Review: Blood Ransom - Sophie McKenzie

Blood Ransom by Sophie McKenzie, published by Simon & Schuster in 2010

Goodreads synopsis:
The long-awaited sequel to the award-winning Blood Ties by the bestselling Sophie McKenzie. Clones Rachel and Theo now live thousands of miles apart. They keep in touch, but things just aren't the same. When Rachel discovers that evil scientist Elijah is still working in secret for a section of the government and about to murder Daniel, she sets out to rescue the little boy, but her plans backfire with disastrous consequences. Theo sets off to find her.

Review:
I absolutely loved 'Blood Ties' when I read it earlier this year and had no idea that there was going to be a sequel.  Imagine my excitement when I saw this in my local bookshop!  I bought it immediately! 

This book is a perfect read for when you get home after a long day at work and you want to pick up something that will make you forget everything but the story you're reading.  The action picks up within the first few pages, with very little prelude and maintains a constant pace until the end of the book.  There's excitement, suspense and tension which absorbed me totally and I found that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.  There are plenty of thrills and spills and revelations around every corner.

As well as being a brilliant thriller, the book also raises a number of serious scientific, ethical and moral questions which are laid open for consideration.  What are the barriers that shouldn't be breached, even if it may help humanity in the long-term?  Sophie McKenzie doesn't shy away from anything.  She tackles everything head on, which is one of the aspects that makes this such an amazing book.

I loved revisiting the characters of Rachel and Theo.  The chapters alternate the narration between them which works well to present their two points of view and also keeps the story exciting because we get to follow both of them on their mission to stop evil scientist Elijah.  Although it may be a little far-fetched in places, particularly when you remember that Rachel and Theo are both teenagers, I recommend suspending your belief for a short time, getting comfortable and sitting back to enjoy a fanastic, thrilling read.

This is the second book I've read as part of the British Books Challenge 2011.

Review: A Beautiful Lie - Irfan Master

A Beautiful Lie by Irfan Master, published by Bloomsbury on 3rd January 2011

Goodreads synopsis:
An extraordinarily rich debut novel, set in India in 1947 at the time of Partition. Although the backdrop is this key event in Indian history, the novel is even more far-reaching, touching on the importance of tolerance, love and family. The main character is Bilal, a boy determined to protect his dying father from the news of Partition - news that he knows will break his father's heart. With great spirit and determination, and with the help of his good friends, Bilal persuades others to collude with him in this deception, even printing false pages of the local newspaper to hide the ravages of unrest from his father. All that Bilal wants is for his father to die in peace. But that means Bilal has a very complicated relationship with the truth...

Review:
I received this book to review and was initially a little unsure about whether or not I was going to enjoy it.  Although I am a fan of historical fiction, I tend to read books set against an English or American backdrop, so a story set in India is not normally the sort of thing that I'd choose.  However, it was a really interesting read and taught me a lot about a key event in India's history.  

The story is based around the partition that took place in India in 1947, when India won freedom from British Colonial rule and Pakistan was created.  This led to a split along religious lines.  The story is narrated from the point of view of a small Indian boy called Bilal, who wishes to keep the news of the partition from his dying father.  He believes that the partition would break his father's heart so he recruits his friends to help him with his lie.  I loved the way that Bilal's friends all banded together to support him with his decision.  Although religious differences eventually come between some of them, they're best of friends and will do anything at all for Bilal. 

I knew nothing at all about the history of India before reading 'A Beautiful Lie' and it was both fascinating and educational learning more about the partition and understanding the repercussions that it's had and the long-term effect it's caused on the people of India.  The book was fast-paced and interesting and I was swept along with Bilal's story. 

Thanks to Bloomsbury for sending this one for review.

This is the first book I've read as part of the British Books Challenge 2011.

British Books Challenge 2011

I've decided to take part in the British Books Challenge hosted by The Bookette.  You can find out more about it and sign-up to take part here. 

So what is the British Books Challenge?
The BBC (hee hee) is a reading challenge where bloggers sign up to read books by British writers throughout 2011. 

The books can be in print or out.  Old or new titles.  They can be from any genre and for any age. 

There are two entry categories for the challenge and as a British blogger, I fall within Home Grown.  The target is to read 12 novels. 

I'm still deciding which 12 novels I want to read but so far these are the ones I have on my list:

1. The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

2. Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper

3. The Dead by Charlie Higson

4. City of Masks by Mary Hoffman

5. Briar Rose by Jane Yolen