Book Review #633 - The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus #1) by Rick Riordan

My Rating: 3/5


Source: Bought


Goodreads













Jason has a problem. He doesn't remember anything before waking up on a school bus holding hands with a girl. Apparently she's his girlfriend Piper, his best friend is a kid named Leo, and they're all students in the Wilderness School, a boarding school for "bad kids." What he did to end up here, Jason has no idea-except that everything seems very wrong.

Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, and her vivid nightmares reveal that he's in terrible danger. Now her boyfriend doesn't recognize her, and when a freak storm and strange creatures attack during a school field trip, she, Jason, and Leo are whisked away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood. What is going on?

Leo has a way with tools. His new cabin at Camp Half-Blood is filled with them. Seriously, the place beats Wilderness School hands down, with its weapons training, monsters, and fine-looking girls. What's troubling is the curse everyone keeps talking about, and that a camper's gone missing. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist they are all-including Leo-related to a god.

I loved The Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan but didn't particularly enjoy The Red Pyramid (the first book in Riordan's Kane Chronicles series). The main issue I had with TRP was that it was too long and drawn out.

For that reason, I really wasn't if I was going to like The Lost Hero or not as whilst it is set back in the Percy Jackson universe, it is of a similar length to TRP.

I started off really enjoying this book. The three characters Jason, Piper and Leo were all fresh and interesting.

I am not sure when it started but I thought that whilst I was still enjoying the story, the book wasn't really going anywhere and was taking me way too long to read it.

I love that some characters from the PJO series made appearances in this book especially Annabeth - and I am looking forward to Percy making an appearance in this series.

There was a lot of action in this book and like with all Riordan's books there was an amazing depth to the mythology.

This book felt a lot more mature than the PJO series and yet I felt like the writing stayed the same. This seemed to clash at times. 

I felt there were perhaps too many gods and creature of the like introduced. The glossary at the back helped but there didn't need to be as many as there were.

Overall, I was a little disappointed with this book, but am eager to read the rest of the series.

Book Review #588 - Legacy of Kings (Blood of Gods and Royals #1) by Eleanor Herman

My Rating: 4/5


Source: Harlequin Australia


Buy: Publisher or Dymocks


Goodreads

Imagine a time when the gods turn a blind eye to the agony of men, when the last of the hellions roam the plains and evil stirs beyond the edges of the map. A time when cities burn, and in their ashes, empires rise.

Alexander, Macedonia’s sixteen-year-old heir, is on the brink of discovering his fated role in conquering the known world but finds himself drawn to newcomer Katerina, who must navigate the dark secrets of court life while hiding her own mission: kill the Queen. But Kat’s first love, Jacob, will go to unthinkable lengths to win her, even if it means competing for her heart with Hephaestion, a murderer sheltered by the prince. And far across the sea, Zofia, a Persian princess and Alexander’s unmet fiancée, wants to alter her destiny by seeking the famed and deadly Spirit Eaters.

Weaving fantasy with the salacious and fascinating details of real history, New York Times bestselling author Eleanor Herman reimagines the greatest emperor the world has ever known: Alexander the Great, in the first book of the Blood of Gods and Royals series.

This book has been commonly referred to as 'Game of Thrones for young adults'. I think that description is spot on although I found this book much easier to follow than the other. 

At first I was a little hesitant when I discovered how many narrators there were (there were at least 5) but I found that when they all had very distinct voices and the story settled very quickly making it almost impossible to get confused. 

I partially predicted the major plot twist and thought that it was fairly transparent. 

The romance in this book was lacking which I was pleased about as romance tends to overshadow other aspects. 

I really enjoyed both the historical and mythological elements this book contained and I cannot wait to see how this develops further. 

Zo (the least used narrator) reminded me of Daenerys from the A Song of Ice and Fire series in that she is separated by distance from the other characters. Her portion of the story had no real conclusion to it as not much time was spent with her. 

Kat and Alex dominated the most attention and for that reason they were the most developed characters. 

I would like to hear more from the lesser used narrators Zo and Jacob in the next book. 

Overall, I loved how neatly the historical elements blended in with the epic action scenes.  

Book Review #579 - Fearsome Dreamer (Fearsome Dreamer #1) by Laure Eve

My Rating: 3.5.5


Source: The Five Mile Press


Buy: The Book Depository


Goodreads



There is a world where gods you’ve never heard of have wound themselves into hearts, and choice has led its history down a different path.

This is a world where France made a small, downtrodden island called England part of its vast and bloated empire.

There are people here who can cross a thousand miles with their minds. There are rarer people still who can move between continents in the blink of an eye.

These people are dangerous.

And wanted. Desperately wanted.

Apprentice hedgewitch Vela Rue knows that she is destined for more. She knows being whisked off from a dull country life to a city full of mystery and intrigue is meant to be. She knows she has something her government wants, a talent so rare and precious and new that they will do anything to train her in it.

But she doesn’t know that she is being lied to. She doesn’t know that the man teaching her about her talent is becoming obsessed by her, and considered by some to be the most dangerous man alive ...

This book is told via dual narration between the two main protagonists Rue and White. I liked this but would have preferred it being first or second person rather than third. 

I did not like Rue at all. I found her arrogant and rather cold whilst I really enjoyed White as a character. 

The plot took a while to develop (particularly from Rue's perspective) and I found the book rather hard to read at times. 

I felt like nothing really major happened in this book and that it was predominantly written to set up the sequel. 

I would like to know more about the worlds created and also about the talent as for a 350 plus paged book it didn't contain much depth. 

Book Review #539 - The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles #1) by Rick Riordan

I guess it started the night our Dad blew up the British Museum...

Carter and Sadie Kane's dad is brilliant Egyptologist with a secret plan that goes horribly wrong. An explosion shatters the ancient Rosetta Stone and unleashes Set, the evil god of chaos...

Set imprisons Dr Kane is a golden coffin, and Carter and Sadie are forced to run for their lives. To save their dad, they must embark on a terrifying quest from Cairo and Paris to the American South-west and discover the truth about their family's connection to the House of Life: an Egyptian temple of magic that has existed for thousands of years.

The pharaohs of ancient Egypt are far from dead and buried. And so, unfortunately are their gods...

My Rating: 2.5/5

After reading The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series I decided to pick this book up whilst I waited for my bookmail of the Heroes of Olympus series to arrive. 

With the PJO series, even though I knew very little about Greek Mythology I was still able to follow the story. With this book, knowing very little about Egyptian Mythology made this book very confusing for me. 

I also found the pacing of this book to be extremely slow. It took me around a week to finish which is a long time for me, but by the time I had finished it I had felt like I had been reading it for months. 

This book still had the Rick Riordan quality to it, which I believe is the only reason why I was able to finish it. 

The book is told from split narration between the twin protagonists Sadie and Carter Kane. They both had very distinctive voices and I never once confused them throughout. 

Overall I felt like I probably went into this book with unrealistic expectations but even if I had read this book before the PJO series I'd like to think my views would be the same. 

Book Review #536 - The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #5) by Rick Riordan

All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of a victory are grim. Kronos’s army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan’s power only grows. 

While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it’s up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.

In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling series, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy’s sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.

My Rating: 4/5 

This being the last book in the series that I have done nothing but read for the last week I was very hesitant to read it as I was reluctant to finish the series. 

The action in this book was immense. There was significantly more in this book than any of the others. Even with that it still maintained the humour used throughout the series. 

Annabeth was a little too emotional and angsty in this book whilst showing obvious (to everyone but Percy) jealousy towards Rachel, who was also rather annoying in this book. 

The ending obviously sets up the Heroes of Olympus series which I am eagerly wanting to read as soon as possible. 

Book Review #535 - The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #4) by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson isn't expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse.

In this fourth installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos's army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop the invasion, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth - a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn.

My Rating: 5/5

This is my new favourite Percy Jackson novel. This series just gets better and better and I regret waiting so long to read them (especially when they have all been sitting on my bookshelf for years). 

I loved the whole concept of the labyrinth and the monsters contained in it. 

There was a lot more depth in this book compared to the others and this was largely due to the maturing of the characters. 

I loved that Tyson played a larger role in this book than in The Titan's Curse as he is one of my favourite characters. 

There was a lot of action in this book including a great battle scene. 

I had planned on reading a contemporary book or something else before I started The Last Olympian but with the way this book ended quite ominously I couldn't help but delve straight into Percy Jackson's last adventure. 

Book Review #534 - The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #3) by Rick Riordan

When Percy Jackson receives an urgent distress call from his friend Grover, he immediately prepares for battle. He knows he'll need his powerful demigod allies at his side; his trusty bronze sword, Riptide; and . . . a ride from his mom.

The demigods reace to the rescue to find that Grover has made an important discovery: two new powerful half-bloods, whose parentage is unknown. But that's not all that awaits them. The Titan lord, Kronos, has set up a devious trap, and the young heroes have just fallen prey.

Hilarious and action-packed, this third adventure in the series finds Percy faced with his most dangerous challenge yet—the chilling prophecy of the Titan's curse.

My Rating: 5/5

This book is the sequel to The Lightning Thief and The Sea of Monsters. 

I am marathoning these book so expect reviews of the rest of the series soon. 

Given the way The Sea of Monsters ended I'm not sure why I waited so long to continue with this series. 

This series just seems to get better and better and as someone who doesn't know much about Greek Mythology, I love how much I am learning just by reading a book that I actually enjoy. 

I really enjoyed the amount of action contained in this book and it is definitely my favourite so far in the series. 

I can see a slight change in Percy and Annabeth's relationship so I am intrigued to see where they go as they continue to mature as characters. 

Book Review #509 - Breakdown by Sarah Mussi

It is 2084. Nuclear radiation has poisoned the country. Society has fallen apart. Starvation is rampant, and power shortages have resulted in piles of obsolete gadgetry. Necessity has driven those who've survived to complete self-reliance, if they have the means to do so. For Melissa and her Nan, survival is just about possible, so long as they can guard the tiny crop of potatoes in their back garden and find enough fuel to cook on - and as long as they are safely barricaded inside their home by curfew.

For after dark, feral dogs hunt, and violent gangs from the old Olympic Stadium (now a miserable ghetto) roam to loot and plunder. If they catch you, they are not merciful; so when Melissa falls into the hands of Careem's gang, her prospects look bleak. But Careem soon realises that she might just be more valuable alive, as a ransom victim. However, he hasn't reckoned with Melissa's resourcefulness. Soon part of his young gang are completely beguiled by Melissa and her story of a hidden valley in Scotland - a place that sounds like a comparative paradise, if they can get there. But apparently only Melissa knows the way, and only she can lead them there. But Melissa is hiding a secret. She has never been to Scotland in her life, let alone a mythically  Elysian valley there. Can Melissa's stories keep her alive long enough to escape - or will they get her killed?

My Rating: 5/5

I received this book for review from the Five Mile Press. 

Dystopians are my favourite genre at the moment but this book has got to be one of the most realistic ones I have read. 

Unlike most dystopians I have read, this book actually explains how the world got the way it is. The reasons were also really believable. 

I loved how London was used as the setting and it was obvious by the vivid world building that it is a city (even in its dystopian state) that the author knows well. 

I also loved the Greek Mythology elements that were integrated into the story. 

Melissa was a strong female protagonist both physically and mentally. My favourite character was 6 year old Lenny as he always brought hope into otherwise hopeless situations. 

Usually I would be glad that a book is a stand alone because I am terrible at reading sequels but I really would have liked a sequel for this book. 

Book Review #498 - Echo (Soul Seekers #2) by Alyson Noel

Daire Santos has already saved her grandmother's life and her soul. But at a cost: the Richter family has been let loose in the Lowerworld. Daire and her boyfriend Dace Richter must work together to find them before chaos ensues and the balance between good and evil is destroyed. As their relationship deepens, Dace's evil brother Cade grows stronger than ever, building his power and forcing Daire and Dace to confront the horrifying prophecy that has brought them all together. It will leave Daire no choice but to claim her true destiny as Seeker, but only by making an unthinkable sacrifice.

My Rating: 3.5/5

I received this book for review from Pan MacMillan Australia and it is the sequel to Fated. 

I was a little worried about this book because as it had been a while since I read Fated and for some reason I didn't take any notes whilst reading it, and I wasn't sure how much of it I remembered. 

As soon as I started reading this, Fated came flooding back to me and I found myself absorbed in the story once more. 

The first 100 or so pages were solely narrated by Daire as it was in Fated however after a small plot twist it changes into split narration. The only thing I didn't like about the split narration was the fact that Daire's chapters were significantly longer than Dace's. 

This book delves deeper into not only the characters and the whole prophecy saga but also Daire and Dace's relationship and the sacrifices they have to go through. 

Daire has grown so much since the first book not only as a character but with her capabilities as a Seeker. 

I predicted the major plot twist in this book really early which wasn't ideal but the amazing cliffhanger at the end made up for it.   

Book Review #477 - The Sea of Monsters: The Graphic Novel (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #2) by Rick Riordan

Seventh grade has been surprisingly quiet for Percy Jackson. Not a single monster has set foot on his New York prep-school campus. But when an innocent game of dodgeball among Percy and his classmates turns into a death match against an ugly gang of cannibal giants, things get...well, ugly. And the unexpected arrival of his friend Annabeth brings more bad news: the magical borders that protect Camp Half-Blood have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and unless a cure is found, the only safe haven for demigods will be destroyed.

In the follow-up to the wildly popular The Lightning Thief, The Graphic Novel, Percy and his friends must journey into the Sea of Monsters to save their camp. But first, Percy will discover a stunning new secret about his family--one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon's son is an honor or simply a cruel joke.

My Rating: 3/5

I'm not the biggest fan of graphic novels especially ones adapted from novels but seeing as I read the first one, I thought I would try its sequel.

Whilst I thought that the drawings were more expressive than the first book, the story was a lot weaker. If it wasn't for the fact that I have read the novel, I would have been left confused as there were numerous plot holes.

Reading this though has inspired me to finish the Percy Jackson and the Olympians books, so I hope to read the remaining four books soon.

Book Review #449 - Fated (Soul Seekers #1) by Alyson Noel

Strange things are happening to Daire Santos. Crows mock her, glowing people stalk her, time stops without warning, and a beautiful boy with unearthly blue eyes haunts all her dreams. Fearing for her daughter’s sanity, Daire’s mother sends her to live with the grandmother she’s never met. A woman who recognizes the visions for what they truly are—the call to her destiny as a Soul Seeker—one who can navigate the worlds between the living and dead.



There on the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico, Daire sets out to harness her mystical powers. But it’s when she meets Dace, the boy from her dreams, that her whole world is shaken to its core. Now Daire is forced to discover if Dace is the one guy she's meant to be with...or if he’s allied with the enemy she's destined to destroy.

My Rating: 3.5/5

I have a love/hate relationship with Alyson Noel's books so I was interested in how I would feel about this one. I would say I fell somewhere in between.

The main thing I loved about this book was the whole seeker magic aspect. I thought that this was unique as it depicted the magical element in a more natural way.

The main problem I had with this book was the characters. There wasn't anything redeeming about them and their actions weren't believable at all.

Daire the protagonist was annoying from the first paragraph - although I did think she softened out towards the end. Her relationship with Dace was a little unbelievable simply because of the pacing of it.

I also really loved the idea of the spirit animals and hope that this aspect gets developed more throughout the rest of the series.

Book Review #445 - Of Neptune (Syrena Legacy #3) by Anna Banks

Emma and Galen s kingdom and their love is threatened by long-lost Syrena in the brilliant conclusion to Anna Banks bestselling trilogy.

Emma, half human and half Syrena, and her Syrena love, Galen, need time together alone. Away from the kingdoms of Poseidon and Triton. Emma s grandfather, the Poseidon king, suggests the two visit a small town called Neptune.

Neptune is home to both Syrena and Half-Breeds alike. But Emma and Galen didn t sign up to be peacemakers between the ocean and the land-dwelling, freshwater Syrena. They didn t bargain for meeting a charming Half-Breed named Reed, who can barely disguise his feelings for Emma. And they especially didn t expect to find themselves in the middle of a power struggle that threatens not only their love but their ocean kingdoms.

In this stunning conclusion to her bestselling Syrena Legacy, Anna Banks thrills fans with more action and romance than ever.

My Rating: 4.5/5

I received this book for review from Hardie Grant Egmont. It is the sequel to Of Poseidon and Of Triton. 

I didn't reread the first two books like I usually would do because I didn't have enough time but I found that this book was easy enough just to jump back into the Syrena world. 

This book was probably my favourite in the series because I really loved the whole idea of Neptune. 

Whilst the split narrative is very common now in the young adult genre, I don't think I have seen it work anywhere near as well as it does in this series. It worked especially well in this book as Emma and Galen spend so much time apart and their voices gel really well together. 

Reed was a refreshing character. He reminded me of a stereotypical Australian. He was very laid back, charismatic and very outgoing. 

Emma and Galen both annoyed me at times throughout the book and I think this was because there wasn't as much focus on secondary characters as there has been in the first two books. 

I love the amount of depth put into the whole Syrena biology and politics. Overall, this is a was a fantastic series and definitely my favourite in the mermaid genre.

Book Review #410 - Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1) by Rick Riordan

After learning that he is the son of a mortal woman and Poseidon, god of the sea, twelve-year-old Percy is sent to a summer camp for demigods like himself, and joins his new friends on a quest to prevent a war between the gods.

My Rating: 3/5

This is the first full length graphic novel that I have read. I thought that reading a story that I am already familiar with would be the perfect introduction to a new style of reading.

I do see myself reading more graphic novels in the future although I will probably stick with original ones rather than ones based off of some of my favourite books as it is hard not to compare them with each other.

The only positives of the graphic novel over the actual novel were that it was a thousand times quicker to read and that it was good to get a visual of what I was reading.

Book Review #398 - Thirteen (The Last Thirteen #1) by James Phelen

13 books. 13 nightmares. 1 destiny.

I click my fingers and everybody dies.

Sam wakes from his nightmare to discover the terrifying reality. It will come true.

Kidnapped from school and finding out his parents aren't who he thinks they are, Sam is suddenly running from danger at every turn. Nothing will ever be the same again.

With his life and identity shattered, Sam's salvation is tied to an ancient prophecy. He is in the final battle to save the world, up against an enemy plotting to destroy us all.

He alone can find the last thirteen.

My Rating: 3/5

The writing style of this book is quite simplistic so I would say this is more of a children's book rather than young adult.

This book is similar to the Conspiracy 365 books in that it is completely action packed and fast paced but lacks any kind of depth. Plus, they always end with annoying cliff-hangers.

Plot wise, it combines a lot of things that are popular in young adult fiction such as prophecies, people who dream the future, references to mythology etc.

The characters were all pretty generic. The book was too heavily focused on the action rather than character building.

This book was a very light, fun and fast read and takes no time or effort to read.

Book Review #355 - A Beautiful Fate (The Beautiful Fate #1) by Cat Mann

Obsessive and driven by nightmares, Ava Baio is uprooted from her Chicago home after the untimely and tragic death of her loving mother. Taken across country by her antagonistic grandmother and placed as a boarding student at a school in Dana Point, California, Ava struggles with isolation and the loss of her mother and her grandfather. Faced with having left her beloved brownstone behind and attending a new school, surrounded by new faces and unfamiliar scenery, she finds herself sorting through unfamiliar and uncharted feelings with a strange and beautiful boy, Ari – a modern day Adonis. After an unconventional start to their relationship, Ava becomes intensely absorbed by her love for Ari, and with his help and the help of his family, she discovers who she really is – a Fate descended from Atropos. She learns that the Greek mythology she grew up reading is not comprised of myth after all.

Ava faces constant challenges both in her relationship with Ari and with the fact that she is being hunted by six threatening and ruthless men who want nothing more than for her to die so that they can live forever. She has no choice but to stand up for those she has come to love. In doing so, she becomes something she hates, a killer.

 

A true page-turner, A Beautiful Fate is Part One of The Beautiful Fate Series. The novel is full of suspense, romance and the allure of ancient Greece. Ava and Ari will leave the reader hoping the story will never end.

 

 

My Rating: 3.5/5

 

 

I received this book for review from the author. Her Goodreads page can be found here.

 

 

There are so many young adult mythology books around at the moment and so I was glad this book approached that topic with a fresh new concept.

 

 

Ava was a very strong female character and I found that I instantly connected with her. Ari, like his family seemed too perfect at times but they were all warm characters.

 

 

One of my favourite characters was Rory. He was such a lively character. He actually kind of reminded me of Emmett from the Twilight Saga.

 

 

Ava's grandmother seemed a little shady to me and I think she might be somehow involved in something.

 

 

The romance seemed to take over the story at times pushing the mythology aspect into the background.

 

 

The ending was my favourite part though. It was very suspenseful and action packed. The cliff hanger was also very well portrayed.

 

 

 

 

Book Review #350 - Of Triton (Syrena Legacy #2) by Anna Banks

Emma is half-mermaid: a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. But she's in love with Galen - a gorgeous Syrena from the House of Triton, god of the sea. If Emma's secret is discovered by the Syrena, she risks being put to death as a Half-Breed.

Emma's heritage comes from her mother - a princess from the House of Poseidon who escaped the sea to live as a human. Aware of the danger her daughter faces, she is determined to keep Emma away from the Syrena. But her reappearance after so many years turns the underwater kingdoms, Poseidon and Triton, against one another.

How can Emma and Galen stay together when their two rival kingdoms, and two different worlds, just want to tear them apart?

Picking up right where Of Poseidon left off, this utterly irresistible story is full of humour, intrigue, and waves of romance.

My Rating: 4/5

I received this book for review from Hardie Grant Egmont. It is the sequel to Of Poseidon.


I decided to re-read Of Poseidon before I read Of Triton. Although I did not enjoy Of Poseidon as much as I did the first time I read it, I found that I still liked it more than Of Triton.


Of Triton was too heavily focused on the politics of the Syrena for my liking.


Given that I read both books in this series back to back, I liked that one started straight where the other left off.


All the characters developed considerably especially Emma. Even though I didn't particularly like the Syrena politics, I felt like that it aided world building immensely.


I found this book to be well paced, and I actually read the book cover to cover in about a 3 hour period.


Given the ending to Of Poseidon, I was looking forward to how Emma's mother would become part of the story. I wasn't disappointed as that question is answered almost immediately.

  

Book Review #244 - Darkness Becomes Her (Gods & Monsters #1) by Kelly Keaton

A dark and lush paranormal romance set in a richly reimagined New Orleans--now in paperback Ari can't help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can't be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.Her search for answers uncovers a message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it's impossible to protect herself when she doesn't know what she's running from or why she is being pursued.

She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of "her."

Ari won't stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

 

 

My Rating: 3/5

 

 

This book was completely different to what I was expecting. I had no idea it was about mythology. This wasn't a bad thing, it just wasn't what I was expecting.

 

 

I found the first half of the book quite confusing. The world building was the most confusing. The reason for this was because there wasn't enough depth or description.

 

 

I really liked the second half of the book as it was action packed and very interesting.

 

 

I didn't like Ari at first, but by the end of the book I felt like I was starting to connect with her. Her relationship with Sebastian came from nowhere. There was no build-up or anything prior to them getting together.

 

 

My favourite part was the ending and so I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Book Review #242 - Lullaby (Watersong #2) by Amanda Hocking

Harper only wanted a safe, normal life. But when her younger sister Gemma runs off with a dangerous clique of beautiful girls, Penn, Thea, and Lexi, everything changes. Vowing to get her sister back no matter what the cost, Harper must face dangers unlike any she's ever experienced. Fortunately, she has Daniel by her side, a gorgeous guy who's devoted to helping her find her sister—and who's immune to the girls' dark powers.

While Harper searches for her sister, Gemma struggles to adjust to her new life. Gemma's powers are growing by the day, and the longer she lives with her new "sisters," the harder it is to resist entering their magical world. It's a realm both dark and beautiful, and where she's plagued by strange hungers and unspeakable needs. Just as she's drifting far away from her old life, Harper and Daniel find her...but no one can deny how much she's changed. All she wants is to return to her family and the mortal world, but how can she do that when she's become something else entirely—and will they still love her once they learn the truth?

 

 

My Rating: 4/5

 

 

I received this book for review from Pan MacMillan Australia. It is the sequel to Wake.

 

 

After reading Wake last month and really enjoying it, I had high expectations for Lullaby. Whilst I didn't like it as much as Wake I still liked how the story progressed.

 

 

Harper was a character from Wake that I didn't connect to as much as I wanted. Although she is the dominant character in this book so it was easier to connect with her.

 

 

Gemma is still my favourite character and so I can't wait for the third book Tidal so I can find out her fate.

 

 

As for the male characters, I really liked Alex in Wake but he was barely present in Lullaby. And Daniel, I just don't like at all for some reason.

 

 

There was less action than in Wake which is probably why I didn't like it as much.

Book Review #231 - Wake (Watersong #1) by Amanda Hocking

Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone's attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs. She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.

Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door. He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back. Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever. She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove. They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price. And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.

 

 

 

My Rating: 5/5

 

 

This book is set in third person. At first it made me confused as it kept jumping from character to character in the space of one page, but by the end of the novel I wouldn't have preferred it any other way.

 

 

As for the characters, I connected with Gemma instantly and felt the connection between her and Alex instantly which is extremely rare for me. Harper, I slowly warmed up to her throughout.

 

 

This is my first Amanda Hocking book and I really liked the writing style. I will definitely be reading Lullaby as soon as possible.

 

 

Although there were predictable plot twists, there was also one that came out of nowhere which was also the cliff-hanger in this book.

Book Review #217 - Dreamless (Starcrossed #2) by Josephine Angelini

Can true love be forgotten?

As the only Scion who can descend into the Underworld, Helen Hamilton has been given a nearly impossible task. By night she wanders through Hades, trying to stop the endless cycle of revenge that has cursed her family. By day she struggles to overcome the fatigue that is rapidly eroding her sanity. Without Lucas by her side, Helen is not sure she has the strength to go on.

 

Just as Helen is pushed to her breaking point, a mysterious new Scion comes to her rescue. Funny and brave, Orion shields her from the dangers of the Underworld. But time is running out—a ruthless foe plots against them, and the Furies’ cry for blood is growing louder.

 

As the ancient Greek world collides with the mortal one, Helen’s sheltered life on Nantucket descends into chaos. But the hardest task of all will be forgetting Lucas Delos.

 

 

My Rating: 4/5

I received this book for review from Pan MacMillan Australia. It is the sequel to Starcrossed.

Like Starcrossed, I again found this book to be really slowly paced, although the ending was full on and I again failed to connect with Lucas.

 

 

 

Orien was a really fascinating character, one who I liked from the moment he was introduced. If this book turns into a love triangle, which is does strongly hint at then at this stage I would prefer Orien over Lucas.

 

 

As much as I liked Helen in Starcrossed, I didn't connect with her in Dreamless until the second half of the book, after she had stopped sulking over Lucas.

 

 

 

 

What made this book alot better than Starcrossed was the writing. The author's writing has definitely matured and grown.

 

 

 

I am looking forward to reading the third book in the series titled Goddess which gets published next year.