Experience the world of Divergent and win tickets to the London premiere!

Experience the world of the hotly anticipated DIVERGENT movie in Leicester Square and attend the EUROPEAN PREMIERE!

On Saturday March 29th and Sunday March 30th Leicester Square will be transformed into the dystopian world of DIVERGENT, where fans will be invited to undergo initiation tests and, like Tris Prior, choose where they belong. Would you survive in Dauntless? Fans will be put through their paces with Dauntless training to see if you are brave enough to join their faction!

But that’s not all – I have a pair of tickets for the European premiere of DIVERGENT at Odeon Leicester Square on the Sunday at 1.30pm, attended by stars of the film Shailene Woodley, Theo James and Kate Winslet to give away! So not only can you discover the world for yourself, you can walk the red carpet, mingle with the stars and watch the film before it’s released in the UK on April 4th!

Enter here for your chance to win this once in a lifetime experience! If you aren’t lucky this time, you are still in with a chance - get down to Leicester Square early as the guys from HarperCollins will also be giving out a limited number of premiere tickets to fans on both days!

The Divergent Fan Experience Timings

Saturday March 29th 

11.00am – 6.00pm

Sunday March 30th

11.00am – 12.00pm

3.00pm – 6.00pm

Be sure to check out the Divergent movie Facebook page and Twitter for more info and ways to win tickets!

Sooo, here's the exciting bit, but first the details!

One lucky person will win a ticket for them self and a friend to the premiere on Sunday 30th March.

The winner will have to make their own travel arrangements to get to Leicester square on the day the doors open at 1.30pm and close again at 2.30pm for the film to start at 3.00pm.

Sorry, UK residents only! And entrants must be aged 13 or over. If the winner is under 16, then the other guest must be a parent or guardian aged over 18.

As I am hosting this giveaway on behalf of HarperCollins, there's no follower requirement to enter, but it will get you extra entries!

The giveaway will end Wednesday 26th March at 7PM so be sure to check back here to see if you've won!

The winner will be notified by e-mail, failure to respond within 24 hours to claim your prize will result in disqualification and another winner being picked.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Shattered - Review

Shattered by Teri Terry

Slated book three

Available 6th March 2014

www.bookswithbite.co.uk 

What's it about?

Kyla's memory was erased,

her personality wiped blank,

her memories lost for ever.

Or so she thought.

After the shocking events of SLATED and FRACTURED, we return to Kyla's oppressive world as she tries to make sense of her life and everything around her.

Set in a disturbing near-future world, this is the conclusion to an engrossing, fast-paced trilogy that establishes Teri Terry as a master thriller writer.

Other books in the series
(Links to my reviews)
Slated
Fractured
My review

Shattered was a great conclusion to the Slated trilogy. It answered all my questions, wrapped up nicely, and the only disappointment I had is that such a awesome trilogy is over. Kyla's journey has been an intense one to follow and finally discovering the secrets of her past alongside her has been extremely satisfying. There were twists to the plot I didn't see coming and an ending I couldn't have guessed at, the author really managed to keep the mystery up without frustrating me completely! There were nuggets of information throughout that just kept me on the edge of my seat for the next one.
If you enjoyed the first two books in the trilogy, then don't miss Shattered, because it's just as good. Once again it's full of secrets and intrigue, action and drama and you won't be able to put it down!
Teri Terry's writing is on par again and she does well at explaining all the changing dynamics and helps you get into Kyla's mind easily, despite her sometimes shifting personality, I never felt confused by her, I always felt like I understood her and sympathised with her.
This really was a great trilogy and I'm looking forward to what comes next from such a talented author.

Find the author

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

I love you night and day - Review

I love you night and day by Smriti Prasadam-Halls

Available now 

What's it about?

I love you wild, I love you loud.

I shout it out and I feel proud.

I love you night, I love you day.

In every moment come what may. 

The pages in this fabulously warm and reassuring picture book are bursting with exuberance, warmth and humour. A celebration of love - it's the perfect present to give to the one you love, and offers a heartfelt and affirming message of unconditional love that is pitched just right for little ones. This is a picture book that will be read again and again, and treasured for years to come.

Mine and Oliver's review 

This book is a short and sweet tale about how much two friends love each other. The whole of the book continues the same as the little snippet in the description like 'I love you big' and 'I love you small.' I liked the small inclusion of opposites, whether it was intentional or not and its a nice way of showing kids that there are so many ways you can love someone. It was a nice story for bedtime as its quite a calm and slow tale and Oliver looked at the lovely images while I read him the story. We both really enjoyed it and talking about it the next morning, I tried to get Oliver to pick a favourite part but he said he liked it all.

Favourite illustration

Our favourite image is of Bear and Bunny have their backs turned to each other because they've fallen out but they are still saying they love each other. It shows that even when you're mad at someone or upset with them, you can still love them.

Find the author

Website

Goodreads

Publisher website

Fractured - Review

Fractured by Teri Terry

Slated book two.

Available now

www.bookswithbite.co.uk 

What's it about?

How do you know where to go when you don't remember where you came from?

Kyla's memory has been erased,

her personality wiped blank,

her memories lost for ever.

Or so she thought.

Kyla shouldn't be able to remember anything. But she can - and she's beginning to realise that there are a lot of dark secrets locked away in her memories. When a mysterious man from her past comes back into her life, she thinks she's on her way to finding the truth. But the more she learns about her history, the more confusing her future becomes...

My review

After that final scene in Slated, I'll be honest, I was expecting a faster pace in Fractured, I thought the story would start moving along more quickly as Kyla has now discovered her identity. But we find early on that she hasn't quite recovered all her memories, though she remembers who she is and what she's capable of, she still doesn't remember all of her past or how she's come to be where she is. Fractured again follows Kyla trying to recover more of her memories and figure out who she can trust. However, as far as complaints go, that's the only one I have. I still enjoyed the book very much and found it just as hard to put down. Its conspiracy after conspiracy and just like Kyla, the reader gets immersed into wanting to get to the bottom of the truth because there are many things that aren't how they seem in Kyla's world.
While I missed Ben in Fractured, I enjoyed getting to know Kyla better as she's always been a likeable character and I do feel for her when she gets frustrated at trying to figure everything out and decide on her next move.
Fractured is another highly entertaining read in a compelling trilogy and I am pumped for book three to see how it all ends.

Find the author

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Herman's letter - Review

Herman's letter by Tom Percival

Available now

What's it about?

What do you do when your best friend in the whole wide world has to move a long way away? Promise to write to each other ALL the time and to stay best friends FOREVER, that’s what. But it’s easier said than done – especially when your best friend seems to be having much more fun than you are...

Mine and Oliver's review 

This is a lovely, if a bit sad, little story about Herman who gets sad when his best friend, Harry moves away. At first he feels sad and misses his friend and then becomes jealous when he feels Harry is having far more fun than him and is making new friends. Herman feels he's being left behind. All emotions I think a child would feel if someone they were close to went away so I think this would be a great book for any child in that situation. Oliver really enjoyed the story and listened intently until the end of the book. His favourite part were the letters which are lift-the-flap, so it really was like we were opening a little letter that we'd received. The illustrations were simple and really nice to look at, I think each image captured the scene and the story well.

Favourite illustration
The snowy pages are really nice but I think our favourite is of Herman when he is travelling to visit Harry where he meets penguins, bats, leaps over a crevice and climbs a frozen waterfall, it really shows just what he's willing to go through to get to his best friend.

Find the author
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Publisher's website

The freedom frontier - Review

The freedom frontier by Jeff Norton

MetaWars book four.

Available now.

www.hachettechildrens.co.uk 

What's it about?

The thrilling final instalment of the action-packed METAWARS series. 

With the Guardians and Millennials eliminated, Jonah and Sam are left to fend for themselves. When they discover their enemy, Granger, is also on his own they take the ultimate leap of faith and join forces to survive...and save humanity. The future of the world on and off-line is at stake and Jonah will not stop until he prevails. 

Even if it means making the ultimate sacrifice.

My review

The MetaWars series has been a thrilling ride throughout, I have enjoyed every minute and I'm so sad to see it end. However it did end on a high note because The freedom frontier was another example of excellent writing from Jeff Norton. Once again we're thrown straight into an action scene that is followed by piles more action throughout. Often the final book in a series can get slowed down with too much talking as the author tries to reveal all the answers and round up the story but that's not something that happens on this occasion. As we read on through the book we find events in the previous books that didn't seem significant at the time were actually setting the scene for the final events so the groundwork has already been sneakily done ready for the reader to enjoy the ride in the epic final battle. There really was some stuff I didn't see coming at all and the ending was amazing! I also love the message that came along with it, but I can't tell you it without spoiling the end of the book for you, however its a good message for the teenage boys who are likely to pick and enjoy this series, though I'm sure I'm not the only almost thirty year old reading it, right?

Personally I think the storytelling throughout all of these books has been outstanding, while each book stands out on its own, the overall story is also seamless and you can tell a lot of thought went into the big picture when the series was planned out. I enjoyed how the relationship between Jonah and Sam developed and evolved and was so happy to see them finally get it together at the end, they're such a cute couple and I think they balance each other out. While I admire Jonah's integrity, I have always loved Sam and I think she'll always be my favourite in this series, she's just such a bad ass and would never be caught dead as the damsel in distress.

I would definitely recommend this series to all, it has action, complex characters, action, brilliant world building and did I mention lots of action?

Check out my reviews for the other books in the series;

Fight for the future

The dead are rising

Battle of the immortal

Find the author

Website
Facebook
YouTube
Twitter
Goodreads

Slated - Review

Slated by Teri Terry

Slated book one.

Available now.

www.bookswithbite.co.uk 

What's it about?

Kyla’s memory has been erased,

her personality wiped blank,

her memories lost for ever.

She’s been Slated.

The government claims she was a terrorist and that they are giving her a second chance - as long as she plays by their rules. But echoes of the past whisper in Kyla’s mind. Someone is lying to her, and nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust in her search for the truth?

My review

What a brilliant start to a series! Slated is full of mystery and kept me hooked right the way through trying to figure out everything along with Kyla, who she really was, why she'd been slated and a government that may be more than it seems. Ain't that always the way though lol. I was really intrigued by the whole premise and stored up every clue and fact that was given to me along the way. I couldn't predict where the book was going to take me next and often felt as clueless as Kyla, but not in a frustrating way, it just added to the excitement. And that ending! Man was I glad I read it when book two is already out so I can get hold of it immediately.

Needless to say - though I am saying since this is a review - I really, really enjoyed this book. It was a real page turner with a great leading lady. Kyla was a wonderful character, she seemed naive and tough at the same time and her curiosity could've rivalled Alice's. And deep down you can feel she's probably some kind of badass, I was rooting for her to get her memories back all the way through just to see if that was true.

I liked Ben too, he was sweet and caring, even if Kyla kind of broke him a little bit.

Slated is a big must for YA fans who like some action and mystery and government conspiracy.

Find the author

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Scarlet - Review

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

The Lunar chronicles book two

Available now

www.penguin.co.uk 

What's it about?

This is not the fairytale you remember.

But it’s one you won’t forget.

Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. The police have closed her case. The only person Scarlet can turn to is Wolf, a street fighter she does not trust, but they are drawn to each other.

Meanwhile, in New Beijing, Cinder will become the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive – when she breaks out of prison to stay one step ahead of vicious Queen Levana.

As Scarlet and Wolf expose one mystery, they encounter Cinder and a new one unravels. Together they must challenge the evil queen, who will stop at nothing to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner . . .

My review 

Scarlet is another exciting adventure in The lunar chronicles. It's the second book in this four part series of futuristic retelling's and this time its Little red riding hood that gets taken into the future and really becomes a life of its own. Though there are themes of the original story that's being retold, it also has its own style and a story of its own, much like the first book Cinder.
I really enjoyed the book and how the main plot is evolving along with the new characters and Meyer's twist on 'The big bad wolf,' I think he may have been my favourite character. Not that I didn't like Scarlet and her red hoody.
Amongst many many retelling's of these popular stories, I really love what Marissa Meyer has done with them so far, I've already said she's made the stories her own but it's worth retelling (get it?!) because they are wonderful books and certainly for fans of so many genres, sci-fi, fairy tales, its all there.
I enjoyed the third person writing style and didn't get lost flitting between so many characters as they all have their own distinct voice and I found 'Captain' Thorne's humour to be a welcome relief during tense times in the story.
There was plenty of action, drama and a lovely dash of romance and a particularly hot scene towards the end that I won't spoil for you! So if you liked Cinder, pick up Scarlet now!

Find the author
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Youtube

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.

Find the author
Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads

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.