Roomies by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando

An engaging and heart-warming 'two voice' story of an East Coast/West Coast digital friendship that begins when Elizabeth emails her soon-to-be college roommate, Lauren. On the cusp of freedom during their last summer before starting a new independent life away from home, they discover the catharsis that an anonymous email friendship can bring as they chronicle the tension, excitement and anxiety of leaving their homes, falling in love, and finding the right mini-fridge

Published by Hodder and Stoughton in January 2014

Pages - 235

******

Reviewed by Elizabeth Dale

It’s the start of the summer after graduation and Elizabeth (EB to her friends) can’t wait to leave her miserable mum with her desperate love life and head all the way across to the other side of America to start college in San Francisco, where her gay dad now lives. When the university emails her contact details of her college room-mate, Lauren, so they can sort out what they’re each bringing, EB emails her. Lauren’s feeling about starting college just across the bay and escaping her chaotic home life with her mum and dad and five younger siblings are more ambivalent.  She’s going to miss them so much, but she relishes the thought of finally having some peace, so she is very disappointed to discover that her request for a room of her own is refused.

As the correspondence builds that last summer, both girls find themselves telling each other their hopes and worries, and confiding details of their new romances  that they don’t even reveal to their friends.  But when Lauren meets EB’s dad and tells EB things she doesn’t want to hear, their relationship fractures before they’ve even met. Can you just have too much truth?  

This novel is a great read, capturing all the conflicting emotions that come with leaving home, no matter how much you think you want to go.  Written by two authors from each girl’s totally unique perspective, the reader really enters each girl’s totally different world. It captures the excitement and fear, not just of heading off to college, but also growing up and accepting and adjusting to relationships both within and outside the family. My one criticism would be that the voices of the two girls aren’t quite distinctive enough,  and some of the other characters, particularly EB’s mum could be more developed, but I very much enjoyed it all the same and really felt I was there with the girls as they say goodbye to everything they know and love, and face up to such a  momentous change in their lives.  

Winter Wonderland by Belinda Jones

I’m lying on a bed of ice. Literally a huge block of king-size ice, sculpted into the form of a hefty four-poster and polished to such a gloss and gleam it more closely resembles glass.

Published by Hodder and Stoughton  in November 2012

Pages - 297

Imagine waking up in a snow globe...
That’s how travel journalist Krista feels when she arrives in magical Quebec to report on Canada's glittering Winter Carnival.
Over ten sub-zero days Krista's formerly frozen heart begins to melt as she discovers an enchanting world of ice palaces, husky dog-sledding and maple-syrup treats galore. And then she meets Jacques, a man as handsome and rugged as he is mysterious…
The two share a secret that could bond them forever, but can they find a way to break through the protective layers around their hearts to warm up this winter wonderland?
…let the snow-spangled adventure begin.

******

You honestly can’t fault this author for her magical descriptions. The way she writes about Quebec’s Winter Carnival, you would think you were entering Disney World on Ice. Seriously it sounds stunning and I only wish it could be that magical in real life. Not that I would know personally, but I have read it isn’t as stunning, which is a real shame. Perhaps Belinda Jones should be in charge of planning and development for their next event.

Straight away, you find yourself sitting in a  room made of ice with Krista and you can almost feel the chill yourself. You find yourself reaching for your hot water bottle and hoping you have seen the last of the snow.

As I mentioned earlier, the descriptions are just stunning. The author knows  how to bring a place alive and you are given a detailed analysis of what the city is like. You can tell the author knows her stuff. Her characters are quirky, enigmatic and  extremely entertaining. Many a page, I was caught by a fit of giggles. Krista, the main character is slightly annoying in her need to sort out everyone’s problems. Normally that wouldn’t bother me but she had known these people barely a week. I would have told her to keep her nose out personally.

I learnt so much about Cirque De Soleil. I hadn’t realised that they had originated from Quebec. The information provided about the company was truly fascinating, especially the charity work they have fulfilled so far.

Where the descriptions and characters are brilliant, unfortunately the plot lets the story down. The second half of the book fell flat for me and didn’t really have anything of interest going on it.  I actually struggled to finish it. Relationships were easily mended, no real conflict to entice you in and the main character had fallen in love within in days. Everything appeared rushed and tied up far too nicely by the end and I felt  unsatisfied with how things had progressed. I honestly feel the author got so wrapped up in the detail of the setting, she lost sight of what was actually happening to the characters.

Such a promising start, ruined by a disappointing end.

The Edge of Nowhere by Elizabeth George

Published by Hodder and Stoughton

Paperback - 14th February 2013

Goodreads Summary

Becca King and her mother are on the run from her stepfather who has used Becca’s talent for hearing ‘whispers’ to make a large and illegal sum of money. Now their options for safety are running out. In the town of Langley on Whidbey Island, Becca finds refuge in the home of her mother’s childhood friend while her mother continues on to Canada in search of safety.
But on her first day in town Becca meets sixteen years old Derric Nyombe Matheson a Ugandan orphan who was adopted as a ten-year-old by the town’s Deputy Sheriff. Derric has a secret that no one on Whidbey Island knows. Derric and Becca form an un-severable bond. Becca is convinced that she’s the only person who can truly help him, and just maybe Derric can convince Becca that life is too short to live on the run.

*******

Reviewed by Georgina Tranter

This is another of my reviews featuring an already established author trying their hand at the YA market (Jodi Picoult and Jane Casey are two I’ve already reviewed).  Elizabeth George is best known for her Inspector Lynley novels of which she has now written over 15.  I thought it would be interesting to see if she could carry the crime genre over to the YA sector when she is already doing very well in the adult market.

Hannah Armstrong has a power - she can hear what people are thinking.  She is not the first in her family to be able to do this; her grandmother can too, so she wears a headset that produces white noise to eliminate her ability to hear others.  Unfortunately she doesn’t wear it all the time and hears her stepfather revealing things he wouldn’t want others to know.  Bad news for Hannah though, he’s worked out she somehow knows and now she and her mum are on the run.

Enter Becca King, dowdy, boring teenager who is about to move to the remote Whidbey Island to stay with an old friend of her mother’s.  The downside is, she arrives and her welcome goes slightly astray when the lady in question turns up dead.  Now Becca has nowhere to go and no one to turn to.

Luckily for her, Debbie Grieder takes in waifs and strays and is no stranger to having a secret or two.  Becca soon settles into her new life, and makes some new friends in the bargain: Seth Darrow and Derric Mathieson, former best friends who now can’t stand each other.  What do the boys have to hide?

The Edge of Nowhere is the first part of the Saratoga Woods trilogy so expect plenty of unanswered questions when you get to the end of this book, that may, or may not, be answered in the next part.

The story does flow well, and although it is less than 300 pages long, it is rather wordy and there are a lot of characters to get to grips with.  My biggest doubt was whether anyone would believe Becca’s story of coming to the island to stay with her mum’s friend whilst her mother was away.  Would a mother leave her teenage daughter in a place she doesn’t know and then not get in contact?  This isn’t questioned in the book though and I guess maybe sometimes in fiction you don’t need to address things that you would in real-life.  The characters all have other secrets of their own that they want to hide, so they don’t pry too hard into Becca’s life.  Little do they know she can read their thoughts!

The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver

Review by KM Lockwood

246 pages

published by Hodder & Stoughton October 2012

One night when Liza went to bed, Patrick was her chubby, stubby, candy-grubbing and pancake-loving younger brother, who irritated her and amused her both, and the next morning, when she woke up, he was not.

In fact, he was quite, quite different.

Goodreads Summary

“When Liza's brother, Patrick, changes overnight, Liza knows exactly what has happened: The Spindlers have gotten to him and stolen his soul. She knows, too, that she is the only one who can save him. To rescue Patrick, Liza must go Below, armed with little more than her wits and a broom. There, she uncovers a vast world populated with talking rats, music-loving moles, greedy Troglods, and overexcitable Nids . . . as well as terrible dangers. But she will face her greatest challenge at the Spindlers' nests, where she encounters the evil queen and must pass a series of deadly tests--or else her soul, too, will remain Below forever.

*******

 Both the cover and the short extract above give an accurate flavour of this charming fantasy book, ideal for 8-12 year olds. The world Lauren Oliver creates is full of colour and magic - with a good deal of creepiness. The reader encounters a host of strange creatures such as Lumer-Lumpen, Nocturni , Scawgs and of course, the wonderfully scary Spindlers.

If it sounds all a bit Roald Dahl, that’s not an inappropriate comparison, though there are touches of classical myths and legends, and a dose of traditional folk-tales too.

The author clearly revels in the rhythms and sounds of language, and enjoys detailed description - but that doesn’t mean the story lacks a strong plot. The love and loyalty of a young girl are at the heart of the action. The story is easy to follow, yet the characters are engaging and well-drawn: Mirabella the talking rat in particular.

There are moments of fanciful whimsy and sheer prettiness- and some which are decidedly scary. It won’t suit everyone. Some chapters would not make good bedtime reading for more sensitive souls!

I have only one real criticism - couldn’t somebody have told her that spiders have eight legs and are not insects but arachnids? The copy I read was an uncorrected proof so I rather hope that this has been amended in the final version.

All-in-all, this is a delightful and compassionate read for its intended audience. It would suit being read aloud for less confident readers - or just for fun - and there some important ideas to be discussed about family and friendship. Recommended.

Really Random Tuesday

Really Random Tuesday is a meme created by Suko at Suko's Notebook which is a way to post odds and ends--announcements, musings, quotes, photos--any blogging and book-related things you can think of.

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Firstly I want to apologise to all my regular readers. As you may realise it is the summer holidays and normally I shut the blog down for a bit in order to spend time with my girls. For some strange reason I didn't shut it down this time and I feel bad, as I am struggling to read anyone else's blogs at the moment. Please bear with me, as soon as the kids go back in September I will have more time to stop by your blogs and comment. I have quite a few post lined up over the next few weeks, but I doubt I will be around personally. I want to thank you all for your ongoing support of the blog. 

Many of you know I have been writing and I did finish my book which I recently sent out to agents. I had a lot of positive feed back on it, but feel it may now need to be altered to suit a different age group. So for now, my writing has been put hold until September when I will have more time to focus on a future projects as well as the present one. 

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The winner of the five books reviewed as part of the Vintage Children's Week Special is:

Karen Conner - formerly of The Slowest Bookworm blog. 

Congratulations Karen. An email will be on its way to you today. 

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There is a fabulous drawing competition over at  author Sarah Mussi's blog open to all 11-18 year olds. All you have to do is draw an angel or seraph and post it over at Sarah's Facebook page.  Sarah Mussi has just 
published Angel Dust through Hot Key Books as one of its launch titles. 
The competition closes at 5pm on the 31st of August. The winner will receive Sarah Mussi's fabulous painting and a signed copy of Angel Dust. Five runners up will also win a signed copy of Angel Dust. 

*********

An astonishing fantasy debut from an 18-year-old classical musician has been acquired by Nick Lake at HarperCollins. Rights for the UK and Commonwealth were secured from HarperCollins US (Greenwillow Books) for two titles by author Stefan Bachmann, an American teenager studying music at the Zürich Conservatory in Switzerland, who began writing The Peculiar at just 16 years old. 

Other authors have been rushing to praise this superb debut and as a result HarperCollins will publish in hardback in September 2012, and follow up with a paperback in the Spring:

“Swift, strong and entertaining. Highly recommended.”

Christopher Paolini, author of The Inheritance Cycle

“Stefan Bachmann's sparkling debut is sure to get a lot of well-deserved notice. He breathes fresh life into ancient magic.”

Rick Riordan, author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians

*********

Editorial director Kate Howard and assistant editor Harriet Bourton

of Hodder & Stoughton have acquired debut author Kass Morgan’s

thrilling two-book YA series The Hundred from by Sara Shandler and

Joelle Hobeika at Alloy Entertainment (World English), with US

rights to Elizabeth Bewley at Little, Brown Books for Young

Readers. The books are scheduled for publication in Spring 2014 and

Fall 2014.

The series follows 100 teenagers, all harbouring dark secrets, who

© Alana Kass leave their homes - enormous, city-like spaceships - to re-colonize

barely recognizable Earth, only to discover that no matter how far from home they are,

they cannot escape their pasts.

*********

That's all the news for now. Check back soon for more book gossip. 

Really Random Tuesday

Really Random Tuesday is a meme created by Suko at Suko's Notebook which is a way to post odds and ends--announcements, musings, quotes, photos--any blogging and book-related things you can think of. 

The last one of these I did was in February! And now we are coming to the end of April, eeep! In my defence I have been busy!
                                                                   ***********
Firstly I imagine a few of you who are not familiar with Twitter might be wondering what the sign below is doing on my blog. 

I was chosen alongside Leanna from Daisy Chain Book Reviews  to lead Team Abnegation for the launch of  Insurgent by Veronica Roth.  To be honest, I have done very little leading as I have been really busy with my own writing, but luckily I have a very strong joint leader in Leanna, who has quietly been working behind the scenes. 
We have a rather wonderful team of bloggers working with us. Check out the list below of some fantastic people to follow. 

Bella: http://cheezyfeetbooks.blogspot.co.uk/

Kirsty: http://www.overflowinglibrary.com/

Stacey: http://theprettybooks.wordpress.com/

Alice: http://thereaderroom.blogspot.co.uk

Sam: http://realmoffiction.blogspot.co.uk/

Jules: http://thegreatthegoodandthebad.blogspot.co.uk/

Amber: http://themilelongbookshelf.blogspot.co.uk/

Sophie: http://solittletimeforbooks.blogspot.co.uk/

Laura: http://yaindieprincess.blogspot.co.uk/

Lucy: http://chooseya.com/

Kirsty: http://kirstyes.co.uk/

These are some great girlies all busily reading their copies of Insurgent ready for publication day. So come back here on May 1st to hear all about Insurgent!
                                                                           ***********
You may remember earlier this year I chose a book called Watch Over Me by Daniela Sacerdoti as my book of the month. Well Daniela is about to see the publication of her first YA book and I wanted to share the trailer with you. 

I have a copy of this already and I can't wait to read it.

**********

My fantastic blogging friend Emma over at Book Angel Booktopia is preparing for a special month on her blog in August.

Emma will be hosting a whole month devoted to new retellings of the classics. If you would like to take part or find out more, please click here. 

I will be taking part in Emma's month of wonderfulness!

***********

Last week I held a competition to win one of two copies of Dead Rules by Randy Russel. I can now announce the winners.

Raimy-rawr

Susan K. Mann

Congratulations ladies, an email of confirmation is on it's way to you. Please send my your details in order to post on to the publisher.

Sorry to everyone who did not win. There is still time to enter my World Book Night competition here. 

**********

I wanted to share the new cover of the paperback version of Daughter of Smoke and Bone with you as I think it is utterly stunning. It is definitely one of my favourite covers at the moment, as it really gets the idea behind the book. 

*************

Have you seen the new trailer for Changeling by Philippa Gregory?

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That is all my book gossip for now. I will be back soon with another post of exciting news soon. 

Really Random Tuesday

Really Random Tuesday is a meme created by Suko at Suko's Notebook which is a way to post odds and ends--announcements, musings, quotes, photos--any blogging and book-related things you can think of. 
I can't believe I haven't done one of these posts since December! I have so much bookish news to tell you.                                                                          

Let's start with a fabulous trailer to get us in the mood. Daylight Saving by Edward Hogan and the interactive book cover. Apologies for not getting it in the center, it seems Blogger is being a little temperamental this afternoon. But do run your mouse over the cover, it is such fun to watch the water ripple!
For more exciting information about this book, check out Undercover from Walker Books. 

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Any aspiring YA speculative fiction authors who are in the throes of finishing their novels and about to look for an agent, read this first! A message from Strange Chemistry, the new YA imprint from Angry Robot.

'Last year our angry but adoable Overlords Angry Robot Books ran an Open Door month.

Which is what, you ask?

It involved AR relaxing the usual submission guidelines and allowing authors-to-be who were unagented to send in a manuscript.

It worked wonderfully well, with three authors signed up!

Why am I telling you this?

Because this year Strange Chemistry is jumping on the band wagon!

That’s right - we are looking for YA authors-to-be who have written any form of speculative YA fiction (fantasy, SF, horror, or some mash-up of the three!) to submit in the period between April 16th and April 30th.

Full details can be found HERE and we do advise that you read the WHOLE list of requirements!

In addition Angry Robot Books are asking for Classic Fantasy - high, epic, medieval, magical, etc - but only adult fiction. See their requirements here.'
                                                                                ************

As many of you know I have been raving about Hollow Pike by James Dawson. Well I thought you might like to see the trailer for it. 

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Many of you may remember me raving about a certain mind blowing book called Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor last year. Well the title for the new book has just been announced!

Doesn't it sound fabulous? I can't wait. As I understand it, the book will be out in the Autumn.

*********

February 14^th sees the launch of Piatkus Entice, our brand new eBook-first romance imprint. With new titles each month from authors including Eloisa James, Laura Wright, Sarah MacLean, Mariah Stewart and many more, Piatkus Entice will be a one-stop-shop for romantic fiction, offering readers everything from virile vampires to fairytale endings, ravishing rakes and so much more besides.

The website is now live at www.piatkusentice.co.uk. Have a look around the site, then follow us on Twitter andFacebook, or sign up to the Entice newsletter for the latest romance news straight to your inbox.

Piatkus Entice. Temptation at your fingertips.

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FABER AND FABER LAUNCHES THE SPARK - A PLACE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO SHOWCASE THEIR CREATIVE SKILLS

Faber and Faber has launched THE SPARK www.facebook.com/thesparkpage, a place for 13 - 16 year olds who have an interest in creativity and reading. During 2012 THE SPARK, hosted on Facebook, will invite young people to take part in some exciting projects around acting, film-making, writing and music, each linked to and inspired by a Faber Young Adult title. Whilst students aren’t obliged to read the books to take part, we hope that they will not only be inspired to produce some creative work, but will also be encouraged to engage with the related books, and develop a greater interest in reading generally. Our aim is that THE SPARK will become a vibrant community where young people who love reading and creating can meet, talk and share. We have been extremely impressed by the entries for our recent project, run in association with the GUARDIAN, to find a talented young artist to create a new, iconic cover image for William Golding’s LORD OF THE FLIES and we hope that we can discover a similar level of creativity in each of the new projects to be launched this year.

Find out more at www.facebook.com/thesparkpage. Follow THE SPARK @thesparkfeed

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I will keep showing this trailer everywhere till  everyone has seen this film. I am desperate to see it and hope hubby will take me this weekend! If you loved Free Willy, you will want to see this. 

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Also check out Lauren Kate's book cover coming to life!

The fabulous Carolyn and her gorgeous book blogging pal Laura have a fabulous read a long going on  over at Book Chick City. 

Each month throughout the year, the ladies will be reviewing a different book from the Sookie Stackhouse series. So that is one book every month in the series order. Now I am majorly tempted to join in with this one, as I like many I have most of this series sitting on my book shelves.   The lovely ladies posted their first review yesterday which you can see here, 

Now I have read the first book, which I reviewed here, and I hope to join in with the readalong for the second book in the series. If you want to be involved, then pop over and join in the discussion. 

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So there you are! Another round up of bookish news for you. I will be back soon with lots of other bookish gossip!

Tiger's Voyage by Colleen Houck

Pages - 543

Published by Hodder and Stoughton in 2011

' Is he going to do it?

I stared at Ren, searching for a hint of emotion. 

A full minute ticked by. The second he made his choice, I knew it. 

Ren stretched out his hands to make his move.'

Goodreads Summary

In the third installment of the Tiger series, Kelsey Hayes pushes through the pain of lost love and strengthens her friendship with Kishan. Despite his strong feelings for her, Kishan has agreed to be her ally in helping her reunite with the man she still loves. Together, they seek to help Ren regain his memory and begin the search for the third magical gift—an object of power that will help break the curse that causes them to live part of their lives as tigers. 

They board a luxury yacht and seek Durga's aid once again, who supplies them with her golden weapons. With Nilima, Mr. Kadam, Ren, and Kishan at her side, she soon learns that the task ahead will be even more difficult than the others. Confronting a dark magician, multiple dragons, and terrifying denizens of the deep seems easy when compared to facing the daunting task of stitching up her heart. Just when she thinks she's ready to set her feet on a new path, she is yanked back with a jolt to the one she's determined to leave behind. 

The jarring tug-of-war that ensues for Kelsey's heart leaves her anxious and confused. Combined with the stress of almost being killed every other day, it would appear that saving the tigers is almost more than she can handle. Still, she presses on, knowing that a choice is looming on the horizon. One she cannot put off making for long. 

Tiger's Voyage is an irresistible romance with a barrage of action on the high seas, where a reader will find a treasure chest full of dragons, sea monsters, knights in shining armor, fabled weapons, and enduring love. The tropic waters of India create the backdrop for the latest installment in the tiger series. This novel, a multicultural take on the classic Beauty and the Beast tale, delves into the complex emotional turmoil and pressure associated with not only making the best choice for a nation but also the best choice for yourself.

***********

Before I begin my review I have to warn you that there may be spoilers from the first two books in the series. If you haven't read the first two, then stop right here and go read them. NOW!

You wouldn't believe how I have waited for this book. Tiger's Quest ended with me screaming at the book - NOOOOOOO! So as you can guess I was desperate to find out what would happen next. 

I was disgusted by the way Ren treated Kelsey at the end of Book 2 and I think I may be holding a grudge against him now. Other readers have managed to forgive him, but I am one of those people who doesn't forget things easily and I won't let him off his cruel behaviour. My views of him didn't improve with this book either as his bad behaviour reached new extremes. He spent most of the book treating Kelsey like a yoyo - flickering her emotions in and out as it suited him. I just wanted to shake him and scream at him - 'What are you playing at?'

I am definitely on Team Kishan now as he has been so sweet to Kelsey all the way through. OK, he isn't as seductive and mysterious as he was in the second book but at least he doesn't boss Kelsey around and tell her what she can and can't do. He has obviously realised Kelsey is a independent woman!

So it seems as I threw away my rose tinted glasses, Kelsey seemed to do the same and although she loves Ren, she knows what  a jerk he can be. However the ending of the book ended on a huge cliff hanger again, leaving me dangling between two hot tigers!

I thought I would whip through this book really quickly, but I always seem to forget how detailed the author's writing is. Colleen Houck's books are rich with descriptions that need to be savoured, hitting all your senses in one go. This series is a like a fine wine, that cannot be rushed. I loved the detailed knowledge of Indian and Chinese traditions. You can tell the author really enjoyed researching these books and wanted to give us the full flavour of both cultures. 

This quest was totally different to the other two as it involved a voyage and I found myself thrilled by this journey. Each dragon they encounted on the way, stood out with uniqueness and quirkiness, leaving a memorable mark on me.  Although I may think twice about swimming in the sea again!

As you can guess, I loved this book as much as the first two. I just can't get enough of the Tiger series. I really don't know how I will manage to wait patiently for the next one. Not since the Twilight books has a series gripped me so intensely. 

Colleen Houck is a natural storyteller, who binds you into her web of adventure, keeping your interest locked all the way through until the end. This book is just as well paced and original as the first two in the series.  I don't think you can read this series without falling under this author's spell.

If you haven't read the first book Tiger's Curse, then I strongly suggest you do. 

The Day I Met Laini Taylor

A few weeks ago, I was invited to the launch of Laini Taylor's book Daughter of Smoke and Bone at The Whistling Shop in London. Now this place was just like something out of a Charles Dickens book. It was dark and rich with Victorian atmosphere. There were quite a few bloggers there and we were all super excited to meet Laini.

Laini arrived with her husband, who was supporting her by wearing a pink tie to match her gorgeous pink hair.  She gave a beautiful speech about the book, before we all stampeded her for signed books!

We were served interesting cocktails and unusual appetisers. Have you ever seen smoking oysters before? Or tasted meringue that made you breath like a dragon? No! Well I now have. 

Here is the event in photos!

Bella from Cheezyfeet Books and Caitlin from The Cait Files

A rather blurred photo of Eleni, the publicity director from Hodder and Stoughton who feeds our book habit. 

Laini arriving with her husband at The Whistling Shop.

Sarah and Liz from My Favourite Books

The barman making the signature cocktail for the event and secretly getting us all drunk!

Sarah from Feeling Fictional 

Smoking oysters. I kid you not.

Laini writing faster than the speed of light.

An old fashioned lamp inside the bar, with books on show around it. The books didn't stay there long. You can just make out Casey from Dark Readers behind. 

 Sammee from I Want To Read That and a rather ghostly looking me!

Me nattering away to Laini. I don't think she understood a word I said, but she smiled politely a lot. 

As you can see, we all had a fabulous time at the event. Laini was lovely and dealt with the mad English book bloggers extremely well. 

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laine Taylor

Pages - 420

Published by Hodder and Stoughton in September 2011

Walking to school over the snow muffled cobbles. Karou had no sinister premonition about the day. It seemed like just another Monday, innocent but for its essential Mondayness, not to mention its Januaryness. It was cold, and it was dark - in the dead of winter the sun didn't rise until eight- but it was lovely. The falling snow and the early hour conspired to paint Prague ghostly, like a tintype photograph, all silver and haze. 

Goodreads Summary

Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

**********

The opening sentences of the book were descriptive and hypnotic, as the melody of the words transported me to the snowy sights of Geneva. The author's attention to detail is extremely thorough. Her use of imagery evoked a sensory journey into a world we believe to be similar to ours.  I was smitten from page one. 

Reading this book is like falling through the rabbit hole alongside Alice into Wonderland. You are happily reading the book, thinking you have an idea where this story will lead, then the author whips the carpet away from you and you keep falling down a hole into a completely different story. Literally half way through the book you will repeat the following words:

OH MY GOD!
NO WAY!

REALLY! 

THAT DID NOT JUST HAPPEN!

WOW!

I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING!

You don't believe me do you? Just trust me on this one. 

Once you learn more about Brimstone and what is hiding behind the door, you will answer your questions over Brimstone and his incessant need for teeth!

The way the author writes has me reminiscent of a Charles De Lint book I once read. The way her characters can tread from one world to the next with ease. Laini Taylor makes fantasy believable. 

This book is full of changing relationships where you struggle to work out whether Karou's family and friends are good or bad for her. Each character has a dual dimension and you are not sure if their actions are for the greater good or evil. There is an element of Romeo and Juliet to the book, which pulls the whole story together.

My favourite character has to be Kishmish. Oh how I cried! 

Karou is a sassy little lady, who looks all sweetness and light, yet can get you in a headlock in seconds. She is not to be messed with. She is clever and determined, not stopping at anything until she finds out how to reach the only family she has ever known. 

I am struggling to not tell you anything about this book, because you really have to read it. It isn't like any book I have read in ages. So much of it, is so unexpected, leaving you wondering what will happen in the next book. 

Just go read it and come back and talk to me when you have finished!

Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck

Pages 479
Published by Hodder & Stoughton in 2011
Book kindly sent to me by tihe publisher for an honest review

I clung to the leather seat and felt my heart fall as the private plane rose into the sky, streaking away from India. If I took off my seatbelt, I was sure I would sink right through the floor and drop thousands of feet, freefalling to the jungles below. Only then would I feel right again. I had left my heart in India; I could feel it missing. All that was left of me was a hollowedd-out shell, number and empty.


Take a good look at that tiger on the cover! By the end of reading this book, you are going  to love him!

Kelsey has returned to America  without her gorgeous tiger boy Ren. She attempts to live a normal live until a few months down the line Ren decides to visit, followed closely by his brother Kishan. Kishan really is a bad boy and needs to be tamed. He is also cursed in the same way as Ren, only he appears as a black tiger rather than a white one.

Danger follows them to Oregan and it isn't long before one of them is kidnapped, forcing Kelsey on a dangerous trek to lift the second part of the curse. Will Kelsey be able to pull it off?

**********

After reading Tiger's Curse, it never crossed my mind that my allegiance with the white tiger would change. I left the book rooting for him to chase Kelsey across the world and never let her go. However by the end of Tiger's Quest, I was no longer his number one fan and had moved over to rooting for Kishan to win Kelsey's love. If you haven't read the second book yet I can imagine you being shocked by this decision and trust me I was too. Yet I can see you all changing sides rather hastily when you reach the end of the book.

Tiger's Quest is just as action packed as Tiger's Curse and the author keeps you on your toes the whole way through. There is so much going on within each chapter which keeps you rooted to your seat. You are desperate to help Kelsey get through each trauma and challenge she faces.

I loved the inclusion of the Silvernae, the tree nymphs. They seemed so angelic and pure in character. I felt like I had moved into a dream like state as I read through the pages they graced. They really were such beautiful characters. 

Just like the first book, the writing is intensely descriptive, allowing you to feel like you  are experiencing the book in 3D, only with all inclusive sensory action too.

The ending was left on another huge cliffhanger, which left in  despair as the next book doesn't come out until November. It was quite heartbreaking to see how Kelsey was treated after all the things she had suffered. It felt like it had all been for nothing. I have my suspicions as to why a certain tiger was treating her the way he did, but will only discuss them with anyone who has read the book. I don't want to give out spoilers!

This book is just as thrilling as the first one and will definitely be a series I want to see through to the end. Although I may need assistance for my withdrawal symptoms as I wait impatiently for November.  

Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

Pages - 498

Published by Hodder in June 2011

Book kindly sent by publisher for an honest review.

The prisoner stood with his hand tied in front of him, tired, beaten, and filthy but with a proud back befitting his royal Indian heritage. His captor, Lokesh, looked on haughtily from a lavishly carved, gilded throne. Tall, white pillars stood like sentinels around the room. Not a whisper of a jungle breeze moved across the sheer draperies. All the prisoner could hear was the steady clinking of Lokesh's jeweled rings against the side of the golden chair. Lokesh looked down, eyes narrowed into contemptuous, triumphant slits. 


Every so often you get a book that takes over your life. Normally for the following 48 hours, you stop living; your family lives off takeaways, your children wear the same clothes without you noticing, the house begins to resemble a refuse site and the dog takes himself off for a walk, whilst you keep your head down and read. Well Tiger's Curse is that book! I was desperate to read it and there was no way the book would be torn from my hands without sending me into a typical two year tantrum!

The cover begs to be stroked! I knew when I laid eyes on the cover, my book radar was onto a winner. As of yet, it has never let me down and this book was AMAZING!

Kelsey Hayes is looking for a summer job. Little did she realise, she would be looking after a tiger with a travelling circus. You would think that would be enough excitement, until she finds herself travelling to India to help break a curse that has held for 300 years.  With Ren, the mysterious white tiger by her side, she sets out on a journey where magic and  ancient prophecies intertwine with real life and lead her into dangerous situations. Can Kelsey break the curse forever?

Oh how I loved this book! So much so, that I got withdrawal symptoms when I had finished it. I may need therapy after falling in love with a ferocious white tiger. This is the first book in ages that has left me with the intensity and desperation I felt when I read the Twilight series in one week!

The plot is just fantastic. I have no idea which way Kelsey's heart will go and I believe that is what the author intended from the start. This book was written after Colleen had fallen in love with the Twilight series, however she didn't want it to be obvious where Kelsey's love would lie, so she created two hot Asian princes to lead the poor girl astray.  At the present moment in time, I stand in Ren's corner, but I have been warned that I may change allegiance to  Kishan, the black tiger. All of the characters come across as being well written and I found myself easily imagining how they looked. Both tigers were extremely swoonsome!( Which just doesn't sound right, does it?)

The ending of the book was climatic and I found myself shouting at Kelsey to change her mind. She didn't listen to me screaming at the book!  The ending was such a cliff hanger that  I am relieved to have the second book standing by otherwise the inner child in me might have shown herself up.

The setting for the book is extremely exotic and the author has worked hard to bring the visual images of India to life for the reader. Her writing is so detailed, that all your senses are hit at once causing an explosion. I picked up the book and stepped out of cold, wintry old Blighty, into the warm,sensual, atmospheric world of India. I would imagine that Colleen is spot on with her research, as it seemed so real to me, however I ever never been to India so I can't actually say if that is true or not.

If you don't believe me, then read it for yourself. This book will leave you wanting more. It will tantalise your nerve endings and engulf you in a spine tingling journey where the outcome with leave you in a frenzy! Did I mention I loved this book?