GUEST REVIEW: Irresistable - Liz Bankes

GENRE: New Adult

PAGES: 224
PUBLISHER: Piccadilly Press
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 3 Stars

SUMMARY

When Mia gets a summer job in a country club, it's a chance to see into a whole world of privilege and passion she's never imagined. Thankfully there's Dan to keep her feet on the ground. He's laid-back, funny and could be the perfect person to go travelling with when the summer's over. But behind everything that happens in the summer, there's Jamie. Wealthy and sexy, he's got everything he could ever want, and enjoys nothing more than messing with people's lives for his own entertainment. Mia knows that any relationship with Jamie is a bad idea, but as she's drawn into his dangerous and madly exciting world, she finds the one thing she can't stop is herself.

REVIEW

Irresistible is essentially a book about a sixteen year old girl who has just finished her GCSEs and decides to get a job at a posh restaurant where she meets two boys, and a typical love triangle begins.

Although the book is well written and did keep me entertained, it was not a great work of literature. It lacked in depth and thought, and was quite unoriginal- a plot that I have seen many times, where the girl falls for both the nice guy who seems to be completely head over heels for her, and the bad boy, who is quite ruthless towards her- and yet she still somehow falls for him. I have never understood love triangles to be honest; I find them quite boring and predictable; but that being said, the book was a fun read nevertheless. 

The ‘nice’ boy, Dan, is quite… nice? His and Mia’s (the main character) relationship is cute, but definitely lacked in chemistry from her part, I felt quite sorry for Dan- he suffered due to Mia’s childishness. And Jamie is a bit of a bad boy, a little overly so and I do want to go and slap some sense into him. Mia did make me grit my teeth and clench my fists a lot (The book did definitely grab me). She is young and inexperienced, but her choices are just awful, even for her. She somehow always manages to hurt someone and even then thinks that she is the only victim. Character wise, the book wasn’t so great.

I don’t want this review to be all bad, so I’ll end on the positives. Like I have previously stated, the book is a very fun and easy read, some of the characters do crack some jokes now and then that make me smile, and both boys are definitely attractive (in my mind anyway), which makes everything better doesn’t it? 

Overall, although not the best book ever, I did thoroughly enjoy it and I would recommend it if you’re just looking for something light and fun to read on holiday maybe? Not sure if I’ll be picking up another Liz Bankes book anytime soon though…

- Maryam

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.