Book Review

Review: Deadly Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

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Hemlock #1

Deadly Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock, UK edition cover.

Title: Deadly Hemlock (Hemlock #1)
Author: Kathleen Peacock
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher:  SimonPulse (5th July 2012)
Blurb:

Mackenzie and Amy were best friends.
Until Amy was brutally murdered.
But Amy wasn’t killed by a human . . .
she was killed by a werewolf.

Lupine Syndrome – the werewolf virus – is spreading and werewolf attacks are increasing as those infected struggle to control their bloodlust. Amy’s death has turned Mac’s life upside down: her dreams are haunted by Amy, and the Trackers, an extremist group determined to stop those with Lupine Syndrome, have come to her hometown of Hemlock to promote their cause by hunting down Amy’s killer.

Unwilling to work with the brutal Trackers, but desperate to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate the murder herself. But the deeper she delves into the mystery of Amy’s death, the more secrets she discovers lurking in the shadows of Hemlock. Secrets that should have been left untold. Secrets that will chance her life forever.

Rating: ***** (5 stars)
Source: Won on competition on authors website/Facebook with signed book-plate and bookmark.

Review:

Deadly Hemlock is Kathleen Peacock’s debut novel and the first book in her Hemlock Trilogy. It was published as Hemlock in the US. In it we are introduced to Mackenzie, whose best friend Amy was brutally murdered by a werewolf. Amy’s death has shattered Mac, and as the book takes off six weeks after the event she is still picking up the pieces.

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Review: My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent

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Soul Screamers 2

My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent, UK edition cover.

Title: My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers #2)
Author: Rachel Vincent
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher:  MiraInk (18th February 2011)
Blurb:

When Kaylee Cavanaugh screams, someone dies.

So when teen pop sensation Eden croaks onstage and Kaylee doesn’t wail, she knows something is dead wrong. Kaylee can’t cry for someone who has no soul.

Soon Kaylee finds that Eden’s not the only starry-eyed girl who traded her life for a flickering moment of fame – a deal that has dark consequences no mortal could understand.

Banshee Kaylee swears to help those lost souls. But school football star Nash – Kaylee’s newly acquired, not to mention super-hot, boyfriend – refuses to let her in harm’s way. Still Kaylee knows it’s her duty to save the innocent from the Netherworld – even if it means putting her own soul – and love life – at risk . . .

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Review:

My Soul to Save is the second book in the Soul Screamers series by Rachel Vincent. The book starts several weeks after the events of My Soul to Take.

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Review: Dragon’s Oath by P.C. and Kristin Cast

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House of Night Novella #1

Dragon’s Oath by P.C. and Kristin Cast.

Title: Dragon’s Oath (House of Night Novella #1)
Author: P.C. and Kristin Cast
Genre:  Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Publisher:  Atom (12th July 2011)
Blurb:

Had I chosen differently those many years ago,

perhaps I could have kept all this from happening.

Strength tempered by mercy was a mistake.

Do you not remember, my love?

I do. I will never forget.

Dragon Lankford wasn’t always an instructor at the House of Night. Once he was a student: young, talented and in love. But the mistake that cost him everything might be the key to helping Zoey and the rest of the vampyres in their fight against the darkness . . .


Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

Dragon’s Oath is the first novella in the House of Night series, and the novella is set partly during the events of Awakening, and partly in the past when Dragon and his Anastasia first meet. I would not suggest reading this novella before you have read Awakened as you might be spoiled.

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Review: Awakened by P.C. and Kristin Cast

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House of Night #8

Awakened by P.C. and Kristin Cast, UK edition cover.

Title: Awakened (House of Night #8)
Author: P.C. and Kristin Cast
Genre:  Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Publisher:  Atom (25th October 2011)
Blurb:

‘Zoey lives.’

Neferet’s voice was flat, cold, lifeless.

‘She does. What will happen next?’

‘It is quite simple. I will ensure Zoey is drawn back to Oklahoma. There, on my own terms, I will complete the task you failed.‘

Exonerated by the Vampyre High Council and returned to her position of High Priestess at Tulsa’a House of Night, Neferet has sworn vegence on Zoey. But Zoey has found sanctuary on the Isle of Sky and is being groomed by Queen Sgiach to take over for her there. Bring Queen could be cool, wouldn’t it?

And what about Stevie Rae and Rephaim? The Raven Mocker refuses to be used against Stevie Rae, but what choice does he have when no one in the entire world, including Zoey, would be okay with their relationship? Does he betray his father or his heart?


Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

Awakened is the eight book in the House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast. Awakened follows on from the dramatic events of Burned.

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Review: Frostbite by Richelle Mead

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Vamprie Academy #2

Frostbite by Richelle Mead, UK edition cover.

Title: Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2)
Author: Richelle Mead
Genre:  Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Publisher:  Razorbill (1st October 2009)
Blurb:

. . . WINTER BREAK TURNS DEADLY

A MASSIVE VAMPIRE ATTACK HAS PUT ST. VLADIMIR’S ACADEMY ON HIGH ALERT. WITH THE DEADLY CREATURES CLOSING IN, THIS YEAR’S TIP TO THE WINTER PEAKS OF IDAHO HAS JUST BECOME MANDATORY.

But Rose Hathaway can’t escape her (guy) troubles. Her relationship with gorgeous tutor Dimitri can never be and her closest friend has just confessed to his huge crush on her . . .

The glittering winter landscape may seem like the perfect hideaway – but Rose, and her heart, are in more danger that she ever imagined.


Rating: **** (4 stars)
Review:

Frostbite is the second book in the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. Rose and Lissa have settled back into life at St. Vladimir’s, but things are starting to heat up and the Strigoi are getting bolder.

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July Book Clearance @ The Flutterby Room

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My bookshelves are WAY beyond full. Seriously. I have 311 books, not counting my manga and comic collection, or any books that may in some way be related to study (if I tilt my head and squint, maybe). I just don’t have the space for any more books, so I NEED to clear out at least some of the books.

Normally when I clear out my bookshelves I give the books to a local charity, but this time as most of the books I want to giveaway have been published relatively recently and because I recently posted about books I really want to get my hands on that have already been published for a Top Ten Tuesday (you can find the post here) I thought I would hold a giveaway on the blog.

I am giving away 9 books as two prizes – 1 x 5 books & 1 x 4 books. All the books are in good to excellent condition – unfortunately a couple have lines down their spine, sorry. As I am giving away so many books I’m afraid that I’m only going to open this competition to people who live in the UK and Ireland. If you live somewhere else, don’t worry, if you check back in early September I’m going to be doing an International giveaway. Lucky, my dog, managed to sneak into the pictures.

Pack 1 (5 books)

  • x 1, Across the Universe by Beth Revis
  • x 1, Slated by Terri Terry
  • x 1, Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
  • x 1, Struck by Jennifer Bosworth
  • x 1, Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Pack 2 (4 books)

  • x 1, Torn by Amanda Hocking
  • x 1, Switched by Amanda Hocking
  • x 1, Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
  • x 1, A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

So, now you’ve seen what the prizes are it’s time for the rules.

Rules

  • To enter this competition you must be aged 13 years old or older (on 16th July 2012).
  • This competition is open to the UK and Ireland ONLY.
  • +1 (extra) entry if you promote this giveaway on your twitter, blog, or tumblr. (You must provide a link so I can verify this)
  • The giveaway runs from 16th July 2012 12:00 BST to 29th July 2012  12:00 BST. The winners will be announced on the blog on 30th July at 12:00 BST. The winners will also receive an email from me to confirm details for shipping the prizes on that day.
  • The winners will have 72 hours from the 30th July at 12:00 BST to respond to my email, if they do not respond within that time a new winner will be chosen.
  • Each entry will be assigned a number. The winner will be picked by The True Random Number Generator at Random.org
  • TheFlutterbyRoom is not responsible for any loss or damage of the book in transit.
  • TheFlutterbyRoom reserves the right to cancel this competition at any time without any prior warning.
  • TheFlutterbyRoom reserves the right to disqualify any entry at any time.
  • Please do not leave any identifying details (such as full name, or email address) in the comment section.

CONTEST NOW CLOSED.

Good luck!

Review: Burned by P.C. and Kritin Cast

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House of Night #7

Burned by P.C. and Kristin Cast, UK edition.

Title: Burned (House of Night #7)
Author: P.C. and Kristin Cast
Genre:  Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Publisher:  Atom (7th October 2010)
Blurb:

Y’all need to get yourselves together. Here’s a newsflash from the only High Priestess you have left at this dang school: Zoey isn’t dead. And believe me, I know dead. I’ve been there, done that and got the fricken tee-shirt.

Zoey Redbird is the youngest High Priestess in House of Night history and is the only person – vamp of fledgling – who can stop the evil Neferet from raising all kinds of immortal trouble. And she might just have a  chance if she wasn’t so busy being dead.

Well, dead is too strong a word. Stevie Rae knows she can bring her BFF back from her unscheduled va-cay in the Otherworld. But it’s going to take a lot more than hoping to bring Zoey back. Stevie Rae might have to give up a few secrets of her own . . .


Rating: **** (4 stars)
Review:

Burned is the seventh book in the House of Night series by the mother and daughter team P.C. and Kristin Cast. Burned starts with the dramatic events at the end of Tempted, but this time from a different point of view.

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Review: Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

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The Cahill Witch Chronicles: Book 1

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Title: Born Wicked (The Cahill Witch Chronicles: Book 1)
Author: Jessica Spotswood
Genre:  Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Publisher:  Putnam (7th February 2012)
Blurb:

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it could mean an asylum, a prison ship – or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with six months to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word . . . especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood – not even from each other.


Rating: **** (4 stars)
Review:

Born Wicked is the first book in Jessica Spotswood’s The Cahill Witch Chronicles. In this book we get to meet Cate and her sisters Maura and Tess, and watch their struggle to fit in.

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Review: Exodus by Julie Bertagna

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Exodus #1

Exodus by Julie Bertagna

Title: Exodus (Exodus #1)
Author: Julie Bertagna
Genre:  Dystopian, Young Adult
Publisher:  Pan MacMillan (6th June 2003)
Blurb:

Mara’s island home is drowning as the ice caps melt and Earth loses its land to the ocean. But one night, in the ruined virtual world of the Weave, Mara meets the mysterious Fox – a fiery-eyed boy who tells her of sky cities that rise from the sea. Mara sets sail on a daring journey to find a new life for herself and her friends – instead she discovers a love that threatens to tear her apart . . .


Rating: * (1 star)
Review:

Exodus is the first book in Julie Bertagna’s Exodus trilogy in which the Earth is slowly drowning, and the human population is fighting to stay alive.

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Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

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Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Title: Across the Universe (Across the Universe #1)
Author: Beth Revis
Genre:  Sci-Fi, Young Adult
Publisher:  Razorbill (3rd March 2011)
Blurb:

AMY has left the world 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 someon 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 . . .


Rating: ** (2 stars)
Review:

Across the Universe is the first book in the series. It follows the adventures of a girl who wakes up on a spaceship two hundred and fifty years in the future. There have been a LOT of recommendations for this series on book blogs, so I thought I would give it a go.

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