Book Review #22 - Slayed by Amanda Marrone

The family that slays together, stays together.

Daphne Van Helsing hates being a vampire slayer. All she wants is a normal life - friends, school, her own room - but her parents have devoted their lives to the cause, and Daphne's along for the ride.

Their latest job is in Maine, where not only are they hunting a fierce strain of vamps, but they're forced to work with the Harkers, a rival slayer family. Just her luck: Tyler Harker is totally crush-worthy, and he's her sworn enemy.

But just when things start looking up, something truly evil comes to the town. Something more powerful - and more frightening - than anything Daphne's encountered before.

She thought she'd seen hell on earth. She ain't seen nothin' yet.

My Rating: 3/5

I decided to read this book because I wanted a quick, light read hence I wasn't really expecting alot from it.

I found Daphne very hard to connect to. She never seemed to stop whinging about wanting a normal stable life.

Tyler, considering he was a main character wasn't very developed and we never really find out that much about him.

The plot I thought was well thought out and well written, although a bit boring at times.

I would have liked to have seen more closure between Daphne and her mother.

I liked the idea about rival slayers and I thought the angels and demons aspect was fairly unique.

Follow Friday #5

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkees View!


This weeks question is...


Share your current fave television show. Tell us a bit about it...


Answer: The only TV shows I currently watch are Grey's Anatomy and True Blood.

Book Review #21 - Fallen (Fallen #1) by Lauren Kate

 

Some Angels are destined to fall.

Instant. Intense. Weirdly familiar.....

The moment Luce looks at Daniel she knows she has never felt like this before.

Except she can't shake the feeling that she has...... and with him - a boy she doesn't even remember ever setting eyes on.

Will her attempt to find out why enlighten her - or destroy her?

My Rating: 3/5

I think this book would have been alot better if it was condensed and if it paced itself a little more evenly.

The plot was very, very slow until the last fifty pages or so where it picks up and all the action was crammed.

I have been putting off reading this book for so long because of all the negative reviews I have read about it.

I can see where those negative reviews are coming from as it took me forever to get into the book. I still don't know whether I completely liked it or not. There were parts in the book that I still don't fully understand.

I wished there was more of a history of the main characters, and that the supporting characters had more depth.

Book Review #20 - Nightshade (Nightshade #1) by Andrea Cremer

I wanted him to kiss me - I wished he could smell the desire that I knew was pouring off me. You can't, Calla. This boy isn't the one for you.

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: graduation, marriage and then a life leading her pack.

But when she defies her masters' laws to save a human boy, she must choose. Is one boy worth losing everything?

My Rating: 4.5/5

I found with this book that the first 300 pages could have probably been condensed.

I wasn't really into the plot, or the characters (besides Calla) until a plot twist about 300 pages in. After that I couldn't put the book down.

Calla was independent and determined. She definitely kept me turning the pages when the plot flatlined a bit.

I didn't really understand nor like Shay that much. I just failed to connect with him.

Altogether though this was a really good, well written book. It is definitely the best werewolf book I have read so far.

Book Review #19 - Hex Hall (Hex Hall #1) by Rachel Hawkins

When sixteen-year old Sophie Mercer discovers she's a witch, she imagines life will be full of magic, fun and.....well.....broomsticks! But her first attempt at a love spell goes disastrously wrong and, as punishment, Sophie is shipped off to Hecate "Hex" Hall, a reform school for witches, shapeshifters, and faeries.

By the end of her first day among her fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tag-along ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person on campus and the only vampire.

Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

My Rating: 4.5/5

I had been meaning to buy this book for a very long time. I probably put off buying it because I had such high expectations for it and was worried it wouldn't meet them. Well, I shouldn't have worried, because not only did it meet my expectations but it surpassed them.

This book is a very quick read thanks largely to the continual advancements with the plot. I read this book in under four hours.

The characters were well written, especially Sophie and Jenna.

I can't wait for the second book in this series called Demon Glass.

Book Review #18 - Forsaken (Demon Trappers #1) by Jana Oliver

Riley Blackthorne. Kicking hell's ass one demon at a time.

Riley has always wanted to be a Demon Trapper like her father, and she's already following in his footsteps as one of the best. But it's tough being the only girl in an all-guy world, especially when three of those guys start making her life more complicated:

Simon, the angelic apprentice who has heaven on his side; Beck, the tough trapper who thinks he's God's gift, and Ori, the strikingly sexy stranger who keeps turning up to save her life.

One thing's for sure - if she doesn't keep her wits about her there'll be hell to pay.......

My Rating: 4/5

I found it really hard to get into this book, probably because it starts without an introduction into the world. There is a prequel out called Retro Demonology so maybe I should have read that first.

Riley was strong, brave and very grounded. She always stands up for herself. She was definitely one of the main positive aspects I got from this book. 

It looks like this series is going to develop into a love-square. So far I have to say that I prefer Beck, simply because he is more developed than Simon and Ori.

There are enough unanswered questions to get me to read the second book in this series called Forbidden which will come out later this year.

Follow Friday #4

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkees View!


This weeks question is...


'If you are a fan of Science Fiction what is your favourite book? If you haven't read Science Fiction before...any inkling to? Anything catch your eye?'



Answer: To be honest I don't rate books on genre, I rate them on content. If it is a good story, and it happens to be Science Fiction then I will like it and the other way around.


Some Science Fiction books I do like are The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins and The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld.


Science Fiction books I want to read are the rest of the books in The Uglies series and The Host by Stephenie Meyer.

Book Review #17 - Darkness Be My Friend (Tomorrow #4) by John Marsden

There are only five of them left now. Ellie and her four friends Lee, Homer, Kevin and Fi, have reluctantly returned to Australia from New Zealand to lead more guerrilla attacks on the enemy (who invaded their country in the previous book, Tomorrow, When the War Began).

The group has staged raids on their captive hometown Wirrawee from the wilderness sanctuary they call Hell, blowing up and burning enemy headquarters and bridges and supply depots, and killing with their bare hands when they must. By the end of the two sequels, The Dead of Night and A Killing Frost, they are strong and resourceful, but tired and soul-sick with the pervasive violence.

Two of them have been killed, and one has killed himself in despair. When they were rescued and airlifted to New Zealand, they thought the nightmare was over. But now they have been sent back to Wirrawee to guide a party of adult raiders on a planned sabotage of a strategic airfield.

Something goes wrong; the adults never come back from the raid, and Ellie and her friends are again left on their own to do what they can and must to survive.

My Rating: 3/5

Not my favourite book in the series so far, but I think this more of a stepping stone for the next installment.

This book deals more with their psychological wellbeing and less about the situation they are in.

John Marsden creates a very realistic atmosphere which considering the content is quite remarkable.

The depth of the characters is amazing and they come more and more alive as the series progresses.

Book Review #16 - Unbelievable (Pretty Little Liars #4) by Sara Shepard

Four pretty little liars' charmed lives have turned into nightmares.

Emily's been shipped off to Iowa to live with her uberconservative cousins. Aria's boyfriend is behind bars - because of her. Spencer's afraid she was involved in Ali's murder. But Hanna's fate is far worse: she's clinging to life in the hospital because she knew too much.

If these girls don't start listening to me, Hanna's going to look like the lucky one.

My Rating: 4.5/5

I was really interested in starting this book simply because of the cliff-hanger from Perfect.

The ending, just like the other three books in the series was completely unexpected, and to this I give complete credit to the author.

I thought that the whole series could have ended here, considering that the main problem has now been solved.

I am now interested to see how this series is going to last another 8 books and not feel like it's dragging on considering the exact same problem that has taken 4 books to solve is going to resurface.

Book Review #15 - Perfect (Pretty Little Liars #3) by Sara Shepard

In Rosewood, Pennsylvania, four perfect looking girls aren't nearly as perfect as they seem.

Aria can't resist her forbidden ex. Hanna is on the verge of losing her BFF. Emily is freaking out over a simple kiss. And Spencer can't keep her hands off anything that belongs to her sister.

Lucky me. I know these pretty little liars better than they know themselves. But it's hard keeping all of their secrets to myself. They better do as I say........or else!

My Rating: 4/5

First and foremost the ending was completely unexpected. That alone lifted my rating from a 3.5 to a 4.

I liked how "A" started to actually out the girls secrets instead of just threatening to.

It was as fast paced as the first two books and I finished reading it in a couple of hours.

Although there was no real advancement with the plot, it felt like there was with the depth of the sub-plots.

I will start the fourth book in the series, Unbelievable as soon as possible, and after that I will probably have to order the remaining books in this awesome series.

Book Review #14 - Flawless (Pretty Little Liars #2) By Sara Shepard

Four pretty little liars have been very bad girls.

Spencer stole her sister's boyfriend. Aria is brokenhearted over her English teacher. Emily likes her new friend Maya.....as much more than a friend. Hanna's obsession with looking flawless is making her sick. And their most horrible secret yet is so scandalous that the truth would ruin them forever.

And why shouldn't I tell? They deserve to lose it all. With every crumpled note, wicked IM, and vindictive text message I send, I'll be taking these pretty little liars down. Trust me, I've got enough dirt to bury them alive.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Flawless resolved the cliff-hanger from Pretty Little Liars with an opening prologue. From there it continues right from where it left off in the first book.

Again I didn't really think I was going to like this, yet I read it in a couple of hours.

I found myself liking some characters more than others, which I didn't in the first book. I probably like Emily the least and Aria the most.

Also with cliff-hangers at the end of almost every chapter and the change of character every chapter, it made you keep reading because you want to get back to that character's point of view and before you know it you have finished the book. 

I have already started reading the third book in the series Perfect.

Book Review #13 - A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

It's 1895 and, after the death of her mother, 16-year old Gemma Doyle is shipped off from the life she knows in India to Spence, a proper boarding school in England. Lonely, guilt-ridden, and prone to visions of the future that have an uncomfortable habit of coming true, Gemma finds her reception a chilly one. She's not completely alone, though..... she's being followed by a mysterious young man, sent to warn her to close her mind against the visions.

It's at Spence that Gemma's power to attract the supernatural unfolds, as she becomes entangled with the school's most powerful girls and discovers her mother's connection to a shadowy, timeless group called The Order. Her destiny awaits..... if only Gemma can believe it.

My Rating: 3/5

Having never read any kind of Historical Fiction before, I had no idea what my reaction to this book would be.

The protagonist, Gemma Doyle was by far the most positive element that I have taken from this book.

The plot was engaging although predictable at times.

Book Review #12 - I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

John Smith is not your average teenager.

He regularly moves from small town to small town. He changes his name and identity. He does not put down roots. He cannot tell anyone who or what he really is. If he stops moving, those who hunt him will find and kill him.

But you can't run forever.

So when he stops in Paradise, Ohio, John decides to try and settle down. To fit in. And for the first time he makes some real friends. People he cares about - and who care about him. Never in John's short life has there been space for friendship, or even love.

But it's just a matter of time before John's secret is revealed.

He was once one of nine. Three of them have been killed.

John is Number Four. He knows that he is next.....

My Rating: 3.5/5

I finally decided to read this book because the movie comes out in just under two weeks (in Australia). It is the first book that I have read where there have been aliens.

The plot was the only attribute that had me turning the page.

All the characters were average and stereotyped. The main character John Smith was average from everything from his name to his personality.

The ending seemed a little rushed, and considering this book was almost 400 pages long I think it could have been paced out a bit more evenly.

The next book in the series, The Power of Six follows the life of Number 7. This is the first book in a proposed 6 book series.

Book Haul - February 2011

Books I got so far this month are:

• Forsaken (The Demon Trappers #1) by Jana Oliver
• Hex Hall (Hex Hall #1) by Rachel Hawkins
• A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle #1) by Libba Bray.
• Succubus Blues (Georgina Kincaid #1) by Richelle Mead
• The Alchemyst (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #1) by Michael Scott

• The Magician (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #2) by Michael Scott
• The Sorceress (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #3) by Michael Scott
• The Iron Queen (The Iron Fey #3) by Julie Kagawa.
• Shadowspell (Faeriewalker #2) by Jenna Black
• Divine by Mistake (Partholon #1) by PC Cast
• Divine by Choice (Partholon #2) by PC Cast
• Divine by Blood (Partholon #3) by PC Cast
• Grave Sight (Harper Connelly #1) by Charlaine Harris.
• My Soul to Keep (Soul Screamers #3) by Rachel Vincent
• Pretty Little Liars (Pretty Little Liars #1) by Sara Shepard
• Flawless (Pretty Little Liars #2) by Sara Shepard
• Perfect (Pretty Little Liars #3) by Sara Shepard
• Unbelievable (Pretty Little Liars #4) by Sara Shepard
• Tantalize (Tantalize #1) by Cynthia Leitich Smith
• The Bleeding Dusk (Gardella Vampire Chronicles #3) Colleen Gleason

Follow Friday #3

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee over at Parajunkee's View.

This weeks question is:

What is the book you are currently 'pushing?' (Pushing mean trying to get people to read it)

Answer: I am currently trying to get my mum to read Vampire Academy.

Book Review #11 - Evermore (The Immortals #1) by Alyson Noel

Sixteen-year old Ever Bloom is the sole survivor of a car accident that killed her family. Exiled to sunny California. Ever is haunted by her little sister and by the ability to see people's auras, hear thoughts and know their entire life story by touching them. She wants to hide from the world, but when a stunningly handsome new guy arrives at school, she can't seem to keep away. Falling in love with Damen is dangerous - he's not what he seems. But if Damen is her destiny, how can Ever walk away?

My Rating: 3/5

This book was very predictable, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it, although I would have liked to have seen more of Ever seeing people's auras and reading minds but that is rarely explored.

Damen didn't develop much throughout the book, you never really find out much about him although that will probably come later in the series.

Book Review #10 - Starting Out: My Story So Far by Alastair Cook

Alastair Cook forced his way into the record books in 2006, becoming one of the few England players to score a hundred on debut. By going on to become the only Englishman to hit seven Test centuries before his twenty-third birthday, Alastair found himself in the company of the greatest players in cricketing hsitory.

STARTING OUT is Alastair's personal account of this speedy climb to stardom. Equally gifted at music, he opted for cricket as a schoolboy and the young left-hander broke record after record as he progressed to become the first-choice opener for Essex.

Alastair became an integral part of the England team, alongside Andrew Flintoff, Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Strauss, and is perfectly placed to describe the highs and lows of life within the England cricket camp during one of the most exciting and turbulent periods of their history, both on and off the field.

Updated to include the full dramatic story of the 2009 Ashes triumph, STARTING OUT amounts to a fascinating insight into the life of one of the rising stars of English cricket.

My Rating: 3.5/5

I own quite a few cricketers autobiographies and rarely get around to reading them as I'm always reading fiction. Yet after Alastair Cook's amazing summer here in Australia I finally grabbed his book off my shelf.

His writing was alot similar to his batting in that it was intelligent and mature.

I like the expansive talk about cricket onfield and the the stats and records at the end. Although if you don't like cricket as much as I do, you would probably find it boring.

I recommend that if you like cricket, even if you don't support England, even if you support Australia that you should pick up this book because with 16 centuries already to his name, who knows how many he will end up with by the time he retires.