Review: Royal Wedding - Meg Cabot

Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot, published by Macmillan on 2nd July 2015

Goodreads synopsis:
A brand-new new adult instalment of the most popular YA series in all the land! Princess Mia is engaged to be married, but since when in Mia's life did anything go to plan?! Fall back in love with Mia in this new book for older readers.

Review:
As a massive fan of The Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot, I screamed with joy when I heard that she would finally be revisiting Mia Thermopolis aka Crown Princess of Genovia and giving all us readers an update on what's happened in the life of everyone's favourite Princess. 

Having grown-up with a teenage Mia, I loved seeing her now as a (fairly) confident twenty-five year old woman.  She may be older but she is still the same funny and wonderful Mia and yes, Fat Louie is still by her side.  My prayers were answered by the fact that she and the irresistible Michael Moscovitz are also still a couple and the scenes that the two of them share in the book were definitely my favourite bits.  They are so utterly adorable together and it's great that they are high school sweethearts who are even more in love with each other now.  Ahhh!  I'm feeling all gooey inside now. 

Cabot brings back all the other characters too that we know and love, including best friend Lilly and Tina Hakim Baba, as well as her formidable Grandmere.  It actually makes a lot of sense to have Mia with the same circle of friends because being a Princess a lot of people do not genuinely know the real her or they want to become friends with her just because of who she is.  This means that fans get treated to some classic Mia/Lilly moments, as well as some pretty hilarious conversations between Mia and her irrepressible Grandmere. 

There are some very fan-pleasing moments in the book, including a huge surprise near the end.  I'm so happy that Meg Cabot truly does justice to this wonderful series and keeps Mia's legacy in-tact.  I desperately want more now! 

'Royal Wedding' is a fantastic addition to The Princess Diaries series.  Although an adult novel, rather than YA, I think this perfectly suits fans of the books who have, like Mia, grown-up and want to see what happened to their favourite gang of friends. 

This is a five star Royal read!    

Hotly Anticipated Reads 2013: Macmillan Children's Books

Macmillan are one of my favourite publishers and I always look forward to seeing what new books they have out each year.  There's always plenty to get excited about!  Plus they are the UK home of Meg Cabot whose books I absolutely adore.

Here's a selection of some of the titles they have in store for us lucky readers in 2013!

All links go to Goodreads where you can add them to your wishlist

Vortex by Julie Cross, published 3rd January

Jackson Meyer has thrown himself into his role as an agent for Tempest, the shadowy division of the CIA that handles all time-travel-related threats. Despite his heartbreak at losing the love of his life, Jackson has proved himself to be an excellent agent. However, allthat changes when Holly—the girl he altered history to save—re-enters his life. And when Eyewall, an opposing division of the CIA, emerges, Jackson and his fellow agents find themselves under attack and on the run.

One Crow Alone by S.D. Crockett, published 31st January

The long, bitter winters are getting worse, and a state of emergency has been declared across Europe. In Poland, the villagers are subject to frequent power cuts and fuel shortages. After the death of her grandmother and the evacuation of her village, fifteen-year-old Magda joins forces with the arrogant, handsome Ivan and smuggles her way onto a truck bound for London - where she hopes to find her mother. But London, when they reach it, is a nightmarish world, far from welcoming. Riots are commonplace and the growing chaos is exploited by criminals and terrorists alike. Magda's mother is not to be found, and as the lost girl struggles to come to terms with her changing situation, she eventually becomes friends with a rag-tag group of travellers planning a new home and future. They will need all the cunning and know-how they possess as they realise that the frozen wilderness of Britain has become just as lawless as the city.

Unremembered by Jessica Brody, published 14th March

Sixteen-year-old Jena is the only survivor of an explosion on a plane. She wakes up in hospital to find that she has no memory. The only clue to her identity is a mysterious boy who claims she was part of a top-secret science experiment. The only adult she trusts insists that she shouldn’t believe anything that anybody tells her. In a tense and pacy novel exploding with intrigue and action, Jena must work out who she is and where she came from. Eventually she will learn that the only thing worse than forgetting her past is remembering it.

Because It Is My Blood by Gabrielle Zevin, published 11th April

Reluctant heir of a Mafia boss. Star-crossed lover. Paparazzi darling. Hitman’s target. Anya Balanchine’s amazing story continues in the second part of the Birthright trilogy.

Abandon: Underworld by Meg Cabot, published 25th April

Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera isn't dead.  Not this time.

But she is being held against her will in the dim, twilit world between heaven and hell, where the spirits of the deceased wait before embarking upon their final journey.

Her captor, John Hayden, claims it's for her own safety. Because not all the departed are dear. Some are so unhappy with where they ended up after leaving the Underworld, they've come back as Furies, intent on vengeance . . . on the one who sent them there and on the one whom he loves.

But while Pierce might be safe from the Furies in the Underworld, far worse dangers could be lurking for her there . . . and they might have more to do with its ruler than with his enemies.  And unless Pierce is careful, this time there'll be no escape.

Goddess by Josephine Angelini, published 6th June

She must rise, or they will fall . . . Helen's powers are increasing—and so is the distance between her and her mortal friends. To make matters worse, the Oracle reveals that a dangerous traitor is lurking among them, and all fingers point to Orion. Still unsure whether she loves him or Lucas, Helen is forced to make a terrifying decision, or risk all-out war.

Comment and let me know which books you're most looking forward to in 2013!

Review: Abandon - Meg Cabot

Abandon by Meg Cabot, published by Macmillan Children's Books on 1st September 2011

Goodreads synopsis:
Last year, Pierce died - just for a moment. And when she was in the space between life and death, she met John: tall dark and terrifying, it’s his job to usher souls from one realm to the next.

There’s a fierce attraction between them, but Pierce knows that if she allows herself to fall for John she will be doomed to a life of shadows and loneliness in the underworld. But now things are getting dangerous for her, and her only hope is to do exactly what John says...

Review:
Meg Cabot is my all time favourite YA author but funnily enough when I checked my blog, I realised that I haven't actually reviewed one of her books here yet - a situation I'm about to remedy!  Meg is the only author that I have a dedicated shelf to on my bookcases and every one of her books I've read, adored and re-read over and over.  She has an incredible talent to be able to write about literally any subject and make it fascinating and wonderful.  I was beyond thrilled when I received a proof copy of 'Abandon' for review.  I treat Meg Cabot books like a box of chocolates, slowly savouring each one at a time and enjoying having new books of hers to read when I need a Cabot kick!

I have to say right from the start of this review that I fell in love with 'Abandon'.  The plot combines elements of ancient Greek mythology and features a new and original take on the story of Hades, Persephone and the Underworld.  This is a subject which I knew I was going to be crazy about from the beginning.  I am absolutely fascinated by stories about the Gods and I loved the way in which Meg Cabot explored the roots of this but gave it her own unique spin.

The story revolves around fifteen year old Pierce Oliviera who dies after a tragic accident and ends up in the Underworld where she meets the mysterious John Hayden.  Brought back to life and coping with her near death experience, she finds that danger stalks her around every corner.  Although determined to protect her friends and family from the evil that she can see lurking around them, she's unable to prevent the people she loves from being hurt and while John would seek to keep her safe, even he may not be able to protect her forever.

I absolutely adored Pierce and John.  I mean for a dead guy John is a total hottie!  Although their romance really took most of the book to kick into gear, I enjoyed the anticipation of them getting together, just as much as the moment when Pierce finally wakes up to her true feelings for John.  Meg Cabot's characters are always incredibly well written and immensely likable and this was a distinct feature of Abandon.  I loved the way that Pierce was so determined to look after the people she cares about and always seemed to put herself second, whereas John is present whenever she's in danger and lies continually looking out for her even when she doesn't know he's there.  I'm so excited about seeing the romance between the two of them blossom further!   

'Abandon' had a hugely entertaining storyline which had me completely gripped from start to finish.  I can promise you that the Underworld has never been so appealing!  There were dark undertones to the book, as well as some moments of light relief but I loved every single second of the characters' journeys as they traverse life and death situations.

The second book in the trilogy, 'Underworld' is due to be published next year but I haven't figured out yet how I'm going to be able to stand the wait!