Young Adult

Review: The Rising by Kelley Armstrong

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PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THE DARKNESS RISING SERIES AS THE RISING IS THE FINAL BOOK IN THE SERIES.

The Rising by Kelley Armstrong (UK cover)

Title: The Rising (Darkness Rising Book 3)
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: Atom (2nd April 2013)
Blurb:

Maya Delaney is a skin-walker – a supernatural who can “Shift” into the shape of a cougar. But her gift comes with a terrible cost. With every transformation, she risks losing touch with her human nature – for ever.

Maya and her friends are on the run from the people who experimented on them and transformed them into supernaturals in the first place. They know they must confront their enemies if they are to have any hope of a future. In order to succeed, Maya will need to use her dangerous, unpredictable powers – but they price for freedom could be too high a price to pay . . .

Rating: **** (4 star)
Review:

The Rising brings to an end The Darkness Rising series by Kelley Armstrong. In the previous book The Calling Maya and her friends were involved in a helicopter crash and ended up on the run as they try to reunite with their families. In The Rising Armstrong brings The Darkness Rising series to a conclusion as we witness Maya and her friends struggle to remain free and plot what to do next, as they contemplate their futures – can they go back to a normal life, or if they will be on the run forever?

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Review: Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

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Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Title: Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin, Book 1)
Author: Robin LaFevers
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Publisher: Andersen Press (7th June 2012)
Blurb:

YOUNG, BEAUTIFUL AND DEADLY.

Trained as an assassin by the god of death, Ismae is sent to the court of Brittany, where she finds herself underprepared – not only for the games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

A dangerous romance full of intrigue, poison and ultimately finding one’s way.

Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

Gave Mercy is the first book in the His Fair Assassin series by Robin LaFevers. It tells the story of Ismae who is taken to the abbess of St. Mortain to train to be an assassin. The story takes place in Brittany before it became part of France, and it follows Ismae as she takes the final steps to become a member of the abbey.

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Review: Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

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Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt (UK cover)

Title: Going Vintage
Author: Lindsey Leavitt
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult
Publisher: Scholastic (4th April 2013)
Blurb:

Mallory loves her boyfriend and she’s sure he loves her back. Until she accidentally logs on to his Authentic Life profile, that is.

He’s been cheating on her … online!

Mallory’s relationship is ruined and the internet is to blame.

And then Mallory finds a list, written by her grandma as a teenager. Things were so much simpler in the 1960s – it was all about sewing dresses and planning dinner parties.

Maybe it’s time for Mallory to go vintage…

Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt is a stand-alone novel. It tells the story of Mallory who discovers by accident that her boyfriend Jeremy has a completely different fake life on Authentic Life – he even has a cyberwife! When she breaks up with him, Mallory decides to break with modern technology and live a simpler life based on a list she discovers, that her Grandma wrote in the early 1960s. Going vintage isn’t as easy as Mallory thinks it is.

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Guest Post: Quick Fire Questions with Gemma Green

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I’d like to welcome Kenechi Udogu to The Flutterby Room, who has kindly agreed to ask the main character of her book Aversion (The Mentalist Series #1) some questions. So I now I’ll hand you over to Kenechi Udogu.

Today, we get to throw a few quick fire questions at Gemma Green. Gemma is an Averter and usually doesn’t grant interviews (because she’s so busy trying to alter people’s minds) but she’s agreed to spare a few words.

1. Edward or Jacob?

Who?

2. Dog or cat?

I’ve never owned either because we keep moving so much, but I think I’d be more of a cat person. They’re supposed to be less fussy, right?

3. Takeaway or home-cooked meal?

Dad makes a great steak and kidney pie and I’d settle for that any day. Besides, we don’t really like having people come over to our house.

4. Ice cream or cookies?

Mashed up peanut butter cookies in caramel swirl ice cream, mmmmmm.

5. Ninjas or pirates?

Ninjas. What’s so great about tattooed men with loop earrings, eye makeup and big hats?

A HUGE thank you to both Kenechi Udogu and Gemma Green for stopping by. If you would like to find out more about Gemma then you should check out Aversion (The Mentalist Series #1) by Kenechi Udogu which you can find on Amazon.co.uk

Aversion by Kenechi Udogu

Aversion (The Mentalist Series #1)
by Kenechi Udogu

For Gemma Green’s first time, things should have been straightforward. Find your subject, hold their gaze and push a thought into their head to save them from future disaster – Aversion complete. A pretty simple process given that the subject was to have no recollection of the experience. But Russ Tanner doesn’t seem to want to forget. In fact the more she tries to avoid him, the more he pushes to get to know her. Gemma knows she has a problem but is she facing the side effects of a failed Aversion or has the school’s tennis champ really fallen for her?

*

You can find Kenechi Udogu on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and her blog.

Review: Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder

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PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THE STUDY SERIES AS FIRE STUDY IS THE THIRD BOOK IN THE SERIES.

Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder (UK cover)

Title: Fire Study (Study #3)
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Genre: Sword and Sorcery, Young Adult
Publisher: Mira (29th February 2012)
Blurb:

THE APPRENTICESHIP IS OVER
NOW THE REAL TEST HAS BEGUN

When word that Yelena is a Soulfinder – able to capture and release souls – spreads like wildfire, people grow uneasy. Already Yelena’s unusual abilities and past have set her apart. As the Council debates Yelena’s fate, she receives a disturbing message: a plot is rising against her homeland, led by a murderous sorcerer she has defeated before.

Honour sets Yelena on a path that will test the limits of her skills, and the hope of reuniting with her beloved spurs her onward. Her journey is fraught with allies and enemies. Yelena will have but one chance to prove herself – and save the land she holds dear.

Rating: ****  (4 stars)
Review:

Fire Study is the third book in the Study Series, and in it we see Yelena finally come to terms with what she is and what that means for her. Like the previous two books in the series, Fire Study is packed with intrigue and adventure. Once started I found it hard to put the book down.

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Review: Eona by Alison Goodman

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PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THE EON SERIES AS EONA IS THE FINAL BOOK IN THE DUOLOGY.

Eona by Alison Goodman

Title: Eona (Eon #2)
Author: Alison Goodman
Genre: Sword and Sorcery, Young Adult
Publisher: FIREBIRD (29th March 2012)
Blurb:

Once she was Eon, a girl disguised as a boy, risking her life for the chance to become a Dragoneye apprentice . .  .

Now she is Eona, the Mirror Dragoneye, her country’s savior – but she has an even more dangerous secret. She cannot control her power. Each time she tries, she opens herself to the ten spirit dragons whose Dragoneyes were murdered, and her ability twists into a killing force. Worse, more destruction is on her tail, for she and her friends are on the rune from High Lord Sethon’s army. They must find Kygo, the young Pearl Emperor, who needs Eona’s power if he is to wrest back his throne. But to help, she must drive a bargain with an old enemy, which could obliterate them all. Eona, with its pulse-pounding drama, unforgettable fight scenes – and many surprises – brings to a close an epic story.

Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

Eona brings to a conclusion the story started in Eon, where a girl disguises herself as a boy for the chance to become a Dragoneye. Eon had everything I love in a good sword and sorcery fantasy, so I was really looking forward to reading Eona. However, Eona didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

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Review: Amarok by Angela J. Townsend

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Amarok by Angela J. Townsend

Title: Amarok
Author: Angela J. Townsend
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press (20th November 2012)
Blurb:

Emma’s life has been hell since she moved from sunny California to a remote Alaskan town. Abandoned by her father and living with the guilt caused by her mother’s death, she makes a desperate dash for freedom from her abusive stepfather. But when her car skids off the icy road, her planned escape leads to further captivity in a world beyond her imagining.

Dragged across the tundra by an evil mountain man and his enormous black wolf, she learns that love can be found in the most unexpected places. Amarok, as she’s nicknamed the wolf, is a young man from the gold-rush era enslaved by an ancient shaman. Emma’s gentle touch and kind heart win his love and devotion.

When a vicious madman – trapped in bear form by the same Shaman – attacks the travelers and injures Amarok, Emma must find the strength to face her fears and free the wolf she’s come to love. But that means she must face down the evil shaman, a Siberian mammoth hunter from the ice age, and he has no intention of giving up his power to her.

Rating: ** (2 stars)
Review:

I first heard of Amarok through the Waiting on Wednesday meme, and I thought that the cover looked amazing and the blurb sounded interesting and like there was a lot of potential for the story. It’s a pity that the book didn’t live up to my expectations.

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Review: The Enchantress by Michael Scott

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PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THE SECRETS OF THE IMMORTAL NICHOLAS FLAMEL SERIES AS THE ENCHANTRESS IS THE FINAL BOOK IN THAT SERIES.

The Enchantress by Michael Scott

Title: The Enchantress (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #6)
Author: Michael Scott
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: Doubleday (24th May 2012)
Source: Local Library
Blurb:

‘The two that are one most become the one that is all. One to save the world, one to destroy it.’

Nicholas Flamel is near death, and John Dee has the swords of power. The future of the human race depends on the twins of prophecy. But will they stand together?

Join the teenage twins as they . . .

* Access extraordinary powers and learn shocking secrets

* Journey back in time to the lost city of Danu Talis

* Battle ancient monsters – and each other

How will the legend end?

Step into the greatest legend of all time in the final action-packed thriller in the New York Times bestselling series.

Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

The Enchantress brings to an end The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series by Michael Scott. I am a little sad to see this series finally brought to its conclusion. It is strange to think that this series began five books ago with The Alchemyst; that the series started on the 31st May and concludes on the 8th June, or thereabouts. So much happens in such a short amount of time.

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Review: Hidden by P.C. and Kristin Cast

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PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THE HOUSE OF NIGHT SERIES AS HIDDEN IS THE TENTH BOOK IN THAT SERIES.

Hidden by P.C. and Kristin Cast (UK cover)

Title: Hidden (House of Night #10)
Author: P.C. and Kristin Cast
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Publisher: Atom (16th October 2012)
Source: Local library
Blurb:

I’d known it before we saw the fire trucks and the smoke. I’d known all hell had broken loose at the House of Night the moment it had been proven beyond all doubt that Neferet was on the side of Darkness. Only now I had a terrible feeling that outing Neferet would serve more to free her than to force her to pay the consequences for her lies and betrayals.

–

At last, Zoey has what she wanted: the truth is out. Neferet’s evil has been exposed, and the High Council is no longer on her side – but she’s far from done wreaking havoc in the vampyre.

With the seeds of distrust sown and Darkness breeding chaos at the House of Night, everyone must band together – but that’s proving to be more difficult than ever before. The twins are barely speaking and the House of Night’s former enemy Kalona has now become their warrior, pushing their trust to the limits. Zoey knows that following her instincts might be just what they need to defeat evil . . . but if she’s wrong, it could cause the destruction of those closet to her.

Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

Hidden is the tenth book in the House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast. After reading the ninth book Destined I was really looking forward to getting my hands on this book and diving straight in.

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Review: Gates of Paradise by Melissa de la Cruz

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PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THE BLUE BLOODS SERIES AS GATES OF PARADISE IS THE FINAL BOOK IN THAT SERIES.

Gates of Paradise by Melissa de la Cruz (UK edition cover)

Title: Gates of Paradise (Blue Bloods #7)
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Publisher: Atom (15th January 2013)
Blurb:

They’re Young, Fabulous and Fanged . . .

Schuyler Van Alen is running out of time. The Dark Prince is storming the Gates of Paradise, intent on defeating Schuyler and the rest of the Blue Blood coven for good. This time he has his greatest angles by his side, Abbadon and Azrael, or, as they are known in this world, Jack and Mimi Force.

Will Bliss and the wolves she has recruited to join her win the battle for the vampires? Is Schuyler prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice?

Love and vengeance, duty and loyalty, life and death, are all at odds in the gripping, heartbreaking finale of the Blue Bloods series.

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

The final book in a series that you have loved, I always find, is hard to pick up. Gates of Paradise was no different for me. I’m sad to see the end of Melissa de la Cruz’s brilliant Blue Bloods series at an end; that Schuyler, Mimi, and Bliss’s stories are over – though I’ve heard a rumour floating around Twitter that this is not the last we shall see of this world, but we shall see.

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