Review: The Darkest Part of the Forest - Holly Black

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black, published by Indigo on 5th February 2015

Goodreads synopsis:
Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice. Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for.

Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once.

At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking.

Until one day, he does…

Review:
This was my first Holly Black book and one which I had been really looking forward to reading.  I know Holly Black's subject matter is normally faeries and magical beings, all wrapped up with fantastical plots, so I was expecting great things of 'The Darkest Part of the Forest'.  While it didn't quite reach the heady heights of my favourite books list, I still enjoyed it a lot and would read more by her in the future. 

It took a little while for the story to really pick up momentum.  I'd say that I didn't feel fully immersed in the book until about hundred pages in but although the start was slow, it then kicked up a notch and everything seemed to click into place.  I raced through the second half of the story.   

The plot centres around a brother and sister called Ben and Hazel, who live in Fairfold.  Their small town has faerie folk living in the forest and a sleeping boy with horns on his head lying in an unbreakable coffin.  When the 'boy' finally awakens it spells trouble for the siblings who get sucked into a magical journey of truth and discovery.  I loved Hazel's character and the bond that she and her brother Ben share.  The closeness between the siblings really came across and I liked the fact that they felt almost incomplete without the other. 

Highly original and unique, this book delivered lashings of fantasy, magic and adventure.  I couldn't guess any of the plot twists, had no idea what was going to happen from one chapter to the next and got completely engrossed in the dark magic and mayhem that was generated throughout.  I would quite like to go back and read it again now because I think I would appreciate it more the second time around.  There are so many small details added into the book that I'm sure I would pick up on different aspects of the story on a second read through. 

This was a terrific and entertaining book which I would recommend to readers who are new to Holly Black as well as long time fans.      

Review: The Walled City - Ryan Graudin

The Walled City by Ryan Graudin, published by Indigo on 6th November 2014

Goodreads synopsis:
DAI, trying to escape a haunting past, traffics drugs for the most ruthless kingpin in the Walled City. But in order to find the key to his freedom, he needs help from someone with the power to be invisible....

JIN hides under the radar, afraid the wild street gangs will discover her biggest secret: Jin passes as a boy to stay safe. Still, every chance she gets, she searches for her lost sister....

MEI YEE has been trapped in a brothel for the past two years, dreaming of getting out while watching the girls who try fail one by one. She's about to give up, when one day she sees an unexpected face at her window.....

Review:
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.  I hadn't heard much about it before it fell into my hands and I wasn't sure which genre it fit into but I loved the fusion of historical fiction and fantasy.  This was mixed with a thrilling plot which takes the reader on an amazing journey featuring brilliant characters who fight against the odds to achieve freedom and independence.  It's always wonderful when you find a book which you know little about but ends up surpassing your expectations!

The story is inspired by the Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong which is a world of extreme lawlessness.  Danger lurks around every corner and if you don't have your wits about you and your instincts for survival honed then you won't last.  I am a big fan of stories which take place in Asia as I find the culture absolutely fascinating, so this was right up my alley.

There are three distinct character viewpoints in the book: Jin Ling, who is searching for her sister; Dai, who is on a dangerous mission and Mei Yee, who is trapped in a world not of her choosing.  Each chapter alternates between them until their individual situations begin to collide and come together.  It would spoil it to tell you much about the plot as this is a book which is best read with little prior knowledge of what it is about.  Needless to say though you won't be disappointed and at times you will literally be on the edge of your seat. 

I loved the epilogue which tied everything together properly and which left me beautifully satisfied with the outcome.    

I thought that Ryan Graudin's debut was a thoroughly enjoyable and engrossing read.  Her writing is gloriously atmospheric and I was intrigued and captivated by the characters, their relationships and their journeys.  I'm excited to see what subject she decides to write about next. 
 

Blog Tour: Far From You - Tess Sharpe

I'm thrilled to be taking part in the blog tour countdown for Tess Sharpe's debut novel 'Far From You', which will be published by Indigo on 27th March. 

Goodreads synopsis:
Nine months. Two weeks. Six days.

That's how long recovering addict Sophie's been drug-free. Four months ago her best friend, Mina, died in what everyone believes was a drug deal gone wrong - a deal they think Sophie set up. Only Sophie knows the truth. She and Mina shared a secret, but there was no drug deal. Mina was deliberately murdered.

Forced into rehab for an addiction she'd already beaten, Sophie's finally out and on the trail of the killer - but can she track them down before they come for her?

Review:
'Far From You' is an incredible and stunning debut novel from author Tess Sharpe which held me enthralled from start to finish.  I picked this up when I was off sick from work and spent the most enjoyable couple of hours curled up on the sofa, with my nose literally buried between the pages and my attention absolutely riveted on the characters and their stories.  I would not hesitate to wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone, both teen and adult readers alike, because it's so good it would be a shame not to share it with everyone. 

I was completely magnetised by Sophie's story as she attempts to find her best friend Mina's killer.  She's not the most reliable narrator because she is a recovering drug addict whose word is often doubted and questioned, but as we learn more about her, it seems certain that she can be trusted and that she is the only one that can fathom what really happened to Mina and why. 

The story is told from three different time frames, which sounds complicated but really isn't.  The plot was so seamlessly put together that it didn't feel like the narrative was jumping around too much.  Everything slotted into place perfectly and was easy for the reader to follow.  We see present day Sophie struggling to come to terms with the loss of her best friend but then the narrative also takes us back to events preceding the murder which helped in gathering clues about the mystery.

I loved the process of trying to put all the pieces together while reading.  My suspicions jumped around quite a bit and there were several characters that I didn't fully trust but at no point did I guess who was actually responsible.  The book was so intricately plotted that the killer's identity remained a secret to me until the very end.  That for me is a sure sign of a good book!    

Tess Sharpe's incredible writing stirred up lots of strong emotions for me.  I felt a real link to Sophie and I was very emotionally invested in what happened to her.  She has to face a lot and yet she still manages to overcome some big challenges which anyone else may have shied away from.  She's a fantastic main character and although she has her flaws, she never gives up and always sticks to her guns. 

'Far From You' was a real treat to read.  It shows the unquenchable desire of first love as well as presenting an intriguing mystery with lots of twists and turns.  It's one of those books which is sure to cement itself into the hearts of readers everywhere.   


To celebrate the paperback release of 'Far From You', I have a copy of the book to giveaway courtesy of Indigo.  This giveaway is only open to entrants within the UK by request of the publisher.  To enter just fill out the form below.

Giveaway rules.

• There will be one winner.
• Open to entrants with UK addresses only. International entrants may enter, provided they have a UK address to send the books to.
• Please fill out the form completely - especially the required details.
• You do not have to be a follower to enter.
• Deadline for entries will be on 23rd March.
• Winner(s) will be drawn by random.org
• Winner(s) will be contacted via e-mail, and will be given 48 hours to response. Otherwise, a new winner will be drawn.
• Any details will be deleted after use and will not be passed on to any third party. 

 

Review: Tinder - Sally Gardner

Tinder by Sally Gardner, published by Indigo on 7th November 2013

Goodreads synopsis:
Otto Hundebiss is tired of war, but when he defies Death he walks a dangerous path. A half beast half man gives him shoes and dice which will lead him deep into a web of dark magic and mystery. He meets the beautiful Safire - pure of heart and spirit, the scheming Mistress Jabber and the terrifying Lady of the Nail. He learns the powers of the tinderbox and the wolves whose master he becomes. But will all the riches in the world bring him the thing he most desires?

Review:
Sally Gardner is one of those authors whose books I long for.  I'm always excited when I hear that a new book written by her is being published and I'm always extremely eager to get my hands on it.  With 'Tinder', Gardner has written a spellbinding story based around Hans Christian Anderson's fairy tale 'The Tinderbox'.  I actually have a really old book on my shelves which is the complete collection of tales by Anderson and which has been passed down through my family.  One of the most well thumbed sections of the book is this exact fairy tale which has always been one of my favourites.  I always loved the image of the dogs with eyes as big as saucers and the magical tinderbox which has the ability to grace the recipient with whatever his heart desires.   

There are elements of the traditional version of the story here, but Gardner has also reinterpreted it in her own unique way.  It is now set at the time of The Thirty Years war when soldier Otto Hundebiss is given a pair of shoes and a set of dice.  These innocuous objects are set to change his future destiny as he embarks on a strange and mysterious new journey where he will have to face love and death and confront his own personal nightmares. 

I thought 'Tinder' was wonderful.  It's quirky and unusual and quite dark in places but it drew me in and kept me enthralled until the very end.  It shows that fairy tales don't always have happy endings and that conflict, love and loss are faced by people in every walk of life. 

I read a proof copy of the book but the final finished version features over 100 black and white images by illustrator David Roberts which accompany the text of the story.  If you love Sally Gardner and have already read 'Tinder' then why not buy a copy for a friend or if you haven't yet discovered this amazing author then I implore you not to wait any longer and rush out and get yourself a copy today.  You won't be disappointed! 

Review: Cruel Summer - James Dawson

Cruel Summer by James Dawson, published by Indigo on 1st August 2013

Goodreads synopsis:
A year after Janey’s suicide, her friends reunite at a remote Spanish villa, desperate to put the past behind them. However, an unwelcome guest arrives claiming to have evidence that Jane was murdered. When she is found floating in the pool, it becomes clear one of them is a killer. Only one thing is for certain, surviving this holiday is going to be murder…

Review:
Fiendishly clever plot twists made this book impossible to put down.  I spent most of my time reading it literally on the edge of my seat, palms sweating and nails being bitten down to the quick!  If you haven't discovered author James Dawson yet then I recommend you go out and get yourself a copy of this title immediately. 

The story is about five school friends on holiday together in a Spanish villa.  There's Ryan and Katie, Katie's ex-boyfriend Ben, Greg and his sister Alisha and Greg's new girlfriend Erin.  They should be enjoying sun, sea and sand but then someone turns up who claims to have evidence that their friend Janey was murdered and everything starts to spiral horribly out of control. 

This book felt like a cross-between the film Scream and the TV show Harper's Island which I loved.  Everyone seemed to have a secret to hide and a motive for wanting to commit murder.  One of the characters, Ryan, who narrates part of the story, imagines him and his friends being part of a TV show so there are lots of bits which are clichés of horror films.  I thought that was a nice way of paying homage to what has obviously served as inspiration for the story, while at the same time providing plenty of original plot twists.   

The second-half of the book was particularly tense, gripping and exciting with lots of red herrings and devilish twists and turns to throw the reader off the scent.  Although I did eventually guess who the killer was, I didn't have a clue about their motive or the extent they were willing to go to in pursuit of their ultimate goal. 

I was a big fan of James Dawson's debut novel 'Hollow Pike' but he's outdone himself with his second novel.  This is the perfect read for a hot and sultry summer where murder is most definitely on the menu. 

Review: Soul Storm - Kate Harrison

Soul Storm by Kate Harrison, published by Indigo on 1st August 2013

Goodreads synopsis:
Someone is stalking Alice Forster. She's sure it's her sister's murderer, but her parents think she's cracking under the stress of Meggie's death. Only in the virtual world of Soul Beach - an online paradise for the young, the beautiful and the dead - can Alice feel truly free. But there's trouble in paradise . . .

Clouds are gathering.

A storm is brewing.

The killer is about to strike.

 Review:
'Soul Storm' is the final part of the trilogy about Ali's determination to find her sister Meggie's killer.  I felt like I'd been waiting for this book for such a long time and because of that I had to resist the temptation to take a sneak peek at the ending to find out who the killer was.  This only made me read faster as I was so impatient to get to the final big reveal.

It's testament to Kate Harrison's writing that I continually changed my mind about who I thought could have been responsible for all the deaths that happened throughout the series and especially that of Meggie.  I'd pretty much convinced myself that one particular person was responsible for everything only to have myself proved totally wrong.  At one point or another I was pretty much suspicious of everyone but that only made reading the book so much more thrilling.  I adored the element of suspense surrounding the killer's true identity and I think Kate Harrison managed to squeeze every single drop of tension out of the storyline. 

There is a sense of danger lurking around every corner as Ali thinks she's being followed and watched by someone.  I didn't like her being alone with anyone in case they turned out to be more dangerous than she could have ever imagined.  Although she does seem quite reckless at times, I can understand her determination to get to the bottom of things once and for all.  Only then can she put her sister's death to rest and move on with her own life. 

There wasn't quite so much of the Beach and it's residents in this instalment and I have to say that I wasn't completely satisfied with the conclusion of the Ali/Danny storyline but overall it has been intriguing having the cyber world as another plot strand.

Kate Harrison has very adeptly made the transition to the Young adult genre.  I hope she has plenty more YA stories planned for the future because I definitely want to read more.    

   

Blog Tour: #MurderOnThe Beach - Kate Harrison: bookish butterfly or an author with a theme?

I'm taking part in the #MurderOnTheBeach blog tour which is celebrating the release of 'Soul Storm' by Kate Harrison and 'Cruel Summer' by James Dawson.  I have a great guest post today from Kate Harrison where she talks about being a bookish butterfly or an author with a theme.   

 

I have a very short attention span. I could blame the internet, but the truth is, I’ve always been a bit of a butterfly, floating between different ideas and genres.

 

Don’t believe me? Here’s a list of what I’ve written over the last couple of years:

• Three YA thrillers in the creepy, ‘Facebook for the dead’ trilogy, Soul Beach
• A romantic comedy novel about women on a fitness boot camp
• A book about mystery shopping
• Lots of short stories, including one about being mugged in Barcelona and one about meeting all your exes on a train
• A diet book
• A cookbook

 

This makes me a bit of a nightmare for publishers. It’s easy to sell an author who sticks to one thing – the dark, moody writer of scary books, or the happy-go-lucky writer of comedies. But someone like me is very hard to pigeonhole…

 

It’s made me wonder about my own sanity, too. Am I a lightweight? Then I went to a brilliant workshop by author Julie Cohen, who asked us to think about the central themes we always return to. Stories might change – but her point was that the themes we write about recur again and again in our books.

 

She gave us some great examples: Jane Austen’s work might seem to be about love and money – but deeper down, it’s more about status and pride.

 

I played around with themes of my own. Maybe I wrote about destiny versus free will? No, that’s not true in my diet book or The Boot Camp.

 

What about justice? It’s a very strong theme for me especially in the Soul Beach books – I want to set things right, to give the good people and the villains what they deserve. I remember feeling that right from when I was a young child. 

 

But the quest for justice doesn’t really fit my comedies, or my cookbook!

 

And then it hit me: my theme is self-discovery. In every book I’ve ever written, the characters are on a journey of transformation – discovering who they really are and what they’re on earth to do. In my comedies, they have to make some fairly disastrous mistakes before they work out what they should be doing in life. And in my diet book and cookbook, it’s me going through the self-discovery process of shedding weight and working out what to eat to keep it off.

 

The most obvious example probably is Alice in the Soul Beach books, trying to uncover her sister’s killer and in the process, discovering her own strengths…

 

You could say YA books are about more about growing up than self-discovery. But I’m not sure any of us should ever want to ‘grow up’ completely – life’s about changing and adapting and discovering what makes us – and those around us - happy. And that’s what I’m going to keep on writing about.

 

Now, back to my ideas list. I wonder what my publishers would make of a book about a dieting space alien who falls in love with a cupcake-baking serial killer… 

 

Check out all the other stops on the blog tour for more from Kate Harrison and James Dawson.

 

 

Review: The Masque of the Red Death - Bethany Griffin

The Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin, published by Indigo on 2nd August 2012

Goodreads synopsis:
Everything is in ruins.  A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

Review:
This book is based on an original work by Edgar Allan Poe, although when I read it I was unaware of the link.  Araby Worth is living amongst a city decimated by a terrible plague - a plague which robbed her of her twin brother.  As she tries to find oblivion at the infamous Debauchery Club, she stumbles into the path of a power struggle which is more dangerous than she could have ever imagined.

Bethany Griffin has created a terrifying world where people live in fear of catching the plague.  To protect themselves, those who can afford it wear masks which stop them from catching the deadly air born germs.  The startling imagery of citizens with porcelain masks on, hiding their true expressions and creating a lack of intimacy, is quite frightening and sinister.

The first person narrative from the perspective of Araby meant that I could feel the sense of loss which haunts her throughout the book but also the gradual blossoming of hope she experiences by the end and the sense of a new beginning being on the horizon.   

I liked the love triangle between Araby, the darkly handsome and tattooed Will (who I loved) and Araby's friend's brother Elliott.  The latter never greatly appealed to me because although he showed glimpses of the good I didn't entirely trust him, whereas I adored Will almost immediately. 

'The Masque of the Red Death' is a dark and seductive story with vivid and imaginative writing which immersed me from the very beginning.  I'm looking forward hugely to the sequel which is due out next year. 

Soul Fire - Kate Harrison giveaway winners

Thank you to everyone that entered my giveaway to win copies of 'Soul Fire' by Kate Harrison. If you weren't successful this time then check back again soon when I'll be having another giveaway on the blog.

I'm pleased to announce that the winners are:

#1. April Hunter

#2. Karen Smith

Congratulations! You will be receiving an email from me shortly requesting your postal details.

Blog tour + Giveaway: Soul Fire - Kate Harrison

I am beyond excited to welcome Kate Harrison to the blog today as part of her tour for 'Soul Fire', the second book in the Soul Beach trilogy.  I'm a huge fan of both Kate's young-adult and adult novels and am really pleased to be helping to spread the word about this fantastic series.

The Power of Three: writing a trilogy

For the last four years, my life has been dominated by an online paradise, a social media mystery and a murder that won’t be solved until 2013.

Welcome to the world of the trilogy!

Soul Beach first began to form in my mind back in 2008, when I noticed how Facebook pages could turn into tribute pages after the sudden death of a user. I wondered what would happen if there was a site where teenagers whose lives had been cut short could carry on living their lives – and recruit the living to try to find justice.

Fast forward to today and I’ve had two of the novels published in the UK , translated versions are coming out all around the world, and I am working on the third and final book. I still adore my brave and funny heroine, Alice, who is determined to avenge her sister’s murder – but the writing process has been a rollercoaster ride and I’ve learned a lot that I’d love to share. So here are my Power of Three tips for trilogy writing (I just wish I’d had these when I was embarking on my journey to Soul Beach).

Lesson One – how do you know it’s a trilogy?

At first, I only had the story – I didn’t even know I’d write it as a YA book, though I did realise it wouldn’t quite fit alongside the romantic comedies I’ve been writing since 2003.

But the more I thought about the idea, the more it evolved into something big. There was so much to explore: addiction to social media, fear, obsession, the afterlife, reality TV… I could go on.

I soon realised that the idea was bigger than anything I’d had before – something I couldn’t possibly fit into 75,000 words. But maybe I could manage it in 3 x 75,000…

Lesson Two: this is a marathon, not a sprint – so be prepared for the long haul…

 I do plan my novels before I begin – not down to the finest detail, as JK Rowling famously does, but I know who does what to whom and roughly how the book ends. For me, there’s a balance between having a framework to build on – which is good – and working out every single action – which tends to kill the fun for me.

 With Soul Beach , I knew how the first book would open – with Alice receiving an email from her murdered sister on the day of her funeral. I also had a clear idea of the scene at the end of the final book… though I’m not telling, for obvious reasons.

 Before I started, I wrote a movie-style treatment covering what would happen in the three books, and I thought about how the world would develop, with Alice ‘unlocking’ layers of knowledge about this environment as she went along. But now I really wish I’d spent more time working out the rules of the Beach in detail – it would have saved me a lot of rewrites along the way.

Which brings me to …

Lesson Three: writing a middle book is the hardest thing you’ll ever do

I won’t lie – there were times when I was writing Soul Fire when I was terrified I’d never get it right. Even though my YA books are shorter than my adult novels, Soul Fire took longer and caused me more anxiety than any of the others. It was more like hellfire than Soul Fire at times…

 The basic problem was emotional involvement – I knew I couldn’t reveal the full story behind Meggie’s murder until Book 3 – and what I’d planned to keep the tension and drama up wasn’t enough. Bear in mind, I’ve written eight novels before this – and yet this was the toughest job ever.

I honestly couldn’t have done it without my wonderful editor, Amber Caravéo. She and her fab colleague Jenny Glencross were amazing cheerleaders but also tough about making sure I got it right. Amber helped me focus on what mattered – the emotional heart of the book.

I’m nervous about revealing this, yet the first responses from readers have been very positive so I do really hope all our hard work paid off. So to help you avoid my mistakes, here’s my quick guide to planning a trilogy.

Book 1 – establish your characters and central story from the very first page. Do horrible things to them that test them to their limits. Have one story you can resolve – and others that keep the reader wanting more.

Book 2 – throw even worse things at your characters – things they think will defeat them but actually help them grow. Work out an amazingly satisfying story for this book that will make the reader gasp – while building up your central story and the question that can only be answered by…

Book 3 – this is where all your story elements and planning come together – but don’t forget you still need major new twists to stop it feeling like a rehash. Here, you get nastier than ever to your main characters… push them to breaking point. Maybe they do break… along with the reader as the tension becomes unbearable…

Easy, right? Except, as I wait for the editor’s feedback on the very first draft of Book 3, all I can do is keep everything crossed that I’ve nailed it myself! 

Don't forget to also check out Kate's website and follow her on Twitter @katewritesbooks

To celebrate the release of 'Soul Fire' the very lovely people at Indigo have given me two copies of the book to giveaway. This giveaway is only open to entrants within the UK and you must be a follower of my blog.  Good luck!

Giveaway rules.

• There will be two winners.
• Open to entrants with UK addresses only. International entrants may enter, provided they have a UK address to send the books to.
• Please fill out the form completely - including email address
• You must be a follower of my blog
• Deadline for entries will be on 2nd August 2012
• Winner(s) will be drawn by random.org
• Winner(s) will be contacted via e-mail, and will be given 48 hours to response. Otherwise, a new winner will be drawn.
• Any details will be deleted after use and will not be passed on to any third party.

 

Review: Soul Fire - Kate Harrison

Soul Fire by Kate Harrison, published by Indigo on 5th July 2012

Goodreads synopsis:
Alice Forster talks to her dead sister, Meggie, in the virtual world of Soul Beach – an online paradise for the young, the beautiful and the dead – but paradise can be stifling and the Beach’s guests want to move on.

If Alice can solve the mystery of her sister’s murder then Meggie will be free.

But passions are running high, the temperature’s rising and as Alice gets closer to finding the killer, the killer is getting closer to Alice . .

Review:
*There may be spoilers from previous books in the series.

This is the second book in Kate Harrison's fantastic Soul Beach trilogy.  Alice is still trying to solve her sister Meggie's murder.  She has a list of possible suspects but it appears that Meggie's killer may be closer than she first thinks.  Her journey takes Alice from the virtual world of Soul Beach to the hot and steamy climate of Barcelona where danger lurks around every corner.  At the same time she is also trying to help the other guests at Soul Beach such as Javier who wants to be able to move on once and for all. 

An event near the start and an online discovery, spark off a chain of events in the book which lead to Alice becoming more and more embroiled in danger.  She's done a lot of growing up since the beginning of the series and is an incredibly brave character but may have just got in over her head this time around.  

There are several clues throughout 'Soul Fire' to the identity of the murderer.  I have my own suspicions about who is responsible but I still have a lot of questions to be answered which hopefully will all be dealt with in the final instalment.  I'm convinced that it is going to be the person you least suspect and I'm sure Kate Harrison has plenty more twists to throw into the mix yet.

There is suspense in bucket loads and the tension is held taut throughout the whole book.  The danger crackles around Alice who seems more determined than ever to get answers about Meggie and who can't move on until she has put her sister's death to rest.

Kate Harrison definitely knows how to hook her readers in and keep them gripped.  This was an enjoyable sequel, leading up nicely to the third and final book in the trilogy which I can only imagine will be another explosive read.     

Review: The Gathering Dark - Leigh Bardugo

The Gathering Dark by Leigh Bardugo, published by Indigo on 7th June 2012

Goodreads synopsis:
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 fulfil 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:
'The Gathering Dark' is the first book in a new trilogy which is set to take readers by storm!  It features an epic battle between light and dark, good and evil and at the heart of this lies the main character Alina whose power is far greater than she could ever have imagined.

The story is narrated by Alina and we see events through her eyes.  She undergoes a brilliant evolution throughout the book as she grows as a character.  She starts off uncertain about who she is and what her future holds but begins to understand more about herself as the story progresses.  She has a very special relationship with Mal, her childhood friend, which I loved and wanted to see more of.  There's also her connection to the powerful Darkling who I was mystified and intrigued about.

Leigh Bardugo has created a fantastic imaginary world with a hierarchy of magical people, many gifted with special powers.  Although the story does fall heavily into the fantasy genre, there is also action and romance and so much time has been spent crafting the characters that they seem very rooted in reality.

This book is very different to anything else I've read lately and has a highly original plot which had me captivated the whole time I was reading.  It is quite a long book at 442 pages, but as it was extremely fast-paced and exciting, I didn't notice except to wish at the end that it had been even longer so I could stay with the story and the characters as they took the next step on their journey. 

This story will seep into your dream.  It's absolutely engrossing, magical and wonderful.  I can't wait for more!

Review: Hollow Pike - James Dawson

Hollow Pike by James Dawson, published by Indigo on 2nd February 2012

Goodreads synopsis:
Something wicked this way comes... She thought she'd be safe in the country, but you can't escape your own nightmares, and Lis London dreams repeatedly that someone is trying to kill her. Lis thinks she's being paranoid - after all who would want to murder her? She doesn't believe in the local legends of witchcraft. She doesn't believe that anything bad will really happen to her. You never do, do you? Not until you're alone in the woods, after dark - and a twig snaps... Hollow Pike - where witchcraft never sleeps.

Review:
There has been a lot of pre-publication buzz surrounding this debut by British author James Dawson, so I couldn't wait to pick it up as soon as it arrived.  I initially thought that it was going to be about witches and witchcraft but although that was an element of the story it didn't figure as predominantly as I'd imagined.  The plot is actually more concerned with learning to start life over with a fresh slate in front of you and given that chance what you'll do with it.  That's the dilemma that faces Lis London when she moves from her home in Wales to live with her sister in the town of Hollow Pike.

Told in a third person narrative, I was impressed that a male author could write so convincingly from a female point of view.  The dialogue was fresh and engaging and I immediately felt a connection to Lis who was bullied at her old school and has moved away to escape the people who've taunted her for so long.  The book conveys quite a serious message about the impact that bullying can have on people and this was dealt with in a sensitive manner but without pulling any punches about the damage that it can cause.   

I found the start of the book a little slow going which mainly focused on introducing the key players and establishing the plot.  However, the second half was much better with the tension really being ramped up, leading to an explosive ending which sent shivers down my spine.  The story itself seemed to change direction quite rapidly, but I thought it cleverly combined different genres, mixing together a paranormal tale about witches with a contemporary modern day thriller.  I would have liked to have seen more of the romance between Lis and local boy Danny, but on the other hand, it was nice to see girl power trumping the boys for once!     

Overall 'Hollow Pike' was an enjoyable and exciting read which continually left me guessing about all the secrets that the characters were keeping hidden.  I often didn't know who could be trusted and who was hiding something.  I'm really looking forward to future offerings from this very talented British author.    

Blog Tour: Hollow Pike - James Dawson

I have a fabulous guest post today from James Dawson, the debut author of 'Hollow Pike' which is a gripping and thrilling read about witchcraft and supernatural goings on.  If you haven't grabbed yourself a copy yet then what are you waiting for! 

Who is the ‘Girl Next Door’?

Please allow me to introduce Lis London, the main character of new YA thriller Hollow Pike. In the spirit of ‘show-not-tell’, to really get to know Miss London, you’ll have to buy the book (available now at all good bookshops!). Moreover, I’d really struggle to provide a list of adjectives to describe her, and yet I feel I know her inside out. You guessed it – she’s THE GIRL NEXT DOOR.

Readers of young adult fiction are more than familiar with this character. Bella Swan, Luce Price, Grace Brisbane and Nora Grey have all gone before Lis, perfect examples of the ‘relatable’ female protagonists of various sagas.

The girls above have a lot in common. First aesthetics. ‘Pretty-but-not-too-pretty’ is a mainstay of YA fiction. Why? All of the girls-next-door are beautiful (in a unique, quirky way) but more than their actual looks, it’s their perceived beauty that counts. A girl who knew she was hot would be a big turn off to any reader, but especially a teenage girl. No-one wants a vain, arrogant best friend – and the MC of a YA novel should be a potential BFF to the reader. Therefore, these girls are doomed to a life of unruly hair, slightly too prominent noses and frustrating ‘boyish’ figures.

Some personality traits are more desirable than others too. While a YA heroine is allowed flaws, her moral compass must firmly point north at all times. If she does stray from the righteous path, it must be because of a) love or b) some greater good. For instance, stealing, lying, betrayal and cheating – while fairly common place in most secondary schools, are not going to fly in YA. That’s right, our girl-next-door is a role model for young readers, whether she likes it or not. As an author, I knew Lis had to be a ‘good girl’, and that’s fine. Lis is a good egg – she loves her friends, she’s never judgemental and has ambition. If Lis inspires other young adults (male or female) to be good eggs too, that is a positive thing.

The funny thing is, the girl next door to me in South West London is a Ugandan Muslim girl who goes the high school up the road. No, the archetype we’re thinking of is Hayden Panettiere or Selena Gomez – who, in reality, are millionaires living in Hollywood mansions. These ‘All American Girls’, sociologically speaking, are constructed more as a remedy to other (often less flattering) cultural stereotypes such as ‘tomboy’, ‘girly girl’ or ‘femme fatale’. They don’t necessarily have characteristics of their own – what sets them apart is their lack of ‘traditional’ feminine traits. In the Marvel Comics world, Mary-Jane Watson is literally presented as the girl next door to Peter Parker – beyond this simple fact she is hard to describe. I personally think the archetype was set by Judy Garland as one Dorothy Gale in the Wizard of Oz – the wide eyed wonderment and moral purity filtering down to Buffy, Bella and beyond.

With this in mind, perhaps the Girl-Next-Door isn’t such a bad thing. Perhaps better to strive for an ‘average, approachable girl’ than a one-note ‘tomboy’. But I know what you’re shouting – there’s no such thing as an ‘average girl’, everyone’s different. All I could do, as an author, was think how I and my friends would react in the situations Lis finds herself in. While writing Hollow Pike, I based Lis on two very dear friends. This, to me, seemed like the best way of making Lis ‘real’. I wonder if all writers do this.

Anyway, I’d love to know what readers think of Lis London. She’s already my BFF, so I hope you take her to your hearts too. Look after her, she’s a good egg.

Dark days of January blog tour: Sara Grant - Dark Parties

I'm taking part in the blog tour today for Sara Grant's incredible debut novel 'Dark Parties'.  I loved this book and was really sad when I turned the last page on an incredible story.  I'm eagerly awaiting news about a sequel!  I'm extremely pleased to welcome Sara Grant today who is going to talk about the idea of identity marks which is mentioned in the book.   

Making Your Mark
My debut young adult novel Dark Parties chronicles a country that has closed itself off under an electrified dome. For hundreds of years, no one and nothing has penetrated this barrier. The citizens of Homeland are growing to look more and more alike.

The rebels in my book create identity marks to express their individuality and, for some, to easily distinguish them from everyone else. My main character Neva distils her friends into the identity marks they have created for themselves. Her best friend Sanna carves an S on her cheek to create a scar. Sanna’s boyfriend always wears red, pointy-toed boots.

You don’t have to live under a dome or in a restricted homogenous society to condense people into a simple identifier. We’ve all said something like: You know the guy in the cowboy hat. Or it’s the girl with the dragon tattoo. Or he’s the one with bad breath.

While writing Dark Parties, I often wondered what identity mark I’d create for myself and what identity mark others would create for me. I never came up with a concise answer. I think that’s because, like the characters learn in Dark Parties, people are more complex than can ever been expressed in a symbol.

But if I had to pick, maybe I’d choose...

A snowflake – Neva’s identity mark is a snowflake tattoo between her belly button and hip. I might copy Neva – although not the location, or probably the tattoo part. I love snow, not only the real, cold fluffy stuff that falls from the sky in the winter but also what it symbolizes – originality. In high school, I had a pin that said: Why be normal? If I could find it, I’d proudly wear it today.

Peace symbol – I’m not a fan of conflict – not at the global level or at a personal level. Unless someone’s in immediate personal danger, I don’t believe there’s any reason to raise your voice. My father always said, “If you raise your voice, you lose.” I endeavor to keep my cool and work for a peaceful resolution.

Megaphone – No, I wasn’t a cheerleader. But it’s the best image I could come up with to represent enthusiasm. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, ‘Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.’ I whole heartedly agree. I may not be the best or the brightest, but I’m hard working and try to live my life with zeal.

US and UK flags – Eight years ago I moved to London, England, from Indianapolis, Indiana. This life change was the catalyst for Dark Parties. I’m now a unique blend of both the US and UK and wonder if it makes me misunderstood on both sides of the Atlantic.

Star – Okay, maybe a bit cliché, but my parents always told me the sky’s the limit. I believe I can achieve any dream with sacrifice, hard work and tenacity. I struggled for seventeen years to achieve my dream of publication. It was about trying, failing, learning from my mistakes, and trying again. And I know it’s a never-ending process.

Book – Yeah, this is a simple one. I love reading them and writing them.

Unlike Neva, none of these symbols are tattooed anywhere on my body. I could never pick just one and to choose them all would make my body look like a children’s colouring book. (I am also concerned about how these images would morph as my body aged. Will a wrinkly, flabby snowflake have the same appeal? Don’t think so.)

I suppose I believe that what makes me unique has little to do with some arbitrary mark I create for myself or my physical appearance. Actions speak louder than words or clothes or tattoos. I would like to think my ‘identity mark’ would be something like loyalty, reliability, and enthusiasm – not the most compelling combination, I realize. But I hope it would be the words my friends, family and co-workers would use to describe me.

So how about you? What identity mark would you create for yourself? What words would you or those close to you use to describe you? How are you unique in what can sometimes feel a world where sameness rules?

Follow Sara on Twitter @AuthorSaraGrant

Check out Sara's website

Review: Dark Parties - Sara Grant

Dark Parties by Sara Grant, published by Indigo on 5th January 2012

Goodreads synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Neva has been trapped since birth. She was born and raised under the Protectosphere, in an isolated nation ruled by fear, lies, and xenophobia. A shield "protects" them from the outside world, but also locks the citizens inside. But there's nothing left on the outside, ever since the world collapsed from violent warfare. Or so the government says...

Neva and her best friend Sanna believe the government is lying and stage a "dark party" to recruit members for their underground rebellion. But as Neva begins to uncover the truth, she realizes she must question everything she's ever known, including the people she loves the most.

Review:
Sara Grant's debut novel is a dystopian thriller which will take you on an incredible journey in a society ruled by fear of the government and protected from the outside by the Protectosphere.  This was a thrilling read with some shocking twists and turns.  As the story unravelled I was constantly surprised by the unexpected chain of events that played out before me.

The story centres on Neva who lives with her family in the Protectosphere, a dome which was built to protect the people living within it from those causing terror and harm.  The government control nearly every aspect of their lives but Neva longs for escape and the elusive taste of freedom.  She fights against the fact that her whole life is dictated to her, from what job she'll do, to the way she's encouraged to marry and procreate.  Unlike many others, Neva does believe that there's something more out there and keeps a list of all those who have gone missing including her beloved Grandmother, who may just be on the other side of the dome. 

I thought that the whole idea of a society like this was incredibly frightening.  The concept that life may exist outside of the Protectosphere but it could just be a vast expanse of nothingness was also extremely unsettling.  Neva tries to uncover what's happening to all the people who go missing but a lot of the time she has to rely on her faith alone because proof that there's another world out there is scant.  There's a definite feeling of claustrophobia and of being trapped and this came across really well on the page.  The theme of independence and the fight for freedom was beautifully captured in a world which is unlike anything anyone has ever experienced before.   

There's plenty of romance in the book as well with Neva caught between two boys, steady and reliable boyfriend Ethan and dangerous and forbidden Braydon.  He's forbidden because he happens to be her best friend Sanna's boyfriend but after an illicit kiss in the dark at a party, Neva finds that she can't stay away from him no matter how hard she tries.  Although I'm a sucker for love triangles and cute boys, my favourite relationship was actually between Neva and Sanna.  They're best friends but really they're more like sisters.  They've grown-up together and they've helped each other through many ups and downs in their lives.  Although Neva is drawn towards Braydon, at the same time she does try to stay away from him and put her friend first which I thought was admirable. 

If you were a fan of 'Matched' by Ally Condie then you're sure to love 'Dark Parties' which is in the same vein.  Sara Grant has a brilliant writing style which is engaging and draws the reader in.  I loved the plot and the characters and I was rooting for Neva the whole way through.   This is a very special debut by an exciting new author who's definitely one to watch.  I can't wait for the follow-up to see what happens to Neva next.   

Hotly Anticipated Reads for 2012: Indigo

Indigo are my favourite new YA imprint of the year.  They've already published some amazing titles such as 'Soul Beach' by Kate Harrison, 'The Double Shadow' by Sally Gardner and 'Darkness Falls' by Mia James.

Here's some of the most exciting titles which will be coming your way in 2012!

All links go to Goodreads where you can add any or all of these to your wishlist too.

Full cover art for some of these titles is not yet available but I'll add it as soon as I can.

The Double-Edged Sword by Sarah Silverwood, published January 2012

Finmere Tingewick Smith was abandoned on the steps of the Old Bailey. Under the guardianship of the austere Judge Harlequin Brown and the elderly gentlemen of Orrery House, Fin has grown up under a very strange set of rules. He spends alternate years at two very different schools and now he's tired of the constant lies to even his best friends, to hide the insanity of his double life. Neither would believe the truth! But on his sixteenth birthday, everything changes. The Judge is killed, stabbed in the chest with a double-edged sword that's disturbingly familiar, and from that moment on, Fin is catapulted into an extraordinary adventure.

An Act of Love by Alan Gibbons, published February 2012

Childhood friends Chris and Imran celebrate the Millenium as inseparable blood brothers, they are both seven years old. But by 2011 their lives have taken very different paths. One has joined the Army and served in Afghanistan, the other is a potential jihad recruit. They are no longer friends, and there are bitter wounds between them which remain unhealed. Will their childhood bond be strong enough to overcome an extremist plot?

Hollow Pike by James Dawson, published February 2012

Something wicked this way comes... She thought she'd be safe in the country, but you can't escape your own nightmares, and Lis London dreams repeatedly that someone is trying to kill her. Lis thinks she's being paranoid - after all who would want to murder her? She doesn't believe in the local legends of witchcraft. She doesn't believe that anything bad will really happen to her. You never do, do you? Not until you're alone in the woods, after dark - and a twig snaps... Hollow Pike - where witchcraft never sleeps.

Charmfall by Chloe Neill, published February 2012

High school can be a battlefield, but for Lily Parker, surviving at St. Sophia’s School for Girls is a matter of life and death...

Protecting Chicago from the dark side can be an exhausting job, especially when you’re a junior. So when the girls of St. Sophia’s start gearing up for Sneak, their fall formal, Lily decides to join in on some good, old-fashioned party prep—even if it means not giving demons, vampires and the twisted magic users known as Reapers her undivided attention.

But when a Reaper infiltrates the school, Lily doesn’t forget what she’s sworn to protect. She reaches deep into herself to draw out her magic—and finds that it’s gone. And it turns out she’s not alone. A magical blackout has slammed through paranormal Chicago, and no one knows what—or who—caused it. But Lily knows getting back her magic is worth the risk of going behind enemy lines.

Hexbound by Chloe Neill, published May 2012

They say absolute power corrupts absolutely. Turns out, even a little magic can turn you to the dark side. That’s why Lily has to learn how to control her newly discovered paranormal abilities, on top of avoiding the snobs who think they run her school, nursing a crush on a cute sophomore with a big, werewolf-y secret, and fighting the good fight with her best friend Scout as they take on Chicago’s nastiest nightlife—including the tainted magic users known as Reapers.

Then Lily’s invited to a private meeting with Sebastian. He’s hot, powerful, and offering to help her harness the magic flowing in her veins in a way no one else can. He’s also a Reaper. Lily can’t hide her suspicions. But she’ll soon find out that the line between good and evil isn’t always clear.

Soul Beach 2 by Kate Harrison, published July 2012

As yet untitled this is the sequel to 'Soul Beach'.

The Double Shadow by Sally Gardner giveaway winner

Thank you to everyone that entered my UK giveaway to win a hardback copy of 'The Double Shadow' by Sally Gardner.  If you weren't successful this time then check back again soon when I'll be having another giveaway on the blog.

I'm pleased to announce that the winner is:

# Molly @ Reading is my cup of tea

Congratulations!  I will be contacting you soon by email to confirm your details.  I hope you enjoy the book and thank you once again to everyone that entered.

Blog Tour +Giveaway: The Double Shadow - Sally Gardner

I'm extremely pleased to be taking part in the blog tour for Sally Gardner's incredible new book 'The Double Shadow'.  Highly original and inventive, this is a book which will quite literally take your breath away.

I have a wonderful guest post from Sally herself on Ezra Pound and the silenced voice of TS Eliot’s The Wasteland.


Without doubt, I have become fascinated with The Wasteland and found it to be a major inspiration when writing The Double Shadow. The images of bleakness, this world of snippets, fragments, filmic cuttings, ‘good night sweet ladies, good night’, disjointed images, disjointed memories – these most closely mirror the workings of the mind, of memory.

What is less well known about this epic feat of storytelling is the influence of another writer on the workings of TS Eliot's masterpiece. Step forward, raise a small voice, Ezra Pound.

Intellectually, Pound was one of the most generous men of his generation towards other poets and writers. We wouldn’t have The Wasteland in its current form without him. But he also had huge flaws in his personality - his support of ‘Il Duce’ (Mussolini), his anti-Semitism and racism have led him into the doldrums of neglect and ruined the heritage of his art.

I do not write this in defence of Pound, but in defence of his art. History has often allowed an individual's art despite their life, except in the case of Ezra Pound. My interest in him lies in the contribution he made to what I believe was one of the greatest poems of the last century, one that shaped the modern novel – Eliot’s The Wasteland, written the same year as Joyce's Ulysses. These two pillars are the washing line upon which 20th century novels were pegged.

Pound ended up in the equivalent of Guantanamo Bay after World War Two, arrested for Treason in 1945 and imprisoned in a cage in Pisa ("death cells"—a series of six-by-six-foot outdoor steel cages lit all night by floodlights). Here he was forced to face his prejudices and intellectual mistakes. One of the great poetic voices of the 1920s, he ended his days in silence, refusing to speak until the day he died.

For me it was the poem that became my main inspiration for the memory machine and I suppose in a way for the novel itself . It had all the ingredients that I needed to bake my novel with: sadness, humour, love, wit and wisdom.

Ezra Pascoe is the name of one of the main characters in my book, a silent acknowledgement for the role played by pound himself in the making of TS Elliot's The Wasteland.

To celebrate the release, the very lovely people at Indigo have provided a hardback copy of the book for me to giveaway.  This giveaway is only open to entrants within the UK at the request of the publisher. To enter just fill out the form below.  Good luck!

Giveaway rules.

• There will be one winner.
• Open to entrants with UK addresses only. International entrants may enter, provided they have a UK address to send the books to.
• Please fill out the form completely - including email address 
• You do not have to be a follower to enter but it's always appreciated
• Deadline for entries will be on 23rd November 2011
• Winner(s) will be drawn by random.org
• Winner(s) will be contacted via e-mail, and will be given 48 hours to response. Otherwise, a new winner will be drawn.
• Any details will be deleted after use and will not be passed on to any third party.

Review: The Double Shadow - Sally Gardner

The Double Shadow by Sally Gardner, published by Indigo on 3rd November 2011 

Goodreads synopsis:
Arnold Ruben has created a memory machine, a utopia housed in a picture palace, where the happiest memories replay forever, a haven in which he and his precious daughter can shelter from the war-clouds gathering over 1937 Britain. But on the day of her seventeenth birthday Amaryllis leaves Warlock Hall and the world she has known and wakes to find herself in a desolate and disturbing place. Something has gone terribly wrong with her father's plan. Against the tense backdrop of the second World War Sally Gardner explores families and what binds them, fathers and daughters, past histories, passions and cruelty, love and devastation in a novel rich in character and beautifully crafted.

Review:
I'd previously read and enjoyed Sally Gardner's two historical novels, 'The Red Necklace' and 'The Silver Blade', so had been looking forward to her new offering immensely.  This book is very different to anything else she's written but in a good way.  Trust me, in a really good way!  I enjoyed it so much that even after having finished reading it over a week ago, I still can't stop thinking about it.  The plot is so detailed and complex that you'll want to pick it up and re-read it again as soon as you've finished.

What's so amazing about 'The Double Shadow' is the absolute uniqueness and originality of the story, which has sprung from an imagination that I'm seriously envious of.  It's totally different from anything else I've read that it really stands out from any other offering currently gracing the shelves in bookshops.  The plot and the characters are both multi-layered and as I was reading it, I continually felt that there was always something else waiting to be uncovered.

The first half of the book introduces the reader to Amaryllis Rubens around which most of the pivotal events of the story revolve.  Having been expelled from school following an incident with an older man, 16 year old Amaryllis returns home to live with her father.  Mixed-up and confused, she wants nothing more than her father's love and attention but he's more interested in spending time working on his invention - a memory machine housed within a picture palace in the grounds of Warlock Hall.  With the threat of war coming, he wants to use the machine to not only wipe away Amaryllis's bad memories but to also keep her safe and ensure that everything remains the same for her, even with war on the horizon.  The second half of the book deals with the aftermath of the memory machine being activated and the effect this has on not only the people trapped within the machine, but also on those who are left behind. 

I found 'The Double Shadow' to be endlessly fascinating.  The whole concept of the memory machine was incredible and the idea that someone could build something which could potentially create a three or four dimensional world in which only perfect memories could exist was amazing.  Although Amaryllis's father's intentions are good, a major issue in the book is the broken relationship between a father and daughter and how each can be so oblivious to the needs of the other that the very foundation of their bond is lost.  Each of them is so consumed with their own world that they isolate themselves and prevent the fragile link between the two of them from being repaired.  Another major relationship in the book is between Amaryllis and local boy Ezra and the gradual blossoming of the love between them was wonderful to behold.   

The book does deal with some heavy themes which makes it more suited to a slightly older teen audience, but it holds so much appeal that I will be recommending it to everyone!  It has an extremely clever narrative and Sally Gardner's writing is both sharp and insightful which made this book a joy to read.  The language used is also beautifully poetic at times and I literally savoured every word on the page of this wonderful story.  I'm in awe of Gardner's storytelling skills and envious of anyone getting to read this book for the very first time.  It's an experience you won't forget!