29 Feb 2012

UK vs. THE WORLD! (14)

UK vs. The world is a weekly meme I made up lol.
It's simlair to UK vs. US except the UK covers are battling it out with their foreign counterparts from all over the world, because who doesn't love judging books by their covers!

UK                            vs.                      Germany
Ravenwood book one.
('Die Schule der Nacht' translates to 'School of night' - According to Google translate.)

Mist: Both of these covers are interesting, I love the colours of each, in the German cover I love the castle and the lightening in the back but I love the font and the models hair of the UK cover, I'm totally torn, if only the two could be mixed together lol

Ninfa: I've always like the UK cover, the dark blue colours and the model is just so pretty. I like the castle in the German cover but there's something weird about the amount of folds in the models' neck Xp You'd think they'd photoshop that a little better...So UK wins, though it would have been cool if they'd added the castle in that one as well.

UK                        vs.                           US
Mist: 100% UK win for me here, I love the font and the little doodles around it and it's interesting that the girl is sitting on a chest of drawers, her lovely red dress also stands out really well against all the blue. The US cover is nice but sooo boring, it's something I've seen before and doesn't interest me in the story.

Ninfa: The UK cover is really fun and different although I have to say, the title looks a little busy for my taste. I still prefer it to the US cover though. The US is a little boring for me, although I like the model and her sad expression, I feel the UK cover conveys more of the story, with the girl sitting on the chest of drawers, the diary, the photo and the childlike drawings all give me clues to what the book could be about and make it really interesting. There's not much to go on with the US cover, so it's a UK win!

Which do you prefer?



22 Feb 2012

UK vs. THE WORLD! (13)

UK vs. The world is a weekly meme I made up lol.
It's simlair to UK vs. US except the UK covers are battling it out with their foreign counterparts from all over the world, because who doesn't love judging books by their covers!

UK                            vs.                   Germany
Starcrossed book one
('Göttlich verdammt' translates to 'Divinely condemned' - According to Google translate.)

Mist: Ohhhh these are both so lovely!The German cover feels kind of historical and I really like the girls golden eye and frame and backgroud but I love the UK cover, the colour really stands out and I'm a sucker for lightening pictures so it's UK for me!

Ninfa: I like both covers for different reasons. Both have a Gold colour scheme which is really nice, and brings to mind royalty, or in this case, Gods so it works with the theme of the book. I like the male/female models in the UK cover and the thunder-like effect on the background, but in the German cover I really love the frame with the Greek-like drawings, and I love the model they picked...I think for me it's a German win but by a very little margin.

UK                         vs.                      France
Tempest book one.
('Les ennemis du temps' translates to 'The enemies of the time' - According to Google translate.)
Mist: I like both these covers but I like the UK cover a little bit more, it fits better into the theme of the book I think and I love the colour of the clouds and the tag line and the couple reaching for each other is interesting. The French cover is nice but I would think this was a book for boys and wouldn't pick it up.

Ninfa: UK win all the way. I just love the poses of the models, torn apart by this storm behind them, it picks up the tagline perfectly and it works so well on many levels. Definitely would pick this book up if i saw the UK cover. Not too hot on the French cover I'm afraid...looks like the guy is doing some skateboarding or something, doesn't really tell me much about the book...UK wins hands down

Which do you prefer?

19 Feb 2012

In Mists mailbox (32) - The three week edition

In my mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi @ The story siren where we share the books we have gotten.

30th Jan - 19th Feb

So I know I said I wasn't going to do an IMM during January because I'm taking a break to focus on some personal projects but the books are just piling up and I didn't want to be there forever in two weeks time trying to cut a video that probably still would be to long lol So I decided to do a mid Feb one of the books I have gotten in the last three weeks.
It's just quickie, so no video, just pictures and no links, sorry!

Here's the overview shot!


For review
The look by Sophia Bennett - Already read this one and it's fab, the review will be up in a couple of weeks.
Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer - Love this series, I'm soooo excited!
Unravelling by Elizabeth norris - Sounds really good
Bunheads by Sophie Flack - This was a random one, not typically a book I'd pick up and buy but I will read it!
The witch of Turlingham academy by Ellie Boswell - Another random one, set for a younger audience and sounds fun.
Invincible by Sherrilyn Kenyon - And the last random one, I haven't read the first yet but I have it so now I can read both!
Every other day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - I really enjoyed Raised by Wolves so I'm excited for this.
Forbidden and Forgiven by Jana Oliver - Haven't read the first book but I have it so I'll be able to read all three books in a row :)

Bought
Fallen in love by Lauren Kate - I still haven't read Passion, I'm so behind!
Article 5 by Kristen Simmons - Ahhhh so excited to read this!
Everneath by Brodi Ashton - I already read this one and wasn't a fan :(
Someone else's life by Katie Dale - Also read this one, it's awesome!
Night school by C.J. Dougherty - Sounds really good.
Lenobias vow by P.C. and Kristin Cast - Another series I'm behind on, I still haven't read Destined or the other novella.
Heaven by Christoph Marzi - Also sounds great :)

Swapped
Hellhole by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson - Swapped with someone on GR, I love end of the world stuff!
Before I fall by Lauren Oliver - though I didn't love Delirium I've heard this is amazing and I wanted to give it a try so I swapped with Nicole who's admin on the page for something.
Fated by Sarah Alderson - This is a loan swap with someone on GR so I need to hurry and read it and send it back!
Tempest by Julie Cross - This and the next two I swapped with Donna from Book passion for life
Nailed by Jennifer Laurens
The killable by Gemma Malley

I forgot to include this one in the picture, I also got a pb copy of Toxic treacle by Echo Freer for review which I just finished reading today so it was sitting around somewhere else in the house and I forgot to grab it lol It's pretty good and I'll have a review up soon.

I also got Candor by Pam Bachorz on audio which I'm currently listening to and ebooks of Cloaked by Alex Flinn and Exiled by Rashelle Workman

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

18 Feb 2012

Brightest kind of darkness - Review

Brightest kind of darkness by P.T. Michelle
Brightest kind of darkness book one.
Available now.

What's it about?
Nara Collins is an average sixteen-year-old, with one exception: every night she dreams the events of the following day. Due to an incident in her past, Nara avoids using her special gift to change fate…until she dreams a future she can’t ignore.
After Nara prevents a bombing at Blue Ridge High, her ability to see the future starts to fade, while people at school are suddenly being injured at an unusually high rate.
Grappling with her diminishing powers and the need to prevent another disaster, Nara meets Ethan Harris, a mysterious loner who seems to understand her better than anyone. Ethan and Nara forge an irresistible connection, but as their relationship heats up, so do her questions about his dark past.
My review
Brightest kind of darkness is completely unique and original to anything else I have read before, I really loved the concept and am looking forward to the next book in the series, Lucid, so I can, hopefully, find out the answers to some burning question we're left with at the end.
The only small complaint I have is that the ending was rather abrupt, I'd have liked maybe a small prologue to ease me out of the book rather than that heart stopping chapter and then nothing.
But, like I say, that's my only complaint, I liked all of the characters, Nara doesn't always see what's right in front of her but she's a nice girl and Ethan, the brooding indie boy, well I had to fan myself off when I read him. He's extremely perceptive and a great hero.
I really liked the writing and found the book easy to get into, there were a couple of times where it flashed to a little memory or something and then flashed back to the present where I got a bit confused as it wasn't always obvious we'd flashed back and I had to read parts over again to be sure, but I still finished the book quickly because I was enjoying it.
I can't wait to see what happens next for Nara and Ethan and hope they get some answers to what's happening to them.

My thoughts on the cover
This is a lovely cover, the woods are mysterious and I love the girl in the red dress, she's kind of inviting you in but she looks vulnerable to and the feathers add more mystery. After reading the book I know the scene it's from and think it fits perfectly.

Favourite quotes
'Ethan touched my shoulder and I caught a whiff of spicy deodorant. It made my nose tingle and my heart race. "Nara. You don't need to apologize." His expression was sincere, yet understanding.'

'Breathless, I glanced up. The look in his eyes, a mixture of angst, fierce need and hope, made my heart rate surge, battering my chest with hundreds of fist punches. I curled my fingers around his and we sat there in the stinky gym, completely oblivious to all the cheering and hollering around us.'

Find the author

Almost human the first trilogy - Triple review by Jenny


In this paranormal fantasy, chapters alternate between a vampire and a young woman, as they join an ensemble cast to navigate difficulties of addiction and desire; perils of zombies and vampires; and struggles with abuse, morality and... college.
~ Volume 1: Fatal Infatuation ~

Felicity views going away to college as an opportunity to mature into a confident young woman, but her new beginning turns out to be more of an adventure than she bargains for when she finds that her school is plagued by vampires!
Cain is an elder vampire who displays quiet confidence even as he struggles to overcome sins of his past. Surprisingly, he found that in losing his life he gained his faith and a purpose.
His mission: find the hostile vampires that inhabit this small college town, and educate them to live in peace with humans. Their leader, Sindy, is a wicked temptress who has set her sights on Felicity's new friend Ben. She will be difficult to control, but after meeting Felicity, Cain's most difficult task lies in controlling himself.

~ Volume 2: Lost Reflections ~

Felicity has helped her friends to escape the venomous vixen Sindy, but cannot divine the motives of Cain, the vampire who captured first her gratitude, and then her heart.
She finds the historical account of Cain’s past enthralling and frightening. Now she must determine whether the addictive venom in Cain’s kiss is clouding her judgment, and if his thirst for her blood is a driving force too strong for their love to conquer.
It’s difficult to contemplate such questions while under the attack of a vengeful vampire and his zombie slaves. Felicity’s heart has already been lost to Cain; will she lose her life as well?

~ Volume 3: Evolving Ecstasy ~

The relationship between Cain and Felicity has crested to a peak that leaves them unsure whether to step back from each other for safety, or jump into a future united in death. Felicity is unlike any human Cain has known before. She treats him as an equal; a man worthy of friendship, respect and even… love. She embodies qualities of gentleness and loving trust that he has never found among his own kind. This makes her far more desirable to him than any creature of darkness could ever be.
The venom of Cain’s bite could protect Felicity from hostile vampires, but it would give him a measure of psychic control over her as well. Would Felicity only accept becoming a vampire, due to his addictive venom, coupled with the foolishness of a young girl in love?
Perhaps there is a brighter future for her in the human world. Is Cain’s desire for Felicity’s love worth the loss of her life?

My review:

Volume 1: Fatal Infatuation

First of all I loved this book right from the first chapter. I loved the characters especially Felicity, she has everything going for her but doesn’t seem to realise it. She is a well rounded character and has been written in such a way as to make you believe she really does exist, of course she also has character traits but this makes her all the more lovable. Cain is an in depth and intriguing character who has not only lived many centuries, wants to follow his beliefs even though that wars with what he has become. You never really know which side of himself he is going to follow especially when it comes to his flaws, and of those he has a few, the biggest one appears to be Felicity at the minute.

I loved the whole story-line, finding it well written, captivating and enthralling and addictive all at the same time. Credit goes to the author in bringing the world to life, giving all of the characters their own identities and making the whole story believable. You can truly loose yourself within the book feeling and growing with the characters as you go, and in places the story line even gave you thought to visit your own morals and what you would do in a given situation. I really enjoyed this first in the series and will be continuing on in this trilogy book.

Volume 2: Lost Reflections

The second volume follows well from the first leaving no gaps, I love the way Felicity is growing and maturing, finding new strength and discovering her inner self. We gain more in depth knowledge of her life and the way she perceives everyone around her. She grows in confidence and depth. We find out so much more about Cain and his back story, leaving the reader with no questions as to who he was and what he has done, this brings to light a whole different side of him that is both shocking and intriguing. The growing relationship between the pair is well written and well worded making the reader feel as if they are feeling and going through everything with them both. This includes the ups and downs within the relationship, as well as bringing to the fore the relationships that are growing between all of the main characters. We see a different side to Ben and Allie, with new discoveries being made about both of their pasts. I love the storyline and felt that is was well written, enticing and enthralling, giving the reader all the emotions needed to carry them through and feel everything with the characters. The action scenes were well written and believable, and the love scenes added by the author made the book all the more believable and interesting, giving the reader a believable and well structures romantic side to everything going on.
Volume 3: Evolving Ecstasy

This is an amazing last part to this 3 volume book, with love laughter and sadness. I loved the continual development of the characters, finding the twists and turns in the story-line really well developed, even if I was not always able to see them coming. The relationships are becoming more intense and in depth making the reader feel all the emotions and following with everything that is happening. The story line leaves only what it needs to in order to make the reader think about what is actually happening, I felt that I always wanted more and did not want to put the book down without finding out what was going to happen next. The author has managed to continually bring a world in which I can immerse myself whole heartedly in, feeling, loving and laughing along with Felicity, Ben, Allie and Cain. They have truly rocked my world. I loved everything about this series and I can not wait to start reading the next set of books within this series to find out what else is going to happen. I recommend this series to anyone who is a lover of paranormal romance, as this has everything you need to get lost. With amazing characters, awesome writing and believability it is a must have for the more adult readers of this genre, I believe you will love what you find within theses pages.

16 Feb 2012

Author interview - Adam Baker

I'm so excited today to have Adam on the blog, for those of you unfamiliar with him, he's the author of the brilliant Outpost and the equally great prequel Juggernaut, which is out today.

There are tons of books and movies about Zombies, but your unique 'metal' Zombies stand out from the crowd, I'm sure you’re asked all the time but where did you get the inspiration for them?
-I’ve loved zombies since I was deliciously traumatised by a crappy ZHS of Dawn of the Dead as a kid.  Turning the zombie infection into a visibly invasive, parasitic tumour seemed a good way to emphasise the body-horror aspect of any illness (I worked very briefly on a cancer ward).  Adding over-tones of collective consciousness seemed to emphasis one of the anxieties that zombies personify: loss of individuality. Being over-whelmed and absorbed by a crowd.
What made you want to go back in time and write the prequel Juggernaut?
-Having written a story set in the Arctic, I wanted to create a mirror-situation set in a desert.

There is something compelling about bleak, harsh terrain. So much of life is boring trivia. Survival stories are a chance to contemplate existence striped back to bare essentials.
I noticed you've had a variety of different jobs, do you think you'll settle as an author now (Since you’re so good at it!) or will you try your hand at something else in the future?
-I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I had an office job, but spent most of my time secretly writing novels on a memory stick. I was a cinema projectionist, a fantastic chance to scribble stories in a notebook while the films were running. These days, I get up each day and please myself. Long may it last.
When working on a book, do you have any particular rituals to get you into the writing mood?
-Each morning, I drink a big mug of coffee. Then I drink a mug of coffee. Then, just to get myself going, I drink coffee.
Do you have a particular track list in mind for either of your books, like songs you think are suited to certain scenes?
-I have a handful of CDs on my desk, the same soundtracks I return to time and again. A bunch of John Carpenter movies: The Fog, Escape From New York, Assault On Precinct 13, The Thing, and Halloween. It’s a way of returning to childhood and adolescence, reconnecting with stories that thrilled and excited me, narratives I aspire to emulate. It’s also a way of circumventing writer’s block.
When deciding to write a book, what made you choose to write A. In the adult genre, and B. Zombies?
-I have young kids, and hold children’s authors in very high esteem. I’ve read The Gruffalo aloud so many times I know it by heart. It is an extraordinary concise and well-structured piece of work. Maybe, one day, I will write something for my kids.
Why write an end-of-the-world tale? Because we have so little control of our lives. We commute, punch the clock and pay our bills. It’s easy to feel totally infantalised, totally bossed around. It’s fun to picture a scenario in which we are thrown back on our own resources, forced to take control of our fate. It’s a seductive daydream.
Do you have a particular favourite character to write, either from Outpost or Juggernaut?
-I always find myself rooting for the bad guys. Not sure what that says about me.
Who are your writing inspirations?
-HP Lovecraft, Mervyn Peake and Conan Doyle. Each of them created a wonderfully complete fictional world.

James Ellroy and Thomas Harris. Incredibly lean, muscular thrillers.

David Mamet. His collections of essays teach more about the art of dramatic writing than any other books.
Do you have a favourite quote from either of your books?

Outpost:

‘Mayday, mayday. This is Kasker Rampart broadcasting to the Arctic rim, is anyone out there, over?’
Juggernaut:
‘Only a sucker would stay honest in the middle of this s***storm.’
What are you currently working on? Could you give us a sneak peek?
-I’m currently writing a third novel in the series. The story follows the fate of a rescue team as they enter the ruins of New York in an attempt to retrieve a cure to the infection.
And lastly, are you a Bookaholic?
-A chronic bookaholic. Still addicted to the tactile pleasure of turning pages, I’m afraid. I can’t quite bring myself to switch to Kindle.
Find the author:
Check out my reviews

15 Feb 2012

UK vs. THE WORLD! (12)

UK vs. The world is a weekly meme I made up lol.
It's simlair to UK vs. US except the UK covers are battling it out with their foreign counterparts from all over the world, because who doesn't love judging books by their covers!

UK                             vs.                  Australia

Mist: There's no doubt here, I'm in love with the Australian cover, the UK one is really interesting and different but I love the colours in the Aus cover and the swirly thing it's got going on around the edges.

Ninfa: Two interesting covers, two different tag lines...The UK does it for me, with the opposite images in black and white and then in colour of the model, the tagline and the simple font for the title it looks very stylish and really catches my attention. The Aussie cover is not bad and the flowers doing the whole hypnotic vortex thing is a cool effect, but I'm not as captured by the tagline and the title font is a little busy. UK wins

UK                          vs.                  Bulgaria
Immortal beloved book one.
('Безсмъртна любима' and 'Вечен живот' translates to 'Immortal beloved' and 'Eternal Life')

Mist: I prefer the UK cover here, the flowers around the edge are so pretty and the forest pathway in the middle is simple so it doesn't make the whole thing look to crowded, and I want to know where that path goes. I don't really like the Bulgarian cover, it's very racy but boring at the same time, I do like the heart with the wings though.

Ninfa: The UK cover is jsut so pretty and I love the black and white picture of the forest with the red flowers framing it. It really gives me a feeling of "Forever", of something calm and mysterious that stretches as far as you can see. It took me a minute or two to actually make out what was on the Russian cover, apart form the bad tattoo-like heart there the naked back of a woman. Looks like the cover would be more suited to an Erotic book in my opnion, which I know this book isn't. An absolute UK win for win.

Which do you prefer?

13 Feb 2012

Someone else's life - Review

Someone else's life by Katie Dale
Available now.

What's it about?
When seventeen-year-old Rosie’s mother, Trudie, dies from Huntington’s Disease, her pain is intensified by the knowledge that she has a fifty-per-cent chance of inheriting the crippling disease herself. Only when she tells her mum’s best friend, ‘Aunt Sarah’ that she is going to test for the disease does Sarah, a midwife, reveal that Trudie was not her biological mother after all... Devastated, Rosie decides to trace her real mother, hitching along on her ex-boyfriend’s GAP year to follow her to Los Angeles. But all does not go to plan, and as Rosie discovers yet more of her family's deeply-buried secrets and lies, she is left with an agonising decision of her own - one which will be the most heart-breaking and far-reaching of all...
My review
I'll admit it, I was attracted to this book because of that gorgeous cover! It just looked like something I would enjoy so I didn't even read what it was about, I just picked it up when I saw it instore. Ok, so I know that's not the best method for choosing books and it's backfired on me in the past but luckily this wasn't one of those times.
I hadn't meant to start the book right away but I needed something to do on the bus journey home so I read a few pages then went back to it at home when I'd finished my current read and I'm so glad I did, it was hard to put down!
I was hooked straight into Rosie's world full of spilling secrets and revelations, the book was full of surprising twists that made it so hard to put down I finished this almost 500 page book in two days, which is quick for me!
I really liked how it switched off between characters so I knew what each party was feeling and I think I fell a little bit in love with Rosie's boyfriend Andy.
I also learnt a lot reading this book, before picking it up I knew nothing about Huntington's disease except for the name and this book is full of facts without it feeling like a science lesson so I was also left enlightened when I was done.
More than once I had to hold back the tears throughout this rocky, sometimes heartbreaking adventure and  I was anxious to see the outcome, I was really happy with the way that it ended though.
I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next after reading this beautiful book.

My thoughts on the cover
Well I've already said I think it's gorgeous, even though there's a lot going on it doesn't feel to busy for me, I love the quirky picture of the girl sitting on a chest of drawers and the scribble over the top of the image to make it lighter, the contrasts of the blue and red are also really pretty.

Sorry, I don't have any favourite quotes, I wasn't planning to review this book since it was a personal read so I didn't take any notes but I loved it so much I just had to share it.

Find the author

Everneath - Review

Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Everneath book one.
Available now.

What's it about?
Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.
She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.
Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen. As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...
My review
(2.5)
I'll be honest, I found this book difficult to get through, though I found Ashton's take on The Persephone myth to be refreshingly different to anything else I've read before it didn't save the book for me. I like some mystery in a book, it keeps me guessing but I felt the author just left it to long to explain the little details about what the Everneath is and what happens there, and I was so bored with the rest of the book that I didn't feel like trying to guess what it all meant, the only character I felt had any personality was the "bad guy" Cole. The protag Nikki just didn't have anything about her, in her flashbacks to before she went to the Everneath it's all about her boyfriend, does he really love her? Will he cheat on her? She doesn't trust him or understand why he wants to be with her, nevermind they've been best friends for years and he's told her he loves her, I just found it all so frustrating. I was also frustrated with Jack, he's just to understanding, he admits later he knew Nikki couldn't be strung out on drugs when she disappeared, but he doesn't question her either, he's never mad about her disappearence, there are hardly any emotional responses from him throughout the book and I was also annoyed that Nikki chose to go back for the six months to make things right and say goodbye to everyone but she wastes half the time ignoring everyone. I also don't understand why she had to go back, it's repay a debt, a debt because she got to go back to earth for six months? Because if she hadn't gone back she'd still be in there, and she was in there in the first place so an Everliving could feed off her emotions for a century, how did she work up a debt? I just don't get it.
As you can tell I didn't really like this book, there was just to much that didn't make sense for me, and it's unlikely, though not completely impossible, that I'll read the next one.

My thoughts on the cover
This cover is just stunning, the clouds and the smoke coming off the girls gorgeous red dress, it's just a beautiful image and suits the story so well.

Favourite quotes

'I closed my eyes and pictured the boy with the brown hair, and as I took in my first really deep breath of Surface air, a name to match the face came to me. A name I'd been trying to cling to for a century.
"Jack."'

'Cole had been right that first night he came into my bedroom,althought it'd taken me this long to realise it. I did have hope. Somewhere, in the pit  of my soul, I believed that I could get out of my debt. That I could stay here.'

Find the author
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9 Feb 2012

Same difference (24)

The marked son by Shea Berkley (Keepers of life book one) and
Rex rising by Chrystalla Thoma (Elei's chronicles book one)

Same hot guy, two slightly different angles, personally I prefer the first cover, the cover for Rex rising is cool but is photoshopped to death and he doesn't look real, I also prefer the font of The Marked Son and the green backgroud is nice :)

Which do you prefer?


8 Feb 2012

UK vs. THE WORLD! (11)

UK vs. The world is a weekly meme I made up lol.
It's simlair to UK vs. US except the UK covers are battling it out with their foreign counterparts from all over the world, because who doesn't love judging books by their covers!

UK                           vs.                 Romania
Eve book one.

Mist: Hmm well I do like the Romanian cover but I don't think it suits the book, whereas the UK one does and it's a lot more animated and I like the colours better, definitely a UK win for me.

Ninfa: So difficult to choose, both covers are lovely and so similar in concept. The UK one is really haunting, we can mostly see this bridge stretching in front of the model and the greenish colour almost makes me feel like she's walking through a mist. The Romanian cover has again the bridge, though you can see the model's face. I love her hair and the windswept look, as well as the faint image of the moon above. I think by a small fraction it's a Romanian win.

UK                               vs.                    France
 Fire and thorns by Rae Carson
Fire and thorns book one.
('La fille de braises et de ronces' translates to 'The daughter or embers and brambles' - According to Google translate.)

Mist: I really don't like the UK cover at all, I mean the desert is nice but the rest I just don't like. The French cover is much prettier and intriguing, even if the model has forgotten to put her top on lol. I love the hand with the light on it, makes you want to know what that is all about.

Ninfa: Oh it's got to be a French win! The cover is very "Fantasy" inspired and I love the outfit, the jewelled dagger and the little light effects that suggests something special is happening. The UK cover is okay I guess, just not to my taste thought the desert shot behind the model's eyes is pretty cool. French win

Which do you prefer?

7 Feb 2012

Legend - Review

Legend book one.
Available now

What's it about?
The United States is gone, along with its flooded coasts. North America's two warring nations, the western Republic and the eastern Colonies, have reached a breaking point. In the midst of this broken continent and dark new world are two teenagers who will go down in history....
Born into the slums of Los Angeles, fifteen-year old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. A mysterious boy with no recorded image or fingerprints. A boy who should no longer exist. A boy who watches over his family until one evening, when the plague patrols mark his family's door with an X--the sign of plague infection. A death sentence for any family too poor to afford the antidote. Desperate, Day has no choice; he must steal it.
Born to an elite family in Los Angeles' wealthy Ruby sector, fifteen-year old June is the Republic's most promising prodigy. A superintelligent girl destined for great things in the country's highest military circles. Obedient, passionate, and committed to her country--until the day her brother Metias is murdered while on patrol during a break-in at the plague hospital.
Only one person could be responsible.
Day.
And now it's June's mission to hunt him down.
The truth they'll uncover will become legend.

My review
I really liked this book, it's written well, moves at a good pace and I liked that it was told from both June and Day's perspectives so I got an insight into both worlds, as the way they both live is completely opposite, yet they have simlair character traits, they're both great, strong characters. There were lots of parts of this book that could've been dragged out and I'm so glad they weren't, it was straight to the point and to the action so I was never bored, my only complaint is that I thought the characters should've been older than 15, even though I know they would be more mature because of what they've both been through in their lives I still felt they were to mature for 15 year olds. But other than that I really loved it, there plenty of twists, some I guessed, some I didn't and a fabulous ending. It was all just so well written and tied up nicely at the end but gives me an idea of what will happen next which has left me thirsting for the next one!
I loed both the main characters of June and Day, Day because he's strong and brave, he tries to only take care of himself but I can't help caring for others and will help at risk to himself. And June, well she's bad ass! She's clever and quick thinking, together they make a great team! There were also a couple of smaller characters that I liked, Tess and Kaede, both for different reasons!
So, all in all a great start to what I hope will be an awesome series, I can't wait for the next one!

My thoughts on the cover
I love this cover (so much more than the US one!) It's really dark and the girl looks strong, I love the city scape in the backgroud and the dusky sunlight and the 'R' symbol in the corner. It's just a great cover!

Sorry, no favourite quotes for this one as I read an ARC copy and don't have a final copy to compare it with.

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5 Feb 2012

Immortal beloved and Darkness falls - Double review

Immortal beloved by Cate Tiernan
Immortal beloved book one.
Available now.

What's it about?
Nastasya has spent the last century living as a spoiled, drugged-out party girl. She feels nothing and cares for no one. But when she witnesses her best friend, a Dark Immortal, torture a human, she realizes something's got to change. She seeks refuge at a rehab for wayward immortals, where she meets the gorgeous, undeniably sexy Reyn, who seems inexplicably linked to her past.
Nastasya finally begins to deal with life, and even feels safe--until the night she learns that someone wants her dead.

My review
Whilst I did enjoy this book and found the back story and history really interesting, I have to say I didn't find it very exciting, it felt more like the set-up for book two (which I'm starting once this review is written!) which I hope will be a bit more fast paced.
I did like Nastasya, though I found her pretty immature at times for a 500 year old woman! As we go through the book we learn about the terrible things she's been through and has been working to block out for a long time and I felt for her more as the story went along, and really feel I'd gotten to know her by the end.
There are a lot of characters to meet in this book though some get more 'face time' than others, I didn't find I disliked any of the characters but there weren't any I'd call my favourite either. I think what I'm trying to say is, this was a pretty avergae book for me, I didn't love it but I didn't hate it either, I'm intrigued to read the next one to find out what happens next and hopefully get some answers to the questions I was left with and the action I think it coming.

My thoughts on the cover
This is a gorgeous cover! It has a dark and eerie forest in the middle, surrounding by gorgeous colourful flower and vine drawings that stand out a mile, the black of the book is also soft to the touch giving it an extra depth, it really sits pretty on my shelf.

Immortal beloved book two
Available now.
http://www.hodder.co.uk/

What's it about?
Nastasya has lived for hundreds of years, but for some reason, life never seems to get any better. She left her spoiled, rich girl life to find peace at River's Edge, a safe haven for wayward immortals. There, she learned to embrace River's Edge, despite some drama involving the sexy Reyn, who she wants but won't allow herself to have. But just as she's getting comfortable, her family's ties to dark magick force her to leave.
She falls back into her old, hard partying ways, but will her decision lead her into the hands of a dark immortal? Or will it be her first step to embracing the darkness within her?
My review
(2.5)
Unfortunately this book just wasn't for me, I found it to be even slower than the first one and it took me a long time to finish because I just wasn't hooked in and kept putting it down. I loved the use of history and lots of research has obviously gone into it but the story itself I wasn't excited by.
In this addition to the series we see Nas get led astray again by the 'dark' except it doesn't happen until past halfway into the book and even then she doesn't really go as 'dark' as I was expecting from the description. I also found her inner monologue to be quite repetative which got a little annoying at times. I also felt not enough time was spent on the romance side of the book between Nas and Reyn, I struggled to feel her attraction to him because they don't actually really talk much, there's obviously bigger forces at work that have bought the two together but mostly all Nas thinks about is how she hates him but thinks he's gorgeous at the same time and she can't deny the attraction yet she never questions it, never tries to find out what's behind it all. Personally I won't be trying the next book in the series but I would be happy to try more books by the author as I think it's just this particular storyline I don't like and the main character annoys me a bit, but the writing itself is great.

My thoughts on the cover
I like this one even more than the first cover mostly because I'm more partial to blue than red lol I'm not sure what the birds and the nest are all about but they're really cool.

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