Remembrance by Meg Cabot

All Susannah Simon wants is to make a good impression at her first job since graduating from college (and since becoming engaged to Dr. Jesse de Silva). But when she’s hired as a guidance counselor at her alma mater, she stumbles across a decade-old murder, and soon ancient history isn’t all that’s coming back to haunt her. Old ghosts as well as new ones are coming out of the woodwork, some to test her, some to vex her, and it isn’t only because she’s a mediator, gifted with second sight.

What happens when old ghosts come back to haunt you?
If you’re a mediator, you might have to kick a little ass.

From a sophomore haunted by the murderous specter of a child to ghosts of a very different kind—including Paul Slater, Suze’s ex, who shows up to make a bargain Suze is certain must have come from the Devil himself—Suze isn’t sure she’ll make it through the semester, let alone to her wedding night. Suze is used to striking first and asking questions later. But what happens when ghosts from her past—including one she found nearly impossible to resist—strike first?

I adored the Mediator series, it was so very funny and what originally drew me to paranormal books, so I was beyond excited to see how Suze had grown up. This time around, nearly ten years later, Suze has another ghost to wrangle, this time of a little girl clinging to her best friend, harming anyone who would hurt her, all the while trying to keep her job and plan her wedding to the gorgeous and very much alive Jesse de Silva.

Jesse was as cool and kind and handsome as I remember! Being bought back from the dead has clearly done wonders for him! Training to be a doctor, what he wanted to be if his father hadn't stopped him, Jesse had embraced modern life and his future with Suze. I mean, he still has old-fashioned values pertaining to certain intimacies that drives Suze bonkers, but apart from that, their life together is shaping up quite nicely. Until the devil returns.

Paul is back in Suze's life and she is not happy about it. I don't know how I feel about the fact that he hasn't changed much; when he was a teenager and all moody and self-obsessed, we could blame hormones, but as a mid-20 year old, he's just obnoxious and dangerously narcissistic. When he says that he'll help Suze with the so-called demon living inside Jesse but only if she sleeps with him, I practically shouted at the book. That's blackmail and not to mention a horrible thing to do! Paul really needs some help learning a little empathy.

I'm not going to talk about the plot too much, because in true Cabot fashion, the two sides of the story intertwine a bit. Plus I really wouldn't want to spoilt anything! I will say, however, that it definitely lives up to the rest of the series. I could tell how much time had passed, and although Suze still had her sarcastic voice and liked to punch first, talk later, she had definitely grown up. She was training to be a child psychologist, meaning she could help the living and the dead better, and for that I was beyond proud of her.

This was such a great read, both new and nostalgic, and full of Cabot's trademark wit and drama. A great ending to what will always be one of favourite series.

Published 2nd February 2016 by William Morrow Paperbacks.

Legacy of Lies by Jillian David

Garrison Taggart doesn’t have time to deal with touchy-feely junk like “trust issues” or “feelings.” His dad’s health is waning and the family’s Wyoming ranch is being sabotaged. Too bad his supernatural ability to tell when someone is lying has been exactly zero help in ferreting out the betrayer so far. So, when sweet schoolteacher Sara Lopez raises concerns about his son being bullied, who can blame a guy for getting a little testy?

The last thing Sara needs is any more attention or gossip after her recent breakup with big-shot rancher Hank Brand. So her attraction to surly but sexy Garrison, Hank’s rival, is entirely unwanted. When she uncovers an insane plot to kidnap the Taggart boy and throws herself in harm’s way to protect him, Garrison must risk his deepest secret and his own life to save the people he cares for the most. But will his heroics cost him everything?

I was asked to review this by the author, and it's not my usual thing so I was going to turn it down. But, after reading about it, I thought it would be like Wynonna Earp, a TV show that I've recently discovered and love, and it kind of was: small town gossip, traditional Western romance, bit of paranormal thrown in. However there were just a few too many questions for me to properly understand it but I did overall like it.

Sara is working in her home town, which she hates and for some reason everyone hates her, to work off her student debt. She just has a couple more years to deal with then this town is in the dust. But meeting Garrison changes all of that. Despite the hot and manly descriptions of Garrison, I didn't really believe the romance until over half way through. And I really didn't understand Sara sometimes; many of her actions seemed inconsistent, like sleeping with Garrison then running away and shutting down her heart - why has the fact that you are leaving in a few years just become an issue? It's always been there! Humph, anyway. 

Sara's ex Hank was a completely unknown element in this. I spent most of his screen time, as it were, wishing he would jump off a cliff. I'm pretty sure that was the point of his character but some of his insults were sloppy, painfully misogynist and sexist for no real good reason that I was just getting annoyed with him. Also was there a reason behind his fixation on Garrison other than insecurity? Because blackmailing his wife and kidnapping his son is a bit far for simple jealousy. 

As for the paranormal element, it was really cool but there didn't seem to be any need for it. There was no explanation for Garrison and his family's abilities, it's just a thing that is there. All of his siblings have slightly different mental abilities, like being able to find a specific person or sense danger, but apparently their father just ignores these things. How do all of the kids have powers but the father not, nor know anything about them? This fact annoys me more than it should. 


Let's end on a proper positive. It was a good start to a series, but lots of things left unanswered, which I suppose is the point. It is a spin-off series which explains why I didn't get all the references. It was full of really good writing and a pretty good story line, just a strange mix of western romance and paranormal that didn't do it for me, unfortunately. 

Published 14th November 2016 by Crimson Romance. Thank you to the author for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Creeping Shadow by Jonathan Stroud

Lucy has left Lockwood & Co. A freelance operative, she is hiring herself out to other agencies – agencies that might value her ever-improving skills.

But now Lockwood needs her help.

Penelope Fittes, leader of the well-renowned Fittes Agency wants Lockwood & Co. – and only them – to locate and remove the ‘Source’ for the legendary Brixton Cannibal.

It’s a tough assignment. Made worse by the tensions between Lucy and the other agents – even the skull is treating her like a jilted lover!

What will it take to reunite the team? Black marketeers, an informant ghost, a Spirit Cape that transports the wearer, and mysteries involving their closest rivals may just do the trick.

But not all is at it seems. And it’s not long before a shocking revelation rocks Lockwood & Co. to its very core . . .
Returning to the team, Lucy understandably feels torn; it feels like home but she is worried about Lockwood. Not to mention George feels hurt and abandoned, and Holly thought it was because of her. Actually everyone thought it was because of Holly! But before long, Lucy is back at it again, running off with Lockwood into thrilling danger and defeating ghosts and bad guys alike. We started with the notorious Ealing Cannibal (really shouldn’t have read that bit before bed!). This case was incredibly scary, just a dark atmosphere and super creepy feeling, plus, you know, bones in the basement and stories of bits of flesh in the fruit bowl… urgh.

Lockwood then pulls the team to a tiny village that appears to be the epicentre for a hell of a lot of ghost activity – it also happens to be right next to a Rotwell research institute so while they are there… might as well investigate! Between the multitude of hauntings in this village and the secrets behind what the institute are actually researching, we suddenly had a conspiracy feel to the storyline. Which was fantastic, as we sacrificed individuals cases like previous books for threading details together and adding into the story behind the Shadow.


What I adore about Stroud's books are the hugly character driven plots; a lot of this story was the tension between Lucy and the rest of the team and that all melting away as they work together again. Plus I am a huge Lockwood and Lucy shipper and the few moments they get in this installment just makes me heart melt, as well as feel like my stomach has dropped out because it was utterly terrifying! Finally, I can't not mention the Skull. As witty and hurtful as ever, the Skull actually becomes a major character as he is stolen and part of the conspiracy plot to learn more about ghosts.


A brilliant story and amazing developments both to the characters and the overall plot, Stroud always leaves me a little breathless from the thrills and secrets (sometimes literally) exploding within the pages. There are few secrets left, but after the massive cliff hanger right at the end, all I can say is: bring on the finale!

Published 15th September 2016 by Corgi.

Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker

Witches, watch out... Half Bad meets Kill Bill in this incredible new supernatural series.

Sixteen-year-old Elizabeth Grey doesn't look dangerous. A tiny, blonde, wisp of a girl shouldn't know how to poison a wizard and make it look like an accident. Or take out ten necromancers with a single sword and a bag of salt. Or kill a man using only her thumb. But things are not always as they appear. Elizabeth is one of the best witch hunters in Anglia and a member of the king's elite guard, devoted to rooting out witchcraft and bringing those who practice it to justice. And in Anglia, the price of justice is high: death by burning.

When Elizabeth is accused of being a witch herself, she's arrested and thrown in prison. The king declares her a traitor and her life is all but forfeit. With just hours before she's to die at the stake, Elizabeth gets a visitor - Nicholas Perevil, the most powerful wizard in Anglia. He offers her a deal: he will free her from prison and save her from execution if she will track down the wizard who laid a deadly curse on him.

As Elizabeth uncovers the horrifying facts about Nicholas's curse and the unwitting role she played in its creation, she is forced to redefine the differences between right and wrong, friends and enemies, love and hate... and life and death.


Elizabeth is a little wisp of a teenager but she has been trained for years to fight witches. She has grown up being taught the evils of magic but when the King chooses her as his new... interest, she breaks the rules and has herbs preventing pregnancy. But it is illegal, no matter the reason, so Elizabeth is imprisoned and sentenced to death. While slowly getting more and more ill in the jail cell, she is rescued and pulled into Nicholas's inner circle, it is there that she realises that she's been swallowing lies all her life.

Honestly, I wasn't expecting much from this; it was just something new to read. But, despite the initial confusion over where and when it's set, I did quite enjoy it. The mix of historical and fantasy worked rather well, blending the old-school magical beliefs set in a made-up English style land.

There was also a slightly random love interest but it wasn't the focus, not by any means. The adventure was really well paced as Elizabeth is caught up in this whirlwind of prophesies and living on the run and getting her life turned upside down. And with a fantastic set of characters supporting and annoying her, Elizabeth needs to un-curse Nicholas and not get killed in the process.

I was surprised by this. It had a really good mix of fantasy and romance and action, but it wasn't too difficult to read or concentrate on. A nice addition to the genre.

Published 1st September 2015 by Hodder and Stoughton. 

The Hollow Boy by Jonathan Stroud

Lockwood & Co. might be the smallest (some might say shambollic) Psychic Detection Agency in London. But its three agents - Lockwood, Lucy and George - are exceptional Talents. And they get results. When an outbreak of ghostly phenomena grows to terrifying levels in Chelsea, Scotland Yard is left baffled.

Even more baffling is that Lockwood & Co appear to have been excluded from the huge team of Agents investigating the Chelsea Outbreak. Surely this is the perfect chance for them to show once and for all that they're actually the best in town? Well, that's if they can put aside their personal differences for long enough to march into action with their rapiers, salt and iron . . .

Book 3 in Lockwood and Co series, I absolutely loved seeing the gang again. In this instalment, the Problem is getting worse and Chelsea is seriously haunted. So bad in fact that the agencies are grabbing anyone and everyone they can to assist in the ghost hunting. 

The balance has been upset by a new addition: Holly. The boys of course are utterly smitten by her and her amazing organisation skills but Lucy is annoyed by her. Petty and childish yes, but completely normal for a teenage girl and I loved seeing this side to Lucy. She's so professional and good at her job, you forget how young they all are. And then of course there's the skull. Rude, annoying, likes to throw insults around and only be helpful about half the time, the skull is an unwilling member of the team with Lucy acting as interpreter. 

There was also some pretty impressive character growth; with some unwanted insight from the skull, Lucy is now confused about her feelings for Lockwood, Lockwood is starting to open up about his past and his family, and George is... well George! They've all been together long enough to have that group dynamic that Lucy didn't want changed but Holly does make them better and it takes Lucy a while to get over that. In fact, it takes a life-and-death moment with a dangerous poltergeist to get the two girls to open up.

I love this series so much, the characters are funny, the plot intertwines everything neatly so we see both character development and action sequences, and the ghosts are awesome. I can't wait to see what happens next, there was something of a shocking ending and I need to know how things work out!

Published 24th September 2015 by RHCP Digital.

The Diviners by Libba Bray

Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."

When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.

1920's New York, home of speakeasies, flappers and all-night dancing. And also the home of secrets, ghosts and dangerous zealots. We follow Evie as she is sent to New York to try and learn some responsibility. Instead (obviously) she has more fun than she could ever have in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere. But then an angry spirit is awakened and Evie gets swept up in the hunt for the murderer and to get her uncles quiet museum some press.

There was so much going on! The murders, both past and present, the magical abilities, religion, as well as multiple characters with their own histories and secrets. Full of possibility, New York City was a great setting and the 20's, with its illegal drinking, dance clubs open all night and dark alleys where men lurk, was a great time for the past and present to blend together and the veils between worlds to clash.

Evie was a great character. She was spunky and sassy, determined to live life at its fullest and a little thing like murder wasn't going to stop her. And the people she meet in the city, from dance star Theta to dark poet Memphis, made everything come alive, including the secrets they all held dear. Turns out it is a secret they all share and something is coming. It was all very dramatic and secretive and very dark, but so fascinating to learn about something that no one could really explain. As I said, setting it in the 20's was great, it not only made the normal feel different - as it is compared to now - the occult and the spiritualism made everything feel fantastical and strange and sometimes deadly. 

Luckily, book two is due out at the end of the month, so I don't have to wait long to find out what happens next. Which is great, because Bray set up some amazing cliffhangers and some teasing questions that I desperately need answers for!

Published 2013 by Atom.

Hollow Pike by James Dawson

Something wicked this way comes...

She thought she’d be safe in the country, but you can’t escape your own nightmares, and Lis London dreams repeatedly that someone is trying to kill her. Lis thinks she’s being paranoid - after all who would want to murder her? She doesn’t believe in the local legends of witchcraft. She doesn’t believe that anything bad will really happen to her. You never do, do you? Not until you’re alone in the woods, after dark - and a twig snaps... Hollow Pike - where witchcraft never sleeps.

After falling in love with Under The Skin, I knew I had to read my way through Dawson's back catalogue. Although fairly creepy and out of my comfort zone, Dawson's writing just has that something that makes me want to keep coming back.

Set in a sleepy little English village, haunted by its bloody history, it was the perfect setting for things to get a little out of control. As it was so remote, so small, and everyone knew everyone's business, Lis and her friend had very few places they could turn as thing go pear-shaped. Never knowing who to trust, as good guys become bad and vise versa. 

As I said, the story and the mystery was fairly creepy but I'm a sucker for witches! The never knowing who to trust, what was happening and why, that was what made it scary; the witches themselves were practically harmless, as we discovered, it was just the threat of them that makes people nervous. Ironic and clever that all this is happening alongside the reading of The Crucible! 

Dawson created a great teenage voice with Lis. Her bullies and her crush, everything felt very real and dramatic, as it should with teens. Add in the extra thrill of prophetic dreams and murder, and you have one very scared but determined protagonist! All in all, a fantastic story with everything you need for a good mystery, from the misunderstood bad guys to the righteous killer.

Published 2nd Feburary 2012 by Orion Children's.

The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

When Clary discovers she is a Shadowhunter, her world is turned upside down. Over six books, she and friends try to take down manic-Shadowhunter and Clary's father, Valentine. 

There are many things I loved about this series. The characters are amazingly varied, from in-the-closet, bad ass with a bow, Alec and magical Magnus with his glittered hair, to mundane turned vampire Simon. I also loved the love story. Thinking they were brother and sister for a while did put a crimp in the tale but all they've been through just makes Clary and Jace stronger. 

The series actually works in two trilogies. In books one to three, Clary and Jace fight their feelings for each other after they were told they are brother and sister. Awkward or what? They all also have to figure out Valentine's next move, as he attempts to take over Idris and all Shadowhunters. Valentine's action's escalate until Clary is forced to do something desperate, to stop him and to save Jace.

Then in books four to six, it's Valentine's son Sebastian that they have to look out for. Cunning, charming and even more dangerous than Valentine, Sebastian has a different plan for Shadowhunters, one that threatens all their lives. What I especially loved about the complicated plot was how it all linked together. Although the series is roughly split in half, events overlap and affect things and people throughout the books. 


This is an epic urban fantasy series and one of my favourite series ever. Just everything about it, from the characters, the world building, the magical creatures, everything adds up to make one incredible story. The journey the group goes on, to save themselves and the world of Shadowhunters, is awe-inspiring and so amazingly written, you just fly through the pages. A great series that cannot be recommended enough.

Bound By Flames by Jeaniene Frost

Leila’s years on the carnie circuit were certainly an education. What she didn’t learn: how to be a vampire, or how to be married to the most famous vampire of them all. Adjusting to both has Leila teetering on a knife edge between passion and peril, and now the real danger is about to begin…

Vlad must battle with a centuries-old enemy whose reach stretches across continents and whose strength equals his own. It isn’t like Vlad to feel fear, but he does…for Leila, because his enemy knows she is Vlad’s greatest weakness. As friend and foe alike align against him—and his overprotectiveness drives Leila away—Vlad’s love for his new bride could be the very thing that dooms them both… 

The third in Night Prince series is finally here! We catch up with Leila and Vlad as they hunt for Vlad's arch nemesis before he finds them.

I've always had a soft spot for Vlad and finally seeing him happy with Leila makes my heart burst. But Vlad's heart has been hardened over the centuries and getting him to admit that he loved Leila has made him vulnerable. The un-pronounceable Szilagyi has taunted and hurt Vlad for centuries and now realises that Vlad's weak spot is his wife. Of course, married life isn't easy but add in kidnapping and running for your life and ancient magic, and you have a taste of what Vlad and Leila has to deal with! 

Leila really has to deal with a lot of shit this time around; between Vlad being annoyingly over-protective and Szilagyi using her as bait and horrible revenge, Leila handled it all the best she could. There were a few truly terrifying moments, especially with the once-trusted Maximus. That just made me sick. 

The ending had an amazing twist that I didn't see coming; it was dramatic and a little crazy and wonderfully shocking; a great ending to build up to the last book. I always enjoy Vlad and Leila's relationship and they had some great development with Vlad's old-fashioned nature and Leila's stubbornness. I was holding my breath for most of this book, and I'm beyond happy to see that Vlad and Leila finished this part of their story all the stronger and hopefully more prepared for their final showdown. 

Published 27th January 2015 by Avon.

The Shadow Cabinet by Maureen Johnson

Grieving, shaken, and feeling very much alone, Rory's life as a member of the Shades of London has changed irrevocably. It's only been a matter of hours since Stephen was taken from her, possibly for ever. Her classmate Charlotte is still missing, kidnapped by the same people who tried to take Rory. Rory is no longer a schoolgirl haplessly involved in the dealings of a secret government unit. She is their weapon in a matter of life and death.

With hardly a moment to think for herself, Rory is back to work. Charlotte must be found -- as must Stephen, if he is even out there. Lines must be drawn and forces rallied. Something is brewing under London, something bigger and much more dangerous than what has come before. The Shadow Cabinet holds the key to everything, and it is up to Rory to unravel its mysteries before time runs out... 

Warning: spoilers for previous books!

Third in Shades of London series, this time catching up with Rory after a hell of a shock and loss. Most of the first few chapters was spent looking for Stephen and trying not to break down and cry. It dragged on just a little bit too long before Rory could snap out of it and do something useful, but as ever Johnson never made it feel like it was wasted space. 

Like I said, a lot of time spent figuring out the next move and playing catch up to Jane's master plan. Once they gain traction, things speed up; new characters crop up to both help and hinder their investigation, we see a new side of Thorpe, and Rory and gang are piecing together clues to finally get one step ahead of Jane and the super creepy Sid and Sadie. Loved new character Freddie, a little chatterbox with an encyclopedic knowledge of all things ghost. She definitely came in handy but was rather annoying, plus was a bit of a sore spot after losing Stephen

Back to Sid and Sadie, there was a lot more spiritualist and pagan sort of approach to ghosts, which was interesting and kind of fun, especially after Callum's "they all suck, let's blast them" attitude. This background gave the book a much different feel, one that was well written but did kind of come out of nowhere, especially concerning the Oswulf Stone. And while I did like the in-depth background, it mostly went over my head! Although with all this, there was this great dramatic sense of a bigger picture. Definitely something to look forward it.

A great book with amazing character development, some of it heartbreaking, and left me wanting more drama, more Rory and Stephen, and more ghost/Side and Sadie-hunting. Bring on the next book!

Published 5th February 2015 by Hot Key Books. Thank you to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Coldest Girl In Coldtown by Holly Black

Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown's gates, you can never leave.

One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.

A very dark and violent story set in a world where vampirism has spread like a disease and Coldtown's have been set up to contain them and their human feeders. People can enter but no one leaves. Reality TV romanticises the vampires, their parties, even their victims but some still know the truth of the horror, especially Tana. Tana is left to fend for herself with her Cold ex-boyfriend and a secretive vampire who may or may not be on the run from the toughest vamp out there; they flee a party and head for the nearest Coldtown where Tana and Aidan can possibly turn into vampires safely. 

I didn't always understand Tana but did really like her, she was somewhat impulsive but cared for her family who she'd left behind, and her friends in Coldtown. We saw into her past and the defining moment with her mother turning Cold and attacking her. Tana was a very interesting character, very complex as she empathised with the down-trodden and did everything she could to protect her younger sister, even from across the state. Gavriel, the mad vampire runaway, was very entertaining. Clearly mental and spoke some nonsense but clever and fascinating to read. Black did a very good job with these characters, unfortunately sometimes I couldn't quite connect with them the way I wanted to, especially Tana. The main reason was her weird relationship with Aidan, I just did not understand their game of chicken. 

Seeing a Coldtown from the inside was almost surreal; it was gritty and dark and quite gross, full of gory details with vampires feeding and killing. Black also did an incredible job with the vampire hierarchy, from hyper, newly turned vamps to ancient and violent vampires who rule huge armies. And Tana was stuck in the middle, pulled in by Gavriel and his personal vendetta. Theirs was an amazing story and admittedly, I got a little lost as they took huge gambles but it was breathtaking to read and refreshing to find a new take on vampires. 

Published 3rd September 2013 by Little, Brown. 

Crescendo, Silence, Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick

Crescendo
Nora should know better than to think her life can return to normal after falling in love with a fallen angel. And Nora's life isn't normal - her dad was murdered, and the facts about his death just don't add up. Now Nora's own life is in imminent danger. Are she and Patch strong enough for the battle ahead?

This was very different to Hush Hush in that it wasn't so much a romance as a dark thriller. Also, Patch was so damn annoying in this one; he and Nora got into a big fight because Patch was hanging out with Marcie, evil incarnate, and he wouldn't explain why. I could completely understand why Nora blew a gasket, Marcie has been terrorising her since they were little and Patch couldn't justify him protecting her until the very end of the book. As for Nora, she acted quite stupidly, risking her life just to see if Patch would still come rescue her.

As I said, it wasn't so much of a romance in this one, not just because Nora and Patch broke up but also because the plot was much more complex now, with Nora's dad's death and old childhood friend is keeping strange secrets. Despite spending a lot of the book annoyed with both of them, I did really enjoy this; it was exciting and dramatic and full of twists. 

Silence

Nora Grey can't remember the past five months of her life. After the initial shock of waking up in a cemetery and being told that she has been missing for weeks - with no one knowing where she was or who she was with - she tried to get her life back on track. Go to school, hang out with her best friend, Vee, and dodge mom's creepy new boyfriend.

But there is this voice in the back of her head, an idea that she can almost reach out and touch. Visions of angel wings and unearthly creatures that have nothing to do with the life she knows. And this unshakable feeling that a part of her is missing.

Then Nora crosses paths with a sexy stranger, whom she feels a mesmerizing connection to. He seems to hold all the answers...and her heart. Every minute she spends with him grows more and more intense until she realizes she could be falling in love. Again.

Nora had been kidnapped and has returned five months later with no recollection of the entire summer. Most of the book was Nora chasing down leads to recover her memory. Even though there wasn't much new information, it was still an enjoyable story as we followed Nora's frustration and got to know Patch again.

The main plot of this book, apart from Nora's lack of memories, was the looming war between Nephilim and fallen angels, and the mystery of the Black Hand's army. In the process, we learned more about Hank Miller, Nora's biological dad, and my God he was horrible! He was twisted and egotistical and had no heart. 

I believe this was going to be the last book, which explains the lack of action and the whole 'one step forward, two steps back' feel with the amnesia. Again, I was a little disappointed with the romantic element but the story of the fallen angels and Hanks' army and everything was very cool, and very fun to read.

Finale
Nora is more certain than ever that she is in love with Patch. Fallen angel or no, he is the one for her. Her heritage and destiny may mean they are fated to be enemies, but there is no turning her back on him. Now Nora and Patch must gather their strength to face one last, perilous trial. Old enemies return, new enemies are made, and a friend's ultimate betrayal threatens the peace Patch and Nora so desperately want. The battle lines are drawn--but which sides are they on? And in the end, are there some obstacles even love can't conquer? 

At last, the final book! I have really enjoyed this series, despite my feelings about Nora and Patch sometimes, they do generally make a good team and their final battle was a good one. Coming out of the previous book as the Black Hand's successor, Nora is not only fighting the fallen angels but also her image within the Nephilim army. 

I finally felt like Nora and Patch have reached some sort of equal ground; they weren't fighting over every little decision and Nora did begin to understand that Patch was protecting her, while Patch stopped fighting her battles for her. And yet, because I'm still not entirely sure how old Nora is, I felt that their romance was a bit weird. And also sometimes inappropriate; like, you're currently dealing with a war to end all wars and you choose this moment to confess your true feelings and have a little make-out session? Hello, priorities! And back to the age thing, is Nora even old enough to be so completely in love with Patch? And the epilogue, three years later - is *someone* (avoiding spoilers) really getting married at 19? 

Anyway, rant over! Never mind all that confusion on my part, this was actually a pretty strong finale to the series; even though the prep for the war was dragged out, we did get the big fight scene and some death and sacrifices, and the perfect little twist to see everything work out in the end. Not the greatest dark romance but a very entertaining and enjoyable fallen angel story.

Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L Armentrout

Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.

But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…

This is the sequel to White Hot Kiss which I absolutely loved. The dark romance with demons, guardian angels and forbidden love was very much a guilty pleasure and I couldn't stop myself from finding out what happened next. So, Layla is mourning Roth as he sacrificed himself to save everyone else but then he appears, alive and well! Annoying or what? To make matters worse, Roth is acting as if she meant nothing to him, which was heartbreaking.

The main plot line, apart from the boy troubles, is that Layla's powers are changing. They are on the hunt for a Lilin, a very dangerous soul-stealing demon, and Layla is worried that maybe she is the reason why students at her school are acting so weird. Roth has been tasked with finding out the truth behind all the strangle occurrences so Layla has to put up with him as they hunt for the Lilin or whatever it is. I really liked this dangerous and action-packed story, it made a change to see Layla kicking ass than just whining about boys.

Even though I liked Zayne in the first one, for some reason I didn't really fall in love with Zayne/Layla. I have no reason why, I just didn't quite believe it, not after the shear hotness of Roth. And even though Roth apparently wanted nothing to do with Layla, she was still stuck in the love triangle and while it did work - it wasn't just Layla not being able to choose, it was Roth being a douche and Zayne being a sweetheart - I don't really like love triangles.

Things made a lot more sense by the end; from the shocker twist with what's causing the wraiths, and the real reason Roth is being a huge douche. I might have some technical issues, like Layla might be funny but she can be quite weak (although she was better in this one than the first one), but it was so much fun to read and was absolutely full of twists and turns. 

Published 21st October 2014 by Harlequin Teen.

Terminated by Rachel Caine

Problems turn from dead to worse ...Already addicted to the pharmaceutical drug that keeps her body from decomposing, Bryn Davis has survived Pharmadene's attempts to destroy her. But in doing so she may have sacrificed something massive - her own humanity. Made even more dangerous than before, even to her own friends, Bryn must stop a group of rich and powerful investors from eliminating Returne addicts altogether. And meanwhile, the investors' undead assassin is on the hunt for anyone who stands in their way. It's time to terminate the oncoming corporate zombie apocalypse for good ...even if it means terminating herself along with it. 

It's been a while since I read the previous book Two Weeks Notice so details were few and far between but I had faith in Caine's writing that I'd be able to keep up and luckily I was; things came flooding back as I got lost once again in Bryn's terrifying world.
 
The characters are still reeling from the events of the last book, as they recover from their torture and captivity they are experiencing some serious PTSD. Bryn and Riley are still very unsure about their upgrade to super-soldier; through the course of the book, we see them as definitely more zombie-like as they need a hell of a lot of protein to keep the nanites happy. Caine uses this to explore what it means to be human and alive, as opposed to stubbornly hanging on to threads of life. It also pushes the boundaries of Bryn and Patrick's relationship as Bryn is worried about her limits.

There is non-stop action as they run for their lives and hunt down anyone tied to the Foundation Group, trying desperately to keep ahead of Jane, the evil mastermind behind a lot of the Returne and a super-soldier herself. This book had much more of the conspiracy thriller angle as they don't even know who they're looking for. My heart was definitely in my throat for a lot of this, as they are in major trouble as they are chased across the country, unable to trust anyone as they are unsure how high up this goes. As it turns out, quite high up! A great, non-stop thrilling conclusion to Bryn's story.

Published 30th September 2013 by Alison and Busby.

Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

When Nora and Patch are forced together as lab partners, Nora would rather fall to her death than put up with his elusive answers to her questions, his teasing, and his infuriatingly handsome face and hypnotizing eyes. It seems Patch was put on earth just to drive her crazy.

But before long, Nora's defenses start to break down as her curiosity about Patch heats up. Why does he always seem to be wherever she is and know exactly what she's thinking? How does he know what to say to both attract and repulse her? And what is up with those V-shaped scars on his chiseled back?

As their connection grows stronger, Nora's own life becomes increasingly fragile. Nora needs to decide: Is Patch the one who wants to do her harm or the one who will keep her safe? Has she fallen for one of the fallen?

I read this because I'm working her event tonight, for her new book Black Ice, which I haven't read yet. Hush Hush has always been on my peripheral but I've never had a chance to pick it up. And that was incredibly stupid of me because it was the best sort of dark romance that I adore. It was dripping mystery and danger, keeping us guessing who the bad guy was and what exactly Patch's secret was. The dark and creepy setting was exemplified by the atmospheric windy Maine background, with early nights rushing in and bad weather keeping rescue at bay.

Even though I devoured it, there were a few things that I can easily criticise. For one, the whole 'I don't know if I can trust Patch but he's so gorgeous' thing dragged on for longer than I would have liked. I believe that was just Patch being a secretive douche rather than Nora's lack of self-control but his secret was kept hidden for just a little bit too long. The other thing could be a criticism but I'm actually praising it: the mind-trickery and suspense. As Patch was messing with Nora's mind, the line between fiction and reality was bending, and the non-knowing the truth, while incredibly frustrating, was really well written.

Nora and Patch's relationship was weird from the off, but despite my annoyance with the length of the mystery, I quite liked their developing friendship and lust. It was never a case of Nora falling head over heels, she just acknowledged the attraction; if there's one thing I hate it's insta-love. And Patch was a dangerous presence but never tried to romance her with lies. So while their relationship might be pretty weird, you know with attempted murder and stalking and the almost death threats, it was almost-cliched dark romance but still so entertaining to read and I can't wait to see where they go next.

Published 1st January 2009 by Simon and Schuster.

Half Bad by Sally Green

Wanted by no one.
Hunted by everyone.

Sixteen-year-old Nathan lives in a cage: beaten, shackled, trained to kill. In a modern-day England where two warring factions of witches live amongst humans, Nathan is an abomination, the illegitimate son of the world's most terrifying and violent witch, Marcus. Nathan's only hope for survival is to escape his captors, track down Marcus, and receive the three gifts that will bring him into his own magical powers—before it's too late. But how can Nathan find his father when there is no one safe to trust, not even family, not even the girl he loves?

I had no proper expectations going into this, apart from vague knowledge of some mixed reviews. I'm actually kind glad I had nothing to compare it to, it was quite refreshing to read it barely remembering the synopsis, let alone the reviews. 

What I found was excellent characterisation and writing style. Starts in the present, second person narrative, to draw you in but just more questions than answers. Then goes right back to the beginning, telling you Nathan's life story and succinctly explaining why he is the way he is. Nathan has had a tough life, judged by his parents, feared because of his father - never mind that he's never met him. It just sucked that everyone, even one if his sister's, treated him so horribly. And yet I can't help but think that if the Council made an effort to be nice, he wouldn't hate them so much; kind of creating their own problem, idiots!

The world building was very cool, very well done; set in the British countryside where witches lived in relative peace with the non-magical, or fains, there is a battle going on between the White and the Black. I really liked the not-so-secret witch society, where there were two factions, who were basically good and bad. But of course, from Nathan's perspective and his story, we came to realise that things are not so simple. Nathan has had to fight the Council, the governing witch power, for every little thing, from his classification (as White or Black) to leaving his town and interacting with White Witches. With the Council issuing rules that were basically just for Nathan, the whole thing had a very Big Brother vibe, which was immensely creepy. 

All in all, I really enjoyed this. While I didn't always get along with Nathan - sometimes he had a little too much of his dad in him - I could completely sympathise with his awful situation. But he was tough and broke the rules that needed breaking but still wanted to keep his family safe. Most things, i.e. his Gifting ceremony on his seventeenth birthday, were completed but it left plenty of questions for me to want to find out what happens to Nathan next.

Published 27th March 2014 by Penguin. Thank you to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Dark of the Moon by Siobhan Curham

This time, there’s no fire in the dream. All I see is a hazy yellow glow. Then a beautiful girl’s face slowly appears. She’s smiling at me, but a tear is trickling down her cheek. She opens her mouth to speak, but before she can say a word a snake slithers out from between her lips, its fangs bared.

For Grace, being shipwrecked on a deserted island has brought two good things: new friendships . . . and Cruz, her soulmate. But as her romance with Cruz intensifies, so do the strange happenings on the island. A girl haunts Grace’s dreams – but what does she want? And will she ever let Grace leave?

Love, betrayal and voodoo darkness, beneath a seething sun . . .

The second in the Shipwrecked series held even more surprises and spells for Grace and the gang. Even though I read Shipwrecked a couple of months ago, details were sketchy but luckily, everything came flooding back as soon as I opened the book. I fell right back into the terror of the unknown with Hortense the voodoo queen lurking over Grace's shoulder. 

I so needed to find out what happened to them all and what a surprise, they couldn't make it off the island. Hortense still needs Grace for something and is keeping them all on the island until the moon is its darkest and the spell will work. For what, we had no idea until the very end. So, they were lured to the other side of the island where there is a spiritual retreat, completely cut off from the rest of the world, where they meet Ruby, Lola and Michael. Things there didn't quite make sense and understandably they couldn't relax, even with proper food and real beds! But at least they were all back together, as the few that had split off didn't make it far and were forced back to the island.

For most of the book, I was distrustful of Ruby, the retreat's owner; she didn't make it difficult, being all weird and forceful and distant. Then there were her guests, Lola and Michael. I could see why Grace instantly clicked with Lola but I was still wary of her, it was all a bit too easy that she had found them. As for Michael, he was angry and rude and while that was annoying, I could completely understand why.

And on the ending! The last few chapters held so many shockers I nearly dropped the book! I was so scared for her, she really was blind-sided with where her enemy was. Hortense's plan really was brilliant and of course terrifying, and unfortunately executed very well; I'm not sure how Grace is going to get out of this one! 

Published 3rd July 2014 by Electric Monkey.

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Love and lies can corrupt even the purest heart... In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, while her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will - the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers to who she is and what she was born to do? As their search for the truth leads the three friends into peril, Tessa's heart is increasingly torn, especially when one of their own betrays them.

Warning: this review may contain spoilers for the first book.

I was so looking forward to carrying on with this series, to finding out what Tessa was and why the Magister wanted her, knowing more about the Shadowhunters and their heritage and of course what the deal was with Will. Clare can tell one heck of a story, winding different character stories together and pulling them all together all the while keeping up a fast pace to the overall plot. I absolutely adore Clare's writing style, it is almost lyrical in its mimicked-Victorian descriptions which was incredible to read.

We finally found out Will's secret, the reason he's the way he is and while I'm not going to ruin the secret, can I just say it completely broke my heart? Jem came out of his shell too, sometimes showing a lighter side as well as his strength. We got more from well-loved characters as well as some new ones. I especially loved Woolsey Scott, the London werewolf pack leader and the return of Magnus Bane. The wide variety of characters and their individual development was very well done and even with so many, I never felt lost. 

Onto the main storyline, the threat of Mortmain looms closer but there was no sign of the great evil one, instead we learned more about his motives and his minions. Speaking of, Nate makes a comeback. He was truly weasel-like in his actions and every time he opened his mouth, my skin crawled. And the betrayal was quite a shock as well; it was a horrible thought that anyone would hurt the Shadowhunters' cause but one of their own did, and it hurt. 

This might have been the middle book in the trilogy, it never felt like a filler. The story kept moving at a fast pace, and Clare definitely kept me in suspense! I quickly fell in love with this story and its characters and the second book didn't change that feeling. 

Published 1st May 2013 by Walker Books.