Flame - Review

Flame by Amy Kathleen RyanThe sky chasers books three
Available now
www.panmacmillan.com 

What's it about?Waverly and the other members of the Empyrean have been scattered, and their home ship destroyed. The mission to rescue their parents didn't go quite as planned, and now they're at an even greater disadvantage: trapped with their enemies on the New Horizon, trying to find a way to survive. Will Seth's health hold out long enough to help Waverly topple their enemy? And will Waverly find a way to unite her friends before the final battle? Nothing is certain and every second is a risk in this explosive finale.

My review

Flame was a brilliant ending to a fantastic series. I have been hooked to this trilogy all the way through and the final instalment was no exception. Flame kept me on the edge of my seat throughout and kept the same pace as its predecessors, with the story constantly evolving to a great ending. And talking about the ending, right the way through the books I've wondered how the author might choose to end the series, and even how it could end. But she managed to surprise me with an ending I wasn't expecting that was also plausible and probably the best way it could've gone. So I turned the last page with a smile on my face, but also with that same little sadness at finishing a series when I've become so attached to the setting and the characters and everything they've been through. I am excited to see what the author comes up with next though!
I really have no complaints about Flame, or the whole trilogy for that matter. It took me on a rollercoaster of emotions, had my heart racing at the drama and I'll miss Waverley, Seth and even Kieran, who've I've always gone back and forth with, there were times I didn't like him but I cared about him to.
So if you've read the first two books and are wondering if the final one is worth a read, wonder no more and read it now! You won't be disappointed.

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Kobo Aura HD - Review

Kobo Aura HD

Available for £139.99 from Kobo and WHSmith 

What is it?

The Aura HD is a sophisticated e-Reader that delivers the best reading experience for the most discerning booklover. Available in luxurious Ivory, Espresso and Onyx, the Kobo Aura HD transcends comfort with a beautiful ergonomic design. Offering the highest resolution available on the market, its front-lit 6.8” Pearl E Ink touch-screen showcases stories in a way that only a true Reader can appreciate – it’s e-Reading re-imagined.

Kobo’s eReaders and tablets are designed for those who love reading. With this in mind there are some fantastic features which will make reading on your Kobo a joy. The unique Beyond The Book feature allows readers to explore books in more detail than ever before, by tapping on highlighted words to discover related books, authors, articles and more. If you want to use your eReader for more than just books, then Kobo’s partnership with Pocket is perfect for you. Pocket allows you to upload any articles or web content on to your Kobo to read at a time that suits you.

Review

The Kobo Aura HD is a sleek and sexy little machine, its light weight but feels tough too so I didn't feel like I had to be gentle with it, not that I'd start throwing it around either lol.

I found the device easy enough to use, with simple menus and easy reading. The only complaint I might have is a bit of a slow start up, you do have to wait a few moments for the system to load when you turn it on, or whenever you open up a book. But I love the design and how it feels in my hand. It's really easy to find your way around, either into the, well organised, online store or to look through your personal library, and I had no trouble connecting up to my wifi. Everything is laid out nicely and I love the reading stats that are easily accessible from both the home menu and during reading, they include an estimation on how much longer you have to read to finish the chapter your on and the book itself, based on your reading speed, and even has how many pages you've read, fun for anyone that likes to keep track or set themselves goals.

There's also a handy backlight, that you can quickly turn on from the push of a button on top of the ereader, with adjustable brightness, you can read in the dark without the danger of giving yourself if, like me, you're susceptible to them.
I found the display to be crisp and clear and the touch screen had the right amount of sensitivity, I wasn't accidentally turning pages by brushing by it and I didn't have to 'jab' at it either.
So, if you're looking to get yourself an ereader, I would definitely recommend the Kobo Aura HD for consideration, it does everything you would expect an ereader to do and then some.

The girl with the iron touch - Review

The girl with the iron touch by Kady Cross

The steampunk chronicles book three

Available now

www.miraink.co.uk 

What's it about?

In 1897 London, something not quite human is about to awaken.

When mechanical genius Emily is kidnapped by rogue automatons, Finley Jayne and her fellow misfits fear the worst. What's left of their archenemy, The Machinist, hungers to be resurrected, and Emily must transplant his consciousness into one of his automatons or forfeit her friends' lives.

With Griffin being mysteriously tormented by the Aether, Finley turns to Jack Dandy, but trusting the master criminal is as dangerous as controlling her dark side. Meanwhile, Sam is searching everywhere for Emily. He would walk into hell for her, but the choice she must make will test them more than they could imagine.

To save those she cares about, Emily must confront The Machinist's ultimate creation, an automaton more human than machine. And if she's to have any chance at triumphing, she must summon a strength even she doesn't know she has.

My review

The girl with the iron touch is the most recent and most thrilling novel in this brilliant series. The whole gang is back together and back in London and we find ourselves back in the main storyline, feeling like we'd never left. However everything isn't perfect, Griffin is haunted from recent events and Sam and Emily are trying to define their relationship while Finley is wondering if she even has one with Griffin.
It's an intense addition to the series which continues to explore the character relationships while simultaneously taking us on a mysterious and exciting adventure.
I am really enjoying the world that the author is building and I love everything about it and all the characters she's created. One in particular I'd like to mention is Jack Dandy, although he's back in this book, he still doesn't get a whole lot of facetime, but I really like him and would love to see him get his own story, after reading the short novella The dark discovery of Jack Dandy, I really feel like he has a whole lot more to tell. And if you haven't read the three short novellas then I recommend you do if you enjoy this series as they're great little additions and will keep you going until the release of book four.

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The girl in the clockwork collar - Review

The girl in the clockwork collar by Kady Cross

The steampunk chronicles book two

Available now

www.miraink.co.uk 

What's it about?

Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade--the dangerous device Jasper stole from him...for the life of the girl Jasper loves.One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens. And "tightens."

From the rough streets of lower Manhattan to elegant Fifth Avenue, the motley crew of teens with supernatural abilities is on Jasper's elusive trail. And they're about to discover how far they'll go for friendship.

More than ever, Finley Jayne will rely on powerful English duke Griffin King to balance her dark magic with her good side. Yet Griffin is at war with himself over his secret attraction to Finley...and will risk his life and reputation to save her. Sam, more machine than man, finds his moody heart tested by Irish lass Emily--whose own special abilities are no match for the darkness she discovers on the streets.

Now, to help those she's come to care for so deeply, Finley Jayne must infiltrate a criminal gang. Only problem is, she might like the dark side a little too much....

My review

If you enjoyed the first novel in this series, The girl in the steel corset, then you are in for a treat in book two. In The girl in the clockwork collar we see our favourite little group of misfits moved over to 'the big city' of New York as they go on a new adventure to save their friend Jasper from the hands of an evil villain. Don't be put off by there being a new setting or new characters because it really all does go together well and I loved seeing a bit of American culture in this period of time, in contrast to the British culture we see in the first book.
Although The girl in the clockwork collar seems to move away from the main story for a little side adventure, I did enjoy it as an addition to the series and the author makes some good work of expanding the world and character relationships, particularly between Finley and Griffin, I am dying for them to get together!
I haven't read too much steampunk, in fact a lot of what I have tried, I've not been able to finish, but this is a great series, I really like all the little inventions the author has come up with and her addition of famous places (The statue of liberty) and people (Nikola Tesla). It makes for a thrilling adventure that you'll find hard to put down.

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Sky on fire - Review

Sky on fire by Emmy Laybourne

Monument 14 book two.

Available now

www.hodder.co.uk 

What's it about?

Trapped in a superstore by a series of escalating disasters, including a monster hailstorm and terrifying chemical weapons spill, brothers Dean and Alex learned how to survive and worked together with twelve other kids to build a refuge from the chaos. But then strangers appeared, destroying their fragile peace, and bringing both fresh disaster and a glimmer of hope. 

Knowing that the chemical weapons saturating the air outside will turn him into a bloodthirsty rage monster, Dean decides to stay in the safety of the store with Astrid and some of the younger kids. But their sanctuary has already been breached once. . . .

Meanwhile, Alex, determined to find their parents, heads out into the darkness and devastation with Niko and some others in a recently repaired school bus. If they can get to Denver International Airport, they might be evacuated to safety. But the outside world is even worse than they expected. . .

My review

(Spoilers from book one are in this review.)

After such a great start to this series with Monument 14 I was expecting the same high quality with Sky on fire and I'm glad to say that's exactly what I received.
Sky on fire is another thrill ride from Emmy Laybourne. Told again from Dean, who's stuck in the Greenway, we also have the added voice of his brother Alex who left on the bus at the end of Monument 14, which adds a whole new dimension to the books. We now get to see two stories unfolding simultaneously and have the voices of two very different characters in our heads. I thought this added a great extra layer and continues the series nicely and I hope the same structure will be kept for book three.
The things I liked about Dean in book one are still there, he's not the perfect hero, in fact sometimes he's not a hero at all, he has bad thoughts and he doesn't always do the right thing because he's scared. This made him a more realistic person to me because sometimes it's hard to be selfless and we do think of ourselves first, even if we won't admit it out loud. And I liked Alex too, he's younger but very clever and they are two very different characters in their own right.
The story had me hooked all the way through and I've found myself very invested in all of these characters and I care a lot about what happens to all of them so right now I'm just praying none of them get killed off in the last book! Lol..

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Daylighters - Review

Daylighters by Rachel Caine

The Morganville vampires book fifteen

Available now

www.allisonandbusby.com 

What's it about?

While Morganville, Texas, is often a troubled town, Claire Danvers and her friends are looking forward to coming home. But the Morganville they return to isn’t the one they know; it’s become a different place—a deadly one…

Something drastic has happened in Morganville while Claire and her friends were away. The town looks cleaner and happier than they’ve ever seen it before, but when their incoming group is arrested and separated—vampires from humans—they realize that the changes definitely aren’t for the better.

It seems that an organization called the Daylight Foundation has offered the population of Morganville something they’ve never had: hope of a vampire-free future. And while it sounds like salvation—even for the vampires themselves—the truth is far more sinister and deadly.

Now, Claire, Shane and Eve need to find a way to break their friends out of Daylighter custody, before the vampires of Morganville meet their untimely end.

My review

(4.5)

Ahh as if the Morganville series is actually finished! I've enjoyed this series immensely since I started reading it three years ago and seeing it end was bitter-sweet. While I wanted to see how everything plays out for all these much loved characters, I didn't want to say goodbye to them. Despite the long run of this series, I've never once found it boring or disliked any of the fifteen books or anyone in them.

Daylighters ended the series well, with all loose ends tied up and I was happy with everyone's endings. One of the main things I liked was how the humans and vampires have come to work together as the books have progressed, into some kind of unconventional friendship.
I'm trying to not say too much because I don't want to spoil anything for anyone but I personally think Daylighters puts a great close on this much loved series and fans won't be disappointed. And to anyone that's never read any of the Morganville books, I'd like to say, don't be daunted by how many there are because they're all great and you should give them a try!


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Pawn - Review

Pawn by Aimée Carter

The Blackcoat rebellion book one.

Available January 2014

www.miraink.co.uk 

What's it about?

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

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

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

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

My review

Pawn was an exciting dystopia novel full of intrigue and twists, I really enjoyed it. Although I've read many dystopias that focus on a 'class' system society, I always enjoy reading new imaginings of what a futuristic world would be like to different authors and I liked what Aimée Carter did with Pawn. Not only is everyone ranked when they become of age but they are forced to have it tattooed onto the back of their neck to forever remind them of their place in society, a sign of the kind of power the government hold.
The story moved along nicely and many twists, some I saw coming and others that I never. I'm equally intrigued by both Benji and Knox, I'm looking forward to seeing how they develop in further books, as I will most definitely be reading them.
Kitty's character was also relatable, she's kind and caring, however she does want the best for herself to, if she can get it, I liked her.
If, like me, you have a big pile of dystopias to read, then put this one nearer to the top because you won't be disappointed.

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