Magic Gifts: A Novella by Ilona Andrews FREE for a limited time

For any of you who've read the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews (An AMAZING series) today is your lucky day.

Ilona Andrews has just released a sparkling new novella for all fans!
But what's this?? It's only available for a limited time, you've got 2 weeks from December 24th to download it. Yes that's right... click here to download because it won't be sold on Amazon or BN in the future. AT ALL. **scream of horror**

It comes in a huge range of formats including Kindle, Epub and Pdf.
And it is downright amazing.

Go on! what are you reading the rest of this post for?
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Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey

17 years of a normal life, a single moment to change it all.

Eloise Hart always thought of herself as a normal teenager, but when a troop of cruel and twisted faeries kidnap her for the single purpose of using her as bait, she has no idea what to do.
Kept in a strange world with mythical creatures for company, Eloise is the prisoner of the power hungry and tyrannical King Strahan.

Strahan's wife, turns out to be Antonia, Eloise's aunt who's always been a little different always mysteriously disappearing for half the year and returning for the other. Antonia alone is the only one who can end Strahan's cruel reign. But when she too is captured, the mission rests in Eloise's hands and it's up to her to defeat Strahan, the fate of Courts depend on her.

----o_O-------

My blurbie thing
Ok. let us turn to reviewing shall we?

Alyxandra Harvey manages to write a quick and flowing tale with love, and action as well as a healthy dose of magic.

First, let me comment on how pretty the cover is? Isn't it just gorgeous? The alternate cover is one that is equally eye-catching. **sigh** pretty pretty...

The book itself is written from 2 perspectives, one is Eloise's and the other is viewed from her best friend Jo's. I quite liked this idea because the two views gave the book a lot more freedom to change course, we could see what was happening to both parties as well as their thoughts and feelings. It was also very clever because the two personalities are so different from each other, again more variety.
Although the name of who it is the story is being written from is displayed before each chapter, I admit, I am a dork, and still got confused. :) But afterwards it's easy to pick up on who the character is because of their style of speech of just from where they left off.

The characters in Stolen away are all very well developed, you pick up different bits and pieces about them over time. Eloise, the protagonist of the book as expected, is a very different character. She isn't loud in a sense that she's outspoken or confident which could be interpreted as shyness and I suppose she is a little, but you also realise she's actually bold in her own way. She expresses herself through her appearance, her dress style mostly. As the book progresses you also realise that Eloise is also very kind as well as selfless, trying to help others almost to the point of hurting herself.

Jo, the other perspective is very different from Eloise, but they're alike in their fierceness and loyalty. Jo, I found was a very expressive character, she's quirky and funny and a complete and utter flirt. It's rather amusing. What I found though, is that this was her weakness. I mean honestly, she goes running after complete strangers. It's a wonder she wasn't kidnapped ages ago. But she's very protective of her friends almost to the point of threatening to physically harm others
ha, the joy.
Along with such admirable traits, Jo also has an obsession with English slang, using or rather trying, to incorporate the words into her everyday language. Once again, highly amusing

Stolen Away is a very engaging tale, the plot was good, the characters as well, but I found some things just far too convenient and completely random.

**Spoiler Alert**

When Eloise communicates with Jo by saying her name whilst holding the necklace. what on earth?!? It's just so rushed, and it was a complete and utter accident. It just doesn't make sense, it would have been better if they communicated via messenger pigeons or something. at least that would have made sense (actually I don't think it would, but that's beside the point). What I'm trying to say is that there should have been some sort of lead up to the communicating via necklace thing, say I don't know... one of the faeries helped her or whatnot. It doesn't make sense for her to just happen to stumble upon such a thing and learn to harness it's powers (now I'm just being melodramatic) without and help and it's not even explained properly.

**end spolier-ish**

And calm. **breathe**
Phew. Now I shall go onto ranting about the love interests. Jo and Eldric are my main concern. They meet, they kiss and in a grand total of about 3-4 days, they declare their undying love for each other.
Need I say more?

The ending though was one that made me hold my breath, it was action packed almost as if Alyxandra Harvey were saving up her awesomeness to unleash it upon us, leaving us spellbound and begging for more.
Yep.

After having read Stolen Away, I'll definitely have to read Alyxandra's other series.
:)

On a Dark Wing by Jordan Dane

The car crash that happened 5 years ago was meant to kill Abbey. But it didn't, so her mother died instead.

Some say that when you die your life flashes before your eyes, others: a tunnel with a blazing bright light at the end. Abbey didn't see either. She saw a ghostly boy with eyes as blue as the sky reaching out for her. And that single brush with Death is enough to mark Abbey forever.

Now years later, Abbey still feels the effect of the car crash, she's bullied at school, silent at home. But when Death returns for round two, Abbey's life will be changed yet again. Because this time it's not just her life on the line.

Death never forgets...

--------o_O-------------

Yep. That's me blurbie thing.

I must say, the idea behind this story is brilliant. It's original, different, and very captivating.
The story is told from alternating views which is very clever in letting the story unfold. It's also very clear which is always a good thing, with the name of the person, or at least the location stated before each segment, eliminating any chance of confusion.

It was also very pretty :) Each chapter opens up with the same number of soaring birds as the chapter. so basically chapter 1 equals one bird and so forth, the effect was fascinating.

At first I just didn't find myself getting into the book... I honestly kept looking at the number of pages I read and comparing it to the total number of pages in the book. It was a very slow start, luckily things started picking up after about 2 thirds of the book. Thank goodness. From there, everything was all systems go. The book suddenly morphed from a "must force self to finish reading" to a "ooooooh action".

Tanner Lange is one of the first characters mentioned in the story as Abbey's best and only friend. He is also the victim of a dirt bike ride gone wrong, leaving him paralysed from the waist down. Tanner pops up every now and again throughout the book, always thinking of Abbey and doing his best to help her. All very sweet.

Nate Holden is another character of the book, he actually plays a huge role throughout the entire book. Nate is the subject of Abbey's affections. Now, I may be a little harsh, but I was honestly a little creeped out on Nate's behalf. He doesn't even know of Abbey's existence aside from a few flashes and glimpses of her from school, yet there she is fantasizing and watching his every move. **shudder**
Nate is pretty much the unknowing innocent in the book, and because of Abbey's mild *cough* obsession with him, he finds himself the victim of a body snatch. Ack. The poor boy.

Now, it probably seems like I'm ganging up on Abbey Chandler, but don't get me wrong she's a great gal. She's just a little overzealous at times. Having said that, I also want to point out that Abbey has a very hard time at school, always bullied, always excluded. People treat her cruelly and she often finds herself the punch line of their malicious jokes. She blames herself for her mother's death, as well as what happens to Nate. I have to say though that she's a little maddening at times, through her treatment of others and her actions, and she's also a tad naive.

The romance in the end I found was a little rushed, there was no build up, heck the guy she ended up with wasn't even around for more than half the book. Yes it was all very cutesy and sweet but to me it felt like it was added in as an afterthought. I just felt there should have at least been some sort of lead up instead of just instant-love.

Having said that, I'm still glad I finished this book because in the end I found it quite enjoyable.
:)

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

It never ends well when the Hunted falls in love with the Hunter...

Chosen from a young age because of her ability to breathe fire, the first fire-breathing Draki in generations, Jacinda has spent the majority of her years fighting the will of the Pride. Her rebelliousness leaves her at the mercy of the hunters, cruel poachers that seek to capture the Draki for their many resources, their tough skin, their ability to seek out gems and so much more. Against all odds, one of the hunters lets her go, a beautiful boy that leaves her with more questions than ever.

With the Pride seeking to oppress her forever, Jacinda is forced to hide among the humans whilst keeping her identity and the greatest defence of the Draki, the ability to appear human, a secret.

As fate may have it, he is there and his mere presence stirs the Draki within her, threatening not only her identity, but the entire Draki race as well.

Her inner Draki is fading, and Jacinda knows she must keep her Draki alive, but the cost is more than she could ever imagine, because in order to save her Draki, Jacinda must get closer to the very thing that seeks to destroy her...

---------o_O----------

Wow. Gorgeous and good!Just check out the cover my peeps.

A great combination, the storyline is so intricately woven that it just keeps you guessing. You know something's going to happen involving certain characters but it's almost impossible to guess what. Firelight is very well written and easy to understand, Sophie Jordan uses the perfect combination of action, mystery and romance to create a novel that will keep readers captivated.

So, Jacinda, she's the character who's got everything, but doesn't want it. Hey don't get me wrong it's not like she unappreciative, she just doesn't like all the attention it gives her. She didn't ask to be a fire-breather, and the good thing, is that she's genuine about it. She's very selfless, obeying the will of her mother even when it was like killing a part of her. I'd say she's got far too much patience :)

The idea of twins, with one in the spotlight and one left in the shadows, though overused, is brilliantly incorporated into this story. You can't help but feel empathetic for each of the characters. So there's Jacinda and then you've got Tamra, really they couldn't be more different. As you progress through Firelight, you can tell that Jacinda loves Tamra very much, and not just because Tamra never manifested, never became a true Draki. Tamra though can become a little demanding at times, but then you realise that she's been deprived of a life for so long, that she simply jumps at the chance to be seen as normal. Even though Tamra can be a tad (word that starts with a b and ends in itchy) at times, I suppose you've got to give her some leeway...

Back to Jacinda, she can be a little undecided at times especially when she's thinking about Will, the hunter boy, let's just say that she has very weak willpower when it comes to him. One moment it's all "No, bad bad hunter, must stay away" and then it's all "Hunter is so beautiful, smoochie smoochie" I found it quite entertaining to tell you the truth, and yes... it was all very cute. But I was a little annoyed at Jacinda, honestly woman? Where is your dignity?!?

Will, and all the other characters were very well created, I could actually see a clear image of them in my heads... or maybe I'm just making it up, but you get my point. Each has their own sense of being, I don't even think that makes sense :)

So yeah, there is once again a story of star-crossed lovers in this book, but who am I to complain? It was the perfect touch, adding a sense of unease and urgency to the story, they can't be together but in a way they can't be without each other. ooh-la-la

I love the story idea, I've always been a fan of dragons and Firelight is no exception, with its stories of Draki with their own unique twists you just can't help but be sucked in by the genius-ness of it all. DRAGONS WOOOOO!!!

Though I felt the story could be tweaked a little more to improve it, I still though it was great and I'm sure Sophie Jordan will astound us with Vanished

3.75/5
lol... might even give it a 3.8 hahaha

Touch of Power by Maria V Snyder

Avry's been on the run for 3 years because of her gift, the ability to cure someone's injuries by laying her hands on them and assuming the injury onto herself. She is one of the last Healers. Healers like herself were blamed for starting the disastrous plague that wiped out many, and because of that they've been hunted to near extinction.

Avry is tired of running, and finds herself saving a dying child, at the risk of being caught. And caught she is, only to be rescued by a band of men who value her gift and treasure it.

She finds herself travelling with them and eventually befriending them, but the 15 realms are on the brink of war, and the mission of the men soon reveals itself. An enemy Prince has contracted the plague, and she is the only one who can cure him. She is the last of the Healers.

The Prince may be the only one who can restore peace, but the cost of saving him could be her own life...

-------------------o_o------------------

Grrr, my blurby thing doesn't do the book justice. If I had my way, I'd just make everyone read it :)

Maria V Snyder has struck once more. Never let it be said that Maria isn't a brilliant author!

I love love lovie love Touch of Power, the story line is brilliant and unpredictable with plot twists happening so fast I was honestly afraid I'd miss something important if I dared to close my eyes. The writing was sophisticated and extensive but not so much that I (with my meagre vocabulary) couldn't understand it. This is a breath of pure fresh air (well, maybe not too pure because that would cause illness) Touch of Power reminded me that there are books out there that are the stuff of freaking legend, it has reminded me why I adore Maria V Snyder (not that my devotion ever wavered)

At about 400 pages, I can tell you now it won't take you that long to read it, you could argue that 400 pages is quite long, but I can assure you that the pages will turn by themselves. You could also say that the book might drag at times, but it's probably impossible for one to get bored when there is action on almost every page. Betrayals at the most unpredictable of times and by the most unsuspected people. Trust me on this one, you'll love it!

So, the main character. Avry. She is one of the best heroines I think I've encountered in all my years of reading. And yes, the fact that she throws knives may have been the deciding factor (I completely and utterly adore knife throwing). So I suppose you guys won't take my word on this and will need proof, right? Well, proof I shall give! Avry is smart, very smart but she's not impossibly smart, she's not one of those weird perfect characters that authors put in books who always seem to find a solution despite the fact that there are no clues anywhere. No. Avry puts the clues together, she thinks in a logical and rational way and dares to think outside of the box.

next. She's is kickass, hahaha! Pity the poor fool who decides to try to attack her, she'll have knives in them in seconds, but despite all her skill in knife throwing she doesn't kill. She'll maim, but not kill. Yay for her!

Another thing is that she's a genuinely nice person. Children are her obvious weakness, she'll do almost anything to help them, despite endangering herself. I just really like that. She thinks of others and not just herself.

Ok. Now that I've finished stating how awesome Avry is, I'll move on to the other characters in general. They've all got spunk, I'll give them that. You can't say that any of them are like another. I have to say that some of the characters remind me of the ones in the Study series, (another awesome series by the way), especially the funny ones. You can tell that Maria V Snyder has put a lot of effort into developing these characters and making them feel real not just another name to fill in the gap.

I just want to say, that Touch of Power is the perfect combination of fantasy, action and romance. It's cute, it's funny, it's absolutely perfect.

I NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED THE NEXT BOOK!!!! WHY CRUEL FATE?!?! ANOTHER YEAR OF WAITING...

Illusions by Aprilynne Pike

Finding out you're a faerie isn't easy...

It has been months since Laurel last saw Tamani, and her relationship with David is now stronger than ever. But when an all too familiar face enrols in her school, Laurel knows that something is up. Tamani has returned, and with him, trouble.

Once again Laurel finds herself drawn to Tamani, his unearthliness sends sparks flying but she knows she's already made her choice, and that David is still waiting for her. Although Laurel might have made her decision, Tamani is less keen in leaving her with a human for a companion, and the rivalry between David and Tamani soon spirals out of control.

Months have passed without a single troll sighting, but a new arrival causes unease and paranoia to rise in their midst... because this arrival is different, this arrival is fey.

The storm draws near as Laurel and the others uncover knowledge about the trolls and a new threatening force. Danger lies around every corner and they must find out if the new faerie is friend or foe, before it all comes crumbling down.

---------o_O-----------

et voila!
That was my summary/ blurb.

Ok. I suppose I shall once again start on the characters, it seems I'm doing that quite a lot these days :)
eenie, meenie, miney, mo. LAUREL. of course, it is no surprise that I shall start with her, she is the protagonist after all... Ok. Laurel... I have quite a lot to say about her character but I shan't, well... I will, and I'll try to make it understandable.

Laurel: beautiful, talented and faerie. I find that she's a little too perfect. Someone as perfect as her shouldn't be a protagonist, because simply put, the story can't go anywhere. I don't like her. There, I said it. She's just so... eugh! She can't seem to make up her choice, David, Tamani. Tamani, David. MAKE UP YOUR MIND.

I really do hate undecided characters... Love triangles are just getting old... at least ones that have now dragged for 3 books do. Yes there was a time when the idea was quite thrilling but now... **snore**
Now Laurel dearie, I must say, when you stated "I made my choice" in Spells. I believe that I was over the moon because finally, yes finally, I thought you'd made a decision...
GOSH I WAS WRONG
I had to sit there for the majority of the book listening, reading about Laurel's relationship problems.

There is only one word for describing this: gluttony
Laurel clearly needs to decide between either David or Tamani, but her own selfish-nous and greed ends up hurting both parties... I have to say, bravo Laurel! If you wanted to be stupid, you've hit that head on!

She's just so hyprocritical, "David, you should trust me". Hm... that's a lot easier to do, if she weren't pining after Tamani. Yeah. trust. pffssssshhh

There also the matter that she is in such denial, I am humiliated for her. She's all like: no, no, what are you talking about? I don't like Tamani. When I do believe nearly every page contains the word Tamani at least one. And she often has to physically shake herself to get rid of her thoughts of Tamani. Not. obsessive. at. all.
Honestly, this is just getting so old right now, I don't think I can take it anymore.

And now Tamani, does this boy have no freaking brains. It's cute that he wants to go after the girl of his childhood, and that he'll do anything for her. But has he no dignity? Laurel has turned him down so many times now, I've lost count. She's left him for David, stated that she "made her choice". (which in reality meant she was being a mope-y bum) and Tamani still goes for her, that has no appeal whatsoever, because that, that is just plain embarrassing. Sure you can argue that she still loves him, but if she really did, then it would have been him that she ran to, he would have been the first choice, and frankly, there shouldn't have been a huge debate about who to choose. See?

David. Not important, just a blob put in there to complete the triangle, I don't even think he's done anything of that great an importance, he just hangs around making Laurel feel like she chose the right guy, he's the jealous type. meh. like I said... he's quite boring.

Another issue I had with this book was that it didn't go anywhere, at least the majority of it didn't. Practically 3 quarters of it were wasted on Laurel and her ridiculous relationship problems... I really didn't want to read a book about that. the final quarter finally looked up a tad (though it wasn't enough to redeem the first part)... only to end in a cliff-hanger... oh great << **severe sarcasm** The writing could have been improved because, this is one of the lines in the story:

"'I have no choice but to crumble like a . . . chocolate cookie. Or whatever,' she(Chelsea) said when Laurel eyed her. 'My metaphors suck. Let’s go.'"

there. I'd like to draw attention to the fact that that wasn't a metaphor, that was a simile. Ok. I may be over analysing bits, and I don't know if that was meant to be deliberate, but seeing as Chelsea's character is supposedly very smart. I don't think she'd say that.

Yep. That is all I have time to mope about. I, personally am quite disappointed in this story. Spells was already pushing my patience with the whole, love triangle thing and this one has just pushed me past the line. I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! The next book, oh yeah, that's right, there's a next book... o_O

well, it better stop the ridiculous love triangle because this is just going too far. On the bright side Illusions seems to have wrapped most of the love triangle up assuming that Laurel doesn't change her mind, which knowing her, she probably will... **sigh**
I'll just have to wait and see...

****I swear, I've made this sound so much worse than I actually felt, see? it's 3/5 stars meaning i liked it. I think I've focused on the negatives waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much... ooopsies.****

******* I may not have liked this book, but I can tell you that there are hundreds, probably thousands of people out there who loved it. These are just my opinions and I'm extremely sorry if I've offended anyone.********

Nightshade by Maryrose Wood

The dark and dangerous just got more twisted...

Jessamine Luxton's love, Weed, has disappeared without a trace, leaving her questioning the depth of his love for her. Suspecting her own shifty father, Jessamine digs into a world full of lies, she can no longer choose to believe that her father was the lonely man that watched over her...

The poison has seeped into Jessamine's soul, destroying her innocence and naivety. No longer is she the clueless child, for now she has been poisoned and has gained a new view of the world... a world full of lies, manipulation and death...

Jessamine's been good all her life, and now it's her turn for vengeance.

---------o_O--------

Ok. So that summary may not have made sense, sort of rushing at the moment. Things to do, people to see.. etc. Still...

So I'll start with the characters, oui?
Ok, so Jessamine, I am so conflicted on her character. In the previous book she's all cutesy and helpless, and yes, I do recall asking of her to grow a backbone, well, I think it's safe to say that she did... partly.
I feel quite hmmm... what's the word? --I like her, but at times I don't? someone help me!!-- yes anyway, I feel that unreachable word about her character, I don't know why, well I do, but still...
Firstly, how quickly she can shift from an innocent girl to such a Poison-ess (Is that the word? Like with enchantress but with poison? meh.)
Yes the circumstances were dire, yes there was much at risk, so you'd think she'd try to find a second to ponder the bigger picture! argh! so reckless.

She might have become shadier and more twisted, which I might add is epic, but she's still got a very naive quality about her. After all, she still listens to and trusts the "Poison prince" Oleander. You would think that she would at least stop and think "Hm, who is this fella? Why'd he give-a-damn about me?". I suppose, now that I think about it, she is very desperate, after all, her true love is missing.

Ah yes, now we come to the Love, the reason behind the entire book, Jessamine loves Weed, Weed loves Jessamine..."True Love", at least that's what the book states the relationship is between them. But I can't say that it is completely correct, well from Weed's perspective I can see that he truly loves Jessamine, that he'll do anything for her including committing the worse crimes... But Jessamine, oh Jessamine, Jessamine, Jessamine, whatever shall we do with you? At first, she loves Weed, and you can tell that she really does, but then she begins being corrupted, poisoned by her own sick thoughts and the ideas that Oleander plants in her head, and she begins to waver, she becomes unfaithful... and then...**dun dun dun dramatic music**

Jessamine's sense of what is good and bad is also really disoriented, I mean seriously, make up your mind girl! One moment she's moping over the people she has murdered and then BABOOM she becomes a mindless killing instrument. This, added onto her desire for revenge really mixes things up. I believe that at times, Jessamine was a little hasty and didn't think things through and her will was just too weak, though in the end she managed to diverge at little from "The Plan". Though I must comment this was partly because of her own selfishness and a little **cough** a lot cowardly. I really don't know what to think of her, but her warped character is actually one of the most appealing things about this book, you really don't know what she'll do next, although she's a tad annoying at times...

Aha! there is hope for dear Jessamine yet! One of the most memorable scenes in the story is when Jessamine refuses to abandon the young Persian girl to die, despite endangering her own "mission", Jessamine still tries to heal her, putting herself at risk, that is one of the most selfless things that she's done. And now I'm back to liking Jessamine's character. AH! Now do you see my dilemma? She's both good and bad! WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO THINK!?!

Now Oleander, yes, the supposed villain of the story, the evil prince, come to poison the world. If you can recall my previous review, the one on the Poison Diaries, you'll recall that there was this mysterious fella that suddenly popped up out of nowhere is the complication... well this is him. But Halleluiah! He's actually present throughout the book this time! Oh the joy! He is the one that leads Jessamine astray, who forces Weed to leave, he is the reason for it all... But Oleander, in a way, is one of the most alluring characters of the entire book! He's dark and mysterious, and one of my favourite things about him is that he keeps his promises, though they may not turn out as expected. He's like one of those mischievous genies that we hear about, only evil. hahha

Weed, yeah he's still here. He's completely and utterly faithful, he's the type that writes cute poetry about their girlfriends and awkwardly tries to recite it to them. So cute. Ahem, and now to turn on the melodramatic: His love for her would withstand the heat of a thousand suns, their passion would last for a lifetime, and more. Yeah, and Cut! Weed would literally travel the world for Jessamine, which he indeed does, going all the way to one of the oldest gardens to try to learn of Jessamine's whereabouts. Weed really opens up in this book, as opposed to the previous book where he doesn't trust humanity and doesn't know how to feel about them. He truly is an admirable character, an inspiration and another excellent addition to the character list.

The story idea, I really can't get over this, is really really original. I don't think I've come across another story that used poisons and talking plants like this. seriously. The writing style was fitting and the plot was short and quick. At times the perspective shifted mid chapter and it was a little difficult to discern who was speaking. But other than that, I had not problem with the setting of the story.

Overall, very easy to read, I'm sure Maryrose Wood will astound us all with the next book.

:)

The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood

"In the right dose, everything is a poison. Even love . . . "

Jessamine Luxton has always been alone, her protective father, Thomas, ensures she rarely interacts with anybody but he, himself. But her life is far from average, for her father is both feared and revered for his extensive knowledge on plants and poisons, yet his obsession coupled with his need for knowledge leaves him disappearing abruptly for days without reason and many hidden secrets.

Thomas' thirst for the lost dangerous and potent recipes cannot be quenched, and when a paranoid traveller yields a disturbed and mysterious boy, Weed, who seems to possess hidden knowledge on plants, Thomas is more than happy to take him in.

Jessamine, who has never before had a companion, befriends Weed and their relationship soon deepens to love, their passion is strong but so too are the forces working against them...

---

Ok. First, I'll start with what a quick read this is, yes, I know... I've said this before but honestly I finished this book in a couple of hours! Honest!

The use of poisons and "living" plants is very intriguing, and I can now proudly say that it has kick-started my new found obsession for poisons, however morbid that may sounds :) The plot was quite original but I thought it was a little choppy at times, with random bits of information thrown in to keep the story flowing. But it still worked out in the end. The idea to start each chapter off with a diary entry is also quite interesting because it sets the mood. Um... The overall pace of the book is good, the beginning had some essential background info and then it started to delve into the good stuff. The ending was a little abrupt for my taste, almost as if it had to be squished into a couple of pages, if that really makes sense.

The characters... I can't say that they were completely epic, but they weren't dead boring either. As far as I can see, the book only focuses and goes into detail on a handful of characters, Jessamine, Weed and Thomas, with mentions of Jessamine's mother, a friar, the duke and couple more nameless faces.

Jessamine, the 16 year old protagonist of the book, hmmmm.... she lives a very sheltered life and is quite oblivious to what goes on in the world. She lives with her father in an abandoned chapel and tends to her father's many gardens... That is about it really, Jessamine is so naive, she's very trusting but also quite childish at times, despite the fact that she states that she's 16. If I wasn't told, I would have assumed she was much younger. She finds joy is such small things and in my opinion, she's far too helpless. But, there's hope for her yet! She still has so much more time to grow and develop in character.

Weed, he's this mysterious supposedly green eyed, black haired boy that Jessamine falls head over heels for. Woop-di-doo. hm. I actually quite liked his character, he's straight forward and he has a very unique gift. He is an excellent addition to the story, but he too is far too gullible and trusting.

Agh! why is everyone so trusting these days... I suppose it's a good thing... but why?!?

Jessamine's father is really something else, at times he comes off crazy, almost feverish, but then he's all happiness and unicorns... bleugh. I really won't say anything else.

I has a problem with the introduction of one character in this book, I mean seriously... who the heck are you?!?! I won't say who, for fear of spoiling, just that it was a tad odd, and annoying. It was a little sloppy, I think it would've been better if said character were always a looming presence from the beginning, hiding behind the shadows but still retaining their air of mystery.

The Jessamine+ Weed relationship came on quite suddenly, and I suppose it's because they were both so lonely and the presence of an available person-of-the-opposite-gender was just too much for them :) They were quite cute at times, but there was still this "way" in which they acted which kept them so different.

I quite liked the dialogue in this, it sounds like that from an older time, it suits the time that the book is set.
Originally, the book is from Jessamine's perspective but then switches to Weed's when the time arises. I had no problem with that, though with certain books I might've been a little annoyed, this one felt perfectly reasonable.

Overall... looking forward to reading the next book, not to sound too crude, but I really hope that Jessamine grows some backbone and can kick-ass.

WINNER OF NIGHTSHADE COMPETITION!!!

Yes, the results are through!
I am very happy to announce that the winner is:
**dun dun dun dun << attempt at making drum roll onomatopoeia**

Serena Boyd serenaboyd13

Congratulations Serena! and a huge thanks to all who entered. Your support means a lot to me...
Wooo Hoooo!!

Hunger Games Official Trailer

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhh!!!!!!!
Who me? Excited? No way!
As the title of this post suggest, this is the OFFICIAL trailer.

**choir of angels rejoice in song**

I shall not waste anymore words... below is the video.
Watch it! Watch it!
Feel free to comment on your thoughts.
I'm quiet excited, I really hope that this will be able to live up to the books, or at least not put people off from reading them.

click >>here<< to watch. Ah! the suspense!

I stand by my belief that if this movie disrupts the awesomeness of the book series in any way, any at all, I shall attack the producers with great vigor!

Daughter of Smoke and Bones by Laini Taylor

Brilliant, completely and utterly brilliant.

Student by day and errand girl by night, Karou lives a seemingly normal life as a 17 yr old art student, filling her many sketch books with hundreds of images of mismatched creatures... monsters.
Unbeknownst to all, these creatures are real, and Karou herself is the errand girl for one of the most majestic of them all. Brimstone.

With azure hair, a myriad of different languages and a kick-ass personality, Karou traverses the world purchasing teeth for Brimstone, for reasons unknown. Bear teeth, wolf teeth, lion teeth, elephant tusks and human teeth, all strung up around Brimstone's mystifying store, gradually disappearing without an answer.

Although Karou feels as if she's missing something, she is intent on living her life as it is, but others do not. All around the world, black handprints are appearing, scorched into their surroundings. Something is amiss and when Karou sets her eyes on a hauntingly familiar face, belonging to a man she has never before met, she intuitively knows that he is somehow part of it.

With eyes of burning fire and wings of softest feathers, the angel strips away Karou's defences and her past begins to unravel.

YES! I haven’t had a book like this in a while, THANK YOU Laini Taylor for granting us mere humans this awesome story... we are not worthy.
Hahaha

Ok. So... where to begin... Aha! Le Characters.
So obviously we have Karou, brilliant name! You usually judge a character by the name... well at least I do. Karou...It’s so, so fitting... it means Hope apparently, only it sounds epic. It drew me in from the start, a character named Karou with azure hair and sketchbooks filled with drawings of magical creatures. I can tell you now, the book just wouldn’t have been the same if she was called Britney **eugh** no offence to those with the name...

Karou is such a different character compared to the countless helpless teenage girls, waiting for their true loves to sweep in and save their skinny ass’, excuse my language, not naming any names **coughBellaSwancough**
ahem, wow, that was one cough, I don’t know what overcame me... Anywho, back to the point. Karou is none of the damsel-in-distress-poopie that everyone is selling, she’s got a kickass personality and don’t even get me started on her fighting abilities.

She’s knowledge on several martial arts, sword fighting thingies etc. She is simply awesome. Being as awesome as she is, she doesn’t flaunt it either, she just lives her life as the mysterious girl. Telling the truth if asked but adding a wry smile at the end. ‘Course she’s also quite funny, creating itches in the most inappropriate of places by wishing on “scuppies”, ha, I got several stares laughing at the bus stop... **sigh** again...

The other characters are also very well created, all different. I have to say, one of my favourite characters has to be Zuzana, the rabid pixie-like best friend of Karou’s, she’s got to be one of the funniest and entertaining non-main characters I've read about in a while.

Akiva, yet another awesome name, I really have to commend Laini Taylor on her awesome seletion of names. Anyway, Akiva, I can’t say that he was as amazing as Karou, but he wasn’t too bad. He’s a bit like the other mysterious, beautiful angels that have been written about in many other books, but the one thing that made him stand out is his story, the reason as to why he is so broken. EPIC!

The plot, woah!, words cannot do it justice! It was amazing, it’s has been far too long since an author managed to create something so original and brilliant, though I had hunches along the way, nothing could have prepared me for how it would eventually turn out. **screams** IT WAS SO GOOD... The presence of Angels or more specifically Serphim in the book was excellent, personally I love stories with angels, and the fact that angels were in Daughter of Smoke and Bone was a huge bonus. Now. now, I get to the splendid part. Chimera, Laini Taylor wrote a book with Chimera, wow. This was my first ever Chimera book and it was downright amazing. The idea was just so unique!

I love the dialogue, and the way the story is written. Love the language, the way the speech sounds quite natural and relaxed, if that were the right word.
I think I’ll be obsessed with this book for a while; it’d be odd if I weren’t.

I AM COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS TIL THE SECOND BOOK!!!!

WIN WIN WIN!!!! Nightshade by Maryrose Wood

**hyperventilate**
Is anyone excited about Nightshade, the sequel to the Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood? BECAUSE I AM!!! Hahaha
So... you're probably wondering what I'm ranting about, well... The Poison Diaries team is hosting a competition, more of a giveaway really... it’s so, so easy and you may find yourself with a copy of Nightshade at the end... completely and utterly worth it!
Now. You’re probably wondering how you can enter such an awesome giveaway right?!

Well:
TWITTER and FACEBOOK– for Twitter go to @poisondiaries or the Poison Diaries page for Facebook, and quote ‘win a copy of Nightshade by Maryrose Wood’ and quote my blog (http://far-past-midnight.blogspot.com/ ) in your twitter/facebook post

You then need to head over to the Poison Diaries website and find the plant Arum Maculstum , add it to the ‘my poison diary’ and share it via Twitter, including my blog name.

The team will then place your name inside a "hat" (oooooooooooooh) and winners will be selected at random... It's a fair game, anyone can win! Woooooooo!
So what are you waiting for??? ENTER ENTER ENTER!!!

Because I am complete sucker when it comes to following instructions, I'm not sure if I've interpreted the instructions correctly. Below are the instructions as sent to me by the poison diaries team... just in case :)

To win a signed copy of ‘Nightshade’ by Maryrose Wood entrants need to add/follower Poison Diaries on Twitter & Facebook they will then need to head to the Poison Diaries website (www.poisondiaries.com) and enter the Poison Garden, they will need to find the plant ‘Arum Maculatum’ and share this on twitter. Entrants will need to @poisondiaries and write the name of your blog (so we know where they were sent from!! And so we can track entrants!)

Hades by Alexandra Adornetto

Beth's been through Hell...

Beth and Xavier were meant to be, their relationship has survived angels, demons and worse. But now a familiar presence returns, one that she'd thought they'd overcome, one with the power to destroy them all... Jake Thorn.

A simple, albeit dangerous prank unleashes the Hell of all surprises and Beth and Xaviers relationship is once more put to the test.

Unwillingly dragged to the alternate of Heaven...Hades, Beth must find a way to return to Earth and her loved ones or the consequences could be dire

Jake’s not taking any chances this time, and to ensure he breaks Beth, he decides to go after her once Achilles heel. To spare Xavier, Beth finds herself dancing with the Devil, and intricate web of deceit and sacrifice, one wrong step and all Hell could break loose...

----oO0Oo----

Ta-da! My sorta quick and hopefully enticing short summary, now I’ll actually start with the reviewing. Shall we start with the characters?

Why yes, yes we shall. So obviously there’s Beth, the protagonist of the book, a naive and hopeful angel on the corrupt and distorted planet we call Earth. Her hope and overall goodness is something that is very endearing, but she’s just so helpless and oblivious to the dangers. At times she is too naive which is usually the start of the problems. How trusting she is?!?!
She’d probably be the type of kid that actually gets in the van when told there’s candy.

I’m not saying that it’s a bad trait, but I think she needs to be able to distinguish between those with bad intentions and those with good, because frankly, it’s getting old. Throughout the entire book she’s just a tad helpless, yes, I understand that she’s kinda trapped, but maybe she should have spent her time being more constructive, I don’t know... building a bomb or something... :D

Nevertheless, Beth always seems to know what to do and when to do it, which I have rather mixed feelings about. She’s also so selfless, and sweet and that’s quite inspiring. At times she’s a little cheesy, even going as far as calling Xavier “Huggiebear”.
Bleugh! Too sweet, I think I’m getting a cavity.
And don’t even get me started on the quotes. Oh wait, I’ve already started and now I’m on a rampage... Nothing can stop me now!
Ahem:

“My one true love, the light of my life”

Now where have we heard that one before? Hmmm...Try everywhere!!!! I’m seriously debating screaming at Alexandra Adornetto right now... oh wait, debate’s over and I am already screaming at her! Don’t get me wrong, she’s a brilliant author, but I honestly wonder where her brilliant mind was when she typed that up. It’s just so clichéd! Alexandra is so much more than that! She should have been able to come up with something conveying more emotion than “Light of my life”. pfffssshhh

Jake, he’s such a mixed character, but strangely magnetic. So he’s a gorgeous demon Prince, the root of all of Xavier and Beth’s problems. Whenever the happily-ever-after draws near, Jake pops up. Yep, that's right blame the demon :) He’s also so weird, one moment he’s apologetic, the next moment he’s murderous. He really is a piece of work.

Ivy and Gabriel were as composed as ever, though Ivy seems to have changed and has become more bitter than necessary, whilst Gabriel is becoming more empathetic. The little side story of him and Molly is quite cute, though a tad depressing.

Xavier, he was quite the presence throughout the book, he really does care for Beth and the story is so, so cute. He has a couple of adorable and inspirational quotes, and it seems he’s developed a backbone, as opposed to his lack of one in Halo. His perseverance is another charming quality, knowing that someone would go to Hell for you, is kind of a bonus...

Molly, gosh she’s annoying at times, I think she’s the reason they invented Duct tape... nah... I’m being mean. Molly is very determined throughout the second half of the story, and her persistence is admirable. Her character contributes some variety to the story. It shows that friends should always be there for you... gosh that sounds cheesy :) I’m such a hypocrite, here I am berating Alexandra and then I quote something equally bad... there goes my credibility! ;)

The plot and script was slightly tacky at times but quite unpredictable and easy to follow. The storyline was very original and I love the different ideas and themes incorporated into it. It dragged at times, but it was still enjoyable. I quite like how Alexandra presents the big, bad underworld with a modern, new and exciting twist.

Another controversial factor was how Alexandra enabled the readers to view what was going on in the outside world without changing perspectives, by having Beth “project” herself. It was an easy solution, too easy if you ask me... Come to think of it, several things were way too easy and sloppy, almost as if they were just thrown in there to complete the story.

Warning to all those of you who haven’t had their minds poisoned: Hades isn’t as innocent as Halo, it’s not all holding hands and stolen kisses anymore... **dun dun dun**
Okay, fine, I’m being overly dramatic, but still...

Personally, I prefer Halo, but Hades has a certain sinister and twisted feel to it. Waiting for the 3rd book now.

Yes you heard me: there’s another book, why? BECAUSE THERE’S A CLIFFHANGER!!! Arrrgghhh.
Cliff-hangers... the bane of my existence!
It wasn’t a ginormous cliff-hanger, it was a little unexpected though.

The 3rd installment will be called Heaven

Hunger Games Character Posters

HOLY YES!
5 months guys, 5 more months until Hunger Games hits the theatres in America (not sure when that would be for Australia)
Now... yes, yes I'll hurry up and get to the damn point:
Several character posters have been revealed.
Hahaha! **fist punch**
Of course, there is Katniss, Peeta and Gale.
BUT there's also Cato, Rue, Haymitch, Cinna and Effie

What can I say... Well, I already knew what Katniss, Gale and Peeta would look like from the movie casting; though it's good to see them all "made up".

I really don’t like the character chosen to play Peeta. He looks so....Pssshhhh... Well, can't do anything about that but blog about it :) He just doesn't look like the Peeta I envisioned, dang it!

Gale, hmmm... he's alright, He looks quite tense in the poster or perhaps urgent or confused??? anyways the facial expression says a thousand words. I find the poster of him a little too airbrushed but meh. :) Still... he's cool. TEAM GALE!!!!

Katniss, been there done that. She looks great, almost like the Katniss I imagined... but let's see how she can act. **dun dun dun**

Now. Here's where it get's interesting.

Cato... Well, I when I read the book, I imagined him far more lynx-eyed, crafty and far more scheming as well as larger in size. He’s meant to be their, (Katniss and Peeta’s) fiercest opponent but he looks a little tame to me, I must say, the actor playing Cato looks a bit like the one playing Peeta (can't be bothered to name names)

Rue... wow, I think the poster really captures her character, I really love her facial expression, it’s perfect; the ideal combination of sorrow and compassion! In the book, Rue was described to be brown skinned and haired, and she reminds Katniss of her sister Prim. I am going to be so, so sad when that scene happens.

Cinna... I never really imagined him much when reading, he was more of a flamboyant and passionate presence to me. But I love the gold liner :)

Effie... wow. She's definitely got spunk. She's pretty much dressed how I imagined, all feathers and bright assaulting colours. I love the facial expression on the poster, she looks a tad like a bird of prey zoning onto its target. The eyes are amazing, I think they are an excellent feature.

Now: Haymitch... WHAT IS THIS?!?! Geez, the man looks like something from the Lord of the Rings! I can't remember how he was described in the book (It's been a while) but I definitely didn't think he'd look like that. Maybe with shorter hair... I dunno... he's meant to be an alcoholic and very slightly pudgy etc... meh.

Overall. Very excited for the movie, it better be good or I can guarantee the producers will be getting a lot of hate mail... :P

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

Wow, how I wish I could scream and rant about how amazing and unbearably good this book was, but woah! I just can't.
This is probably your classic example of "don't judge a book by the cover". Oh why cruel fate???? It was so pretty! :(
I am such a sucker for pretty covers...

Ok. Summary:
Young, gorgeous and completely wacked Hanna Järvinen (that 'J' is pronounced as a 'Y')is simply looking for somebody to love her. Never mind that still sees her father, who died a while back and that she bashed her aunt’s head in with a rolling pin whilst escaping, she was simply collateral damage...
After tracking down the mother she's never known, Hanna is led to Portero, a small remote town.
There are certain rules down rules in Portero that are essential to ones' survival:
Keep you head down, don't attract attention and maybe, yes, maybe you won't be killed. Too bad Hanna doesn't have any plans to keep a low profile... Armed with a completely violet wardrobe, dozens of different medicines for her hallucinations, and an all consuming attitude, Hanna sticks out like a sore thumb.
Portero hides sinister secrets that would make any sane person run for dear life, but Hanna's desperate for her mother’s affections, besides... sanity is overrated.

Done.
**sniff** I'm still so sad... who'd have thought that such a pretty book would be so disappointing???
To be fair, Bleeding Violet had such potential... The plot idea was so very original!

So, obviously I've got some problems with the book.
Firstly if I had a dollar for every time the book mentioned how beautiful or pretty Hanna is, Yes, I heard the first 50 000 times how beautiful she is. (Slight exaggeration)
And Hanna, woah! What a **word far too inappropriate** geez, she's so obnoxious and arrogant. Ugh!

"Damn I was pretty",

Of course! what a heroine! When in the face of danger, complement yourself. **disapproving face**
Then we have how courageous Hanna is, oh she's so brave. The story often hints and I'm pretty sure outright states how brave she is, and Hanna even goes out of her way to do supposedly "brave" things. Right now I'm not too sure if it was because of her irresistible urge to impress Rosalie, her mother, or if she was just downright crazy, which she is.

Hanna, despite being jam packed with courage **extreme sarcasm**, seems to want to commit suicide every two minutes, I'm pretty sure there were about 3 or more attempts to kill herself. I'm sorry she's impulsive and always wants to take the easy way out!

Despite this, Hanna still has very admirable qualities, she's so nonchalant about everything, bashing her aunt’s head in, and then repeating that with her mum... hahaha
This was one of the factors that I actually liked. It was just so entertaining.
She's also a very different character, definitely not your typical heroine. I reckon with some tweaking she'd be awesome. Her determination and twisted interpretation of love is also quite cute. The book idea was so unusual and different; it was just so twisted, in a good way of course.

Rosalie and Hanna's relationship is just so fake. Hey mum, haven't seen you since you ditched me as a baby... so can I stay??
Gosh it weird! I just can't get over how weird their relationship is!


START OF SPOILER!!!----Wyatt and Hanna's relationship. Ugh. Is Wyatt completely desperate or infatuated? Hanna is such a **repeat of previous inappropriate word** yet it doesn't even faze him, but then again he doesn't seem so pure **cough cough** and she once again speaks so nonchalantly about the fact of her **inappropriate word**. Then he finds out what a user she is... she uses her male "acquaintances" to get what she wants and once again his undying love for her prevails. She completely takes advantage of him, and betrays him in so many ways, but still he'll be her knight in shining armour. ----END SPOILER!!!


Dang it. This is just how I found the book; I really hope it wasn’t that offensive and I sincerely apologize if I did, there are tonnes of people who love this book. But I just didn't like it... I wish I did...

I might try Slice of Cherry, which seems promising...

Bonus/ Final chapter of Red Riding Hood

Yeah, i finished reading Red Riding Hood, as my previous post suggests.
For those of you that have not yet read the final chapter of it. Click >>here<< and all shall be revealed... mwahahaha

Enjoy!

Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright & David Leslie Johnson

I am quite disappointed with this book... It had such potential and could have been so much better!Unfortunately, it lagged.

I had several issues with this book,one of which is Valerie's declaration of undying love for the boy, Peter, it was far too sudden and undoubtedly unrealistic. Sure they knew each other when they were kids. Yay! But get a grip on yourself! It's been at least 10 years, this boy returns and all of a sudden they're both in love. Pfffsshhhh <<< **Snort of disbelief** Geez, it's not like he could have possibly changed in 10 years or anything...

The main character, Valerie, was just missing something. I don't know what that something was, but it was missing. She also can’t seem to make up her mind which is quite infuriating. One moment Valerie is way too trusting and then at times not enough!

I feel as though the side baddy of the book, Father Solomon was one of the most developed characters in the story, he actually played his part well, he caused the reader to hate him, and in the end he repented from his sins (this may be because of the knife sticking out of him :D ) At times Solomon was so annoying, I felt so much anger at his character, but this was probably an achievement because he actually fulfilled the criteria of bad guy.

And then there was the matter of the ending, it was missing something, hmmm? I wonder what it was missing? ITSELF MAYBE?!!?? It wasn’t there... what is this?!?! Yes that was infuriating but through following the instructions, I accessed the bonus chapter on the website. I don’t know what kind of stunt that was meant to be, but I can tell you now it was ridiculous.

Nonetheless the ending was quite a surprise, it had quite a twist relating to the identity of the wolf, although I might object to the fact that such a twist shouldn’t have been kept in the bonus/ final chapter, or they could have at least had a bit of an epilogue to explain what happened afterwards. It also would have helped if this twist was in the actual book, rather than have it as a bonus chapter on a website. Though the twist was great, the ending was still quite disappointing, it was sloppy. The ending was meant to be a happy one in some ways but I can’t say it achieved what it set out to be. It’s a bit ridiculous when Valerie slashes out at Peter, because she has a hunch that he may be the wolf, even after he’s risked everything to help her. Then what? Well, she finds out he’s NOT the wolf, and he has once again saved her life but in doing so has just caused himself to be bitten and infected and will become a wolf and she says: I'll wait for you and declares her undying love for him???!!! That's just unrealistic and pathetic. Especially when she just stabbed him a few moements ago on a hunch! Honestly, it would have been happy if the ending was that everyone was killed, dismal but practical. Ok fine, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but I’m just annoyed at how Valerie changes her mind every 2 seconds!

The writing style was also very difficult to comprehend at times, especially when it switched viewing points halfway through a chapter or paragraph. The ending was also a disappointment and though I was confused and a little annoyed at times I found the book bearable. It wasn't terrible but it wasn't damn-right amazing either...

This is just how I found the book; I honestly hope I do not offend anybody.
The review I wrote was only focusing on the negative factors in this book, but there were several good things too.

Fateful by Claudia Gray

For years Tess Davies has slaved away under the power of the Lisles. Finally, she has the opportunity to start anew, to run her own life, to have freedom... She's worked hard and knows that she can manage or at least try. She's been planning for years, and it'll all be in reach within a matter of days. A few days and she'll step onto the shores of the United states. All is as planned, until she meets the mysterious Alec. Her first encounter with Alec involved a near death experience and Tess knows that he's dangerous but for some reason she can't stay away. Alec's being followed, no worse than that he's being hunted... and the threat has just followed him aboard the Titanic. The magnificent ship has everything, squash courts, restaurants, Turkish baths but there's nowhere to run...

Fateful is just so beautiful! The scenes, the characters, the perfect romance... Titanic is a tragic love story and when I read the back of this book, I was worried that it’d just be a Titanic rewrite, and it is a rewrite in some ways but it also brings its own little surprise. Werewolves. Hah! This single word could changes the entire story, it adds a little danger, and little supernatural.

Tess Davies the servant of the Lisle house is one who is obedient; she’d have to be if she wants to keep her job. You don’t expect her to be rebellious or courageous but in some way she is. You can’t deny the fact that she’s willing to take the risks. As the story progresses, you pick up on the changes, a little humour here, some backbone there. I loved it! Tess Davies is a dreamer; it’s evident all throughout the book. She spends her days dreaming, dreaming of a better future, dreaming of love. She knows that many of her hopes are impossible, but in Fateful, maybe dreams do come true...

Alec is a werewolf. Ooooooh... As much as he wants to deny it, he can’t. He’s a monster, destined to change into his beast form everyday from dusk til dawn. Unless of course he joins the Brotherhood; a group of male werewolves that have joined forces to fight for complete dominance. They can help Alec control his shifting, but in exchange for this privilege they require complete obedience and they have ways to force it...

I love how this story takes place on the Titanic; I love the mood that it creates. It’s a bit doomed, if I do say so myself. The story is so intricately woven; everything is taken into consideration so that it can lead up to the perfect crescendo. The writing style is so easy to follow; you’ll be able to devour the book in a matter of hours.

Overall: Breathtaking!

Bloodlines #0.5 Adrian's Lost Chapter by Richelle Mead

Well, originally, Bloodlines was going to be told from a variety of characters points of view. But then after a couple of chapters Richelle Mead realised that there were a few ginormous teensy weensy problems and scratched the entire thing and started again :)
The first chapter was told in Adrian's POV.
Enjoy!

Bloodlines - Original Chapter One

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Still under suspicion after helping Rose escape in Last Sacrifice, Sydney now finds herself protecting the one thing that's keeping Lissa on the throne: Jill Dragomir. Joined by Dhampir Guardian Eddie, and Moroi Adrian, the unlikely group set out and hide... in Palm Springs. Enrolled in a prestigious boarding school as siblings, Sydney's duty is to protect Jill at all costs, but Palm Springs isn't at all what it seems and something far more sinister, that threatens the entire mission, hides just around the corner...

Richelle Mead has struck once more!
After mourning the end of the brilliant Vampire Academy series I think I ran around the house screaming in joy at the announcement of Bloodlines **eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee**
I'm so happy!

Yes. Anyways. Alchemist Sydney Sage has returned once more in the riveting new series Bloodlines.
She's smart, she's determined and she has slight OCD. Oh well, you can't have it all :)
Sydney fights throughout the book, in her own little way, with fervor and determination. Richelle develops this unlikely Alchemist into the perfect heroine! I personally quite like Sydney, she has boundaries and character, and she isn't a perfect unrealistic brat! Sydney is a very protective character even though she may not do it in the most elegant of ways; she tries her best to keep those around her from harm. Her naivety is charming; one of my favourite scenes would be her turning down a date... with logic. Hilarious! I don't think I’ve laughed so hard in a while!

Adrian is BACK!!!! **lweijrlqwfoqweordrjQALSCJKHVGASKD;CLASaikfgakfjoqwdeqw** Yes, I could think of nothing to asterisk about so I just let my fingers attack the keyboard... kswherfwayefdiujaw
He's as charming and confusing as ever! Still recovering from his love sickness, Adrian is more vulnerable than ever in Bloodlines. I don't think I've heard him apologize so much in one book (twice) But don't worry, Adrian's still got that laid back attitude that keeps him so addictive. And yes. His hands still don't do manual labor; that is until Sydney gets to him. hehehe. His quirky comments are the cause of many stitches due to my unstoppable laughing attacks. eeeeeeeee

Jill is also present in this novel, along with Eddie and several other characters. Rose makes a brief appearance and is as kick-ass as ever :) I am so glad that Bloodlines is set in the same world as Vampire Academy, I think my heart is finally starting to heal from the damage the series inflicted by ending. :) It's always an exceptional feeling when there are mentions of characters from Vampire Academy.

I can't say how pleased I am that Adrian comes back and gets a second chance! I'm honestly hoping that he and Sydney get together and have the adorable and cute relationship that they deserve! I can't believe how sad he was when Rose left him, and I really hope that Bloodlines will help him to recover.

The plot overall was very unpredictable, or you think you can predict what's going to happen and then at the last moment the plot twists and drops a massive bombshell on you! The story was very well written (duh it's Richelle Mead) and also very engaging. There were secrets hiding under every little crack and crevice! There were several huge twists in the story and though I won't mention what they are, I’m telling you now they are huge! Not little-huge, no not even elephant huge. Huge like a galaxy's worth or stars huge! The ending was so goooooood!!! And of course, Richelle wouldn't be Richelle if she didn't leave us hanging... her parting gift was another cliff hanger- I don't think I’m going to make it!

Can’t wait for the Golden Lily. Ooooooh, it even sounds good :) And it's soooooooo pretty! :)

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

Yeah... this one's a little late :)

Meghan Chase thought it was all over, that she could just live out the rest of her days with her banished Knight by her side. She was wrong. She was so, so wrong. The Iron fey that she thought she’d left behind have returned to drag her back to her end, because a false King has risen and that false king wants to eliminate any threat against him... starting with Meghan.

This time there are no second chances, this time there is no turning back. And in the end, Meghan will be forced to choose and her choice will impact not only herself, but the rest of the fey...

I laughed, I cried and now I have a gaping hole in my chest.
Why? Julie, Why?

Meghan returns in a flurry of action. She’s grown so much since the first book, she’s changed from the stubborn yet courageous girl determined to save her brother into something more. Meghan has done so much, words cannot do her justice! She’s saved the fey, battled monsters and still she can’t have her happy ending...
The Iron Queen, the title gives it away a little but regardless we all knew that this had to come, the consequences however are what make the story interesting and alluring.

Ash, dark and brooding and willing to relinquish his title and his life for Meghan, we all know that he is completely devoted and willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. The ending of this novel completely threw me, and yes as mentioned above, I cry. And am still crying. The ending was one so fitting yet so wrong, Julie really knows how to leave an audience crying.

They say love can withstand all, well in this case let’s hope it does.

Defiance by Lili St. Crow

Dru’s been through Hell and back.
And still she manages to hold on, but not without consequences. After another attempt on her life, Dru’s still recovering from Anna’s attack. She still can’t get over the fact that Anna, a svetocha, was the cause of her mother’s demise. Being a svetocha herself, Dru hides in one of the very few places that can still offer her safety: The Schola. Graves, her best friend has been taken by Sergej, and has disappeared without a trace, or that’s what she thinks until a source comes forward with evidence which accuses the one person that she trusts with her life as being the one to turn Graves over to her enemy...

**hyperventilate**
Lili St. Crow, you've created a monster.
I don't think I’ll be able to make it without my daily dose of Strange Angels.
One Word: Addictive.

So, I’m at the end of yet another Strange Angels novel.... noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Why? Why cruel fate? I'll be tossing and turning in anticipation for Reckoning. Whyyyy????

If you're worried that Defiance won't live up to the previous books, you've nothing to worry about.
The beginning of Defiance started with a bang! Lili St Crow, how could I ever have doubted you? Lili knows just how to capture the attention of a reader; the pages flew by in a flurry. Even when the plot had relatively calmed down there was anticipation, it was the tranquillity at the eye of the storm, and we all know that it's bound to blow.
True to its word, Defiance had an absolutely astounding ending, the twists, the turns, the betrayal!
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Dru Anderson, your good ol' neighbourhood Svetocha. She's still as stubborn as ever, and yes, in case you're wondering, she still brings up her fathers' gruesome ending quite often. But you honestly can't blame her; the experience of shooting your own father may be slightly traumatic. Still recovering from Anna's attempt on her life, Dru's cooped up inside the Schola being watched 24/7. Still she manages to escape every now and then, or so she thinks.

Christophe, dark, mysterious and completely and utterly drool worthy. Yeah, he's still around and as confusing as ever! You know so little about him, but in that way it keeps his character I suppose.

Graves surprisingly is not a main character in Defiance, though he still plays a major role. Being kidnapped tends to have that effect :) Even when he's missing, Graves still manages to influence the story. Big time.

The two males in this book are so different and even though it doesn’t mention it as much in this novel, you can still tell that Dru’s having trouble choosing. One moment she declares her affections for Christophe the next she’s calling him a traitor. Aaarrgghh so frustrating! To be honest I prefer Christophe :) Graves can just go away :)
In summary, Defiance as mentioned above is a riveting read that’s guaranteed to keep you wanting more! How I’ll manage without Reckoning? I don't know. But I won't risk dying before I get my hands on it :)

Juliet Immortal -speech/ review

Ok, as my blog post several weeks ago mentioned, I had to create a speech for a book for an English Task. As promised, I'm going to be posting my oh-so-awesome speech. Be excited, I won!!!!
Ok, there was a slight problem... there only being 3 entries, but hey... don't burst my bubble. They were tough competition, or so I tell myself so I can sleep at night :)
yep.

Please don't use or copy or paraphrase without asking guys, it will make me sad, and when I’m sad, I cry, and when I cry I look horrid, but then I stop, and I get angry, and when I get angry people get hurt. mwahahahaha

So, in case you missed my very thinly veiled threat. Don't use my speech in anyway, unless of course you've got my permission :) thanks, Appreciate it.

And now without any further ado:

Romeo, Romeo wherefore art thou Romeo?
Trying to kill you! That’s where he is!

Ugh, the dreaded Romeo and Juliet, yeah the tragic love story of the two who died for love, the dismal ending that generations upon generations of students have pondered. Was it really necessary for the lust-struck Juliet to stab herself through the heart in the name of love? What if I were to tell you that Shakespeare had it wrong, it was just a false cover story for what atrocity really happened that day? Yes, you heard me right, the world renowned and iconic story of love and tragedy is all a lie. Juliet didn’t pass away peacefully hand in hand with her one true love, no, she was murdered. Murdered in cold blood.

Who wants to hear of the same stories, vampires, werewolves, vampiric werewolves when you can have Ambassadors of Light and Mercenaries of the Apocalypse? So the dark and light things are a little old, but wait til you hear what they do! The sole purpose of an ambassador of light is to stop the mercenaries from succeeding in their goal. Here’s some background info just to get you up to speed: Soul mates, true lovers only meet once in about 50 years, despite the claims of many desperate teenagers. “But I love him”, no you don't. Anyway that’s where the Mercenaries come in; their goal is to persuade one of the lovers to betray the other for the promise of an eternity of happiness. With the Mercenaries of the Apocalypse wrecking havoc in the world, true lovers are becoming an endangered species.

And cue Juliet; betrayed by her own lover on the night of her wedding, she’s joined the Ambassadors with the sole purpose of ruining Romeo’s plans. The 2 have battled it out for 7 hundred years now, and fate has once again brought them together. Called back to earth, Juliet sets about protecting the soul mates only to discover that this trip is not at all as planned.

"Did you miss me love?” He kisses me on the cheek, a rough, playful kiss that leaves a bit of wet behind. Dylan had died after all. And Romeo has found a corpse. It’s my last thought before his hands are around my throat.

Despite her own wishes, Juliet finds herself falling in love, and Romeo, O Romeo is going to stop at nothing to ensure she never sees her love again...

So think about it, you’re all intelligent people so I don’t need to tell you it’s the perfect book, no, you know that it’s the perfect book. So, who’d want an average book with average characters and average storylines when you can have a story of love, loss and murder? The perfect blend of action, betrayal and love, with a plot that twists and turns so much it’ll make your head spin. Read Juliet Immortal and discover the truth.

--end--

Please note, it sounds far better when you have me **cough** screaming it at you, and doing high-pitched voices at random intervals. Yes it may not be the best work, but I’m happy :)

OH MY GOSH!!! Hunger Games Trailer!!!

HUNGER GAMES MOVIE!!!! eeeeeeeeeeeee
Yes, in case you have been living in a hole for most of your life time, you'd be aware the action-packed, edge-of-you-seat, and downright addictive Hunger Games series, is being made into a movie. And guess what... The sneak peek trailer is out. **hyperventilate** aaaaaahhhh!!! I have dreamt of this day since I cried my heart out at the end of the series.
Yes, the sneak peek. **silently 'eeee's**

The actor chosen to play the role of Katniss is Jennifer Lawrence, hm... I haven't actually seen much of her acting (that translates to none at all, haven’t even heard of her), but judging from the sneak peek, she is goooood. Dang! She jumps over that log like it was nothing, that log would probably take me about 10 minutes to get over before promptly tripping and landing smack-bang on the ground. Lovely I know, gracefulness is something I lack severely. And I am impressed by her awesome arrow-drawing skills, loading a bow is super hard, trust me I’ve tried, it wasn't pretty. Yet another skill I lack. Yes, Jennifer does seem to fit Katniss's description (no blond hair or anything) and she's even got the trade mark braid!!! In terms of age.. hmm.... she'll pass.

Now, what you've all been putting up with my incessant chatter for... click >here< for the clip.

And may the odds be ever in your favour.

Clary's Sketchbook-- Mortal Instrument Series- fan made

Dang, have i ever mentioned my absolute love for the Mortal Instruments series? ooh! and the Infernal Devices too!
No? **gasp of horror** I can't believe i've never mentioned my undying love for the series. **blushes in shame** Well, now you know, i love the Mortal Instruments! They are absolutely amazing! If you haven't already read the series, read them. I was captivated by page one of City of Bones, and i'm sure you will be too.
This was something made by a fan that Cassandra Clare shared on her blog.
It's so cute!
click >>here<<
I love it! I'm not sure who it is who made it, but it's awesome!
reeeaaadddd the seeerrieeesss!!!!!

Who on earth let Tyra Banks write a novel?!?!?!

I cry, I really do. That some people are reduced to such low actions. Yes. Tyra Banks wrote a book. Modelland. To be precise.
My eyes are streaming with tears, ears are burning and I don't think I can feel my fingers. (well, maybe not the last one, or else i wouldn't be able to type properly)
Yes, what has the reading world been reduced to?!?! WHAT IS THIS?!!??!?!?!

I haven't even read the book, and I can tell you it will be very... hmm... **thinks up least offensive word possible** special. Yeah. Special, that's my nice way of saying it'll be horrid. Why? I hear you ask. Just listen to the main character's name: Tookie de la Crème. Is she meant to be some kind of desert?? The poor girl, if I were her I would change my name, heck I'd change it to Princess Consuela Banana Hammock (that's a Friends quote for those of you that think I’m slightly weird) Anything but that.

Oh my fellow book lovers, i fear we may have to go into hiding. I'd write a petition telling Tyra to just shred any piece of evidence on this book, but it's too late. She's gone and had it published. WHAT WAS SHE THINKING!?!?! I feel bad that she's spent 5 years of her oh-so-short life slaving away to write this book, I’m amazed by her actual determination.

Watch this clip. Here. and cry. oh. Tyra darlin' you've got a little something on your face. oh wait it's a smize. **facepalm** Oh, and look how happy she is when the cover of the book is revealed... i'm going to be very shallo here and say that it looks like trash compared to covers like Fallen and Hush Hush (yes i'm being bias), but i honestly thought it'd be something more... plastic? pretty?, Why? because it's Tyra Banks here, and she makes a living on looks. People DO judge a book by it's cover, and i'm just gonna put it out there: people wouldn't really pick up Modelland if it was judged according to the cover. oh and it has a Smize, **scoffs**

Something i picked up on: she's going to Harvard?!?! WHAT IS THIS?!?!?!? Ugh, what has the world become, maybe we should just call up the nearest apocalypse and have it reschedule for today :)

Wow, i dare not read this book for fear of losing half of my already limited brain cells. Modelland is aparently aimed at YA, an alternate world full of magic and models. Tyra, my sweet, I don't think you're aware but models and magic don't mix. At least not the way you're writing it. Who in their right mind would read this book??? Unless it was out of complete boredom, or some sort of dare?

Dang, now I’m feeling bad, I haven't even read the book and I’m judging it. That's just not cool. But. yes big BUT, in my defence, I’ve read several reviews all of which feature unfortunate readers who want to erase the past couple of hours from their memory.

I've just scanned the first chapter--I know, I’m heading into the bathroom to puke as soon as I finish this post-- And I’ve just encountered several interesting facts:
A) some names are normal
B) some names aren’t.
I think Tyra was going for something memorable. But, man oh man are these names special. Going onto the list consisting of Tookie de la Crème are:
Theophilus Lovelaces - yes, this is an actual character name. **snort** yes I actually snorted when I read this, who wouldn't??? **mentally add to my list of what NOT to name my child**
Zarpessa Zarionneaux- eugh, Zarpessa sounds like something Tyra made up by throwing together some random syllables. It sounds like something I’d name my cat, wait scratch that, I wouldn't want my cat to suffer and die of embarrassment.

memorable quote:

The hairy hag was Abigail Goode, sideburns in full glory, faint moustache above her upper lip, unshaven leg hair coating her calves, underarm hair swaying in the wind

Wow, "underarm hair swaying in the wind", I think that's a little far, don't you? hahaha. I might actually read this just for laughs, should I really put myself through all that suffering??

ok, those of you who want to check this out for yourself. Click here. Go on, I dare you. But be warned; keep your puke bag handy.

:)