Review: The Winner's Curse - Marie Rutkoski

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski, published by Bloomsbury on 3rd July 2014

Goodreads synopsis:
As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction.

Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Review:
I'd heard so much about this book and read so many positive reviews that I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy.  When it arrived I'll admit that I spent a good long while just marvelling over the absolutely beautiful cover art before I even cracked it open.  It's so pretty and looks so nice on my bookshelves!

The story itself is a blend of fantasy and historical fiction.  The main character Kestral, is the daughter of a general.  At the beginning of the book she bids successfully on a slave for her father's household.  The winner's curse is the hugely inflated price that she pays for him.  Arin, the new slave, will change everything.  I really wasn't too sure about Kestral at the start.  She came across as quite snobby and superior but as her personality began to shine through, I liked her more and more and I began to understand her motives and reasons.

There is quite a lot in the first half of the book about the history of the country.  It focuses on the divide between the ruling Valorians and the suppressed Herrani, who they conquered and turned into slaves.  This is quite detailed and complex and I had to really concentrate to make sure that I understood everything but it added such a rich layer to the story and helped when trying to appreciate the different standpoints of many of the characters.   

Although I found the beginning of 'The Winner's Curse' a little slow at times, as the plot progressed I became more and more absorbed.  I thought the scenes between Kestral and Arin were wonderfully written and I enjoyed the push-pull nature of their relationship, as the dynamics gradually start to shift.  The ending left me on tenterhooks and desperate to know what would happen next. 

This is the first book in a trilogy which I will definitely be sticking with.  I'm eager for the story to continue and will be rushing out to get my hands on a copy when the sequel is published.   

Review: The Dead Girls Detective Agency - Suzy Cox

The Dead Girls Detective Agency by Suzy Cox, published by Much-In-Little on 18th July 2013

Goodreads synopsis:
Being told you're dead is one thing. But having to solve your own murder? It's a lot for a girl to take in. Solving the mystery behind your death can be murder.

Charlotte wakes up at Hotel Atessa, home to murdered New York teenagers and HQ of The Dead Girls Detective Agency. Before she has time to adjust to her new, erm, dead self, she's thrust into the arms of her new afterlife companions, Lorna, Nancy and the cute - if slightly hostile - dead boy, Eddison.

But where does this leave Charlotte and her boyfriend David? Is it possible to have a long-distance relationship from beyond the grave? The only way out of this limbo is to figure out who killed her, or she'll have to spend eternity here. But who could hate her enough to want her dead?

Review:
This is the first book in a new series about a group of murdered teenagers solving their own deaths so that they can move onto the afterlife.  It's an interesting concept and one which appealed to the part of me that loves detective shows and books, as I'm always trying to puzzle out who did the crime.

The main character Charlotte, is the newest member of The Dead Girls Detective Agency.  After waking up to discover that she's dead and that life as she knew it is over, she and her new companions set about attempting to work out who wanted her out of the way enough to commit murder.  Charlotte and the other girls are an interesting bunch.  There's Lorna, the wonderfully geeky Nancy and the mysterious Eddison.  They are all dead but help Charlotte to unravel the clues which they gradually begin to uncover. 

I adored the New York setting of this book.  It's a place that I've always wanted to visit and there were some fantastic scenes set all around the Big Apple.  One of my favourites was when they were at the top of the Empire State Building. 

The concept for the story is not particularly original but I thought that it was carried out adeptly and with humour.  There are some great lighter moments of comedy in the story as Charlotte learns to adapt to her new existence, experiencing just a few hiccups along the way. 

I enjoyed following all the clues and trying to puzzle out who was involved but I have to say that you will be very surprised when Charlotte's killer is revealed.  I know I was.

The second book in the series 'Dead Girls Walking' is out now and centres around the character of Lorna.  Who knows what surprises lie in wait for her!

Review: Say Her Name - James Dawson

Say Her Name by James Dawson, published by Hot Key Books on 5th June 2014

Goodreads synopsis:
Roberta 'Bobbie' Rowe is not the kind of person who believes in ghosts. A Halloween dare at her ridiculously spooky boarding school is no big deal, especially when her best friend Naya and cute local boy Caine agree to join in too. They are ordered to summon the legendary ghost of 'Bloody Mary': say her name five times in front of a candlelit mirror, and she shall appear... But, surprise surprise, nothing happens. Or does it?

Next morning, Bobbie finds a message on her bathroom mirror... five days... but what does it mean? And who left it there? Things get increasingly weird and more terrifying for Bobbie and Naya, until it becomes all too clear that Bloody Mary was indeed called from the afterlife that night, and she is definitely not a friendly ghost. Bobbie, Naya and Caine are now in a race against time before their five days are up and Mary comes for them, as she has come for countless others before...

Review:
This is James Dawson's third book and his scariest one yet.  You'll be afraid to be home alone after reading this!

The story is set at a local girls' boarding school called Pipers Hall.  Bobbie, her best friend Naya and local boy Caine are all involved in a silly dare - to look in a mirror and say the name 'Bloody Mary' five times in a row.  They believe nothing will happen to them if they do, until one of their friends disappears and they realise that their own fates may hang in the balance. 

The book is divided into sections, each corresponding to one of the five days.  Bobbie is determined to get to the bottom of things and knows that she has to discover the truth but you're left in a perpetual state of doubt about whether she will be able to do it in time.  There's a clock ticking throughout the book and it keeps getting louder and louder. 

Super spooky and very scary, 'Say Her Name' is part horror and part ghost story.  James Dawson has really stamped his mark on this genre and is the master of making your knuckles turn white and your heart beat faster.  He draws the tension and shocks out wonderfully, as you're never quite sure whether something supernatural is really going on or whether there may well be a human hand behind it all. 

The climax of the book was frankly terrifying with the suspense cranked up to an all time high.  I love the way that even when you think everything is over, you are suddenly, at the very last moment, still left guessing.  Deliciously cruel but a brilliant twist all at the same time. 

Review: The Forever Song - Julie Kagawa

The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa, published by Mira Ink on 2nd May 2014

Goodreads synopsis:
Allie will embrace her cold vampire side to hunt down and end Sarren, the psychopathic vampire who murdered Zeke. But the trail is bloody and long, and Sarren has left many surprises for Allie and her companions - her creator Kanin, and her blood brother, Jackal. The trail is leading straight to the one place they must protect at any cost - the last vampire-free zone on Earth, Eden. And Sarren has one final, brutal shock in store for Allie.

In a ruined world where no life is sacred and former allies can turn on you in one heartbeat, Allie will face her darkest days. And if she succeeds, her triumph will be short-lived in the face of surviving forever alone.

Review:
This is probably THE vampire series I've enjoyed the most in the last couple of years.  I love Julie Kagawa's writing and the characters she has created.  There is a real grittiness to the series and it has kept me engrossed throughout all three books in the trilogy, with some genuine shocks and surprises along the way.  I was so excited to start reading 'The Forever Song' which was absolutely absorbing.  I was relieved that I started it on a Saturday morning because it meant that I could curl up for a long, uninterrupted reading session.

The whole series has culminated in Allie's determination to kill Sarren and stop him once and for all.  She won't allow him to infect and kill the people of Eden - the last safe zone on earth, and she wants to make him pay for robbing her of the person she loved the most.  Without Zeke by her side she struggles to overcome the monster living within her but she has incredible strength and won't give in without a fight. 

Not only do I love the character of Allie but Jackal remains a big favourite of mine too.  He has really undergone an almost 360 degree personality change from the start of the series and has developed a new found compassion for others.  He is however still the sarcastic, wise-cracking Jackal that I've come to know and love.  He is very much an anti-hero and definitely gets all of the best lines!  Kanin is another brilliant character and always tried to show Allie and Jackal the right path, whilst giving them the freedom to make their own choices and mistakes.   

There are some massive surprises throughout the book and I felt like I was continually kept on my toes by Julie Kagawa's ingenious plotting.  She threw me for a loop on more than one occasion which was one of the key elements I enjoyed about the story.  This was such an exciting and well written conclusion to the Blood of Eden trilogy.  The final ending was absolutely perfect and the best way to finish what has been such a stellar series.      

Review: White Trash Beautiful - Teresa Mummert

White Trash Beautiful by Teresa Mummert, published by Simon and Schuster on 16th July 2013

Goodreads synopsis:
Cass Daniels isn’t waiting for her knight in shining armor. She knows that girls like her don’t get a happily ever after. Not if you live in a trailer with your mom, work at a greasy spoon diner, and get leered at by old men. Maybe that’s why she puts up with Jackson—her poor excuse for a boyfriend, who treats her like dirt. Cass has learned to accept her lot in life. That is, until he walks into her diner...

His name is Tucker White, and he’s different from any man Cass has ever known. Tall, tattooed, and bad-ass gorgeous, he’s the lead singer of the rock band Damaged. From the moment they meet, Tucker sees something in Cass he just can’t shake. Something beautiful. Something haunted. Something special. And he’s determined to find out what it is—if only he can get her to open up and let him in...

Review:
'White Trash Beautiful' is a gorgeous book which really tugged at my heartstrings.  I found it very moving and emotional and I got quite weepy in places.  It's best read with a big box of tissues beside you.

The story revolves around the main character Cass who is desperate to turn her life around.  She scrimps and saves but fears that with a drug addict boyfriend and a dependant mother, she will never be able to escape her dead end job in a small town diner and her trailer park home.  Things are bleak for Cass until Tucker waltzes into her life and brings with him hopes and dreams for the future that she had never dared imagine.  I really felt sorry for Cass.  She tries to keep things together and tries to do the right thing but her life is so awful and she feels a misplaced sense of gratitude towards her boyfriend Jackson which means that she doesn't kick him to the curb like I thought she should have.  It's Cass that keeps things afloat for the people in her life but she can't help but dream of something more. 

I loved Tucker and I was rooting for him and Cass from the start.  He truly is like a knight in shining armour to her and I appreciated the fact that he was defensive of her right from the start of their relationship.  Their romance is gradual but like a fairy tale to Cass and provides her with the escape from reality that she needs.  I wish she could have believed in herself a little more though as at times she seemed far too hard on herself and didn't think that she deserved any more than she already had.

This is my first Teresa Mummert book and I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. 'White Trash Beautiful' is a gritty, realistic romance which features characters who have to fight against the odds to be together but who you'll be desperate to see together.  I am so happy that this is only the first book in a trilogy about Cass and Tucker because I want to see much more of them and I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that they get the happy ever after that they both deserve.      

Review: Out of Control - Sarah Alderson

Out of Control by Sarah Alderson, published by Simon and Schuster on 22nd May 2014

Goodreads synopsis:
When 17 year old Liva witnesses a brutal murder she’s taken into police custody for her own protection. But when the police station is attacked and bullets start flying it becomes clear that Liva is not just a witness, she’s a target.

Together with a car thief called Jay, Liva manages to escape the massacre but now the two of them are alone in New York, trying to outrun and outwit two killers who will stop at nothing to find them.

When you live on the edge, there’s a long way to fall.

Review:
Sarah Alderson is one of my favourite authors so it's a big event when she has a new book out!  Her stories are always varied and different and her writing remains top quality from start to finish.  I couldn't wait to get my hands on 'Out of Control' and when I did I devoured it in one sitting. 

The story is set in one of my favourite places, New York and features Liva and Jay as they go on the run and try to outwit and outrun the men who are chasing them.  With no idea why they are being hunted, they can't trust anyone as they flee police custody and try desperately to stay alive.  The big question is who wants them and why?      

The opening of the book has to be one of the best that I've ever read.  Sarah Alderson has said that it's based on one of her favourite movies Terminator and it certainly grabbed me and had me absolutely hooked and on the edge of my seat.  Explosive, action packed, tense and exciting, it set the scene for the rest of the story and laced everything with an element of real danger.  I also enjoyed trying to puzzle out why someone would want to capture a teenage girl and although I had a few theories, none of them were correct.  The big reveal when it came was therefore absolutely gripping and totally surprising. 

There is some romance in the book between Liva and Jay but this develops slowly, as they have little time for flirting.  There are some spine tingling scenes between them but for once I liked the fact that the romance took a backseat to the main plot and to the action driven scenes which dominated the book.  I don't think it would have worked if it had been the other way around. 

The ending of 'Out of Control' was awesome and so tense that I couldn't put it down.  This is Sarah Alderson at her very best and was a five star read which I will definitely be recommending.