My search for feeding my insatiable appetite for pop music, some may find a little questionable, has continued. I’m loving the vast array of variables that can make a musical hit (in my eyes anyway).

Today we’re heading to Japan!

Do you consider fan dancing to be a rock ‘n’ roll thing? Passpo has definitely got the hard rock sound in their song Natsuzora Hanabi. What could be more rockstar than jumping in a pool fully clothed, throwing suitcases and wearing studded collars, and the fan dancing, don’t forget the fan dancing.

For fans (not the dancing sort) of Anime, you may recognise this slightly older song by ON/OFF called Futatsu no Kodou to Akai Tsumi, as it was the theme song from season one of Vampire Knight

I can’t say I’ve sat down to watch an episode of the show, but I am assuming the red wool and the chains mean something? I sometimes like a little grungy metal in my playlist and Reason for Treason by Diaura

fits the bill. Two tone mullets, and growling. Not to mention a very Garbage-esk (Shirley Manson etc not refuse) distorted effects to the clip add to the rebellious feel. Now if only I could understand what was being said…

Spending all my Time by Perfume

is an ear worm of the worst sort. It comes with hand dancing. See how long it takes you to get the moves down. This makes my dag dance look dated. I do love the little corset things on the dresses when they’re in front of the door. As for the socks with the high heels… that’s up to you to decide.

This one is called Candy Candy

by Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. She began her career as a model for Harajuku fashion magazines such as Kera! The interesting fashion sense of the culture comes through in this clip, and can anyone tell me the significance of the onion?

Available on Amazon in March 2013. Design by Austin Designworks.

Available on Amazon in March 2013. Design by Austin Designworks.

Ta double daaaaaaa ……..

Available on Amazon in March 2013. Design by Austin Designworks.

~deep breath iiiiiinnnnn…. deep breath oouuuuuut~ I’m counting here as well.

Now you may be asking me why it is I am acting like I’m in labour over a book. If you’re not, perhaps you’ve already read Hot Blooded, and know exactly why I am being rather strange.

I’ll start with my impressions on the cover art. Not a fan of the model. The dress is fine, but the hair and the make-up free face is far too stark for the back drop of wolves, mountains, pine forest and a huge full moon. For the sake of the story, her expression is far too blank. There is also what looks like an aged effect over the page to make it look like it’s been folded. To me it just looks like the artist forgot to erase their placement marks. I also missed the embossed title lettering from Unleashed. I’m usually a big fan of red overlays and sepia tones, but this one just didn’t do it for me. Sorry ladies.

Once I got over the cover there was a story to be read, and boy, what a story.

In Unleashed Kat is bitten and becomes a werewolf. In Hot Blooded she’s adjusting to living in both the regular human world, and coming to terms with being the bottom wolf in the Fenners pack. The transition isn’t running as smoothly as she’d like due to the alpha wolf being consumed by dementia, and her best friend, Cordelia, being banished from the pack. The only thing standing between her and certain death is Justin. And what on earth is the story behind the contents of the boxes in her grand father’s shed.

I love the way, for Kat and Justin, the boundaries between human nature and the inner wolf collide, sometimes living in harmony, and at other times the inner turmoil must be exhausting. It’s nice to know it goes beyond teen angst and a petty conscience.

The setting of Wolf Springs and the woods make me imagine clean fresh air and bird song. But don’t let the peaceful atmosphere lull you into a false sense of security. Nature is a cruel and unforgiving thing. I think it adds an eerie backdrop to an already gritty storyline. If book three picks up where this one left off, the weather will become a character of it’s own and add a whole new layer of complications to an already tense situation. Looking forward to that.

And since I’ve talked about everything besides the ending it is safe to assume my behaviour at the start of this review has to do with that. It’s not fair. I don’t like Niagara falls high cliff hangers and OH MY GOODNESS I could stamp my foot in rage. Where the hell is the next book. I need it NOW!

I was grabbed by the scruff of the neck from the first page and my brain was rattled around by the constant fast pace of the plot line. If real life and headaches didn’t get in my way I would have had this finished in under a day. The final hundred or so pages were beyond gripping and I got to the last page in record time.

I recommend this series if you’ve enjoyed the Maggie Stiefvater’s Wolves of Mercy Falls Series and Alyson Noel’s Soul Seeker’s series. They have similar themes and I think the three heroines would probably get along swimmingly.

Let us know what you thought.

http://www.wolfspringschronicles.com/

http://nancyholder.com/

http://debbieviguie.com/

Paperback 382

Published December 1st 2012 by Doubleday Children’s

ISBN 0857530720 (ISBN13: 9780857530721)