Here it is the official trailer for the City of Bones, first of the Mortal Instruments series written by Cassandra Clare. It’s been a while since I’ve read the book so I don’t know how close to the source material it will be. It is due for release in August.
This book was sent to me by the publisher.
By: Elizabeth Miles
The Furies series Bk 2
Emily Winters is trying to adapt. It is not so day to hold onto your regular life after having it ripped apart by Furies. They haven’t left Ascension though and Emily discovers their connection to the town is much stronger than she could have imagined. her new friend Drea is just as determined to get at the Furies, though she won’t tell Emily why. Em is also really trying to make up with JD which is a little difficult when there is so much she can’t tell him.
There is also a new girl in town, Skylar McVoy, who is set on leaving her terrible past behind, including the secret she keeps deep within herself. She can’t believe her luck when popular girl Gabby befriends her. Then sophisticated Meg helps with a makeover and loads of advice, all of which seems to make sense at the time.
This is the second of the Furies books. Em has grown, she is darker in this book, tougher, focussed and fighting not to loose her mind. She struggles to hold a life together that has two very different sides. She tries to maintain two practically opposite types of friendships. Drea is dark, moody, driven and hiding her secrets close. Ultimately Drea’s actions show just how driven she is. Gabby is a wonderfully developed character who provides a lovely counterpoint to the tormented souls around her.
This story is tense, full of frustration and compelling.
Skylar is the new girl, determined to do what most not popular people do when they start a new school – she just wants to fit in. Meg seems to exert a strange hold over her that Skylar simply can’t see, not even when it starts influencing her in making nasty choices. It’s frustrating to read that sort of thing sometimes as the manipulation is so obvious you just want to slap Skylar upside the head. All in all though I will admit to being curious as to where Miles will take this next. Not your normal YA paranormal fantasy.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Books
Published: 30 August 2012
Format: Paperback 320 pages
Categories: Romance, Paranormal, Mythology
ISBN 13: 9780857072047
Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on the side of the page.
I received this as an ARC from the publisher.
By : Tara Moss
A Pandora English book.
Friday the 13th is coming, a day for all things supernatural. Even though she knows there will be a time for the dead will rise she has other things on her mind – a date with Lieutenant Luke, Pandora believes they can have a night together where Luke is once again a flesh and blood man. It doesn’t go to plan and Luke mysteriously disappears. Pandora must figure out how to unlock the secrets of the mansion. That means delving into the past to figure out what the builder of the mansion, Dr Edmund Barrett was up to when he died and exactly what happened to him. There is a powerful force in the house, something terrible is happening and if Pandora is going to defeat it she will have to face it head on and use all those powers that are hers to command as the Seventh.
This is the third instalment of the Pandora English series. Pandora still comes across as very shallow and insipid as she stumbles through her days as fashion assistant and nights dealing with the supernatural (though much of that is her running away). This plot line is more interesting that the previous one, the threat is much bigger and somewhat more interesting.
Great Aunt Celia is becoming more and more interesting and part of me would like to know more about her. Deus also plays a bigger part and the dynamics of how he fits in are interesting. I think if you like fashion and the supernatural, you may like this book, this series, there are plenty of fashion descriptions for the fashionistas out there.
When the first book came out it was one whose place on the shelf was uncertain as it was considered a crossover title (YA or adult). Something about it’s style means it fits better in the YA category for me, though with Pandora being 19 it could be argued that the book may fit better in adult. I will leave that to your discretion. One for those interested in clothes and the like.
Publisher: Macmillan Australia
Published: 01 December 2012
Format: Paperback 304 pages
Categories: Fantasy, Supernatural, Fashion
ISBN 13: 9781742611631
Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on the side of the page
by: Tara Moss
A Pandora English novel
Pandora English is slowly adapting to life in Manhattan. Her life though is different to most. She has two very different parts to live – that of fledgling employee at Pandora Fashion magazine and being the Seventh, whatever that means. her great Aunt Celia and ghostly Lieutenant Luke try to help her but there are just some things she has to do on her own. Not for the first time her two worlds collide, when fashion designers mysteriously disappear. is this in some way tied to the spider Pandora caught at a fashion shoot, or to the new designer no-one has really seen?
This is the second of the Pandora English books and wasn’t as frustrating a read as the first one proved to be. To me Pandora seems a bit weak, no where near as strong or determined as I’d expect of someone who has recently discovered they have supernatural gifts. In some ways it seems as though Pandora falls from event to event with no real control. So much of the story seems thinly constructed, a lot of surface but no real depth of characters. I will say this though, if you have an interest in fashion and the paranormal this is probably right up your alley, so give it a shot.
Publisher: Macmillan Australia
Published: 01 December 2011
Format: Paperback 336 pages
ISBN 13: 9781742610030
Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on the side of the page
I got my copy from the publisher.
By: Stuart Daly
The Witch Hunter Chronicles Book 3
Jakob is one of the Hexenjager, an elite organisation of witch hunters. They are in the process of breaking into a jail in Rotterdam when things take a turn they didn’t expect and Jakob and his compatriots Armand, von Frankenthal and Francesca find themselves on a boat to England. There they are drafted to help fight the Sons of Cain and prevent a terrible prophecy from being fulfilled. The Sons of Cain have stolen The Codex Gigas also known as the Devil’s Bible and plan to use it to summon the Price of Darkness. Jakob and his friends will team up with the Angeli Mortis and British royalty to battle some of the most evil beings any of them have ever faced. Their lives and the fate of the country relies on their success, it will be a challenge for the best of them.
A ride through fantasy and history. Jakob is a likable central character, he is brave and trained but young and it shows in his actions and that makes him interesting. It is nice to see characters with flaws. He is the perfect centre to Armand, charismatic team leader and lethal fighter, determined Francesca and loyal von Frankenthal.
There are loyalties and tensions between the groups trying to work together and that makes the situation more believable and readable. Daly says he was inspired by the works of Dumas and you can see it in his tone and style. If you like a swashbuckling read with more than a dash of the supernatural then definitely give this a look. Sweeping from Rotterdam to London it is dark, gritty and engaging. I will say though some of it felt a little awkward but it wasn’t anything I could really put my finger on and ultimately didn’t stop me enjoying the story.
Publisher: Random House Australia
Published: 02 July 2012
Format: Paperback 432 pages
Categories: Historical, Fantasy, Witches,
ISBN 13: 9781742754802
Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on the side of page
I received my copy from the publisher.
By: Garth Nix and Sean Williams
TroubleTwisters book 2
The troubletwisters were lucky last time in defeating the Evil. Now is the time for them to focus, listen and learn. It is time for them to master their powers. That is not all though because Jaide and Jack still have to go to school but things there are looking up as there is a new girl, Tara, and she could be a friend. Strange things are going on though, including plenty of talk about the Portland Monster. Grandma X knows so many things that she isn’t sharing, Kleo and Ari are in a battle of their own and the twins are feeling left out. It seems that even with everything going in Jaide and Jack’s help is not wanted and combined with the difficulties of mastering their skills, they are left feeling very frustrated and prone to seeing the Evil everywhere. Are they falling victims to their own imaginations? Or is there really something they can do?
This story is dark complex and a little frustrating, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. The twins themselves are frustrated with the limits that are being put on them, which is understandable but Jaide’s repeated insistence of getting involved when she has been asked not to did get a little irritating. Having said that there are times when it is that very trait that pushes the story along. I also think I mentioned in the first book that this trait is very appropriate, an accurate representation of some people of that age.
On the whole the story is appealing and entertaining. It’s very darkness and various setbacks and frustrations are what set this book apart from many others in the age category. The addition of Tara is a welcome one as she helps break up the narrow focus of the twins.
Nix and Williams have given us a tight and well crafted story. If you like the work of either writer or you are looking for something that is more of a dark adventure, then definitely give this book a look.
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: 01 May 2012
Format: Paperback 312 pages
Categories: Adventure, Mystery, Magic
ISBN 13: 9781742373997
Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on the side of the page
I received my copy as an ARC from the publisher.
By: Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan
Mel, Cathy and Anna live in New Whitby, a town where vampires have their own suburb – The Shade. They have seen plenty of them around but they don’t actually know any. This suits Mel just fine, she can live with vamps as long as they stick to their own kind. Everything is good until Francis arrives at school in a strange sun-proof suit. Cathy is fascinated by him and is soon totally swept away. Mel is horrified. She sets herself the task of convincing Cathy that dating a vamp is a very bad thing. The along the way Mel meets Kit, a boy who really makes her laugh but he has a very strange family history and it’s one Mel isn’t sure she can cope with.
They aren’t the only things going on with Mel, on one side her anti-vamp stance is in danger of jeopardising her closest friendship and on the other, her friend Anna is going through a really rough patch and Mel has said she will help. Anna’s father has left and her mother is acting really strange. Mel has promised to find out what is really going on but the closer she gets to the truth, the more she isn’t sure she wants to know.
This is a paranormal romance with a wonderfully humorous twist, that makes it a very rare kind of beast and a thoroughly enjoyable read. If you are like me and totally over the whole vampire YA romance thing then please don’t be afraid to pick this book up. Told from the perspective of vampire disliker Mel, it gives the genre a new lease on life.
Mel is a funny and opinionated character who is very loyal to her friends in her own way. Cathy and Anna offer different outlets to assist with her character development. Anna is the tormented yet coping friend who needs help and answers and Cathy is the smart, thoughtful one who listens to her friend but makes her own choices knowing the consequences.
Kit is a fun boy interest, the difference in his upbringing makes a nice counter to Mel’s life and he has the ability, predominantly through laughter and a willingness to learn, to affect and complement Mel.
I thought this sounded like a good read and I wasn’t disappointed. A fun story and a great laugh. One for both the lovers or paranormal romance and haters.
Publisher: Allen & Unwin Children
Published: 02 July 2012
Format: Paperback 372 pages
Categories: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
ISBN 13: 9781742378398
Purchase: using Booktopia link on the side of the page
I enjoyed the first book and am looking forward to the second.
I received this copy as an ARC from the publisher.
By: Brigid Kemmerer
Book 1 Elementals
Becca Chandler leaves a self defense class only to discover someone getting beaten up in the carpark. She decides to step in without realising just how much this one good deed will change her life. Chris Merrick is no ordinary guy, his reaction to the water she gives him after rescuing him is only the tip of the iceberg. Chris has three older brothers, their parents are dead and the boys are marked for death. All four of them are powerful elementals, each having one element they are particularly attuned to – water, air, fire and earth. This can be incredibly dangerous, especially now when it appears that deals which have held for years are shattering, with violent consequences.
Things though haven’t been simple for Becca for a while, and she is finally getting used to the gossip. Into her increasingly complicated life comes Hunter, a strange new kid who has an appealing and mysterious way about him. He helps Becca when she needs it most. As things get more dangerous Becca realises she doesn’t know who she can trust. Then there is her secret.
Becca is a little different from many heroines as she is the one who steps up to do the rescuing, though in the interest of full disclosure she does get rescued at some point as well. She is a fighter (not in any trained sense of the word, just by nature), who has had some nasty things happen to her but she doesn’t let that beat her. She may get knocked down but she gets back up and for that simple fact I would read more about her.
The brothers are interesting, they all have very different personalities but under all the brotherly dysfunction is a strong bond of loyalty that they need to survive.
At first glimpse you may be inclined to dismiss yet another love triangle story but don’t. The characters are interesting, the romance is barely a sub-plot, and it seems more about the confusion of possible relationships than the angst of being in one or torn between two guys. The overarching story of the elementals is quite entertaining. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would and am looking forward to reading the sequels. If you are looking for something with proactive females and some interesting paranormal abilities then give this a go. With the reveal at the end it is going to be interesting to see where this story goes.
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: 01 May 2012
Format: Paperback 368 pages
Categories: Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic
ISBN 13: 9781743310663
It’s been a while since I’ve posted a book trailer and one came out today for a book I know some people are really looking forward to. So with nothing else to say here is the trailer for the final instalment of Lauren Kate’s Fallen series.
TheKylieVerse 