Thursday 31 December 2015

Unsold Television Pilots 1955-1989 by Lee Goldberg

This non-fiction book chronicles a work spanning decades and culminating in a massive book detailing TV series that were created but rejected for long term viewing.

This reference book is written as a list divided into TV season years and subdivided into networks and genres. Each entry gives you info about the stars, the plot of the pilot, the production companies and sometimes more info about whether the pilot was sent in a different direction or whether it was stopped there and then. The author explains where the idea for the book originated and writes an entertaining forward about pilots-where they came from and where they lead to.

The book is not meant to be read as a book per se, but more to be referenced back to for the parts to be looked up. A very interesting list, but I was hoping for a few more explanations as to why the pilots never made it any further. I do commend the author on the dedication it must have taken to compile this epic tome.


Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to review the book.

Lastland:War of the Princes (#4) by A.R. Ivanovich

The final book in the series is a fantasy novel and aimed at young adults.

With Rune in the clutches of a Gateling, Katelyn and Dylan, aboard the Flying Fish, are willing to sacrifice themselves to save those they love. Spurred on by the knowledge that Prince Raserion knows how to reach Haven, the two must muster every last bit of courage they possess to join forces with Prince Varion's army to defeat the evil Raserion and his abominable killing machine; the Monarch. It's time for the 700 year-old war to come to a head-will our heroes fulfil their destiny or does fate have other plans?

What a fantastic way to end a series. Some of the action sequences were a little difficult to imagine-probably so vivid in the author's head but sometimes tricky to convey to the reader's mind. Just my subjective opinion though. All the questions I had previously about the characters needing development and back stories were answered; and then some. Twists and turns were added upon layer and layer of action, and just when you think you have the ending figured out something different happens! The ending was not wrapped up too neatly but written so that the reader would be satisfied with the outcome at the point that the book stopped. I couldn't allow myself to savour the pages as I was racing to find out what happens at the end! The only problem that irked me with the book was the kindle copy I received- the formatting was all over the place with words running into each other and spaces appearing where there should not have been spaces.


Other than that I congratulate the author on an excellent job with an amazing idea. Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to review.

Tuesday 29 December 2015

Monarch:War of the Princes (#3) by A.R. Ivanovich

The third book in the series is a fantasy novel and aimed at young adults.

Katelyn and friends are trying to piece together their lives after their devastating loss at the end of book two. Common-Lord Brendon Axton has a very important mission for them. In order to keep Breakwater safe following the start of the rebellion, the friends are tasked with finding Prince Varion and asking him for protection from Prince Raserion. On the journey Katelyn is visited by Raserion and given a task-one it seems she cannot refuse. Placed in a no win situation, they must all continue with the journey, meeting more adversaries and learning hidden truths from the past. What will this secret mission of Katelyn's land up costing them all? When does the price become too high?

I found the third book slow and cumbersome to read in the beginning but as the pace picked up it flew really quickly. The characters that didn't have much page time in the beginning of the series are now being fleshed out. The titbits of info that were being fed to you are starting to make sense in the bigger picture. Some definite "Oh I didn't see that coming" moments happen, and just when you think a section can be wrapped up you are off on another tangent again. The writing in this particular book is definitely aimed at a younger audience which sometimes comes across as "cushioned".  Love scenes, emotions and action felt to me as though they were toned down. Some errors cropped up where words were jumbled in sentences but the overall editing was good. It felt as though this book read as a necessary link through to the next book-not really as a "part three" of the series, as opposed to the previous two books. Let's hope that this means that the final book will be a whopper!


Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review the book.

Paperglass:War of the Princes (#2) by A.R. Ivanovich

This is the second book in the series and is a fantasy novel for young adults and up.

Katelyn has returned to her seemingly normal life in Haven and graduation day has arrived. The celebrations are disturbed by a man intent on destroying the weather station and yelling about paperglass. This means that Katelyn's hope of the outside world not interfering in her safe valley is dashed. She is recruited as a field agent by Haven's Hall of Defense to go back to the outside world and use her ability of the Pull to find a team that had gone through earlier but have vanished. One of whom was Katelyn's real mother. Ensnared in the war again, she is joined by old friends and new acquaintances who become comrades. And as always, she adds many villains to her list of enemies. Will she find paperglass in time to protect her valley from the dangers that face it?

Book 2 started off a little slowly for me but picked up the pace and added its importance to the story. I'm enjoying the way that the bits making up the story are revealed and how they are combining to make cohesive sense. As  new abilities manifest themselves we learn how they all work together as cogs in the machine. Kat and Rune's story gets taken further but I'm hoping that more of Rune and Ruby's stories will be explained. You can sense that they play more important roles so hopefully more background will be offered later. I like how Kyle comes into his own in this book and how assumptions about Dylan in the first book are proved right and wrong. The historian and airship aspects were interesting additions. New villains like Margrave Hest and her training regime of the children showed a chilling new dimension in the callous way people are treated in the outside world.

A great story which adds to the series in its own right and is not just a carry through to the next book. Enjoyable but I wasn't blown away.


Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review the book. 

Green Smoothies by Fern Green

Just looking at the cover is enough to start the juices in the mouth flowing!

When you feel you've lost the inspiration to use your juicer, a fabulous book like this comes out and you are hooked again. From juices to smoothies to shots and milks, there are a myriad of recipes for you to try. The book starts with an intro on the benefits and different types of drinks as well as covering the equipment needed for each recipe. The ingredients are broken down for you and accompanied by beautiful glossy photos so that you can be sure you are using the correct ingredients. I loved the incorporation of a picture of the final product so that you know whether or not the mixture is actually meant to be the colour that it is! Helpful guidelines like whether the drink is detoxifying or immunising are included with each recipe. The colour palette throughout the book is gorgeous and the variety of recipes amazing. Highly recommended.


Thanks to Netgalley and Ten Speed Press for the chance to review the book

Tuesday 22 December 2015

Haven: The War of Princes Book #1 by A.R. Ivanovich

Katelyn Kestrel is a 17 year-old girl who is incredibly bored with her safe life in the valley of Haven. Nothing ever happens there and no-one is allowed to pass the barriers of the valley. The rest of the townsfolk don't seem too interested in what lies beyond the borders, but Katelyn isn't like the others. She has a wanderlust that she can't explain. Something pulls her to a mausoleum one night where she finds a pool of water that feels dry to the touch and is surrounded by signs saying DO NOT LET THEM IN. Of course she dives into the pool to see where it leads to and comes up face to face with an injured Dragoon who is desperately  trying to get away from a Lurcher. So begins her introduction to a world outside of Haven. Where battling princes, commanders, dragoons and the search for lodestones and their abilities are commonplace. The problem is that the people of this world seem to think that she possesses something they need and intend to take it from her no matter the cost. Katelyn must dig deeply and find a part of herself she never knew existed.

This is a fantastic, well-paced fantasy story I believe is aimed mainly at young adults. I loved the idea of the abilities and the war behind it all, as well as the clues interspersed here and there to link at a later date and book. A world beyond your everyday life is what a lot of adventurous people long for and in this case Katelyn got more than she bargained for. The characters, plot and almost obligatory romance definitely have a younger audience in mind. Everything had a box to fill and things fitted very neatly. Even the violence is toned down and not too graphically explained. In saying that though, I loved the world we were introduced to with the continual references to the elements and the introduction of the beautiful white tree. It may be a little light for some, but for an unhurried pleasurable read with a logical plot, comfortable flow and flawed characters with great personalities I highly recommend this, and look forward to the rest of the books in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to review the book. 

The Silence of the Sea by Yrsa Sigurdardottir

When a repossessed luxury yacht crashes into the harbour it is meant to be mooring at, the waiting friends and family members are horrified to find the yacht devoid of any crew or passengers. The captain and his two crew members as well as the family of 4 that were helping out on the voyage home are nowhere to be seen. Thóra Gudmundsdóttir is hired by the parents of the missing father of the family to investigate life policies left behind in order to pay for the upkeep of the remaining grandchild. As Thóra delves deeper into the case, bodies of the missing crew begin to pop up, all having been killed in mysterious circumstances. The yacht is supposedly cursed and each clue brings them closer to an unbelievable truth. Was it plain and simple murder or are there supernatural forces at work?

The book has a great hook from the beginning and the author very cleverly writes one chapter in present time showing you what the people are trying to do to solve the mystery, and the next chapter from the people on the yacht's perspective explaining to you the events leading up to the yacht being found empty. Every now and then the writing is a little stiff-doubtless the result of second language English, but this by no means detracts from the story. As you are pulled along you absorb the clues offered and sway between believing in ghosts and simple human greed. The clues are fed at a tantalising speed so that when you finish a chapter you feel you have to read just one more!

Thóra's character is extremely likeable as you can relate to a hard working woman who is dealing with a partner, growing children and a grandchild. Bella (Thóra's PA) is a piece of work-a disgraceful attitude and lazy to boot. You feel the anguish of the characters on board the boat as strange things start to happen that they have no control over and you understand the despair of the grandparents as they face the possibility that the entire family is gone and all they have are a 2 year-old's questions.


I thoroughly enjoyed the thriller. The explanation had me pursing my lips a little, but at least there was an ending and it wasn't left to the reader to fill in the gaps. The final chapter in the book is like a bucket of ice thrown over you-absolute shivers. Fantastic idea with great execution.

Tuesday 15 December 2015

The Passenger by Lisa Lutz

This thriller will have you second guessing yourself at each twist and turn.

What would make a woman who has just found her husband dead at the bottom of a flight of stairs in their house grab cash, flee town and change her identity? Tanya DuBois did just that, and will keep doing it as long as someone is after her. One night she meets a kindred spirit in a bartender named Blue, who seems to understand Tanya's desperate need to keep on the move, inventing new personas each time. Will Tanya's past catch up with her frantic journeys or will she manage to carve a semblance of normality and live a life unpursued? Or will the persistent writer who wants to expose a secret in her past force her to return to a place she longed to forget?

The book started out with great promise-the story draws you in from the beginning as you start to question Tanya and the reasons for her flight. Unfortunately as you keep reading, many holes in the story start to pop up. Some you can overlook but some make you shake your head with a healthy dose of scepticism. A reader can only be pushed so far until the believability factor is stretched beyond breaking point. Some sections of the story were glossed over and some really didn't need to be included-her affair with the chiropractor being one of them. The introduction of the emails between characters you haven't met yet tends to sidetrack you a little as you file the info away for future reference. For someone escaping a deed from her past, Tanya seems to have no issues creating current messes. It begs the question of-do you punish someone for being a vigilante when they have done wrong for the right reasons? I enjoyed the ride throughout the story but the end was "packaged too neatly" for me.

A good writing style, easy to read flow and an entertaining story makes this an engaging read. The wrap up was not a shocking moment-more of an affirmation of what you already suspected. Still, a good afternoon's read with enough questions to leave you turning pages to find out more.


Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review the book.

Thursday 10 December 2015

The Girl with no Past by Kathryn Croft

This psychological thriller holds your concentration throughout the novel, and keeps you guessing who and why with each twist and turn.

Leah Mills is haunted by a tragic event that happened in her past. Determined that she never allow herself happiness for her part in the deed, she lives a quiet and boring life with no friends, no partner, meagre worldly possessions and a job that barely keeps her afloat. Just before the current year's anniversary of the event she receives an anonymous card-one that proves someone else knows what she did. As the stalker becomes more and more intense, Leah must move out of her comfort zone and elicit help from others. But why as she is finally reaching out, does her world seem to be turning against her?

The story starts with a bang which immediately has you asking questions. When the chapters start jumping from present to past it's a little confusing until you understand whose point of view it is, and how those characters are involved in the story. Figuring out who the stalker is becomes a mind mix early on as you bounce ideas around in your mind. That being said, once you reach a certain point in the book it becomes obvious who it is, which is quite a shame. The build up to find the stalker however is very well written, as the characters and their personalities seem to turn in 180 degree angles and the reader is stymied as to why. The end was a bit neatly packaged but I loved the tie in of the last and first chapter, as a new perspective was presented to the reader.

Leah is quite a strange character and in the beginning you immerse yourself in her hopelessness and solitude and feel elation at her triumphs. Then for a while her character loses her backbone and you just want to shake her and tell her to grow up. The kids from school were awful-wanted to slap each and every one of them; especially Adam. Not too much is probed into the other dynamics of relationships in the story, but enough is covered to understand each character's place in the book and the effect on each other.

The storyline is skilfully woven to keep you entertained throughout.


Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to review the book.

Sunday 6 December 2015

The Wrong Life by August Smith

Wren is a reincarnated spirit who is about to enter another life when she realises something is missing. Alessandro, the love of her life, always accompanies her to the next. But this time he is not around. In a panic Wren decides to do the unthinkable and steal a life meant for another spirit in order to find him. So begins the wrong life for Wren. Born of a rape she enters into a bleak, post war England to a family living in poverty. Her guiding spirits refuse to help her because of her selfish deed, and Wren must endure the pain of growing up without their guidance. Tested by the harshness of the world from the time she is born, Wren must learn to live while looking for Alessandro. As the years go by and her triumphs and losses pile up-will she ever find him? After all, the world is a really big place to look for one spirit in a body she might not recognise.

This novel is very interesting to critique. Roughly half of the beginning of the book is written in a very formal tone which stretches believability about the way people think and speak. Later on the tone relaxes and the flow of the writing becomes more comfortable. It's as though the author was either very clever when placing Wren in the wrong life to write in an uncomfortable manner and as she moves in a better direction make her life easier to read, or she became more accustomed to her own writing style and was able to write more succinctly. Many editing errors popped up-from punctuation to grammar, to spelling, to consistency and missing words. These definitely had an impact in me marking the book down. Something clicked for me later in the story though. I was battling to process the writer's description of emotions as at times they became sickly sweet and frankly implausible. As Wren goes through life she became more real to me, and while the storyline might make you raise your eyebrows every now and then, once closing the book you find her character and the part she plays in the story resonates in your mind long after.


A book like this stays in your thoughts. Looking at it from a technical level it was not a bad story but I would have marked it down for its length, part of the writing style and the myriad of mistakes. At the end of the book I was so intrigued by the line that the story took that I marked it up again. This is a very subjective book which some might close after the first chapter and others immediately dive into the life that was never meant to be.

Sunday 29 November 2015

Grave Intent by Alexander Hartung

As is his custom, Dr. Bernhard Valburg goes to place flowers at his wife's grave. This time he finds a shallow grave dug next to hers with a cross bearing his name and a date of death on it. The date is tomorrow. Panicked he calls police dispatch who believe it to be a hoax but as a precaution advise him to come to the station. He never arrives and his body is found in the grave the next day.

So begins a race against time for Detective Jan Tommen as more graves are discovered. With the help of forensic pathologist (and highly acerbic) Zoe, hacker Max and a mountain of a man, Chandru, they try to piece together the connection between the intended victims and stop the murders taking place. When one of them becomes a potential target, no holds are barred to find the perpetrator.

This story ticked off all the boxes of a solid mystery/crime thriller. Even though the characters appear in a book before this, the necessary info is repeated and at no stage do you feel as though you are trying to catch up. The characters are solid. Even when some are only touched on you can still get to grips with their personalities, actions and emotions. The bonds of friendship run deep in this story, as characters are pushed beyond their limits to make life changing choices. The fast pace and flow of the story is great-keeps you turning just one more page and then just one more page! The logical progression of evidence to find the killer makes sense-so often the reader has to push plausibility boundaries but this story leaves you satisfied after reading the last page.


A few minor punctuation issues crop up, but nothing to distract from an excellently written book. A fantastic thriller able to be read in a day, with non-stop action, believable characters and a cohesive storyline. Thanks to Netgalley for the advance review.

Sunday 22 November 2015

Monsterland by Michael Phillip Cash

This horror novel has many elements of the paranormal-including zombies, vampires and werewolves.

Vincent Conrad is hailed as a future thinking hero who will make up for the government's failure to contain the zombie infection. Vampires and werewolves were outed many years previously and due to strict reproduction and feeding laws, their numbers are dwindling at a rapid rate. Vincent has created viewing parks to contain all these creatures-scientists can then study them and the public can get their horror fix. On opening day a few lucky people have been granted VIP access-a chance to see behind the scenes and get up close to the monsters. But why has Vincent gathered so many of the world's presidents in one place at the same time with the promise of seeing life changing attractions? Are his motives really pure? And if something goes wrong will people be able to survive not just the zombie infection but a horde of vampires and werewolves too?

This is one of the author's better novels. He takes everyday situations like blended families and fitting in at school, and weaves it into the narrative. The dynamic between Wyatt and his stepfather, who is trying his best to be accepted by Wyatt and his brother, is well written and reflects many of the issues experienced by people in similar situations. The characters of the kids at school embody many groups in current society-the jock, the nerd, unrequited love, loyal friendships and competitive animosity.

The storyline was not your average zombie/vamp/wolf tale. Some of the account was obvious from early on, so when it came to crucial parts of the story there were really no surprises. The back stories of each of the monsters was only touched upon, and considering the monsters were meant to make the story, they really didn't get enough airtime. Yet in saying that, not all monsters are who they seem to be.

Some editing errors cropped up but nothing that stuck out too badly. I felt the ending wrapped up too quickly and there could have been a lot more horror in the story.

Entertaining, with a twist in the usual run of the mill creature story, but not riveting enough to warrant 5 stars.

The Devil's Fool by Rachael McClellan

This is a paranormal story with elements of horror-the violence is not suitable for younger readers.

Eve is watching her parents torture an innocent woman. This is not the first time she has seen them torture someone. As the daughter of some of the world's most powerful and evil witches, she is no stranger to their callous acts; not only on others but on herself-and she wants no part of the lifestyle. After rejecting her powers for years, she is now of marriage age and is introduced to Boaz-an influential vampire who wishes to woo her with her parent's consent. He introduces her to his world of the night, but still she resists the allure of magic. Will Boaz's subtle influence unleash the dark side of her nature that she never wished to see?

The story started with great promise to me, but Eve's character, even for a paranormal story, switched between light and dark too quickly considering all that she had been through and managed to resist. The violence in the torture scenes was definitely graphic and if her mind didn't snap during this I am surprised anything could make her turn. The rivalry between  the strong witch families was a good subplot and the introduction of Lucian and his tormented secrets makes for a great lead into the next book in the series. Again grammar and punctuation errors reared their ugly heads-it really is essential to ensure a good editor and proofreader deal with the work before publication.


The characters worked well in the story and there were some definite cheers when some of them met untimely demises. Overall a good read but not captivating enough to buy the next book in the series. 

Wednesday 18 November 2015

The Red Mohawk by Anonymous

A very cleverly written comedy/horror story in the Tarantino/Rodriguez style reminiscent of "Planet Terror".

You start with a serial killer in the town of B Movie Hell with a skeleton mask and a red mohawk. Add to this an "off the books" alcoholic agent looking to stop him. Mix in a brothel called the Beaver Palace, run by the town owner and ex porn producer, with girls who love movies like Dirty Dancing. And then top it off with a town of dodgy locals who are willing to kill to keep secrets. It's a cult classic just waiting to be made into a movie. (And the good news is that's on the cards...)

The writing in this book is subtle yet doesn't hold back. What needs to be said for the sake of the book is put out there, yet the clever innuendos and references to 80s and 90s horror movies make you laugh (sometimes maniacally). Cheesy gems pop up all over-from calling the major lake in the town Lake Flaccid (yes the porn producer named it) to a very droll "and out of the blue" in italics. Who uses that anymore?

A few mistakes crept in like using "you" instead of "your" or using "titled" instead of "tilted", but the writing style will keep you on your toes.

As you can imagine there is plenty of blood, guts and sex in this-just missing the good old rock 'n roll. Some questions in the story are left for the reader to fill in, but this doesn't detract from the main storyline. The characters and carnage they create make this well worth reading-recommended for those with a wry sense of humour.


Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this.

Contamination: The Boxed Set (0-3) by TW Piperbrook

The first few books (0-3) of this boxed set are a horror/thriller/apocalyptic take on the "zombie infection".
Frank is in the drunk tank again, and Dan is extremely relieved to be on the way home from his shift and not have to deal with Frank's drunken raving. A call from his relief brings him back to the station to find Frank dead. His body mutilated and his eyes like no human's eyes should be. On arriving home things are mayhem-his wife sits waiting for him with a butcher's knife and his daughter is missing. What is happening in the town of St Matthews? What is the infection spreading through the townsfolk turning them into killers, and how can it be stopped? So begins the first story in the set about the infection The Agency wants to use to reset the world. Each story tells of a different section of the total and introduces the different characters, how they meet up and what they can do to save humanity.
The tone throughout the book, especially for its genre, was too formal. For instance when Dan is looking for his daughter "He held out hope that she had been able to find assistance", crosses his mind. That seems far too polite for a desperate man searching for his daughter with a band of flesh eating monsters raging around him. As the set progresses the tone drops its formality and the reading flow becomes more comfortable.
The books themselves are rather short and I was able to read the set in one sitting. While a good storyline, Contamination brings nothing new to the "zombie-like" infected eating each other, reasons for zombie viruses being created and how the good guys win, basic plot. Book three doesn't end on a cliff hanger and if you wish to end the series there you can, or continue with book four to pick up a storyline left earlier.

A solid story, no major editing mistakes and an entertaining read. For me it wasn't spectacular and would fall into the run of the mill zombie story. For those expecting proper horror, blood, gore and guts-unfortunately this isn't for you.

Thursday 12 November 2015

The Gift Wrapping Book by Caroline Birkett

What a great little find just before the holidays!

With chapters ranging from packaging incorporating natural wraps to Hi-tech wraps to romantic wraps, how to make boxes or repurpose old boxes to even making the bows, this is a great guide to overall wrapping. Included is a suggestion of tools and materials which is always helpful.


The colour photos are beautiful and the instructions and tips easily understandable. Using bubble wrap as a stamp or to cover items instead of protecting them was a new one for me! The more experienced crafter will have dealt with most of the advice, but for those looking for a little inspiration, there are some great ideas.

I would have loved the book to be a little longer with perhaps more projects but felt that the inclusion of box templates as well as advice on creating the decoration on the paper itself was a fantastic idea.

Sunday 1 November 2015

The Divine Apprentice (Book One)-Allen J. Johnston

I picked up this fantasy book to use as a light evening read and landed up enjoying it a lot more than I expected.

Meet Kade-the young apprentice training to be one of the Chosen who are able to use the power of the divine to achieve feats of magic. Taken from his family at an early age, Kade has a soul destined for one of either extreme poles-become the greatest Chosen or be their ruin. When tragedy strikes the bond of master and apprentice, Kade must use what he has learnt to begin the vengeful journey he must take. An unexpected relationship is formed between him and a dragon, who is thought to be a creature of myth. Helped by an Essence Guardian, Kade's parents and a loyal little animal, Chance, Kade must stretch himself to learn and develop more of his talents to fight all manner of beasts and find the evil one who wants him destroyed.

The storyline itself is very interesting but the execution very stiff. Kade as a character is a little underwhelming, but his interactions with the other characters serve to flesh him out more solidly. I enjoyed the growing mind bond with Rayden the dragon, and as for Chance-I am interested to find out more about what he is and his full connection to the story.  Our introduction to Darcienna, the Essence Guardian, is one of a feisty, good-hearted woman who will make a very suitable partner for Kade in both heart and adventure. Her son Marcole seemed a bit of a waste of space in the book. He had no dialogue and was just used as a "crying distraction" in dangerous scenes. Maybe all will be revealed in subsequent books. We only briefly meet Kade's parents but his mother's character is beautifully and gently written. I enjoyed meeting the monsters that Kade must battle and learning about the different types of callings.

The language to introduce us to all of this however, had me constantly grating my teeth. You could tell that the author was relatively new to this by the formality of the writing. As though one was back at school instead of just writing the way a character would speak and think in everyday life. I lost track of the amount of times that Kade "chastised himself"-lots more synonyms were needed throughout the book. I was hoping the start of the second book would show the author's relaxation in his writing style but was hit with: "Judeen complied immediately while maintaining an air of confidence". Far too polite. Much of the dialogue didn't seem real to me-inner or verbal. Kade was grievously injured a number of times, yet bounced back remarkably quickly-the timeline to the extent of the wounds was dodgy. And the emphasis on the amount of hours spent learning the nuances of the moves and words to the callings became annoying as they were repeated over and over. I also found that jumping back and forth between different character's points of view in consecutive sentences really made some parts confusing to read and cut into the flow of the book.


Apart from all that, a very entertaining read with a good idea and great promise.

Nirvana-The redrafted version-JR Stewart

I was privileged to be invited to read the redrafted book Nirvana by JR Stewart after the author took the sage advice of a number of advance readers, originally offered by Netgalley.

In a world dominated by big corporation Hexagon, life is run in a controlled manner. For a little rest and relaxation, and if they can afford it, people get to escape their lives for a few minutes in virtual reality. A place where all your dreams can be fulfilled. Our heroine Larissa works in the VR lab, as well as being an animal rights activist and musician in a punk band, and is engaged to Andrew, one of Hexagon's key VR programmers. Andrew is becoming more and more secretive about his work, and in their world constantly under surveillance, he cannot share his concerns with Larissa. His dealings with Hexagon's bosses and their desires for the VR world has led him to uncover secrets regarding the extinction.  The terrible period in history when animals and crops were destroyed, to be replaced with synthetically grown food for the masses. Now Andrew has disappeared and Hexagon insists he is dead. Larissa refuses to accept this-even with a body being produced. She still sees Andrew in her VR time and it feels like the real him. Can she track down the evidence to prove that he still lives and that Hexagon is not as benign as they would like people to believe? And who can she trust to help her-if anyone?

The rewrite was amazing. It's a 180 degree change in writing style and accessibility to the characters. The previous concerns about personalities not being fleshed out enough were addressed, and a number of changes in the story were made. The author has created a world of nanobots and VR and the very real threat about what would happen if all the bees were exterminated. The concepts are clear and well explained and ensure that the reader doesn't need to jump back and forth in the book for clarity. A few issues with spelling and continuity didn't allow for a 5 star rating, but it certainly came close.

A very clever lead into book 2 allows you to finish the story without feeling as though you are abruptly left hanging, but very curious as to where the story is going next. A very well written redraft-highly recommended. 

Cut the Sugar, You're Sweet Enough-Ella Leche

Having recently attempted to cut sugar and wheat from my diet, I ventured off to the health shop and found myself with a cupboard full of chia seeds, ground flaxseed and whey protein amongst others. So a cupboard full of goods but no idea how to use them! This book was an absolute gem to find.

Ranging from breakfasts, to bars, to puddings and sweet treats as well as a number of vegan main options and even bread, the book really does have a wide variety to offer. I was interested at the section showing you how to make your own nut milk as some of these are very expensive in supermarkets. The photos are mouth watering and look fresh and colourful. With a handy measuring and temperature converter at the back, and a complete and easy to use index, this book is sure to fulfil many sugar free fantasies!

Wednesday 28 October 2015

Sinister Urge:The life and times of Rob Zombie by Joel McIver

The first thing that strikes the eye is the vivid crimson cover-a fitting iconic imagery of the persona that is Rob Zombie.
This illuminating biography written by Joel McIver, with an engaging forward by Jeremy Wagner, chronicles the life and times of Rob Zombie, born Robert Cummings. Focussing on the man and not necessarily the concept, the biography takes us on a tour of Zombie's brain (pun intended). We meet the slightly off-centre child, whose genius was yet to be exposed to the world and move forward through decades of impressionable work. So much more than a musician, director and cartoonist amongst others, Zombie is shown as the artist he truly is. Not just a glitzy exposé of his private life, the biography emphasises the extensive body of work and the sacrifices, hard work and good times it took to create.
Having been a fan of Zombie's for many years, I was excited to get my hands on this advance preview from Netgalley. Upon completion I felt a little ambivalent however. Maybe I expected to be entertained more. The use of 70s horror movies to label the chapters was a great idea and set up an understanding of where each chapter was heading. I enjoyed the all-encompassing view of the subject matter-that each facet of his life was touched upon and no section received special treatment. In saying that however, I felt that if the author didn't like a particular part of a section like an album or movie, that it was passed over or merely mentioned. This sometimes then turned some chapters into fleshed out lists which caused me to gloss over them. The addition of the end credits, citing all of Zombie's work was a clever move-it finished the book like a movie and tied it into the chapter headings.
Well worth the read for hardcore fans as well as those meeting Zombie for the first time. Myths about his evil lifestyle and stage presence are debunked and he is shown for the gifted and driven man that he is. An entertaining and enlightening read-homage paid by the author indeed.

Thursday 22 October 2015

Eighth Wonder: The Thomas Bethune Story by A.M.Cal

It's rare that you get an opportunity to review a book before publication and land up learning about a section of history that you had no idea existed. I was fascinated by the story of the slave boy who grew up to be the Black Mozart.
The story begins with Colonel Bethune on a day that threatens to expose a secret that he has been hiding for years from the world. The Colonel is arrested and charged with slavery after it is discovered that a previous slave still resides in his house and has taken ill.
We move back in time to discover where Thomas came from and how he was integrated into the Bethune's lives. The story is evocative and rich with imagery, from the hot and humid slave traders in Virginia, to the opulent courts of the kings, queens and emperors in Europe. We follow, and in many places cling to our seats, the life of Thomas , born blind and into slavery. A small child seemingly destined to be tossed aside at an early age. It's as though we are accorded a glimpse into the private and special bond between the Colonel and Thomas. How the child proved to be a musical prodigy and silenced naysayers the world over. Focus is placed on his meteoric rise to fame and the beautiful, but most oft times, cruel path it took to get there. Throughout the story we are allowed to see the impact the relationship had on both the Colonel and Thomas's families, as well as the effect on the world and indeed the world on it. An echo is placed on the price fame brings with it. Politics and the war between the North and South are skilfully woven into the tale and add to the complexity of allegiances and inevitable desires and their actions.
As with most first time novels small faults creep through. Most of the editing niggles were corrected just before publication, and so very few mistakes linger. As a reader one bone of contention I have, is the amount of French used in the story which is not translated. Occasional words and phrases which are commonly used would be easier to read than the sometimes lengthy sentences, which make the reader feel as though they are missing part of the story.

An epic and sweeping saga of fortunes lost and won, loyalties and boundaries pushed, unquestioning and unyielding love being tested; but above all-that nothing will stand in the way of a genius whose light is meant to be shared and shone on the world.

Monday 12 October 2015

10 Step Plan to Promote Your Book: Online Book Marketing on Any Budget-Scott Hughes

This concise and handy guide on self-publishing is an invaluable tool for those who need that little extra insight and direction in the world of book publishing.
Scott Hughes, webmaster at OnLineBookClub, has taken years of experience and summed it up in a useful handbook which is easy to read and more importantly, to remember.
The intro is succinct and sets the scene as to where we were and where we are in the publishing industry. Following this are 10 steps-many make you wonder why you never realised them sooner. Sage advice and vital info ranging from reviews, to social media, to editing, to royalties, is broken down and explained in an inspiring manner. The humour injected into this, takes what was potentially a lecture, to a quirky and ingenious guide.

And while Scott does refer to OnLineBookClub quite a bit, it shows exactly how the advice can and has worked in the real world. A gem of a book filled with suggestions, that will be remembered for Scott's emphatic quote-" Good is not good enough".

Friday 2 October 2015

Phoenix-Weaver Series#4-Vaun Murphrey

With the new compound comes a new set of problems. Cass and Silver are about to face the most difficult event they could ever imagine. With Gerome gone, so much of the future is unclear. New friends and new foes come into the twin's lives with epic results. Is the journey for the weavers over, or will this new chapter be the start of an exciting fresh venture?
As usual with this series, I was hoping for a slight change on the previous story pattern and writing technique, but if anything the series has become slightly predictable. It's as though the author has looked at a template and gone: difficult love story-check, action scenes-check, family issues-check, drama-check. She has just taken her characters and woven them in. Now in essence this is the basis for most stories, I just felt that throughout the series this didn't work.  On a positive note , the author has envisaged a gem of an idea, but the execution is just not there. A case in point are the journeys into the web-while I am sure the author has lived these in her mind's eye and was part of the adventure as she was writing, she fails to convey her ideas to the reader with clarity. Trying to keep up with who can go into the web, in which section, what they can do and why they can't go there anymore becomes a chore-one I just skipped over. Unfortunately a few more negatives stuck out for me-the emotions and their descriptions. Sometimes people are just people. They don't need to erupt into anger like an earthquake or ride a wave of love like a tsunami (my words). Sometimes it's just best to say a person was angry and leave it up to the reader to decide on the level. Also I found her characters tend to go from one extreme emotion to the next-outright anger to bliss enveloped in a cocoon of comfort-far too quickly. While Silver and Cass have matured enough for sexual relations, I found the amount of times that sexual innuendo or info sharing was inappropriate-especially just after a battle. Certain happenings do not need to be mentioned in front of others. The story held too many epic scenes in it-boom!boom!boom! from one scene to the next without enough context set up or follow through. Corinne's fix-everything shield was a little too good to be true. And now to my favourite part-the editing. The last chapter of the previous book was copied into the first chapter of this book and six pages after this we were already mixing up where and were.
So unfortunately just an average review for me. If I was not reviewing all four books for Netgalley I don't think I would have gone passed the first one and will certainly not be going any further. I'm sure a number of people will enjoy this, but it did not hold enough interest for me. Best wishes to the author for future endeavours.
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to review this.

Monday 28 September 2015

EAT BEAUTIFUL: Grain-free, Sugar-free and Loving it by Megan Stevens

Having been on the Banting diet for a while now, I am constantly in search of a low carb and low sugar dessert that I can offer the family. This book does not disappoint at all.
After seeing recipe upon recipe that required almond or coconut flour (both of which are not exactly cheap), I was pleasantly surprised to find so many recipes with loads of alternatives. I had never even heard of carrot flour, which is definitely so easy to make. The photos that were available gave me hope since these unconventional recipes looked the same as anything I have ever eaten-nothing says disappointment quite like being promised a chocolate cupcake and receiving a flat brown cookie type mess. The book does not really offer dinner type meals, but more snacks, desserts and add-ons, which is great as there are so many options. I really liked the way that there are substitutes available for some of the ingredients, as well as a number of different types of the same dish. The addition of the explanatory introduction as well as addendums detailing reasons as to why not to eat certain foods were very helpful. As for instructions on how to make your own nut butter and sprout nuts-well call me the domestic goddess! And finally-pizza that is guilt free!
Definitely recommending this one-beautifully presented and well thought out.
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to review this book.

Sunday 27 September 2015

Vector-Weaver Series#3-Vaun Murphrey

This is the third installment in the Weaver series.
It's time for the twins to return home, and as usual when it comes to Cass and Silver, nothing is done quietly. From the moment they arrive the sweet homecoming they expect turns into attempted assassinations, fights, whirlwinds, betrayals, re-ignited love, discovered powers and new beginnings. So really-just another day then!
This third book was much easier to read. The narration from Cass seems to work better for the story-maybe it's the maturity level that allows you to understand from Cass's POV instead of the flitty and snarky persona that Silver demonstrates. Some negatives cropped up again for me. There is a heck of a lot of action in this book-especially for the short amount of time in which it takes place. The problem with this is that the incidents seem to be forced into the text artificially (time and depth wise) in order to explain certain happenings. This makes an entire book only about a few major happenings. I felt what James offered to do (with regards to his present situation) after the homecoming, considering he and Cass had been in contact in the Web the entire time, proved him to be very shallow. For the character to be such a big part in Cass's life, we really don't know that much about him. A lot of crazy things happen , especially since the status quo has not really changed in the time they have been gone, yet everyone just seems to accept this and move on.  A few niggles too-while some of the Weavers have immense strength (but certainly not superhuman), twisting someone's head off raised an eyebrow and again the amount of injuries that people suffer but seem to shrug off beggars belief. Money also seems to be no issue in all this-so much is destroyed yet there always seems to be something bigger and better around the corner. I also felt certain important parts to do with Cora's history that may have explained more about the present situation were brushed over. The editing was a problem again-too many extended similes and metaphors are used to try and describe something-in one chapter over a few pages there were up to three per page. Simple mistakes like now instead of know or you and not your as well as missing words in sentences or punctuation errors are extremely detrimental to the story.
I will say however, that this is the best book in the series for me so far with regards to the improved writing, the flow of the story and a better fit for the characters. The short story at the end of the book helped to explain certain issues but there are many unanswered questions that will hopefully be settled in the next book.

Thanks to Netgalley for an opportunity to review this book.

Friday 25 September 2015

Changeling-Weaver Series #2 by Vaun Murphrey

This is the second installment in the Weaver series.
Cassandra and Silver are being pursued by Shiva-a dangerous being from another world. In order to save them Kal must take them to his world to be protected by his people. Or so he hopes. Will his people accept the chimera and protect them as family would, and will they live to tell the tale of these new experiences?
Having found the first book a good start to the series, I had high hopes for this follow on but found it really difficult to read. In fact trying to review this book becomes complicated as so much of the book did not leave a lasting impression. A few issues that I found negative (without allowing spoilers) were right from the start the fact that Silver had taken over the narration. While I understand the reasoning behind it, her flippant and sarcastic attitude, especially for someone her age, in one who is meant to be special, is hard to take. When arriving on the other world, they are bombarded with hatred from others. There is so much antagonism towards them in particular, it seems contrary to what has been promised for their protection . At this juncture in the book an enormous amount of new information is thrown at the reader which is only explained much later and you find yourself rereading passages to make sense of words which cuts into the flow of the story. At one stage the twins refer to a character who they remember when seeing a hair wrap-but I could not recall a mention of this character at all! The violence towards the girls and the amount of injuries they sustained seemed excessive-even during the time period before healing could occur some cuts took place at bone level yet the girls hardly seemed phased about the pain. As with the previous book, the sexual innuendo and offerings for someone so young did not seem right. It is never fully explained what happens to a male when sexually turned away, even though focus is placed on not encouraging this. The time jump at the end leading towards the encounter is not enough to justify the missing years and experiences. The singularity issue was also never fully explored. And unfortunately editing mistakes crept in like the incorrect use of where and were or its and it's. Authors write in the style that pleases them and hopefully pleases the readers, and this subjectiveness does not always bode well with everyone. A case in point were the phrases "invisible thoughts eluded me" and "she was a carefully controlled loathing cake with an icing of distaste and filling of fury"-to me this dropped the audience level significantly.
And yet even with the myriad of negatives, the series still holds promise. The idea remains interesting and with two books in the series remaining, I am hoping for tighter writing, emphasis on the important sections of the plot and a more cohesive fit of characters and ages to situations.     

Sunday 20 September 2015

Chimera-Vaun Murphrey

While perusing titles on Netgalley, I noticed this book had received a number of great reviews so was keen to try it out. Even though in an "outside region", I was grateful the book was delivered and so promptly.
Cassandra is a 13-year-old girl who has been imprisoned for 8 years after the death of her parents. This is no ordinary prison however, and much mental strain is placed on her to maintain her sanity, which she does by connecting with her inner self and voice. When inexplicably finding herself in a different place and with family she never knew she had, she starts learning about what type of person she is and how she fits into the world. Cassandra discovers that she is a Weaver-able to separate mind and body in order the access the plane of the Web where other Weavers travel and communicate. Just as normality seems to set in, she learns of sinister plots within her world and others and must trust her family and new friends with recently discovered secrets about herself.  With so much against her, will Cassandra survive the mental and physical attacks she is about to endure?
I really held high hopes for this book but I must say I was somewhat disappointed. The writing tended towards an immature style at times- as though it was written for a school submission. Not everything needed to be explained as much as it was-the reader understood from the initial explanation about the bad weather and the possibility of mud being tracked into houses, but this point was dwelt on over and over again. Mistakes cropped up every now and then like misplaced apostrophes and the sentence "Kara cut her eyes" used for when she looked away made no sense to me. The use of "inner voice" repeatedly at the beginning of the story eventually becomes clear (well it was pretty obvious), but its continual use in the beginning was jarring. The decision to tell certain people and at certain times about her secret has an incongruous section where it is mentioned but not explained in front of her uncle and he never questions it. Cassandra's character is a little too mature for her age-her thoughts and desires seem a lot older. Chapter One also starts off with a very uncomfortable scene which can be dangerous in trying to keep the reader connected to the book. I found the end rather abrupt too -as though the divisions between the books were just cut.
In saying all this the main idea behind the book has masses of potential which I really hope is explored in the rest of the series.  More character development needs to take place and explanations that are repeated or superfluous to requirements must go! I commend the author on the start of what could be a great series-I truly hope she ups the ante.

Beyond the Style Manual. Just to be clear-writing what you mean by Lynn McNamee

What a fantastic and concise guide to pinpoint issues in scripts that just don't seem to fit quite right.
The guide is a very succinct summary of how to spot misplaced or dangling modifiers and participles, vague antecedents and in what manner to address paragraphing correctly. There are hints as to methodology to correct the problems from the many examples offered. Each section also presents a quiz with answers to ensure the reader has understood the specifics.
The writing style of this guide is clear and easy to follow. I liked the fact that not just one correction was offered at times so that many ways of fixing sentences was offered. Even seasoned editors and writers need a bit of brushing up every now and then, and this handy little guide looks to be part of a great series able to do that.

Received from Netgalley for a review.

Friday 18 September 2015

All the Light We Cannot See-Anthony Doerr

Even though historical fiction is not my first choice, with so many book club recommendations I had to see what the hype was about.
Set just before and during WW2, the story revolves around two central characters, each with their own heart-breaking and endearing story that ties itself into the overall picture. Marie -Laure is a young lady who lost her sight as a child, and lives with her father, a custodian of a museum. To try and give her more freedom in the outside world, he recreates their neighbourhood in miniature so that she can learn and memorise it all with her fingers. Werner is a young orphan who is technically gifted, and is drafted into the German army to track down the French Resistance, leaving behind a younger sister.  As the years go by and the many facets of war, whether victor or victim, are endured, their stories intertwine for a fleeting moment.  A part of each of their lives is shared, and with this,understanding, hope and forgiveness.
The book has me torn-did I enjoy it or not? I still don't know. And I guess since the author has now made me think and question, he has achieved something. As I paged through the beginning, I was put off by the amount of chapters-this generally means that they are short and the story then tends to jump around a lot. It did indeed turn out to be the case-there is a lot of character and time movement between chapters, which can sometimes be confusing, especially since the text is written in present tense. It took me ages to get into the rhythm of the book as the writing style was very slow for me. While there were excessive descriptive texts of scenery which added a great deal to the overall story, the verbosity made my mind tend to wander off. Not as much was spent on developing enough of the main characters. I felt that so much time was used on the build up, that much of the imagery was not necessary. In saying that however, the pace of the story served a great purpose in portraying the bleakness and the futility of war and its consequences. The sideline story of the diamond put a different spin on things-it taps into what people believed was important enough at the time to hide, or seek. What resonated long after I finished the book, was the portrayal of a life I could never understand. How family can be taken away and imprisoned on the whim of another, how young children can be so indoctrinated that human dignity is ignored and what so many cherish as fundamental individual rights can be denied.
The meeting between the central characters seemed contrived-it felt like a chance in a million where every tiny conceivable problem that could have happened did not. But I guess who can say for certain in a situation like that? The majority of the secondary characters were well written-they had their places in the story and added to the progression where necessary.

I felt that the ending was rushed-that the story was completed to try and tie up loose ends-by doing this many questions were actually left unanswered.  So again I find myself ambivalent as to whether or not I enjoyed the book. All I can say is try it and see whether or not the small details play in your mind long after it is over, as they have in mine.

Monday 14 September 2015

Her Final Breath by Robert Dugoni

Netgalley has offered this suspense in exchange for an honest review.
Tracy Crosswhite is fuelled by a sense of justice. Having brutally lost her sister a number of years before, she understands the need for closure. While dealing with the retrial of her sister's convicted killer, her boss, Nolasco, sends her current investigation of a murdered stripper to the cold case division.  Now as more bodies turn up it looks as though there is a serial killer on the loose. Tracy  falls directly into the spotlight having to deal with a stalker, a media leak, her vindictive boss, police brutality lawsuits and a killer who seems to be one step ahead. Can her boyfriend Dan help her connect an old case to this current spate before Tracy lands up on the list of bodies too?
Generally not having read the previous book/s in a series hinders the cohesiveness of plot lines. I would have liked to have known more about Tracy's character but the book can still be read as a stand alone. I received an uncorrected proof but luckily there were very few errors. I enjoyed the author's writing style-descriptions were just enough to imagine scenes without being bogged down by too many details. The plot itself is a typical detective/crime story. Clues are fed to the reader throughout to try and work out the killer's identity. In this instance it was not as obvious, but could only have been part of a certain amount of characters. Tracy is a good strong main character, and her interactions with colleagues and their personal stories added another dimension. Her boss was brought across very well-each time he appeared on the page there was a physical angry reaction to his  underhandedness and despair that he would not get what was coming to him. I did feel that some characters were superfluous to requirements-I understand why Katie had to start the story and the full circle to end it but I felt too much was concentrated on her. I also felt that using phrases like "blade stance" so often then lost their effect on me. Dan seemed a little too good to be true-maybe in the full series we will get to see more of his other sides.

Overall a good impression-about half way through the book I felt that it was worthy of four stars  but with the conclusion I had to take one away-I generally base that on whether the book was gripping and memorable enough to warrant a reread and sadly in this case it wasn't. Recommended for light, easy reading. 

Friday 11 September 2015

Shattered Blue by Lauren Horowitz

What a beautifully written young adult fantasy book received from Netgalley for an honest review.
YOUR SISTER IS DEAD- a jolt to the senses to start a story. Noa has experienced this loss. An integral part of the family that has now cast the normality of everyday life asunder. Her mother; a faint silhouette of her former self, her father; throwing himself into work to ease the pain, and Sasha; her young sister that shines with her own internal golden light and copes in her own special way. But who is there for Noa as she tries her best to pick up the pieces and move day by day? Previously a boarder at Harlow School , she had Olivia and Miles constantly at her side to help her deal with her ups and downs. Now as a commuter she meets a new boy at school. There is something very different about him. And not just because he is gorgeous. He is just, different. As she gets to know him her world is thrown into turmoil. Callum is fae! Sharing his past and his banishment with Noa, she learns of another realm where coloured and clear fae exist with magical abilities. Soon his past intermingles with his present when he is taken captive. Can Noa even compete with such magical creatures to save him? And will the tiny piece of Callum's mind that is kept hidden from everyone alter too many destinies?  
The author manages to skilfully capture the complex emotions of a 16-year-old girl. From the point where she is still a child wanting to be held and reassured, to taking on the responsibilities of a house and people's lives without acknowledgment, to that first moment when you know you are in love and the world becomes a brighter place. The storyline manages to weave in the characters' guilt about lost family, betrayal, penance and redemption .I enjoyed the spin on the powers of the different fae-very unlike anything I had read before. The haunting imagery of the poetry that Noa writes in the story is deeply moving-it's like taking all the words that eluded you when needing to express your innermost thoughts and finding them all running together in a coherent train. The different points of view beginning certain parts of the book allow you to take a glimpse into another's outlook before moving back to the main character.  Seeing as this is a YA novel, some of the practicalities of life can be overlooked (even though they irked me a little)-things like the huge amount of freedom Noa had when coming and going to places, money always on hand and the amount of classes she missed without staff looking for her. The end of the book left me hanging-I went back to reread the last chapter a number of times as I was sure I had missed something. The end came and WHAM. So much to read into that your mind starts questioning and making assumptions. I found the epilogue a little confusing-what exactly was it meant to add to the story?
A wonderful story, written in a clear and flowing style with interesting characters. Just a minor editing error. Highly recommended. 

Thursday 10 September 2015

Undraland-Mary Twomey

A great start to a young adult fantasy series.
Lucy Kincaid has lost her parents in a car accident and her twin brother to cancer. Now she is trying to move forward with her life as a medical student and dreams of the proverbial happy ending. However all it takes is one night to change her life forever-when attacked by a bear and saved by a gorgeous stranger, Lucy is forced to leave all she knows behind her and travel on blind faith into a land that shouldn't be real. Surely bedtime stories are just that-stories? Lucy is introduced to a world of fantasy. Complete with kingdoms and royalty, knights and battles, creatures and clans and the inevitable evil villain, Lucy will discover that her past is not what it seemed. Her Uncle Alrick introduces her to the Other Side-where Nokken, Fossengrims and garden gnomes are the norm. She must team up with her new acquaintances to defeat the siren Pesta before the portals can be used to destroy her world.
The relationship between Lucy and Jens is endearing. A bit stalkerish knowing that Jens was invisibly watching her for years, but one of those inevitable great loves that goes through the stages of hate and love with heightened emotions. The explanation about Jaime and his link with Britta and the sometimes unfair roles a prince must take on for the kingdom lends a great sub story. Add to the mix Nik with his deep secret, a likeable Tor and an infuriating Foss and round it off with Charles Mace-a character you can't quite put your finger on.

The series is directed at young adults, but I found Lucy's demeanour grated my teeth at times. She would go from sarcastic heroine in charge of her destiny, to blindly accepting whatever fantasy creatures or lands are thrown her way, to whiny, snivelling girl lamenting that no one understands her and life is not fair. There was another small issue-each time I read the word werebear, I immediately thought of "care bear" which changed the ferocious attacks into cute "care bear stares" for me. While that is no reflection on the author, it was just off putting as I read. Apart from that I really enjoyed the writing style of the book-it flowed easily enough-maybe a bit too easily at times for certain things to happen, but I suppose in a YA book sometimes too much detail detracts from the overall story. I am dying to know what laplanding is-the book definitely leaves you turning the last page and being devastated that it finishes there. A very entertaining start to the series.

Tuesday 8 September 2015

Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye by Tania del Rio

What an absolutely fun read! A delightful children's book.
Warren the 13th is a super busy 12-year-old. If he is not sweeping, he is dusting or cleaning chimneys, fixing stairs and (if any guests were to arrive at the Warren Hotel) the bellhop. The hotel was THE place to be when all the Warren's before him were in charge. Unfortunately lazy Uncle Rupert and sneaky Aunt Annaconda don't seem to have the same desire. When a mysterious stranger swathed in bandages checks into the hotel one day, Aunt Annaconda is up in arms in case they are there to try to find the all-seeing eye. Poor Warren. All he wants to do is keep the hotel afloat until he is old enough to restore it to its former glory. Now he must contend with creatures in the boiler room, a strange ghost girl and a myriad of guests who have heard the tale of the all-seeing eye possibly being in the hotel and claiming it for themselves. Friend and foe collide and intermingle along the chase to find the eye and decipher its purpose.

This copy from Netgalley was an absolute treat. What I truly enjoyed about the writing style is that the author does not speak down to the reader. Even though it's a children's book I was thoroughly entertained by words like dageurreotypes. Warren the 13th is a very likeable main character with a heart of gold, which leads to many morals and lessons learnt in the story. The adventure itself is cleverly plotted with each character playing a well thought out part and a possible lead into future stories. Even though all the illustrations are not complete, I was enchanted by those that were there-they highlight the story in all the right spots. Highly recommended.

Monday 7 September 2015

Come Hell or High Water (Hellcat Series #5)-Sharon Hannaford

Having thoroughly enjoyed the first four books in the series, I was eagerly anticipating the next instalment and was lucky enough to receive an advance copy.
Book 4's culmination of the epic battle to capture the Dark Magus and bring the Gemini twins to justice was not quite to the plan Gabi had envisaged. With the magus Irene dead and the Maleficus now in an unforeseen position, many decisions need to be rethought and executed.
Book 5 reaches back to respond to unanswered questions but in true style opens the way for many more. The SMV can no longer sustain its ever vigilant presence in the city, and at every turn Gabi and Julius seem to be watched from the shadows.  Something dark and sinister is out there. Always watching them. With Santiago dispatched  in a furtive manner, will the inevitable backlash condemn the clan's future? Why is Benedict not forthcoming with his real agenda-could a Princeps' summons have something to do with it? And when a friend of Gabi's is kidnapped by humans; no less, will the hidden paranormal layer of the city be exposed to the world?

Familiar characters weave their way through the story while some new faces want in on the action. Can new friendships be forged where only mistrust lived earlier? I must commend the author on another instalment written in an easy flowing style, where the characters and the plot tie in seamlessly without the readers having to work at connecting stories and people in their minds. Character development is done at a steady pace without too much information being dumped on the reader to sift through in one go. The plot keeps a good tempo with sufficient emphasis placed on the sub stories so as not to send them to the periphery. A great new chapter in an already enjoyable series-every time you think the story should be coming to a conclusion, more avenues open which leave you with baited breath for the next one. Highly recommended.

Friday 4 September 2015

Sleeping Giants- Sylvain Neuvel

This sci-fi/fantasy book was available as an advance copy from Netgalley.
Rose Franklin made a startling discovery on her 11th birthday when she snuck off to test her new bicycle and fell into a deep hole-she landed on a hand. A giant metal hand that radiated turquoise light. Seventeen years later Rose is a physicist and is about to embark on one of the strangest experiments she will ever encounter. Assisted by pilots Kara Resnik and Ryan Mitchell, linguist Vincent Couture and geneticist Alyssa Papantoniou, she and her mysterious benefactor will attempt to find the other parts that belong to the hand and try to piece it together. If they succeed what will this mean for the future of the world?

Cleverly written in the form of non-sequential interviews, journal entries and records, the style forces you to concentrate on the words and the jump between characters, and really reiterates the feeling of a military operation. The characters were developed to a point-considering the scope of the book it was not really necessary to delve into their pasts too deeply. The contrasting personalities played against each other well. The enigmatic interviewer was kept just that-an enigma wrapped in a mystery shrouded in secrets-who is he and why? I am torn between wanting to know the answer, to leaving it a riddle. An interesting proposal too as to what would happen between the nations of the world when each believe they have the right to ownership. The copy I received stated that it was an uncorrected proof so the incorrect fonts between characters and the missing quotation marks should all be corrected in time. I really enjoyed the concept behind the book and loved the weaving in of numeric linguistics, Greek mythology and metallurgy. Something happens too easily which leaves you asking questions, and then the cliff hanger bangs you in the face with it-you eagerly turn the page and find out that you need to wait for the next book-gutted! Highly recommended.  

Wednesday 2 September 2015

Ex-Con -- Duane Swierczynski

While I really enjoy reading graphic novels I have never had the opportunity to review one before so this was a definite first from Netgalley!
Cody Pomeray's ability to see the lights went out. The lights he used to see what people were really feeling. Their auras. He should never have duped Budd Waldo. If he hadn't he wouldn't have landed up in San Quentin, been beaten half to death and now owe Barnaby Creed a favour for saving his life. When will he learn? And now he's out. But the favour seems to be linked to too many people and doesn't make sense. How will an ex-con who has lost his ability and is a sucker for a dame and booze make good on his promise without violating parole or even being killed?

Having five episodes of the novel delivered together was a treat to keep the storyline going. The artist's depiction of the characters was exactly what I would have envisaged compared to the dialogue. As I was reading, the voices in my head were film noir. The panels were crisp and clean and the speech balloons as well as the flow and layout of the storyboard was easy to maintain with the eye. The words and pictures worked very well together. I thought the synaesthesia aspect was interesting to bring into a story this "thuggish". And the fact that See's face or her aura were sometimes hidden makes a good lead into hopefully the next part of the story. Definitely recommended.  

Nirvana-J.R Stewart

A teen\YA book offered by Netgalley.
It seemed so simple in a world before extinction. Boy meets girl, they fall in love and boy and girl get married. However life is never as smooth. Larissa is a student who plays in a band, and Andrew a physics major who believes he has met the girl of his dreams. Fast forward and the couple are married and living at the barracks where Andrew works. The world has changed. The rich elite live in the Bubble while others are at the Farm and desperately trying to supply the world with food. Hexagon was the corporation who tried to save the crops but the bees, amongst others, are gone. Life is a struggle. And then it happens. Andrew dies. Without proof or a body, Larissa listens to her heart and refuses to sign the death certification or believe the explanation that the corporation insists she does. Able to retreat into a virtual world to see Andrew, Larissa becomes more and more dependent on this virtual reality to keep her hope alive. With the threat of being expelled from the base hanging over her head, the sightings of Andrew seem more and more common. Is this just in her mind and is her need for him so intense that she is somehow deluding herself that he really is out there? Where are the physical signs that he is still alive coming from? Can she trust those around her to help her? Can she trust herself?

As a YA story I can understand the concentration on the love and death relationship. To have found your soulmate and having him ripped away without closure is a very deep seated fear. The introduction of possible world crises is also great for planting the seed of inquiry as to how much we should actually be trusting what lies the big corporations  are feeding us. The story ends with a good lead into the next one. What I didn't enjoy about the book was the formatting-the kindle edition I received had headers and footers, page numbers, the title and authors name running through the middle of pages. Also silly mistakes like using check instead of cheek cropped up. I found the language used in her journal strange-why would she be so formal when writing? Certain dialogues also seemed too explanatory between people. While I found Larissa's lamenting a little slow (but I guess for a good reason), the plot twist is pretty easy to work out. The premise is not really realised-she does not take on the government in this one. I would recommend this book as an average read and hope that the sub plots are explored in later books, and that the characters are developed a lot more.

The book has subsequently been rewritten, with the faults addressed. A much better effort and a book I would now definitely recommend.

Monday 31 August 2015

Along came a demon (Whisperings)- Linda Welch

I've always enjoyed a good paranormal adventure, so when this story was offered I grabbed at the opportunity.
Tiffany sees ghosts. And not just any ghosts. Only those that have been violently killed. This can really put a damper on life-especially when it comes to a love life. So when a new ghost appears to her naked and wet in her garden, unable to recall who killed her and desperately seeking her son, Tiff must rise to the occasion. As a consultant to the police, Tiff is now able to use her connections to broaden her investigation. However when she is assigned a partner who seems not quite human, she has to learn to separate fact from fiction regarding her assumptions about non-humans. Ghosts are not Tiff's only problem-otherworldly creatures and especially demons seem out to get her. What has she gotten herself involved in? Who can she trust? How can she help those who can't be seen?

The author's writing style is easy to read and able to be absorbed without intense concentration. I found a few editing errors like missing words or incorrect tenses which disrupted the flow of the book. And in worlds of ghosts and demons, the reader needs to suspend belief to allow for certain situations to be plausible. The heroine is a strange character-she is too sweet to ask her "housemates" to leave even though she really does not want them there, and then is willing to endure extreme physical pain or even die for the sake of others. And her haste to trust-maybe demons have magic too? The story was still a great read though-light and fun and perfect for a rainy day. 

A stir of Ash and Embers-WP VD Merwe

Having been asked to review the book without an inkling as to its contents-I was wondering what I had gotten myself into. I was truly, pleasantly surprised.
The story begins with a horrific attack on a family in the so-called security of their home. This sets the tone to the introduction of a plethora of characters and sub stories in the heated, emotional turmoil set in South Africa. Each branch of the story reflects a facet of life in South Africa-from power hungry and corrupt officials, to farm owners and workers, to university students and even mercenaries for hire. While a work of fiction, much of the angst, anger and even acceptance that is a reality in the cauldron of the country is captured vividly in the experiences of the characters. The story combines hate, love, redemption and antipathy; sometimes so interwoven that separation seems impossible. Whether you agree or disagree with their views, the writing puts you straight into their hearts and minds.

Being the author's first novel I was impressed by the style and degree of writing. Initially trying to remember all the characters was a little difficult, but the author weaves them all together. I couldn't give full stars due to the number of editing and timing issues I found in the book. I did enjoy many of the South African references, but was concerned that without translations not all of the non-English words and phrases would be understood. I had to walk away from the book a number of times due to the powerfully described raw emotions felt by many of the characters. A very thought provoking novel that has the capability to show you different sides of conflicts and allow you to immerse yourself on either side. The author holds no punches in expressing some emotions which creates a harsh and brutal look at a current situation. A gritty "what if" of racial, political and emotional tensions. Highly recommended.

Monday 24 August 2015

The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant-Drew Hayes

Well with such a mouthful how can you not want to pick up the book and find out more? I was definitely in the mood for a little light comedy and this hit the spot.
Fred's experiences are recorded in his journal which begins with him going to a high school reunion with one significant difference-he is a vampire. However the fact that he is a vampire is the only significant difference. He is still the same boring, timid wallflower that he ever was. At the reunion he meets up with an old school friend Krystal and subsequently learns she is part of the "Agency", keeping parahumans on the straight and narrow. Fred finds the backbone he never knew he had and together they plough into mysteries and adventure. New characters like zombies, weresteeds, necromancers, mages and never before heard of species join the party.
Reminiscent of a good Robert Rankin giggle, this book made me while not out and out guffaw, definitely titter. It was refreshing to see a vampire that kept all the human personality quirks and that the author didn't feel the need to turn him into one of those "sparkly vampires".  Each journal entry made for a good short story and kept the thread of it all nicely together. The imagery was hilarious and seriously-the mushroom men? "Squirt squirt" The author has an evil sense of humour.
In saying that, I found the reintroduction of characters in each entry a tad repetitive-can't see how that would happen in a journal. And the use of their instead of there-unforgivable! A couple of editing faux pas but nothing too dreadful.

A rollicking good read. Light hearted and fun with enough story to keep you focussed and entertained, but a good dose of comedy to make it that much more different from other supernatural stories.

Saturday 22 August 2015

Sing Down the Stars-LJ Hatton

With the upsurge of young adult books currently being made into movies, I decided to see what the level of offering is at the moment-and was not disappointed.
The 5th daughter shouldn't be.  After the jellyfish-like aliens hung in the sky for a year causing human hysteria, they left; seemingly without effect. Certain children were then born with abilities. Abilities to manipulate elements. Certainly something the wardens want checked and under their control. Magnus and Iva Roma have four special daughters able to control the elements of fire, water, wind and earth. The 5th daughter that shouldn't be, Penelope, has assumed the guise of her twin brother who she accidently killed the night she was born and caused the stars to rain down. For years the girls have been hiding in plain sight performing in The Show-a circus performance that defies ordinary illusion. Now, the wardens have made their move, and in one night Penelope's life and that of her family and friends is thrown to the winds of change. To fight back she must enlist the aid of new partners and their capabilities, and tap into the celestine power she has been forced to damp down throughout the years. Unable to previously control the immense power, can Penelope unleash her abilities and safely use them to find and free those she loves?
What I really enjoyed about this book  was the author's ability to describe situations and people so descriptively, that the imagery in my head was vivid and graphic. She gave the main characters well thought out personalities (bearing in mind it's a young adults book), and was able to weave the myriad of sub plots together convincingly.  The editing was done well and the story flowed comprehensively. What's not to like about a story that has unicorns and gryphons! The only thing that didn't resonate entirely well with me was how some scenes seemed implausible. I'm not talking about scenes where magic happened and you need to suspend belief, but where a character was standing somewhere and the next minute they had gotten past guards and were hiding in another place (not due to magic). I suppose sometimes you just have to believe enough for the scene to happen.

I would highly recommend this book and praise the author on creating a tale that will be able to be stretched over a series, yet keep you enthralled in each book but still wanting more.  

Tuesday 18 August 2015

Haunting Refrain-Ellis Vidler

A powerful psychic vision is always a great way to start a story with a solid punch of imagery. Enter our scatty, redheaded heroine Kate, who is testing her psychic abilities in a parapsychology group. Her intensely strong and graphic vision from touching the victim's sweatband, places her in the throes of being strangled ; but not clearly enough to see the killer's face. So begins the race to connect the dots and put a face to the killer.
The characters are generally well written and easy to relate to. Kate is a portrait photographer who experiences tinges of psychic ability. Her best friend Venice is a clairvoyant with a flair for the dramatic-whether in her appearance or theatrical presentation. John is a newspaper reporter determined to print the truth and potential love interest for Kate. Rounding out the whodunnit are the head of the parapsychology class, a helpful detective and other sideline characters that are woven into the story.
So here you have the basics of a good mystery. Unfortunately a number of things interfere with making this a well rounded story. Spoiler alert- the lack of cell phones by the characters was not a believable part of the story-the leaving of messages and people not being home to answer the phone raised serious flags. Helmut's supposed red herring part in the murder was obvious and unnecessary. The killer was evident from very early on in the story and yet so little of the story was actually dedicated to him. His quick release after being arrested on the minimum of charges seemed legally unrealistic.  The description of her house with so much glass still intact in the neighbourhood she lived in was also very suspect.   

I will give props for the editing though-no blindingly apparent mistakes. If you wanted a light read without having to think too much this is a bit of fun for the day. As soon as you start looking deeply into it however, certain behaviours and instances start grating at your consciousness. Not a bad book but definitely one I was not engrossed in.

Sunday 16 August 2015

The In-Betweener Vol. 1 by Ann Christy

Before I begin reading a book, I like to see other reviews about it to get the general public feeling and see whether I eventually agree or not. Unfortunately this can be counterproductive as there were so many rave reviews about this book but I didn't feel quite the same. I have never heard of the author before and it's definitely not a badly written book, it just didn't give me the same thrill as it seemed to give many others.
It's basically a zombie book for young adults without actually having zombies in it. The heroine is 19 year-old Emily, one of the original nanite receivers, who has to battle with a world gone south. The nanites were invented to cure disease and restructure failing bodies, but the desire to cure all comes at a price. Now she faces  in-betweeners (dead but not as dead as you think), deaders (more dead than in-betweeners) and humans (who can be the worst of the lot) in her fight for survival. The author does well in offering a back story alongside the present in order to show readers the events leading up to the world crisis. I also commend the way she started the book with one set of characters and then turned it around to weave them into the main character's story.

While I didn't love the story as much as other people did, I found it pleasant to read with good story continuity and no glaring editing errors.  A major factor is that it is too short and doesn't give enough of the story to grab me and make me want to buy the second book as I feel the same would happen in the second. I guess the "big event" at the end of the first is meant to be a lead on but since this sort of thing happens in a lot of zombie books I was expecting it to happen, so unfortunately no surprise there.  Still, an enjoyable read and good idea for a series.

Thursday 13 August 2015

12-Sean Platt and David Wright

The premise of the book immediately caught my eye-What would you do with the last 12 hours of your life? A great attention grabber. Somewhat misleading however, since none of the characters actually know that some of them only have 12 hours to live.
In saying that it was still a very creative and well written book, and with 12 points of view, very cleverly handled to ensure continuity and believable characters.
The plot revolves around a group of characters-many whose lives intertwine, albeit briefly. The story begins in Goldman's Diner where a massacre has taken place. Rewind 12 hours and we are introduced to the plethora of characters that make up the integral skein of fate. Each individual story is so well written that contrary to what you would think, it is easy to keep up with each character's story  and how they blend into each other. From a cop and his wife experiencing marriage difficulties, to a senior citizen with the onset of memory loss, a fry cook trying to lead a straight life but being sucked back into shady deals to save family, a waitress struggling to keep her head above water and deal with a small child and abusive husband, to the very real issue of how far bullying and domestic abuse will push a person.  I won't delve into all of the characters as some need to have no preconceived notions about them before meeting them. What really brings the stories home, is the belief that the life experiences are real-these really could be members of your family, neighbours or good friends. The 12 hours prior to the massacre allow you to feel part of the characters' joys and woes. To catch a glimpse of a life we wish we could help.  To maybe see in them part of ourselves. The culmination of the story answers the questions raised in the beginning-who? what? why?

The story really does make you think about the lives happening around us that we sometimes  never see as we are so engrossed in our own bubbles.  I did however not award the final star due to some faulty editing (words missing from sentences), a continuity issue I had with (spoiler alert)  Tim's face looking as though he had been in an accident after his dad had beaten him, to him getting to the diner and Alicia just saying she was wondering how he got out of the house and no one noticing his contusions and bruises. I was also a little sceptical about Abe's change of heart after all of his pain staking plans but that is just my feeling.  Aside from a few personal niggles, I would definitely recommend this book as a comfortable afternoon read.

Sunday 9 August 2015

World's Scariest Places Vol.1-Jeremy Bates

So the fact that there are two books offered here is both a plus and a minus. Great that there is more reading material, but unfortunately reading them one after the other shows the base story formula that has been used for both.
Being as staunch as I am about grammar and spelling, even a great story will put me off if there is bad editing. Glad to say that for the majority of the pages no glaring mistakes turned me away, but it was still unfortunate that the final checking was not 100% accurate as certain words were missing from sentences. In saying that, the writer has a great way with words and imagery and writes in a clean style with a well maintained flow.
Now to the parallels between the stories-tall hero who steps up to the plate-check. Problems with a current or ex-girlfriend-check. Landing up in a group of people where there are antagonistic feelings-check. Somebody dies first-check. And then I run the risk of spoiler alerts if I carry on with the similarities between the endings of the stories. Basically a group of people in each book that are in the settings for whatever reasons, come up against a force wanting to destroy them. Will the hero save the day? The actual descriptions of the suicide forest and the catacombs are very vivid, and it becomes easy to imagine yourself in the settings. I didn't find the horror as bold as many other readers, but the build up to certain suspenseful parts puts you right in the thick of things. I think if I had read only one of the books I would have been satisfied with the plot and characters and not constantly, even though subconsciously, compared them.

All in all a good read which I would recommend, but a slightly unbelievable leaning towards making the plot fit the world's scariest places.