REVIEW: FATED

Author: Alyson Nöel
Series: Yes, #1
UK Publisher:
UK Release date:
Genre: YA
Kindly given by the publisher for an honest review

Until now, he's existed only in her dreams - but fate is about to bring them together.
I shove through the crowd, knocking into girls and bouncing off boys, until one in particular catches me, steadies me.
I feel so secure, so at home in his arms.
I melt against his chest-lift my gaze to meet his. Gasping when I stare into a pair of icy blue eyes banded by brilliant flecks of gold that shine like kaleidoscopes, reflecting my image thousands of times.
The boy from my dream. The one who died in my arms. (Goodreads)

Having read and really enjoyed Evermore, I've had a bit of an up and down journey with Fated. The writing style, which was in the present tense, was sometimes surprisingly jarring and off putting due to sentences that could go on for lines and lines, and the overuse of ‘–ing’ words. It just felt like a few sections of the book were written at different time periods or in different moods, because the style wasn’t fully consistent. But I know this isn’t representative of Alyson Noel's usual brilliant writing, and I’m willing to trust that these kinks will get worked out in the next books. Plus, I loved the Native American aspects to the story.

The setting really suited the magical themes of the book, drawing on animal guides, healing and the Day of the Dead to add magical context and depth to the story. The wild lands that Daire explores on horseback and visits for her quest sound so beautiful, despite being very remote and harsh. For me, these elements made up the best parts of the book and helped to keep me engaged with the story.

I have to admit I also had a love/hate affair with Daire. She could be extremely whiny and selfish, and a bit of a brat at times. When she acted like this I wanted to throw the book in frustration, and hopefully hit Daire with it and knock some sense into her. However in the second part of the book her character definitely changed and she became much more grown up and responsible and I started to like her a lot more.

Paloma is Daire's grandmother - and amazing. She's sympathetic, wise, and understands the balance of freedom and discipline. Her ancestral roots means she is into dreamcatchers, healthy diet, growing your own food, herbal potions, communing with dead relatives and so on. She was very cool, and it was Paloma that encouraged and guided Daire as she learnt to control her magical powers and venture into the spirit world.

Dace and his twin brother Cade were like polar opposites. Whilst Dace radiated kindness, his brother oozed false charm. Although with such a pleasant front and charming manner, it would have been hard to have imagined Cade as anything other than nice, if it wasn't for Daire's mysterious dream about the twins. Although her dreams included some steamy romance with Cade, she took time to get to know and trust him in real life, and I look forward to seeing where their relationship goes in the next book.

Fated journeys into the spiritual realms for a magical story.

Rating: 3.5*

REVIEW: PANTOMIME

Author: Laura Lam
Series: Yes, #1
UK Publisher: Strange Chemistry
UK Release date: 7th February 2013
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Kindly given by the publisher for an honest review

R. H. Ragona’s Circus of Magic is the greatest circus of Ellada. Nestled among the glowing blue Penglass—remnants of a mysterious civilisation long gone—are wonders beyond the wildest imagination. It’s a place where anything seems possible, where if you close your eyes you can believe that the magic and knowledge of the vanished Chimaera is still there. It’s a place where anyone can hide. Iphigenia Laurus, or Gene, the daughter of a noble family, is uncomfortable in corsets and crinoline, and prefers climbing trees to debutante balls. Micah Grey, a runaway living on the streets, joins the circus as an aerialist’s apprentice and soon becomes the circus’s rising star. But Gene and Micah have balancing acts of their own to perform, and a secret in their blood that could unlock the mysteries of Ellada.

The rich setting for Pantomime encompasses elements of magic, fantasy and historical Victorian period. Ellada has all the finery of the rich upper class, contrasted against the poor and the beggars. Whereas Gene has all the luxuries of the rich, she still suffers from the restrictive traditions and formalities and from the burdens of a mother that wants her to marry well and be like every other girl coming of age. 

Then there is the circus; a whole different world in itself. As soon as you start reading Pantomime you are thrown into the Circus of Magic. I loved reading about what circus life is really like behind all the glitz and magic. There were so many different personalities and characters like the 'freaks' and clowns, and whilst I expected them to be like a big family I didn't quite expect the dark and sinister 'hazing' that Micah received when he started there.

The magical element in the story is Vestige and the mysterious Penglass domes. I wasn't really sure what exactly Vestige was, although it had a steampunk feel to it. I'm hoping that the world building and magic is explored in more detail in subsequent books, as there is so much potential for this to develop into something beautifully complex and colourful. Whilst this book focused more on the characters and their development, I would really love to find out more about the different countries and their dwindling magic.

What makes Pantomime different from so many other books out there is the big twist in the story. Actually I think there are two surprises. One I picked up on fairly early into the plot, as there were some little hints floating around. But the other I hadn't quite guessed, although it made sense when I found out. I can't tell you what these twists are, because it would completely spoil the story. But I will say that Pantomime will get you thinking, it will open your mind, and hopefully remind people that no matter what our differences everyone deserves to live their life how they want to, with freedom, equality, and respect. I also really admire Laura Lam for writing a book that dares to pick such a unique and slightly taboo topic and write it with really sensitivity.

Pantomime is a dark, gritty world where all the fun of the fair can turn sinister at any time.

Rating: 4*

REVIEW: MYSTIC CITY

Author: Theo Lawrence

Series: Yes, #1
UK Publisher: Corgi
UK Release date: 11th October 2012
Genre: Urban fantasy
Kindly given by the publisher for an honest review

Aria Rose, youngest scion of one of Mystic City's two ruling rival families, finds herself betrothed to Thomas Foster, the son of her parents' sworn enemies. The union of the two will end the generations-long political feud—and unite all those living in the Aeries, the privileged upper reaches of the city, against the banished mystics who dwell below in the Depths. But Aria doesn't remember falling in love with Thomas; in fact, she wakes one day with huge gaps in her memory. And she can't conceive why her parents would have agreed to unite with the Fosters in the first place. Only when Aria meets Hunter, a gorgeous rebel mystic from the Depths, does she start to have glimmers of recollection—and to understand that he holds the key to unlocking her past. The choices she makes can save or doom the city—including herself.

Mystic City has lots of references and parallels to Shakespeare, most particularly the forbidden love between two young people from rival families. I loved how this classic theme was paired with dystopian and paranormal elements; New York had been transformed into a futuristic Venice with the global-warming flooded streets in the Depths and its motorised gondoliers. With the contrast between luxurious high rises and the humble Depths, the setting was perfect for two star-crossed lovers to find each other.

I loved both Hunter and Aria. Aria, although brought up in a very wealthy and powerful family, was a sympathetic and caring person. Her family's power doesn't seem to have been built on honest foundations, and rather than go along with it and enjoy all the luxuries thrown at her, Aria was determined to find out the truth and fight for what was right no matter the consequences.  I thought Aria and Hunter were a perfect pair and really wanted to see them together. Hunter was a mysterious, mystic rebel, combining a dark and dangerous side with a funny, charming and protective personality. I liked the way he teased Aria, and was  a sensitive and caring person with real charisma. As an undrained mystic rebel, he was going against the city laws, but honestly who could blame him. He was standing up against the oppression and persecution of mystics which gave him a passionate, moral and slightly wild edge.

Although huge chunks of the plot were easy to foretell, I didn't mind because I was so invested in Hunter and Aria and their potential relationship. Their escapades to the Depths, especially during the old-fashioned carnival, were so romantic. When Aria was sneaky around and hiding from her family there was palpable tension and also plenty of mystery as Aria tried to fill in the missing gaps of her memory and figure out what the interesting little locket meant. This tension reached some big climaxes as she was discovered by her family and forced into some very horrible situations. Quite frankly I don't know how such a selfish, evil family brought up such an amazing girl!

Aria's friends were your typical spoilt socialites. They were selfish, ignorant and just a little annoying. Their speech included words like "upper" to describe anything cool. It definitely made the point that they were the popular girls, although it bugged me a little. But more importantly, their behaviour gave a strong contrast to Aria's; whereas they wanted to shop, eat and look good, Aria wasn't bothered attending parties or climbing the social ladder, caring instead about equality, fairness and truth. I did however love Turk, Hunter's best friend. He was witty, cool and cared about his friends, and I would much rather have him as a friend.

Mystic City is a gripping tale of forbidden love, magic, politics and fighting for what is right.

Rating: 5*

REVIEW: THE ASSASSIN'S CURSE

Author: Cassandra Rose Clarke
Series: Yes, #1
UK Publisher: Strange Chemistry
UK Release date: 4th October 2012
Genre: Fantasy
Kindly given by the publisher for an honest review

Ananna of the Tanarau abandons ship when her parents try to marry her off to an allying pirate clan: she wants to captain her own boat, not serve as second-in-command to her handsome yet clueless fiance. But her escape has dire consequences when she learns the scorned clan has sent an assassin after her.
And when the assassin, Naji, finally catches up with her, things get even worse. Ananna inadvertently triggers a nasty curse — with a life-altering result. Now Ananna and Naji are forced to become uneasy allies as they work together to break the curse and return their lives back to normal. Or at least as normal as the lives of a pirate and an assassin can be. (Goodreads)

Ananna is gruff, tough and most certainly rough around the edges. But as a pirate's daughter that has grown up aboard a pirate ship, who can blame her. She's not the sort of girl that I would want to meet in a dark alley, and to start I didn't take an instant liking to her. But she very quickly grew on me, as she  wouldn't take stick from anyone. I loved the way she could stand up for herself, fight her way out of a situation and give as good as she got. And despite her stubborn and coarse nature, she seemed to develop a little soft spot for the assassin sent to kill her.

I loved that Naji and Ananna were bound together by an Impossible Curse. There’s something very fairytale and romantic about the idea, and the fact that they had to remain within a certain proximity of each other meant they were forced to spend time together and get on to some degree. Although Naji was completely blind to Ananna and her feelings and also very reticent about sharing anything, I could see why Ananna might start to fall for him. Because Naji is an assassin that wears black clothes to cover his entire body and face, he has this dark, mysterious appeal. His scarred face gives him a vulnerable and self-depreciating quality.

The story is set in some magical, exotic and rugged places, from deserts, the ocean and a magical jungle on an unusual floating island. These different places add to the action and the plot and give the story a really mystical air. I'm really intrigued to see where Ananna and Naji might visit next and I really hope it's some where new, different and special.

Plot-wise, the story starts with Ananna running away and very soon after sees her and Naji set off on a journey fraught with danger and adventure. There is dark magic mixed in and strange women from other worlds. Like Ananna I didn't know who could be trusted, and coupled with being on the run this made Anannna's situation seem very scary. She seemed to relish a lot of this danger though, getting involved in the action whenever she could.

A slight pet peeve for me was Anannna’s use of incorrect grammar, to make her speech more colloquial and pirate-esque. She regularly used double negatives even when she intended for the end result to be negative. I'm not know sure why this bothered me so much, it just did. Despite this, I still really enjoyed   this book.

The Assassin’s Curse is a pirate fantasy bursting with romance, action and adventure.

Rating: 4*

REVIEW: POLTERGEEKS

Author: Sean Cummings
Series: Yes, #1
UK Publisher: Strange Chemistry
UK Release date: October 2012
Genre: MG & YA
Kindly given by the publisher for an honest review

15-year-old Julie Richardson is about to learn that being the daughter of a witch isn't all it's cracked up to be. When she and her best friend, Marcus, witness an elderly lady jettisoned out the front door of her home, it's pretty obvious to Julie there's a supernatural connection.

In fact, there's a whisper of menace behind increasing levels of poltergeist activity all over town. After a large-scale paranormal assault on Julie's high school, her mother falls victim to the spell Endless Night. Now it's a race against time to find out who is responsible or Julie won't just lose her mother's soul, she'll lose her mother's life.

Sean Cummings writing style was the first thing that grabbed me when I started reading. It flows naturally, and perfectly encompasses Julie's character including her sassiness, wit and outspoken teen voice. It reads so naturally like a teenager that I instantly got a sense of what Julie's personality was like and I loved her.

Although I guessed pretty much from the outset what was coming at the end, I'm not sure if this was down to my extra good guessing abilities or easy to read plot/characters. Despite this there were still a few twists and surprises that threw me so that I still enjoyed the ending, and the plot overall was energetic and action packed. The premise behind the story has so much potential and I can see Julie getting into a whole host of adventures, or misadventures, in future books and I think it would work so well as a TV series.

The magical elements bring the story to life, with the grimoire passed down to Julie, her mother's collection of unusual smelling concoctions, the shadowcull legacy and don't forget a bit of grave digging.

After Julie, I liked Marcus the best. Because he provides the 'reasonable' and scientific perspective. He tries to fit magic into science and his understanding of the physical world, remains a little sceptical, but also makes steps to believing some of the crazy things that are happening around him.

Although it hadn't really crossed my mind at the time, Non at Catnip, pointed out how well the content and style for Poltergeeks would be appropriate for a younger Middle Grade age range. I think younger audiences would really relate to Julie, the confusing situation she is in with Marcus and their changing relationship. Although she's not popular in school, she is quirky, quick-witted and completely herself. For young girls I think she shines as a role model.

Poltergeeks is a sassy, funny, and thrilling YA debut.

Rating: 4*

REVIEW: CARNIVAL OF SOULS

Author: Melissa Marr
Series: Yes, #1
UK Publisher: Harper Collins
UK Release date: 4th September 2012
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Kindly given by the publisher for an honest review

In a city of daimons, rigid class lines separate the powerful from the power-hungry. And at the heart of The City is the Carnival of Souls, where both murder and pleasure are offered up for sale. Once in a generation, the carnival hosts a deadly competition that allows every daimon a chance to join the ruling elite. Without the competition, Aya and Kaleb would both face bleak futures--if for different reasons. For each of them, fighting to the death is the only way to try to live.

All Mallory knows of The City is that her father--and every other witch there--fled it for a life in exile in the human world. Instead of a typical teenage life full of friends and maybe even a little romance, Mallory scans quiet streets for threats, hides herself away, and trains to be lethal. She knows it's only a matter of time until a daimon finds her and her father, so she readies herself for the inevitable. While Mallory possesses little knowledge of The City, every inhabitant of The City knows of her. There are plans for Mallory, and soon she, too, will be drawn into the decadence and danger that is the Carnival of Souls.

I have to admit I was a little dubious reading this one as I haven't exactly loved other books by the author in the past. But this book gripped me straight away, and I absolutely loved it.

The plot was a cleverly crafted, beautifully woven and complex web. The different subplots interplayed so fluidly that at points when I was thinking 'what the hell just happened?!', things came together and fitted like another piece in a jigsaw puzzle. The plot was a little like a chess game, with wild twists and turns happening as each character made their next move in the desire for power. (Sorry for all my game analogies, but as you can probably tell I think the plot was really well worked out, with such clever changes and huge surprises and revelations. Along with the world building and strong character motivations there were so many different layers to this story, but they all worked perfectly together.) There was also plenty of action and intrigue to keep me utterly captivated and guessing what might happen next, but honestly with this book I couldn't rightly predict anything!

To start, the world building with its history of wars and hostility between witches and daimons and changing between the human and daimon worlds, had me a little confused. But soon I became fascinated with The City and its Carnival of Souls. This daimon world was a little more brutal and violent than I had expected, and it harked back to medieval times where caste systems were still strongly adhered to and those at the bottom had to fight, steal, kill or whore themselves to survive. Danger lurked around every corner and the Carnival felt very dark and unpredictable. The stark contrast of the two worlds was brilliant, and although there was less action in Mallory's human world, it didn't make it any less interesting.

Carnival of Souls featured a large cast of characters, and each one was well developed with distinct personalities and very focused motivations that catapulted the action and created the shocking plot twists. I felt a little sorry for Mallory, raised in the human world and pretty much oblivious to the truth. She'd been sheltered by Adam for her own protection and although he'd trained her, her ignorance made her practically defenceless against daimons or witches. She also had no say in her life - Adam pretty much controlled what she did, who she saw and where they lived, and even Kaleb started making decisions that impacted her life without her knowledge or consent. Although this felt right within the plot and with an understanding of why Kaleb was making these decisions, it still felt wrong that Mallory was often used by people as a tool. I respected the fact that she didn't just fall straight into Kaleb's arms, and I would have liked to have seen a little more happen or shared between the pair to better understand why Kaleb liked her so much.

In terms of Kaleb, he was very dangerous and violent. But his past and low social standing left him pretty much no other option on how to survive in The City, so I couldn't help but feel for him. I also admit that I kind of fell for his tough exterior and caring protectiveness over pack member Zevi. He was an enigma, scheming away and making dangerous power plays, but I think his boldness and determination attracted me to him.

At first I was also a little uncertain of Aya, because she was so forthright, cold and brutal. But she grew on me as the story progressed and I admired her strength and courage. She wasn't immune to caring, asking for help but she was very clever.

With some of the characters I couldn't tell what they might be up to and whether they could be completely trusted but this just intrigued me more. I can't wait to read the next book and see what happens to the individual characters and in the greater was between witches and daimons.

Carnival of Souls is beautifully crafted and deliciously dark. A must read for this year.

Rating: 5*

Carnival of Souls is out today and can be bought as an ebook too :)

REVIEW: BLACKWOOD

Author: Gwenda Bond
Series: No, standalone
UK Publisher: Strange Chemistry
UK Release date: 6th September 2012
Genre: YA Paranormal
Kindly given by the publisher for an honest review

On Roanoke Island, the legend of the 114 people who mysteriously vanished from the Lost Colony hundreds of years ago is just an outdoor drama for the tourists, a story people tell. But when the island faces the sudden disappearance of 114 people now, an unlikely pair of 17-year-olds may be the only hope of bringing them back.

Miranda, a misfit girl from the island’s most infamous family, and Phillips, an exiled teen criminal who hears the voices of the dead, must dodge everyone from federal agents to long-dead alchemists as they work to uncover the secrets of the new Lost Colony. The one thing they can’t dodge is each other. (Goodreads)

In Blackwood, Gwenda Bond has taken a seed of truth from history and created something mysterious, alchemical and dark. Roanoke is a tiny little island with a real past - 114 people went missing back when America was first being explored, and in Blackwood, 114 people mysteriously disappear again. I loved this concept of taking elements of history and a mystery from real life and turning into a modern day story.

The way aspects of the backstory and history fitted together with the present day did however confuse me a little. I wasn't 100% certain what the strange gun really did, or where the people actually disappeared to. The writing style was also a little halting as the character point of view changed with chapters from Miranda to Phillips, slowing down the flow, and I did struggle in the last third of the story as the pace slowed down.

Miranda was the island's resident 'freak', and her father was the town drunk. They came from a long line of Blackwood's, each shunned as their ancestors were. The family curse placed on her would probably overwhelm most people. But Miranda was determined and unstoppable. Together with Phillips, who has his own reputation, Miranda and Phillips were an unlikely but interesting pair to solve the Island's mystery.

At first Phillips comes across as pure bad boy. He steals his parent's car, sneaks off campus, and breaks into buildings. But as I got to understand him more, I realised he was caring, reliable, and trusting. I would have liked to have known more about why Phillips liked Miranda. I know he does, I know that he feels some affinity with her, but I wanted him to spell out what he liked about her. For me that would have made his feelings more tangible and real, rather than something that just existed.

Dee, the famous alchemist, is linked into the story as the master behind the history of the island. What made him into the bad guy for me was the fact that he inhabited someone else's body (I won't say who) which was rather gross. He was very creepy and sinister character, making him a perfect bad guy to the story.

Blackwood is a dark and interesting fusion of historical and modern day alchemy, mystery and magic.

Rating: 3.5*

REVIEW: THE GATHERING DARK

Author: Leigh Bardugo
Series: Yes, #1
UK Publisher: Orion
UK Release date: June 2012
Genre: Fantasy
Kindly given by the publisher for an honest review

The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness, crawling with monsters that feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka.
Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the lavish world of the kingdom’s magical elite—the Grisha. Could she be the key to unravelling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting Ravka free?
The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and terrifying power, leader of the Grisha. If Alina is to fulfil her destiny, she must discover how to unlock her gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him. But what of Mal, Alina’s childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can’t she ever quite forget him? (Goodreads)

Fantasy is one of my favourite favourite genres, but sometimes when I read fantasy books I can get completely overwhelmed by the setting and world building and the history of the story. But The Gathering Dark wasn't like that at all. The concept of magic wielding Grisha living in Ravka was set up beautifully, so that it completely captured my imagination and was easy to read and get into. With the menacing Shadow Fold splitting Ravka in two, there was a sense of foreboding underlying and driving the plot. As Alina discovered some hidden powers, she was thrown into a completely new world which tested her, amazed but also surprised her.

I loved the idea that Grisha had hierarchies based on their gifts and area of expertise, whether that was healers or Fabirkators. From the outside, Grisha seemed magical, perfect and beautiful - a life of splendor. But on the inside there was actually jealousy, prejudice and fighting. With the Darkling at the top of that hierarchy, everyone deferred to him and fought for his attention. It was these psychological complexities that added so much intrigue as I tried to understand each of the characters and whether they could be trusted or not.

The Darkling was the most mysterious character of all; he was aloof, secretive and powerful. He would often disappear for weeks, coming and going as he pleased. As leader of the Grisha, he had this appeal and attraction surrounding him that people in positions of power often have, and like Alina I could feel myself drawn to him. Despite this, there was also something about him that felt a little dangerous and exciting but I couldn't put my finger on it and figure out what that was. But I liked the fact that he oozed mystery because it kept me guessing.

Alina was the kind of protagonist that I like, as she started off weak and vulnerable and to be honest a little snappy. But as she developed her gifts she became much more positive and happy. I liked the fact throughout the story she still kept her own sense of personality and didn't submit to everyone else's wishes.

Mal and Alina have had this close connection since childhood when they met in an orphanage. They've been best friends for years, but Alina can't help but feel something more for him. But he doesn't seem to notice her, which made me want to shake him senseless. To start with we didn't really see much of Mal, but later into the story he really came into his own and I have to admit I started falling for him a little. His protectiveness and caring side balanced really well against his manly, rugged, independent side making him the perfect hero to any story.

The Dark Gathering was a thrilling and enchanting fantasy; easy to read and hard to put down.

Rating: 5*

BLOG TOUR: BURN MARK

Today as part of the Burn Mark book tour and to celebrate the release of her new book, I have the lovely Laura Powell to talk about Glory the main female protagonist in Burn Mark.

Glory is from a family of witches and lives beyond the law. She is desperate to develop her powers and become a witch herself. Lucas is the son of the Chief Prosecutor for the Inquisition—the witches’ mortal enemy—and his privileged life is very different to the forbidden world that he lives alongside.

And then on the same day, it hits them both. Glory and Lucas develop the Fae—the mark of the witch. In one fell stroke, their lives are inextricably bound together, whether they like it or not . . .

Who is Glory?

It’s modern Britain, and the Inquisition is still burning witches alive. Although licensed witches are partially integrated into society, many have formed criminal gangs known as covens.

Glory is the granddaughter of one of the infamous “Starling Twins”, beautiful blonde witch-sisters whose gang terrorised London in the 1960s. In her run-down East End estate, Glory dreams of becoming a witch too. It’s her only chance of getting power and respect. But her side of the family’s been pushed out into the cold by a rival coven, and now the battle’s on to claim her rights.

I’d probably be a bit nervous of Glory if I met her in real life. She’s stroppy and tough, with a sharp tongue. She’s also vulnerable – a young girl trying to survive in a brutally macho world. Her family has suffered horrible persecutions at the hands of the Inquisition, and she lives in fear of them coming for her too. Bullied by her powerful mafia relations, hunted by the witch-finders, and forced into an uneasy alliance with the son of an Inquisitor, Glory is about to find out that becoming a witch is a lot more than she bargained for. 

If you're intrigued by this insight into Glory, you can find out more about Laura and her new book on:

Twitter
Facebook
www.laurapowellauthor.com

Don't forget to hop over to Monday and Tuesday's Burn Mark blog tour hosts, Sarah and Raimy:

Feeling Fictional

Readaraptor

And you can find my review of the explosive Burn Mark here.

REVIEW: BURN MARK

Author: Laura Powell
Series: Yes, #1
UK Publisher: Bloomsbury
UK Release date: June 2012
Genre: Magic, YA
Kindly given by the publisher for an honest review

In modern day London, witches still exist. Although if it was down to the Inquisition and witch-hunters this wouldn't be true, and tensions run high between magic and non-magic kind. When Luke, son of the Chief Prosecutor for the Inquisition, discovers his own magical secret he finds his only solution is to pair up with Glory, a young witch-in-waiting and member of a highly notorious criminal family. Together they must learn to put aside their differences and prejudices to stop magical tensions tearing society apart.

The parallels that can be drawn from Burn Mark both to historical events and even current society are very poignant.  The story shows you just how easily people judge others, how easily they can make immoral decisions in the name of morals and tradition, and how scary it can be when you’re persecuted for being nothing other than who you are. So many characters in the book took drastic actions which they felt were justified and right, but were completely blinded by their prejudices. The fact that the context is changed to witches really made me reflect back on my own beliefs in the real world, but in a safe and intriguing way.

I liked how different Lucas and Glory were, both in background and beliefs. Lucas is from an upper class witch-hunting family and Glory is from a notorious criminal family with witch powers. And yet despite their own desires to hate each other, they were able to find a common ground and see that there was something more important that their own feelings. Which was certainly much more than all the adults in the book could do. Without making it too much of 'lesson', their alliance shows what can be done if you put differences aside and act with openness and fairness in mind.

At first I thought Lucas was a bit stuck up and arrogant, but I was seriously impressed with how he dealt finding out he was a witch. To come from a long line of witch-hunters, the disparity between what he expected his future to be and who he actually was huge. Yet he showed strength, fortitude, and courage and he grew on me throughout the story. Because of Glory's tenacity, passion and wiliness they both draw equal as my favourite characters in the story.

Filled with tense moments and 'magically' aggravated events, Burn Mark was action packed and fast paced. At certain points I could practically feel the tension rolling out of the pages, as if any situation could turn nasty at any point. A thought provoking story of societal prejudices, Burn Mark certainly delivered a high-impact story of the magic kind.

Rating: 4*

Bloomsbury have launched their Burning Times Facebook page where you will find all the latest news, reviews, and more, and you can view their amazing trailer here.

And don't forget to pop back on Wednesday for more of an insight into Glory direct from Laura Powell!

REVIEW: CHIME

Author: Franny Billingsley
Series: No, standalone
UK Publisher: Bloomsbury
UK Release date: April 2011
Genre: YA
Kindly given by the publisher for an honest review

Before Briony's stepmother died, she made sure Briony blamed herself for all the family's hardships. Now Briony has worn her guilt for so long it's become a second skin. She often escapes to the swamp, where she tells stories to the Old Ones, the spirits who haunt the marshes. But only witches can see the Old Ones, and in her village, witches are sentenced to death. Briony lives in fear her secret will be found out, even as she believes she deserves the worst kind of punishment.

Then Eldric comes along with his golden lion eyes and mane of tawny hair. He's as natural as the sun, and treats her as if she's extraordinary. And everything starts to change. As many secrets as Briony has been holding, there are secrets even she doesn't know. (Goodreads)

I have to admit, it took me a while to get into this book. As I started reading I thought it might be set somewhere between 1400-1700s due to the stigma about being accused a witch, but the more I read the more I realised it was set at a much later time - around late 1800s to early 1900s. This disorientation made me feel a little unsettled to start, and in addition to this I found the writing style a struggle to get used to only because it is different to most reads. If I rated the book based on the first few chapters, I would probably put it very low. But reading it did get easier and I'm glad I persevered to read the whole book because I really started to like it.

Chime certainly isn't your generic YA book and Briony is by no means your run of the mill heroine. She is self-loathing and self-effacing. She openly admits to herself that she is a witch and believes she is wicked. She berates herself and feels she deserves to be punished for her wrong doings. Unlike other girls of her age and in her village, she's honest, witty and she has many a secret. She is also desperately protective of her sister, Rose who is eccentric and very special in her own way. Her quirks, such as creating little drawings full of meaning, are sweet and although she might not appear it she is very clever and perceptive. At first I mistook Rose for a spoilt and selfish girl who screamed to get her own way, but then I realised what her real character is like and I though she was very endearing.

Likewise, Eldric was a real sweetheart. He could read Briony and Rose and came to understand them and protect them. His outgoing and easy nature made him very likeable, but he also inspired a lot of change at Swampsea.

I as I got further into the book, I started enjoyed it more and more and found the plot intriguing. The blend of magic and hidden truths combined to make a compelling story. The way it was written was also very unique. Although it was written from Briony's first perspective, she often changed to third person to refer to herself. Briony's own thoughts and internal monologues were also often poetic, and oddly beautiful.

I can only describe Chime as quirky, eccentric, yet beautifully crafted.

Rating: 4*

REVIEW: GLIMMER

Author: Phoebe Kitanidis
Series: No, standalone
UK Publisher: Balzer & Bray
UK Release date: April 2012
Genre: YA
Won via NetGalley

Elyse and Marshall wake up one morning in Summer Falls without any recollection of who or where they are. They must learn to trust each other to find out what happened to them. But as they discover a number of mysterious goings-on in Summer Falls, their situation worsens. What seems like the perfect town is riddled with bouts of amnesia, disappearances and malevolent ghosts. Can they trust each other enough to save the town and themselves?

Glimmer has a very interesting start to the story as Elyse and Marshall wake up  next to each other absolutely stark naked, but without a single memory or who they are or how they got there. The premise of having to re-figure out who you are as a person is very intriguing, and as they try and discover what's going on and get their memories back, they also discover that Summer Falls is very creepy and far too perfect to be true. I enjoyed watching them as they gathered clues about what kind of person they were and trying to reconcile that with how they actually felt. The creepy and sinister elements of Summer Falls, including the mysterious heatnaps and 'forgetful' residents built very well, and I really enjoyed the first half of the book. But despite this very compelling start, I did become slightly confused and caught up in the whirlwind of magic spells, memory loss, disappearing people, unusual glacier climate, spirits, ghosts and so on.

I did feel a little affronted at Elyse's outrage at finding out she was short. ""I'm short." I am, in fact, a shrimp. What a complete and total disappointment." OK so my indignation is only because I myself am short. But she made a huge fuss over this, and to what end? She was also highly offended at being curvy with boobs, a cheerleader, having a boyfriend of two years that she'd slept with and so on. She made assumptions about past herself based on the smallest of superficial clues rather than her actual actions, making her think she must be slutty and childish.

There were a number of serious undertones to the story, with issues of child abuse and domestic violence. When Elyse discovers bruises over her shoulders and no memory of how she got them, it was very disturbing and unsettling. Her determination to stop it from happening again and to try to remember was a positive redeeming feature to her character.

Glimmer is a fast paced, mind bending and creepy thriller that will have you reeling.

Rating: 3.5*

REVIEW: SECRET CIRCLE EPISODE 1 (PILOT)

Currently out on TV is a new supernatural teen drama from the creators of The Vampire Diaries. Based on books by the same author, L.J. Smith, The Secret Circle is set to run for 13 episodes.

Secret Circle
Director: Liz Friedlander
Based on the books by L.J. Smith
UK TV release date: September 2011
Genre: Witchcraft

The "Secret Circle" series follows 16-year-old Cassie, who moves from California to live with her grandmother in New Salem and falls in love with a mysterious boy named Adam. But, when she enrolls in high school there, she realizes that he, she and all the other elite students at the school are witches! She befriends their leader, Diana, but soon discovers that Adam and Diana are dating, which leads to a whole bunch of complicated drama.

What I like about this first episode is that there is an immediate sense of mystery and intrigue – why did Cassie’s mum leave Chance Habor, was she really killed in an accident, and what happened to everyone's parents so many years ago? And if you are new to the story completely, why are certain teenagers acting so strangely towards Cassie?

Having read the Initiation and The Captive Book 1, it was inevitable that I would compare the two different versions. One difference from the original text (if my poor memory serves me correctly) is that the circle’s parents are much more heavily involved in the TV series, bringing in a lot more intrigue and danger. We see a different side to what magic can do, with the adults' attempts to keep Ethan Conant (Adam's father) quiet and their desire to keep Cassie in town.

My favourite scene was when Adam showed Cassie that they could do magic. Water drops hung in the air, looking beautiful and magical. With the growing connection and forbidden feelings between the pair, this scene was just hot!

I also have to say on a completely irrelevant and personal note, that I loved the glow-in-the-dark stars stuck on Cassie’s bedroom ceiling, left over from when her mum lived there. I just love those stars anyway and have always wanted my ceiling covered in them, but when they started to move and shift…so fab!

Probably my one downfall of the series so far is some of the acting. I liked lots of the characters, particularly Britt Robertson as Cassie, Thomas Dekker as Adam, and Adam Harrington as his father. But for me, Faye's character could have been so much darker, a hint of real danger and evil inside her waiting to be unleashed. Conjuring rain didn't really do it for me. Instead the real threat and danger came from Charles Meade, good girl Diana's dad, which is making me wonder what he is up to.

So far only three episodes have been aired in the US and one here in the UK, and in total their are thirteen in this first series. I was impressed to see that L.J. Smith was actually involved in writing some of the episodes, and I can't wait to watch the rest of the series although I really hope to see more darkness and edge to certain characters.

Have you started watching the series? What did you think?

REVIEW: BLOOD MAGIC

Blood Magic

Author: Tessa Gratton
Series: Yes, #1
UK Publisher: Random House Children’s Books
UK Release date: May 2011
Genre: Urban fantasy

Grieving for the loss of her parents who died in an apparent suicide-murder, Silla receives a mysterious book detailing the magic rituals her father used. Using her own blood as a source of power, Silla discovers her enthusiasm for the magic. When Nicholas moves across the cemetery from her, she discovers a kindred spirit and together they learn the magic together. But they soon realise that someone is out to use the magic for evil and will not leave Silla’s family alone.

Review: For some reason I've only just got around to reading this book, despite buying it months ago. I wasn't disappointed as it's faced paced and exciting, although some bits were really bloody and gruesome!


Blood Magic is told from the dual perspective of 17 year old Silla and, newcomer to her small town, Nicholas. The swapping between their narratives kept the story flowing. Diary extracts from a third perspective, young Josephine who is learning and using magic, were really captivating. We don’t really know who she is, but we see her relationship with magic grow and change into something corrupt, and it is these extracts that add another layer of mystery, interest and intrigue.

Silla is a really interesting character as she is truly hurt and damaged from the death of her parents. We see the interested she used to have, as well as the masks that she 'wears' to convey her thoughts, temper, and feelings. For her this is a huge coping strategy after the death of her parents. Although she feels empty inside she still manages to convey real character and depth, which is why I liked her so much. The fact that she doesn't cling to Nick like a lost puppy is also a positive.

Being new to the area, Nicholas stands out from everyone else like a sore thumb. I like the fact he embraces this and revels in being different. I do like his nickname for his stepmother Mary, whom he affectionately calls Lilith – the name of the demon queen!

The plot was quite simplistic and with the help of some very obvious clues I easily guessed who was behind things. Despite this I still really enjoyed the story because it was so fast paced and exciting.

Having a dislike of blood, I found some details of the magic rituals a little gory. In particular the 'rabbit' scene was bloody and nauseating – personally I feel that this could have been tamed down or left out as I had to skip bits in sympathy of my sensitive stomach. I also find it odd that Silla can’t stand the sight or thought of blood because it reminds her of finding her parents dead covered in blood, yet at the same time she is happy to cut herself open and slather herself in blood. Perhaps this is meant to demonstrate Silla growing and healing thanks to the magic, but it seemed rather discordant to me.

Tessa Gratton’s writing style is wonderful - it's flowing and fluid. Here is certainly a very promising writer that we can expect great things of!

Rating: 4*

REVIEW: STARDUST

Stardust

Author: Neil Gaiman

Series: No, standalone

UK Publisher: Headline Publishing Group

UK Release date: 1999

Genre: Fantasy

When ordinary shop-boy Tristan promises the fair Victoria that he will bring back a fallen star from the magical and mysterious land beyond the Wall in return for whatever his heart desires, little does he know that his journey across the faerie land will lead him to witches, fighting lions and maybe even love. 

Review: Having already seen the film adaptation, there was inevitably going to be some comparison from the book to the film. I do love the film version and despite knowing the general gist of what happens, I still really enjoyed the book and its plot variations and twists.

Shop-boy Tristan might be rather naive in thinking that Victoria will marry him despite showing him little affection before, but I adored his positive nature. No matter what unusual and bizarre events happen in Faerie, Tristan is upbeat and determined. His fallen star Yvaine, however is cranky and grumpy. And who wouldn't be after being knocked out of the sky? Her relationship with Tristan is fraught with tension and disagreement, stemming form the fact that he takes her hostage to his romantic profession of love for Victoria. But slowly there relationship changes and develops in a very sweet and endearing way.

There are plenty of surprising, delightful and fantastic events, some straight from the pages of children’s nursery rhymes. The writing lulls you into the fairy story, enchanting you with tales and descriptions of the unusual characters, dramatic landscapes and histories of those living in Faerie. I have to admit I do love maps in fantasy books, and because Neil Gaiman's Faerie comes across as big and diverse I would love to have had a map to put places into context, but I understand that's just my unusual quirk.

Neil Gaiman purposefully aimed his fairy tale at adults incorporating a fair amount of sex, gore, and even one swear word. It did seem unnecessary and slightly shocking against the rest of the writing and without it, the story could have been perfectly enjoyed by children and adults alike. Saying this, Stardust is certainly one of the few books that I would consider re-reading again and again in the future. Just short of 200 pages and a standalone book, it can be picked up read for a fanciful diversion from the tedium of everyday life.

Stardust is an originally fantastical fairy tale filled with adventures beyond imagining.

Rating: 5*