STAR STRUCK by Jenny McLachlan

 A spotlight shines down on the two of us and everyone drifts into the shadows... 

 Pearl is destined to be the star of this year's school musical. Being the lead is all she wants - especially as it means kissing super-hot Jake Flower. 

 Then a new girl walks into the audition... Hoshi can sing, she's an amazing dancer and she's seriously cute. Before Pearl knows it, she's stolen her part, her friends and Jake's attention! 

 But this girl doesn't know who she's messing with. Pearl's used to battling every day and she's not going down without a fight. Sparks are going to fly! 

I received a copy of this book this week, and since I loved the other books in The Ladybirds series so much, I just had to read it right away. I picked it up yesterday afternoon hoping to get a taste, and finished this morning. 

So, yeah, just like the other three books: I was instantly hooked.

Pearl isn't a very nice girl and a lot of people are scared of her. She smokes, drinks, makes out with boys, and doesn't have much respect for anything. She's a total troublemaker, so she's always in trouble at school. She's also good at manipulating people, and somehow manages to get herself out of most things. Well, except for the troubles at home.

That's why she's so interested in being in the school musical, so she can be away from the house and concentrate on doing something she loves. The school will be performing Romeo and Juliet, and she's convinced she's going to be Juliet. No one else will be as good for the part. Plus she'll get to cosy up to Jake Flowers.

But on the day of the auditions, when it looks like the part is pretty much hers, a new girl waltzes into the auditorium. Hoshi Lockwood is different. She's cute and quirky, she has pink hair and a dress style all of her own. She also happens to have recently moved from Japan to live with her English father. Everyone likes her instantly. So much that she practically steals the part of Juliet from Pearl.

Of course Pearl is so angry that no matter how hard she tries to be good--so she can once again reconnect with her old friends--she attempts to sabotage Hoshi whenever she can. But no matter what she does, Hoshi is just too lovable and worms her way out of everything. Plus she insists on being nice to Pearl. Is this new girl adorable enough to melt Pearl's cold exterior? Or will Pearl's awful home life keep her trapped in an endless cycle of trouble?

Okay, I didn't expect to like Pearl as much as I did. And to be honest with you, I still pretty much hated her at the beginning of the book because she's truly awful. Some of her mean girl traits are so frustrating, but when she meets her match and nothing she tries works, I found myself getting really comfortable with the story. 

This installment was written very well. I mean, the transformation of Pearl is a gradual and awesome one. It sneaks up on you, as the truth about her life is revealed: that she's embarrassed about the condition of her home, that her mother is pretty much absent, that her brother is an abusive jerk, and that no matter how hard she tries to be good, it just doesn't seem worth it. I loved how this book explained a lot about what made Pearl behave the way she did, and why she lashed out at her childhood friends.

Sometimes, circumstances change people so much that the only way they know how to live is by lashing out and being defensive. Which is totally how Pearl was at the beginning, so it was nice to see her realise that not everyone or everything is awful.

And Hoshi. Well, what can I say about this awesome character? She's nice, smart, talented, kind, loyal, confident, and has her own secrets. Even though Pearl manages to treat her badly at the beginning because she's downright jealous, Hoshi somehow sees through the hard exterior and sticks by her new friend. It's adorable, really.

Star Struck is not just another awesome installment to The Ladybirds, it's the perfect way to end this super cute series. Pearl is very different from her quirky friends, but she still managed to make me smile and somehow managed to worm her way into my heart. I went from not being able to stand her, to actually feeling sorry for her. And in the end, I was very happy with how her love story turned out. 

I loved this story as much as the other three! Can't wait to see what other tales Jenny McLachlan will share with us. :) 

Thank you Bloomsbury Australia, for introducing me to this super fun and quirky series.

Star Struck, April 2016, ISBN 9781408856130, Bloomsbury Childrens

Books Read in 2014...

HIDDEN (Firelight #3): Sophie Jordan

GENERATION V (Generation V #1): ML Brennan

QUICKSILVER (Ultraviolet #2): RJ Anderson

TRUTH (XVI #2): Julia Karr

BITTER SPIRITS (Roaring Twenties #1): Jenn Bennett

GONE GIRL: Gillian Flynn

VENGEANCE (Fracture #2): Megan Miranda

DOLL BONES: Holly Black

SANDMAN: The Dream Hunter: Neil Gaiman & P. Craig Russell

THE TWIN'S DAUGHTER: Lauren Baratz-Logsted

**THE COLDEST GIRL IN COLDTOWN: Holly Black

DEADLY STORM (Derrick Storm #1): Richard Castle

AGE OF DESIRE: P. Craig Russell & Timothy Bradstreet (Clive Barker)

WRITTEN IN RED (The Others #1): Anne Bishop

HEAT WAVE (Nikki Heat #1): Richard Castle

THE WALKING DEAD Issue #116: Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn

THE WALKING DEAD Issue #117: Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn

THE WALKING DEAD Issue #118: Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn

THE WALKING DEAD Issue #119: Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn

THE WALKING DEAD Issue #120: Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn

THE WALKING DEAD Issue #121: Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn

THE WALKING DEAD Issue #122: Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn

 

DEAD AND BURIED (The Murder Notebooks #4): Anne Cassidy

THE CATS OF ULTHAR: HP Lovecraft

ALL SUMMER IN A DAY: Ray Bradbury

BLOOD ORANGES: Kathleen Tierney

MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD (Midnight, Texas #1): Charlaine Harris

WOLF STRAP: Naomi Clark

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: Tomorrow's Avengers: Brian Michael Bendis

CURED (Stung #2): Bethany Wiggins

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS: John Green

FAIRIES IN MY FIREPLACE (Monster Haven #3): RL Naquin

WHAT ZOEY DOESN'T KNOW (Monster Haven Short Story #3.5): RL Naquin

TAKE BACK THE SKIES (Take Back the Skies #1): Lucy Saxon

THE WALKING DEAD Issue #123: Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn

THE WALKING DEAD Issue #124: Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn

THE WALKING DEAD Issue #125: Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn

THE WALKING DEAD Issue #126: Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn

MURDER OF CROWS (The Others #2): Anne Bishop

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (Free Comic Book Day): Brian Michael

ROCKET RACCOON (Free Comic Book Day): Joe Caramagna

FLIRTY DANCING: Jenny McLachlan

SEARCHING FOR SKY: Jillian Cantor

GALILEE: Clive Barker

CHASING STARS (After Eden #2): Helen Douglas

THE WALKING DEAD Issue #127: Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn

APPLE AND RAIN: Sarah Crossan

TO HAVE: Alessandra Torre

TOP SECRET TWENTY-ONE (Stephanie Plum #21): Janet Evanovich

PROS AND CONS (Fox & O'Hare #0.5): Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg

THE GIRL IN 6E: AR Torre

Mr. MERCEDES: Stephen King

EASY (Contours of the Heart #1): Tammara Webber

A STITCH ON TIME (Sierra Fox #5): Yolanda Sfetsos

THE WALKING DEAD Issue #128: Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn

THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS: MR Carey

WISH YOU WERE ITALIAN: Kristin Rae

THE SILKWORM (Cormoran Strike #2): Robert Galbraith

VISIONS (Cainsville #2): Kelley Armstrong

THE WALKING DEAD Issue #129: Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn

THE WALKING DEAD Issue #130: Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn

WHERE THERE'S SMOKE: Jodi Picoult

WICKEDLY MAGICAL (Baba Yaga #0.5): Deborah Blake

CAPTURED (Fallen Siren #0.5): SJ Harper

HEIR OF FIRE (Throne of Glass #3): Sarah J Maas 

 

THE GRAVEYARD BOOK (Graphic Novel, Vol. 1): Neil Gaiman, P. Craig Russell & More 

ETCHED IN SILVER (Otherworld #0.5): Yasmine Galenorn

SAY HER NAME: James Dawson   HEART-SHAPED BRUISE: Tanya Byrne   THE ASSASSIN'S BLADE (The Throne of Glass #0.1-0.5): Sarah J Maas   THE ASSASSIN AND THE HEALER: (The Throne of Glass #0.2): Sarah J Maas   THE ASSASSIN AND THE DESERT: (The Throne of Glass #0.3): Sarah J Maas   THE ASSASSIN AND THE CAPTAIN (The Throne of Glass short story): Sarah J Maas   THE ASSASSIN AND THE PRINCESS (The Throne of Glass short story): Sarah J Maas    THE WITCH OF DUVA (The Grisha #0.5): Leigh Bardugo    I AM A ZOMBIE FILLED WITH LOVE: Isaac Marion   MAD MAUDLIN: Marie Brennan   THE TOO-CLEVER FOX: (The Grisha #2.5): Leigh Bardugo   LITTLE KNIFE: (The Grisha #2.6): Leigh Bardugo   THE STARSHIP MECHANIC: Jay Lake   HEIR TO THE EMPIRE (The Thrawn Trilogy #1): Timothy Zahn   *HEIR TO THE EMPIRE (The Thrawn Trilogy Graphic Novel #1): Mike Baron, Olivier Vatine, Fred Blanchard, Isabelle Rabarot, Mathieu Lauffray   THE BOY WITH THE CUCKOO-CLOCK HEART: Mathias Malzieu   A CUP OF SALT TEARS: Isabel Yap   SAM'S STORY (Morganville Vampires Extras): Rachel Caine
LUNCH DATE (Morganville Vampires Extras): Rachel Caine   MYRNIN'S TALE (Morganville Vampires Extras): Rachel Caine   AMELIE'S STORY (Morganville Vampires Extras): Rachel Caine   THE GRAVEYARD BOOK (Graphic Novel, Vol. 2): Neil Gaiman, P. Craig Russell & More   THE GOETIA: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King: Aleister Crowley & S.L. MacGregor Mathers     DARK FORCE RISING (The Thrawn Trilogy #2): Timothy Zahn   *DARK FORCE RISING  (The Thrawn Trilogy Graphic Novel #2): Mike Baron, Michael A Stackpole, Kevin Nowlan, Terry Dodson   BRIMSTONE AND MARMALADE: Aaron Corwin   SELFIES: Lavie Tidhar    BRISK MONEY (LA Trilogy #0.5): Adam Christopher    SWINGERS: Robert Reed   WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED ON MARS: Cecil Castellucci   CEMETERY GIRL: The Pretenders (Cemetery Girl Trilogy #1): Charlaine Harris & Christopher Golden   THIS IS NOT A TEST: Courtney Summers   HUNTING MONSTERS: SL Huang   THE FARM (The Farm #1): Emily McKay   GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (Volume 1: Cosmic Avengers): Brian Michael Bendis, Steve McNiven, Sara Pichelli   CONJURED: Sarah Beth Durst   COOPER BARTHOLOMEW IS DEAD: Rebecca James   SWEET DAMAGE: Rebecca James   */**RAGS & BONES (New Twists on Timeless Tales Anthology): Edited by Melissa Marr & Tim Pratt       MADE FOR YOU: Melissa Marr     IN HER HEAD, IN HER EYES: Yukimi Ogawa   THE SLEEPER AND THE SPINDLE: Neil Gaiman & Chris Riddell    THE VINES: Christopher Rice   NEXT OF KIN (A John Cleaver Novella): Dan Wells   THE STORY OF DOLORES JANE UMBRIDGE: JK Rowling   BIRD BOX: Josh Malerman   THE 100 SOCIETY: Carla Spradbery   HANSEL & GRETEL: Neil Gaiman & Lorenzo Mattotti   THE MUSSEL EATER: Octavia Cade   ELEANOR & PARK: Rainbow Rowell   REVIVAL: Stephen King   THE WALKING DEAD Issue #131: Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn   THE WALKING DEAD Issue #132: Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn   THE WALKING DEAD Issue #133: Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn   REMEMBER ME THIS WAY: Sabine Durrant   THE ASTRONOMER WHO MET THE NORTH WIND: Kate Hall   CLIVE BARKER'S FIRST TALES   THE 99th BRIDE: Catherine F King   THE VENUS COMPLEX: Barbie Wilde   HORRORSTÖR: Grady Hendrix   THE LAST COMMAND (The Thrawn Trilogy #3): Timothy Zahn   *THE LAST COMMAND (The Thrawn Trilogy Graphic Novel #3): Mike Baron, Eric Shanower & Edvin Biuković   DEAD BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: edited by Charlaine Harris & Toni LP Kelner   PORPHYRIA'S LOVER: Robert Browning   ROMAN DALTON - WEREWOLF PI: Paul D Brazill   ANYWAY: ANGIE (A Bone Street Rumba Short Story): Daniel José Older   SKIN LIKE PORCELAIN DEATH (A Bone Street Rumba Short Story): Daniel José Older   MIDNIGHT MAMBO: Daniel José Older   THE WALKING DEAD Issue #134: Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn   THE WALKING DEAD Issue #135: Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn       Books Read in 2014: 137/100
      :: Re-read *Some skimming involved

**DNF

 

THE LAST COMMAND by Timothy Zahn

The Last Command by Timothy Zahn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Well, I've finally finished reading The Thrawn Trilogy. I managed to complete the challenge my husband set for me. Yay.

Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it as much as I was hoping. I actually loved the first book, enjoyed the second, and by this one I admit I just wanted it to be over.

There was a lot going on and some of it--the smuggler Karrde storyline comes to mind--felt like filler. Also, one thing that really bugged me was how easily Leia left her newborn twins behind. Seriously. Mothers don't do that easily, not with newborns. I realise that she's a politician and cares about her family and friends, but still... she actually left them behind on another planet! Um, no. o_O

I was however really happy when Leia & Mara were narrating the story. I reckon if it was just their POV with a bit of Luke thrown in, I might have liked it more.

Also, was it just me or was Thrawn super boring towards the end? And that Jedi clone, ugh.

Yeah. This book was just okay for me. I really wanted to love it but just couldn't. :/

View all my reviews

HORRORSTOR by Grady Hendrix

Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've wanted to read this book since the moment I found out about it. When I found out my local library had it, I put it on hold. And it arrived this week, so I couldn't wait to get stuck into this story.

Orsk is a furniture superstore in Cleveland, Ohio. It's actually a lower-budget version of Ikea. One morning, when the employees arrive for their shift they find a bunch of broken items. And the escalator is running the wrong way.

Something is definitely going on, but all Amy cares about is avoiding her manager, Basil. Except, all she does is grab his attention. When he asks her and another employee, Ruth Anne, to work the dusk-till-dawn shift with him to see if they can figure out what's going on, she accepts. After all, she needs the money.

What seems to be an easy shift soon becomes a nightmarish situation when they find out that the store isn't being vandalized, but haunted.

Soon, the monotonous tale of retail employees trying to survive another day while hoping for a better tomorrow, becomes a seriously twisted horror story.

This was a lot of fun! While it's spooky and even gruesome, I really got lost in the characters and their struggles to stand out. Not to mention that it was also funny. And a clever portrayal of consumerism.

I also love that it's designed to look like an Ikea catalogue--which I always love perusing. ;) But there are a few differences. Check out the frames on the wall, and then the back, for some freaky clues about the story.

I really enjoyed this book! So much that I read it in only a few sittings. It was an easy, breezy read and it's so cleverly packaged I'm pretty sure I'll be getting myself a copy. This is a book that you have to get in this original format.

Very cool. :)
 

View all my reviews

THE VENUS COMPLEX by Barbie Wilde

The Venus Complex by Barbie Wilde

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I heard about this book on Twitter. Someone mentioned that it was written by the female cenobite, so of course I had to check it out. ;)

Michael Friday is one sick puppy. After a car accident that kills his wife--which he causes because he finds out she is cheating on him--he survives, and months of rehabilitation later he goes home. But his life is not a comfortable place to be. He's constantly bored and spends too much time alone. He becomes addicted to trashy TV even though he despises it. And it's not until he has a very vivid dream about a dead girl that he realises what it is that's missing from his life.

So he starts on a horrible and disgusting path of chasing the high he can only capture while killing someone. But that isn't enough, and when he spots the beautiful Doctor Elene Sheppard, he decides he's going to create a serial killer persona. One that will get her attention, and because he's focusing on what he teaches--art history--she might just need his help to solve the case...

OMG. This book. It's one of those books that is so well written I was hooked from the first word. It's a story that made me squirm many times, to the point where I actually felt dirty just by reading it. The subject matter is one that we're all familiar with--serial killers--and while I've read many books from the POV of one, this guy's sexually depraved fantasies and actions were very disturbing.

He makes no apologies for his immoral thoughts or desires. He's one-track minded and obsessed with getting what he wants. While I'd like to admire his determination, the subject of his obsession deterred me from doing so.

If you like reading wicked stories dripping with raw descriptions, or are just curious about this book, go ahead and read it. But if you're squeamish, stay away from it. Luckily, I've been reading and enjoying horror for many years, so I could keep what I was reading at a distance.

I have to admire Barbie Wilde for writing such an intense thriller, starring a very awful person. I'm not sure if it was because of the brain damage he got from the accident, or just because he's one sick puppy... but Michael is despicable. I'm glad he's a fictional character.

Having said that, this was a great book! The fact that the author hooked me in and kept me intrigued all the way through--no matter how uncomfortable I got--says just how good a writer Barbie is!

View all my reviews

REMEMBER ME THIS WAY by Sabine Durrant

'Everyone keeps telling me I have to move on. And so here I am, walking down the road where he died, trying to remember him the right way.'

A year after her husband Zach's death, Lizzie goes to lay flowers where his fatal accident took place. 

As she makes her way along the motorway, she thinks about their life together. She wonders whether she has changed since Zach died. She wonders if she will ever feel whole again. 

 At last she reaches the spot. And there, tied to a tree, is a bunch of lilies. The flowers are addressed to her husband. Someone has been there before her. Lizzie loved Zach. She really did. But she's starting to realise she didn't really know him. Or what he was capable of . . .

I didn't know anything about this book when I received it, and after not particularly enjoying the author's first book, I wasn't sure what to expect. But then I started reading, and before I realised it I'd read three chapters. I was hooked!

It's been a year since Lizzie lost her husband. He was involved in a car accident and she's finally decided to visit the spot where he crashed, as well as the house he kept by the sea. A place where Zach used to go to paint. But when she leaves flowers, she notices someone else has left a bunch before her. Along with a note featuring a name she doesn't recognise. And at his holiday house, she finds out that he did actually read the letter she wrote and sent him telling him she wanted a separation.

 

Then she finds the lonely painting that makes her believe Zach might not be dead after all.

 

There are other things, like phone calls. Hearing his favourite song played outside her bedroom window. Her lost lipstick suddenly appearing. Zach's pens disappearing. A dead bird thrown through the window. She feels like he's one step behind, watching her. And one step ahead, anticipating her next move.

 

Lizzie is so consumed with the possibility of him being alive that she starts to uncover some awful truths about him.

 

Everything he told her about his past is a lie. His possessive nature had nothing to do with a violent, unstable childhood and everything to do with Zach being a sociopath. A person who was as possessed with her as she was obsessed with him. 

 

The appearance of a strange young girl called Onnie, someone Zach supposedly tutored but never told Lizzie about, throws her already unstable life into chaos.

 

The story is told in the alternating POV of Lizzie--in the present--and Zach--in the past. We get to experience how she stumbles on his many deceptions, and the carefully constructed patchwork of lies he's left littered in his past. It's also interesting to delve into Zach's messed up way of thinking. He's very aware of how much he lies, manipulates and even hurts the people around him, but always blames the other person. It's never his fault, it's always someone else's fault.

 

Remember Me This Way is a compelling, page-turner that keeps you guessing until the end. Once Lizzie uncovers the first lie, the dominoes start to fall and reveal that her husband was a very messed up individual. He was a man who made up scenarios because of his blinding jealousy, and she's a woman who is determined to please others. Zach is like a disease that keeps infecting her even after his death, and what she goes through in order to purge his aftereffects is chilling, creepy, and leaves you on the edge of your seat.

 

This was one very intense and screwed-up psychological thriller. I couldn't put it down!

Also, my theory turned out to be right. I just never imagined it would, not after I found out what Zach's connection to this particular character was. O_o



Remember Me This Way, December 2014, ISBN  9781444762457, Mulholland Books

REVIVAL by Stephen King

In a small New England town, in the early 60s, a shadow falls over a small boy playing with his toy soldiers. Jamie Morton looks up to see a striking man, the new minister, Charles Jacobs. Soon they forge a deep bond, based on their fascination with simple experiments in electricity. Decades later, Jamie is living a nomadic lifestyle of bar-band rock and roll. Now an addict, he sees Jacobs again - a showman on stage, creating dazzling 'portraits in lightning' - and their meeting has profound consequences for both men. Their bond becomes a pact beyond even the Devil's devising, and Jamie discovers that revival has many meanings. This rich and disturbing novel spans five decades on its way to the most terrifying conclusion Stephen King has ever written. It's a masterpiece from King, in the great American tradition of Nathaniel Hawthorne and Edgar Allan Poe...

 

 

I say this every time I read one of his stories, but I'll say it again: Stephen King is one of my favourite authors. So whenever he has a new book out, I can't wait to get my hands on it. Thankfully, Hachette made sure I got a copy early on. Thank you, Hachette. :)

 

This is the story of Jamie Morton and Charles Jacobs. Two men who meet when Jamie is just a boy and Charles is the new, young minister with the lovely family. Jamie is fascinated by Charles who is quite the inventor and shows him some pretty cool things he does by using electricity. Skills that help one of Jamie's brothers after a freak accident makes him lose his voice.

 

When tragedy strikes and the minister's life is turned upside down, he loses faith. He doesn't believe in what he's preaching, and after the Terrible Sermon he's fired. Jamie is devastated to lose his friend, but life goes on.

 

And that's what this book is. It's Jamie's memoir, starting when he first encountered the shadow of a man much older than himself and never quite escaped it. Jamie's life is full of sadness, hardship and addiction. An addiction so bad he loses everything and once again stumbles on Charles Jacobs.

 

Now the minister has a different name, and he isn't a minister. Instead, he fascinates people with his electric trick photography. Charles never stopped testing the limits of electricity. It became his new religion, the pursuit of the special electricity that can cure addictions and illness. Just as it cures Jamie so he can continue his life.

Until Charles resurfaces again as an evangelist and travels all over the country healing people.

 

It seems innocent enough, but there are dire consequences. Even Jamie experienced aftereffects from his miracle healing, but what happens to others turns out to be a lot more serious. And after he expresses his disgust, he makes an enemy out of Charles. One that will use the past against Jamie to force him to help with his one final experiment.

 

Something that reveals what Charles Jacobs is really obsessed with--death.

 

OMG. This book is so well written and so captivating that I was quickly hooked into Jamie's life, going through all his hardships and happy times. His story sucked me in so deeply that the disturbing elements--and there are many--slowly crept up on me. The horror is woven from the very start, but once it's revealed. Yikes!

 

Revival is as electrifying as it is horrifying. It's amazing and frightening. What seems to be the simple tale of one man's life soon reveals the obsession of another. I found this story addictive and very disturbing. I loved the study of religion and how it was portrayed by Jacobs. I was also shocked by the imagery these two men eventually experience, but not surprised because there were glimpses of it dropped like breadcrumbs along the way.

 

After seeing that, how can anyone have faith?

 

And this is why Stephen King is #KingForAReason. 

Revival, November 2014, ISBN  9781444789188, Hodder & Stoughton

ELEANOR & PARK by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor is the new girl in town, and she's never felt more alone. All mismatched clothes, mad red hair and chaotic home life, she couldn't stick out more if she tried. Then she takes the seat on the bus next to Park. Quiet, careful and - in Eleanor's eyes - impossibly cool, Park's worked out that flying under the radar is the best way to get by. Slowly, steadily, through late-night conversations and an ever-growing stack of mix tapes, Eleanor and Park fall in love. They fall in love the way you do the first time, when you're 16, and you have nothing and everything to lose. Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR & PARK is funny, sad, shocking and true - an exquisite nostalgia trip for anyone who has never forgotten their first love...

 

This is actually a book that my daughter read before me (she borrowed it from the library) and kept telling me I had to read because it was sooo good. Well, now that I have, I have to agree with her.

 

Eleanor is the new girl, and she stands out. She dresses differently, her hair is red and she's a little strange. So she instantly becomes a target for bullies. Park is quiet and likes to keep to himself because it's best not to attract too much attention. The day they meet on the bus because there's nowhere else for her to sit, both of their lives change forever.

 

What starts out as mutual dislike for each other, soon becomes an accidental connection. Which blends into a comfortable, low-key friendship. And soon becomes an out of control love story.

 

These two are kindred spirits and via comic books, mixed tapes and weirdness they get to know each other and start something that's impossibly cool, and dangerously amazing. Together, they change each other. Their separate worlds collide and the fallout is devastating.

 

OMG. This book is SO good. No, it's better than good. It's awesome! I loved every minute of it. This is a love story like none that I've read before, but experienced as a teenager while watching John Hughes movies. I'm a kid of the 80's, and this book captured that time perfectly! Sometimes it felt like I was there in my teens, reading this amazing book that I could totally relate to and just couldn't put down.

 

The story is told in the POV of both Eleanor and Park so we get to experience every shattering and wonderful action they each experience. Eleanor's home life is messed up because of her deadbeat stepfather. Her mother's caught in a really bad relationship and her five kids are the ones paying for it. Everything is out of control and so chaotic that all Eleanor wants to do is escape. Park's family is great because he has loving parents and a lovely place to come home to everyday, but it's not without it's problems.

 

Eleanor & Park is the quirky story of two teenagers who come together and fall in love for the first time. It made me laugh, get angry, frustrated, and even made me teary. It's a touching tale of first love in a time that I remember very clearly. And it totally broke my heart--sometimes in a good way, others in the worst way possible.

 

I might have been a little younger than Eleanor & Park in 1986, but the nostalgia was in every word and action.

 

Also, I have to mention that ending... so if you don't want any spoilers, stop reading now.

 

After reading the author's note at the end of the book about those three words, I have to admit that at first I thought they were 'I love you'. But after thinking it over, I'm pretty sure they were: 'Nothing ever ends'. Yep, right out of Watchmen. And because it totally fits. ;)

Loved this book. So much!
 

Eleanor & Park, April 2014, ISBN 9781409120544, Orion

HANSEL & GRETEL by Neil Gaiman & Lorenzo Mattotti

The enduring story of the children, the breadcrumb trail and the gingerbread house is brought to life by master storyteller, Neil Gaiman. Who better to retell the Brothers Grimm's greatest, and perhaps darkest, fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel? Coupled with breathtakingly haunting illustrations from Lorenzo Mattotti, you will be enticed into the world and into the woods . . . so beware.

 

 

I love Neil Gaiman's work so I was keen to read this story.

 

Gretel and Hansel are the children of a woodcutter and his young wife. They live a modest life in a small cottage near the woods. The children love to spend time playing in the woods and lead a healthy, happy life. Until war strikes and everything starts wilting. Crops are drying, animals are scarce, and the family suffers. They go hungry most days, and that's when the young wife decides to take drastic action.

She decides the children need to get lost in the woods.

 

The woodcutter hates the idea, but he knows it's the only way they'll survive. So he takes the kids to work with him, something he never does. But Hansel overheard their conversation and manages to drop white stones to guide their way home. And when they return, their father is truly happy but eventually he takes them to work again.

This time, Hansel and Gretel really do get lost.

 

The children are in the woods by themselves, and find their way to a lovely-smelling cottage where a harmless old woman offers them food and shelter. They accept, even if they don't know the true nature of the woman. She isn't as weak as she seems, and like everyone else craves the meat missing from the land. So she keeps the kids prisoner.

 

Yet, the old woman, much like their parents, didn't think Gretel and Hansel's smart enough to hatch a plan of their own...

 

This is a lovely retelling of a timeless classic about selfish parents and smart children. But it's about more than that, because during extreme times people deal with things differently, and this shows just how far some are willing to go in order to survive. Even forgetting how resourceful they taught their children to be.

This beautiful hardback edition looks lovely inside and out. The dark illustrations enhance the story. At first they help set the eerie mood, and then keep the feeling going throughout. I loved how the artwork helped keep the tension between the pages of the story. Very clever!

 

Hansel & Gretel is a dark and familiar, but wondrous story. It was equal parts intriguing and disturbing. It's another timeless classic that will continue to be retold into the future. I also liked the history of the story. I thought that was a lovely way to finish off such an engaging book.

This is another Neil Gaiman keeper, and it's going right next to The Sleeper and the Spindle. 

Hansel & Gretel, November 2014, ISBN  9781408861981, Bloomsbury Childrens

THE 100 SOCIETY by Carla Spradbery

 For sixth-form student Grace Becker, The 100 Society is more than just a game; it's an obsession. Having convinced her five friends at Clifton Academy to see it through to the end, Grace will stop at nothing to carry out the rules of the game: tagging 100 locations around the city. With each step closer to the 100-mark they get, the higher the stakes become. But when the group catches the attention of a menacing stalker - the Reaper - he seems intent on exposing their illegal game, tormenting Grace with anonymous threats and branding their dormitory doors with his ominous tag.

As the once tight-knit group slowly unravels, torn apart by doubt and the death of a student, they no longer know who to trust.

 With time running out, Grace must unmask the Reaper before he destroys everything she cares about for ever...

 

I received a copy of this book on Friday and found the concept so intriguing that I started reading it that night. I got so caught up in what was going on that I ended up reading it in one day.

Grace and her friends attend boarding school. She's convinced them to join the 100 Society, which means they have to tag 100 different locations around the city. Actually, it's become an obsession for her. Something she feels she needs to do in order to prove herself to her father and brother, since this is something her brother wasn't able to achieve.

 

But when someone calling himself the Reaper starts stalking them, what started out as fun, challenging and exhilarating, soon becomes a dangerous game.

 

The mysterious Reaper starts out by tagging over the 96 tags they've already made. Then he seems to be one step behind them, always watching--going through their computers, lockers and rooms. But things get really bad when one of them is the victim of a vicious attack, and it becomes obvious that this Reaper has an endgame none of them are expecting.

 

Now, the group is falling apart and distrust runs deep, until Grace doesn't know who she can trust...

 

This book turned out to be an amazing read! I got sucked into this story as soon as I was thrust into the middle of Grace doing an actual tag. These kids are talented artists who want to make a mark and decide to do it via a very dangerous way, while breaking rules that can get them kicked out of their school. And once the stalker gets involved, there's just one red herring after another until you can't wait to find out who is responsible for all this madness. And then realise just how deeply the betrayal runs.

 

The 100 Society is an awesome, well written YA thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved how the story unravelled as quickly as this tight-knit group of kids, and kept me guessing until the end. Also, when the truth is revealed...wow!  

 

I loved this great book! And that cover rocks.

The 100 Society, November 2014, ISBN  9781444920086, Hodder Children's Books

BIRD BOX by Josh Malerman

Bird Box by Josh Malerman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Someone mentioned this book on Twitter because it was on special at Amazon, so I decided to grab a copy. The storyline sounded creepy enough to suck me in. And as soon as I started reading, I was hooked!

Malorie and her two young children live in a house with covered windows and locked doors. The world fell apart years ago, and as a result, you can't look at the outside world. You can still go outside but have to wear a blindfold because there are horrible creatures out there that drive people mad. As long as you keep your eyes closed and covered, you can survive.

She's trained her kids to depend on their hearing instead of their sight, and does pretty well herself. The house might be safe and they have well water, but when she wakes up one foggy morning she knows it's time to head for the river and search for a better, safer place to live. But heading out into the world with a blindfold is hard, especially while rowing along the river...

This is an amazing story! It's so tense. I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. And it's told in a way that takes you on Malorie's current journey while taking the reader back to when it all began. To a time when the world started to fall apart and she'd just found out she was pregnant. To when she decided to head out until she reached a safe house and met a bunch of survivors who made life worth living. Their positive attitudes and kindness kept them going for a while, but even that soon starts to crumble.

It's really great to watch the past and present unfold to reveal the core of each story.

This tale is a great study of how hard, or how easy--depending on the person--it is to break someone's mind. Is it the weak-minded who lose it when they see these creatures, or is everyone affected? Not to mention how even after something so serious is going on, there's always at least one asshole left to ruin everything.

I loved this very unique, frightening story not just because of the subject matter and the characters, but also because of the way it was written. This is fantastic!

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NEXT OF KIN by Dan Wells

Next of Kin by Dan Wells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the John Cleaver trilogy about a teenage psychopath who quiets his murderous thoughts by killing demons. So when I found out that more books were on their way and this novella ties them together... I decided to check it out ASAP.

The novella is in the POV of a different character. His name is Elijah and he's one of the 'demons'. An ancient creature that steals dead people's thoughts because his own are fading fast.

He keeps to himself and has a job, but when one particular person's memories haunt him with the love the man felt for his wife, he finds himself seeking her out. And because he's been watched by some of his kind, he puts this innocent woman in danger. Does he love her enough to save her?

I really enjoyed this story. It was great to read about a different character in this world, while getting the monster's POV. Also, it was cool to see John through someone else's eyes.

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THE VINES by Christopher Rice

Spring House, New Orleans: a plantation mansion of money and influence. But something sinister lurks beneath the glamour of the old estate, awoken by blood and looking for revenge...

 

After Caitlin Chaisson tries to take her own life in her mansion's cherished gazebo, it becomes apparent that Spring House's malevolent history won't stay hidden for long. By morning her husband has vanished without a trace and his mistress has gone mad. Nova, daughter to the groundskeeper, is determined to get to the bottom of the horrors. But she soon realises that the vengeance enacted by this sinister and otherworldly force comes at a terrible price. Some secrets are better left sleeping soundly . . .

 

  THE VINES is a creepy, addictive, supernatural read for fans of Stephen King, Anne Rice and Peter Straub

 

 

As soon as I saw the cover for this book and then read the blurb, I knew it was a story I wanted to read. Especially during the month of October. :)

 

Caitlin's birthday party is winding down when she finds her husband with another woman. As much as she wants to be strong and confront the bastard, all she can do in her state of shock is watch what's going on. Until she eventually runs from the horrible images of infidelity that start a succession of bizarre events in Spring House.

 

Unable to deal with what she's seen because of the self-loathing she's lived with all of her life, Caitlin runs to the gazebo armed with a shard of glass. There, she begins to cut herself in an attempt to take her own life. Instead, she awakens something deep beneath the plantation house. Her blood stirs the thick vines beneath the land and sets her on a new path.

 

Blake used to be Caitlin's best friend until he told her about her husband's infidelity. Now he's getting on with his own life as a nurse, even if he's still haunted by the tragic loss of his first love. When he gets a call from Nova--the Spring House groundskeeper's daughter--asking him to return to the place he hasn't been to in over six months because something strange is going on, he gets sucked back into Caitlin's life. But his former friend isn't the same anymore, and it seems as if a strange plant has something to do with it.

 

Caitlin, Blake and Nova find themselves sucked into the violent history of a house that mistreated slaves and ended up being cursed because of it.

 

Wow. This book really hooked me in. As soon as I started reading I got so wrapped up in what was going on that I didn't want to put it down. What starts out as a story of betrayal and infidelity soon turns into something a lot messier. A tale that intertwines the lives of several characters and throws the reader headfirst into multiple points of view so that the story is shared from several angles and keeps you turning each page. Throwing you deeper into the mystery of this spooky house.

 

The Vines is a unique and creepy story with a disturbing core. It's well written and takes you deep into the lives of several characters following very different paths, but all haunted in some way. One horrifying twist is closely followed by a twisted turn, until you get so lost in what's happening to the characters that you can't wait to reach the end to see how this nightmare turns out. 

 

Great story! I enjoyed it a lot. 

 

This isn't the first Christopher Rice book I've read, and it certainly won't be the last.



 

The Vines, October 2014, ISBN  9780349402864, Piatkus

THE SLEEPER AND THE SPINDLE by Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell

A thrillingly reimagined fairy tale from the truly magical combination of author Neil Gaiman and illustrator Chris Riddell – weaving together a sort-of Snow White and an almost Sleeping Beauty with a thread of dark magic, which will hold readers spellbound from start to finish.

 

On the eve of her wedding, a young queen sets out to rescue a princess from an enchantment. She casts aside her fine wedding clothes, takes her chain mail and her sword and follows her brave dwarf retainers into the tunnels under the mountain towards the sleeping kingdom. This queen will decide her own future – and the princess who needs rescuing is not quite what she seems. Twisting together the familiar and the new, this perfectly delicious, captivating and darkly funny tale shows its creators at the peak of their talents.

Lavishly produced, packed with glorious Chris Riddell illustrations enhanced with metallic ink, this is a spectacular and magical gift.

 

 

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book from Bloomsbury, and I absolutely love it!

 

When three dwarves go in search of 'the finest silks of Dorimar' to give to the queen as a wedding gift, they discover that on the other side of the mountain there is some sort of plague affecting the land. While stopping by a village inn, they are told that this sleep is sweeping across the land and is making everyone fall asleep. Some say it was caused when a witch cursed a princess. 

 

Meanwhile, the queen is about to get married but she's not excited. Actually, she's not even looking forward to it. So when the dwarves tell her what they have found out, she decides to trek across the land to rescue the sleeping princess and stop the sleeping plague.

 

The three dwarves and the queen make their way  towards the castle, and find it hidden behind overgrown thorns. Everyone they cross is asleep. No one is dead, but they are all in limbo. So when they reach the top of the tower, they think they've discovered the answer to this problem... and instead find something a lot more twisted.

 

This is another awesome Neil Gaiman book. It's short, but it packs quite a punch. It features two very familiar fairy tale characters, and then spins our familiarity with them upside down to deliver a very twisted tale of power and corruption. It also ends up being a story about facing choices.

 

The Sleeper and the Spindle was a dark and very clever reimagining of two fairy tales. I love the strength and wickedness of the females in this story, and that a prince isn't the one who takes charge. The illustrations that accompany this wonderful tale are gorgeous, and enhance it. The actual book is beautiful, a treasure that I can't wait to add to my bookshelf. 

 

Loved it!

The Sleeper and the Spindle, November 2014, ISBN  9781408859643, Bloomsbury Childrens

MADE FOR YOU by Melissa Marr

Made for You by Melissa Marr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I found this book listed on the library's database and it sounded intriguing. So I put it on hold and started reading it as soon as it arrived.

Eva is an average teenage girl trying to live a normal life. She has a boyfriend, a large group of friends, and a bestie. Well, she likes to think she's average but in the small town of Jessup the heritage on both sides of her family makes her royalty. So everyone's always watching what she does.

Some a lot closer than she realises.

The night she gets runover and left for dead, her life changes forever. Her face is scarred, she reconnects with her forever crush, and when someone touches her she can see their death. As if that's not macabre enough, someone is killing girls she knows. And leaving messages for her. She might not understand the messages like the killer intends, but one thing is clear: there's a killer and it's someone she knows.

Someone who won't give up until he/she gets what he/she wants: Eva.

I really enjoyed this book. It's told in the first-person POV of several characters so the readers experiences the story from several angles.

Eva is a great narrator. I liked following her struggle and recovery. I also liked that she was straightforward and told people--especially her love interest, Nate--exactly what she felt/thought. No hiding behind teenage indecision. Nate was interesting and had his own issues, while Grace was a nice and loyal friend.

The freakiest POV was the killer's. That sick fuck was seriously disturbed and hid behind religious bullshit to reason out his/her reasoning for doing horrible things and thinking disgusting thoughts.

This really turned out to be a great book with a bit of everything. It's a YA thriller with a dark, mysterious core. It's also got a nice love story, strong friendship, and a touch of the paranormal.

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SWEET DAMAGE by Rebecca James

Sweet Damage by Rebecca James

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After borrowing Cooper Bartholomew Is Dead from the library and really enjoying it, I decided to put this one on hold as well. As soon as it came in, I got stuck into it...

Tim Ellison has been staying with his ex after getting back from Indonesia. But her current boyfriend doesn't want him there, so Lilla pushes him to move out and even finds a place for him. All he has to do is turn up and check it out. The house is huge, the rent is cheap, and he'll be sharing with only one person: the young owner of the house.

Anna London is strange and frail. She can't leave the house and seems mentally unstable. She keeps to herself, doesn't talk much, and spends hours in the attic. None of that matters to Tim because he's got a job at his father's restaurant, goes surfing, and hangs out with Lilla. They might now be friends, but he's still hung up on her.

When strange and creepy things start happening at night, Tim starts to wonder if moving into Fairview was a good idea. He also starts to think that Anna might be going mad. But the more he gets to know his housemate, the more he likes her and starts to realise that while she's definitely got issues stemming from trauma, she's not losing her mind.

So what's going on?

This was another great thriller with a very creepy vibe. I managed to figure out one of the mysteries (Benjamin's story), but had pinned someone else as the one responsible for all the other creepiness. So that was a great surprise.

Loved this book! It's freaky, twisted, and so intriguing I couldn't put it down. Tim and Anna were great narrators. I enjoyed reading Tim's story, while Anna's slowly unfolded.

I'm looking forward to reading Rebecca James's first book. I actually own that one. I really like the way she tells a story, and that there's a certain wickedness to them. ;)

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COOPER BARTHOLOMEW IS DEAD by Rebecca James

Cooper Bartholomew is Dead by Rebecca James

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I borrowed this book from the library, and as soon as I started I was hooked!

When Cooper Bartholomew is found dead at the bottom of a cliff, it affects a lot of people. They say he committed suicide, but Cooper's girlfriend--Libby--can't accept it. Her boyfriend was happy, he had big plans for the future, and they were very much in love with each other.

So she starts asking questions, and soon realises that there's a lot more going on. A web of lies and secrets, spanning several decades, slowly starts to surface.

This book was awesome!

I loved the writing style. It's told in the POV of four characters: Cooper, Libby, Sebastian, and Claire. Cooper is the popular, nice guy who died. Libby is his girlfriend, a nice studious girl in Uni. Sebastian is his best friend and has many secrets of his own. Claire is his bitchy ex who just can't let go. I know it sounds weird to mention them in the present tense, but this story goes from Then to Now and back again. So we actually get to meet Cooper before he died, which I thought was quite clever.

The central mystery keeps you reading, collecting all the clues until everything starts to slide into place. It's also very sad to watch Libby's heartbreak, and how the death of one person can shatter so many lives. And it's a great study of just how complicated friendship can become.

I have to admit that I actually solved part of the mystery before the end. The most twisted part. LOL. But not the whole thing. Can't say more than that because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. I will say that I really enjoyed this great story.

I look forward to reading more books written by this author.

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CONJURED by Sarah Beth Durst

Eve has a new home, a new face, and a new name-but no memories of her past. She's been told that she's in a witness protection program. That she escaped a dangerous magic-wielding serial killer who still hunts her. The only thing she knows for sure is that there is something horrifying in her memories the people hiding her want to access-and there is nothing they won't say-or do-to her to get her to remember.

 

At night she dreams of a tattered carnival tent and buttons being sewn into her skin. But during the day, she shelves books at the local library, trying to not let anyone know that she can do things-things like change the color of her eyes or walk through walls. When she does use her strange powers, she blacks out and is drawn into terrifying visions, returning to find that days or weeks have passed-and she's lost all short-term memories. Eve must find out who and what she really is before the killer finds her-but the truth may be more dangerous than anyone could have ever imagined.

I received this book from Bloomsbury Australia last week and didn't know anything about it. After reading the blurb, I was intrigued. Not to mention that the cover is super freaky. The heart with all those pins reminds me of Pinhead from Hellraiser. Or a pin cushion. Even a voodoo doll.

 

After reading the book, the image makes a lot of sense.

 

Eve has a hard time remembering things. Her mind is empty and she has no memory of her past. She also doesn't recognise herself in the mirror. Everything around her is foreign and new, just like her reflection. So when she moves into a strange house with one of the Para-WitSec agents, she doesn't know what to expect. Aunt Nicki doesn't sugarcoat things and barely seems to tolerate her, but Malcolm is the understanding agent who seems to care enough about her to explain things. Even if he has to do it a thousand times because she keeps forgetting.

 

Eve also loses time. She has magic inside her, and every time she uses it, she passes out. She relives pieces of her fragmented memories, but when she wakes up, she forgets about her waking life.

 

As hard as it is to pass out and lose hours, days, and sometimes weeks, Eve gets on with her controlled life by taking a summer job at the local library. The library director might not like her, but Eve loves being around books, and when she meets Zach--the friendly boy who doesn't lie, talks too much, and isn't afraid to say what he really wants--she looks forward to going to work. After sharing her magic with him during their first kiss, she knows they've got an unbreakable connection.

 

But the agency keeps tabs on her no matter where she is, and Aidan, Victoria, and Topher might be like her in the magical sense, but they're dangerous and have an agenda of their own. Everyone wants her to remember. It's important, because there's a killer out there who has killed many kids from other worlds, and wants to find her. Plus he's killing again.

 

The only person who can lead the authorities to him is Eve, but she can't be trusted to remember anything. It's not until Eve decides to take control of her own life and her own visions, that she stumbles into the multiverse truth, and finally remembers just who and what she really is. But at what price?

 

This book was... amazing. I have to admit that I love characters with amnesia problems. So it wasn't hard to get into this book. Eve's fractured mind makes her vulnerable, so it would be easy to get as impatient with her as the characters do, but I didn't. Not at all. Actually, my impatience and frustration was with the others. I hated how everyone seemed to be keeping secrets from her and wouldn't share any light on anything. As important as they thought it was for Eve to remember things on her own, I felt they could've shared some vital facts along the way.

 

In the end, I loved her journey.

 

Conjured is an intriguing, imaginative, and super creepy book with a conclusion that will leave you breathless. I loved how everything unfolded. I loved Eve and Zach's connection. I enjoyed the touch of magic to this story. I even loved when everything tipped over from a familiar world and into a very dark, alien place featuring a nightmarish carnival setting.

I seriously loved this book! Yeah, this story featured a lot of my favourite creepy things. It's also a great book to read during the spooky month of October!

Conjured, October 2014, ISBN  9780802737496, Walker Childrens