Review 2012

Review: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

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Bloodlines by Richelle Mead, UK edition cover.

Title: Bloodlines
Author:  Richelle Mead
Genre:  Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher:  Razorbill (25th August 2011)
Source: Local library
Blurb:

Sydney protects vampire secrets – and human lives.

Sydney belongs to a secret group who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the world of humans and vampires.

But when Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, she fears she’s still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. What unfolds is far worse. The sister of Moroi queen Lissa Dragomir is in mortal danger, and goes into hiding. Now Sydney must act as her protector.

The last thing Sydney wants is to be accused of sympathizing with vampires. And now she has to live with one. . .


Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

Bloodlines is the first book in a new series by Richelle Mead, and is a spin-off her previous series Vampire Academy; it is set within the same world.

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Review: Marked by P.C. and Kristin Cast

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House of Night #1

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

Title: Marked (A House of Night Novel)
Author:  P.C. and Kristin Cast
Genre:  Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Publisher:  Atom (15th January 2009)
Source: Local library/Own copy
Blurb:

So the bad news was that I’d have to move into the House of Night, a private boarding scholl, known by all my friends as the vampyre finishing school, where I would spend the next four years going through bizarre and unnamable physical changes, as well as a  told and permanent life shake-up. And that’s only if the whole process didn’t kill me.

But the good news was that I wouldn’t have to take the geometry test tomorrow.

When sixteen-year-old Zoey is marked by the Tracker, she knows her old life is over. Now she has to leave her friends and family to join the House of Night school, where there’s only one subject Zoey needs to study: Vampyre 101.

Of course, there’s always a catch, and this one’s nice and simple: if you fail, you die . . .


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

Marked is the first book in P.C. and Kristin Cast’s House of Night series. As the book’s blurb suggests, Zoey gets sent to a school to learn how to be a vampyre. So the story is half high-school story, half vampyre story.

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Review: Raven Queen by Pauline Francis

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Raven Queen by Pauline Francis

Title: Raven Queen
Author:  Pauline Francis
Genre:  Historical Novel, Young Adult
Publisher:  Usborne (12th February 2007)
Source: Local library
Blurb:

I have lived the life of a princess since the day I was born. But it did not bring me what I wanted. I am still trapped.

My beloved Ned speaks of love, freedom, a future. To walk with him in the forest, our raven soaring above us, is my only joy. But my father plans that I shall be betrothed to the King and I am afraid. Queens of England have a habit of dying. I have no desire to take the throne, no wish to find myself in the Tower of London.

Wife, Queen – I fear it will bring me to my knees.

Raven Queen weaves a mesmerising take of love and tragedy based on the life of Lady Jane Grey, all too often remembered as just a line in a history book.


Rating: ** (2 stars)
Review:

Raven Queen tells the story of Lady Jane Grey.  Francis fictionalised the story in the book, and adds her own characters.

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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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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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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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Review: Lost in Time by Melissa de la Cruz

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A Blue Bloods Novel 6

Lost in Time by Melissa de la Cruz, UK edition cover.

Title: Lost in Time (A Blue Bloods Novel)
Author:  Melissa de la Cruz
Genre: Paranoraml Romance, Young Adult
Publisher: atom (6th October 2011)
Blurb:

They’re young, fabulous and fanged . . .

Egypt, a land of ancient mysteries, seems to hold the key to protecting the Blue Bloods. But when Schuyler and Jack are forced to separate, can she find the strength to fulfil the Van Alen  Legacy on her own?

Mimi finds herself in Egypt too, in an attempt to rescue Kingsley from Hell’s grasp. Can her love story finally have a happy ending? Or will she have to put her own feelings aside to save her crumbling New York Coven?

On thing’s for certain: the fates are never kind to the Blue Bloods. And there’s more at stake for these vampires than love. . .

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

Lost in Time is the sixth book in Melissa de la Cruz’s epic Blue Bloods series. It continues the story of Schuyler Alen, a girl who is anything but ordinary even in the extraordinary world she is a part of. As those who have read the previous books in the series know, being a Blue Blood makes you very special indeed. . .

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