Weekly Highlights: the 'no will power' edition

Weekly Highlights is a feature borrowed from Faye of A Daydreamer's Thoughts, where I get to highlight my posts of the week, show you my new books and talk about bookish things! 


Been a good week on the book front, and even a bit better on the job front! Had a bit of a book frenzy on Monday, bought one and got two more from the library! And then I also got two more ebooks on Netgalley... yeah, I have no will power, but in my defence the ebooks were pre-approved!

On The Blog

Review of Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan (4 stars)

Review of Model Misfit by Holly Smale (5 stars)

Currently Reading

Still halfway through Unnatural Creatures but I've decided to leave that for Hallowe'en. I have started Hopeless by Colleen Hoover, an ebook that's been sat on my kindle for a while, which is amazing so far. This weekend I'm also having a binge-read of Skulk by Rosie Best, which comes out next week. 

On My Bookshelf

Geekhood: Close Encounters of the Girl Kind by Andy Robb

If you haven't worked it out yet, girls don't do this. They don't come to the Hovel. They don't like goblins and dragons. They don't paint miniatures. They don't play role playing games or re-enact fictional battles. And they don't talk to Geeks like me especially if they're pretty. And this girl is pretty. What do you do if you're a fourteen-year-old Geek, and a Beautiful Girl has appeared in the midst of your geeky world? And she seems to like you... For Archie, the natural reaction would be to duck and cover ... run for the hills ... buy a new model elf... Anything but risk stepping into the Real World. But even Geeks have to put their heads above the parapet at some point. With his mum barely able to contain her excitement that her son is about to join the human race, and his step-father, Tony the Tosser, offering crass advice, it's time for Archie to embark on a daring Quest to win the Beautiful Girl's heart and shake off his Geekhood for good...

A good find in the library, especially as I am meeting him tomorrow night! Read it already, review to come soon.

Scarlet by AC Gaughen

Posing as one of Robin Hood's thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her female identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only Robin and his band know the truth. As Gisbourne closes in, helping the people of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life, but her fierce loyalty to Robin-whose quick smiles have the rare power to unsettle her-keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.

I have no idea where I first heard of this but I've had my eye on it for months and I spotted it in my library!

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor is the new girl in town, and with her chaotic family life, her mismatched clothes and unruly red hair, she couldn't stick out more if she tried.

Park is the boy at the back of the bus. Black T-shirts, headphones, head in a book - he thinks he's made himself invisible. But not to Eleanor... never to Eleanor.

Slowly, steadily, through late-night conversations and an ever-growing stack of mix tapes, Eleanor and Park fall for each other. They fall in love the way you do the first time, when you're young, and you feel as if you have nothing and everything to lose.

Saw this in Waterstones and picked it up with no hesitation! Quickly becoming a Rainbow Rowell fangirl!

Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind. 

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look. 

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

I'm almost 100% certain that this is the US cover but better than nothing! I am so looking forward to this, I love McGarry's writing. Thank you Mira and Netgalley!

Pawn by Aimee Carter

Are you more than the number on the back of your neck?

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister’s niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.

There’s only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered. The same one that got her killed…and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that’s not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she’s only beginning to understand.

How awesome does this sound? Another great title by Mira Ink. Thank you Mira and Netgalley for my e-copy!

Model Misfit by Holly Smale

“My name is Harriet Manners, and I am still a geek.”

Harriet knows that modelling won’t transform you. She knows that being as uniquely odd as a polar bear isn’t necessarily a bad thing (even in a rainforest). And that the average person eats a ton of food a year, though her pregnant stepmother is doing her best to beat this.

What Harriet doesn’t know is where she’s going to fit in once the new baby arrives.

With summer plans ruined, modelling in Japan seems the perfect chance to get as far away from home as possible. But nothing can prepare Harriet for the craziness of Tokyo, her competitive model flatmates and her errant grandmother’s ‘chaperoning’. Or seeing gorgeous Nick everywhere she goes.

Because, this time, Harriet knows what a broken heart feels like.

Can geek girl find her place on the other side of the world or is Harriet lost for good?

About six months after we last saw her, Harriet is taking her last GCSE exam, painted gold. Yep, she hasn't changed much! It's her summer holiday and she has a amazing plan for her and her best friend Nat but then horror: Nat is disappearing to France! Just as she thinks her summer is ruined, Wilbur, the agent from fluffy, stylish hell, says she's going to Japan! I loved everything about this book: Harriet, her relationship with Nat, and her parents, Wilbur with his insane quips, and Japan!

It was just as addictive and amusing as the first book. If not more so! Harriet hasn't really changed much, she is still spouting random facts, still unbelievably clumsy, still doesn't quite understand people. This is especially demonstrated in her relationship with Nick. Yes, Lion Boy returns! But it isn't all peachy in Love Land; he broke up with her just before her exams and she is heartbroken. Not to mention confused. I couldn't believe that the sweet boy from the first book could be so horrible to poor little Harriet. Not to worry, fellow romantics, it is not as it seems!

It's not just her love life that's not running smoothly. She is messing things up worse than usual in her modelling life and it seems that she is being sabotaged! It was a little scary to have someone dislike Harriet that much because as annoying as she is, she is such a sweetheart that I cannot comprehend someone deliberately trying to ruin her career. Luckily, or not depending on how you look at it, this was all happening in Tokyo. I couldn't not tell you all how much I loved the descriptions of city life the other side of the world. Just like Harriet, I loved how Tokyo was so alive, how it was this insane and beautifully different culture. Smale did a great job bringing the city to life, even in Harriet's apartment and her modelling job at a fish market! 

It's a good thing she has such great friends and family because as much as I love her, I'm fairly certain she could not cope without them! As usual, Harriet gets so bogged down in the little things and I just wanted to give her a hug. I desperately wanted everything to work out and, with a little help from Wilbur and her slightly-crazy grandmother Bunty, Harriet manages a perfect photo shoot and a happy ending. I know I've said Harriet hasn't changed much, and that is true but there is some evidence of slight maturity there. She stands up for herself a little better in this book and understands things a little better. Although, saying that, she is still naive and silly but I loved how she toughened up. 

I know I've just gushed through this review but I really did love everything about Harriet's story. She is annoying and can't shut up, but she has a good heart and does deserve the good things coming her way. And with a little sibling ready to burst out of Annabel, Harriet will be busy teaching her geeky ways! Oh, and speaking of her family, I have to say: her dad and Bunty rocks! Smale can really write great characters. If you don't read this book for the story, read it for all the laughs you'll get from those two!

Published 26th September 2013 by Harper Collins. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

This is the story of Paul, a sophomore at a high school like no other: The cheerleaders ride Harleys, the homecoming queen used to be a guy named Daryl (she now prefers Infinite Darlene and is also the star quarterback), and the gay-straight alliance was formed to help the straight kids learn how to dance. 

When Paul meets Noah, he thinks he’s found the one his heart is made for. Until he blows it. The school bookie says the odds are 12-to-1 against him getting Noah back, but Paul’s not giving up without playing his love really loud. His best friend Joni might be drifting away, his other best friend Tony might be dealing with ultra-religious parents, and his ex-boyfriend Kyle might not be going away anytime soon, but sometimes everything needs to fall apart before it can really fit together right.

This is a happy-meaningful romantic comedy about finding love, losing love, and doing what it takes to get love back in a crazy-wonderful world.

I didn't really know what to expect from this, it being my first David Levithan book. And although some of it seemed a little fantastical - I'm thinking the Drag Queen clique here - I did like it. It tells of Paul bumping into Noah and falling instantly head over heels. Paul needs to find out more about him and soon they grow quite attached. I liked Noah and I liked Paul when he was around Noah, they complimented each other very nicely. However, I didn't like Paul very much at the beginning but he did sort of grow on me. He was very aware of his self, which was admirable but also a little annoying. If only because no one else did and it obviously frustrated them! Paul also had this one moment half way through the book that made me want to slap him. Even though I knew it was because he was being selfless, he couldn't see beyond the immediate to see how it might effect him personally. It's ok to be a little selfish and because he wasn't seeing how it messed things up with Noah... grr!

Anyway, no matter what my problems with the story, his writing more than made up for it. Levithan's writing was just amazing. It was lyrically descriptive and incredibly detailed, flowing between narrative and speech smoothly.  I also loved how he managed to give all the secondary characters their own stories and backgrounds that would fade in and out of Paul's focus, allowing us to delve into their worlds as well. It wasn't just Noah with his art and past boy troubles that Paul learned about, but also Tony with his strict parents, Joni and her need to be loved how matter how awful a match it is, and Kyle with his sexuality issues. 

It took a while to get started and, like I said, a while for me to warm up to Paul, but even though the world was too forgiving, too open to the different, I loved it. I knew the world was too perfect but for just a little while, I wanted to believe that our world could be like that. I loved how there was such a solid gay community, how the different was accepted and how weird and wonderful their high school was. Levithan's writing really made it all come together smoothly and I loved how Paul's story of finding and accepting love wove in with happy endings for everyone else he cared about. 

Published 1st August 2013 by Harper Collins. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for my e-copy.

Weekly Highlights: the average edition

Weekly Highlights is a feature borrowed from Faye of A Daydreamer's Thoughts, where I get to highlight my posts of the week, show you my new books and talk about bookish things! 


Quite a normal, quiet week. I've been doing good on the reading front, bit crappy on the job-hunting front - seriously, I've been applying since May! Something's gotta give! Anyway, been a good book week, a couple of ebooks and a review book that I've been waiting a month for!

On My Blog

Review of Attachments by Rainbow Rowell (5 stars)
Review of Moon Dance by JR Rain (3.5 stars)

Currently Reading

Still making my way through Unnatural Creatures. Just finished Boy Meets Boy and went straight into Model Misfit which is just as amazing as Geek Girl!

On My Bookshelf

Geek Girl 2: Model Misfit by Holly Smale
“My name is Harriet Manners, and I am still a geek.”

Harriet knows that modelling won’t transform you. She knows that being as uniquely odd as a polar bear isn’t necessarily a bad thing (even in a rainforest). And that the average person eats a ton of food a year, though her pregnant stepmother is doing her best to beat this. What Harriet doesn’t know is where she’s going to fit in once the new baby arrives.

With summer plans ruined, modelling in Japan seems the perfect chance to get as far away from home as possible. But nothing can prepare Harriet for the craziness of Tokyo, her competitive model flatmates and her errant grandmother’s ‘chaperoning’. Or seeing gorgeous Nick everywhere she goes. Because, this time, Harriet knows what a broken heart feels like. Can geek girl find her place on the other side of the world or is Harriet lost for good?

Yay for netgalley! Reading it right now and almost finished already!

Once Bitten by Trina M Lee

Alexa O'Brien is a professional huntress and a werewolf with the ability to conduct and manipulate metaphysical energy. When she is inexplicably drawn to the enigmatic vampire Arys Knight, the dangerous power they create together becomes more than either of them anticipated. As a result of their actions Alexa risks the loss of more than her remaining humanity, she risks losing the very person who holds her heart, Shaz Richardson. 

When her former lover and Alpha pack member Raoul is framed for murder, he comes to her for help and Alexa is forced to face past emotions and betrayals that were never laid to rest. As the murders continue she is torn between past hurts and present loves. Amidst the rush of power and the struggle for control, Alexa must dig deep within herself to discover where her heart truly belongs. As secrets are revealed and lies exposed, she comes to discover that not everyone is who you think they are and the greatest loves are undying.

A recommendation from Sophie - probably browsing kindle store and she came across this and, knowing me so well, linked it to me! Thanks Sophie :)

AntiGoddess by Kendra Blake

He was Apollo, the sun, and he'd burn down anything that tried to hurt her... Cassandra and Aidan are just your average high-school couple. Or so Cassandra believes. Blissfully unaware that she was once a powerful prophetess, Cassandra doesn't even know thats god exist... Until now.

Because the gods are dying - and Cassandra could hold the answer to their survival. But Aidan has a secret of his own. He is really Apollo, god of the sun, and he will do anything to protect the girl he loves from the danger that's coming for her. Even if it means war against his immortal family...

Been looking forward to this for ages! Thanks Orchard!

Moon Dance by JR Rain

Mother, wife, private investigator...vampire. Six years ago federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and mother, your typical soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happens, an attack that changes her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire.

Now the world at large thinks Samantha has developed a rare skin disease, a disease which forces her to quit her day job and stay out of the light of the sun. Now working the night shift as a private investigator, Samantha is hired by Kingsley Fulcrum to investigate the murder attempt on his life, a horrific scene captured on TV and seen around the country. But as the case unfolds, Samantha discovers Kingsley isn't exactly what he appears to be; after all, there is a reason why he survived five shots to the head.

You'd think that I'd be bored with vampire stories by now, but I'm not. Because I still love the creatures of the night, and especially when an author can put a nice new spin on it. Like this one. Sam Moon is a vampire by accident and now she's stuck behind taped-up windows while she does housework and big-brimmed hats when she picks up her kids from school. I really liked how she didn't give up on her human life and I definitely loved how she was with her kids: she was a great mum and I could completely understand how she did not want to give that up. But her husband has starting pulling away from her, believing she is a danger to him and their kids. While I could somewhat sympathise with that, part of me wanted to smack upside the head for leaving it 6 years!

Now that she can't work during daylight, Sam had to turn private investigator. Just saying, as a vampire, that is practically the perfect gig: sneaking around, enhanced senses and all that. Her case in this book is finding out who shot Kingsley. Even though it wasn't a very tough case, I did appreciate the mystery. Plus, it allowed Sam to get to know Kingsley, who had some very interesting secrets and knowledge to share.

And while there were quite a few silly little typo's and I had no idea what the point of turning into a creeping giant bat hybrid was, I still liked this story and did read it very quickly. I liked Sam and her outlook on life, I liked her tough exterior and snarky moments as much as I loved when she dropped her guard. I liked the banter she had when Kingsley and I even liked the old detective that asked too many questions. In fact, I think I appreciated the characters more than the story! Not that the story wasn't good, but the secondary characters were well-rounded without taking the focus off the main plot. 

This isn't the best vampire novel I've read, but it was entertaining and an easy enough read for me to enjoy it. Plus it was different and funny with its sweet and sometimes scary moments that I would happily recommend it to any fan of the genre. 

Published 10th August 2009 by Crop Circle.

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

"Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you . . . "

Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It's company policy.) But they can't quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives.

Meanwhile, Lincoln O'Neill can't believe this is his job now- reading other people's e-mail. When he applied to be "internet security officer," he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers- not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke.

When Lincoln comes across Beth's and Jennifer's messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can't help being entertained-and captivated-by their stories. By the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late to introduce himself.

What would he say . . . ?

I'm not entirely sure what I can say about this book without gushing. I knew I needed to read a Rainbow Rowell book and I'm glad I started with this one because it was just fantastic! 

So, Lincoln has the weirdest job: reading other people's emails to make sure they're not being rude or slacking off at work. When he comes across the exchanges between best friends Beth and Jennifer, he cannot bring himself to turn them in. For whatever reason, he looks forward to finding their emails in the flagged file, even as he realises that what he is doing is wrong on so many levels. I loved how awkward Lincoln was. Not just at work with the whole snooping thing, but also at home with his mum and older sister. And I especially loved that we saw this side of him, his home life and his past, not just his new work persona. Speaking of his home life, it made mine not seem so bad! He was in his mid-twenties and only just stopped going to school. His sister thinks this is because he had a thing for lecture halls, but I understood that it was that he felt comfortable and didn't want to leave academia. Heck, I know exactly how that feels! 

As for Beth and Jennifer, God they cracked me up! It's like they were trying to get caught on purpose at first, which made it incredibly hilarious. Then when they didn't, the personal confessions started and we were privy to some pretty private and touching things. No wonder Lincoln felt horrible for reading their emails! I loved how much we learned about them from just their emails, it was incredible how Lincoln had no idea what they looked like but just knew them. 

The development with Lincoln's work and Beth and Jennifer's lives was fascinating, and I especially loved how the story flowed considering it was spilt between prose and email. Even with the moral implications, I could completely understand why Lincoln looked forward to hearing from Beth and Jennifer. They were funny and sweet and cared for each other, and with Lincoln so lost in his life, I knew why he needed the distraction. But when he recognised that he was falling for Beth, and they kept almost bumping into each other, it was like a rom-com movie but still felt so real. I commend Rowell on writing such a odd but realistic novel and I highly recommend reading it!

Published February 2012 by Orion. Thank you to the library for stocking this so I could read some of Rainbow Rowell's amazing writing!

Weekly Highlights: the 'I forgot last week' edition

Weekly Highlights is a feature borrowed from Faye of A Daydreamer's Thoughts, where I get to highlight my posts of the week, show you my new books and talk about bookish things! 

I sort of forgot to do a Weekly Highlights last week, purely because... I just did! So this a fortnight's worth of posts and books. And can I just say that I am very impressed with myself for keeping the pattern of writing two reviews a week for over a month! 

On The Blog

Review of Vivian Versus the Apocalypse by Katie Coyle (4 stars)
Review of Dare You To by Katie McGarry (4.5 stars)
Review of The Diamond Thief by Sharon Gosling (3.5 stars)
Review of the Demon Trappers series by Jana Oliver (5 stars)

Currently Reading

Unnatural Creatures, stories chosen by Neil Gaiman. It's an anthology of creepy short stories about mythological creatures. I'm not quite half way through but they've all been good so far!
 

On My Bookshelf

Under My Hat: Tales from the Cauldron
A stellar cast of acclaimed fantasy writers weave spellbinding tales that bring the world of witches to life. Boasting over 70 awards between them, including a Newberry medal, five Hugo Awards and a Carnegie Medal, authors including Neil Gaiman, Garth Nix and Holly Black delve into the realms of magic to explore all things witchy.

Thank you to Hot Key Books for this, it looks awesome!

Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse 1) by Charlaine Harris
Sookie Stackhouse is a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She's quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn't get out much. Not because she's not pretty. She is. It's just that, well, Sookie has this sort of "disability." She can read minds. And that doesn't make her too dateable. And then along comes Bill. He's tall, dark, handsome - and Sookie can't 'hear' a word he's thinking. He's exactly the kind of guy she's been waiting for all her life.

But Bill has a disability of his own: He's a vampire. Worse than that, hangs with a seriously creepy crowd, with a reputation for trouble - of the murderous kind.

And when one of Sookie's colleagues is killed, she begins to fear she'll be next ...

I was convinced by my friend to get this last week, as she has read some of the series and swears it's incredible. So whatever, it was £1.50 in a charity shop and I have always wanted to compare the books to the TV series, so we shall see!

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

"Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you . . . "

Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It's company policy.) But they can't quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives.

Meanwhile, Lincoln O'Neill can't believe this is his job now- reading other people's e-mail. When he applied to be "internet security officer," he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers- not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke. When Lincoln comes across Beth's and Jennifer's messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can't help being entertained-and captivated-by their stories. By the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late to introduce himself. What would he say . . . ?

My first Rainbow Rowell book! I read it in less than 24 hours, I seriously could not put it down. Review to come soon. Oh, and I have to say, the librarian gave me the weirdest look when I told her what I was looking for! 

Anomaly by Krista McGee

Thalli has fifteen minutes and twenty-three seconds left to live. The toxic gas that will complete her annihilation is invading her bloodstream. But she is not afraid.

Thalli is different than others in The State. She feels things. She asks questions. And in the State, this is not tolerated. The Ten scientists who survived the nuclear war that destroyed the world above believe that emotion was at the core of what went wrong—and they have genetically removed it from the citizens they have since created. Thalli has kept her malformation secret from those who have monitored her for most of her life, but when she receives an ancient piece of music to record as her community’s assigned musician, she can no longer keep her emotions secreted away.

Seen as a threat to the harmony of her Pod, Thalli is taken to the Scientists for immediate annihilation. But before that can happen, Berk—her former Pod mate who is being groomed as a Scientist—steps in and persuades the Scientists to keep Thalli alive as a test subject.

The more time she spends in the Scientist’s Pod, the clearer it becomes that things are not as simple as she was programmed to believe. She hears stories of a Designer—stories that fill her mind with more questions: Who can she trust? What is this emotion called love? And what if she isn’t just an anomaly, but part of a greater design?

I wanted to treat myself to a new book for Books Are My Bag yesterday. I mean, I wanted to get a book from a great independent book shop in Bath. But the trains were playing up and I couldn't make it, so I picked this up, along with the tote bag, at the Christian shop in my town. Haven't heard of it but apparently it's got great ratings on Goodreads so I'll give it a go!

The Demon Trappers Series by Jana Oliver

I'm going to try something different today and review this four part series all in one go, in four mini reviews. That way, you can read up to where you want and I won't have four posts with hardly any views! Let's go:

Forsaken
Seventeen-year-old Riley, the only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper, Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father's footsteps. The good news is, with human society seriously disrupted by economic upheaval and Lucifer increasing the number of demons in all major cities, Atlanta’s local Trappers’ Guild needs all the help they can get—even from a girl. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing crush on fellow apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving distressed citizens from foul-mouthed little devils – Grade One Hellspawn only, of course, per the strict rules of the Guild. Life’s about as normal as can be for the average demon-trapping teen.

But then a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood. And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, sudden tragedy strikes the Trappers’ Guild, spinning Riley down a more dangerous path than she ever could have imagined. As her whole world crashes down around her, who can Riley trust with her heart—and her life?

Riley Blackthorne, daughter of legendary Demon Trapper, is the first girl trapper. She is strong-willed, stubborn, tough skin but very insecure - all the makings of a great heroine. I loved the world she lived in, the characters she interacted with, and really admired how she handled herself after her dad died. So what shall we start with? The world building was just incredible. Set slightly in the future, the world is a hunting ground for demons and what I really loved was that this strange aspect of life was completely integrated into modern society! Demons were no secret, they were a common nuisance and danger and the trappers were, I think, treated rather unfairly for the work they do to protect their city. 

Riley had great interactions with all sorts of characters. She had great banter with Beck, a sweet chemistry with Simon, but I think the synopsis should have left Ori a mystery. Her fellow trappers like Stewart were amazing characters, with a wealth of knowledge. Then there was Harper, who was a right douche to both Riley and Simon as trappers in training. As much as I understood that they had to start at the bottom, I quite despised Harper for acting so horrible. But Riley learnt a lot from him about being a good trapper and to not let the bad-mouthing ruin her attitude, which comes in handy in later adventures. 

All in all, I was incredibly impressed with the beginning of this series. I loved the characters, the demonology history, the balance between modern society and old-fashioned magic, the relaxed writing style and the slips into colloquial Southern twang. If this is where you stop reading in this massive review, go get this book and find out why I loved falling into this world of demons and angels and spheres with Holy Water. 

Forbidden
The second books picks up right where Forsaken left us, in the aftermath of the big fight that left the trappers weak. There was an epic battle that finished with hurtful accusations and lots of possible lies, most of which concern her recently-reanimated father. What I loved about this book was that Riley's world was now even bigger than trapping demons, now its the balance between Heaven and Hell and apparently Riley is stuck in the middle. Even as complicated and terrifying as that is, it made for great story-telling and I applaud Ms Oliver for keeping the balance between the action, the religion and the romance. 

Speaking of romance, there was development on the boy front. After Riley saved his life by making a deal with Heaven, Simon is beyond confused and might even have the bad guy whispering in his ear. Whatever it is, while Riley is checking up on him, he throws Holy Water on her to make sure she doesn't melt. Like, what?! I get that he had been through a lot and might be losing his faith, but really? Holy Water over your now ex-girlfriend? Following on from douchebag boys, Ori is back. The freelance demon hunter has a secret and I will not ruin it for you, just in case! Even as sweet as he was, I knew there was something off with him and it turns out I was right! And finally Beck... well, Beck is just as complicated as ever, changing his moods so quickly it wasn't a surprise Riley lost her temper with him so often. 

Forgiven
Riley is now learning from her mistakes, determined to make things better, not just for her but for those she cares about as well. She is definitely not taking any more shit from boys, whether it be Beck, Simon or Ori. Which I think is very impressive and admirable, especially as it is really difficult to give up on someone you cared about, even if that person is now a massive douche. And that won't make much sense unless you've read it and know what horrible thing Ori did to her. And still on the subject of boys, Riley has finally realised what I noticed at the start: Beck likes her. Silly girl, wasting all that time on idiots when you could be with that hotness!

Oh yeah, and Armageddon happens. Riley takes her stand between angels and demons and rather incredibly, survives to tell the tale! Obviously, as there's one more book in the series! And let me tell you, it was an incredible fight. Everyone was pulled in, even Ozy, the evil super-necromancer who reanimated her father without her permission, and Mort, the friendly summoner, and Ayden who is the best witch I think I've ever read, she is so amazing! All this magic and trapper knowledge makes for an epic battle which was exciting and terrifying. Not just because they were literally fighting Hell, but because Heaven turned up way too late to the party, especially since it was their blooming fight!

Foretold
The last book in the series describes the aftermath of Armageddon. Which is a relatively rare thing, as we like our "happily ever after" but I loved having one more book to show everyone getting to grips with the aftermath of such a horrifying and challenging event. But the main focus of this book, at least the first half, is Beck's past. Riley and Beck are finally admitting that they have feelings for each other but Beck fears that his past will scare her away. And it turns out that Beck's secrets are terrifying in a very different way to the demons and fighting Hell but just as scary. 

After the battle between Heaven and Hell, now the trappers have a civil unrest in Hell to worry about. The Prince of Darkness himself, Lucifer to those who dare speak his name, is apparently having trouble controlling his subjects and that fight is coming topside. Now Riley has to show the talents that Ori has been secretly teaching her: to fight Arch-fiends and the Fallen. Plus, you know, protecting those she loves and her city. The usual. Everyone has an agenda in this fight and it really wasn't fair that Riley was stuck in the middle, once again playing the pawn. Luckily, it doesn't last long and she plays her part and is then granted her life back. Just in time to enjoy her future with Beck!

I loved this series. It was full of drama and secrets, with incredible mythology and well-written twisting plot lines. It was surprising and romantic, annoying and frightening but I loved it so much. Riley is now one of my favourite heroines and I am so proud of her for learning from her mistakes and finally getting a good lot in life. 

The Diamond Thief by Sharon Gosling

No one performs on the circus trapeze like 16-year-old Rémy Brunel. But Rémy also leads another life, prowling through the backstreets of Victorian London as a jewel thief. When she is forced to steal one of the world’s most valuable diamonds, she uncovers a world of treachery and fiendish plots.

Meanwhile, young detective Thaddeus Rec is determined to find the jewel and clear his name. Will Thaddeus manage to rescue the jewel? Or is it really Rémy that he needs to save?

This storytells of a circus act who doubles as a jewel thief. We are instantly and easily transported to the fantastical world of trapeze artists and circus folk, not to mention the under world of London with its talented thieves and Lords in disguise. The almost lyrical descriptions were incredible and completely immersed me into Victorian London. There was the language, the slang of young Londoners and the occasional lapse into French when Remy was angry; the narrow streets around the East End and the hidden tunnels under the city were extraordinarily described, I felt like I was going to get lost in the city!

Remy was tasked with stealing a diamond, the sister to the Koh-I-Noor. But as she is casing the Tower of London, a diversion and a quick pocket to pick means that Remy comes back empty handed. Plus, Thaddeus, the policeman looking after the diamond, is blamed for it going missing. After each discover the other doesn't have it, they reluctantly decide to join forces to get the diamond back. The chemistry between Remy and Thaddeus was subtle but grew stronger with every danger they faced together. I really liked them together, not just because of the budding romance but because they actually made a good team, considering one was a thief and the other police. 

The secondary characters also added to the historical element, especially J, a street urchin. As any good history buff would know, Victorian London was ripe with crime and poverty, and Lord Abernathy preying on that made it very believable. The only downside I had with this was it seemed a little young for me. I did love it, but it seemed too easy. Even when they were in danger, it didn't last very long and friends turned up in the nick of time to save them. Even with the fantastic language, it all seemed a bit too convenient but that's just because of the younger target audience. But don't let that stop you from reading it yourself, it was a brilliant story with amazing larger-than-life characters, and I cannot wait for the sequel! 

Published 1st Feburary 2013 by Curious Fox. Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Dare You To by Katie McGarry

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, even after the drama that was Pushing The Limits. I think this was mostly because I didn't really like Beth in PTL. Luckily, I warmed to her quite quickly as we tried to understand her from Ryan's perspective and got inside her head. We already knew Beth's home life was pretty shit from PTL so it came as no shock that this was what Beth is keeping secret and the burden she was carrying. But the extent of her burden was unbelievable and I really admired Beth for sticking up for her mum and her past. She wasn't exactly ashamed of it but knew it was bad and really did want to make a better future.

As for Ryan, he was the typical jock: perfect hair, perfect body, perfect sportsman, all that. But his family was coming apart at the seams because they had an image to uphold and could let no one see how horrible it really was. And it really was. His dad was a bully and a homophobic, his mum was too used to being pushed around by his dad, and his brother had abandoned the family after coming out. Over the course of the book, he begins to realise that his perfect persona was not worth it, especially as it was so wrong. This does come through the progression of their relationship; both Ryan and Beth learn to stop running and start to accept who they really are.

I'm aware this is quite a short review but do not mistake that for dislike of the book. Anything but! I really did love this, and practically flew through the last third where it was all drama-packed and breath-taking. It tackles all sort of difficult issues like drugs, homophobia, family, peer pressure and probably more but I can't think of them right now! And I loved how all these horrible past-issues, Ryan and Beth got through them together, by learning to trust each other. I think that's all I have to say, apart from: go read this book! It's amazing! 

Published 22nd May 2013 by MiraInk. Thank you to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Vivian Versus the Apocalypse by Katie Coyle

A chilling vision of a contemporary USA where the sinister Church of America is destroying lives. Our cynical protagonist, seventeen-­year-­old Vivian Apple, is awaiting the fated 'Rapture' -­ or rather the lack of it. Her evangelical parents have been in the Church's thrall for too long, and she's looking forward to getting them back. Except that when Vivian arrives home the day after the supposed 'Rapture', her parents are gone. All that is left are two holes in the ceiling...

Viv is determined to carry on as normal, but when she starts to suspect that her parents might still be alive, she realises she must uncover the truth. Joined by Peter, a boy claiming to know the real whereabouts of the Church, and Edie, a heavily pregnant Believer who has been 'left behind', they embark on a road trip across America. Encountering freak weather, roving 'Believer' gangs and a strange teenage group calling themselves the 'New Orphans', Viv soon begins to realise that the Rapture was just the beginning.

The Church of America has been established for a few years now and the predicted apocalypse looms ever closer. For the Believers, that means ascending into Heaven and their rightful place. For everyone else, it means getting on with life and waiting for it to pass over. But the unthinkable happened and people are Left Behind with plenty of unanswerable questions. And not just religious ones, but also more personal ones. Especially in Vivian's case, who cannot comprehend how her parents chose religion over her. Those Left Behind have six months to figure things out before the prophesied End Of The World.

The story starts on Rapture Eve and all these moral questions on religion and society and individuality are tackled throughout the novel as Vivian and her best friend Harp tries to survive in a post-apocalyptic world that neither of them thought was possible. I really felt for Viv and Harp as they tried making the best of a bad situation. And they do get some answers but in most cases, they just find more questions. Which, as a reader, is very frustrating because I want to know!

It really is a road trip novel, as Viv drags Harp with her across the country to where they think they might find some answers: in California, where Beaton Frick, the Church of America's Messiah, lives. On the way, they meet Peter, a young man on the same quest but with a big secret, and Edie, a girl they knew from school once but disappeared and now find her pregnant and abandoned. They also come across the New Orphans, a group of teens that have found themselves orphaned, as the name would suggest, by Raptured parents. Vivian hopes that they hold some answers, or at least something worthwhile to do before the world ends. Yeah, unfortunately that didn't happen. Figures.

I found this novel completely enthralling but it did leave me hanging a bit. For all its questions it answered, there were just as many not, which is kind of annoying. But I think it did serve its purpose, at least for me, of analysing the social effects of religion and Capitalism. Many comments in this new "religion" made me unbelievably angry but really only because they were presented in a new way to make the reader think about our own. And that's why I loved this book: because it was engaging and made me reflect on our society while entertaining me with a scarily realistic tale. 

Published 5th September 2013 by Hot Key Books. Thank you to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Weekly Highlights: the "I'm back in business" edition

Weekly Highlights is a feature borrowed from Faye of A Daydreamer's Thoughts, where I get to highlight my posts of the week, show you my new books and talk about bookish things! 

Holy moly, the year is going quickly, it's September already! And this is the first year since I was 3 that I don't have a term starting - scary or what? So I'm a little out of sorts, especially as I still can't find a job all these months after finishing uni. Anyway, wish me luck in the real world and have a look at all the pretty books I got to distract myself!

On The Blog

Review of All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill - 5 stars
Review of Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor - 5 stars

Currently Reading

Half way through Dare You To by Katie McGarry, which is just as good as Pushing The Limits, and I've just started Vivian Versus the Apocalypse by Katie Coyle which is a great take on the end of the world.

On My Bookshelf

Wither by Lauren DeStefano
By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males born with a lifespan of 25 years, and females a lifespan of 20 years--leaving the world in a state of panic. Geneticists seek a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children. 

When Rhine is sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Yet her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can’t bring herself to hate him as much as she’d like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband’s strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement; her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next; and Rhine has no way to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive. 

Together with one of Linden's servants, Gabriel, Rhine attempts to escape just before her seventeenth birthday. But in a world that continues to spiral into anarchy, is there any hope for freedom?

A good find in The Works, only a £1! Doesn't it look pretty? And I've heard great things about this series, can't wait to start it. 

Ebooks

Poltergeeks by Sean Cummings

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 and uber-geek, Marcus, witness an elderly lady jettisoned out the front door of her home, it's pretty obvious to Julie there's a supernatural connection. The house is occupied by a poltergeist and in order to reclaim it, Julie's going to have to exorcise the spirit. Of course, she'll need her mother's help and what teenager in their right mind wants that? Surely she can do this on her own - right...?

But 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 Endless Night - a dark spell that rips her mom's soul from her mortal body. 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.

It was on sale to celebrate Strange Chemistry's birthday and I've always wanted to read it!

Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a new way of living – one without massacres and torn throats and bonfires of the fallen, without revenants or bastard armies or children ripped from their mothers’ arms to take their turn in the killing and dying.

Once, the lovers lay entwined in the moon’s secret temple and dreamed of a world that was a like a jewel-box without a jewel – a paradise waiting for them to find it and fill it with their happiness.

This was not that world.

As soon as I finished DoSaB, I looked up the sequel and wouldn't you know it, it was only 99p? Awesome!

Resist by Sarah Crossan 
Bea, Alina, and Quinn are on the run. They started a rebellion and were thrown out of the pod, the only place where there's enough oxygen to breathe. Bea has lost her family. Alina has lost her home. And Quinn has lost his privileged life. Can they survive in the perilous Outlands? Can they finish the revolution they began? Especially when a young operative from the pod's Special Forces is sent after them. Their only chance is to stand together, even when terrible circumstances force them apart. When the future of human society is in danger, these four teens must decide where their allegiances lie. Sarah Crossan has created a dangerous, and shattered society in this wrenching, thought-provoking, and unforgettable post-apocalyptic novel.

I loved Breathe when I read it last year and have been anticipating its sequel. Thanks to Bloomsbury and netgalley for my review copy!

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

This is the story of Paul, a sophomore at a high school like no other: The cheerleaders ride Harleys, the homecoming queen used to be a guy named Daryl (she now prefers Infinite Darlene and is also the star quarterback), and the gay-straight alliance was formed to help the straight kids learn how to dance. 

When Paul meets Noah, he thinks he’s found the one his heart is made for. Until he blows it. The school bookie says the odds are 12-to-1 against him getting Noah back, but Paul’s not giving up without playing his love really loud. His best friend Joni might be drifting away, his other best friend Tony might be dealing with ultra-religious parents, and his ex-boyfriend Kyle might not be going away anytime soon, but sometimes everything needs to fall apart before it can really fit together right.

I know it's really bad, but I haven't read anything by David Levithan yet! Don't worry, I set to change that with this. Thank you to HaperCollins and netgalley for my copy!

If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan

Seventeen-year-old Sahar has been in love with her best friend, Nasrin, since they were six. They’ve shared stolen kisses and romantic promises. But Iran is a dangerous place for two girls in love—Sahar and Nasrin could be beaten, imprisoned, even executed if their relationship came to light.

So they carry on in secret—until Nasrin’s parents announce that they’ve arranged for her marriage. Nasrin tries to persuade Sahar that they can go on as they have been, only now with new comforts provided by the decent, well-to-do doctor Nasrin will marry. But Sahar dreams of loving Nasrin exclusively—and openly.

Then Sahar discovers what seems like the perfect solution. In Iran, homosexuality may be a crime, but to be a man trapped in a woman’s body is seen as nature’s mistake, and sex reassignment is legal and accessible. As a man, Sahar could be the one to marry Nasrin. Sahar will never be able to love the one she wants, in the body she wants to be loved in, without risking her life. Is saving her love worth sacrificing her true self?

I hadn't actually seen this but it comes highly recommended by Sophie so I thought I'd give it a try. And it does look like an exceptional book. Thanks to Algonquin and netgalley for my copy!