Review | Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Title: Warm Bodies

Author: Isaac Marion 

Release Date: Release of Movie cover January 31st 2013 Originally October 2010

Publisher: Random House 

Genre: Young Adult, Apocalyptic 

Series: Warm Bodies 

Pages: 214

Format: ebook (NetGalley) 

Rating: ★★★★

'R' is a zombie. He has no name, no memories, and no pulse, but he has dreams. He is a little different from his fellow Dead.

Amongst the ruins of an abandoned city, R meets a girl. Her name is Julie and she is the opposite of everything he knows - warm and bright and very much alive, she is a blast of colour in a dreary grey landscape. For reasons he can't understand, R chooses to save Julie instead of eating her, and a tense yet strangely tender relationship begins. 

This has never happened before. It breaks the rules and defies logic, but R is no longer content with life in the grave. He wants to breathe again, he wants to live, and Julie wants to help him. But their grim, rotting world won't be changed without a fight... Source NetGalley Description

Warm Bodies isn't your typical zombie novel. Yes there are the blood thirsty zombies and the survivors, but where this one stands apart from all the rest is that it's narrated by R, who is in fact a zombie. Following his usual daily routines of ridding escalators in the abandoned airport where he lives, having rather brief conversations with his zombie best friend M, and heading out on the hunt for dinner, he stumbles upon Julie (after eating the brain of her now ex-boyfriend.) Their chance meeting changes something within R and ultimately the world. 

I loved this take on zombies! Now if you know anything about me and my usual reading habits, I have a rather big thing for anything apocalyptic or zombie related, but there does come a point when you crave something slightly different and Warm Bodies has it all. 

R is one of the most interesting, intelligent and extremely witty characters I've ever had the pleasure to read about. He captures your interest from the first page explaining the new world, his 'friends' and his surroundings in such a unique way. For a zombie that at first glance has lost everything human he has some alarmingly insightful and comical thoughts about life. As I'm sure you have guessed I adored R, so I won't go into anymore detail about him, you'll just have to read the book to fall in love with him yourself. 

The twists Isaac Marion puts on the post apocalyptic genre is brilliant if slightly predictable. The ending I've got to say didn't really surprise me. I'm not saying that I didn't enjoy it because I truly did, but if you're after a little shock factor then I'd probably recommend not watching the movie trailer for Warm Bodies before you read the book. Nahh only joking, but really other than the predictability and the slightly sceptical romance I loved this book. The whole concept was wonderful and R's narration made up for any tiny issues I might have had. 

I recommend this book 100%. It will branch out to a wide spectrum of readers, from the gore loving, to the romance lovers and even to those who cringe at the idea of zombies. Honestly give this book a go. Step out of your comfort zone and read something a little different. I can safely say that you won't be disappointed. 

I hope you guys enjoyed this review and keep an eye out on my youtube channel for my video review which will be up in the next few weeks. 

Happy Reading! 

*SPOLIER SECTION BELOW*

DO NOT READ BELOW IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK! 

The only part I struggled with in Warm Bodies was the relationship that formed between Julie and R. For me falling in love with R was pretty easy, but I'm not sure that if I was in Julie's situation I would have been so quick to fall. For Julie, R was something different, behind his appearance she could see R's intelligence growing, she could see his human side becoming stronger but without R's inner dialog I'm not too sure what Julie fell for. Julie and R's outward conversations consisted of very brief dialog which I honestly don't think were particularly swoon worthy. Though the majority of the time his actions did speak louder than words, they weren't anything more that what an overly protective animal would do. Ok, I'm speaking out of turn here so I'll reel myself in, but all I wanted to say is that for me the romantic relationship in this book wasn't 100% believable if I was to step out of R's head. 

Review | Poison Study by Maria V Snyder

Title: Poison Study 

Author: Maria V Snyder 

Release Date: September 21st 2007

Publisher: Mira Books

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy  

Series: Study Series 

Pages: 409

Format: ebook

Rating: ★★★★★

Yelena has a choice – be executed for murder, or become food taster to the Commander of Ixia. She leaps at the chance for survival, but her relief may be short-lived.Life in the palace is full of hazards and secrets. Wily and smart, Yelena must learn to identify poisons before they kill her, recognise whom she can trust and how to spy on those she can’t. And who is the mysterious Southern sorceress who can reach into her head?When Yelena realises she has extraordinary powers of her own, she faces a whole new problem, for using magic in Ixia is punishable by death... source Goodreads

Yelena is a mere few days away from facing execution as punishment for committing murder in Ixia when Poison Study beings. One of the many laws in Ixia states that no matter the circumstance taking someones life faces the death penalty, though for Yelena there's one loophole that may just save her life.... temporarily... by becoming the new food tester for the Commander.

Within the first few pages a strong bond between the reader and our main character is formed. Which is odd when you think about it, as from the first page you're routing for a killer, but that's the magic of Maria V Snyder's writing I guess. She really knows how to captivate her audience. We follow Yelena though her training as the new food taster, learning about different poisons but most of all learning who she can trust, if anyone.

Poison study is full of twists and turns and I've got to say that at no point in the book was I second guessing where the story was going. Normally I predict endings pretty efficiently, but with Poison Study I just didn't. Now I'm not sure if this was just because I din't want to guess ahead or that it was purely just unpredictable, but either way I loved reading it just as the author intended.

I absolutely adored this book, which surprised me as normally I wouldn't class myself as a fan of fantasy. I don't particularly enjoy the medieval time period either, being more of a modern day/futuristic girl myself, but I fell for this book hook, line and sinker. Maria V Synder's writing is impeccable creating interesting, mysterious and extremely well developed characters. From the get go I needed to know Yelena's secrets, no matter how terrible they were guaranteed to be. I needed to know that she would be safe, but most of all I needed to know more about the mysterious Valek!

I recommend this book wholeheartedly to anyone. I loved it! So much so that I just had to pick up the second in the series, Magic Study, straight after I finished the first. [another first for me]

If you decide to pick up Poison Study by Maria V Snyder then please let me know as I'd be curious to know what you make of it, and if you've already read it... then what did you think?

Review | Fracture by Megan Miranda

Title: Fracture 

Author: Megan Miranda

Release Date: January 17th 2012

Publisher: Bloomsbury 

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal  

Series: Stand Alone

Pages: 272

Format: Paperback

Rating: ★★

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she’s far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can’t control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she’s reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy’s motives aren’t quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature—or something much more frightening? Source Goodreads

Review: I seem to be on my own when I say that I didn't really enjoy this book. I scroll down the reviews on Goodreads and see either glowing four or five stars with lengthy reviews that follow, but I didn't really get it.
This book caught my attention as soon as it was released. The description had me hooked and the hint of a paranormal twist forced me to pick it up. I wish I could say that it lived up to my high expectations.

Fracture reminded me, in terms of both the plot and the writing style of a Point Horror book. If you don't know what that is then it was a form of teen fiction "back in the day" with a quick but not too in depth plot. Funnily enough I love Point Horror and tend to pick them up whenever I find them, but the difference is that I'm expecting that brief encounter with the plot, the distance between the reader and the characters and basically the rubbish story, and I use rubbish in the most affectionate term possible. (you know rubbish as in those chick flicks that you love to watch but deep down you know that they really aren't that good?! I know you know the ones.) I wish I could hold Fracture in this warm fuzzy part of my heart where all my Point Horror books live but I can't. Teen fiction has come a long way since then and I have become accustomed to expect a lot more from a book.

I also became slightly irritated by the authors use of delaying the mystery. I'm sure that you know the one. Where one character knows all the answers but the character that we're reading from the perspective of is too busy freaking out over something or another to finish asking, even though that's the main reason that they are there. I have no idea why authors do this as for me it doesn't feel natural. I feel that if I was in the same situation and someone had all the answers, I'd want to know! I end up yelling at the book, "tell me already!!!" haha. Maybe it's just me.

In saying that Fracture wasn't "that" bad. It wasn't terrible, it just wasn't for me. It took me a while to get though it as the plot didn't grip me, well at least not until the last 70 pages or so and the ending just left me feeling rather blerrr... Fracture was also a very short book that I should have flew through, but I felt that through the haste of the book I lost that all important connection with the characters. I couldn't even connect to the love interest, which is a shock for me as I usual fall madly in love before that main character even realises that someone else exists. haha.

Overall for me the plot was a little bland. I felt that the paranormal aspect was short lived and the main focus was upon the meaning of life and certain worthiness of one individual living over another instead of the action packed mystery that I was expecting. I personally rate it rather low because I just couldn't love it no matter how many time I try to force myself to. In saying that I wouldn't tell you not to read it. Just because I didn't enjoy it doesn't mean that you wont. This could turn out to be one of you're favourite books and who am I to tell you not to read something?! 

Review | The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E Smith

Title: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight 

Author: Jennifer E Smith

Release Date: January 2nd 2012

Publisher: Poppy/Little Brown 

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary 

Series: Stand Alone

Pages: 236

Format: Hardback 

Rating: ★★★★★

"Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan’s life. She’s stuck at JFK, late to her father’s second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley’s never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport’s cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he’s British, and he’s in seat 18C. Hadley’s in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver’s story will make you believe that true love finds you when you’re least expecting it." Source Goodreads

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight (or SPLFS for short, though it doesn't really make any sense) is a rather tale telling the story of two characters over the course of 24 hours who meet before a flight from America to London. 

Now I've never read a book set over 24 hours, nor have I read much contemporary fiction but I've got to say that I was impressed. As the book is only 236 pages long it is undoubtably a really quick read but the amount of insight into the story and the characters alike was incredible. I really enjoyed getting to know Hadley and Oliver and watch their relationship blossom (not really a spoiler since that is what the book is about) and the little adventure that unfolds along the way. The side story in regards to Hadley and her father was just wonderful and very important in Hadley's growth and understanding of love and relationships. 

Overall SPLFS was a really great read, perfect for summer or anytime when you need a little pick-me-up. Now I don't normally like to compare two completely different books/authors but I've got to say that this book is what I expected Stephanie Perkins' Anna and the French Kiss to be. A light hearted read with wonderful heart warming characters that you'll want to revisit over and over again. 

Review | Beastly by Alex Flinn

Title: Beastly 

Author: Alex Flinn

Release Date: December 29th 2009 (originally Jan 2007)

Publisher: Harper Teen

Genre: Young Adult, Fairytale Retelling, Paranormal

Series: Kendra Chronicles

Pages: 300

Format: Paperback

Rating: ★★★★★

"A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright--a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.

You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll stay this way forever--ruined--unless I can break the spell.

Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly . . . beastly." Source Goodreads 

I first heard of Beastly when the movie was released in 2011 and I was intrigued by an adaptation of my favourite Disney movie. (yes the story of Beauty and the Beast goes much further back than Disney but we're sticking with my first experience) Now I adored Beauty and the Beast, I watched it uncountable times as a child (and an adult. shhh.) and I was a little apprehensive as to where Alex Flinn would take the story. Looking back now I needn't have worried because Flinn did a perfect job with Beastly.  


I've read a few fairytale retellings and I've got to say that a lot of the times I was guessing ahead and predicting every possible outcome of the plot. Because of this I was led to believe that's just how retellings should be. But I was wrong! That's not what is meant to happen. I know the tale of Beauty and the Beast better than anyone I know but Flinn's spin on the story was refreshing and original but still kept to the true story in ways that kept true to my heart. 


We start Beastly in an online chat room, a concept that for me was sort of baffling but I soon got over the shock and the brief encounters of this chat room ultimately added another dimension to the plot. We're then take back in time to before the main character is turned into a beast. Kyle Kingsbury is a mean,  hateful person with an ugly heart but with beautiful good looks. Until one day when he meets someone who changes his physical features to match his personality, beastly. Because of these abnormalities Kyle's father sends him to live in a 5 story secluded house in Brooklyn with his maid Magda to keep him away from the prying eyes of the general public, and to prevent further embarrassment. 


The only predictable part of the story was the growth of the main character which was executed perfectly causing me to fall in love over and over again with someone I wouldn't have looked twice at. Throughout the book I had no idea where the story was going, I didn't expect the many twist and turns and I was hooked from the first few chapters. The pacing wasn't what I would call fast, but it was addictive. I would say that it was more calm, thoughtful, depressing in a sense but more hopeful, one of those books that you want to wrap your heart around and give all your love. Too soppy... maybe but I just loved this book. 

There are so many wonderful character in this book, though none of which I'm going to mention because I want you to form your own opinions, but I challenge anyone not to let these characters suck you in.

Alex Flinn has created a world that I would return to over and over again. She's taken a story that holds a dear part upbringing and instead of causing disruption she has shown me another world while staying true to important messages raised in Beauty and the Beast. And if your wondering, as with the Disney movie, I still prefer the beast over the man. 

Review | Legend by Marie Lu

Title: Legend

Author: Marie Lu

Release Date: Feb 2nd 2012 (originally Nov 2011)

Publisher: Puffin

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, 

Series: Legend

Pages: 295

Format: Paperback

Rating: ★★★★★

"The United States is gone, along with its flooded coasts. North America’s two warring nations, the western Republic and the eastern Colonies, have reached a breaking point. In the midst of this broken continent and dark new world are two teenagers who will go down in history....
Born into the slums of Los Angeles, fifteen-year old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. A mysterious boy with no recorded image or fingerprints. A boy who should no longer exist. A boy who watches over his family until one evening, when the plague patrols mark his family’s door with an X—the sign of plague infection. A death sentence for any family too poor to afford the antidote. Desperate, Day has no choice; he must steal it.
Born to an elite family in Los Angeles’ wealthy Ruby sector, fifteen-year old June is the Republic’s most promising prodigy. A superintelligent girl destined for great things in the country’s highest military circles. Obedient, passionate, and committed to her country—until the day her brother Metias is murdered while on patrol during a break-in at the plague hospital.

Only one person could be responsible.

Day.

And now it’s June’s mission to hunt him down.

The truth they’ll uncover will become legend." Source Goodreads

Legend is written from the perspectives of the two main characters June and Day. Both characters are from polar opposites of the dystopian society. Day who is the most wanted criminal who is wanted for murder and June is sent on a mission to track down her brothers killer. Little do they know that when these two worlds merge the society in which know starts to crumble at the edges. 

This story was fantastic. A definite 5 star book combining a great plot, brilliant characters, and two amazing perspectives. Now it is dystopian so we expect conflict between the government and unfair living conditions but Marie Lu takes this story somewhere else. Now don't get me wrong theres still the conflict but she shows us more about life behind the scenes than the one dimensional 'government bad' portrayal that we are forced to follow in most dystopians. The use of the two separate perspectives was very creative and extremely well executed in ways that many authors tend to miss. We got to see this story unravel from the points of view of both the "good guys" and the "bad guys." Ok I can't go into my reasons for this because I would break the first rule of book blogging No Spoilers, but trust me in this, it was very well done! 

The plot was amazing. I loved it. I was unsure to start with but the more information Marie Lu trusted me with the more I needed. The plot contained the usual aspects of a dystopian story line but with so many twists and turns to keep me engaged throughout and I loved every second. The characters we wonderful and throughout I was routing for both with the ever looming impossible happy ending. All the way through Legend you are completely aware that someone is not going to get what they want but is like watching a train wreck that you cannot turn away from. Cringe worthy but addictive. 

We cannot leave this review without mentioning the romance. Ahh the romance. I won't say much apart from that I really enjoying watching this believable romance form. No insta-love. Phew. Just two people bonding over a common "interest."  

Overall a great start to what I'm predicting is going to be a great series. Marie Lu made a perfect start to this series. I'm already routing for the characters, I have no idea what's going to happen next and every now and then I find myself drifting back into her world. I would say that if you love dystopian then you need to try this one, if you don't well give a go anyway, you might be pleasantly surprised.

The second book in the series Prodigy is due for release early next year and I'm already eagerly anticipating getting my hands on it. If like me you cannot wait, but think you can handle a teaser then here's a link to the first chapter. If I'm honest I don't think I could handle it so I'm going to give it a miss, but if you're more strong willed than I am then go for it! haha. 

Happy Reading! 

Review | Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Title: Insurgent

Author: Veronica Roth

Release Date: May 1st 2012

Publisher: Harper Collins

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, 

Series: Divergent

Pages: 525

Format: Paperback

Rating: ★★★★★

"War looms in sixteen-year-old Tris’s dark dystopian world as disputes between the factions grow. Tris must now fight against all odds to discover the truth that can save her and the people she loves. Sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge – and the choices she makes will have devastating and unexpected consequences." Source Goodreads

Ahh Insurgent has got to be the most eagerly anticipated book of 2012 or at least for me anyway. As soon as I put down Divergent mid way through 2011 I was craving the second in the series. I can now safely say that this wait was definitely worth while. I was not even a little bit disappointed. Every second of Insurgent had me hooked and kept me constantly guessing about what on earth was coming next. I can proudly say that for me this book was perfect. And that ending... blew. my. mind! 

Insurgent takes off immediately where we left Divergent, right slap bang in the middle of all the action with not even enough time to take breath. This pace did not stop at all. Even those points where I thought Roth was about to give me a breather she threw me right back in the centre of all the chaos. Which although it doesn't sound like it, was such a refreshing change from a lot of what I have been reading lately. I finished Insurgent in just over a day because I just couldn't put it down which is also a rarity. 

The characters are still as relatable as ever before, in fact you could say even more so. Though I have heard a few people who seem to dislike Four in this book, but to those people I just stare at open mouthed. haha. I loved him! I absolutely adored where Roth took her characters in Insurgent. Their development was extremely well done, if not at times slightly repetitive (my one and only gripe) and I found their choices in relation to those ever increasing plot twists to be very unpredictable. 

Now for the most important question (for me anyway) is if it was as good, better or worse than Divergent? I've got to say that it was so much better. I loved Divergent, but Insurgent was just on a completely new level. Veronica Roth raised the bar with Divergent in 2011 but raised it even further this year, leaving me in complete awe of her fantastic writing skills and in amazement for what she has in store for us next. I'm still trying to absorb the whole story and allowing everything to slowly sink in but for now I'm still half in the WTF shock stage...

I hope you get around to reading this one soon, and if you already have then what did you think???

Happy Reading Guys. 

Katie

Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Title: Cinder

Author: Marissa Meyer

Release Date: January 5th 2012

Publisher: Puffin

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, Sci-fy

Series: The Luna Chronicles

Pages: 387

Format: Paperback

Source: Library 

Rating: ★★★★ 

"Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, the ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . 

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future." Source Goodreads

Cinder is Marissa Meyer's debut novel which was released early this year. I had been very curious to find out what all that early hype had been about so when I spotted it in my local library I sprinted for my chance to read it. And I've got to say that I wasn't disappointed... much. 

Now as you are already aware Cinder is a re-telling of the fairytale Cinderella so predictability is kind of a given when embarking on this read, but what I didn't expect was quite how much. Which is unfortunately the only thing that let me down about this book. The plot was very original especially when you take into account that it's a retelling. Cyborgs, a plague, Luna's and talking robots with "faulty" personality chips were just a few of the wonderful aspects that Meyer threw into her story that left me begging for more. But all those "big" plot twists were mentioned in some way or another, in extremely close proximity to Cinder that by the time they turn up I was left thinking, "yeah? and?" Saying that Meyer's writing was so utterly addictive that I didn't care I just needed to keep reading about her amazing characters. 

Those said characters were fantastic. Cinder was a perfect main character with the perfect amount of strength and stupidity to make you fall in love with her over and over again. She faced a tough life growing up with only one great friend to keep her going, who I think it's safe to say was the best character in the whole book, Iko. Now Iko's not your typical friend she is in fact a robot, but I challenge anyone to defy her charm. This character had me laughing out loud on numerous occasions! 

I wont go into too much detail about this story but what I will say is that as soon as I finished reading Cinder I was left wanting more. This book was fantastic. The writing style was just wonderful and so easy to follow and absorb entirely that it somehow brought each character to life in a way I've never read before. The plot was wonderful (though predictable) and I cannot wait for the sequel which is due for release Feb 2012. I'm already on the count down. I'm hoping that this one is a little less predictable, but as long as I get to meet Cinder, Iko and the Prince again I think I'll be ok. haha. 

A definite 4 out of 5 star rating for Cinder and a book recommendation that I'm sure readers from all ages will enjoy. Lets just say I lent this to my Mum first and she's still moaning about how long she's got to wait until the next one. haha. I should mention that I forgot to tell her that it was the first in a series. Ooops, my bad. I just assumed that she would know, it is YA after all. 

Happy reading guys, and I hope you get around to reading this one soon. 

Katie 

Review: Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Title: Pandemonium 

Author: Lauren Oliver 

Release Date: March 1st 2012

Publisher: Hodder

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia

Series: Delirium

Pages: 329

Format: Hardback

Rating: ★★★★

"I’m pushing aside 
the memory of my nightmare, 
pushing aside thoughts of Alex, 
pushing aside thoughts of Hana 
and my old school, 
push, 
push, 
push, 
like Raven taught me to do. 
The old life is dead. 
But the old Lena is dead too. 
I buried her. 
I left her beyond a fence, 
behind a wall of smoke and flame. " Source Goodreads

---

Now because this book is the second in a series it means that I cannot discuss or review it without spoiling the first book, Delirium. So if you've not yet read Delirium please save this post and come back to it once you've read it, ok? Ok. Now everyone still reading this has read Delirium or doesn't really care about spoilers?

Pandemonium continues where Delirium left off with that killer cliff hanger. Yep, you know the one where we don't know if Alex has survived. Except we're still unsure as to what has happened to our beloved character. We continue to follow Lena's journey after her decision to escape to the wilds with the  wonderful writing style of alternating chapters between the past and the present, continuously keeping you on the edge of your seat with the need to keep reading just to find out what's going on. 

The story has developed in the present with Lena moving back to the city, still uncured and working undercover to discover more about the government and it's plans, but with scenes flipping back to the past as Lena learns to adapt to life in the wilds.

We meet many more characters in Pandemonium all of which quickly force their way into your heart and not always with that happy ending. We watch our main character Lena's grow from someone weak in both body and mind to someone brave and very determined. I've always personally liked Lena's character but her strength within this book takes that to a whole new level.

I have got to say that the romance within Pandemonium is extremely predictable with plot introductions that I personally hated and felt were rather unnatural, but when I think back over this book I have to subtract these to remember how truly incredible it really was. The plot development was fantastic experiencing life from a completely different angle from Delirium. This second in the series is definitely much more mature and more serious that the first with a much more addictive plot. I remember giving Delirium a 5 star rating, and though I loved Pandemonium so much more I have to begrudgingly subtract a star due to the romance.

I really loved Pandemonium and remember telling my husband numerous times whilst reading how amazing it was, much to his annoyance. haha. I would definitely recommend picking this one up as it really was great continuation of the Delirium trilogy and I cannot wait until the third is released, though I'm predicting a very long wait. 

If you've already read this one then I'd love to know what you thought, 

but until then happy reading! 

Katie

Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Release Date: September 14th 2008 

Publisher: Sholastic 

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian 

Series: The Hunger Games

Pages: 454

Format: Paperback

Rating: ★★★★★

"In a dark vision of the near future, twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live TV show called the Hunger Games. There is only one rule: kill or be killed. 

When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister's place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature." Source Goodreads

---

I re-read The Hunger Games this week in honour of the movie release, so I thought what better time to write a book review, or at least my thoughts on a incredible book because we all know that it's amazing.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with The Hunger Games (I'm not sure that there are any of you left, but just in cases) it's set in a dystopian society where North America has been split up into 12 districts. Each district selects one girl and one boy between the ages of 12 and 18 to participate in the hunger games, a televised battle to the death with only one winner.

When I first picked this early last year I could only compare this to Battle Royal where teenagers are forced to kill each other and I must admit I was one of those people who thought it was a bit of a copy, until I read it and realised just how completely original the story was.

I don't usually re-read books but I thought I'd make an exception for this one, firstly because of the movie release but secondly because it's such and incredible book, and I have to say it's just as good the second time round if not better than the first. The Hunger Games is extremely fast paced and completely addictive  and I guarantee that you won't ever want to put it down. The characters are beyond amazing and well planned, and though it tackles such disturbing subject matter still utterly loveable. I loved Katniss' strong, brave and intelligent character who was also so naive about her actions within the games. I loved her power over the capital even though she had little idea of how effective her decisions were. Her reactions to the developing relationship between herself and Peeta was utterly enchanting especially the second time round even when you know what to expect.

The imagination is brilliant with wonderful but deadly creations such as tracker jackers, and horrendous mutations, and the arena even it's self. I couldn't rate this book any higher than 5 stars, though it completely deserves it, and I couldn't recommend it enough.

I also think it's odd how truly difficult it is to write a book review on your favourite book series of all time. No matter what you write it never seems to convey just how incredible this book actually is  and nothing seems to do it justice.

If you've not yet read this book, you need to and if you've not yet re-read this book then you need to. haha.

Happy Reading,

Katie

Review: City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Ashes

Author: Cassandra Clare

Release Date: March 24th 2009 (originally March 25th 2008)

Publisher: McElderry Books

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

Series: The Mortal Instruments

Pages: 453

Format: Paperback

Rating: ★★★★

Spoiler free review, so no summary. Click here to view on goodreads. 

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I read City of Bones, the first in The Mortal Instruments last December and I can't quite say that I loved it. I did enjoy it but some aspects were slightly off putting and I wasn't as overwhelmed as I expected to be. Though saying that the story did have enough appeal to urge me to continue with the series, and the fact that I already owned the first three books definitely also helped.

I'd heard that though City of Ashes continues where City of Bones left off the story improves, and for people like me who didn't quite understand the appeal of the first it was definitely worth the time. I can happily admit that what I heard was correct. City of Ashes raises the bar on the series so far and I loved where Cassandra Clare took the story. I would say that this is slightly darker than the first with some unexpected twist and turns, or at least I didn't expect them, but I didn't anticipate anything bright and rosy, especially after where City of Bones left off.

I enjoyed the character development, especially Clary's. I love how her character grew into her role, and instead of being unneeded and a constantly protected bystander, we found that she could hold her own and provide an important resource to the team.

Jace is still as strong minded and wilful as ever with slight frustrating and infuriating side effects, but I guess that's what makes me love him even more. The fact that he's so misunderstood, but still full of mystery which makes you unable to want to peel away his layers. The only downside was due to his stubborn nature. I didn't get any answers to the questions I didn't even know I wanted answering. Something would be introduced to the plot and Jace would disregard the character and I would be left hanging.

I am also still struggling with the relationship between Clary and Jace, and finding it difficult to accept the nature of their affection. I guess this is where the author intended to take her characters, but I cannot read their emotions without feeling slightly ill and wrong. If you haven't read City of Bones I don't want to spoil anything by stating it here, but if you have read it then I'm 100% sure that you know what I'm talking about.

I'm hoping that in the third book we find out that their relationship is not what it seems and I can learn to love them once again. Here's hoping.

Other than that I found the plot utterly intriguing. I loved all the characters, even the bad guys, and Cassandra Clare's world building skills are incredible. I wouldn't say it was a world that I would love to live in, because if I'm honest I think I would be permanently terrified, but I've got to say bravo! The writing style is brilliant and I love how it's written from no particular perspective so we get to experience the story from so many different angles. Not a usual quality in YA, but one that is executed so perfectly.

Overall City of Ashes is a great continuation of The Mortal Instruments Series and I cannot wait to find out where the story goes from here. There are too many great moments to mention, but if like me you didn't think City of Bones was anything special, then give City of Ashes a go... I dare you!