Pancake Wednesday

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This is the batter I made on Tuesday from Jane Asher's Eats for Treats, a cookery book Mum got when I was small.

This is half-way through cooking my first pancake 🙂

I love pancakes. We were going to have pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, but that didn’t happen. I’d made the batter and everything too. So we had them last night, although Dad decided to opt out for some reason. So here are some pictures taken of the fun of pancake day 🙂

I hope everyone had a brilliant Pancake Day/Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras whenever they celebrated it!

This is my first pancake. It was yummy 🙂

In My Mailbox (2)

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Right, so this is my second IMM – the meme In My Mailbox which is hosted by The Story Siren.

I wasn’t planning on posting this until March 1st, but all these books arrived last week so I thought I might post a bit earlier than planned.

IMM 2.1

There are also three books I didn’t take photos of. I got six of the books through Waterstones brilliant 3 for 2 offer on children’s books.

The Eternal Kiss ed. by Trisha Telep (click here for more info)
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (click here for more info)
Betrayed by P.C. and Kristin Cast (click here for more info)
Untamed by P.C. and Kristin Cast (click here for more info)
Raising Demons by Rachel Hawkins (click here for more info)
My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent (click here for more info)
Switched by Amanda Hocking (click here for more info)
Across the Universe by Beth Revis (click here for more info)
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly (click here for more info)
Abandon by Meg Cabot (click here for more info)
Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent (click here for more info)
Graveminder by Melissa Marr (click here for more info)
Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood (click here for more info)
Wither by Lauren DeStefano (click here for more info)
Chosen by P.C. and Kristin Cast (click here for more info)
Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan (click here for more info)
Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey (click here for more info)
Matched by Ally Condie (click here for more info)
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead (click here for more info)
Exodus by Julie Bertagna (click here for more info)

There are a couple on the list that I’m really looking forward to reading 🙂

What are you reading this month?

Review: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

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Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, UK edition

Title: Hex Hall
Author:  Rachel Hawkins
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: Simon and Schuster (1st April 2010)
Source: Local library.
Blurb:

When sixteen-year-old Sophie Mercer discovers she’s a witch, she imagines life will be full of magic, fun and . . . well . . . broomsticks! But her first attempt at a love spell goes disastrously wrong and, as punishment, Sophie is shipped off to Hecate “Hex” Hall, a reform school for witches, shapeshifters, and faeries.

By the end of the first day among her fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tag-along ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person on campus and the only vampire.

Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students and her only friend is the number one suspect . . .


Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

Hex Hall is Rachel Hawkins debut novel, and tells the story of Sophie Mercer a 16-year-old with magical powers. Things go a little wonky, and Sophie finds herself shipped off to reform school and a world she knows little about.

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Review: Mastiff by Tamora Pierce

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Beka Cooper Book 3

Mastiff by Tamora Pierce

Title: Mastiff (Beka Cooper Book Three)
Author:  Tamora Pierce
Genre: Young Adult, Sword & Sorcery
Publisher: Random House (25th October 2011)
Blurb:

The Hunt is on!

Three years have passed since Beka Cooper almost died in the sewers of Port Caynn, and she is now a respected member of the Provost’s Guards. But her life takes an unexpected turn when her fiancé is killed on a slave raid. Beka is faced with a mixture of emotions as, unbeknownst to many, she was about to call the engagement off.

It is as Beka is facing these feelings that Lord Gershom appears ar her door. Within hours, Beka; her partner, Tunstall; her scent hound, Achoo; and an unusual but powerful mage are working on an extremely secretive case that threatens the future of the Tortallan royal family, and therefore the entire Tortallan government. As Beka delves deeper into the motivations of the criminals she now Hunts, she learns of deep-seated political dissatisfaction, betrayal, and corruption. These are people with power, money, and influence. They are able to hire the most skilled mages, well versed in the darkest forms of magic. And they are nearly impossible to identify.

This case – a Hunt that will take her to place she’s never been – will challenge Beka’s tracking skills beyond the city walls, as well as her ability to judge exactly whom she can trust with her life and her country’s future.


Rating: ***** (5 stars)
Review:

Mastiff is the third and final book in Tamora Pierce’s brilliant Beka Cooper trilogy. It is also the fifth series set in the Tortall ‘verse, although it is set before any of the other books in the ‘verse. As such it allows the reader a peek into a time before the world they are familiar with from The Song of the Lioness Quartet or Protector of the Small Quartet. Mastiff shows the work of the Provost’s Guard, as by this point Beka has completed her training, which is similar to the modern-day police.

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Melissa Marr – Faery Tales, Nightmares, & Graveminders Competition

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Graveminder by Melissa Marr, UK edition cover.

In case you didn’t know, on her LiveJournal Melissa Marr is holding a give-away of 6 books – Graveminder US and UK paperbacks are up for grabs, as well as Faery Tales & Nightmaresis US hardback.

Faery Tales and Nightmares by Melissa Marr

If you are interested in taking part in the contest, or just want to find out more, then follow the link: http://melissa-writing.livejournal.com/413823.html

Graveminder was published 2nd February 2012 in the UK.
Faery Tales & Nightmares will be published 1st March 2012 in the UK.

You can find out more about both book my visiting Melissa Marr’s website.

Review: Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

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Inheritnace Cycle Book 4

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

Title: Inheritance (Inheritance Book Four)
Author: Christopher Paolini
Genre:Fantasy,  Sword and Sorcery, Young Adult
Publisher: Doubleday Childrens (8th November 2011)
Blurb:

It began with Eragon . . .

It ends with Inheritance . . .

Not so very long ago, Eragon – Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider – was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now, the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders.

Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they most confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chance.

The Riders and his dragon have come father than anyone dared to imagine. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost?

This is the spellbinding conclusion to Christopher Paolini’s worldwide bestselling Inheritance cycle.

Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

Inheritance brings to a conclusion Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle, a series that was originally conceived as a trilogy. It is always sad to see the end of the series, to say goodbye to the characters you’ve grown to know and love. This book is no exception.

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In My Mailbox (1)

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So… I’ve decided I’m going to participate in the meme In My Mailbox which is hosted by The Story Siren. I’m not sure how regularly I’ll participate, probably once a month at the moment.

This is my first time, so here goes…

Marked (A House of Night Novel) by P.C. and Kristin Cast (click here for more info)
Raven Queen by Pauline Francis (click here for more info)
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins (click here for more info)
Bloodlines by Richelle Mead (click here for more info)

As you can tell from the picture, I got all these books from my local library. I didn’t order anything in January. I’m really looking forward to reading Marked as I’ve heard a lot about it. I’m also looking forward to Hex Hall as Sarah Rees Brennan recommended it in a Tumblr post.

What are you reading this month?

Review: Drink Deep by Chloe Neill

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A Chicagoland Vampires Novel 5

Drink Deep by Chloe Neill, UK edition cover.

Title: Drink Deep (A Chicagoland Vampires Novel)
Author:  Chloe Neill
Genre: Paranoraml Romance, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Gollancz Fiction (10th November 2011)
Blurb:

Clouds are brewing over Cadogan House, and recently turned vampire Merit can’t tell if it’s the darkness before the dawn or the calm before the storm. With the city itself in turmoil and the state threatening to pass a paranormal registration act, things haven’t been this precarious for vampires since they came out of the closet. If only they could lay low for a bit, and let the mortals calm down.

That’s when the waters of Lake Michigan suddenly turn pitch black, and things really start getting ugly.

The mayor insists it’s nothing to worry about, but Merit knows only the darkest magic could have woven a spell powerful enough to change the very fabric of nature. She’ll have to turn to friends old and new to find out who’s behind this, and stop them before it’s too late . . .

Rating: ***** (5 stars)
Review:

This is the fifth book in Chloe Neill’s exciting Chicagoland Vampires series, and it is a very exciting read. Drink Deep starts not long after the end of Hard Bitten, the previous book in the series, with everything slowly starting to settle back into place. Unfortunately it would seem that Merit is not destined to have a quite life (but then if she was, we wouldn’t be reading about her).

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