Book Review: My Love Lies Bleeding by Alyxandra Harvey.

Product details:
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC.
Paperback, 256 pages.
Release date: January 4th 2010.
Rating: 2½ out of 5
Series: Drake Chronicles #1
Source: Received from publisher for review.

The Blakes are rather different to your usual neighbours. They are vampires and some of the members of the family date back to the twelfth century. One of the children, Solange, is the only born female vampire known and, as such, she poses a direct threat to the vampire queen. Her best friend Lucy is human, and when Solange is kidnapped Lucy and Solange's brother, Nicholas, set out to save her. Lucy soon discovers that she would like to be more than just friends with Nicholas. But how does one go about dating a vampire? Meanwhile, Solange finds an unlikely ally in Kieran, a vampire slayer on the hunt for his father's killer. 

I’m always excited to start on a new Vampire book, and  My Love Lies Bleeding had been on my wishlist for quite a while, so I was pretty excited when I received the first two books in this series for review.  I dove into My Love Lies Bleeding at the weekend, thinking that I may be about to find a great new Young Adult saga to fall in love with, but that didn’t happen, and I have to say that overall, this one was a little disappointing for me.

First off, I will say that the premise of the book is pretty interesting, as is the historical aspect of the book.  I loved the thought of a large family of vampires that had existed through the ages, and I really wanted to learn that history and get to know the characters well.  That didn’t really happen here.  There are a lot of characters for sure, including no less than seven yummy vampire boys, but mostly we don’t learn anything more than their names. I often felt like I was being presented with yet another name, and was just meant to draw my own conclusions on the character.  In any YA saga that I’ve fallen in love with, the story usually centres around two characters, with some fringe characters or other main characters introduced later in the series.  That works. Here you have a large family to get to know, as well as a best friend, a potential boyfriend, lots of enemies with confusing names, and an extended family of vampire aunts, uncles and cousins.  It’s just too much for such a short book to contend with.

This book is told from the viewpoints of vampire Solange* and her human best friend Lucy. I liked the alternating viewpoints in this book between the two, and I have to say I actually preferred the character of Lucy, who is very feisty, and the real heroine of the book in my opinion. I felt that out of all the characters in this book, she was the one that I got to know best.  I’m also a fan of a little romance in books, I have many vampire crushes, and I admit that the flirtation between Lucy and Nicholas was one of my favourite aspects of the book.  However, everything in the book is a little rushed. At one point, Nick refers to Lucy as his girlfriend, when they have kissed maybe twice. What’s with the rush?!

The writing style in the book is very simple and direct and the action scenes are numerous, so I’m sure many of you vampire fans will love this one.  The storyline and the characters definitely show promise, and I have a gut feeling that this series will get better as it develops.  The potential was there in this book, it just wasn’t properly executed. With that in mind, and because I like the idea of the Drake family history, I’m going to check out Blood Feud, book #2 in The Drake Chronicles.

*Big thumbs down to Solange as a vampires name.  Just no.

Book Trailer & sneak peek: Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan.

Eek! I was so excited when I found out that Cate Tiernan's Immortal Beloved now has it's own dedicated website where you can view the book trailer and also get a sneak peek of the book! Is anyone else excited about this one? To me, it just sounds so good! I featured it as a Waiting on Wednesday pick a while back.  You can see the book cover and read the summary at my original waiting on Wednesday post.

Check out the trailer! I love it. Before blogging, I didn't really know much about book trailers, so it's still all new and exciting to me! ;-)

Better still, this one is now being published in the UK! I didn't know about this when I first blogged about the book. Hodder & Stoughton have acquired the rights, and according to Amazon, the book will be published in paperback in October 2010, while it'll be available in the US in September. It's also set to have a slightly different title in the UK and will be published as Everlasting Life (Immortal Beloved #1).  I can't wait to see what they do with the cover art!

Competition time! Win Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce!

I have an extra copy of Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce in my possession thanks to a competition win, so I thought I'd give one of you, my lovely followers a chance to win it! Read on to find out how!

Summary from Goodreads:

Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris-- the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.

Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts fiercely alongside her. Now Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves and finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax-- but loving him means betraying her sister and has the potential to destroy all they've worked for.

Contest rules & information:

• Must be a follower to enter - please follow publicly using Google Friend Connect (it's on the right-hand side of the blog). 
• One entry per person.
• Contest is open INTERNATIONALLY.
• Contest ends: July 5th 2010 at 6p.m GMT.
• Please fill out the form below to enter. Don't forget to hit the submit button! :)
• Edited to add: Top commentators (listed in the widget as of July 5th 2010 will get FIVE extra entries, so get posting those comments!) :)

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON!

On My Wishlist #2 - June 26th 2010.

 On My Wishlist is a great meme that's hosted at Book Chick City!  Here I'll list books that I really want to read, but haven't gotten around to buying yet.  They can be old, new or forthcoming.  Let me know what you think of my choices in comments.  If you've already read any of the books, I'd love to know what you thought!

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First up this week is a book I'm really excited to read.  By Midnight sounds great, and I love the cover too.  This one has also got a pretty cool website, where you can check out the book trailer and find out more about the book.

By Midnight: A Ravenwood Mystery by Mia James.
Published: July 15th 2010 by Gollancz.
Hardcover, 352 pages.
Genre: Urban Fantasy.
Target Age Group: Young Adult.

April Dunne is not impressed. She's had to move from Edinburgh to Highgate, London, with her parents. She's left her friends - and her entire life - behind. She has to start at a new school and, worst of all, now she's stuck in a creepy old dump of a house which doesn't even have proper mobile phone reception. Ravenwood, her new school, is a prestigious academy for gifted (financially or academically) students - and the only place her parents could find her a place, in the middle of term, in the middle of London, on incredibly short notice. So she's stuck with the super-rich, and the super-smart . . . and trying to fit in is when the rest of the students seem to be more glamorous, smarter, or more talented than she is, is more than tough. It's intimidating and isolating, even when she finds a friend in the conspiracy-theorist Caro Jackson - and perhaps finds something more than friendship in the gorgeous, mysterious Gabriel Swift. But there's more going on at Ravenwood than meets the eye. Practical jokes on new students are normal, but when Gabriel saves her from . . . something . . . . in the Highgate Cemetery, and then she discovers that a murder took place, just yards away from where she had been standing, April has to wonder if something more sinister is going on. . . . and whether or not she's going to live through it . . .

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I'm a big fan of historical fiction, and while I haven't read anything by Alison Weir before, I've always been interested in the story of Anne Boleyn, so this seems like a good place to start.  I love the new cover art for this one too!

The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn by Alison Weir.

Published: June 3rd 2010 by Vintage Books. (first published September 1st 2009).

Paperback, 288 pages.
Genre: Historical Fiction.

The imprisonment and execution of Queen Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's second wife, in May 1536 was unprecedented in the annals of English history. It was sensational in its day, and has exerted endless fascination over the minds of historians, novelists, dramatists, poets, artists and film-makers ever since. Anne was imprisoned in the Tower of London on 2 May 1536, and tried and found guilty of high treason on 15 May. Her supposed crimes included adultery with five men, one her own brother, and plotting the King's death. She was executed on 19 May 1536. Mystery surrounds the circumstances leading up to her arrest. Was it Henry VIII who, estranged from Anne, instructed Master Secretary Thomas Cromwell to fabricate evidence to get rid of her so that he could marry Jane Seymour? Or did Cromwell, for reasons of his own, construct a case against Anne and her faction, and then present compelling evidence before the King? Following the coronation of her daughter Elizabeth I as queen, Anne was venerated as a martyr and heroine of the English Reformation. Over the centuries, Anne has inspired many artistic and cultural works and, as a result, has remained ever-present in England's popular memory. In her impressive new book, Alison Weir has woven a detailed and intricate portrait of the last days of one of the most influential and important figures in English history.

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This one comes highly recommended by Christina at Confessions of a Book Addict, and I can't wait to read it.  Sounds like the perfect coming of age/summer read!

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han.
Published: June 3rd 2010 by Puffin (first published 2009).
Paperback, 288 pages.
Genre: Realistic fiction.
Target Age Group: Young Adult.

Some summers are just destined to be pretty
Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer -- they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

All book summaries taken from Goodreads.

Book Review: My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares.

Product details:
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Hardcover, 416 pages.
Release date: June 24th 2010.
Rating: 4½ out of 5.
Source: ARC received from publisher for review.

Short summary from Goodreads:

Daniel has spent centuries falling in love with the same girl. Life after life, crossing continents and dynasties, he and Sophia (despite her changing name and form) have been drawn together-and he remembers it all. Daniel has "the memory", the ability to recall past lives and recognize souls of those he's previously known. It is a gift and a curse. For all the times that he and Sophia have been drawn together throughout history, they have also been torn painfully, fatally, apart. A love always too short. 

A magical, suspenseful, heartbreaking story of true love, My Name is Memory proves the power and endurance of a union that was meant to be. 

On reading Ann Brashares first adult book, The Last Summer of You and Me, I classed it as a light summer read, a little too soppy for my liking, and with a neat happy ending all tied up in a bow.  So, when I sat down to read this, I was expecting more of the same. I had prepared myself for a fun beach read, but what I got was so much more than that.  In short, I loved this book.  I didn’t want it to end.  I loved the characters, and the unique storyline, which fascinated me and kept me enthralled from start to finish.  I’m literally dying to know when the second book in this proposed trilogy is out, and I really hope I’m not in for too long of a wait!

I’m not quite sure how to describe this book to you.  It is an epic romance for sure, detailing a love story between two wonderful characters, but it also contains elements of mystery, thriller, action, adventure, travel and some wonderful historical detail, which was a real treat for a historical fiction fan, like me. In short, it has everything you could want from a good book, and I think it will appeal  to women of all ages.

The central love story in the book between soulmates Daniel and Sophia runs through the ages taking the reader on a journey from Asia Minor in 551 to England during World War I, all the time hopping back and forth between present day America.  I sometimes find that this writing style makes a story difficult to follow, but not so here.  The writing style is fluid and effortless and the prose flows from page to page.  The love story is wonderful, touching and real, and I genuinely cared about what happened to the characters. 

Although this book has drawn comparisons to The Time Traveller’s Wife, I found the subject matter in this book to be much more interesting. I've mentioned before that I didn't enjoy The Time Traveller's Wife.  It's a book I couldn't really get into at all.   The theme here is not of time travel, though but of reincarnation and rebirth of the soul. I really found this aspect of the book quite fascinating.  Daniel remembers the former lives of his soul, while Sophia, known as Lucy in present day, does not.  Daniel spends the ages trying to find Sophia and reconnect with her, while all the while his past may come back to haunt him in the shape of his eternal enemy. This is the twist in the tale, that takes My Name is Memory from being a straightforward, although epic romance, and makes it something so much more.  Things end on quite a cliffhanger, which is why I’m so anxious for the next book in the series already!

In case you hadn’t guessed, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.  The movie rights have already been optioned, and I really think this one will look great on the big screen.  First though,  I suggest you all add it to your summer reading list.  You won’t be disappointed.

I’m taking part in the Transworld Summer Reading Challenge! Sign up now & receive books to review!

An exciting new challenge came my way today, and it's a pretty good one, as for this challenge you will be sent books from Transworld Publishers to review!

Here are the details:  Please note this challenge is open to EU residents only.

Do you love to review books? Do you post reviews on Amazon? Are you an avid blogger? If you answered yes to any of these questions then the Transworld Summer Reading Challenge is for you!

Running from June to September we’re letting bloggers pick four titles from the list below to be sent for review. Review the book on your blog or on Amazon and send us the link, then we’ll send you out the second book on your list.It’s as easy at that!

1. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
2. Matters of the Heart by Danielle Steel
3. E Squared by Matt Beaumont
4. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
5. Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
6. Forbidden Pleasures by Jo Rees
7. Exit Wound by Andy McNab
8. Second Hand Heart by Catherine Ryan Hyde
9. Assassin by Tom Cain
10. Bryant & May on the Loose by Christopher Fowler
11. Amberville by Tim Davys
12. After You by Julie Buxbaum
13. Lockdown by Sean Black
14. The Wish by Sasha Blake
15. 61 Hours by Lee Child

Some great books, right?  I put my picks in bold.  What to do you think? Will you be signing up? What books are you interested in reading?

For full details, terms & conditions, and to sign up for the challenge, click: here.

Waiting on Wednesday #14 - Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking the Spine that spotlights eagerly awaited upcoming releases.

Personal Demons (Personal Demons #1)

Tor Teen

Hardcover, 364 pages.

Release date: September 14th 2010.

Target Age Group: Young Adult.

Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She's spent years keeping everyone at a distance—even her closest friends—and it seems her senior year will 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 works in Acquisitions—for Hell—and she possesses a unique skill set that has the King of Hell tingling with anticipation. All Luc has to do is get her to sin, and he’s as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn’t stand a chance.

Unfortunately for Luc, Heaven has other plans, and the angel, Gabe, is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that Luc doesn’t get what he came for. And it isn't long before they find themselves fighting for more than just her soul.

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

Oh, I like the sound of this one! I'm pretty excited to read it. It's not being published in the UK as of yet, but I'll definitely be ordering this one from The Book Depository.  I may have a thing for Luc already. He sounds so sexy and dangerous! This is the first in a new trilogy, and for more information, be sure to check out Lisa Derochers blog - it's a lot of fun over there.  You can find some great contests and sneak peeks of Personal Demons!

http://lisadesrochers.blogspot.com/

Let me know what you think of my choice this week and share your WoW picks in comments. :)

Book News: Annexed by Sharon Dogar surrounded by controversy.

This sounds like an interesting read, if like me, you like historical fiction.  It's an account of the life of Peter Van Pels, best known for his association with Anne Frank.  This book goes beyond their life in the secret annexe, and details what Peter's life might have been like in the NAZI concentration camps.  I came across this book trailer and interview with author Sharon Dogar, where she explains her reasons for writing the book.  This one is actually surrounded in controversy right now due to an article in The Times which accused Dougar of 'sexing up' Anne Frank.

Click to read full articles:

The Sunday Times accuses Dogar of 'sexing up' Anne Frank.

Sharon Dogar fights back over 'sexed up' claims.

 To me, Dogar does a good job of explaining her reasons for writing the book and from reading her interview, it appears that she has dealt with the subject with great sensitivity.  If you want to find out for yourself, the book is available for download on NetGalley.  If anyone has already read it, I'd love to know your thoughts.

Book description:

Everyone knows about Anne Frank, and her life hidden in the secret annexe - or do they? Peter van Pels and his family are locked away in there with the Franks, and Peter sees it all differently. He's a boy, and for a boy it's just not the same. What is it like to be forced into hiding with Anne Frank, to hate her and then find yourself falling in love with her? To know you're being written about in her diary, day after day? What's it like to sit and wait and watch whilst others die, and you wish you were fighting? How can Anne and Peter try to make sense of one of the most devastating episodes in recent history - the holocaust? Anne's diary ends on August 4 1944, but Peter's story takes us on, beyond their betrayal and into the Nazi death camps. He details with accuracy, clarity and compassion, the reality of day to day survival in Auschwitz - and the terrible conclusion. It's a story rooted firmly in history and it asks a question of us all: Are we listening? 'Is anybody there?' Peter cries from the depths of his despair in the camps. Read it, and you will be.

In My Mailbox #6 - June 20th 2010.

In my Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren in which bloggers share the books they have received each week. 

This was a good week for books! I didn't actually buy any books this week, but all these review books arrived all at once, so I'd better get reading...fast!

Click on the links for Goodreads descriptions of the books, and share your thoughts in comments. :)

Books for review:

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

*Read my review*

I also won a copy of this a while back, and it finally arrived this week, so I'll be giving that extra copy away in a competition soon. *stay tuned!*

My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares.

I've heard wonderful things about this book, and it's next on my to read list . I have high hopes for this one!

Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper.

I read a great review of this one a while back on one of my favourite blogs, Rhiana Reads, so looking forward to reading this one!

Need (Need #1) by Carrie Jones

Captivate (Need #2) by Carrie Jones

I've heard lots of good things about this series, and can't wait to check these out!

Forest Born (The Books of Bayern #4) by Shannon Hale.

I haven't read the other books in this series, and I'm not sure if I can't read this one as a standalone.  If anyone has info for me on this, let me know!

My Love Lies Bleeding (Drake Chronicles #1) by Alyxandra Harvey.

Blood Feud (Drake Chronicles #2) by Alyxandra Harvey.

I love the sound of The Drake Chronicles, and I love the fact that I was sent the first two books in the series.  Can't wait to start on these!

The Other Girl : A Midvale Academy Novel by Sarah Miller.

This sounds like fun, but I haven't read the first book and I'm not sure if I can start on this one without that background info, so I might have to buy the first book before I can start on this one.

Book Review: Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce.

Product details:

Publisher: Hodder Children's Books.

Hardcover, 336 pages.

Release date: June 3rd 2010.

Target Age: Young Adult.

Rating: 2½ out of 5.

Source: Received from publisher for review.

Summary from Goodreads:

The story of Scarlett and Rosie March, two highly-skilled sisters who have been hunting Fenris (werewolves) -- who prey on teen girls -- since Scarlett lost her eye years ago while defending Rosie in an attack. Scarlett lives to destroy the Fenris, and she and Rosie lure them in with red cloaks (a colour the wolves can't resist), though Rosie hunts more out of debt to her sister than drive. But things seem to be changing. The wolves are getting stronger and harder to fight, and there has been a rash of news reports of countless teen girls brutally murdered in the city. Scarlett and Rosie soon discover the truth: wolves are banding together in search of a Potential Fenris -- a man tainted by the pack but not yet fully changed. Desperate to find the Potential to use him as bait for a massive werewolf extermination, the sisters move to the city with Silas, a young woodsman and long time family friend who is deadly with an axe. But the clues to finding the Potential aren't adding up, and Scarlet is shocked to learn new details of Silas's family history. Meanwhile, Rosie finds herself drawn to Silas and the bond they share not only drives the sisters apart, but could destroy all they've worked for.

Sisters Red is loosely based on Little Red Riding Hood, and my take on it is that it's Little Red Riding Hood for a modern day audience who can handle a gritty storyline, a lot of bloodshed and some pretty gory violence. It's Little Red Riding Hood without a happily ever after, with battle wounds, deep scars and sisterly bonds.  It's definitely got a sinister edge that Little Red Riding Hood never had.  That said while it's got the wolves and the red capes of Little Red Riding Hood, this story extends much further than the fairytale ever did.   This is the story of Scarlett and Rosie March, the Sisters Red of the title, who have been hunting werewolves (Fenris, as they are known here) ever since they were attacked along with their grandmother as little girls.  That story didn't have a happy ending, and it has led the sisters into a life of killing and revenge upon the wolves.  Here, these wolves take the form of handsome men who prey on young girls, especially those who flirt, giggle, wear too much make-up and dress provocatively.

We first encounter Scarlett and Rosie as children where they live in a sort of fairytale land along with their grandmother Oma March.  It's before the wolves attack, lets us gain an insight into their lives as children and gives us some background information.  This fairytale setting and somewhat old fashioned lifestyle is at odds with the modern setting of the book, and is a little disconcerting, but is perhaps a deliberate ploy on the part of the author to show us innocence lost when the enemy attacks.   From here and the initial wolf attack, we are taken to present day, and a dual narrative between the two sisters that will see us through the rest of the book.  The dual narration, told in alternate chapters between Scarlett and Rosie is something that always takes me a while to get used to, and is not a writing device that I'm particularly enamoured with.  Although this technique works here for the most part, I felt that the pace of the story suffered a little because of it.

When I start on a new book, I always hope that I'll connect with the characters, but I have to say that here I couldn't really relate to the character of Scarlett at all.  Understandably, she has been hardened by her experiences, but it's to the point where all she ever thinks about is hunting.  Make no mistake - this girl lives, eats and breathes hunting.  She has no life at all outside the hunt, and no friends at all apart from her sister, and her hunting partner, Silas.  I felt as though she was completely cut off from the world around her, and that was kind of sad. Also, she is sometimes pretty dismissive of the girls she is fighting to protect.  At times I felt like Scarlett was thinking "well, these girls are just asking to be attacked - going out, wearing make-up, dressing up and having fun".  It's like she was totally removed from people her own age and devoid of any social life, so she didn't get that these girls were behaving in a perfectly normal way.  She was written in a way that made it hard to identify with her, while Rosie, on the other hand is easier to identify with.   She realises she should hunt too, but largely this is out of obligation to Scarlett.  She wants a life away from hunting, and a chance at romance with Silas.  These added aspects to her character  made her the more interesting character to read about, for me.  While it's great that these girls are strong female protagonists, their ostracisation from society is just plain unhealthy.  Also, because their lives revolved around the hunt, I found that parts of the  story dragged a little towards the middle of the book, and that there was a lot of repetition at times. 

I found this story pretty predictable too.  There is a twist, but I think it's probably going to be obvious to anyone who reads this pretty early on in the story.  That said, the obvious twist in this tale doesn't really detract from the storyline.  Despite the faults that I pointed out here, I thought this was an okay read for the most part.  I haven't read a modern retelling of a fairytale before, and I was interested to see how it was done.  However, I'm not sure that I'll be picking up Sweetly (2011), which is a companion novel to this one, and a modernization of Hansel and Gretel.  Overall, while I'm glad I tried this one out, and it did keep me entertained, I'm thinking that maybe one modern fairytale was enough for me at this point in time.  That said, if you like the sound of this, and you like your heroines strong and feisty and your battles bloody, then maybe this one is for you!

Waiting on Wednesday #13 - Linger by Maggie Stiefvater.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking the Spine that spotlights eagerly awaited upcoming releases.

Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #2)

Scholastic UK Ltd.

Paperback, 432 pages.

Release date: July 20th 2010.

Target Age Group: Young Adult.

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 Isabel, 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. 

Time for my favourite weekly meme! I'm sure a lot of you are waiting on Linger by Maggie Stiefvater.  I loved Shiver, and can't wait to read this!  Which cover do you prefer?  I like them both, but I gotta say  the UK cover is definitely my fave here!

Share your thoughts and WoW picks in comments!

Book Review: Cum Laude by Cecily Von Ziegesar.

Product details:
Publisher: Hyperion.
Hardcover, 272 pages.
Release date: June 1st 2010.
Rating: 3 out of 5.

Book summary from Goodreads:

They're here for a higher education . . . and you won't believe how far they'll go.

 

Dexter College is a small liberal arts college in the quiet town of Home, Maine. But it won't stay quiet for long with this group of freshmen. There's Shipley--blonde and beautiful, the object of envy and more than a little lust. Determined to assert herself and to shed her good-girl image, she buys cigarettes and condoms, because that's what every self-respecting college girl does. Her edgy roommate, Eliza, came to Dexter to get noticed, and she has the attitude and the mouth to prove it. Then there's Tom. Handsome, privileged, used to getting his own way, he's a jock-turned-artist who thinks his paintings will change the world. Sensitive Nick, Tom's wake-and-bake pot-smoking roommate, wants to follow in the footsteps of his boarding-school hero. And then there are brother and sister Adam and Tragedy Gatz. The freckle-faced farm boy lives at home with his parents and his little sister, who does all she can to stop him from being a wuss.

As Shipley, Eliza, Tom, Nick, and Adam find out, that first year of college is more than credits and cramming. Between the lust and the love, the secrecy and the scandal, they'll all receive an unexpected education. It's a time of shifting alliances, unrequited crushes, and coming of age. Find Yourself is Dexter's motto. And they are determined to do just that.

Cum laude is the first book I’ve read by Cecily Von Ziegesar and it’s a fun read, although in terms of coming of age tales it’s pretty formulaic and nothing you haven’t read before.  That said, I found it pretty compulsive reading, and it made me want to read more from Von Ziegesar.  This is a wild ride through college life with a very interesting cast of characters, to say the least.

All your coming of age stalwarts are present and correct in this book.  There’s Shipley, who is Serena Van Der Woodsen in her ability to make men fall at her feet, although she’s more wholesome than Serena ever was, and you never see her in a knockout bodycon number.  Her roommate Eliza is her necessary coming of age contrast character - dark and edgy, complete with a permanent sneer. Underneath her tough exterior though, she just wants to be loved.  Then there’s the boys. For me, the boys were a bit of a letdown here.  Tom the jock, and Nick, the hippy stoner are really nothing to write home about.  Two of my favourite characters were Adam and his sister, Tragedy. Yes, you heard right, her name is Tragedy. She was named after the Bee Gee’s song of the same name.  That's just one example of the great humour in the book. Tragedy deserves her own spin-off series, for sure.  Adam isn't as fun a character as his sister, but he is deep and sensitive, the polar opposite of Tom, and necessary for our fun love triangle. I’m a big fan of these love triangles, you know.

I should point out that this novel was written for an adult audience, but honestly, while it does contain themes of sex and drugs, nothing is overly graphic, and I think this one will appeal to older teens who want to find out all about just how much fun college can be! Other than the keg parties, and experimentation with sex and drugs, not a whole lot goes on in this book.  It’s fun, nonetheless, and the characters embark on the necessary journeys of self-discovery throughout the book.  There is a subplot involving Shipley’s missing brother “Pink Patrick”, but it’s no mystery to us, and this wasn’t my favourite part of the book, although if the series continues, things could get interesting between him and Tragedy.

When I read the novel, I believed it to be a standalone, and it’s works just fine as that, but having read a couple of interviews with Von Ziegesar, I understand she’s planning to make a three book series out of this, which possible explains why the book is set in the nineties.  Maybe we’ll get to follow these guys through their college years.  I’ll certainly be along for the ride!

I needed to point this out, just because I'm so obsessed with cover art.  These books practically have the same cover! Is this odd? I've never come across two books with the same cover before. I was browsing in Waterstones last week and when I saw the If I Stay cover, I thought the girl looked familiar. Well,  from what I can see they've only gone and used the same girl and even the same picture on the Cum Laude cover, just from a different angle. The final cover for Cum Laude was very late releasing, so maybe they couldn't decide on what to use. Sorry for the crap picture of that one, by the way.  Clearly, I am not a photographer. :)

In my Mailbox #5 - June 13th 2010.

In my Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren in which bloggers share the books they have received every week. 

Bought:

Cum Laude by Cecily von Ziegesar

Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

For Review:

The Moth Diaries by Rachel Klein.

From Bookmooch:

Isabella Moon by Laura Benedict.

I got some pretty nice books this week. I'm looking forward to reading all of these!  Click on the links for Goodreads book descriptions.  Let me know your thoughts in comments! :)

Book Review: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella by Stephenie Meyer.

Product details:
Publisher: ATOM (UK)
Hardcover, 178 pages.
Release date: June 5th 2010.
Target Age Group: Young Adult.
Source:  http://breetanner.com/

Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits. In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion.


Bree Tanner can barely remember life before she had uncannily powerful senses, superhuman reflexes and unstoppable physical strength. Life before she had a relentless thirst for blood... life before she became a vampire.

 Ah, where to start with Bree Tanner?  I’ve noticed quite a few five star reviews of this one around, and I’m pretty sure that they might have been marked five stars before this book was even released - five stars from the Twihards was a given!  Now, I’m a big fan of the Twilight saga, but I’m not going to give this five stars just because it was written by Stephenie Meyer.  I can understand why a lot of people were very excited about reading something new from her, although honestly, when I first heard of this release, I couldn’t even recall who Bree Tanner was, and I really couldn’t figure out why Meyer had decided to focus on such a minor character.   However, when you read it, you’ll understand.  There’s a lot more to Bree than meets the eye.  Also, Eclipse is my favourite book of the saga along with the original Twilight book,  and it’s the movie instalment I’ve been most looking forward to, so when I saw this was free to read online, I was eager to check it out.

I'll start with the negative.  This is only a minor quip, but even though this is a short read, I still found that certain passages dragged. I have always found Meyer’s style overly descriptive and rambling in parts.  There are a lot of new characters to get to know here too, and while Meyer does a good job with the introductions, I didn’t feel especially connected to many of them. There just isn’t time to get to know them all very well.    There is however an emerging love story, which is quite sweet.  The love stories and deep bonds between characters are what Meyer does best.  We are also introduced to a wonderfully quirky character called Fred in this book,  and I'd love to  find out more about him.  You should also read this if you want to gain some shocking insight into just how shady the Volturi really are.  I guess I knew what they were capable of, but there’s a nice twist here, for sure.

When I first read Eclipse, I looked upon the newborn vampires as nothing more than blood-hungry savages.  I didn’t give them the time of day, which perhaps explains why I didn’t even remember Bree’s name at first. However, after reading this, I definitely feel a lot of sympathy towards  the newborns who were merely pawns in Victoria’s quest for revenge.  This novella will work well as a companion to the movie and to the character of Bree who is set to feature much more prominently in the movie than she does in the book.  After reading this you will care about what happens to her,  even though as a Twilight fan you’ll already know the outcome. Maybe you’ll be left feeling, as Meyer was, that Bree’s outcome should have been different.  She deserved better.

After finishing this, I went back and re-read Bree’s main scene in Eclipse (p. 568-578 in paperback), and I loved reading the story from both perspectives.  Getting inside Bree’s head was really interesting, while it was also great to go back and revisit the scene through Bella’s eyes.  I also enjoyed Bree’s exchanges with Carlisle, Esme and Edward.  Mostly Edward. I’ve missed him since the books ended.   Meyer really needs to release Midnight Sun sometime soon!

On My Wishlist #1 - June 12th 2010.

I'm always looking for new books to add to my wishlist, and I love to see what other people are adding to theirs, so how happy was I when I discovered this great weekly meme that's hosted at Book Chick City! I think I'll have a lot of fun and an even bigger wishlist after taking part in this one!

Here I'll list books that I really want to read, but haven't gotten around to buying yet.  They can be old, new or forthcoming.  Let me know what you think of my choices in comments.  If you've already read any of the books, I'd love to know what you thought!

*********************************

I stumbled upon this series while browsing Amazon during the week.  I'd never heard of it before, but it sounds like a lot of fun.  I'm looking for light summer reading and some new young adult series that I can get stuck into!

The Elite (The Elite #1)
Jennifer Banash
Published: June 3rd 2008 by Berkley Trade.
Paperback, 256 pages.

From the top, you can see everything - except yourself.

When Casey McCloy steps into the elegant Bramford building, she's overwhelmed. Fresh from the Midwest, she's moved to New York's Upper East Side to live with her grandmother and attend the prestigious Meadowlark Academy. Here all that matters is who you know. The girl to know is Madison Macallister: popular, pretty, platinum blond. She's not just Casey's new classmate and neighbor; she's an icon. So Casey aims to get in with Madison and her gorgeous gal-pals from the start. As the reigning queen of coolness, Madison is capable of destroying reputations with one well timed whisper. Better to be on her good side.

But after a city-haute makeover from her new frenemy Madison, Casey is wearing the right clothes, saying the right things, and meeting the right people,including Drew, the boy-about-town who Madison thinks belongs to her and her alone.

********************************

Thanks to Eleni from La Femme Readers for bringing this one to my attention. It sounds like nothing I've ever read before, so I'm looking forward to checking it out.

Timeless
Alexandra Monir

Published: January 11th 2011 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers.
Hardcover, 288 pages.

When her mother is killed in a car accident, Michele Windsor has no choice but to move in with the wealthy grandparents she's never met in New York. Disillusioned by their coldness, Michele retreats into her room, where she discovers her great-great-aunt's journal--and, once she touches its pages, finds herself hurtled back in time.

In the glamorous Gilded Age, Michele learns that a wedding is coming up between the Windsors and another prominent family, the Walkers. But when Michele attends a party, something miraculous happens: while almost no one can see her in this era, one gorgeous young man with sparkling blue eyes can. Drawn together by mutual attraction, the two bond over music and the parents they've recently lost. But when the party is over, Michele learns the truth--the man she just fell for is Phillip Walker. And she, unknowingly, has just inspired him to call off his wedding to her great-great-aunt, prompting a family feud that will last for generations.

As Michele travels back and forth in time, she and Phillip meet over and over, always frustrated by their inability to have more than a few hours together. Michele knows she should try to make a life in the present, but none of the boys at school can hold a candle to Phillip. Finally, Michele tries to end their romance altogether--spurring a tragedy that transcends generations. Has Michele destroyed her chances for happiness? Or is her love for Phillip . . . timeless?

********************************

This one sounds like an intriguing mystery! I'll probably wait until it's released in paperback, as I've been buying too many hardbacks lately, and my bookshelves are feeling the strain!

The Poison Tree

Erin Kelly
Published: June 10th 2010 by Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
Hardcover, 352 pages.

It is the sweltering summer of 1997, and Karen is a straight-laced, straight-A university student. When she meets the impossibly glamorous Biba, a bohemian orphan who lives in a crumbling old mansion in Highgate with her enigmatic brother Rex, she is soon drawn into their world -- but something terrible is about to happen, and someone's going to end up dead. Already drawing comparisons to Barbara Vine, Tana French and Sophie Hannah, Erin Kelly is an extraordinarily talented new author.

All book summaries taken from Goodreads.

Book trailer: My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares & Blog Hop!

I've seen this book featured on a few blogs already, and when the accompanying trailer arrived at my inbox last week, I thought I'd share it with you.  This looks like a delightfully romantic read, perfect for summer and described as a cross between The Time Traveler's Wife and Twilight.  It was the Twilight comparison that caught my attention, I have to admit!  I'm one of only three people in the whole world who didn't like The Time Traveler's Wife!   I'm looking forward to checking this one out though. According to the press release, a major Hollywood movie is in the works for this one too. Exciting times! My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares will be available from June 24th 2010. (UK)

If any US readers have already read this one, let me know what you thought.  

And...since it's Friday, I'll be doing some blog hopping! I haven't participated in a while, so I'm hoping to find some great new blogs today!

 

This is a fun event hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books 

If you start following through the Hop, leave a comment on the blog to let  me know!  I will be sure to check out your blog and follow back.  Most importantly, the idea of the hop is to HAVE FUN!!

Waiting on Wednesday #12 - Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking the Spine that spotlights eagerly awaited upcoming releases.

Infinite Days - Rebecca Maizel.
Macmillan Children's Books.
Hardcover, 400 pages.
Release date: Sept. 3rd 2010 (UK)
Target age group: Young Adult.

When Lenah Beaudonte, a 500-year-old vampire queen, wakes up a human teenager at an ultra-cliquey prep school, she must choose between embracing the humanity she’s always craved and saving her new friends from her vicious coven. The first in a sizzling new YA series.

Lenah Beaudonte is, in many ways, your average teen: the new girl at Wickham Boarding School, she struggles to fit in enough to survive and stand out enough to catch the eye of the golden-boy lacrosse captain. But Lenah also just happens to be a recovering five-hundred-year-old vampire queen. After centuries of terrorizing Europe, Lenah is able to realize the dream all vampires have -- to be human again. After performing a dangerous ritual to restore her humanity, Lenah entered a century-long hibernation, leaving behind the wicked coven she ruled over and the eternal love who has helped grant her deep-seated wish.

Until, that is, Lenah draws her first natural breath in centuries at Wickham and rediscovers a human life that bears little resemblance to the one she had known. As if suddenly becoming a teenager weren’t stressful enough, each passing hour brings Lenah closer to the moment when her abandoned coven will open the crypt where she should be sleeping and find her gone. As her borrowed days slip by, Lenah resolves to live her newfound life as fully as she can. But, to do so, she must answer ominous questions: Can an ex-vampire survive in an alien time and place? What can Lenah do to protect her new friends from the bloodthirsty menace about to descend upon them? And how is she ever going to pass her biology midterm? 

You have to watch the trailer for this one too.  This is the first time I've posted a trailer to accompany my WoW pick, so you gotta believe me, it's good!

I'm really excited for this one! I love vampire fiction, and this sounds like a really unique take on the genre. Also, I can't believe the UK/Ireland release date is so far off. I can't wait!! How about the covers? They are quite different. The US cover first caught my eye because it is so different from the covers that you usually get on vampire books. The UK cover, though, has my heart. It's all dark and gothic. I love it! Can you tell I'm kind of excited for this book?!

Share your picks in comments!

E-Books are not the problem, it's all me! A.K.A NetGalley post #2.

I did a feature on NetGalley a while back, and now that I've read my first eBook, I thought I'd let you guys know my thoughts.  I read the book The Bad Queen: Rules and Instructions for Marie-Antoinette on my PC using Adobe Digital Editions, and as far as the actual reading goes it was fine - Adobe Digital Editions is a pretty funky tool, and you can increase the page sizes so that eye-strain and squinting are eliminated.  So far, so good.  Problem is that it wasn't much fun for me to sit at my PC for hours reading the book.  Usually I like to read at night curled up in bed, or if the sun is out, I like to hit my garden or the beach with my books.  In this sense, my PC was a real let down. I read the last hundred pages or so of the book on my boyfriend's laptop, and that was better, but there was still a problem.  That problem was me, and my poor concentration.  OMG! When I am reading on  a computer I can't stop checking the internet! Every ten minutes I was checking my email, checking twitter, checking out extra facts about Marie-Antoinette, Versailles and the French Revolution. (I'm a history nerd!).

So, while I've been really hesitant to ever read an e-book, in the end that wasn't the problem.  It was mainly me.  I think NetGalley is too good a resource to pass up just because I don't enjoy reading on my PC or because of my poor concentration.  So, I thought that maybe I should invest in an eReader.  I think there are enough great titles on NetGalley to make the purchase worthwhile.  The Galleys I plan to download would never replace my actual books, but it would enable me to feature some pre-release books on here, which is always fun to do.  So, where to start? I know absolutely nothing about eReaders, but I found one I thought looked good- The Sony Pocket eReader PRS300R.  Well, it's pink, and that was my main reason for choosing this one.  In addition, the lovely Beth from Maybe Tomorrow assures me that she has one, and it's great.  I can't remember our twitter conversation now, but I'm sure it went something like that. 

So, that's my follow up post, and for any of you who were holding off on NetGalley  or eBooks for the same reasons as me, then I hope this post is helpful to you.

Some questions to you:

• To anybody else that has already invested in an eReader, I'd love to know if you have any other recommendations for me? I'm looking for readers that are on the cheap side of economical as I'll only be using them for books I can get on NetGalley.  Well, that's the plan.  Let me know in comments if you have any suggestions for me!

• Can anybody tell me if all the galleys on NetGalley are downloadable onto eReaders? I presume this information is available on the site, but I'm still pretty clueless about eReaders, and I'm not sure if you can read the galleys on all platforms or if some are just available to read on Adobe Digital Editions? If anybody has read a lot of galleys from NetGalley and can fill me it, that'd be great!

Beautiful Malice winner!

Thanks to everyone who left a comment on my interview with Rebecca James.  I had a lot of fun writing up the questions, and hope to feature more author interviews on here soon.

The winner of an ARC of Beautiful Malice, as chosen by random.org is:

GABY

So as to avoid any confusion in case of duplicate names, here is the winner's comment:

Who hasn't had a toxic relationship? I think everyone has had them, even myself. And sometimes you think its more important to keep a toxic friend than not having any friend at all.

I'd love to read this book, please enter me!

Gaby, please send an email to DaisyChainBookReviews@gmail.com with your full name and address and I'll send the book to you ASAP.  You'll have 48 hours to email me.  If I don't hear from you by then, I'll choose another winner.

Don't worry if you didn't win this one, I'll have more contests coming up soon!

Book Review: The Bad Queen: Rules and Instructions for Marie-Antoinette by Carolyn Meyer.

Product details:
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books.
Hardcover, 432 pages.
Release date: April 12th 2010.
Target Age Group: Young Adult.
Rating: 3½ out of 5
Source: Received from NetGalley for review.

Summary from Goodreads:

History paints her as a shallow party girl, a spoiled fashionista, a callous ruler. Perhaps no other royal has been so maligned--and so misunderstood--as Marie-Antoinette.

From the moment she was betrothed to the dauphin of France at age fourteen, perfection was demanded of Marie-Antoinette. She tried to please everyone--courtiers, her young husband, the king, the French people--but often fell short of their expectations. Desperate for affection and subjected to constant scrutiny, this spirited young woman can't help but want to let loose with elaborate parties, scandalous fashions, and unimaginable luxuries. But as Marie-Antoinette's lifestyle gets ever more recklessly extravagant, the peasants of France are suffering from increasing poverty--and becoming outraged. They want to make the queen pay.

In this latest installment of her acclaimed Young Royals series, Carolyn Meyer reveals the dizzying rise and horrific downfall of the last Queen of France.

This is the first book I've read in Carolyn Meyer's Young Royals series, and I very much enjoyed it. Marie-Antoinette is one of my favourite historical characters, although this is the first work of fiction I've read on her.   I've always been interested in her story, and here Carolyn Meyer has written an enjoyable and well balanced account of Marie Antoinette, from her early life in Austria to her final days and brutal death during the French Revolution.

We meet Marie Antoinette when she is just twelve years old and already promised in marriage to the French dauphin, Louis-Auguste.  We learn of all the rules of etiquette Marie-Antoinette must obey when she enters the French court, and also the extreme measures taken to ensure she looks perfect for the dauphin. Some of these are pretty harsh, and you don't even want to know what Marie-Antoinette has to endure at the hands of her dentist!   On reaching France and the palace of Versailles, she embarks on a marriage which is unfulfilling and leads her to find excitement in other areas of her life, namely extravagant dresses, parties at Le Petit Trianon, gambling and a love affair with the Swedish count Axel Von Fersen.  While Marie-Antoinette was much maligned in French society for her extravagant fashions and indulgent style of living, I have to say that I loved the descriptions of the different fashions and hairstyles during the time.  For me, I have always thought that Marie-Antoinette's only crime was these indulgences at a time when the ordinary people of France were starving and  suffering.  She was young, shallow and spoiled, but she did not deserve the treatment she suffered at the hands of her subjects.

Meyer really brings the Petit Trianon, Marie Antoinette's private retreat at Versailles, to life.  I visited Versailles and the Petit Trianon last year, and I have to say that Meyer's descriptions of the building and especially the surrounding gardens are really wonderful.   While the  writing is straightforward and simplistic, a style I am not used to in historical fiction, I warmed to it after a time. This is is written for younger audiences and I think the straightforward explanations of the sometimes complicated and often boring French revolution will appeal to younger readers with an interest in history.

As the book develops, the style begins to flow, especially in the final part of the book which I found very moving.  Here, the narration moves from Marie-Antoinette to that of her daughter, Marie-Thérése.  To see the French revolution through the eyes of the young girl is saddening.  She sees her whole family taken away from her and hears of the deaths of everyone she ever loved.  The final part of the book is pretty brutal, and also very well written.  I was pretty engrossed in the story by this point, and this part of the story, although bloody and brutal, was one of my favourite parts of the book.  I also enjoyed learning of Marie-Therese's later life as it's something not often detailed in history books.

I am glad that Meyer included an author's note on the infamous "Let them eat cake" line.  I was wondering if this would be included in the book, and glad that it was not, since Marie-Antoinette never said this.  I am big on historical accuracy, even in historical fiction.  Overall I found this to be an enjoyable and interesting read.  It's a good starting point for some background information on Marie-Antoinette's life, and should you want to continue your reading, Meyer has included a helpful bibliography at the back of the book.

Please help me pick my next Young Adult book series. I need to catch up!

I'm a bit behind on a lot of the great Young Adult series that are around at the moment.  I was asked yesterday if I'd ever read any of Cassandra Clare's  Mortal Instruments series and the answer is, no, I haven't.  I haven't  read Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games either. I'm so behind! I've heard really good things about these books, though, and I hope to get to them soon. I don't devote all my reading time to YA books, which is maybe why I've missed out on a lot of these series.  Now though, I'm going to catch up!  I've picked three YA series that I'm interested in, and I'd love to read your thoughts on them.  I intend to get through one series before starting the next.  

Please help me out and tell me what you thought of these books.  If you've read all three series, tell me which series was your favourite.  I think all of these books sound really good, but I want to know how good the series remain as they progress.  Also, if there's another YA series you'd recommend along with or instead of these, then let me know that too. I've missed out on so much!

Blue Bloods (Blue Bloods #1)

Melissa de la Cruz

Vampire novels are my great weakness....!

When the Mayflower set sail in 1620, it carried on board the men and women who would shape America: Miles Standish; John Alden; Constance Hopkins. But some among the Pilgrims were not pure of heart; they were not escaping religious persecution. Indeed, they were not even human. They were vampires.The vampires assimilated quickly into the New World. Rising to levels of enormous power, wealth, and influence, they were the celebrated blue bloods of American society.

The Blue Bloods vowed that their immortal status would remain a closely guarded secret. And they kept that secret for centuries. But now, in New York City, the secret is seeping out. Schuyler Van Alen is a sophomore at a prestigious private school. Suddenly, when she turns fifteen, there is a visible mosaic of blue veins on her arm. She starts to crave raw food and she is having flashbacks to ancient times. Then a girl from her school is found dead... drained of all her blood. Schuyler doesn't know what to think.

Could those vampire legends really be true? Steeped in vampire lore and set against the heady backdrop of the rich, young, and powerful in the heart of New York City, Blue Bloods will be devoured by Melissa de la Cruz's legion fans.

The Luxe (Luxe #1)
Anna Godbersen

I featured Godbersen's upcoming book 'Bright Young Things' as my Waiting on Wednesday a few weeks back.  Got me thinking that maybe I should get started on this series too!

A big, sumptuous tale of catty girls, dark secrets and windswept romance unfurls in this compulsively readable novel of late-19th-century New York City socialites. Godbersen weaves a tenuous web of deceit, backstabbing and pretense that follows four teens: Elizabeth Holland, a prim and proper lady of old-money society, is betrothed to one man, though furtively loves another; Henry Schoonmaker, a debauched playboy who must marry Elizabeth or be disinherited; Diana Holland, Elizabeth’s younger sister who is in love with her fiancé; and Penelope Hayes, a member of the nouveau riche who will stop at nothing to win Henry’s affections. As Elizabeth and Henry’s wedding approaches, the spectacle unfolds in a wondrously grandiose scene, making for a fun, though not entirely unexpected dénouement. A delicious new twist along the Gossip Girl vein, readers will clamor for this sharp, smart drama of friends, lovers, lies and betrayal.

 Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1)
Richelle Mead


Ahhhh...More vampires! How do I choose?

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

Book Review: Stolen by Lucy Christopher.

Product details:
Publisher: Chicken House Ltd.
Paperback, 320 pages.
Release date: May 4th 2009 (UK)
Rating: 3 out of 5.

Product description from Goodreads:

Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back? The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don't exist - almost. 

I’d heard a lot of good things about this book, but I have to say,  it fell a little flat for me. First off, I did not find the storyline or the characters compelling.  The premise of the book was good and sounded very exciting, but in reality the story was very repetitive and slow moving.    It’s written in the form of a letter, and mostly features two characters in the Australian outback, where not a whole lot happens. Both the characters and the narrative style were not enough to keep me entertained. The setting of the Australian outback was also unappealing to me.  Christopher has obviously done her research here but to me the long vivid descriptions of plant and animal life in the Australian desert just seemed boring.  I found myself skim-reading certain passages, something I rarely do.

I generally love books where I really get to know the characters, and as a character study, this book could have been great, but the characters lacked depth and description for me, and I didn‘t connect with either Ty or Gemma.  Gemma has been kidnapped, taken away from everything she knows and loves, and yet, I didn’t really feel sorry for her.  I found her to be annoying for the most part, when surely I should have had a lot of sympathy for her plight.  I felt that Christopher wanted the reader to feel some sympathy towards Ty, though , and to this effect there are many descriptions of how good-looking he is, how he loves Gemma and would never hurt her, and how he has abducted her for her own good.  This just didn’t work for me.  The guy has been stalking the girl since she was ten.  I did not have any sympathetic feelings towards him whatsoever.

 All that said, the book does have it’s good points.  The story started off well, and I enjoyed the flashbacks to Gemma’s previous life in London, which to me, were far more interesting than the bulk of the story.  Despite the fact that this book wasn’t for me, I liked Christopher’s writing style for the most part, and I would check out future releases from her.

Waiting on Wednesday #11 - Deception (Haunting Emma) by Lee Nichols.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking the Spine that spotlights eagerly awaited upcoming releases.

Deception (Haunting Emma #1)

Bloomsbury Childrens Books

Hardcover, 336 pages.

Release date: June 8th 2010 (US) / July 5th 2010 (UK)

Target Age Group: Young Adult.

When Emma Vaile's parents go missing while away on a mysterious business trip, her brother's very cute best friend, Bennett Stern—Emma's knight in J. Crew armor—arrives unexpectedly to whisk her away to New England. There, Emma settles into his family's museum-like mansion and enrolls at an old-fashioned private school. Emma has memories of Thatcher that she can't explain—it's as if she's returning home to a place she's never been. Finally, Emma confides in Bennett and learns she is a ghostkeeper, a person who can communicate with ghosts. Bennett brought Emma to Thatcher to protect her, but now he needs her help tracking an other-worldly murderer.

This sounds like a fun new series, and I look forward to checking it out.  I reckon a few of you US bloggers  have gotten review copies already since the US release date is only days away, so if you've read it, let me know your thoughts.  Let me know what you think of the cover art too! Share your WoW picks in comments.