that Charlaina and her friend visit. These club aren't strictly illegal but are similar to warehouse parties. What did annoy me a little was that there was no backlash for these underage girls begin in a club illegally, and Charlaina must have being doing it for a number of years because she has very few worries about the alcohol or the, yes, drugs. In fact it all seemed a little too normal for her.

Secondly there is the Knight in shining armour, the must for any YA novel, in the forms of Xander and Max, and even in her dad. Her Dad is actually one of the most revealing characters. He understands and tries to impress the importance of keeping any differences quiet, which is difficult when its something as not responding to something that you're not supposed to understand. Max is The Pledge's leading man, and he won't disappoint. Even I liked him. He's shown to be fiercely loyal and selfless, sweet and even funny. Needless to say their romance is a sweet one, and I like the way it almost takes a backseat to the events around them.

I really enjoyed The Pledge and I would recommend it as a good Summer read. It'll keep you occupied while you wile away the hours down at the beach.

- Bex.

REVIEW: Northern Lights - Philip Pullman

GENRE: Alternate/Fantasy/YA
PAGES: 448
PUBLISHER: Scholastic
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars

SUMMARY

"Without this child, we shall all die." Lyra Belacqua and her animal daemon live half-wild and carefree among scholars of Jordan College, Oxford. The destiny that awaits her will take her to the frozen lands of the Arctic, where witch-clans reign and ice-bears fight. Her extraordinary journey will have immeasurable consequences far beyond her own world...

REVIEW

This is one of my all time favourite trilogies and I try and re-read the books once a year. I love everything about them, from the incredible world building and the ideas behind the parallel worlds, to the amazing cast of characters; some that I love, and some that I love to hate! Lyra is the ultimate heroine; she is just a normal girl, but at the same time it's her normalcy that makes her so special as she is trust into situations and worlds that are truly incredible. She fights for survival, she fights for justice and she fights for what she believes in and she won't let anything or anyone stand in her way. 

As the trilogy progresses the worlds and the story become darker and the danger becomes ever more present, but as this happens, the level of interest in the story intensifies beyond belief. I feel sad that some people base their perceptions of this trilogy on the golden compass film because it did not do justice to how incredible this story is. 

This is the kind of trilogy that you really just need to read for yourself because once you have read it all the way through you will be so astonished by how complex and amazing it is that you will want all your friends to read it and you will want to read it over and over again! 

A fantastic and spellbinding series that deserves to be read for many years to come.

- Gem.