Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

Title: Last Sacrifice
Author: Richelle Mead

Publisher: Razorbill
ISBN: 978-0-141-33188-1
Pages: 584
Series: Vampire Academy #6
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


The moroi Queen is dead, found murdered in her bed with Rose Hathaway's stake embedded in her chest. Caught in a desperate race to clear her name, Rose and her friends find themselves forced to play detective and solve the case for themselves. Political machinations and motives abound but can they find the killer before Rose loses her life? And what will her friends be forced to do in her defense?

This is the sixth and final book in the Vampire Academy series (after Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss, Blood Promise and Spirit Bound). This is a series you really need to read in order so I'd definitely recommend starting with book 1 (as well as not reading any further as I may spoil all the previous books).

This is a pretty awesome end to the series. The storyline is well plotted and action packed, leading the characters off on two interlinked quests - proving Rose's innocence and finding Lissa's sister - whilst some stay behind at court to buy them time. There are a lot of twists and turns, although I figured out some in advance, and lots of plot lines from earlier books are brought forward and concluded.

However some storylines were left unconcluded which I have mixed feelings over. On one hand Adrian, Sydney and Jill are all set to feature in the spin-off series which starts with Bloodlines so I'd expect their storylines to continue, but I've heard no mention of Eddie continuing. If he doesn't I'll be really disappointed as he gave up a lot to help Rose and there's not really been any mention of his future.

Rose has to fight to prove her innocence, whilst also being protected by her friends and family which she is resistant to as they are putting themselves at risk. It also forces her to work with Dimitri and leaves her battling her feelings for him while trying to honour her relationship with Adrian. She's grown a lot since the series started and I felt for her as she struggles to clear her name.

Lissa has also grown a lot since the beginning of the series and in order to buy Rose time she has entered the race to be named the new Moroi Queen. This not only gives a view into the monarchy tests which I found fascinating, but also brings the vampire politics storylines to the forefront and seeks conclusion to them. I loved how her relationship with Christian has helped bring out the best in her and their scenes together were incredibly sweet.

All in all this was a good end to a fun series and I'm looking forward to the spin-off.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 44/50

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Title: Spirit Bound
Author: Richelle Mead

Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 978-0-141-33187-4
Pages: 479
Series: Vampire Academy #5
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Rose has been outrunning death since she swore to protect her best friend Lissa and has now returned to St. Vladimir's after failing in her quest in Russia. Refocused on placing Lissa first no matter what, Rose is now distracted by taunts from her former love as he hunts her down. Dimitri wants Rose to join him or die, but when the possibility of a cure arises Rose is soon questioning what cost she is willing to pay.

This is the fifth book in the Vampire Academy series (after Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss and Blood Promise) which is a series I really recommend reading in order. After the twist at the end of the previous book, I jumped straight into this to see what would happen next. The storyline is well written and cleverly plotted, building the tension to a dramatic ending although at times this did feel like it was setting up the finale of the series rather than being a story in it's own right. Several storylines are left unconcluded which is disappointing, particularly in Eddie's case.

The book starts off at St. Vladimir's as Rose completes her final trials in her guardianship training, and then moves to the Court which gives a nice change of pace. Vampire politics take an even larger role as defense tactics are argued, including moroi learning to fight and dhampir rights being questioned. I was unexpectedly fascinated by this, particularly when arguments were made to force all dhampirs to serve as guardians regardless of their choices and even their age.

Rose and Lissa have been reunited but their bond has been tested by their time apart, most easily shown by Lissa's new habit of keeping secrets from Rose which is a total reversal from their roles at the start of the series. Together they are trying to find a way to save Dimitri and Rose is soon put in the position of having to decide what she is willing to risk losing in order to save him.

This is lower on romance than the previous installments which is a shame given that Rose has agreed to give a relationship with Adrian a go. Adrian is one of my favourite characters and I was hoping for more scenes between them rather than their romance taking a backseat to Rose and Dimitri's past. Rose puts their budding romance at risk as she takes more and more extreme action in hopes of finding a cure.

All in all, this was a fun read and I'm looking forward to Last Sacrifice.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 43/50

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Title: Blood Promise
Author: Richelle Mead

Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 978-0-141-33186-7
Pages: 493
Series: Vampire Academy #4
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


St Vladimir's has been attacked and as a result Rose has lost everything she holds dear. She had to choose between Lissa and Dimitri and has now journeyed to Russia to fulfil a promise to Dimitri. As Rose travels she doesn't realise the horrors and revelations in store for her, nor does she realise just how much danger she has left Lissa in and it quickly becomes clear that the risks are greater than ever before.

This is the fourth book in the Vampire Academy series (after Vampire Academy, Frostbite and Shadow Kiss) and if you're new to the series I'd recommend going back and starting with the first book. This review is also likely to contain spoilers for the earlier books.

I was really looking forward to this installment after the dramatic end of the previous book, but I have to say I ended up a little disappointed. The book has a dark and at times dismal feel and is much heavier in subject matter than the previous installments. The storyline is divided between Rose's quest to find Dimitri in Russia and Lissa's school life at St. Vladimir's which means there are two entirely distinct plots at the same time. The plots are well written and both build to dramatic endings, although I felt Rose's dragged at times.

Rose has travelled to Russia in search of Dimitri, essentially in order to kill him. Along the way she is introduced to Sidney and the existence of Alchemists who have existed for hundreds of years to protect humans from vampires (both moroi and strigoi) and their dhampir guardians. Syndey took a lot of getting used to as she is pretty bigoted against non-humans at the start, although I gradually warmed to her and ended up liking her a lot by the end of the book. Rose also meets Dimitri's family and experiences what life is like for dhampir's who choose not to become guardians.

Rose also learns more about spirit users and being shadow kissed and her reunion with Dimitri is dramatic. At times it felt like Rose stayed too long in certain situations and that is where the storyline felt dragged. One thing I loved that I didn't expect to was little flashbacks to Rose and Dimitri at happier times as these helped lighten the overall darkness of the storyline.

Meanwhile back at St. Vladimir's Lissa has befriended new girl Avery on the prompting of the Queen. It's interesting to see her reactions to political manipulation, and also how Lissa chooses to act when Rose isn't around. It quickly becomes clear that rather than being a bad influence, Rose was the only thing helping Lissa make good choices and before long her relationship with Christian is on the rocks and Lissa is putting herself in real danger.

All in all this was an interesting read and I'm looking forward to Spirit Bound.

Plot: 8/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 42/50

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

Title: Shadow Kiss
Author: Richelle Mead

Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 978-0-141-32855-3
Pages: 443
Series: Vampire Academy #3
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Rose Hathaway knows the romance between her and her tutor is forbidden, and worse that it places her best friend Lissa at risk. As Rose enters the final stage of her guardian training she is surprised to find it more challenging than expected, and more surprised to realise moroi students seem to be appearing bruised and battered with no explanation. But forces beyond Rose's control are building at could put everyone she loves at risk.

This is the third book in the Vampire Academy series (after Vampire Academy and Frostbite) which follows the moroi (vampire) and dhampir (half-vampire) students at St. Vladimir's academy. I recommend reading in order as each builds on the books before. The storyline was interesting and well-paced and builds to a dramatic no-holds barred showdown that is action-packed and full of brilliantly choreographed fight sequences.

Rose's shadow-kissed nature takes a larger role in this installment as she begins seeing ghosts and for the first time I found myself feeling sympathetic towards her. I was disappointed because I was able to figure a lot of the shadow-kissed storyline out in advance and had that been the only plotline my rating would have been much lower. Rose's relationship with Dimitri also adds more pressure to her situation.

Vampire politics continues to feature heavily in the books as the characters visit the Court and meet with the Queen. Manipulations start to occur and Lissa grows as a character when she manages to avoid being manipulated while expressing her own opinions in a very astute way. It seems that she's really growing into her role as the last Dragomir and her self-confidence gradually grows as she realises that.

Despite the visit to Court, the majority of the action takes place at St. Vladimir's where Rose stumbles a selection of bruised students who all "fell" and Adrian has taken up residence to work with Lissa on their spirit magic. The dhampir guardian students are finally taking their field experience, each guarding a moroi from staged attacks by the instructors. The guardian training has always been one of my favourite parts of the story so it's great to see it take a greater role.

All in all, this was a great read and I'm looking forward to Blood Promise.

Plot: 8/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 45/50

Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Title: Frostbite
Author: Richelle Mead

Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 978-0-141-32854-6
Pages: 327
Series: Vampire Academy #2
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


When a massive vampire attack decimates a Moroi family, St. Vladimir's Academy is placed on high alert. With large numbers of the deadly Strigoi in the area it is decided that the winter trip to snowy Idaho is now mandatory. Even the glittering landscape and decadent ski lodge aren't enough to help with Rose Hathaway's relationship issues, leaving her stuck between an impossible relationship and a recently confessed crush. But real danger still lurks and will change their lives forever.

This is the second book in the Vampire Academy series (after Vampire Academy) which is a series I really recommend reading in order. I enjoyed this more than the first book in the series as the first book issues (like the flashbacks) are gone and a quick introductory prologue means that this leaps straight into the storyline. The book is action packed and well written, building tension to the shocking finale. I ended up glued to the page throughout and I loved that the action moved away from St. Vladimir's to a new snowy location as it changed things up.

Rose didn't irritate me as much in this installment. She still isn't my favourite character but she seemed less mean to people outside her immediate circle. Her mother Janine appears and their relationship also goes a long way to explaining why Rose acts as she does. Lissa and Christian are still awesome and I love that their relationship is bringing out the best in each of them. Dimitri is trying to be all official and teacher-like which means the potential romance with Rose is off, which again contrasts well with the happy state of Lissa and Christian's relationship.

Adrian Ivashkov is fast becoming my favourite character in the whole series. I love his snark and how he relates to Rose and the other main characters. By introducing him, the ideas behind spirit magic can be further developed which is awesome. Another new character that I really like is Christian's aunt Tasha who seems like a great person and again widens the world as the book takes a somewhat political stance when the argument of whether Moroi should learn to defend themselves or continue to rely on their guardians arises.

All in all, this was a great read and I'm looking forward to Shadow Kiss.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 45/50

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Title: Vampire Academy
Author: Richelle Mead

Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 978-0-141-32852-2
Pages: 332
Series: Vampire Academy #1
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Vampire Lissa Dragomir is the last surviving member of her family. Rose Hathaway is sworn to protect her, and because of that Rose and Lissa fled St. Vladimir's academy and have been on the run for nearly two years. But when they are dragged back, Rose and Lissa must attempt to fit in and follow the rules...even if the threat that made them run still lingers.

This is the first in the much loved Vampire Academy series and I found it to be a great read, although it isn't without faults. On the plus side the storyline is well paced and has a new take on vampires which is well explored. Dividing vampires into good (the Moroi) and bad (the Strigoi) is something I've seen done before, but the author blended magic and politics with the vampires which makes this stand out. I also loved how the training of the guardians was shown as it isn't really something I've seen before.

One thing I disliked was that the story relies heavily on flashbacks to tell the story of why Rose and Lissa left St. Vladimir's in the first place, but these flashbacks feel a lot like info-dumping at times and are intrusive to the storyline. They pull you away from the current world and it's more than a little annoying at times. I'm hoping this is just part of the standard first book issues though and won't continue.

In terms of the characters, even after finishing, I'm still not sure what I think of Rose. I prefer to like the lead characters, even if they are flawed, but Rose was very bitchy at times and I found myself disliking her. There were a few instances where she did to someone else what they'd done to her and was apparently unaware that they would then go through what she had. That said I admired how in-your-face she could be and the confidence she was always able to project. Lissa on the other hand I liked from the beginning and only grew to like her more as the storyline progressed as she is a genuinely nice person.

Having two lead characters also means that there are two romantic storylines which contrast really well. Rose is attracted to her mentor Dimitri who is a real sweetheart, while Lissa is drawn to outcast Christian. Both are choosing 'unsuitable' partners but Lissa ends up following her heart rather than peer pressure which is great to see in a young adult book.

All in all, this was a good read and I'm looking forward to Frostbite.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 8/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 42/50

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

Title: Girl of Nightmares
Author: Kendare Blake

Publisher: Tor
ISBN: 978-0-7653-2866-3
Pages: 332
Series: Anna #2
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


It has been months since Anna Korlov opened a doorway to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it to save Cas Lowood's life. Despite being reminded by his friends of her sacrifice, Cas can't let Anna go and soon he is seing Anna everywhere. But this isn't the powerful Anna he remembers, this Anna is broken and tortured and Cas is desperate to find out what happened to her. His quest reveals secrets hidden in his past and leads him on a dangerous quest to save Anna from a fate far worse than death.

This is the final book of the Anna duology (after Anna Dressed in Blood) and honestly it was a little different to what I expected. I loved Anna Dressed in Blood and found it to be deliciously creepy and addictive, but something was missing for me in Girl of Nightmares.

I think part of it is Cas's desperate self-destructive quest to figure out what happened to Anna. As much as he loves her, he is completely unable to let her go and he quickly places himself at risk along with Thomas and Carmel, which is incredibly unfair to them. There is less ghost hunting and the action quickly moves away from Cas's mother and Morfran who were two stand out characters for me last time.

But enough about what I didn't like, here's what I did. The echoes of the events of the previous book are present in this showing that even ghost related things have real world ramifications. There are some creepy scenes but these are more towards the end of the book, particularly when Cas and his friends journey through the "suicide forest" which was disturbing to say the least. Once the action moves to the UK the action is compelling and I was glued to the page throughout.

The beginning is action packed and throws you straight back into Cas's life, while showing how Thomas and Carmel are still standing by his side. There were a few unexplored plot lines in Anna Dressed in Blood and this picks them all up and ties them together, deepening the world and managing to pull a bunch of surprises out of seemingly nowhere. This goes right back to the origins of the blade and how Cas's father became a ghost hunter revealing a whole new side to their world.

The ending was action packed and chock full of tension, going back and tying in tiny hints from both books to create a shockingly powerful conclusion. It's pretty much impossible to discuss the ending without spoilers so I will just say that the ending is unconventional but works perfectly within the world Kendare Blake created.

One last thing - if you haven't read Anna Dressed in Blood, don't read this! It is very closely tied to the first book and you'll have missed a huge amount.

All in all this was a good read and a great conclusion to the series.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 8/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 44/50

White Cat by Holly Black

Title: White Cat
Author: Holly Black

Publisher: Gollancz
ISBN: 978-0-575-09672-1
Pages: 310
Series: Curse Workers #1
Type: Young Adult Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Cassel is cursed. He comes from a family of magic workers and lives in a world where magic was banned decades ago, but Cassel can't work magic. His family hate him for being the only non-worker...and because they helped cover up a murder he committed as a child. But when Cassel finds himself being haunted by a white cat, and his dreams are leading him to sleepwalk to increasingly bizarre places, he is forced to turn to his family to discover the secrets hidden in his past.

This is the first book in the Curse Workers series and the first book by Holly Black I've read and it blew me away. Finding young adult urban fantasy can be near impossible, but this is an incredible example of just how good it can be. Holly Black has reshaped our world by pushing curse workers out of the closet in 1929 and now in the present day their existence is banned so they are forced to hide their identities. One thing I love is that in this world, magic comes at a cost, so whatever you do will rebound on you in a somewhat karmic way.

The plot is brilliantly written and packed with twists and turns. There is an incredible depth of storyline and the world of the curse workers is fully fleshed out. Workers are divided into different groups (death workers that can kill with a touch, memory workers who can rewrite your life) and exist as an underground society since the ban, with most working as con artists or for organized gangs. There are even worker equality groups in the non-worker community. The idea of a con is woven throughout the storyline as it is a skill Cassel learnt at his mother's knee.

Cassel is a great lead character. As the normal guy in a family of workers, he is able to introduce us to their world without info-dumping and also plays the black sheep incredibly well which helps him in his quest to find out why he's being haunted by the white cat. His roommate Sam ends up as his best friend almost by accident and I loved how their friendship grew over the course of the book. Daneca the pro-worker supporter adds some comic relief to the book with her determintion to win Cassel to her side.

Cassel's family on the other hand was a different story. I didn't really like either of his brothers or his jailbird mother, but I adored his death worker grandfather Desi. He brought a new dimension to the story and quickly became a favourite character.

All in all, this was a great read and I'm looking forward to Red Glove.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 49/50

Possess by Gretchen McNeil

Title: Possess
Author: Gretchen McNeil

Publisher: Balzer + Bray
ISBN: 978-0-06-206071-6
Pages: 379
Series: N/A
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Bridget Liu just wants to be left alone, by her mother, by the cute sergeant's son Matt and by the strange voices she can suddenly hear in her head. Unfortunately for Bridget those voices are demons and she must enlist the aid of Monsignor Renault to understand this new skill. Yet as he coaches Bridget through exorcisms, one of her oldest friends is killed and Bridget soon realises that the demons have an even more deadly plan and she may be the only one capable of stopping them.

Possess is one of those books that sat on my shelf for ages before I picked it up, and then when I did I couldn't understand why I'd waited so long. The writing kept me glued to the page throughout and it is riddled with suspense and unpredictable twists and turns. The tension builds gradually to the knuckle clenching finale. Gretchen McNeil has a really unique take on demons and she throws you right into the deep end of the action with Possess.

This isn't horror of the conventional jump out of your seat variety, but it is deliciously creepy throughout with some incredibly disturbing scenes. One that still creeps me out even after finishing the entire book is where a demon possesses a shop of porcelain dolls. Thinking about it now still makes me shudder which in my mind makes this the ideal Halloween read.

Bridget is a great lead character. She's still struggling with her father's death a year previously, but is determined to be as strong and self-reliant as possible. Bridget has to rely on oddball Monsignor Renault to help her deal with her emerging demonic banishment gifts which she finds disturbing and when Father Santos arrives she finds herself torn between the two priests and their approaches to exorcism.

Bridget's love interest is Matt, a childhood friend who is desperate to step in and protect her but their romance is hampered by interference from Matt's ex-girlfriend and Bridget's best friend Peter whose crush soon grows to obsessive levels. The romantic storyline is cute and well written, and manages not to detract from the overall creepiness of the book.

There is rumoured to be a sequel in the works, but it hasn't been scheduled by the publisher yet. However one of the best things about Possess is that it reads like a stand alone so you can enjoy it by itself.

All in all, this was a great read and I'd definitely read more by Gretchen McNeil in the future.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 49/50

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Publisher: Scholastic
ISBN: 978-1-407134-61-1
Pages: 454
Series: Raven Cycle #1
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Even if Blue hadn't been told that her true love would die if she kissed him, she would still stay away from the boys from Aglionby school. Known as the Raven Boys, the students there are generally privileged and trouble. But this year things will change for Blue as she is drawn into the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys. This is the year she discovers magic truly exists. And this is the year she will find her true love.

This is the first book in the new Raven Cycle series and one I was eager to start as Maggie Stiefvater is one of my all time favourite authors. I love the beautiful lyrical nature of her writing style and so I knew I would enjoy this book when I picked it up. The writing here has a deliciously gothic feel and the reader is thrown right in at the deep end as Blue spends St. Mark's Eve in a graveyard collecting the names of those who are to die in the coming year.

It did take me a while to get into the storyline as a large cast of characters are introduced fairly quickly. Blue's family consists of her mother Maura and aunt Neeve as well as Orla, Calla and Persephone, while the Raven Boys consist of Gansey, Adam, Ronan and Noah. That said the concept of the book pulled me through and once I was hooked I stayed glued to the page throughout. This is the first in a series so setting up the cast is to be expected.

The basic premise of the story is that Blue will kill her true love if she kisses him, but The Raven Boys soon shows there is a lot more happening in the small town of Henrietta. Gansey is on a quest to find a lost king and soon we are drawn into a world of ley lines and magic. The storyline is brilliantly crafted with tension that builds gradually throughout leading to some shocking twists and turns. Being told from different perspectives, including that of a past seeker really adds depth to the storyline.

Blue is a great lead character, although it took me a while to get used to her name. She is the only normal one in her family and she prides her self on her independence and self-reliance. The last thing she wants is to get involved with a Raven Boy and the last thing the Raven Boys want is to get involved with a family as strange as hers. Gansey is desperately seeking the lost Glendower and each of the Raven Boys accompany him for different reasons, but it is Adam's desperate quest to escape his family and stand alone that really caught my attention.

The romance has an interesting twist to it as Blue first falls for Adam, although it quickly becomes clear that Gansey is the true love she is destined to kiss and kill. This isn't a love triangle though as Blue likes Adam and is horrified by the possibility that Gansey is in her future.

All in all this was a great read and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 48/50

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Title: Mockingjay
Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic
ISBN: 978-1-407109-37-4
Pages: 453
Series: Hunger Games #3
Type: Young Adult Dystopian
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Katniss Everdeen has managed to survive two rounds in the Hunger Games but she still isn't safe. A rebellion is unfolding and it seems everyone contributed to the plans apart from Katniss herself. District 13 is alive and they need Katniss's help in their rebellion against the Capitol. Katniss must become their Mockingjay no matter what the cost.

This is the third book in the Hunger Games series (after The Hunger Games and Catching Fire) and one I was really looking forward to after the dramatic end to the previous book. Unfortunately this failed to live up to my expectations and I was left feeling very disappointed. Parts of the storyline didn't work for me and while the tension did build towards the end, I was beyond disappointed in that.

The rebellion has been something that has interested me for a while so to see that in action was brilliant. The idea of dressing Katniss up was a clever way of playing on the Capitol's concepts and reclaiming the spectacle usually reserved for the Hunger Games. That said Katniss struggles to be more than a pawn in their plots and it was disappointing to see her exchange one manipulative group for another.

The love triangle was a problem for me again, even when Peeta isn't there. There were moments where I genuinelyy felt for Katniss but again she seems incapable of deciding what she wants. Gale is caught up with the rebellion and Peeta is caught with the Capitol so it is almost like the triangle is a way of showing the larger rebellion on a small scale. This is never really shown well which is even more disappointing to me as a reader.

The ending is the part of the book that I was most disappointed in. It is hard to discuss without spoilers but suffice to say I was horrified by the deaths of certain characters and even more so by the conclusion of the love triangle. Katniss entirely fails to make a decision at all and instead just goes along with what everyone else decides. Never before have I seen a love triangle concluded by what is geographically convenient and I truly hope never to see it again.

All in all this was an okay read and I'd recommend it if you are a fan of the series.

Plot: 7/10
Characters: 7/10
Ending: 6/10
Enjoyment: 6/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 33/50

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic
ISBN: 978-1-407109-36-7
Pages: 472
Series: Hunger Games #2
Type: Young Adult Dystopian
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark have survived the Hunger Games. Unfortunately for them, their survival comes at a cost as their actions in the Games have triggered a rebellion against the Capitol. Now Peeta and Katniss must play an even more deadly game as the nation watches on. With higher stakes than ever a single wrong move could lead to unimaginable consequences.

This is the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy (after The Hunger Games) and one I approached with a little trepidation. While I liked the Hunger Games I did feel it had been overhyped so I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this, but I actually enjoyed this a little more than the first. The rebellion and pressure from the Capitol create a sense of tension from the first page and I found myself drawn in to what would happen next.

The storyline is cleverly plotted, managing to show how a government can manipulate individuals by making broader changes that affect the people around her. President Snow is incredibly creepy (his breath smells like blood!) and yet he never acts against Katniss directly as it is easier to control the people around her. Some of the twists and turns were surprising, but one major twist was easy to predict from the political machinations at the start.

Katniss and Peeta are recovering from the Hunger Games, part of which entails moving into the luxury winners village on the edge of District 12. But their return shows them things didn't remain the same while they were away, and they are forced to continue their "relationship". Katniss's best friend Gale has become more than that to her and he has looked after her mother and Prim while she was away. I was impressed that Katniss's mother is finally acting like a parent upon her return.

This is the book where the love triangle of Katniss, Peeta and Gale really gets started and for me it is one of my least favourite parts of the book. While Katniss kicks butt and looks after her family, she struggles with any romantic connection and spends most of the book floundering around while Peeta and Gale try to support her. Love triangles are predominant in YA fiction these days and unfortunately this is one of the ones that detracts from the storyline.

The supporting characters have always shined brighter for me in this series than the leads, so I was glad to see the majority of them return. We get to see how Prim is doing, and the winners tour means that Cinna, Effie and Haymitch all have key roles to play. I was thrilled to see Cinna get more development and a storyline of his own as he has always been a stand out character to me.

All in all this was a good read and I'm looking forward to Mockingjay.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 44/50

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic
ISBN: 978-1-407109-08-4
Pages: 454
Series: The Hunger Games #1
Type: Young Adult Dystopian
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


In a future where North America has been destroyed and replaced with a country called Panem, a yearly event called the Hunger Games takes place. A teenage pair of 'tributes', one male and one female, are selected from each of Panem's 12 disticts and placed in an arena with a single rule - kill or be killed. When Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister's place in the Games, she believes it is a death sentence. Only one competitor from District 12 has ever won, but there has never been a competitor who has had to fight for their survival like Katniss has in the past.

I'd heard good things about this trilogy so picked up the first book out of a love of distopian novels. Initially, I was pretty disappointed as the book is slow to start and the plot is pretty derivative. Although the author interview at the end of the book claims the idea came from channel surfing between the news and reality TV this is incredibly similar to Battle Royale. I also prefer the kind of distopian novels that start out with a world that doesn't seem that bad, whereas here Panem seems pretty awful from the start.

However, as the Games begin (no pun intended) the plot picks up pace and we soon get to see Katniss in a new light. At the beginning of the book she is pretty irritating to read, whereas I liked Peeta (the male District 12 tribute) from the start. Katniss grows up a lot as she takes part in the Games, but by the end of the book it's clear she still has a lot of growing up to do. I also liked a lot of the supporting characters, especially Katniss's stylist Cinna.

I did like how the spectacle of the Hunger Games was handled, and it is one of the things that stood out from the book. While the Games were invented to remind Panem's citizens that the Capitol reigns supreme after a failed revolution, it has become a media circus. Given the current media attention given to reality TV it isn't too far-fetched to believe a show like this would garner that level of attention, if not more. The way in which the tributes are treated before the Games begin reminded me a little of beauty pagents - costumes, grand entrances, talent testing and interviews.

The way the book ended means that this part of Katniss's story is complete, but still leaves it open for the other two books in the trilogy. I really liked the ending, and it definitely made me look back on the book in a different light.

All in all this was a good read, and I will eventually get round to reading the rest of the trilogy (Catching Fire and Mockingjay).

Plot: 8/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 42/50

Outpost by Ann Aguirre

Title: Outpost
Author: Ann Aguirre

Publisher: Frewel and Friends
ISBN: 978-0-312-65009-4
Pages: 317
Series: Razorland #2
Type: Young Adult Dystopian
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Deuce and her friends have found shelter in a remote Outpost called Salvation. But suddenly Deuce is expected to act as a child, doing chores and attending school. After existing as an adult Deuce struggles to adapt while her partner Fade becomes increasingly distant. So when the opportunity to guard the growers while they plant the fields comes up, Deuce leaps at the chance only to find that the threat of Freaks is just as prominent as ever...and that these Freaks are even smarter and deadlier than those she's faced before.

This is the second book in the Razorland trilogy (after Enclave) and a book I was really looking forward to given how much I enjoyed the first. I have to say I wasn't let down. While Deuce's life has changed a lot since the end of the first book, the two months in Salvation haven't changed her. Interestingly the author includes key moments from the last book as dream sequences near the start which may be helpful to new readers, although I would recommend reading the series in order.

The world building continues on the foundations laid before, introducing some different perspectives on the collapse of society and the Freaks (or Muties as they're now also called). There are suggestions about how society fell, and the religious focus of the Salvation residents adds a new dimension to the storytelling.

The pacing is a little different in this book as Salvation is a safer place than the Enclave was and so the book has a slow but steady pace to begin. However around a quarter of the way in this picks up and the pace steadily increases to the end of the book. There are twists and turns galore, and not only is the Freak threat just as prominent Deuce stands out in a town where conformity is encouraged.

Deuce is the same kick-butt heroine as always but she is gradually becoming a girl as well as a warrior. She has been taken in by Momma Oaks and Edmund and is learning how to be treated as younger and worthy of protection. Fade and Tegan have adjusted the best to life in Salvation (with school and chores), relying on their pasts to see them through whilst Stalker and Deuce who grew up fighting for survival struggle to adapt or even see the point. I loved that the main characters got more development, and the Salvation residents who feature in the book are incredibly well developed.

The romance aspect of the book is different to a lot of YA books. Deuce is only interested in one guy romantically, and while two guys are interested in her one is seen only as a friend despite their best efforts to change her perspective. Deuce is very clear that it won't happen though which is a refreshing change. The romance that is featured is sweet and at times tortured, but always fun to read given that Deuce grew up without affection and doesn't really "get" love.

All in all this was another great read and I'm looking forward to the final book Horde.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 48/50

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Title: Enclave
Author: Ann Aguirre

Publisher: Frewel and Friends
ISBN: 978-0-312-65008-7
Pages: 259
Series: Razorland #1
Type: Young Adult Dystopian
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


In College enclave, hidden in the tunnels beneath a ruined New York, people only earn the right to a name if they survive their first fifteen years. Once you age enough to leave the ranks of unnamed brats, you choose a path as a Breeder, a Builder or a Hunter. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember so she is thrilled to join their ranks, even when she is paired with Fade a boy who grew up outside the enclave. A Hunter's job is to patrol the tunnels, bringing back food and fighting the monsters known as Freaks but as the Freaks become more intelligent, Deuce is forced to question the rules she has lived her life by.

This is the first in the Razorland trilogy and it was a book I approached with trepidation. I'd seen good reviews, it sounded interesting, even the trailer looked good but something made me hesitate. Now I've read it I really regret that hesitation as this is an outstanding read. Set in a future where people have taken refuge in underground tunnels, it soon becomes clear the author has really done her research as the narrative has a realistic take on how difficult that life would be.

The dystopia and world building are excellent as by introducing Deuce at the start of her Huntress career, the reader is introduced to the world alongside Deuce meaning that there is no info dumping and the revelations come in some surprising twists and turns. The plot is tightly written and a steady pace is maintained throughout as Deuce's world steadily expands beyond the tunnels that used to be all she knew. The dystopia itself is scarily believable yet leaving room for new facts to emerge.

Deuce is a great lead character as she is strong and relentless. I found it really easy to identify with her, despite the fact our lives have nothing in common. Her determination to serve her enclave and her gradual realisation that things aren't okay made me like her. Fade is the perfect way for Deuce's illusions to be shattered. He doesn't maliciously change her world, just points out things with the perspective of an outsider allowing the revelations to happen naturally. The romance between them takes a backseat to the action but it is nevertheless well written and developed.

The Freaks quickly become a horrifying threat, and their existence develops alongside the main plot. They quickly go from dangerous but stupid monsters, to terrifyingly smart calculating predators a shift which undermines the stability the enclave claims. In some ways this is a book of two halves as the story development leads Deuce and Fade "topside" and out of the tunnels, revealing the reasons behind the downfall of society and more about Fade's past. The storyline flows through the location change and the ending leaves Deuce and Fade ready to continue their adventures.

All in all, this was a great read and I'm really looking forward to Outpost.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 49/50

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Title: The Pledge
Author: Kimberly Derting

Publisher: Allison & Busby
ISBN: 978-0-7490-1185-7
Pages: 380
Series: The Pledge #1
Type: Young Adult Dystopian
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


In the distant future, seventeen-year-old Charlaina lives in a world divided by words. Each class has their own native language and it is a crime to even acknowledge someone from a higher class while they are speaking it. Charlie is hiding a gift...she can understand all of the languages so when she meets the mysterious Max who speaks in a tongue she's never heard before she is intrigued. Max believes Charlie is the key to releasing the kingdom from the control of an aged and ruthless queen, but can Charlie truly trust him?

This is the second book I've read by Kimberly Derting and as I wasn't blown away by The Body Finder, I wasn't sure what to expect going into this but the intriguing storyline caught my attention. The idea of a world completely divided by something as fundamental as language is fascinating and I was really looking forward to seeing how it played out. The setting is unique as this is a dystopian set several hundred years into the future which means it lacks many of the similarities often found in dystopians with a shorter time jump.

Charlie was a great lead character in that it was easy to see things from her perspective. She's been hiding her gift for her entire life but it seems that she isn't very good at it as she keeps making basic mistakes. Strangely her equally gifted little sister seems to cope better with the necessary secrecy. Max was an intriguing guy who was hiding many more secrets than Charlie herself, but with all the deception I found myself rooting for Charlie to fall for her best friend Aron who is a far simpler, more caring guy.

Queen Sabara was probably my favourite character in the whole book. She manages to be ruthless and evil without coming across like a cartoon villain, and her royal machinations spread a layer of tension throughout the book. It is completely understandable why people are rebelling against her, especially the rebellion's current leader Xander, but somehow also clear why the general population don't want a war on their doorstep and as such resist the rebellion.

My problem with the book is that I never really got caught up in the storyline. I wasn't invested in Charlie's future and I figured out several of the plot twists quite early on which was disappointing. I initially thought this book was supposed to be a stand alone especially as the only clue to a lingering storyline is found in the epilogue. It now looks as if there will in fact be at least two more in the series, starting with The Essence, although I'm not sure if I'll be reading them.

All in all this was an interesting read.

Plot: 8/10
Characters: 8/10
Ending: 8/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 40/50

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong

Title: The Calling
Author: Kelley Armstrong

Publisher: Atom
ISBN: 978-1-907410-47-5
Pages: 326
Series: Darkness Rising Trilogy #2
Type: Young Adult Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Maya Delaney now knows that she has a unique gift. She is a skin-walker and able to change her form into that of a mountain lion. But with that knowledge came horrifying revelations about her home town of Salmon Creek. Now she is stranded in the wilderness of Vancouver Island with a small group of friends after a suspicious forest fire forced an evacuation and Maya is left questioning not only can she control her gift, but can she truly trust the people she calls her friends?

This is the second book in the Darkness Rising trilogy (after The Gathering) and picks up right where the previous left off so I definitely don't recommend reading this first. There have been too many revelations for this to make much sense separate from the first volume.

Once again the story is action packed but this time the story starts with a bang meaning that it is fast paced throughout with lots of twists and turns, some picking up on little hints in the previous book. There is also a lot of internal stress as Maya and her friends have discovered that Salmon Creek was less of a medical research town and more of a paranormal playground, and that they may have innate supernatural abilities from supposedly extinct species.

Although Maya is accustomed to being out in nature, being totally stranded miles from home is new to her as is becoming the leader of a group of not-so-outdoorsy teens. She is stranded along with Daniel, Sam, Haley, Nicole and Corey which means quite a large cast of characters, although they frequently split into smaller groups which stops it from becoming difficult to keep track of everyone. Forcing such a diverse group together with snobby girls next to goths creates some tension that is great to read.

Taking a leadership role and dealing with her losses makes Maya spend some serious time considering whether her life is better or worse now she knows the truth, and her struggle with her grief is well written. Daniel is dealing with the revelations of his nature as well and trying to grasp what being a Bendanti means for him. Both grow up a lot during the book which is great to read about.

As the second book in the trilogy questions are unsurprisingly left unanswered, especially as to the supernatural species of some of Maya's friends. I'm really hoping these are revealed in the final volume as I'm looking forward to seeing which new species are introduced, particularly in Corey's case.

All in all this was another great read and I'm looking forward to The Rising.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 48/50

The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

Title: The Gathering
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: Atom
ISBN: 978-1-907410-17-8
Pages: 359
Series: Darkness Rising Trilogy #1
Type: Young Adult Urban Fantasy
Source: Gift
Goodreads


Maya Delaney has always felt a close bond with nature and her home town of Salmon Creek allows her to spend as much time in the wilderness as she likes. Salmon Creek is a tiny medical research town in the middle of nowhere and has always been a sanctuary for Maya. But strange things begin to happen. A champion swimmer drowns in the lake. Mountain lions hang around Maya's home. Maya's best friend Daniel starts getting vibes from people, one of whom is new bad boy in town Rafe who has an inexplicable interest in Maya...

This is the first book in the Darkness Rising trilogy which loosely follows on from the Darkest Powers trilogy and is set in the world of Kelley Armstrong's adult Otherworld series. I'm a huge fan of both the previous series and I love Kelley's writing style so I was psyched to hear she was writing a new trilogy. You could easily start here as a totally new reader as although this trilogy comes after her Darkest Powers, the link is loose enough that you don't need to read it first nor do you need any experience of her adult books (although there are nerdy things in there for those fans to spot).

The storyline is well paced and plotted, although there is a slower pace at the beginning to set up the world which quickly picks up as the book progresses. I loved the rural setting of Salmon Creek as it is different to most YA novels these days and it really allows Maya to show her wilderness type skills. One aspect of the book I adored was the focus on Native American mythology with the tradition of skinwalkers and also in a more contemporary way in terms of Maya's ancestral heritage and tribal origins.

I really liked Maya as a lead character. She is strong willed and self-reliant, happy to spend all of her time out in nature and refuses to change for anyone. Maya's issues dealing with the drowning of her best friend Serena are particularly well written. Rafe manages to be the bad boy without falling into the stereotypes, although like many a bad boy he hides a distinctly heart-of-gold type secret which he'll protect with his life. I admire his acceptance and how willing he is to help Maya even though she doesn't even know how much she needs it.

Daniel is the perfect best friend, having Maya's back no matter what and never complaining about the situation at home. Daniel's home life with his alcoholic father really won him my sympathy and his determination not to let it dictate his life won him my respect. He also has some issues as Serena was his girlfriend, although surprisingly not the one's I expected adding another dimension to his character.

All in all this was a great read and I'm looking forward to The Calling.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 49/50

Fever by Lauren DeStefano

Title: Fever

Author: Lauren DeStefano
Publisher: Harper Voyager
ISBN: 978-0-00-745779-3
Pages: 341
Series: Chemical Garden Trilogy #2
Type: Young Adult Dystopian
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

Rhine Ellery has escaped her forced polygamous marriage along with Gabriel, a servant. In her desperation to escape her gilded cage, Rhine has forgotten a lot about the real world and runs straight into a trap in the form of a strange run-down carnival. Desperate to reach her brother in Manhattan, Rhine and Gabriel struggle to free themselves but with Rhine's sinister father-in-law Housemaster Vaughn determined to recapture her will they be able to escape again.

This is the second book in the Chemical Garden trilogy (after Wither) and a book I was eagerly anticipating given my enjoyment of the previous installment. Now away from the mansion Rhine and Gabriel are on their own and the book has a great feel of danger as the realities of the world set in. Gabriel's reactions in particular are fascinating as all he has ever known has been an orphanage and the mansion, and Rhine never prepared him for the brutalities of the world.

The book is very much about Rhine and Gabriel's journey to New York and so it twists and turns as they travel and come into contact with other people. That said there were a few plot twists that didn't make any sense, particularly those of Madame and her decisions about what to do with Rhine. It's hard to discuss without spoilers but one day work was done only for a decision to make said work pointless which seemed unusually wasteful for her character.

I was expecting Rhine and Gabriel's romance to develop more in this book away from the influence of Linden, but it seems that reaches beyond his physical presence. Rhine seems to have lost her perspective on her marriage, remembering Linden quite fondly rather than as the man who married her against her will and some of her decisions are pretty dumb. Gabriel really starts to come out of his shell and develop as a character, keeping Rhine safe while struggling to accept the realities of the world.

I loved some of the new characters that were introduced, especially Maddie. Maddie is a disabled child who Rhine and Gabriel encounter on their travels and I was impressed as how sympathetically and realistically her disabilities were presented. She's a really sweet kid to boot and so adds a new dimension to the story whilst replacing Cecily as the dependent character.

All in all this was a great read and I'm looking forward to the final volume Sever.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 45/50  

The Espressologist by Kristina Springer

Title: The Espressologist

Author: Kristina Springer
Publisher: FSG Teen
ISBN: 978-0-374-32228-1
Pages: 184
Series: N/A
Type: Young Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


How much can anyone tell about you by your favourite coffehouse drink? Well if you're 17 year old barista Jane Turner then quite a lot. Jane has been making notes on the types of person who order different drinks and calls it Espressology. There are the loyal and trustworthy medium iced vanilla lattes, the smart and simple medium dry cappuccinos and the patriotic straightforward americanos. Now Jane is ready to try matchmaking customers and soon Espressology is the newest holiday marketing technique at Wired Joes, and Jane finds herself getting more attention than she ever expected.

I picked up this book because the premise sounded really fun and unique but not really knowing what to expect. This was my first contemporary YA and being new to the genre meant I was a bit lost at first. The storyline is evenly paced but develops slowly and while I enjoyed the premise and the espressolgy explanations (although the closest to my favourite was not flattering at all!) I did find there was a lack of depth overall. I didn't even realise the book was set in Chicago until about 2/3 in.

Jane never really develops as a character. We learn she works at Wired Joes, goes to college occasionally and has a friend called Em. There is never much to distinguish her at all so she comes across as a plain Jane (if you'll excuse the pun). The lack of development is pretty widespread with boss Derek being the stereotypical overworked grump and frat boy love interest Will who I disliked from his first appearance and couldn't believe how cluless Jane was about him.

The characters I did like are Jane's friends Em and Cam who she decides to match after Em breaks up with her long-term boyfriend. Again Jane was clueless around Cam but he was probably the best developed character in the book. As someone in a similar care situation I was surprised at how realistic his actions were and they fit well with someone in that sort of role.

Wired Joes comes off as a Starbucks clone, which is unsurprising given that the entire book was written in a Starbucks. Even some of the drinks are clearly Starbucks branded ones. This was pretty disappointing as I'm a big fan of Cleo Coyle's coffeehouse mysteries (which start with On What Grounds) and they manage to create a unique but recognisable environment.

All in all this was a fun frothy read ideal if you're looking for something light.

Plot: 7/10
Characters: 6/10
Ending: 7/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 37/50