Release Date: 29/03/11
BOOK BLURB:
When teenager Nick Gautier was saved from almost-certain death by a mysterious warrior, he had a feeling his life was set to change. Fighting the undead has taken the place of fighting with his teachers (well ...almost) and Nick is learning to rely on his powers to protect the world from evil he could never before have imagined. Then, just when he thought things couldn't get any worse, he wakes up to find himself enslaved in a world of shapeshifters and demons out to claim his soul. He's being groomed by the darkest of powers and if he doesn't learn how to raise the dead by the end of the week, he will become one of them ...
REVIEW:
To be honest with you, this is a title that I’ve been looking forward to for quite some time as we continue Sherrilyn’s masterful telling of the story of Nick Gautier for the young adult market which picks up where the previous book, Infinity, left off. What unfurls within this title is a story of daring, of bravery and perhaps best of all a young man coming into a world of his own. It’s cleverly written, it has some great scenes within and the author has laid out the arc so that readers will be glued to the last. Finally back that up with a sense of wonderment that many will have many readers (adult and Teen alike) amused and you know that its going to be something pretty epic.
My only real criticism to do with titles like this is that you know that the principle character will live no matter how bad the situation gets as they appear within other titles. That said, it is my only criticism of this book and with many other characters to fret about its one that will be overlooked by a great many.
BOOK BLURB:
It has been centuries since Isabeau St. Croix survived the French Revolution. Now she's made her way back to the living and must face the ultimate test by confronting the evil British lord who turned her into a vampire and left her buried for two hundred years. That's if she can control her affection for Logan Drake, a vampire whose bite is as sweet as the revenge she seeks...
REVIEW:
Having read the original and being pretty drawn in by the premise, I was hoping that this second title would surpass the original and fix some of the problems that I had. What unfurls within this title is definitely the better book by far as the world building was pretty established so the author could concentrate on the characters and overall arc. Its beautifully written, the characters come to life and it’s a title that will definitely announce that this series has arrived as it has something for everyone. You want love? Check. You want a kick ass plot with combat? Check. You want some devious double dealing and politics? You’ve got it.
Definitely a cracking title and one that appealed to me just as much as it will to the target audience, it could well be the book that will be a joy to share with your young reader. Also with the first title as an ebook today for free and you’ve got a great chance to get in before a lot of others descend.
BOOK BLURB:
England, 1321. Welcome to the Dark Ages. In the heart of the countryside lies an isolated village, where pagan Owl Masters rule through fear, superstition and murder. When a group of religious women ill-advisedly settles outside the village, they awaken dangerous jealousies. Why do their crops succeed? How do their cattle survive the plague? Are they concealing a holy relic which protects them from harm? The Owl Masters cry 'Witchcraft' and sharpen their talons. As torment and hellfire rain down, the women must look to their faith to save them from the darkness spreading across the land. Fear is a question of what you believe. And death alone the answer.
REVIEW:
With many readers wanting something a little different to whet their appetites and to flavour their dreams its always something special when something new arrives. What occurs within this offering, is a story set within the 14th Century with a touch of the supernatural making this a pretty unique beast. Add to the mix characters that just jump off the page backed up with an almost unique voice behind each one for when they’re telling their part makes this more of a community book rather than an individual. I’ll definitely be reading Maitland again.
BOOK BLURB:
Beware the darkness and the light. They will steal your soul in day or night. In summer's warmth or winter's cold Your life will end when the Vours take hold. In the fearscape no one can hear you cry, And in its depth your soul will die. Reggie Halloway thought she was finished with the Vours - the demons who had possessed her brother, Henry - forever. She'd once faced them in a deathly battle for Henry's soul and now she wants to forget them. But Quinn, the Vour she left at the bottom of a lake, is back. And he is not alone.
REVIEW:
The second novel in Alyson’s Immortal series and one that has a lot to live up to. After all with the way in which the original was left it was pretty much a shocker for the reader. What perhaps makes this tale a bit more realistic is the more rounded nature to the characters with a lot of their personality defects coming to the fore within, demonstrating that even when love is found, its not smooth sailing.
As with the original its got beautiful prose, great character development and finally topped up with just a sprinkle of reasonable dialogue wrapped up with some quite complex emotional issues to deal with. Great stuff.
BOOK BLURB:
Beware the darkness and the light. They will steal your soul in day or night. In summer's warmth or winter's cold Your life will end when the Vours take hold. In the fearscape no one can hear you cry, And in its depth your soul will die. Reggie Halloway thought she was finished with the Vours - the demons who had possessed her brother, Henry - forever. She'd once faced them in a deathly battle for Henry's soul and now she wants to forget them. But Quinn, the Vour she left at the bottom of a lake, is back. And he is not alone.
REVIEW:
Having missed the original novel in this series I was a little worried that I wouldn’t get as much enjoyment out of this tale as I hoped. Luckily enough I was wrong. It is beautifully written with some wonderful touches of macabre topped off with great dialogue and descriptiveness. With me enjoying this title so much so that I will be going back to pick up the original prior to a reread for the full experience.
BOOK BLURB:
The nail-biting climax to Kelley Armstrong's bestselling Darkest Powers trilogy Chloe Saunders is fifteen and would love to be normal. Unfortunately, Chloe happens to be a genetically engineered necromancer who can raise the dead without even trying. She and her equally gifted (or should that be 'cursed'?) friends are now running for their lives from the evil corporation that created them. As if that's not enough, Chloe is struggling with her feelings for Simon, a sweet-tempered sorcerer, and his brother Derek, a not so sweet-tempered werewolf. And she has a horrible feeling she's leaning towards the werewolf...Definitely not normal.
REVIEW:
As a huge fan of Kelley’s writing I really did have to own this title as soon as I could. What was perhaps harder was waiting to read this title as I wanted to reread the previous offerings in the series to refresh not only my memory but to build the tension and pleasure of the first read.
Not only does the tale carry on from where the previous have left off but the characters do continue to grow as does their friendships. Its unique, its positive and when you add an authors experience into the story arc delivers something that is immensely satisfying for the reader. Add some scary moments, some Saturday Morning cliff hangers and top it off with some great dialogue and you have a title that will enthuse readers the world over.
BOOK BLURB:
Dead people don't make great companions, something cute, athletic Ken finds out the hard way when, following an accident on the football field, he starts hearing ghostly voices. It's not the kind of gift he would have asked for - especially when it gets him involved in a love triangle with his dead best friend's girlfriend - but there's nothing he can do about it, until an anonymous note invites him to a seance. Completely convinced by the medium he meets, Ken tries to tell her about his secret. Only his gifted classmates can save him from revealing the truth - and finding himself in terrible danger...
REVIEW:
Having started Marilyn’s writing after a couple of these titles had been out for a bit I did wonder if it would be just a tale for the younger female audience. What unfurls within will win readers of both genders as the author has a good grasp of creating realistic characters that whilst struggling with their own unique gifts find ways to help others alongside forging friendships. This offering is perhaps the strangest and perhaps best to date as we follow the tale of a boy who can speak with the dead.
Add a descent story arc, a selfish character or two and you know that theres something for every young reader to get from this offering as the author promotes self sacrifice, friendship and other positive attributes. A great thing to do in this modern age and one that will definitely appeal to many as we’re all pretty unique in this world.
BOOK BLURB:
When another experiment goes disastrously wrong and the gang end up falling through the ceiling into the bathroom (where a shower-cap adorned Tabbris sits fuming at his young angel charges) the gang decide a change of leadership is required. Spit takes over and suddenly things seem to be going OK - trouble seems to be a distant memory. That is, until the gang's pet rat goes missing and the footprints in the fridge are bigger than any rat they've ever seen - or ever want to . . .
REVIEW:
Having read and enjoyed a previous instalment of this series, I love to see how an author will adapt and change the plot outlines as well as allowing the characters room to grow. What unfurls within this offering is a tale where the group dynamics have changed and the characters have a great amount of room to adapt and change which presents a freshness that the readers will love.
Add to the mix a terrible plague of epic proportions alongside a villain so hideously evil that you really want to Boo and hiss at and you know that its going to be a fun ride. A great offering in this series and one that endear the heroes to the regular readers as well as allowing new readers to pick up this offering with no knowledge of the previous instalments.
BOOK BLURB:
In the wake of a love spell gone horribly wrong, Sophie Mercer, a sixteen-year-old witch, is shipped off to Hecate Hall, a boarding school for witches, shapeshifters and faeries. The traumas of mortal high school are nothing compared to the goings on at Freak High. It's bad enough that she has to deal with a trio of mean girls led by the glamorous Elodie, but it's even worse when she begins to fall for Elodie's gorgeous boyfriend, Archer Cross, and frankly terrifying that the trio are an extremely powerful coven of dark witches. But when Sophie begins to learn the disturbing truth about her father, she is forced to face demons both metaphorical and real, and come to terms with her own growing power as a witch.
REVIEW:
When you’re looking for a new book in the Urban Fantasy genre its always refreshing to find something a little different to a number of titles out there. Whilst other authors like Richelle Mead have covered a supernatural school prior to this, its tended to be a more mundane single race establishment rather than a melding of the variety out there.
Within this offering is a whole host of people who learn in a reform school about how to meld with human civilisation and live in harmony as well as learning how to live with their powers. Add to the mix typical human emotional conflict accompanied by some great character growth and you have a special title for the 12+ market.
Release Date: 29/03/11
