-Book Couture-

Interview with Lara Morgan (Rosie Black Chronicles)

2011-11-19T12:00:00.000+11:00

Hey there awesome people! I've been AWOL for ages again, and I am this close to throttling - ahem - filing a complaint to our education system for tearing me away from blogging. But my last exam finishes soon, and I can't wait to be back reviewing and reading. Even the thought of it is brightening the thought of my massive pile of practise exams...

But in the meantime, I have a wonderful interview with the almighty Lara Morgan, the author of the Rosie Black Chronicles, right here at Book Couture, as part of an awesome blog tour. Lara. Morgan. Seriously, Mind. Blown. Alright, let's go...

Hi Lara! Thank you so much for taking the time to appear on my blog. I'm so thrilled to have you heere! The topic I'm really curious about today is writing tips, for all those aspiring writers out there. So first of all, I was wondering, what inspired you to write the Rosie Black Chronicles?

There were two inspirations for Rosie: first was my interest in our planet’s future given the mess of global warming and second my love of space adventure shows and movies like Star Wars and Firefly. I know, it’s a weird mix! So basically I combined the two, exploring the kind of world both environmentally and socially we might have in the future if all the terrible effects of global warming come to pass and including against that backdrop an adventure story that involved spaceships and futuristic themes with an independent female heroine. I also found great inspiration for Rosie in Buffy. Not so much in the kind of person Rosie is but more in terms of her heroism in the face of sometimes terrible odds.

Hmm, global warming is such a topical issue at the moment, and Rosie Black's world certainly shows the frightening ramifications of inaction. And that is certainly an interesting blend of inspirational material!

Sometimes when I'm writing short stories (or actually, writing anything in general), I'll want to get the tone, the character, the phrasing, etc, right, and so I find myself agonising over every single word. I guess I'm a bit of a perfectionist. Then I find myself losing interest because the whole writing process feels too difficult. How is your own writing process like? And what would you recommmend beginning writers to do?

Ah yes, the agonizing is a very hard hurdle to get over. It’s also one I advise beginning writers to leap over because trying to get everything right before you move on can result in exactly what you’ve described and that is death to any writing. When I start work on a book I firstly do a lot of research into the kind of world I’m creating, so lots of reading (my favourite part!), and I scribble notes down about my characters. I don’t do very detailed sketches of them at that stage but I do think about who they are and where they might fit in the story. Then I get out an artist’s sketch block and start plotting out a story line. I draw a long diagonal line right across the page and at the beginning note down where I think the story might start, the scene and action. Then I make a dot in the middle of the line and note what a major plot point might be for the middle, then make a dot at the end of the line and note how I think the book might end, and I fill in a few points in between those three that might be some major plot points for the story. That’s it really, then I just start writing the first draft. I am one of those writers who work better if I don’t over plot. I need to do a bit of plotting, but while I’m writing the first draft I always revise my plot outline as I go so I tend to end up with several increasingly different versions. I rarely ever change the ending though. I always have a clear idea at the start where I’m heading and when writing a first draft I don’t edit as I go. If I find along the way that a character does something that affects what I’ve already written a chapter or so back I just make a note to myself to change it in the rewrite and keep going. It’s only when I’ve written the first draft all the way through that I really know what the story is. Then in the rewrite I can go back and refine it.

So I think my best advice for new writers is to stop agonizing over getting the perfect scene or sentence the first time and just get to the end. Remember all writing is rewriting. Relax, take a breath and give yourself permission to write badly the first time knowing you will be fixing it up in the rewrite. And never show anyone your first draft because the last thing you need at the beginning is someone’s well meaning advice before you’re even sure how your story goes.

That, is gold for aspiring writers. Reading is my facourite part too! And your visual approach to planning is very innovative and interesting. I've never heard of that technique before, and I think I might try it out someday. Thanks!
What's your personal cure for writer's block?

If I’m having trouble writing it’s usually because my creative brain isn’t quite sure what’s happening in the story next and is fighting with my ‘just-get-on-with-it’ side of the brain. I’ve found the best way for me to get over this is to stop trying to push through it and take a step back. I stop writing and just take a day or so to think about what the problem is. I leave my desk and sit on the couch in a different room with a notebook and just day dream the story a bit, making random notes if something comes to me. It can be very frustrating, but eventually – and often when I’m doing something unrelated like the dishes or sleeping – the solution will come and I can go back to work.

Looking back on your writing experience, is there anything you wish you had done differently? And anything you would recommend for beginning writers?

I wish I’d known more about promoting the book and myself at the beginning. When my first book came out I really didn’t know what I should do and I wish now I’d invested some money into going to conventions or getting out there more. It’s not something anyone tells you, so it’s something I tell new writers. You have to take on responsibility for promoting yourself as well. You can’t just rely on the publisher, especially not in today’s market and luckily now with the range of social media we have an outlet that can help with that. So advice? Get online, go to conventions, and if you’re not published yet also enter short story competitions. Winning or placing gives you runs on the board. I won a story competition and it lead to me getting an agent so they really can help, especially if the awards have a national profile. Don’t be scared just enter, it’s worth it.

Valuable advice, once again. It's great that a story competition sparked off your career. It gives me hope that with the right amount of talent, and some luck thrown in too, anything is possible.

Usually when I read a book, I'm only reading it for pleasure, and I tend to read it fast, preferring to allow the storyline to play out in my imagination, rather than analysing every word. In some ways, that contributes to the magic of books for me, because while I might not register every single word, my mind still evokes the overall sense of the book. So what I'm wondering is, what kind of reader are you? And after having written your own books, do you find youself becoming more of a close reader?

I can still get lost in a story, but what I have found is I probably pick up on errors or lazy writing more quickly than I might have before and I’m probably a tad more critical. It makes me wonder what the editor was thinking/doing to let something slip by, while at the same time I know that mistakes happen when you’re dealing with reading the same thing over and over. I won’t finish a book anymore if it irks me though. Life is too short to keep reading if I’m not enjoying it.

What are some of your favourite literature tropes?

I love a good quest. Yes it’s been done, and done, and done – heck I’ve done it! – but it makes for such a good story, such a great structure to revolve characters around. I also love a good dark lord. What’s not to love? Look at Darth Vader, Sauron, Voldemort and the incarnations of the lord as evil empire are also smashing.

Nice, me too! I like the way that quests can fully immerse the readers into an adventure.What do you think are essential elements to any story? (i.e. what would make or break a book for you?)

Characters have to have shades of grey to them. Heroes can’t be all good and bad guys need to be more than they appear to be. I can’t abide two dimensional characters and will put down a book if not enough effort has gone into creating people I can believe in and care about. I read a book recently which clearly was written more as a treatise for a blockbuster film than a novel. It had bags of action and thrilling turns but I felt no connection with the people in the story at all, the hero could have died at the end and I wouldn’t have cared. That was really disappointing.

Great answer! The plot could be masterpiece, but ultimately, we are human beings, and a personl connection developed with the characters is what really brings the book "alive" for me as well.
On my bookshelf, I've got one whole role dedicated to wonderful dystopian novels, and I found it interesting that YA dystopians novels are increasing in popularity now (that's what it seems to me, at least.) What are your thoughts?

Yes definitely dystopian YA is becoming more popular now, but it has been around for a while. I’ve got a book on my shelf written ten years ago that is YA dystopian and dystopia itself has been a solid presence in adult fiction for fifty or more years. Why it’s popularity is growing now in YA is, I think, partly due to the massive success of Suzanne Collins Hunger Games, and maybe as a point of difference to all the paranormal romance which has taken centre stage of late.

Finally, what are some of your favourite books (fiction and non-fiction, YA and adult) and movies? Books/movies you find most inspiring?

Books: Ursula Le Guin’s The Earthsea Quartet, Wild Seed by Octavia Butler, The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare, The Lord of the Rings, The Weather Makers by Tim Flannery, Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku.

Movies/TV shows: Star Wars (the original three please not those awful new ones!), Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, The X Files, When Harry Met Sally and my feel good movie when I’m ill is Under the Tuscan Sun because it’s about a writer who buys a house in Tuscany – seriously what’s not to love there?

I've heard amazing things about those, but haven't yet watched/read them yet. Except The Mortal Instruments and Lord of the Rings. That's it. I'm going to spend my holidays trying to hunt down all those books and movies and watch them now.

And...that's a wrap! Thank you for your wise and illuminating answers, Lara!

My pleasure!

After reading that, don't you just want to go check out a sample of Equinox? Or go and enter my competition for both Rosie Black novels released. It's open to Aussies.
And if you have a facebook, go and visit the rest of the blog tour. Get updates and giveaway links and such.
Hope you all have an awesome day. And keep smiliing. :)

xx Tina

My first BLURB. still in shock

2011-11-18T22:23:00.001+11:00

Hey there awesome person! You have a beautiful smile.

This is a quickie post to record something very momentous and amazing for me....

Take a lookie at this, which was sent my way by the lovely Emilie at Emilie's Book World and Brittany at Nice Girls Read Books, via twitter (psst, come chat with me? I'd love to talk to you. :) )

My words. In print. In actual, honest-to-goodness black ink on book-creating paper. Stuff I said about Embrace by Jessica Shirvington. Cue the silly dancing and the loud music and party poppers, because this has made my week. I only started this blog to chat about me, reading, but wow, seeing that...it really makes a girl feel special, and honoured, and amazed.

Anyway, a cool interview with Lara Morgan coming up tomorrow! Stay tuuuned. ;)

Giveaway: Win Rosie Black Chronicles Book #1 and #2

2011-10-22T19:31:00.003+11:00

How exciting is this? I'm hosting my very first giveaway ever...it's such a cool feeling. And I'm super happy because it's for two amazing dystopian books.

Hopefully this will excuse me from the fact that myblog has been awfully quiet again, and will be for the next month, until exams and such are finished.

Thanks to Walker Books Australia, I have a copy of Rosie Black Chronicles: Book 1-Genesis, and Book 2 - Equinox by Lara Morgan, to give away!

Equinox comes out in November, and keep your eyes peeled, because there'll be a blog tour for it coming soon, and a review of Rosie Black on Book Couture.

How to win a copy:

Open to residents of Australia only, age 13 or above.
Post a comment about your favourite dystopian book to get an entry in - be sure to leave your name (nickname will do fine too), and an email address for me to contact you with as well.
Spreading the word online linking to this comp will get you an extra entry too, e.g. tweeting about the comp (with @bookcouture), facebooking, blogging, linking...etc. Leave links as additional comments.
Winner will be chosen randomly, so it's pretty fair for all.
Entries close 22nd November 2011

Good luck!

Review: Shift by Em Bailey

2011-10-05T12:18:00.002+11:00

Shift by Em Bailey [Goodreads]

Genre: YA > Thriller

Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont

Release Date: 1st September 2011
ISBN-13: 9781742970578

Cover love? It's quirky and incredible and immediately drew me in. It fits the book perfectly, with the idea identity is always shifting, or shaped by others.

There were two things everyone knew about Miranda Vaile before she'd even arrived at our school. The first was that she had no parents - they were dead. And the second? They were dead because Miranda had killed them.
Olive Corbett is definitely NOT crazy.

Not anymore. These days she takes her meds like a good girl, hangs out with her best friend Ami, and stays the hell away from the toxic girls she used to be friends with.
She doesn’t need a boyfriend. Especially not a lifesaver-type with a nice smile. And she doesn’t need the drama of that creepy new girl Miranda, who has somehow latched on to Olive's ex-best friend.

Yet from a distance, Olive can see there's something sinister about the new friendship. Something almost... parasitic. Maybe the wild rumours ARE true. Maybe Miranda is a killer.

But who would believe Olive? She does have a habit of letting her imagination run away with her…

Even as the narrator, Olive Corbett’s past is shrouded in secrecy. While on the surface, Olive seems like your everyday teenage girl, with a fair share of problems at school and at home, there’s an unstable, insecure, but caring girl underneath. Without her best friend Ami to anchor her sanity down, she’d surely be lost. The beauty of her character was that she seemed to “shift” a lot between several personas, and I could never be certain who Olive was.

The question is, how did Olive fall from being one of the most popular girls in the school, to the paranoid “freak” that she’s now known as? Oh, and what exactly happened between Olive and her ex-best-friend Kate, the beautiful and popular queen of the school?

This book takes the toxic effect that high-school life can have on a person, to a whole new level. Miranda Vaile transfers to Olive’s school amid a flurry of speculation, and wild rumours. Some say that she killed her parents, and while Olive is sceptical, she knows that there’s something really off about Miranda. This pale, wisp of a girl somehow latches onto Kate, and over time, seemingly draws the life out of her, until Kate is a shadow of her former self, and Miranda begins to glow with the vitality that Kate had.

Em Bailey smoothly carries the reader forward on this rollercoaster ride of a plot, with her simple yet compelling writing style. The characters are flawed and therefore believable, and there is a cute romance between Olive and a hot new guy, Lachlan, that stumbles around as Olive keeps on trying to push him away from her, despite her growing feelings for him.

Shift is psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat, constantly guessing and questioning the truth behind the story Olive tells. Is there really something strange going on with Miranda, or is it all in Olive’s head? I think I can safely say that have never, ever read anything quite as gripping and intoxicating. While this book isn’t for everyone, especially if you don’t like thrillers, it’s a refreshing break from mainstream YA, one which will creep up under your skin and claw at your heart, squeezing it at every thrilling twist and turn of the plot.

Rating:

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Black

2011-09-30T14:48:00.000+10:00

Series: Anna Dressed in Blood

Genre: Young Adult >Thriller/Horror

Publisher: Tor Teen/Hachette AUS

Release Date: October 2011
ISBN: 9781408319444

Cover love? It's so hauntingly gorgeous, with a dark and spooky atmosphere that suits the story perfectly.

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by aghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadlyathame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and theirspirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying tokeep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future andfriends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call AnnaDressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track,hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, aghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on theday of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping withblood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared tostep into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.

Review

I confess: I have never, ever read horror before. Back in the Grade 2 days, I had a tentative peek into a Goosebump novel, and it practically scared the crap out of me, so since then, I've always avoided horror like the plague. But Anna Dressed in Blood was so freaking amazing that I'm crying, begging on my knees for more from Kendare Black, and *gasp* yes, more horror!

Theseus Cassio 'Cas' Lowood is one badass character, so fierce and brave. He descends from a long line of ghost hunters, all committed to ridding the world of ghosts who have stayed behind after death, out for revenge. After his father was brutally murdered by a ghost that he'd set out to kill, Cas devotes himself to training and slaying the dead, honing his skills in the hopes that one day, he can return to exact revenge on the monstrous being that took his father's life.

As a professional ghost slayer, Cas gets called to Thunder Bay to investigate the mystery of a particularly mysterious and violent ghost that the locals call "Anna Dressed in Blood". For the past 60 years, everyone who has dared to enter her house is torn apart, ripped to shreds. But when Cas faces this terrifying "goddess of death", he discovers that he's finally met his match - a ghost he can't destroy. But for some reason, she decides to spare his life.

Intrigued, Cas can't help but be drawn back to Anna's haunted house, again and again, attempting to discover the mystery behind her death, the reason why she is unlike other ghosts he's encountered. Because beneath the otherworldly and powerful exterior is a beautiful and fragile girl trapped by her dark past...

Kendare Black writes a spellbinding tale, entwining witchcraft and ghost mythology, tradgedy and hope, fear and adoration, until the reader is just as enraptured by Anna as Cas is. I adored so many things about this book - the gentle but fierce prose, the numerous twist and turns within the plot. My one lament is that the side characters aren't developed as well. I could sense that there was more to them, but I'll probably have to wait until Girl of Nightmares (Anna Dressed in Blood #2) coming out in 2012, to find out.

Black doesn't hold back on the violence or the gripping themes either - this is a raw and powerful book that will probably scare the living daylights out of you, but in a fantastic way that makes you hungry for more. It kept me up well past midnight, on the one hand feeling too afraid and nervous to keep on reading, but also too creeped out and entangled in this beautiful and dark tale to bear putting it down. And when I finally finished, I just lay there in bed, thinking about it all night. My advice: read it in broad daylight, but for the brave looking for a good scare, I dare you to read it in the dead silence of the night.

Rating:

Parental Corner: Violence (heavy), sexual content (minor), profanity (occasional)

Links: Date A Book | Kendare Black | Goodreads

Review: All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

2011-09-27T12:38:00.000+10:00

My Rating:

Series: Birthright Series

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Crime

Publisher: PanMacmillan Australia

Release Date: 6th September 2011

Source: Review copy provided by publisher for an honest review.

Links: PanMac | Goodreads

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city’s most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.’s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she’s to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight—at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.

Review

Imagine this.

New York, year 2028. You’re sixteen years old, dogged by the legacy of a criminal chocolate business your murdered father once lead. Your grandma, your only guardian, is the oldest person you know (born in 1995) and she’s bedridden. Your elder brother is gorgeous, and girls would love him, if only he didn’t have the mind of an 8-year-old. Your little sister makes you ache to protect the rest of your family.

Not to mention that your a-hole of a boyfriend insists on sleeping with you.

So what do you do?

I won’t tell you too much, but let’s just say that eventually, you get arrested for attempted murder.

All These Things I’ve Done is a book that whisked me off my feet and took me on a journey. A journey through one year of Anya Balanchine’s life as I saw an alternate, morally corrupt world through her eyes and explored the potential ramifications of extreme Prohibition laws. In 2028, chocolate, mobile phones and coffee are amongst the many items that we now take for granted that have been outlawed. The effect is a world that we recognise as our own, but disorientingly merges elements of the past and present, to bring them to the future.

However, the dystopia of this world is merely hinted at, while Anya’s story takes the forefront. Anya is brave, smart and resilient, hardened by being forced to take over the parental role in her family after her father’s death. But she’s still young and impulsive, and nowhere near perfect, and I envisioned with bated breath, captivated, as she tumbled from trouble into disaster. Anya amazed me – I can’t imagine that any sixteen year old could have the wit, instinct and courage to experience what she does and come out as wholly as she does. She’s remarkable and extraordinary, but I felt her maturity was too unrealistic at times.

Gabrielle Zevin creates characters that unique, flawed and plausible, and through them, she portrays different facets of human nature. I believe that the best books are ones that make me think – hidden within are themes and ideas that bring up questions for me. I’m not a careful reader, but this book inspired me to try. The very title, “all these things I’ve done” suggests that the book is an exploration of the idea of redemption. Do we all deserve a second chance, no matter what we’ve done, or are some acts too horrible to be redeemed? What is the threshold of human forgiveness? Does an ability to forgive others make you a strong person, or weak minded? Are we, as humans, inherently good or bad? I guess there is no clear, definite distinction between black and white, because Anya’s world and life is comprised of all shades of grey.

There are books that take me away with the romance between characters, and there are those that simply don’t. While the synopsis portrays this as a story of a pair of star-crossed lovers, I didn’t really see that. I thought it was more of a subplot, and I couldn’t help rolling my eyes, when literally 15 pages into the book, we had already met the guy who would so obviously be the love of Anya’s life. I was frustrated that there was no real doubt or gradual falling in love; that they were automatically drawn to each other, despite Anya’s flimsy attempts to distance herself.

Overall, All These Things I’ve Done is an intricately layered exploration of the ideas of redemption and sacrifice, set in a world where danger and deception lurk behind every door. Anya’s coming-of-age is an unforgettable story that I devoured in one sitting, and absolutely recommend to fans of crime, and dystopia.

My Rating:

Review: City of Fallen Angels, Wolfsbane

2011-09-23T22:37:00.000+10:00

These are some already-released must-reads that I read overmy temporary hiatus from blogging. Why am I reviving them from their glory releases a couple of months ago? Well, coz they were pretty awesome reads and I thought I should let you know about them. Also, I wanted to record my thoughts, just for looking back on. :)

City of Fallen Angel s (The MortalInstruments #1) by Cassandra Clare

[Walker Books Aus, released 5th April 2011] [Urban Fantasy]

What’s it about? The Mortal Instruments series shotstraight into my all-time favourites the first time I read them, because thereis just something so enchanting and enthralling about the world containedbetween their pages. Clary Fray finds herself thrust unceremoniously into thedark and dangerous world of Shadowhunters (demon-slayers) werewolves, warlocks,and vampires, a world that only she can see, as she attempts to uncover themystery of her mother’s murder.

My thoughts? InCity of Fallen Angels (book #4), interspecies politics, the love of astar-crossed pair, and the forces of Heaven and Hell intertwine in aheart-pounding, gut-wrenching tale. When I read this, I took it everywhere withme, because I couldn’t bear to be parted from the non-stop action and the pureemotions that the book wrought out of me.

Why should you read it? So, I can’t say that the premise of thestory sounds all that original at first, but trust me, Cassandra Clare takeswhat could have been a predictable, clichéd plotline and infuses it with anunforgettable cast and a rich story world setting. If you love action-adventure stories with heart wrenching romances, I think you’lladore this series as well.

You’ll like it if youliked: Well, I think you’ll like this one no matter what, but The MortalInstruments series had a similar “feel” and genre to the Vampire Academy seriesby Richelle Mead.

Additional Notes:

The audiobook version is narrated by Ed Westwick(Chuck from Gossip Girl), and Molly Young (Castle).
Cassandra Clare also has a prequel series to TheMortal Instruments - called The InfernalDevices, a steampunk series set in the 19^th century, which is justas riveting.

Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

[AtomBooks Aus, released 26th June, 2011] [Paranormal – Werewolves]

What’s it about? For her whole life, Calla Tor hasexisted in a world where her kind, the shape-shifting wolf Guardians, havealways been subservient to the Keepers, magic-wielders to whom the Guardians’survival is inherently linked. Calla accepts that her destiny as an alpha femaleof the Nightshade wolf pack is to marry Ren, the alpha male of the rival Banepack. For if Calla refuses, the Keepers will exact their fury upon her lovedones. But in Nightshade (Book #1), allthat Calla knows to be true is cast into doubt when she begins to fall in lovewith a human boy, and discovers what sinister things the Keepers have in storefor them both.

In Wolfsbane (Book#2), Calla finds herself fighting alongside the Keepers’ sworn enemies in anepic race to uncover the truth, save her friends from under the keepers’oppressive rule, and salvage her relationships.

My thoughts? What I loved most about this book was howAndrea Cremer managed to interweave action scenes and plot development with enrichingthe world she’s built. In the beginning, Calla was thrust into the fight, leavingme (the reader) just as confused as she was. But gradually, we get to see moreof the external forces acting on her world, and discover, alongside her, thetruth of their past. Wolfsbane answerssome of the biggest questions in Nightshade,but at the same time, creates more for book 3, Bloodrose.

[SPOILER] I have to admit though, I was occasionally annoyedby Calla. Annoyed by her doubt and emotional confusion and her fallibility.Annoyed by the way that she was torn between her love for Shay and herlingering emotions for Ren, how she was tactless and emotionally confused.Perhaps the reason why was because I see myself reflected in her, and wishedthat she was stronger and more decisive, as fierce in love as she was inbattle. And the relationship that she shared with Shay felt forced andsuperficial. Somehow, I didn’t feel genuine sparks between her and Shay, notlike there was in the first book, but I attribute this to the fact that theydidn’t have that much time together.

Andrea Cremer, however, often writes quite strongcharacters, which are distinct and flawed, with very human desires andreactions. None of her characters are close to perfect, so they’re realistic andbelievable. And what I love most of all is how she portrays same-sexrelationships between her characters with finesse and tact. She, through Calla’seyes, doesn’t place specific emphasis on their struggles or makes them theobjects of ostracisation. She doesn’t over-glorify their love either, creatingrelationships that are genuine and caring. But most of all, I love how thecharacters accept same-sex relationships between other characters as ordinary, justlike any other relationship. Maybe I’m being discrimatory by pointing out this,but I think this acceptance is beautiful, and ought to be praised.

One more thing – there’s a plot twist in here that I caughtonto early on, which is rare for me. I thought it was clichéd and too obvious, (althoughit was foreshadowed in the first book as well, which might have contributed) butI’m reluctantly intrigued to see how it’s explored. [/SPOILER]

Why should you read it? The Nightshade series is one that gets aplace amongst my “love list” because it combines edge-of-your-seat action withreal, emotionally complex characters, and best of all, a rich twist of the wolfmythology that draws you into the book and leaves you pondering the book wellafter the last page, questions dancing on your tongue. This book is kind ofintoxicating, and I for one, couldn’t stop reading it until I had finished thejourney within its pages.

Just a warning, apparently no YA book is complete without aclassic love triangle and a bit of emotional drama to liven things up, and inthis second book at least, I felt it was a little too much.

Readalikes: Vampire Academy,Twilight, Blood and Chocolate.

Should we beware author blurbs?

2011-09-12T20:08:00.000+10:00

Skye from In the Good Books wrote an interesting and thought-provoking post on author quotes (otherwise known as "blurbs" on the front of books. To paraphrase her, she says that quotes from authors she admires will make her pick up a book that she might have previously overlooked, but a taglne along the lines of "Fans of Twilight will love this book!" are a deal breaker.

I found myself nodding in agreeance, because to be honest, sometimes I'll get put off books that have a quote from an author, or some other sentence urging you to "read this book!".

Sometimes I can't help but roll my eyes at really cliched taglines, for example, "you will devour this book" or "this book will leave you breathless". I mean, c'mon, really?! These words have been so over-used that they've kinda lost their meaning. I don't believe them for a second. And well, publishers are in the business of getting readers to buy their books, so of course they're going to praise the book. This doesn't mean that their opinion isn't valid; they obviously love the book so much, they've chosen to put their full support behind it and get it published. This just means that we have to take words from a potential source of bias with a grain of salt.

But what about blurbs from authors? Well...

a) If it's an author I have read and admire who has recommended the book, then I might be more inclined to pick up the book, for sure. But if I don't like the book, then the author is discredited in my eyes. I'd probably be less willing to trust their judgement.

b) If it's an author whose books I did not enjoy, then I'm even less likely to read the book.

c) If I do enjoy the book, the it will be because the author did a good job, rendering the blurb irrelevant.

Also, I know that authors are sent new releases from their publisher/editor/agent for endorsements. And this is where things get tricky. It's beneficial to an author to stay "in the good books" (terrible pun intended) of their industry connections by giving a positive endorsement, yet in blurbing a book, they put their own reputation with readers on the line. Declining to review a book will undoubtedly step on a few toes, and will be detrimental in the long run when attempting to forge new connections or ask for favours. Gee, aren't politics fun?

Anyway, blurbs I read are often quite vague and general; sometimes I can't help but be skeptical about the reliability of obvious and gushing praise, and I end up ignoring them, relying on my own reading of the book to give it a fair judgement. After all, reading experiences are subjective.

What I personally prefer is a book with just the title and author's name on the front cover. I often turn to my fellow book bloggers and my librarian for recommendations, and then I make my own judgements from my reading.

So the real question is, how effective is an author blurb anyway? Would you read a book based on another author's recommendation, or do you ignore them completely?Also, what do you think about book blogger reviews? Do they influence your book-reading decisions in any way?

Here's an informative and much more eloquent article I found, which explores this issue from a perspective of an author.

Also, thanks to Skye for inspiring this post!

In My Mailbox #1

2011-09-11T12:51:00.001+10:00

In My Mailbox is a feature hosted by the amazing blogger Kristi from The Story Siren. It's a weekly post where book bloggers can share what books they got that week - from publishers, gifted books or purchased ones. :) It's a pretty awesome meme, and lets you know about new books coming out. I'm always excited to see what other people are reading.

I haven't done an IMM for ages, so I'm not sure what no. I'm up to. So I'll just start from scratch. :) IMM #1 for 2011. :D

So in the last month: Thanks to these awesome publishers...I'm really honoured and thrilled to read these!

Twisted by Gena Showalter [thanks to Harlequin Teen]

This is book 3 in the Intertwined series by Gena Showalter, so I've got to read the first two first. :) Anyone read this series yet?

Beautiful Days by Anna Godbersen [thanks to Tina at Penguin AUS]

I haven't read Bright Young Things (book #1) yet, but I've been studying The Great Gatsby at school, and it's definitely piqued my interest in the Roaring Twenties/Jazz Age. I wonder if Godbersen's portrayal will also depict the hedonistic and morally decayed society that F. Scott Fitzgerald criticised, or whether she will glamourise the 1920s...

When We Were Two by Robert Newton [thanks to Tina at Penguin AUS]

Tina at Penguin told me that this was one of her absolute favourites, so I'm really eager to read this one! Gosh, I want the holidays to come soon!

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan [thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia]

Eeee! I LOVE SCI-FI and I loved Across the Universe, so I'm pumped for this one. The cover is sooo gorgeous, and the blurb is v v intriguing.

All The Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin [thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia]

THIS WAS SO GOOD. I picked it up and did not stop reading until I was finished...so a review is coming soon!

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick [thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia]

It sounds along the lines of Gone by Michael Grant - a post-apocalyptic novel in which all the adults disappear after one mysterious phenomenon...leaving behind a world full of kids. I really enjoyed Gone, so hopefully I'll like this too - although I'll inevitably be comparing the two all the way through.

The 39 Clues: The Medusa Plot by Gordon Corman

Conspiracy 365: Revenge by Gabrielle Lord

[thanks to Scholastic AUS]

Scholastic does amazing things with their books to make them appeal to a younger male audience immersed in modern technology. 39 clues comes with collectible cards, and the cover of Con spiracy 365 is really awesome and 3D. I haven't read any of the others, but I'm desperately wishing I had a younger brother to give these to. I'll try to review them though. :)

Frostbite by Richelle Mead [swapped with Lux from The Paperback Heart - thanks!]

I've read this, but I love re-reading VA and I've been painstakingly collecting the whole series to lend out to my cousins/friends, and this one completes it. So thanks so much Lux!

Wolfborn by Sue Bursztynski [Thanks to Sue!]

Sue is a really nice and awesome person in general, so check out her blog here. I'm reading this book now, everytime I take (really long) breaks from doing Maths homework, hence the bookmark.

She sent me a sample chapter about a week ago, and it's really good, so feel free to pop her an email or send me one at readingcouture@gmail.com and I'll forward you the sampler as well. :)

Impossible by Nancy Werlin [swapped with Skye from In the Good Books- thanks!]

This book is about a family of girls cursed to become pregnant at 18, and the only way to break the curse is to fulfil the impossible demands outlined in the song "Scarborough Fair". Quite unique, I'm looking forward to it. Thanks heaps, Skye!

And that's my book haul of the month. Have you read any of these? What did you think?

If not, what books have you been reading?

And link me to your IMM too, if you have one. :)

Happy reading!

Pottermore!

2011-09-07T18:29:00.000+10:00

Hey guys, just a quick post about getting into Pottermore! I signed up on the second day, but got my email about a week ago, so I've done a bit of exploring already. The artwork on the site is so stunning, and I love reading the extra content from JK Rowling, especially McGonagall's life story *tears*. For those of you that aren't on the site yet, the coolest features are: getting your own wand, mixing potions, and of course, getting sorted!

I got sorted into..SLYTHERIN! I'm a little surprised, but happy all the same. It's a pretty cool house.

Do you have a Pottermore account? Leave your username below, or add mine (below), and we'll exchange gifts.

QueenBlade198

What house (did you/do you want to be) sorted into? And thoughts on Pottermore?

Epic List of Book Crushes

2011-08-31T13:25:00.000+10:00

There are some seriously awesome books that are coming out in the near future that I am bursting into spontaneous dances of excitement for. (Trust me, I'm a horrible dancer, it's not pretty.) But anyway, here they are:

(OMGOMGOMG GET RELEASED ALREADY YOU GORGEOUS THINGS. *hyperventilates*)

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

If you haven’t read Anna and the French Kiss, beg, borrow, steal a copy (from a friend who wouldn't mind, of course). Because Stephanie Perkin’s addictive debut will have you falling in love with the gorgeous, imperfect Etienne, on a whirlwind year in the city of lurve, France.

Lola and the Boy Next Door is the companion novel, and it’s coming out 3rd October 2011! I can't wait to fall into another funny, beautiful contemporary romance again.

From the cute cover, I can imagine that Lola has a LOT of spunk, especially with that purple hair. And that boy...*swoon*...

Crossed (Matched #2) by Ally Condie

Matched is the first book in this dystopian trilogy by Ally Condie. It draws the reader into a beautifully crafted world where girls and boys are paired to who the Society deems to be their perfect "match". Cassia is thankful to find that her Match is her handsome best friend Xander, but her whole world is thrown into doubt when she sees begins to tentatively fall in love with the mysterious Ky...

I'm really looking forward to reading Crossed, to discover what happens to Cassia next. Ally Condie's take on a dystopian future ironically has similar references to same kind of restrictions we see in historical novels - the arranged marriage and oppressive ruling. At the same time, the narrative is gentle and beautiful - a wonderful read.

Crossed comes out 31st October 2011.

Bloodsong by Rhiannon Hart

I've heard nothing but praises for this fantasy novel. It's got a beautiful dark, gothic cover that looks a little spooky, but stunning nonetheless. Here's the blurb:
When her sister becomes betrothed to a prince in a northern nation, Zeraphina’s only consolations are that her loyal animal companions are by her side – and that her burning hunger to travel north is finally being sated.
Already her black hair and pale eyes mark her out as different, but now Zeraphina must be even more careful to keep her secret safe. Craving blood is not considered normal behaviour for anyone, let alone a princess. So when the king’s advisor, Rodden, seems to know more about her condition than she does, Zeraphina is determined to find out more.
Zeraphina must be willing to sacrifice everything if she’s to uncover the truth – but what if the truth is beyond her worst nightmares?

Craving blood? Oooo....I hope she's not a vampire, but I haven't read a fantasy for a while and this one sounds like one that'll take the reader on a real adventure.

The Power of Six (Lorien Legacies #2) by Pittacus Lore

Boys and girls will be captivated by the first book, I Am Number Four. It's dynamic, action-packed, and set in a world where there are two types of aliens who live secretly amongst humans on Earth.

There's the good guys (Loriens) that look like humans, but have supernatural powers. Oh, and they're on the run from another race of bad aliens (Mogadorians) who destroyed their planet and are hellbent on destroying Earth as well.

It's a bit cliche, and the writing isn't really eloquent, but the action scenes translated well in the movie adaptation starring Alex Pettyfer and Dianna Agron.

Book 2 just came out in August, and I'm pumped to readthe next part of this gripping series.

Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

Jackson Pearce wrote a dark, sexy and absolutely engrossing retelling of Red Riding Hood with Sisters Red last year. This cover is pretty spooky, and the face you can just make out scares the hell out of me.

It's a retelling of Hansel and Gretel, I'm excited to see how Jackson Pearce remakes the fairytale through Sweetly, which just came out in August.

Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta

I adore Melina Marchetta's books, especially Looking for Alibrandi and On the Jellicoe Road. Froi of the Exiles is the sequel to Finnikin of the Rock, and I desperately want to read both! I wonder how Melina Marchetta, wonderful author as she is, will be able to step away from writing contemporary novels to fantasy.

Three years after the curse on Lumatere was lifted, Froi has found his home. Or so he believes.

Fiercely loyal to the Queen and Finnikin, Froi has been trained roughly and lovingly by the Guard sworn to protect the royal family, and has learned to control his quick temper. But when he is sent on a secretive mission to the kingdom of Charyn, nothing could have prepared him for what he finds. Here he encounters a damaged people who are not who they seem, and must unravel both the dark bonds of kinship and the mysteries of a half-mad Princess.

And in this barren and mysterious place, he will discover that there is a song sleeping in his blood, and though Froi would rather not, the time has come to listen.

Other books on my radar:
Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan - A sci-fi book set in space, said to be similar to Across the Universe?

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Steifvater - I loved The Wolves of Mercy Falls, fingers crossed that this series will be just as enchanting.

Legend by Marie Lu - A dystopian debut that promises to be as good as The Hunger Games. Eee!! 'Nuff said.

Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson - I haven't read Maureen Johnson, but a paranormal murder mystery set in London? Count me in.

Released books I want to read:

Wolfborn by Sue Bursztynski - The lovely Sue is offering a free sample chapter of Wolfborn on her blog, and please, please do yourself a favour and head on over to check it out. It's starting out to be a really, really good fantasy/supernatural novel that I want more of.
Divergent by Veronic Roth- This one is another dystopian, and I've only heard awesome things about it.
Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter - I loved Heist Society (#1), can't wait to see what happens to the feisty Kat.

So there we have it! A list of books that I've been spending hours researching (obviously my social life is very hectic...not), and getting VERY excited about. :D

What are some books you want to read?

Not just new/recent ones, but any that you've come across: classics, ones you haven't gotten around to...etc.

Feel free to list a couple. I'd love to see your thoughts!

Review: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

2011-08-25T17:30:00.000+10:00

Love and Loyality Run Deeper Than Blood

Genre: Fantasy > Vampires

Age Group:Young Adult

Publisher: Bloodlines @ Penguin AUS

Release Date: 23/08/2011

ISBN-13: 9781921518881
Rating:

BLOOD DOESN'T LIE . . .
Sydney's blood in special. That's because she's an alchemist - one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of human and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives. But the last encounter Sydney had with vampires got her in deep trouble with the other alchemists. And now with her allegiances in question, her future is on the line.

When Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far worse. Jill Dragomir - the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir - is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding. To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the unlikeliest of places: a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. The last thing Sydney wants is to be accused of sympathizing with vampires. And now she has to live with one.

The Moroi court believe Jill and Sydney will be safe at Amberwood Prep, but threats, distractions and forbidden romance lurk both outside – and within – the school grounds. Now that they're in hiding, the drama is only just beginning.

Review

When I pick up a book I’ve been longing to read, a wonderful and indescribable feeling builds up inside me. The sight of the title and author printed on the beautiful cover spreads a grin across my face, and the feel of printed pages running between my fingers makes my heart race. But most of all, the sense of excitement and anticipation for the story that will unfold epitomises the very reason I love to read. Because for the time that I am reading this precious bound form of ink and paper, I am lifted from the ordinary into a world of magic and infinite possibility.

And Bloodlines by Richelle Mead is one of those rare books which does exactly that.

I’m sure many VA fans were busting for the release of Bloodlines, but at the same time, dubious as to how the story would unfold from Sydney’s fresh perspective. But honest to goodness, Richelle Mead does not disappoint. Bloodlines is another embodiment of Mead’s power to draw the reader in with intricate plotlines, a unique set of characters and a captivating world.

Mead’s writing is deceptively simple and straightforward, but somewhere within the paragraphs, she weaves a story that immediately captures the reader’s imagination and transports them to another world. This intricately crafted alternate universe, where a complex world of vampires live secretly alongside the human world, is so intriguing and fantastical that it has spawned six books – comprising the Vampire Academy series – and now this new spinoff series, Bloodlines.

The first few chapters start off with little action, but Mead quickly builds up a vivid depiction of the enticing vampire world fans of VA have come to love. Sydney is a very multi-faceted character, but quite the polar opposite of Rose. Where Rose is outgoing, strong-willed and completely badass, Sydney is an intelligent observer, somewhat naïve socially, but with no less determination and passion.

Sydney’s mission to protect Jill Dragomir is accompanied by the witty and slightly unstable Adrian, and Jill’s guardian, Eddie. I love the way Mead builds on these previously minor characters while weaving new relationships between them. However, the forbidden love story at the heart of Vampire Academy was an enchanting, and irreplaceable part of the original series, and I can’t see a love story stronger than that one building up in Bloodlines.

Book 2 comes out 1st of May 2012...
that's way too long to wait. Sigh.

But what completely drew me in, and had me reading late into the night, was the story itself. With Mead’s usual plot twists and mix of good and bad forces, this book stayed glued to my hands as its words carried my me away. I begged myself to stop reading at the end of every chapter, but every new twist was an invite drawing me back in. And Mead leaves readers hanging on a plot twist so big that I’m already counting down the days until the release of Book 2, The Golden Lily.

If you’re a girl (age 13 and up), RUN OUT NOW AND GET YOUR HANDS ON A COPY. While Bloodlines is no Vampire Academy (not yet anyway), it’s still an amazing, captivating book filled with dynamic characters, and carries a killer plotline that will keep your heart racing until the very last page.

Oh, and check out these awesome Bloodlines trailers.

A new chapter in my life

2011-04-09T18:24:00.000+10:00

Dear Blog Readers,

As you may know, I haven’t posted anything in over a month. Since the start of my school year, actually. I am so so sorry. Not only to you, but to myself as well. I began this blog half a year ago as a different person – young, naive, ignorant and a complete book addict.

Throughout last year, I was so focused on reading and blogging that it became a huge part of my life. My grades started slipping, and I stopped speaking to my friends as much.

Despite that, I loved that period in my life. There were just so many books out there, waiting to be read, so many worlds lined up neatly on my bookshelf, just waiting to be discovered. It was so thrilling to see books land on my doorstep, and I loved the joy of opening the packages and squealing with joy at the treasures inside, as if Christmas came every week. I would browse every bookstore I came across, and my heart flipped every time I saw books that I recognised from the blogosphere. Every time I wrote a review, I felt a sense of accomplishment. Every comment that popped up spread a grin over my face and every nice thought I read gave me a warm fuzzy feeling. And as I gradually made friends with my favourite bloggers, I never imagined that I would ever want to give this up.

But the coming of the new year marked a the beginning of a new chapter of my life. Since school started, I’ve had to adjust, to a new environment, a more specialised selection of subjects, a new expectation from teachers and completely different social dynamics. I’ve always been academically inclined, and over the past two months or so, I’ve been under more collective pressure than ever in my entire school life. I feel as if I’m always struggling to keep up with my schoolwork, hanging on by a thread. I’ve had little time for sleeping, yet alone reading and blogging. I even started avoiding my bookcase out of guilt, which before, was my favourite spot in the entire house. Reading was becoming a part-time job, a small liability, and less about the escape and more about the expectations.

This is why I feel that I’m at the stage in my life where I have to put reading on the back burner, until I have the time, money and interest again.But I’ve put so much time and effort into my blog, and I don’t want this to be another project I’ve let fallen by the wayside. I’ve never thought much about personal blogs, but just writing this personal post has felt like a much needed breath of fresh air a metaphorical loosening of tense muscles and stress. After writing something (that isn’t schoolwork) for myself, I’m left with a very positive feeling. I think I have an idea for where this blog could be headed….

In the meantime, I want to leave you with two songs that I’ve been listening to recently. I’m not quite sure what genre they are…I can’t seem to identify what my favourite genre is. Perhaps it’s similar to one’s identity – there’s never a label that fits just right.

All About Your Heart – Mindy Gledhill: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGsU4vuJAIo

Giving it Up for You – Holly Brook (aka. Skylar Grey): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIjpK5J2AtA

Review: The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

2011-02-25T02:00:00.001+11:00

The Sky is Everywhere by Author

Series: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary
Age Group:Young Adult
Publisher: Walker AUS
Release Date: June 2010

Format: Paperback, 368 pages
ISBN-13: 9781406326307
RRP: $24.95 AUD
Source: Thank you to the publisher, who provided this book for an honest review,all opinions expressed are my own.
Cover love? This blue is so pretty, calm and peaceful. It's such a unique, and simple cover, but stunning.

Synopsis

Seventeen-year-oldLennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends hertime tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey.But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her ownlife—and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herselfstruggling to balance two.
Toby was Bailey's boyfriend; his grief mirrorsLennie's own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearlymagical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they're the sunand the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her init. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can't collide without thewhole wide world exploding.

Review

This book is not like the others – literally. My UK copy is bound in a soft textured cover with a piece of elastic that keeps it close, much like a journal. The text is a blue colour, and scattered throughout the story are fully-coloured poems by Lennie herself, written on random surfaces. Absolutely gorgeous.

As for the story, I read it entirely in one sitting and spent the rest of the day in a happy, bubbly mood as the aftereffects of this extraordinary book washed over me. The writing is poetic and evocative and beautiful, and I drank all the words along with the emotion they brought. Jandy Nelson is a master of words – she can truly write and her choice of words is perfect.

The ultimate power of this book is the emotions that it evokes in readers – I felt upset, shocked, betrayed, overjoyed, heartbroken, confused, you name it. Lennie and her relationships with Joe and Toby are so raw and powerful and refreshing. I cried in so many places.

Easily one of the most enchanting, captivating novels I have ever read, The Sky Is Everywhere took my breath away with its honesty, sadness and beauty. I am determined not to spoil anything, lest I take away from the impact of reading the book, but this book is definitely an all-time favourite, and the reason why I love contemps.

Rating:

Links:
The Sky is Everywhere Official Website | The Sky is Everywhere at Walker AUS | Jandy Nelson's Website | Goodreads

Review: Eclipse Movie Companion by Mark Cotta Vaz

2011-02-14T18:22:00.000+11:00

You might think that this “Movie Companion” is for the most dedicated fans of the movie, but there is so much more to this movie companion than a photo album of movie stills. I’ve never really paid anythought to how a movie is made; I just pick a movie, pay for my ticket, head into the cinema, and enjoy the story that comes to life before my eyes. I've never imagined the many people behind the cameras who have dedicated their time and poured their soul into creating the intangible piece of art that is a motion picture.

The Twilight Saga is the cumulative effort of months of work byhundreds of people, from the talented Stephenie Meyer, who conceived the idea, to the costume designers, to the audiences who enjoy the movie. This movie companion gives us a detailed behind-the-scenes glimpseinto how a $700 million box office blockbuster movie is made. The director,David Spade emphasised how he wished to stay faithful to Stephanie Meyer’simagery, whilst bringing more intense visual imagery and darker undertones incomparison to the previous two films.

There is so much thought behind each individual, minute-longscene, and a valuable source of information in this book can be gained throughthe behind-the-scenes images. I was surprised to find out how the wolves hadbeen brought to life, how the green screen was used rarely but effectively tobring the forest to life, and how the filmmakers had constructed a life-sizedreplica of the original Cullen house for the purposes of giving the scenesauthenticity.

My favourite parts of the book were the ones detailing thecostume creation and sets for the Quileute’s, Rosalie’s and Jasper’sflashbacks. They were my favourite parts of the movie, and added history anddimension to the film. Then there were the cast interviews. Most of the main casthad a page-long interview each, and it’s interesting to learn of the peoplebehind the characters –the dedicated actors who wake up at 3am to do hair andmakeup – and the people who help them become their characters.

Reading The TwilightSaga: Eclipse Official Illustrated Movie Companion gives one a greaterappreciation of the making of each film: from the basiccolours and settings that evoke mood, to the high-tech CGI imagery that bringswolves to life. An intriguing and visually luxurious read this Illustrated Movie Companion is something all movie fans should pick up.

Now if only it came with posters I could stick up on my wall… ;)

Mark Cotta Vaz, The Twilight Saga Eclipse: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion,

Hachette Aus, July 2010. [details] [goodreads]

Thanks to Hachette for my review copy.

Q: If you could be a part of a movie,which would be your dream role? (e.g. director, crew, make-up artist, scriptwriter, actress/actor...)

Meg Cabot's newest YA series

2011-02-09T21:48:00.001+11:00

First of all, I apologise for not posting for...almost a week. I've just started school again, and I'm in year 11 this year (Auusie version of a junior in high school), so a lot of things have been changing. I have a lot more homework - seriously, I'm doing 4-5 hours of homework per night - and things have fallen behind schedule here, compared to my posting frequency over the holidays.
Anyway, I'm extremely excited about this week's Waiting On Wednesday:

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, and it is a weekly post that spotlights upcoming releases participants are excited about. This week, I'm waiting on:

Abandon by Meg Cabot
This is first in a new young adult series, coming April 2011. I love Meg Cabot's books. I started with the Princess Diaries, moved onto theMediator series, and then read the Vanished series (1800-Where-Are-You). After that, there were her standalone YA novels (Jinx, How to Be Popular, Tommy Sullivan is a Freak...etc). There's just something so addictive and comfortable about Meg's novels - the tone/voice is similar, but the plot and characters always pull me in.

She knows what it's like to die. Now Death wants her back.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce knows what happens to us when we die.
That's how she met John Hayden, the mysterious stranger who's made returning to normal life—or at least life as Pierce knew it before the accident—next to impossible.
Though she thought she escaped him—starting a new school in a whole new place—it turns out she was wrong. He finds her.
What does John want from her? Pierce thinks she knows... just like she knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven. But she can't stay away from him, either, especially since he's always there when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.
But if she lets herself fall any further, she might find herself back in the place she fears the most.
And when Pierce discovers the shocking truth, that’s exactly where John sweeps her:

The Underworld.

What are you waiting on this week?

Review: The Legacy by Gemma Malley

2011-02-02T17:02:00.001+11:00

The Legacy by Gemma Malley

Series: The Declaration (Book 3)
Read these first--> 1: The Declaration, 2: The Resistance

Genre: Dystopia
Age Group: 13+

Publishers: Allen and Unwin AUS

Release Date: October 2010

Format: Hardback, 272 pages

ISBN-13: 9781408800898

Cover love?

An amazing cover that perfectly conveys the theme of the story and continues the design brilliance of the previous two books. I like the solitary rose, although I can't think of it's significance. A new beginning? Hope? Hmm...

Synopsis

A third gripping, powerful dystopian novel following The Declaration and The Resistance.

When a Pincent Pharma lorry is ambushed by the Underground, its contents come as a huge surprise - not drugs, but corpses in a horrible state. It appears Longevity isn't working and the drugs promising eternal youth are failing to live up to their promises. A virus is sweeping the country, killing in its wake, and Longevity is powerless to fight it. When Richard Pincent of Pincent Pharma suggest that the Underground has released the virus, something has to be done to put the story straight and once and for all alert everyone to the truth.

Review
The previous two installments in the series blew me away, and I looked forward to reading The Legacy a lot. Readers who loved Matched or Delirium will love this series, especially because it came prior to the aforementioned books.

The first book focused on Anna as a main character, and later, Peter and Anna's journey together. The Legacy, however, focuses mainly on Peter as the protagonist, much like The Resistance. Anna is relegated to the back seat, and regretfully, takes on a tradiationally feminine role, with less action, and in a more damsel-in-distress role. It's a shame, because Anna was a great character in the first book, but now she gives in too easily, no longer a headstrong female charater, though unnaturally mature beyond her years. But, Peter is a great character. He's loyal, brave and good...but also impulsive, stubborn and flawed.

This third installment reveals a slightly horrific and gripping backstory to the famous (or infamous, depending on your side) Richard Pincent's rise to fame. Thinking back, I should have expected it, but Gemma Malley's addition to the world of The Declaration gives it a new depth and brings a new understanding to readers. I also like the way that the story alternates between Peter's perspective and another sidestory, making the novel three-dimensional in it's omniescent view.

This series is very clever, and presents a vision of the world that is imaginative but highly probable, what with the advances in science and technology, and the growth of the world's population. I shudder to think of it, but the future that Malley paints is near, and possible. But according to The Legacy, nature will prevail in the end.

I love this series, as you can probably tell from my reviews of The Declaration and The Resistance. The Legacy is a truly compelling final book in a masterful dystopian series. Brillaint, heartfelt and epic, this series is a bestseller for a reason.

Rating:

Links:
The Legacy at Allen and Unwin | The Legacy Official Website | The Legacy at Allen & Unwin AU | Goodreads

Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

2011-01-31T19:04:00.001+11:00

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Series: Trilogy
Genre: Dystopian
Age Group:Young Adult
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Release Date: February 1, 2011
Format: Paperback, 448 pages
ISBN-13: 9780340980927
RRP: $27.99 AUD

Cover love? Love how the girl is metaphorically "trapped" behind the letters, as if they were prison bars. The overall image is very unique and iconic.
<--Aussie & UK cover, by the way (has birds, no ornate lettering).

Synopsis

There was a time when love was the most important thing in the world. People would go to the end of the earth to find it. They would tell lies for it. Even kill for it.
Then, at last, they found the cure.
Now, everything is different. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Haloway has always looked forward to the day when she ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.
But then, with only ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable...

Review
The minute I got this, I had to start reading it. There’s been so much buzz surrounding Delirium, and I loved The Declaration and Matched, which are two similar books. To my surprise, I realised that I haven’t read Before I Fall, Lauren Oliver’s debut, yet, so I began Delirium without knowing what really lay ahead.

In my opinion, a dystopian novel is only ever as good as its futuristic society and the form of oppression it chooses to enforce. In Delirium’s Portland of the future, love is a disease individuals are cured of when they turn 18. This notion is brought to reality through it’s “scientific name”, amor deliria nervosa. (Clever! I love these extra touches.) The “cured” walk about with a film over their eyes, heartless and cold, void of emotions, because with their capability to love stripped away, they’re nothing more than robots programmed to do everything the society bids of them. Oliver has painted a stark future that gives food for thought.

Lauren Oliver is obviously well-read and clever, because each chapter shows a quote from a poem, play, or piece of classical literature that pertains to that chapter. Lauren Oliver has also written some of her own poetry, book excerpts and children’s play songs from the futuristic world of Delirium that are very clever and contain hidden messages. The writing in this book, oh my god. It’s so beautiful and descriptive, almost poetic. Lauren Oliver uses the sounds and assonance of words together perfectly, and her language is beautiful.

Here’s a non-spoiler excerpt:
“I close my eyes and listen. The feeling I had before of being surrounded by warmth swells and crests inside of me like a wave. Poetry isn’t like any writing I’ve heard before. I don’t understand all of it, just bits of images, sentences that appear half-finished, all fluttering together like brightly coloured ribbons in the wind.”

Beautiful, right? The bolded lines are so evocative – what a way to describe poetry through Lena’s eyes.

Lena is a great protagonist in this book and to me, she is an unlikely one, which is great. I could have imagined the entire story being told with Lena’s best friend, Hana, as the protagonist: beautiful, daring, wild, rich but not understood. But I think that with a shy, quiet and obedient character, readers will really understand and marvel at the power of love to change a person. Alex, the mysterious boy that Lena meets is exactly what I expected, but I was still amazed and warmed by his goodness.

Lauren Oliver has admirably captured the powerful emotion of love in stunningly beautiful words. Her gorgeous second novel, Delirium, is a captivating dystopian with a heart-wrenching love story that I recommend to lovers of all genres.

Rating:

Links:
Delirium at Hachette AU | Lauren Oliver's Website | Lauren Oliver's Blog | Delirium at Goodreads

Review: Zelah Green by Vanessa Curtis

2011-01-29T03:00:00.002+11:00

Zelah Green by Vanessa Curtis

Series: Zelah Green series
Genre: Contemporary
Age Group:Young Adult
Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont
Release Date: 4th Jan 2011
Format: Paperback
ISBN-13: 9781405255059
RRP: $16.95 AUD
Source: Thank you to the publisher, who provided this book for an honest review,all opinions expressed are my own.
Cover love? Stark and streamlined, but meaningful. The pink labels it as YA. (NB. See what I did? I made some text in this review the exact same colour!)

Synopsis

My Name is Zelah Green and I'm a cleanaholic. Ispend most of my life running away from germs, dirt, and people. And I'm justabout doing ok and then my stepmother packs me off to some kind of hospital tolive with a load of strangers. It's stuck in the middle of nowhere. Great.There's Alice who's anorexic. Caro who cuts herself. Silent Sol who has thecutest smile. And then there's me.

Review

Throughout Zelah Green,Vanessa Curtis thoughtfully paints a story focusing on the effects ofObsessive-Compulsive Disorder in teenagers. My only knowledge of OCD stems fromreading Xenocide and Speaker for the Dead (#3 and #4 in theEnder Saga) by Orson Scott Card, andwas not surprised to find that the symptoms were similar, and that OCD is aserious ailment that severely affects the victim’s lifestyle. Zelah Greendescribes herself as a “cleanaholic” who is always on “dirt alert” and “germalert”; she performs daily cleaning rituals that often cause her hands to becomered and raw.

I admire the research and accuracy with which Vanessa Curtistells this story. The way Zelah avoids the scientific term for her problem, thebackstory that explains how Zelah developed her condition, and the warmdepiction of Zelah’s emotions and reactions.The gradual unveiling of Zelah’s life to the reader alsomakes it a journey of sorts, as we begin to understand what Zelah’s familysituation is like.

Vanessa Curtis must also be commended for her excellentcreation of characters. Each character is unique, and I can list the dozen orso of them off by heart, even weeks after reading it.

I’m not giving this novel five stars because it’s not asimpacting as it could have been. It’s more lighthearted than serious, and I preferserious, adventurous reads that bring out emotion, because that’s when I know astory has really connected with me. The story is not extraordinary, but it’snot evocative either, hence my rating.

I loved watching the growth in Zelah throughout this shortread, as she changes from an unwilling patient at the rehabilitation centre, toa girl ready to charge of her own life and make a change for the better. It’snot a depressing, self-help novel, rather a light, funny and warm novel about agirl courageously facing up to her condition, and learning to do the rightthing. It’s a perfect read for all teenagers.

Rating:

Links:
Zelah Green at Hardie Grant | Vanessa Cutis' Website | Goodreads

Author Interview with Beth Revis

2011-01-28T12:00:00.008+11:00

Tina: Hi Beth! Thank you for taking the time to answer questions forBookCouture.com. I loved Across the Universe and am flipping out thatyou’re here. I worship your genius, and have tried to think up of somequestions that you may not have answered yet. So I’ve only got five questionshere:

Beth: Aw! THANK YOU!

Tina: The pleasure is all mine. Firstly, your vision of theevolution of the human population aboard Godspeed is very intriguing –the idea of an ethnically ambiguous race of people. (And their developments inphysique, language, formation of slang…etc). How did you manage to come up withthat? Was it through noticing patterns in human development across thecenturies, or just through reasoning and perception?

Beth: The language was something that I consciously worked on—Iam fascinated with linguistics, but never took it much past a couple of collegeclasses. I figured that slang and curse words are the first things to change inlanguage, so that’s what I changed. Some people think I was afraid to use“regular” curse words in the story, but actually, I was trying to show thatlanguage shift with the new words.

The rest of it developed organically. I was trying to showhow different things would become, giving enough time in an enclosed area. Somethings are little—for example, I make a point to show that Amy’s the shortestperson on the ship, in part because people do tend to evolve taller as timeprogresses.

Tina: I thought that was what made the book a lot more believable. Anotherinteresting concept that I presume would have become available through improvedscience & technology is the ability to modify the genes that code forintelligence in the characters of your novel. I gathered from reading Acrossthe Universe that there are several different types of intelligence andthat each generation is required to produce geniuses in order to survive. Ofcourse, we don’t have this sort of technology, so what factors do you thinkdetermine intelligence (genetics, the environment), and why has intelligence onthe ship become so rare (through inbreeding?) that injections must be given to“create” geniuses?

Beth: One of the key things I was trying to present in mynovel is the concept of “nature vs. nurture.” I hope readers question this: isElder a good leader because he was made that way through genetics, or becauseof he way in which he was raised? Personally, I think it’s a combination of thetwo—that we are, to a certain extent, the way we are because of the way we’reborn, but whether or not we use what we’re born with, and in what way we useit, is determined in part by how we are raised.

Also, I don’t think intelligence IS rare on the ship—I thinkEldest is so obsessed with creating a perfect society with the perfect numberof people who do the perfect things that he’s afraid to let his world groworganically and instead forces things, such as certain intelligences, onpeople.

Tina: Oh, thanks for clearing that up for me!In my review of Across the Universe, Icouldn’t help but compare Across the Universe to the Ender Sagaby Orson Scott Card, as both are very similar in many aspects, but tell verydifferent stories. I understand that you have read his books, and was wonderingif you could comment on the similarities and differences between your novels?How much influence did Ender’s Game have upon your writing, and whatother books influenced you?

Beth: The biggest influence I got from the Ender saga wasthe idea that it was okay to write sci fi in a certain way. I think a lot ofadult sci fi books focus more on the setting and the science than on the plotand the characters, and I worried that it was a trope of the genre thatcouldn’t be broken. Ender’s Game and the sequels proved to me that the style ofcharacter-driven plots was possible in sci fi, and that there definitely was amarket for YA sci fi, even if there’s not that much out there right now.

Tina: I’m also curious as to your decision to make Across theUniverse a young adult book, rather than an adult book, and also, the reasonsbehind including a romance story in a science fiction, where romance isuncommon in this genre? Did you want to have two characters from differenttimes provide a contrast in the novel, did you believe that romance was vitalto the story, or perhaps because it would appeal to the target audience?

Beth: I have always written YA novels instead of adult ones,and personally, I prefer to read YA novels instead of adult ones. I believethat the difference between the two isn’t so much a matter of age suggestionsas it is one of style. YA lit tends to be more focused on faster-paced plotsand interesting characters (in my opinion).

As for romance: it’s something that came about naturally inthe story. I think Elder’s desperately lonely, and when he meets Amy, hebecomes obsessively attached to her rather quickly. Amy, on the other hand,isn’t look for love or romance, and she responds to Elder much more warily.

Tina: Finally, is there any recent news concerning the next book inthe trilogy or perhaps (*crosses fingers*) a film adaptation? Seeing as thepeople on Godspeed are multiethnic, what actors do you have in mind for a movieversion of Across the Universe?

Beth: I wish! I seriously have all my fingers and toes crossedon that one, and I hope that it happens!! As for actors—I honestly don’t knowwho would play most of the ship’s crew because it would require actors who aremulti-ethnic, but I’ve always pictured Molly Quinn in the role of Amy.

Molly Quinn as Amy?

Tina: OMG, yes! She would be perfect for Amy.
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, Beth! Youranswers are just as insightful and intelligent as your amazing book. I can’twait until book two comes out in 2012!

Check out Beth’s website at: http://bethrevis.com

Beth’s Blog: http://bethrevis.blogspot.com/

The Official (and super awesome) Website for Across the Universe: http://acrosstheuniversebook.com

Check out an interview with Beth Revis on BTL.

Review: Pictures of Lily by Paige Toon

2011-01-25T18:11:00.000+11:00

Pictures of Lily by Paige Toon

Series: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary
Age Group:Young Adult --> Adult
Publisher: Simon & Schuster AUS
Release Date: 4th January 2011 (AUS)
Format: Paperback, 432 pages
ISBN-13: 9781847393913
RRP: $22.99 AUD
Source: Thank you to the publisher, who provided this book for an honest review.
Cover love? It's very cute and dazzly, but screams chick-lit rom-com. The book is more mature than the cover suggests.

Synopsis

'Will you marry me?'
I think of you, then. I think of you every day. But usually in the quietest part of the morning, or the darkest part of the night. Not when my boyfriend of two years has just proposed. I look up at Richard with his hopeful eyes.
'Lily?' he prompts. It's been ten years, but it feels like only yesterday that you left. How can I say yes to Richard with all my heart when most of it has always belonged to you? I take a deep breath and will myself to speak...

Ten years ago when Lily was just sixteen, she fell in love with someone she really shouldn't have fallen in love with. Now, living in Sydney and engaged to another man, she can't forget the one that got away. Then her past comes back to haunt her, and she has to make a decision that will break her heart - and the heart of at least one of the men who love her.

Review

The book begins with a prologue, which you’ve just read above, and then cuts to a twelve-chapter long flashback of Lily’s life at 16, when her mother moves her from the UK to South Australia for her mother’s newest man. And in Australia, Lily falls in love with “someone she really shouldn't have fallen in love with”. When we cut back to the modern day, Lily is being asked the big question. But can she find it in her heart to forget her one true love?

I quickly got absorbed into Lily’s world, and through Paige Toon’s writing, I felt Lily the changes that Lily went through as she began to fall in love. My heart broke when things didn’t work out between them, and their bittersweet tale is one to remember. Despite the guy being wrong for her, what they had between them was real, and I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the novel.

There were only a few main characters in this novel, because at it's heart, it is about Lily's decision. That being said, I loved the way Paige Toon used dialogue to bring the peripheral characters to life, because her descriptions were very realistic. I thought that the setting of the book, which is in Australia, is very well done and highly believable, considering that her previous books were mainly set in America. Lily is also authentically English.

In ten years, Lily weaves herself a very tangled web. Richard is successful, sweet, and a loving boyfriend…but Lily can’t forget the man she loved first. This is a bittersweet tale about a girl who gave up on her dreams and her instincts about love, begging the question: is it ever too late? Emotional, heartbreaking and utterly honest, Pictures of Lily is a clean but mature novel for those looking for a good romantic contemporary read.

Rating:

Links:
Pictures of Lily at Simon & Schuster | Paige Toon's Website | Goodreads

YA Aussie Challenge 2011

2011-01-24T16:27:00.000+11:00

Finally, I've taken the time to join this awesome challenge hosted by Nic @ Irrisistable Reads. There's also an awesome list of Aussie titles on Goodreads.

The Challenge:
Australian participants - Read at least 12 young adult books by Australian authors from 1^st January, 2011 to 31^st December, 2011.

The Aussie books I want to read: (in no particular order)

Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta
Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden
Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
Good Oil by Laura Buzo - Owned
Does my head look big in this? by Randa Abdel-Fattah
Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar
Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood
Everything Beautiful by Simmone Howell
Little Paradise by Gabrielle Wang
Girl Saves Boy by Steph Bowe
Loving Richard Feynman by Penny Tangey

At first, I was thinking, awesome, twelve Aussie books will be easy! But I can see how this will be a challenge now, considering the fact that I only own one of them. There's the public library and school library, of course, but it's going to be hard to get my hands on most of them.Any Aussies out there willing to do a trade with me?

Review: Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

2011-01-23T19:00:00.000+11:00

Pretty Little Liars #1 by Sara Shepard

Series: Pretty Little Liars series
Genre: Contemporary
Age Group:Young Adult
Publisher: Hachette AU
Release Date: January 2011
Format: Paperback, 272 pages
ISBN-13: 9781907410871
RRP: $18.99 AUD
Source: Thank you to the publisher, who provided this book for an honest review, all opinions expressed are my own.

Cover love? This has the TV show cast on it, which is awesome, but the mud-makeup is a little extreme, I think.

Synopsis

Aria, Emily, Spencer, Hanna and Alison have been best friends since the third grade. They go everywhere together, thinking no-one can come between them. If anyone is the ringleader of the group it is Alison, and the other girls cannot help but confide all their secrets to her.

One night, during a sleepover, Alison goes missing. Her body is never found. The girls mourn her death but move apart after time, assuming their secrets have disappeared with Alison too.

Three years later and Aria is having an affair with her teacher; Emily is questioning her sexuality; Hanna is a thief; and Spencer is flirting with her sister's fiance. They all think their secrets are safe, until they starting receiving messages from the mysterious A - who knows exactly what they are all up to, and is threatening to spill the beans . . .

Review

The minute I found and opened this in the mail, I beganreading it and didn’t stop until I had finished it. There’s just something soenticing and juicy about this book that makes one hungry for more. In fact, Pretty Little Liars has been adaptedinto a highly popular TV show in 2010, and is still in it’s first season as ofJanuary 2011. I’ve been obsessively following the TV show on Go! On Mondays,8:30pm in Australia ever since. Awesomeshow.

The novel begins with Ali’s disappearance and within acouple of pages, Sara Shepard’s cleverly shows us the group’s dynamics, setting apart each character (despitethere being five main ones) and distinguishing them for their individualtraits. I love that throughout Pretty Little Liars, readers can easily get asense of who is who. They are each complex, and have their own dirty littlesecrets.

This book wasn’t long either, but a lot happened, and it isonly to Sara Shepard’s credit that events weren’t confusing, although themurder mystery is. Although the girls’ actions certainly are not showing theirbest sides and, like all good television, is not role-model behaviour – that’swhat makes it such a fun read. “A” is a deadly opponent, not to mention acreepy stalker with an agenda for these girls.

Pretty Little Liarsis Gossip Girl with a better plot adangerous villain and a murder mystery. Perfect for anyone looking for a saucy,suspenseful read. There’s twists and turns in every scene, and I cannot wait tosee the angle Sara Shepard takes with Flawless, book 2 in the series.

Rating:

Links:
Pretty Little Liars Official Website | Pretty Little Liars at Hachette AUS | Goodreads

Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

2011-01-22T02:00:00.001+11:00

Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Series: Trilogy
Genre: Science Fiction
Age Group:Young Adult
Publisher: Penguin AU
Release Date: Jan 2011
Format: Paperback, 408 pages
ISBN-13: 9780141333663
RRP: $19.95 AUD
Source: Thank you to the publisher, who provided this book for an honest review,all opinions expressed are my own.
Cover love? Love this cover! It takes mybreath away, especially with the significance of the positions of thesilhouettes (now that I’ve read the book), and the metaphor that Elder and Amyare separated by a galaxy. It’s gorgeousand captivating…reflective of the book. Although the AUS cover lacks the pretty galaxy background the US cover has.

Synopsis

Amy has left the life she loves for a world 300 years away
Trapped in space and frozen in time, Amy is bound for a new planet. But fifty years before she's due to arrive, she is violently woken, the victim of an attempted murder. Now Amy's lost on board and nothing makes sense - she's never felt so alone.
Yet someone is waiting for her. He wants to protect her; and more if she'll let him
But who can she trust amidst the secrets and lies?
A killer is out there – and Amy has nowhere to hide . . .

Review

As an avid reader and huge fan of sci-fi, Ifelt mixed emotions about picking up Acrossthe Universe. I hadn’t read a proper science fiction in ages, and I fearedthat I would be disappointed by comparisons to Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card,my favourite book of all time. Thetwo books were very different though, and I found myself amazed that such adifferent yet similar story could be told.

What I admire about futuristic novels ishow the author presents their own vision of the future, interpreted from ourmodern world. Beth Revis’ future race aboard the starship Godspeed are ethnically ambiguous (due to inbreeding), taller, andhave a darker skin tone, which stands to reason. Their speech has also evolved,with an accent that is hard for Amy to distinguish. I like that Beth Revis hasillustrated these tiny but consequential changes in the human population of Godspeed, because it imbues the bookwith a sense of authenticity.

She also explores the concepts of adictatorial rule in an enclosed environment: censorship, deception, a strongruler, freedom, and rebellion. It’s anintelligent and mature topic for the Young Adult fiction genre, but is veryappropriate in a time when young adults like myself are becoming increasinglyaware of the politics of our time. Beth Revis presents her ideas in anintelligent way, and despite having read the Ender Saga (which features star ships abundantly and thereforeraises similar ideas), I can’t help but imagine that this is most likelyoutcome from a less advance society’s attempt to colonise a planet in anotherstar system. Beth Revis also raises many moral and ethical issues in the book,which I am hesitant to spoil, but was completely blown away by. Across the Universe is very, veryclever.

Characters. For me, I couldn’t help butcompare Elder to Ender (c’mon, just one letter different). I read somewherethat Beth Revis has read Ender’s Game, so I think my comparisonsare legit. Elder is similar to Ender in many ways – they are both young boyschosen for a particular, pivotal role that they are unaware of, and forced intoleadership positions. They are both intelligent (although Ender is superior inthat sense) and have natural abilities that render them the prime candidates,yet they are continually deceived by adults. However, Elder is portrayed as anadolescent, whilst Ender was a child, and as such, Elder is much more heavilyinfluenced by his attraction to Amy and has this character flaw (which isn’treally a flaw). The point that I’m driving at is that my reading of Across the Universe was influencedheavily by Ender’s Game, andtherefore I thought Elder was a similar but inferior character to Ender,because Elder lacked Ender’s intuition, intelligence, character development andthe scope of his perceptions. These elements directly influence the narrationand therefore, the story that I experience. Yes, I’m long winded and biased,all of a sudden. It must be the holidays. Als

Amy and Elder’s romance wasn’t really ascaptivating as the romances in other young adult fiction, but it was the primeaspect that categorised Across the Universe as a YA novel, because really, whatis a YA novel without a little bit of love? What I really feel is that thenovel didn’t need the romance, andcould have been great without it. Butmaybe that’s just my Ender’s-Game-fangirl side speaking. What’s your opinion –does a YA novel have to have romance?

What I love about Across the Universe was the plot! Reminiscent of science fictionfilms such as Moon and other horror murder mysteries, the storyline was very creepyand gives you goosebumps and chills down your spine when you find out who themurderer is. I thought it could have been scarier though…the big reveal couldhave been accompanied by a “Muahahahaha” by the perpetrator and a creepy, “Twentylong years I have waited to get revenge”, with really epic music in thebackground? But then again, this isYA, so the big reveal was downplayed and less dramatic than it could have been,and therefore less shocking. I was suspecting something along the lines of thetruth though.

This review may have sounded a littleharsh, but really, I was comparing it with Ender’s Game the whole time (whichis in its own league entirely). I actually LOVED Across the Universe. Beth Revis employs an alternating first personperspective to bring to life a story that transcends time, space, and most YA:a starship romance plagued by the chilling threat of a murderer among thepassengers, this is a book that no one should pass up.

Thanks for reading this long winded reviewif you have – and if you haven’t, I don’t blame you, but I’d like to hear allyour thoughts on this question:

Is romance a defining factor of YA? Ifso, why, and if not, why is it so prevalent?

Rating:

Links:
Across the Universe Official Website | Across the Universe at Penguin AUS |

Review: Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

2011-01-20T10:00:00.002+11:00

Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

Series: Personal Demons series
Genre: Paranormal > Heaven Vs Hell
Age Group:Young Adult
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Release Date: October 2010
Format: Paperback, 384 pages
ISBN-13:9780330404013
RRP: $18.99 AUD
Source: Thank you to the publisher, who provided this book for an honest review,all opinions expressed are my own.

Cover love? I’mnot a huge fan of the cover because it looks too adult for me and overtlycategorises the book as a paranormal romance, but I like that it gives us animage of the three main characters, and that the cover designers have stayedtrue to the author’s description.

Synopsis

Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She has spent years keeping everyone at a distance - even her closest friends - and it seems like her senior year is going to be more of the same... Until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can't seem to stay away from him.

What she doesn't know is that Luc is on a mission. He's been sent from Hell itself to claim Frannie's soul. It should be easy - all he has to do is get her to sin, and Luc is as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn't stand a chance. But he has to work fast, because if the infernals are after her, the celestials can't be far behind. And sure enough, it's not long before the angel Gabriel shows up, willing to do anything to keep Luc from getting what he came for.

But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay... for all of them.

Review

Mary Francis “Frannie” Cavanaugh is an ordinary girl with a secretthat haunts her every day. When the dangerous, mysterious, gorgeous Luc, (short for “Lucifer” and pronounced “Luke”) comes to Haden High, Frannie findsherself an unexpected object of attention. But unbeknownst to her, Luc is ademon sent to tag Frannie’s soul for Hell. Soon enough, Heaven sends its ownmessenger, Gabriel, an angel – literally. Both boys fight for Frannie’s soul,because of a special talent she owns, but their relationship soon develops intoa complex love triangle.

At first, I admit that I wasn’t too impressed by this book.The synopsis set off the this-is-clichéd warning bells for me, and as I firstread through the writing, I raised an eyebrow at the excessive use of“whatevers”, “ ‘Cause”, swearing and sexual observations. But as I read on, Igrew closer to the characters and was stunned by the thematic matter in thisbook. And the writing visibly improved.

Frannie attracts both hotties with her good looks, snarkyremarks and…I don’t know, out of necessity because they’ve both been sent toacquire her soul? I couldn’t find anything(aside from her supposed good looks and superpower) that made Frannie anadmirable person…she’s more like the slightly upgraded version two of Bellafrom Twilight.

Luc, I loved. He shared the narrative, and I could really feelhis subtle changes throughout the novel as he discovers a less demonic side tohimself. The smells Luc used to describe mortal feelings was veryinteresting, a clever device to portray feelings, but left poor Frannie like anopen book. There were a lot of spicy odours coming outta that girl. Gabe didn’t have such a big role (maybe in book 2?), but I liked thathe was still willing to help his enemies.

But…Frannie’s best friend Taylor was two-faced and lacked depthof character, really getting on mynerves. Another thing that agonises me is the way that Frannie is hot for thetwo studs within a week of meeting them both, and ends up flitting betweenthe two so easily. They’re both over 5000 years old as well. Scandal.

But, Lisa Desrochersbrings a lot of unexpected maturity to this book. Sure, there’s some risqué,dubious scenes here and there, but she puts a lot of religious questions into perspective,especially redemption. Can a person be forgiven, no matter what they did, andachieve redemption?

I can’t wait to find that out in the second book, Original Sin, because despite mycriticisms, I really enjoyed it. This book grows on you. Lisa Desrochers adds agripping novel to the Heaven vs Hell paranormal subgenre that will get youcaught up in the whirlwind of romance, action, and raw teenage emotions.

Rating:

Links:

Personal Demons at Pan Macmillan | Lisa Desrochers' Blog | Goodreads

Pretty excited... here's the cover for Original Sin (click to enlarge), which is book two and comes out July 5, 2011!

My Blogging Questions. Help?

2011-01-18T13:01:00.000+11:00

Reading Vs Studying?

I've been blogging for about half a year now (wow!), and there's been a lot of things that I have simultaneously learnt and noticed, but am confused about. So I'd like to appeal to all of you for some advice and opinions, because many of you are a lot more experienced than I am.

I 've been getting a lot of emails from online companies asking me to advertise their non-book-related products, offering to send me non-book items to review, or offering to give my readers a discount. I started this blog to talk about books, to review books because I genuinely love reading. I didn't start it to make any money from it, and it takes up way too much of my time for any money to be a compensation anyway.
But I've been wanting to create a web domain for a while now, and I also want to host contests and giveaways...but my parents are strict about me spending my money. Buying books is already a huge concession, and it's not like I work yet, so I can't buy my own things. So I'd pretty much be using their money for my blog, and I feel guilty about that. I'd love to be able to get some money from my blog for my blog, but I don't want to be seen as cheap or sold out. But then again, I don't really mind ads, as long as they're not too intrusive.
What are your opinions on putting ads on blogs?

I'm going back to school in about two weeks, and this means that I have to cut down on my time blogging. Again, my parents are strict about this, and they are adamant about the fact that I prioritise schoolwork over reviewing books, and I agree. But I really do love blogging, and I'm kinda behind on reviewing the books that I've read, mainly because my reviews take me hours to write. I like to write longer reviews because I have a lot of things to say about books, but the problem with that is it means I don't have enough time to review all the books that I read.
So my questions are:
How many books do you review per week?
How long are your reviews?
Do you mind reading short reviews?
Should I write shorter reviews for more books, or longer review for less books?
Quality posts.
I'm hesistant about this topic, but I find that most posts that I enjoy reading from other bloggers are reviews, and rant posts, or posts focusing on issues associated with blogging, like LitLife's recent online vs bookstore series and people's top ten lists. I'd like to post more quality posts other than reviews and memes. So this is kind of a survey question:
What non-review posts do you enjoy reading? (tutorials, lists, debates...etc)

That's all that I can think of for now. I'd really love any opinions anyone might have, because your opinions are very important to me.

Many thanks,
A Very Confused Tina

Manga Review: Stepping on Roses (1&2) by Rinko Ueda

2011-01-18T11:28:00.000+11:00

Stepping on Roses Vol. 01 & 02 by Rinko Ueda

Series: Stepping on Roses Volumes 1 & 2 [Manga]
Genre: Historical Romance
Age Group:Young Adult +
Publisher: Madman
Release Date: 10/05/2010
Format: Manga, 200 pages
ISBN-13: 9781421531823
RRP: $14.95 AUD

Cover love? I swoon at this cover, because the art is absolutely GORGEOUS. So delicate and beautiful.

Synopsis

From Rags to Riches
Poor Sumi Kitamura. Her irresponsible older brother Eisuke keeps bringing home orphans for her to take care of even though they can barely afford their own basic needs! Just when Sumi's financial problems become dire, wealthy Soichiro Ashida enters her life with a bizarre proposition: he'll provide her with the money she so desperately needs if she agrees to marry him. But can Sumi fool high society into thinking she's a proper lady? Moreover, is it worth giving up everything for this sham of a marriage?

Review

This is my first manga review on the blog, and I hope itwill be the first of many to come. I’ve loved manga ever since I was introducedto it five years ago. Sometimes silly, and sometimes serious, but alwaysenjoyable, manga is a form of Japanese art that is appreciated by comic loversall over the world.

Manga is usually found in black-and-white volumes, withbeautiful art that depicts captivating stories read right to left. I’ll share asecret: I love the fresh smell of new manga volumes, and the feel of the jacketart, the special paper. It brings back fond memories of my early manga-readingdays, which have unfortunately become sparser as I’ve grown older.

Stepping on Rosesis a historical manga, with the traditional characteristics of an Asian drama: Sumiis a beautiful but poor 15 year old girl who takes care of young orphans thather wayward brother brings home. In a moment of desperation, drawn throughpoverty and her brother’s affinity for gambling, she consents to sellingherself to a rich young man, Soichiro. But Soichiro has different plans forher. He forces her to marry him in order to come into the inheritance of hisdying grandfather’s wealth. Sumi is forbidden to love her husband, but shebegins to fall for her husband’s friend, Nozomu, who is the handsome young manwho helped her once before. Meanwhile, Soichiro is secretly trying to set Sumiup with Nozomu to tarnish Nozomu’s name, but finds himself starting to fall forher. Sumi soon finds herself in a whirlwind love triangle….

Rinko Ueda’s artwork is beautiful. Stunning. Gorgeous.S-e-x-y, in some parts (as with most manga). I admire the way Rinko Ueda bringsher 2D characters to life, with elegant costumes that evoke the Meiji Erasetting. Sumi, of course, is innocently perfect in every way, the typicalJapanese heroine, and the two boys are drawn very very well. Soichiro is tall,dark and handsome, with good looks that contrast Nozomu’s blond pretty boyfeatures. Here’s a look at the two awesome volumes I read:

Sumi and Soichiro (husband)

Sumi & Nozomu (NOT husband)

The colouring has changed for Sumi's hair and eyes, and I don't like that she looks like Nozomu's sister, but how pretty are the cast? Anyway...

The storyline is a little cliché, with a plotline typical ofmany Asian dramas I’ve watched in the past. If you’ve watched anyTaiwanese/Korean/Japanese/Chinese drama, you’ll know what I mean. Poor, sweetgirl marries rich, cold guy for his inheritance, a third guy is thrown into thepicture, and both being to fight for the girl. Although a little predictable, Ifound myself chuckling my way through the manga volumes, because some of theheroine-hero interactions are so awkward (for the characters) and some of thelines were lost in translation. A lot of blushing, awkward accidental touchesand meaningful eye lockage is scattered throughout the two volumes that I read,along with the roses, sparkles and hair ribbons.

Albeit very stereotypical (in the way that makes you goface-palm, head-desk, OMG-must-keep-on-reading), Stepping on Roses isaddictive. If you’re looking for a shojo,period romance, manga filled with gorgeous leads, Stepping on Roses is perfect, and highly recommended! Swoon...I really really need the next two volumes!

Rating:

Links:
Stepping on Roses Vol. 01 at Madman

Review: Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

2011-01-14T12:59:00.000+11:00

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

Series: Vampire Academy #6
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Age Group:Young Adult
Publisher: Penguin AU -Razorbill
Release Date: December 7, 2010
Format: Paperback, 608 pages
ISBN-13: 9781921518904
RRP: $19.95 AUD

Synopsis

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO NOW.
Murder. Love. Jealousy. And the ultimate sacrifice.
Rose Hathaway has always played by her own rules. She broke the law when she ran away from St. Vladimir's Academy with her best friend and last surviving Dragomir princess, Lissa. She broke the law when she fell in love with her gorgeous, off-limits instructor, Dimitri. And she dared to defy Queen Tatiana, leader of the Moroi world, risking her life and reputation to protect generations of dhampir guardian to come.

Now the law has finally caught up with Rose – for a crime she didn't even commit. She's in prison for the highest offense imaginable: the assassination of a monarch. She'll need help from both Dimitri and Adrian to find the one living person who can stall her execution and force the Moroi elite to acknowledge a shocking new candidate for the royal throne: Vasilisa Dragomir.

But the clock on Rose's life is running out. Rose knows in her heart the world of the dead wants her back . . . and this she is truly out of second chances. The big question is, when your whole life is about saving others, who will save you?

Join Rose, Dimitri, Adrian, and Lissa in Last Sacrifice, the epic, unforgettable finale to Richelle Mead's international # 1 bestselling Vampire Academy series
Love and Loyalty Run Deeper Than Blood

Review

I realise that this review is very very late, but a late review is better than no review, right? (Edit: I also realise that this is very, very long.) But Last Sacrifice is definitely deserving of a review. Thank you heaps to Romy from Lost in Stories for giving me her extra copy of Last Sacrifice! She’s lovely, please go visit her and follow/comment, if you haven’t already.

Last Sacrifice chronicles Rose’s journey from a suspect forregicide to the final showdown, where Queen Tatiana’s murderer is finallyrevealed. And like all good murder mysteries, Richelle Mead keeps us guessinguntil the big reveal, with suspect after suspect cast aside in our vampires’quest for the truth. Woven into the suspense is a beautiful love story, withboth guardian Dimitri and royal Adrian vying for Rose’s affections. It isobvious (and has been from very early on in the series) who Rose ultimatelychooses, and while I’m thrilled at the choice, I thought Last Sacrifice wasdisappointingly void of any heartwrenchingly romantic moments. And no, I don’tmean love scenes, but sweet momentsthat give you that warm fuzzy feeling, as like the other books.

What Last Sacrifice lacks in romantic buildup, though, ismade up for in the character development. Richelle Mead’s characters come tolife in the series, and I always feel a genuine connection with them. I admireRose’s courage and perseverance (not to mention her awesome guardian skills), Iam amazed by Lissa’s leadership qualities, I’m astounded by Christian’sdevotion to Lissa and his determination to defy the status quo, I am warmed byAdrian’s loyalty, and I absolutely adore everything about Dimitri. Even hismartyred chastity. You know that Richelle Mead’s is brilliant at writingcharacters when her readers are able to identify the speaker of teaser quotes, because they know the characters so well that they can tell thatsuch and such is exactly what he or she would say. For example, this quote, “Iwould do anything for you. The stupider the better.” is so Adrian.

One clever device that Richelle Mead has used in the entireseries is the bond between Rose and Lissa. It allows for an interesting mix ofnarration, because the perspective alternates between Rose’s present tensefirst person narration of her trials, and a present tense third personnarration by Rose, of Lissa’s predicaments. We get a full scope of events,along with Rose’s immediate reaction, and allows for an interesting storylineto unfold.

There is no question that Vampire Academy is one of myall-time favourite series. But why is this so, and similarly, what does it takefor a series to become one of my favourites? Well, aside from the sizzling lovetriangle between Rose, Dimitri and Adrian, with some scenes that made me swoon,there was the whole vampire world that Richelle Mead created. The vampiricaspect wasn’t what made me fall in love with this series, but the flawlessimmersion of this fabled and fictious world into modern day was a part of it. Ialso adored Richelle Mead’s unique twists, including her spotlight on theguardians that protect the vampires, the group in which our awesome Rosebelongs. Rose’s personality is on the level of unique that I love. She’sstrong, fierce, determined, loyal, a kick-ass heroine and impulsive too, butloved by those closest to her, and admired by readers worldwide.

Everyone knows already that Richelle Mead is a brilliantwriter as well. She conveys so much with her words, bringing her characters tolife, and a fantastical plotline into being for a fandom of hundreds ofthousands. Every twist in the story stuns me, and I love love love that I canslip into her world so seamlessly and be enthralled by it all. Maybe somedayI’ll have the words to competently express her awesomeness as well.

Finally, what are my thoughts on the ending that I’ve spentmonths anticipating? Well, I wasn’t certain, but I was sure that Richelle Meadwould pull out a gobsmacker. I was disappointed that I wasn’t completely takenaback by the killer, and there wasn’t a horrified “wow” like the first book,but I hadn’t suspected the killer either. I was thrilled at Lissa’s news,although I thought she reached that stage too easily, and Lissa’s sibling waspretty obvious through hints in the previous books.

There were some threads hanging at the end of the LastSacrifice, but this makes me yearn for the first in the spin-off series,Bloodlines, all the more. Richelle Mead says:

"Bloodlines is the spin-off series to Vampire Academy (it's the name of the first book and of the series). It's set in the VA world but will be about different characters: Sydney (our narrator), Jill, Eddie, and one of the love interests from VA. I'm not saying who that last guy is, but it's mostly to protect those who haven't read Last Sacrifice. If you have read it, then it should be pretty obvious who the other character is." - Richelle's Blog

Bloodlines is set to come out "at the end of August [2011]" - Richelle Mead

Interview with Preger Entertainment (about film adaptation): Shadowkissed.com

Follow Friday

2011-01-14T12:00:00.002+11:00

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee, where bloggers spread the love by following each other. Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-For-Books, where book bloggers can "connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!"

Question: What makes up your non-human family?

Haha, I don't actually have any dogs/cats. I do have a lot of goldfish though, and they swim around and look pretty in our fishtanks.

Question: Why do you read the genre that you do? What draws you to it?

I read Young Adult novels because, well, I am a young adult. I'm past the stage of reading Children's books and MG novels, but I'm not at the adult stage yet (too much violence and romance, in my opinion), but I am partial to Meg Cabot, and Orson Scott Card's Ender Saga.

In terms of YA genres, I like reading all sorts. I suppose that I'm drawn to the immersive experience of reading; that through words and imagination, I can be transported to many different worlds.

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Leave a comment below so I can check out your blog and follow, and please take the time to check out some of my recent posts.

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Teaser Tuesday: Pretty Little Liars

2011-01-11T14:00:00.004+11:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by the lovely MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
Be careful not to include spoilers
Share the title & author, too, so that other participants can add the book to their "to-be-read" lists if they like your teasers!

So my current read is Pretty Little Liars. [goodreads]

Synopsis:

Three years ago, Alison disappeared after a slumber party, not to be seen since. Her friends at the elite Pennsylvania school mourned her, but they also breathed secret sighs of relief. Each of them guarded a secret that only Alison had known. Now they have other dirty little secrets, secrets that could sink them in their gossip-hungry world.

When each of them begins receiving anonymous emails and text messages, panic, sets in. Are they being betrayed by some one in their circle? Worse yet: Is Alison back?

Teaser:

●▬▬▬▬▬▬๑۩ ۩๑▬▬▬▬▬▬●

" Standing in front of the classroom was Ezra from the bar...her Ezra...at the blackboard and writing Mr Fitz, AP English.
He stared at her, his face draining of colour. 'Holy shit.' "
- pg 55, Pretty Little Liars 1 by Sara Shepard

●▬▬▬▬▬▬๑۩ ۩๑▬▬▬▬▬▬●

It was hard to find the juciest two-lined quote, because there were so many! I had to join together some quotes, but as you can gather, this 'pretty little liar' just realised that her latest hook-up is her AP English teacher!

So, leave the link to your teaser below, or post a comment with two non-spoilery sentences from a book you're reading, and I'll be sure to check it!

Review: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa + rant on characters

2011-01-09T20:00:00.000+11:00

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

Series: The Iron Fey Trilogy (1- The Iron King, 2- The Iron Daughter, 3- The Iron Queen)
Genre: Fantasy
Age Group:Young Adult
Publisher: Harlequin E
Release Date: March 2010
Format: Paperback
ISBN-13: 9780373210084
RRP: $19.99 AUD
Source: Many thanks to the awesome people at Harlequin E, who provided this book in exchange for an honest review.
Cover love? Gorgeous cover, I love the face and the ornate borders, along with the typography.

Synopsis

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

Review

Julie Kagawa has painted a beautiful world that comes to life with each turn of the page. I picked this book up because of the beautiful cover and the enchanting synopsis, and found myself pleasantly surprised about the story that entailed.

The book starts off like your typical YA novel: a female protagonist who is unpopular and fed up with her boring and troubled life. Then strange things start happening to her, and she discovers that her best friend is not who she thinks he is. This paves the way for the adventure that ensues: Meghan is the daughter of faerie King Oberon of the Summer Court, ruler of the Summer fey.

I loved all the aspects of the Fey world that Julile Kagawa meticulously researched and weaved into Meghan's story: the Fey, the aversion to iron, the Shakespearean characters (from A Midsummer Night's Dream), the Summer and Winter Courts, and how children's imagination fuels this alternate universe. She slowly builds up a portrait of this world, without overwhelming us with information all at once.

There was never a dull moment in this book, scarcely a single meaningless passage. Sometimes I found my eyes would skip on to a new passage (as I carelessly tend to do while reading), and I would inevitably be confused, because it felt as if every sentence is crucial to the entire story. If I even blinked, I would miss some action. Similarly, this book is very fast-paced, thoroughly an adventure novel that spans across two worlds and finds the heroes in situations reminiscent to fantasy stories such as J R R Tolkein's The Hobbit.

The characters are average, without any characteristics that separate them from the mass of YA characters within these genres. The loving, relatable, brave-when-needed heroine who falls in love? Check. The funny, loyal, male best friend with a crush? Check. The mysterious, gorgeous boy with kickass fighting skills? Check!

Sure, these are standard, formulaic characters that work, but have quickly become so commonplace within YA that they're inducing eyerolls from me. I realise now that a major part of most of my favourite novels come with unique characters are admirable, but ultimately have very human traits, such as the cohort from The Hunger Games, and Harry Potter. The character descriptions for the trio above (who just so happens to be involved in a love triangle- so totally didn't see that one coming) could be easily applied to Twilight, The Mortal Instruments and Vampire Academy. (Which are three standout series that immediately come to mind, although I cringe to associate the calibre of characters from the latter two with those from Twilight.) On the plus side, there was a witty, devious talking cat who helps Meghan out of a couple of tight spots.

Despite my little rant on characters, I like this series very much. The plot is adventurous, laced with an aroma of romance, and I adore the world that Julie Kagawa incorporates. It's a complex web of fairytales and legends, this Fey world, and I'm looking forward to being similarly entranced with the final installation in this series: The Iron Queen, coming out February 1st, 2011 (which is next month!)

Rating:

Review: Gone by Michael Grant

2011-01-04T17:33:00.000+11:00

Gone by Michael Grant

Series: 1st in the Gone Series: Gone (2008), Hunger (2009), Lies (2010), Plague (April 4 2011), Fear (TBR), Light (TBR)
Genre: Apocalyptic
Age Group:Young Adult
Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont
Release Date: April 6th 2008
Format: Paperback, 558 pages
ISBN-13: 9781405246347
RRP: $19.95 AUD
Source: Book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
Cover love? I love the continuity between the covers (see them at the bottom of the page), because they are simple, but eye catching. The spooky green also makes a great statement.

Synopsis

In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE. Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.
Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day.

It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else...

Review

In Michael Grant's own words, Gone will "creep you out...make you stay up all night reading, then roll into school tired the next day so that you totally blow the big test and end up dropping out of school." Well, not to the extent that you drop out of school, but Gone will definitely leave your heart pounding in the dark long after you read it, with your mind racing on to imagine how you would fare in Michael Grant's highly realistic world, where every day in the FAYZ is a highly tense game of survival.

Imagine that one day, everyone over the age of 15 suddenly disappears. Gone. What would the remaining kids do them? This premise of Gone utterly intrigued me. I've read Lord of the Flies for school, and was haunted by the concept of the degradation of civilisation to a primitive state, in the hands of children cut off from an adult world, and Michael Grant explores this with intelligence and skill in his saga.

The difference is that the children in the Lord of the Flies (LotF) must make do for themselves, suffering from the lack of food, clothing and shelter, while the children in Gone already are equipped with everything they need to stay alive for several months. While the death toll is greater in Gone than LotF, the percentage of deaths is higher in LotF, making a statement about the ease with which murder can be committed in the 20th century.

Michael Grant also explores the extent to which humans are prepared to harm others in favour of their own survival. Readers of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins will also be familiar with this theme - the survival of the fittest, and the truth that many people have the capability to kill when they need to. I think it's a very twisted but interesting topic to discuss. Would you kill someone else to save yourself (in self defence)? What if a loved one's life was at stake? I'd love to see your answers. I'm not sure whether or not I could do it - I've never so much as punched someone else with the intent to incapacitate them (I definitely have kicked annoying people playfully). Placed in a hypothetical situation though, I believe an innate sense of self-preservation would kick in and everyone would, to some extent, do what they have to to survive.

Back onto the book, Michael Grant has a captivating writing style that does more than carry his intriguing plot line. It paints a believable alternate universe, with characters that are admirable but generic. The main character, Sam, is your typical adventure hero: he's a normal kid, but when the time comes, he has the courage to be a hero. He also has a good heart, and is a natural leader, quipped with fantastical powers and good looks that he is unaware of. The other characters are cliched - the beautiful girlfriend, the best friend who is forever in Sam's shadows, and the evil antagonists that try to take over. Despite their typicality, the characters work well together, and are strongly built.

Gone is a haunting mix of survival themes from Lord of the Flies, imaginative science fiction phenomena at its best, and a thrilling sense of adventure from The Hunger Games. It's a book you'll definitely want to devour.

Rating:

Links:

Gone Official Website | Gone at Egmont | Read an excerpt | Michael Grant's Website | Goodreads

News:
Plague comes out on the 5th of April, 2011. Read an excerpt of Plague and check out the haunting cover below: It has a plague of locusts rather than a male figure in the text like the previous covers...perhaps to symbolise a change? Suspenseful...!

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Review: You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

2011-01-03T13:56:00.002+11:00

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard
Series: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary
Age Group:Young Adult
Publisher: Penguin AU
Release Date: October 2010
Format: Paperback, 284 pages
ISBN-13: 9781595142924
RRP: $14.95 AUD
Source: Book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Cover love? Very pink, cute and bubbly, obviously, but I think the cover may turn some people off the book, which is definitely not (just) rainbows and unicorns.

Synopsis

Kayla McHenry's sweet sixteen sucks! Her dad left, her grades dropped, and her BFF is dating the boy Kayla's secretly loved for years. Blowing out her candles, Kayla thinks: I wish my birthday wishes actually came true. Because they never freakin' do.
Kayla wakes the next day to a life-sized, bright pink My Little Pony outside her window. Then a year's supply of gumballs arrives. A boy named Ken with a disturbing resemblance to the doll of the same name stalks her. As the ghosts of Kayla's wishes-past appear, they take her on a wild ride . . . but they MUST STOP. Because when she was fifteen? She wished Ben Mackenzie would kiss her. And Ben is her best friend's boyfriend.

Review

The cover of You Wishhad me divided – it attracted me to the book, because I was looking for a fun,contemporary read, but it also gave me doubts, because a book that cute and hotpink is obviously targeted towards a particular audience, namely the tween girlcategory. The premise of the book certainly suggested a Disney Channelplotline, but I suppose my inner girly-girl was intrigued, because Iimmediately picked up this book in the early evening and finished it bynightfall, a grin spread across my face.

You Wishdefinitely calls a plethora of Disney movies to mind, specifically Life-Size withLindsay Lohan, where a girl’s dreams come true when her Barbie doll comes tolife, but the consequences of her wishesare, of course, dire. In You Wish, Kaylais feeling down on her birthday party (a celebration thrown by hercareer-oriented mother), because her best friend Nicole, has ditched her for Ben,Nicole’s boyfriend, who Kayla has secretly fancied for years. So when Kaylaangrily blows out her candles and wishes that all her previous wishes wouldcome true, they do, in a startling turn of luck.

But Kayla soondiscovers that with every new day comes a new wish, and a new disaster. Andwhat did she wish for last year? That Ben would kiss her. Now she has 15 daysto reverse this chain of events before Ben really kisses her, and she loses herfriendship with Nicole forever.

So as you can imagine, every day comes with a new adventurefor Kayla, and I thoroughly enjoyed the hilarity that ensued. A six year old’sdreams of ponies, dolls and gumballs quickly becomes a sixteen year old’s worstnightmare. The plotline isn’t very original, with many of the “wishes”done before in kids’ shows. Even the friendship between the characters, and thepredictable romance connections reminded me of the formulaic styles ofcountless books and movies before it. It’s pretty obvious what the ending willbe before the book finishes, so You Wishdefinitely isn’t the book to turn to for masterful storytelling.

And while originality isn’t one of this book’s qualities,nor is character build up, we do get to see Kayla grow throughout the two weeklong span of the novel, beginning to understand the consequences of want, andthe importance of friendship. There are many hilarious scenes, and I candefinitely imagine this as a movie. Edit: Movie rights for You Wish have been optioned by RCR.

You Wish is afeel-good novel, one that will cheer you up, and have you smiling yourselfsilly. Perfect for tweens and young teens looking for a fun, light read.

Rating:

Links:
You Wish at Penguin | Mandy Hubbard's Website | Mandy Hubbard's Blog | Goodreads

Waiting on Wednesday (22/12)

2010-12-22T18:14:00.000+11:00

3 days left until Christmas!

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, where bloggers can spotlight and share "upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating".

I've got two this week, and they're both debut January 2011 releases that I'm really pumped for.

The False Princess by Ellis O'Neal

Princess and heir to the throne of Thorvaldor, Nalia's led a privileged life at court. But everything changes when it's revealed, just after her sixteenth birthday, that she is a false princess, a stand-in for the real Nalia, who has been hidden away for her protection. Cast out with little more than the clothes on her back, the girl now called Sinda must leave behind the city of Vivaskari, her best friend, Keirnan, and the only life she's ever known.
Sinda is sent to live with her only surviving relative, an aunt who is a dyer in a distant village. She is a cold, scornful woman with little patience for her newfound niece, and Sinda proves inept at even the simplest tasks. But when Sinda discovers that magic runs through her veins - long-suppressed, dangerous magic that she must learn to control - she realizes that she can never learn to be a simple village girl.
Returning to Vivaskari for answers, Sinda finds her purpose as a wizard scribe, rediscovers the boy who saw her all along, and uncovers a secret that could change the course of Thorvaldor's history, forever.
A dazzling first novel, The False Princess is an engrossing fantasy full of mystery, action, and romance.

The cover of The False Princess is so beautiful, much like that of Anastasia's Secret, which I adored. This book sounds like a historical fantasy set in an alternate universe, and is a debut novel, so keep an eye out for this one, and put it on your lists.

XVI by Julia Karr

Nina Oberon's life is pretty normal: she hangs out with her best friend, Sandy, and their crew, goes to school, plays with her little sister, Dee. But Nina is 15. And like all girls she'll receive a Governing Council-ordered tattoo on her 16th birthday. XVI. Those three letters will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the world—even the most predatory of men—that she is ready for sex. Considered easy prey by some, portrayed by the Media as sluts who ask for attacks, becoming a "sex-teen" is Nina's worst fear. That is, until right before her birthday, when Nina's mom is brutally attacked. With her dying breaths, she reveals to Nina a shocking truth about her past—one that destroys everything Nina thought she knew. Now, alone but for her sister, Nina must try to discover who she really is, all the while staying one step ahead of her mother's killer.

This one sounds like a chilling dystopian novel, definitely would be popular with those who like The Adoration of Jenna Fox, The Declaration, The Resistance, The Hunger Games, The Chosen One and Matched. Which ticks all the boxes for me, because they're all excellent dystopians. I'm definitely looking forward to this. Hell, I want to read this, stat!

What are you waiting on this week? Leave a link below so I can check it out!

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Plot or Characters? Friday Meme!

2010-12-17T23:14:00.003+11:00

Question: What did you study in college, or are currently studying and did it lead to your current 9 to 5 or are you doing something totally different?

I am actually still in high school, and the Australian version of college is "university". So I'm not in uni yet, although it's not too far off. And I'm still utterly confused as to what I want to do with my life. I feel like I should aim to do medicine/health sciences, or something equally as prestigious, but I'm not sure if that's something I could spend the rest of my life doing. I'd love to be able to be a doctor, but I can't imagine myself in the same career for my entire life. I feel like there's so many years ahead, so much potential for more, and that I would just be wasting Any tips?

Question: What do you consider the most important in a story: the plot or the characters?

Wow, tough question! They're usually intertwined - all elements of a good story, and each could not survive without the other.

A good plotline really carries the story, makes it stand out from all the rest. I feel that there is less variation between characters in YA, and many tend to have similar characteristics that make them appeal to the target audience. The characters kind of become what they need to be in order to fulfil the author's plot idea. When I look at it that way, the plot is more important.
But then a good story with bad characters, and by a bad character, I don't mean the character necessarily has to be evil or have bad intentions, but they may be too perfect - a "Mary Sue" or "Gary Stue" - or simply not well-rounded. They won't stick in my head, and I won't really identify with them at all. Anyway, good plots with bad characters can only go so far.
What I'm trying to say is that these two elements come hand-in-hand. But think of all the elements of a good story as little gears in a clock. If one goes missing, or is damaged, then the clock ceaes to function. A good clock is one with all gears in tune, just as a good story is one where all elements are present and well-thought out.

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Leave a comment below so I can check out your blog and follow, and please take the time to check out some of my recent posts.

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Tina's Tutorials #9: How to add external links to menubar

2010-12-17T04:00:00.003+11:00

This tutorial will teach you how to add external links (links to non-pages) to your menu bar.

e.g. If you click on the link to "About Tina" on my menu bar above, you'll see that it leads to this site:

http://bookcouture.blogspot.com/p/about.html

Notice that there is a "p" there? This indicates that "About" is a Page on my blog.

But what if I want to link to a site that isn't a page? For example, the Book Contest Directory?

Click on the "International" link under my menu bar. Notice that the external website opens up in a new tab or window. This is what this tutorial will teach you to do for your blog.

Step 1:

Go to your blog Dashboard, and access the page Design, and the subtab Edit HTML.
Remember to backup your blog template by Downloading Full Template and saving it somewhere easily accessible.

Step 2:

Check the box Expand Widget Templates.

Using CTRL + F, search for <b:widget id='PageList1'.

You will then see code that looks something like this. Under <b:loop>, add the code in bold.

The parts you need to change are highlighted in red. Where it says URL, replace it with your link. Where it says Link Name, replace it with the name of the link you want visible on your menubar.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

<b:widget id='PageList1' locked='false' title='Pages' type='PageList'>
<b:includable id='main'>
<b:if cond='data:title'><h2><data:title/></h2></b:if>
<div class='widget-content'>
    <ul>
      <b:loop values='data:links' var='link'>
        <b:if cond='data:link.isCurrentPage'>
          <li class='selected'><a expr:href='data:link.href'><data:link.title/></a></li>
        <b:else/>
          <li><a expr:href='data:link.href'><data:link.title/></a></li>
        </b:if>
      </b:loop>
      <li><a href='URL' target='_blank'>Link Name</a></li>

</ul>
<b:include name='quickedit'/>
</div>
</b:includable>
</b:widget>

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Then click on Save Template and then View Blog to see your external link in your Menu Bar.

You're done! To add more, simply copy that line and repeat it, changing the URL and Link Name when needed.

✂ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

More Tips & Tricks from Tina:

Review: Linger by Maggie Steifvater

2010-12-16T03:00:00.000+11:00

Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls)
by Maggie Steifvater

Series: The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy (Book 2 of 3)
Genre:Paranormal > Werewolves

Age Group: Young Adult - 13+

Publisher:Scholastic

Release Date: July 2010

Format: Hardcover, 362 pages

Source: School Library
ISBN: 9780545123280

Additional Information:
Forever, the third and final installment in the trilogy, will be released in 2011.
My Shiver Review

Cover love? Absolutely beautiful - the unique forest theme continues on in this second installment of the Wolves of Mercy Falls series. From the blood drop, to the wolf and the girl's silhouette, everything suits the theme perfectly. I assume the girl is Isabel, and the boy is Cole?

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love - the light and the dark, the warm and the cold - in a way you will never forget.

For some strange reason, I put off reading Linger for a few weeks. I don't know what possessed me to do that - perhaps my neutral feelings towards Shiver? But when I finally got around to picking up Linger, I immediately wished I had started reading it the minute I got it.

The reason for that is: Linger is a beautiful novel, that managed to evolve into a greater, wiser novel than the one before. One particularly wise quote that I feels demonstrates this is:

"Most people had an acquired beauty.

They became better-looking the longer you knew them

and the better you loved them."

It's a remarkably true and absolutely brilliant observation.

As I've mentioned in my review of Shiver, Maggie Steifvater's writing is absolutely breathtaking. Poetic, you would say. She has a way with words - each syllable fits perfectly into your mouth, like a piece of sweet and warm chocolate that slowly melts across your tongue. It feels perfect, luxurious and delicious. She uses this magic to forge the realistic bonds between the characters and the readers.

Linger is unique in it's narration. While each character narrates from a first-person past tense, there are four narrators. Rather than adding a sense of confusion, we instead gain perspective and understanding of each of the characters' actions and feelings.

The characters have been developed further, as their personalities are explored and defined. The introduction of Cole was perfect - by the end of the novel, I felt as if Cole was meant to be part of Sam, Grace and Isabel's life.

And while Cole is a celebrity, we don't really see him as one. We see him as a confused, self-destructive boy who has the problem of being famous and incredibly handsome. Cole's issues felt real to me, and as a character he literally leapt off the page at me. (If you read the book, you'll know what I'm talking about.)

I can't talk about Cole without discussing the dark subject matters in this book. It's interesting to see Maggie Steifvater's delve into the dark side of the world of celebrities. There are drugs, women, fights and loss. She manages to convey this theme into Linger with minimal explicitness, and I think that this should be commended. Cole is a complicated character, and I am glad to see how he has been immersed into the storyline.

As you can guess, I really do like Cole. Not in terms of desirability, but as a character.

Sam and Grace's relationship has a perfect equilibrium. They are completely devoted to each other, but their unbearable need for each other is understandable, and not overdone. Some aspects of their relationship felt a little fast, but it is overall, a sweet and beautifully written relationship.

The novel ends with a predictable outcome (as Steifvater slowly builds up the inevitable result, right from the prologue), but I was surprised, nonetheless at the reasoning behind it. It's a medically rational plot twister that brings their lives into chaos once again.

Final words: Maggie Steifvater writes with a poetic beauty that draws her supernatural characters seamlessly into reality. The combination of solemnity and light builds a breathtaking novel of love and loss.

Rating:

355

Links:
Goodreads | The Book Depository

CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS COVER REVEALED!!

2010-12-15T15:22:00.000+11:00

I just heard this from the lovely Cynthia from A Blog About Nothing, and discovered that the cover of CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS by Cassandra Clare, the much-anticipated fourth installment in the very popular Mortal Instruments series, has been released. Voila!

Read the article here: EW Exclusive.

Vital info you need to know:

The book is set to be released in March-April, 2011.
City of Fallen Angels is an embargoed book, and that means that there will not be any Advance Reader Copies, and there will be a strict International sale date.
There is no excerpt for CoFA online (well, at least there shouldn't be), see Cassandra Clare's message about it here.
Teasers for CoFA are available here.

Cassandra Clare reading an excerpt from CoFA:

Synopsis:

City of Fallen Angels takes place after the events of City of Glass. It splits its focus between Jace and Clary and Clary’s best friend, Simon, and how he adjusts to life as a vampire, but it’s still an ensemble-cast story, and all the characters from the Mortal Instruments series appear in it: Jace, Isabelle, Alec, Magnus, Luke, Jocelyn, Maia, and many more. (It even helps to have read The Clockwork Angel before you read CoFA, because some of the characters from the ID series do show up in it. However, it isn’t required.) In City of Fallen Angels, someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and leaving their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters. Internecine warfare among vampires is ripping the Downworld community apart, and only Simon — the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side — can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics. Meanwhile Jace and Clary investigate a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever. Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

CASTING NEWS

On another note, Lily Collins of The Blind Side has been cast as Clary in the 2012 adaptation of City of Bones! She's so stunning, and I think she looks like a perfect fit for the role of Clary. I don't know about her acting skills though...

I am so excited!! Have you guys heard any more news?

Waiting On Wednesday (15/12)

2010-12-15T12:33:00.001+11:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, where bloggers can spotlight and share "upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating".

I've got two this week, and they're both debut January 2011 releases that I'm really pumped for.

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees. . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what it is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place--and out of place, at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make--between honesty and deciet, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

My name is Meaghan Chase.

I thought it was over.That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stay by my side. Drag me into the core of a conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.

This time, there will be no turning back.

What are you waiting on this week? Leave a link below so I can check it out!

x

Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

2010-12-13T17:55:00.000+11:00

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Series: The Mortal Instruments (Book 1 of 6)

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal

Age Group: Young Adult

Publisher: Walker Books Australia

Release Date: August 1, 2007 (Already Released)

Format: Paperback, pages

ISBN-13: 9781406307627

Australian RRP: $19.95 AUD
Source: Book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Cover love?

The character on the front cover is Jace. The cover looks great with the others in the series, although the fact that Jace appears god-like and half naked makes the book look like it's an adult novel, and might deter readers.

Synopsis

Clary Fray is an ordinary teenager, but everything changes the night she witnesses a murder, committed by a group of teens. The group are Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to driving demons out of this dimension and back into their own. Drawn inexorably into a terrifying world, Clary slowly begins to learn the truth about her family - and the battle for the fate of the world.

Review

I've heard of this series for over a year or so, but for some reason that I cannot fathom now, I never got a chance to read it. Then word about Cassandra Clare escalated with the release of Clockwork Angel, the first of a companion series set two centuries ago, in the same world. And I knew I had to check out this series. And I'm telling you now, it is freakin' amazing!!

The Mortal Instruments series combines elements of paranormalcy: Vampires (Children of the Night), Werewolves (Children of the Moon), Faeries (the Fey), Warlocks (Lilith's Children), Demons, and Shadowhunters (Nephilim - a mix between angels and humans). And the awesome thing is, all these paranormal creatures stay true to legend, whilst all combined in this epic urban fantasy.

Cassandra Clare's writing is utterly memorable, and I felt absolutely absorbed in the twists and turns of Jace and Clary's adventure. She has a brilliant way of presenting dialogue that I admire. In particular, her "street talk", including swearing, is very cleverly included to allow this book to identify with all readers. Sherarely puts the actual swear word in writing, preferring instead todescribe it. The reader knows exactly what the character has said, but theactual word is never used. Now that is intelligent writing, "showing, nottelling".

I fell completely in love with her characters. One hottie by the name of Jace, in particular. Clary is an apt heroine, albeit fitting into the cliched role of the "beautiful-but-doesn't-know-it-girl-who-discovers-a-whole-new-world-and-awesome-magical-powers-that-come-naturally-and-gets-the-guy". You know what I'm talking about.

And then there's Alec, Isabella and Simon - awesome characters with dynamic personalities. Alec gets his own side story which I don't want to spoil... but it was a pleasant surprise and I admire Cassandra Clare for bravely including that story in there.

There's a twist in this book that simply left me speechless. I was so full with emotion that I gasped and almost screamed out loud in frustration. It's definitely a plot twist that will leave readers hanging on for more. Cleverly done, and had me hook, line and sinker.

Cassandra Clare's pure brilliance has catapulted her and her series to one of my all-time favourites, up there with JK Rowling, Richelle Mead and Suzanne Collins. If you have not read this yet, I beg you, please read it!! This is a book that all readers (even avoiders of paranormal) will love, because every new page is a treasure, waiting to be uncovered.

Rating:

Review: The Resistance by Gemma Malley

2010-12-13T12:31:00.001+11:00

The Resistance by Gemma Malley
Series: The Declaration Trilogy (Book 2 of 3)
The Declaration (Book 1) | The Legacy (Book 3)
Genre: Sci-Fi > Dystopia
Age Group:Young Adult
Publisher: Allen and Unwin AU (Bloomsbury)
Release Date:July 2009
Format: Paperback, 336 pages
ISBN-13: 9780747587729
RRP: $17.99 AUD
Source: Book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Cover love? I adore the Declaration covers, and while this one is slightly darker, it is still amazingly beautiful.

Synopsis

The year is 2140. Peter and Anna are now living on the Outside as Legals. As an agent in the Underground, Peter is tasked with infiltrating Pincent Pharma Corporation and find out what's happening in the secret Longevity programme. Peter must feign a reconciliation and win the trust of his grandfather, Richard Pincent, one of the most powerful men on the planet, whose company, Pincent Pharma, is chasing the holy grail of modern science - a drug which will reverse ageing and make people look young again.
But his grandfather has his own plans for Peter - plans which involve Peter and Anna signing the Declaration and endorsing Longevity+. Richard Pincent will stop at nothing to get what he wants, even if it means ripping Peter and Anna's new life apart.
At the heart of the organisation he most despises, Peter stumbles across something more sinister than he could ever have imagined, as powerful forces are gathering to crush the young couple's dreams.

Review

The Resistance is the exciting sequel to Gemma Malley's bestselling young adult debut novel, The Declaration, and my mind is still reeling from it's gripping plotline.

The world Gemma Malley paints is set in the future, year 2140, where the "battle against ageing has been won and people can now live forever" through pills known as Longevity. Immortality is a concept that has fascinated mankind for eons, and Gemma Malley explores it with depth and intelligence, combining the science of cell rejuvenation with a captivating story. She has cleverly imagined a future where the consequences of human immortality quickly depletes finite resources. The end result is population limitations, where illegally born children are shipped off to Surplus Halls, and labelled a "Surplus". Anna is one of them.

The second installment is largely forcused on Peter, another illegal child, and Anna's boyfriend? Spouse? (How would you describe two mature teenagers who are virtually married?) I'll settle for "partner". Anyway, Peter takes the reins in The Resistance as he goes undercover into Pincent Pharma in order to discover the haunting secret within it's depths - the plan revolving Longevity that not only keeps people alive, but will make them eternally young.

Gemma Malley's writing is easy to understand, but manages to convey the deeper themes hidden between the lines. While her central characters are well-rounded in terms of having both strengths and weaknesses, they are typical of an adventure storyline - the boy who is a natural hero, the girl who is shy and kind, but brave and fierce when she needs to be, and the fearless leader of the rebellion who is willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good. Despite the typical roles, each character possesses a depth to them that is crucial to the story.

The novel that ensues is part of a heartstopping saga that takes ethical questions to the next level whilst delivering a captivating plot, perfect for all ages.

Rating:

Links:
The Resistance Official Website | The Resistance at Allen & Unwin AU | Goodreads

Review: iBoy by Kevin Brooks

2010-12-09T19:15:00.000+11:00

iBoy by Kevin Brooks

Series: Standalone but there may be a sequel

Genre: Contemporary Science Fiction

Age Group: Young Adult

Publisher: Penguin Australia

Release Date:August 12th 2010 (Already Released)

Format: Paperback, 293 pages

ISBN-13: 9780141326108

RRP: $18.95 AUD
Source: Book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Cover love?

Combining cool graphics and a smooth presentation, this cover is awesome.

Synopsis

Before the attack, sixteen-year-old Tom Harvey was just an ordinary boy.
But now fragments of a shattered iPhone are embedded in his brain and it's having an extraordinary effect . . .
Because now Tom has powers. The ability to know and see more than he could ever imagine. And with incredible power comes knowledge – and a choice. Seek revenge on the violent gangs that rule his estate and assaulted his friend Lucy, or keep quiet?
Tom has control when everything else is out of control. But it's a dangerous price to pay. And the consequences are terrifying . . .

Review

What happens when an iPhone cracks your skull and its electrical components become embedded into your brain?

Well, in the iBoy world, it gives you superpowers, with skin that lights up in a myriad of pulsating colours,hands that can shoot electricity and a brain that can surf the net, call phonesand hack into government networks. That’s exactly what happens to Tom Harvey,and armed with his amazing newfound powers, he is faced with a decision: shouldhe take revenge on the gang that attacked and raped his friend Lucy, or shouldhe take no action at all?

I looked forward to reading iBoy. Having read and liked Beingby Kevin Brooks, and being a big fan of science fiction and cyborg stories, Iopened this book with expectations of a slightly violent, but absorbing actionsci-fi novel. Sadly, this book didn't live up to my hype.

First of all, let me make this clear. Kevin Brooks’ books are not prettybooks with brave heroes, a clear villain, clean language and a happy ending.There are sex scenes (less so in iBoy), drugs, weapons, street violence and death, sometimes with a herowho discovers he has been technologically advanced. In the case of Being, the protagonist was an android (robot that looks like a human), and in iBoy, the hero is a cyborg (human with robotic enhancements). There is also frequent usage of coarse language, which I found annoying and excessive. The writing in general was fast paced and very truthful at times, but choppy to convey Tom's thoughts.

However, these combined elements work together to evoke the setting: the streets of outer London. I didn't like this setting, because I thought the iBoy idea, of a boy with the powers of an iPhone, had a lot of potential to be something big. But a street setting meants that iBoy's powers and scope extended only to attacking the bullies in his neighourhood. Perhaps Kevin Brooks was going for a deeper meaning, such as an exploration of social issues or the abuse of power, but I didn't connect with that.

The technological aspects attracted me, as a sci-fi lover, but I thought it wasn't explored well. Tom is hit by an iPhone, and when he wakes up, he has incredible amounts of power, while we are never given a cool scientific reason as to why. The components are in his brain, but which part of his brain? And why does several chips from an iPhone, embedded in his brain suddenly give him so much power? Such as electricity coming out of his hands? Tom is left alone through the novel to explore his immese powers, and there are many questions I was left wondering with.

Also, the fact that an iPhone 3G is described in this book places a year label (2009) on this story. It's like a "use-by" date. In my opinion, good novels do not indicate a specific date, thus immortalising the story and characters, and limited only by the language. However, I like the use of quotations from articles and the binary chaptering system.

The characters in iBoy weren't very strong. Usually, I relate to a particular character, or have a admire one for all their flawed and postive qualities. I didn't with this book, perhaps because there were little characters and the main character began to act without thought. This was eventually explained, but by the end of the book, what little of Tom's personality had been there previously was not regained.

This book is not as strong as Being was, and I couldn't connect with the characters and darkness in this book. But its inner themes are gripping, and several moments are very intense and action-packed. The male protagonist and his powers relating to a modern device would definitely appeal to a young male audience.

Rating:

Links:
iBoy at Penguin AU | Interview with Kevin Brooks | Goodreads

Across the Universe Trailer!

2010-12-05T00:01:00.000+11:00

Sorry for bombarding you guys with news again...but hey, this is really exciting! To me, anyway. ;)
I assume you've heard about this book, and seen at least one of it's two covers?

Old Cover New Cover

If not,here are some details:

Title: Across the Universe
Author: Beth Revis [blog]
Links: acrosstheuniversebook.com | Across the Universe @ Penguin Aus |

AMY has left the life she loves for a world 300 years away
Trapped in space and frozen in time, Amy is bound for a new planet. But fifty years before she's due to arrive, she is violently woken, the victim of an attempted murder. Now Amy's lost on board and nothing makes sense - she's never felt so alone.
Yet someone is waiting for her. He wants to protect her; and more if she'll let him.
But who can she trust amidst the secrets and lies? A killer is out there – and Amy has nowhere to hide . . .

AND

Amy is a cryogenically frozen passenger aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed. She expects to wake up on a new planet, 300 years in the future. But fifty years before Godspeed's scheduled landing, Amy's cryo chamber is unplugged, and she is nearly killed.

Now, Amy is caught inside an enclosed world where nothing makes sense. Godspeed's passengers have forfeited all control to Eldest, a tyrannical and frightening leader, and Elder, his rebellious and brilliant teenage heir.

Amy desperately wants to trust Elder. But should she? All she knows is that she must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets before whoever woke her tries to kill again.

Across the Universe is Titanic meets Brave New World.

A futuristic dystopian romance with elements of space and time travel? Count me in! The lovely folks at Penguin Australia gave me a copy for review. I love the white cover of the ARC, but I do hope that the new cover will be released in Australia. I noticed on the website, the cover hasn't been changed to the new one...
If it's already been printed though, then we'll probably just have the white cover, because reprinting will cost a lot, wouldn't it? If the book sells well (which I hope it does), then maybe there'll be a second "special" edition with the new cover.

Do you notice the (subtle) differencesbetween the two covers? The new one has a filled-in background of course, but the guy has been photshopped to appear slimmer. Notice the chin, lips, forehead and cheeks? Then, of course, author blurbs have been added.
I think it's more visually pleasing, but the photoshopping irks me somewhat. It's just less natural, you know? When did the lines between the publishing and beauty industry begin to blur? Sigh...it's not always about looks.

Anyway, look what YouTube just told me about? (I subscribe to Penguin Aus on Youtube)

It's the new trailer for Across the Universe by Beth Revis:

There's no acting involved, which is a shame, but hey, the graphics are very pretty. And the voiceover (done by Lauren Ambrose from Six Feet Under), is great! She sounds too serious and a little old for Amy though, less personal.

What do you think?

Cover Craze

2010-12-03T20:05:00.000+11:00

Matched came out a few days ago in Australia (2nd of November 2010)...psst...read my review?

Ally Condie's blog, she reveals that the second book of the Matched trilogy will be called Crossed. It's going through stages of revision and will be released in November 2011, with the third book coming out in November 2012.
So what do you think the cover might mean? Does Cassia's path cross with Ky again, or something completely different?

Other cover news...have you read the awesome Embrace by Jessica Shirvington? If you've check out my author interview with Jessica Shirvington, you'll probably know that the sequel, Enticed, is coming out next year. But the cover has arrived:

So beautiful, right? I'm really looking forward to it. The release date is about March 2011!

Anyway, what other new covers have you seen recently?

Review: Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey

2010-12-03T12:57:00.002+11:00

Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey

Debut Novel - will there be a series?

Genre: Paranormal/Thriller

Age Group: Young Adult

Publisher:Allen and Unwin (AUS)

Release Date:April 2010

Format: Paperback, 360 pages

ISBN-13: 9781741758801

RRP: $19.99 AUD
Thank you to Allen and Unwin, who provided this review copy for an honest review.

Cover love?

On first glance, the cover seems plain, normal. But if you look closely, you can see a detailed forest on the girl's back. That is some awesome photo manipulation! The text colour is exactly the girl's hair colour, and the typeface reflects the Maori nature of the book.

Synopsis

'In less than a day I had been harassed, enchanted, shouted at, cried on, and clawed. I'd been cold, scared, dirty, exhausted, hungry, and miserable. And up until now, I'd been mildly impressed with my ability to cope.'
At her boarding school in New Zealand, Ellie Spencer is like any ordinary teen: she hangs out with her best friend, Kevin; obsesses over her crush on a mysterious boy; and her biggest worry is her essay deadline. Until everything changes...
In the foggy woods near the school, something ancient and deadly is waiting.
A gripping fantasy set on the shifting boundary between what is real and what is legend. Can Ellie discover a power she never knew she possessed?

Review

To be completely honest, this is a book that I would not normally pick up. I'm a bit squeamish when it comes to books with "Dead" in their title, and I tend to avoid horror novels. I've also never read any books set in New Zealand. But boy, was I blown away by the originality and depth in this book.

Eleanor (Ellie) Spencer doesn't really fit in at her New Zealand boarding school. She's rather tall, a black belt in tae kwon doe, and her only friend is Kevin, who all girls seem to like. Ellie discovers that there's more than meets the eye with her crush, the mysterious Mark Nolan, and he reveals to her a power and an alternate world that she never knew existed, but has always coexisted with her society.

Guardian of the Dead is brilliantly original. It's set in New Zealand, and central to the plotline is the ancestral Maori legends, including the fabled patupaiarehe. She also weaves several separate storylines (including a crime plotline that involves a series of murders by Eyeslasher), that managers to come together brilliantly at the end. Ellie Spencer is a strong heroine who does things on her own terms and can defend herself perfectly well, certainly a unique protagonist that stands out from the slew of cliched young adult main characters. The book also delicately explores an issue that I've never read before - themes of teenage asexuality - in Ellie's best friend Kevin.

Then there's the complicated family history that ties Mark and Kevin to the patupaiarehe legends. It completely unexpected, but it fit well with the story. Be warned, the family ties make for a very creepy part of the plotline though. In general, however, the plotline is fast-paced, thrilling and immensely captivating. Karen Healy's masterful writing complements this well, with an authentic voice that carried the many plot elements and created an intense story. The book is a paranormal thriller, and some points were downright frightening. Combined with the fact that I'm not a quick reader, you can imagine my shock when I discovered myself halfway through the book two hoursafter picking it up.

In the beginning of the novel, I couldn't relate to Ellie very well. In part, this was because I'm very different to her, but also, I felt that I didn't learn enough about Ellie's background to identify with her as a character. The romance between Mark and Ellie clearly defines this as a young adult novel, with its genuine emotions and rare (compared to other young adult novels), but incredibly sweet moments.

By the end, I was completely blown away. I've said this a couple of times, but I must reiterate. I've never read anything as authentic, gripping and intelligent as Guardian of the Dead. If you want to learn more about New Zealand culture while enjoying a paranormal thriller, read this book.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Links:
Guardian of the Dead at Allen & Unwin

NB. I'm wondering if there will be a sequel, as the book certainly left space for one, and I would certainly read it.

Follow Friday 3/12/10

2010-12-02T18:54:00.000+11:00

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee, where bloggers spread the love by following each other.
Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-For-Books, where book bloggers can "connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!"

What do you do besides reading / reviewing as a hobby?

Hobbies? Psh, this is my life.

Nah, just joking. I normally just surf the net (YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Blogs), mope about the house, draw manga for a bit (which I've always loved) and well...that's it. I don't really have that much to do, which explains why I get so bored on the holidays.

What very popular and hyped book in the blogosphere did you NOT enjoy and how did you feel about posting your review?
Well, Fallen by Lauren Kate was really hyped up around the blogosphere, mainly due to its beautiful cover. So I borrowed it from my friend and read it...and lets just say, I didn't like it very much. I am looking forward to reading Torment by Lauren Kate though, because apparently it's quite good. My review of Fallen is here, if you're interested. The review was written a while ago though (about 3 months), and it's the one I'm least proud of. Actually, don't read it...ergh.

Books that have lived up to the amount of hype it received though, are The Hunger Games and Matched. AMAZING books!

Recently on Book Couture:

Leave a comment below so I can check out your blog and follow, and please take the time to check out some of my recent posts.

●

Review: The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

2010-11-28T23:59:00.002+11:00

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

Genre: Contemporary > Polygamists Society

Age Group: 13+ YA/MG

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Release Date: 1st December 2010

Format: Paperback, 224 pages

ISBN-13: 9781847389381

RRP: $16.99 AUD
Many thanks to Simon and Schuster for providing this book in exchange for my honest review.

Cover love?

It's gorgeous and a little sad, Kyra's hair symbolising her innocence being undone.

Thirteen-year-old Kyra has grown up in an isolated community without questioning the fact that her father has three wives and she has twenty brothers and sisters. That is, without questioning them much - if you don't count her secret visits to the Mobile Library on Wheels to read forbidden books, or her meetings with Joshua, the boy she hopes to choose for herself instead of having a man chosen for her. But when the Prophet decrees that she must marry her sixty-year-old uncle - who already has six wives - Kyra must make a desperate choice in the face of violence and her own fears of losing her family forever.

TheChosen One is a dark but truthful story of a girlcalled Kyra, whose community forces her to become the seventh wife of her 60year old uncle. It’s not a dystopian or historical novel; it’s a story set inour own time, reflective of the lives of people living in polygamistcommunities such as these.

Kyra father has three wives, and she hasover twenty siblings. They live in trailers on a piece of fenced-in land ownedby the Chosen Ones. She doesn’t have the opportunity to go to school, and musthelp take care of the younger children in her family. But Kyra has secrets. Sheborrows books from the Ironton County Mobile Library on Wheels, she despises and curses thedictatorial Prophet Childs in her head, and above all, she’s fallen in lovewith Joshua Johnson, who is absolutely forbidden to her.

Carol Lynch Williams’ writing is simple and fluid, bringingKyra’s voice to life, allowing me to be completely immersed in her world. The Chosen One puts the lives ofpolygamist communities into perspective, and through this book, I’ve gained agreater understanding and sympathy of these “cults”.

I’ll give you a warning now: the book isnot a happy one. It’s sad and a little dark, without the classical happyresolution in most books. Through Kyra, I saw how unfair the society was, I wasoutraged at the tyrannical force with which Prophet Childs and his Apostlesruled the community, and I was disgusted at what the Prophet forced the girlsto do.

And while I didn’t feel satisfied by thepoignant ending, I thought it was the right place to finish this chapterof Kyra’s life. Like real life, we don’t know what comes next, salvation doesnot reach everyone, and there isn’t always a fairy-tale ending. But I don’tthink this book could have been ended any other way while still retaining itseffect.

Through the eyes of a girl who fights herway to freedom, The Chosen One is storythat climbs over the barbed fence and opens our eyes to the truth behindvictims of cults. It's beautiful and heartbreaking, definitely a must-read.

Rating:

Links:
The Chosen One at Simon and Schuster

Review: Outside In by Chrissie Keighery

2010-11-25T17:19:00.000+11:00

Outside In by Chrissie Keighery

Genre: Contemporary > Teen Issues

Age Group: Young Adult 13+

Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont

Release Date: [Already Released] August 2009

Format: Paperback, 208 pages

ISBN-13: 9781921502361

RRP: $16.95 AUD

Cover love?

At first, I thought little of the cover, until I recognised it's significance in the book! It's a beautiful piece of artwork, and I love the watercolour blending.

Synopsis

The cool group at school is not as luminous as it seems. Sure, they appear to have it all, but there are problems lurking just below the surface.
Beautiful Jordan is struggling to cope because of her newly divorced parents, Meredith covers her past by playing the clown, Cecilia hides her feelings and a shameful secret, Sam is growing up, and Jack is caught off-guard when he falls in love for the first time.
And then there's someone else. She's not part of the group. The others have no idea she's there. But she knows that there are cracks. She watches them from the inside, out. From the outside, in.
A beautiful novella about figuring out who you are and how you fit in.

Review

Outside In is a short and beautifulnovella about finding where you belong in the tumultuous, confusingcomplexity that is teenage life. I read it in one sitting and was stunned bythe truth that emanated from this powerful story.

This story describes the friendship dynamics between the"luminous" group at the narrator's school. The narrator is a new girlat the school, never identified until the end, who feels like she is always onthe outside, the fringes of society, looking in, but never truly a part of it.The "luminous" group comprises of four outwardly content girls whoselives seem perfectly okay on the surface, but beneath the facade, there is tension as each girl secretly goes throughindividual trials and tribulations.

The book switches focus between all the characters, butnever returning to any one, except the narrator. From her position outside thegroup, the narrator is able to sense more about the dynamics between the friendsthan the girls themselves. I liked this choice of structure as it truly is unique, lends a voice to every character,and shows us the troubles beneath the cool surface. However, this left little roomfor the characters to truly develop.

The writing is not something that stands out to me, butKeighery intelligently explores the themesof appearances versus reality. While each character has their own, verydifferent but innately related, set of problems, they are characters that allcould relate to. All social issues explored - divorce, low self-esteem,isolation, hurt, betrayal, friendship, love, eating disorders - are just asserious as each other, because of the immense effect that they have on thatperson. And I'm sure that at least one of those issues has affected everyone.

Outside In is a powerful story that lightsup the darkness in the lives of others, and the raw emotions explored inthis novella touched my heart with their truthfulness.

Rating:

Links:
Outside In at Hardie Grant Egmont | Chrissie Keighery's Website

2011 YA Debut Author Challenge...here I come!

2010-11-25T11:27:00.001+11:00

I've decided to participate in the 2011 Debut Author Challenge next year!

Because I'm newish to blogging (but love it so much), I have not yet participated in any of these challenges yet.

I've always been a participant of the Victorian Premier's Reading Challenge, but I've sadly outgrown that now. Aka, I'm too old to participate. They do give out neat little certificates though. Check out the awesome one this year, on the right:

So, you don't get a certificate... but I really want to enter another reading challenge next year, and this annual one hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren is a fabulous choice. Not only does it promote debut YA/MG authors and their upcoming novels, but there are also monthly prizes, newsletter updates, a gathered list of reviews and such.

It's immensely exciting to be a part of something like this, so pop over to the DAC info page and get signing up!

Rules of the Challenge:

Anyone can join the Debut Author Challenge, you don't have to be a blogger.
You must read at least 12 Young Adult or Middle Grade book between January 1st 2011 to December 31st 2011.
You also have to review the books between those dates.

Now, to the fun bit. I'm really looking forward to these books next year:

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Across the Universe by Beth Revis
The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney
Clarity by Kim Harrington
The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker
The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder
A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford
Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton
Hereafter by Tara Hudson
Timeless by Alexandra Monir
XVI by Julie Karr

Those won't be the only books I'll be reading, but they're the ones that immediately come to mind from the list of 2011 debut novels.This is so exciting! Are you participating in the DAC?

Review: The Adoration of Jenna Fox

2010-11-23T16:26:00.000+11:00

The Adoration of Jenna Fox
by Mary E Pearson

Genre: Sci-Fi > Dystopian

Age Group: 13+

Publisher: Allen and Unwin

Release Date: February 2009

Format: Paperback, 264 pages

ISBN-13: 9781741756401

Cover love?

Left- AUS Cover, Right - US Cover
I love both - but the AUS cover perfectly conveys that sense of secrecy, dystopia and questioning identity throughout the book.

Synopsis

'Why can I remember the details of the French Revolution but I can't remember if I ever had a best friend?'

Jenna Fox wakes from a coma following a devastating accident, her memory a blank. One day she can't walk; the next she can. One day her right eyelid droops; the next day it doesn't. Her parents call her recovery a miracle - but at what cost has it come? What are they hiding from her? And why does her grandmother, Lily, hate her so?

Who is Jenna Fox?
A gripping, utterly engrossing dystopian thriller set in a future that may be closer than we think.

Review

I adore this book. It's one of the most thought-provoking dystopian novels I have ever read, and to my knowledge, it is also a novel taught in schools. I opened this book expecting a story about identity crisis or amnesia, but this book went beyond that, and Mary E Pearson delivered a highly intelligent, futuristic and thrilling story that I will always remember.

The writing is not very poetic or flowery, nor is it choppy, reely or overly descriptive. The words flows well, and the conversational tone of the narrator, Jenna, draws the reader right into the story, making them feel a part of it. Some sentences are short, but they are used in moderation, and this is effective in making Jenna feel like a real person to the reader.

Jenna is also a great character. The reader shares her journey into discovering what she has become after she wakes up. We feel, through her, the mixed emotions she has towards towards two very different boys, towards her parents and her grandmother. Reading The Adoration of Jenna Fox is a journey in itself.

What stands out most to me is the compelling concept of this book. The plotline is a recipe for success, with a dystopian setting, authentic characters, a touch of romance, and a killer twist that leaves the reader lost for words. I don't want to spoil the dramatic twist, but for me, it came completely unexpected, taking my breath away and fulfilling my thirst for more science and technology in novels.

Endlessly intriguing and thoroughly captivating, The Adoration of Jenna Fox explores ethically ambiguous territory while delivering a heartfelt tale of identity and belonging. It's one of my all-time favourites.

Rating:

Last Sacrifice News

2010-11-23T13:55:00.000+11:00

Last Sacrifice, Out on 7th December 2010!

Who is excited for Last Sacrifice, the sixth and final book in the highly-acclaimed series by Richelle Mead? If you've read Spirit Bound, you'll remember that the book left off on a very interesting cliffhanger....

Rose is on trial for the murder of Queen Tatiana, Lissa might just be in line for the throne if she can find her half-brother, Dimitri has turned back into a dhampir and is ignoring Rose

Richelle Mead's Site | Last Sacrifice at Penguin AUS | Penguin Australia's Channel | Official Vampire Academy Site (Wallpapers!)

Quote Teaser Trailer 1

QUOTE:

"...and there isn't much I wouldn't do for you. The stupider the better."

Sounds like something Adrian would say to Rose...

Quote Teaser Trailer 2

QUOTE:

"That's why you're doing this? Because Lissa told you to?"

I personally think it might be something Dimitri says to Rose, because it looks like Rose is trying to escape from male hands. On second thoughts, it could also be Rose talking to someone under Lissa's compulsion.

Quote Teaser Trailer 3

QUOTE:

"I'm backing down now. I really do love you. That's why I'm doing this."

I think it's Adrian. I don't really know what team I'm on now. I was completely Team Dimitri until Blood Promise, and was Team Adrian for a short while, but now I'm utterly confused, but dying for Last Sacrifice.

The other teaser trailers that are out on Penguin Australia's Channel are about the identity of the killer. I think it definitely has something to do with the evil git, Victor Dashkov. But then again, Richelle Mead might do a complete one-eighty and make the murderer someone completely unexpected. Here's the thing, will it be a surprise if we're expecting a surprise?

Who do you think murdered the queen?

By the way, I think Ben Barnes would make an awesome Dimitri:

He was Prince Caspian in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Dorain Gray in Dorian Gray and Young Dunstan in Stardust.

Who would you cast as the characters in VA?

And also, Who said the quotes?

C'mon, Last Sacrifice, hurry up and come out!!

Review: Matched by Ally Condie

2010-11-21T23:30:00.001+11:00

Matched by Ally Condie

Series: Book 1 of 3
Genre: Sci-Fi > Dystopian

Age Group:12+ (Young Adult)

Publisher: Penguin

Release Date: 3rd of December, 2010

Format: Paperback, 384 pages

ISBN: 9780525423645

Source: Incredible thanks to Erin at Penguin for my cherished review copy.

Cover love? Futuristically simple and gorgeous, definitely one of the best covers out there.

Matched by Ally Carter, the book thatpublishers fought over, the book that landed an awesome seven figure deal, the book that has the blogosphere buzzing, is coming soon.

Needless to say, Matched is one of the most anticipated YA books of the year. Forthe last couple of months, there have been whispers and rumours about a newdystopian novel that promises to blow your mind. Five star reviews have beenawarded by early readers, Youtube videos have been circulated, and top secretphotos of Matched ARCs have been fawned over, gasping at, and Matched is holdingfirst place at the top of many wishlists. Get ready, because…

Paranormal is out.

Dystopia is in.

And Matchedis finally here.

In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.

Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s barely any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one . . . until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow—between perfection and passion.

Matched is a story for right now and storytelling with the resonance of a classic.

When an upcoming series has received as much attention as Matched has, the expectations are extremely high. Nowhere near as sky high as the expectations were for Harry Potter 7, or Mockingjay or Last Sacrifice, but still somewhere skywards. But see, the book would never have received so much buzz if the publishers had not thought it worthy of the praise. But did the book deliver for me?

Matched is a dystopian novel, set in a future where the Society has absolute control over their people, and determine their lives - "Who you love. Where you work. When you die." It's a chilling vision of the future, where there's no freedom to love, and posessions are rare. but at it's heart, Matched is a story about the power and courage within each individual to fight for the freedom to be with loved ones.

I love Ally Condie's writing. It's so simple and truthful, and conveys this story perfectly. When you read Ally Condie, you can almost imagine what the Society would be like - stark and white, sinisterly meticulous. Cassia's voice is so, so convincing, and the word imagery is beautiful. The way Cassia's curiosity and desire for more poetry makes me appreciate the written word so much more. Inspiring stuff.

Matched approaches dystopia in a different way. Instead of focusing on rebellion, chaos and restriction (which was astoundingly effective in The Hunger Games), she placed emphasis on the symbolic meaning behind simple things such as poetry, artifacts passed through generations, and the power of love.

Speaking of love, this book centralises on the love triangle between Cassia, her 'perfect Match' and best friend Xander, and Ky, the mysterious boy she begins to love instead. The romance painted here is like a peaceful breeze in the stormy passion we usually read in young adult novels. And while it is refreshing to read a book where the romance is kid-friendly, it is difficult to connect with. The love story is intended to be central to Matched, but so little happens that it just didn't draw me in. I didn't get lost in the whirlwind of emotions, because while Matched was sweet, I didn't feel the relationships.

However, I'm a lover of dystopia and anything sci-fi, so I wanted a dystopia that was rich in history, society, political hierarchy, science and technology. Instead, Matched is more about culture, the arts and poetry. It's not highly futuristic science fiction, or a full-scale rebellion against an oppressive government, but about the power of a girl to resist restrictions and find the courage to be free.

Unexpectedly soulful and beautiful, Matched inspires in me the hope and courage to pursue my dreams, and gives me belief that I can get there.

P.S. Matched is a planned trilogy. All seriousness aside...OH YEAH!!

Rating:

Links:
Matched Official Website | Matched at Penguin AUS | Ally Condie's Website

I'm Back! Author Interview Question Suggestions?

2010-11-18T12:53:00.000+11:00

From We Heart it - not me...but kinda how I felt. :D

If you could hear me now, you'd be hearing a slightly crazy girl whooping, laughing and jumping around the house. Well, I may exaggerate, but there is one ecstatic girl typing away at her keyboard right now...because my EXAMS are finished! And that concludes my school year...literally. I don't have school anymore for the next 9 weeks. How omgtastic is that? (Yes, "omgtastic" is now officially a word.)

I'm kind of dreading Results Day though. I don't feel like I've done all too well on exams, but I hope my parents don't kill me or anything. *gulps*

Anyway, I feel like I haven't been blogging for way too long, though now I think about it, it's only been two weeks. There's been inactivity, I'm horrendously behind on reviews, memes and posting in general. And I've sadly lost a few readers because of that. I'm sorry!

I've also been tweeting...it's really addictive. And going crazy on We Heart It.

Anyway, here's what I've got planned:

Book reviews! I sneakily managed to get a few books read during exam period...shh...
Reading. I'm going to settle myself down on the beanbag and read, read, read. So excited!
Blog Facelift. I'm attempting to simplify my blog, give it a cleaner, simplistic and nicer feel. Besides, I'm a fickle person. I need change!
Book Contest Directory. I've been severly neglecting the BCD and leaving the hardworking Amber to take on the duties, but I'm going to try to get on top of that.
Tutorials. Including a drop-down menu! Yay!
Author Interviews. I'm going to try and feature some authors here through interviews and etcetera.

So here's what I was wondering. Do you guys have any good ideas for author interviews or questions you want to ask? Please let me know.

Anyway, expect Book Couture to get very busy in the next couple of weeks! And thank you for sticking by and staying tuned.

xx Tina

Book Couture Buttons

2010-11-03T17:58:00.000+11:00

I made some buttons for Book Couture. Please take one and share it around!
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-Book Couture-

Interview with Lara Morgan (Rosie Black Chronicles)

My first BLURB. *still in shock*

Giveaway: Win Rosie Black Chronicles Book #1 and #2

Review: Shift by Em Bailey

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Black

Review: All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Review: City of Fallen Angels, Wolfsbane

Should we beware author blurbs?

In My Mailbox #1

Pottermore!

Epic List of Book Crushes

Review: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

A new chapter in my life

Review: The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Review: Eclipse Movie Companion by Mark Cotta Vaz

Meg Cabot's newest YA series

Review: The Legacy by Gemma Malley

Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Review: Zelah Green by Vanessa Curtis

Author Interview with Beth Revis

Review: Pictures of Lily by Paige Toon

YA Aussie Challenge 2011

Review: Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Review: Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

My Blogging Questions. Help?

Manga Review: Stepping on Roses (1&2) by Rinko Ueda

Review: Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

Follow Friday

Teaser Tuesday: Pretty Little Liars

Review: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa + rant on characters

Review: Gone by Michael Grant

Review: You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

Waiting on Wednesday (22/12)

Plot or Characters? Friday Meme!

Tina's Tutorials #9: How to add external links to menubar

Review: Linger by Maggie Steifvater

CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS COVER REVEALED!!

Waiting On Wednesday (15/12)

Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Review: The Resistance by Gemma Malley

Review: iBoy by Kevin Brooks

Across the Universe Trailer!

Cover Craze

Review: Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey

Follow Friday 3/12/10

Review: The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

Review: Outside In by Chrissie Keighery

2011 YA Debut Author Challenge...here I come!

Review: The Adoration of Jenna Fox

Last Sacrifice News

Review: Matched by Ally Condie

I'm Back! Author Interview Question Suggestions?

Book Couture Buttons

My first BLURB. still in shock