On the morning of her sixteenth birthday, Renée Winters was still an ordinary girl. She spent her summers at the beach, had the perfect best friend, and had just started dating the cutest guy at school. No one she’d ever known had died. But all that changes when she finds her parents dead in the Redwood Forest, in what appears to be a strange double murder.

After the funeral Renée’s wealthy grandfather sends her to Gottfried Academy, a remote and mysterious boarding school in Maine, where she finds herself studying subjects like Philosophy, Latin, and the “Crude Sciences.”

It’s there that she meets Dante Berlin, a handsome and elusive boy to whom she feels inexplicably drawn. As they grow closer, unexplainable things begin to happen, but Renée can’t stop herself from falling in love. It’s only when she discovers a dark tragedy in Gottfried’s past that she begins to wonder if the Academy is everything it seems.Little does she know, Dante is the one hiding a dangerous secret, one that has him fearing for her life.

Hardcover, UK, 456 pages Published May 1st 2011 by Usborne (first published September 21st 2010)

There was very little that I did not love about this book.

After Renee loses her parents (whom she discovered dead), her grandfather sends her off, across the country, to a very unusual school. She is skeptical about the things she sees going on at the school, but makes friends easily. Dante is the brooding, hot mysterious guy. They have a deep attraction to each other. The romantic aspect is a little mushy, but I found it cute all the same.

Renee finds that she has a keen ability to locate dead things and there is a curse on the school and students have been known to die there. Not to mention the mysterious Latin classes and student monitors that are up to something. Even the handsome and mysterious Dante has a deep attraction to her that he has never felt for anyone before.

I hate comparing books to other books, I always try to judge each writer and story on it’s own merits. But guess what this is my first time that yes I am going to compare this book to the notorious Twilight. There is a scene in this story, in the forest during which I pictured Bella and Edward. For one page it was almost word for word the same scene in Twilight when Bella tells Edward she knows what he is. Otherwise the idea behind this particular story was very unique, I found it highly intriguing and loved it.

There was not a boring moment in this story. The unraveling of the plot and the pacing is what kept me hooked. I thought there was a great mixture of characters. I liked the story line and the mystery behind what is happening at the school and her timing in finding out the events leading up to the end was perfect. Even though I was not a huge fan of the mushy the romance factor, it did not over power any of the main plot and events leading to the ending.

The story is put together very well. I know that I should have been able to see what was coming at the end, but I really didn’t see it. The unraveling of the plot and the growing suspense kept me sucked into the story and I hated having to put it down.

“I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,

pushing aside thoughts of Alex,

pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,

push,

push,

push,

like Raven taught me to do.

The old life is dead.

But the old Lena is dead too.

I buried her.

I left her beyond a fence,

behind a wall of smoke and flame.”

Lena barely made it across the wall into the wilds with her life and the journey has cost her more than she ever imagined. Now finding herself clawing her way back from the depths of despair, shaking off the lies she has been taught all her life and regaining her strength, Lena tries to push the memories of Alex and her life before far away. Finding a place among a rag-tag group of resisters, Lena learns that life as an Invalid is a constant fight for survival and as the war against those who support the cure heats up Lena finds herself smack bang on the front line. Can love really conquer all or are the “cured” right after all?

Pandemonium is the thrilling sequel to Delirium and once again Oliver has surpassed all expectations. A sizzling mix of forbidden romance, revolutionary tactics and the harrowing fight for survival, Pandemonium will sweep you away on a journey that will stay with you long after the last page has been turned.

As much as I enjoyed the character of Lena in Delirium, I must say in Pandemonium she absolutely blew me away. Even though the circumstances that have caused her personal growth have been harrowing enough to witness as a bystander, let alone experience them one on one, Lena has emerged like a phoenix from the ashes with a passion, strength and moral conviction that is a pleasure to behold.

Of course being set in a world where love is illegal and after the heart-shattering ending of Delirium, I expected a new leading man to appear and tug at our heart strings but I must admit I was worried that I would find my loyalties divided. Needless to say I worried over nothing; Oliver is well versed in the surprising twist and those of us who fell for Alex as well as Lena can stay true to his memory and find more than enough room in our heart for another. The characterisation is a joy to behold and the amazing new cast of characters added a wonderful new dimension to the plight. As for the ending … well prepare for your heart to leap out of your throat and to be on tenterhooks waiting for Requiem.

This is a world where you will find your feelings and convictions tested over and over, and a protagonist who will teach us all just what love is. Yet again Oliver had knocked me for six with another powerhouse of a must read.

Pandemonium-Lauren Oliver

Released: Feb 28 2012

Hodder and Stoughton

375 Pages

ISBN:978-1-444-72293-2

Welcome to the world of your worst nightmare.  The Outbreak has devastated humanity and life as we know it and those that have survived are busy trying to scrape back some sense of the life that went before. Seattle has become a walled fortress, rife with crime, black market dealings and extreme religious cults. Despite it all, Sadie and her nephew Shane have found some sense of safety, after all the Infected are kept firmly at bay by the wall. But when Sadie is betrayed and Shane is stolen and the Infected break through, the only escape is by water and she’s seen for herself the fate that met those who tried that last time. Sadie must face fears that may just be worse than the hordes of Zombie’s in pursuit.

Zombies. We’ve all thought about how we would survive if it ever happened at least once. Heck in my house where the male equivalent outweighs the female, it has become dinner table conversation more than once. I used to think I had a fair chance of surviving but after entering the world Roux has created, I’m not so sure.

“Sadie Walker is Stranded” is the follow up novel to “Allison Hewitt is Trapped” and drops us right back into the action, gore and fight for our lives. We are introduced to a whole new cast and a fresh new writing style that will hook you right from the beginning. This is more than just scare-the-pants-off -you zombie fiction. It truly is an amazing account of survival despite all the odds – and the unrelenting strength of the human spirit.

Roux has gifted us with a twisted road trip of epic proportions that despite the high gore level and often confronting scenes, just plain works.   Even if zombies aren’t your normal “villain” of choice, the lessons learnt the characters and fantastic plot makes this series one to definitely brave the frights to read.

Sadie spoke to me from the very first meeting and there was a softness about her that had me vested in her survival. In addition to fighting for her own life, she has to find her feet as an almost instant mother. This upped the ante to a whole new level. It also added an extra “human” feel despite the “ick” factor.

If you haven’t read Allison’s story, I strongly recommend you do before joining Sadie’s. This is a completely different experience to the first book. It still maintains the same intensity and action that made the Allison’s journey outstanding but with Sadie the focus has slightly shifted. Even though the Infected pose just as much of a risk, we are now months into the Outbreak and they have become more of a part of life. The urgency has lessened and the reader has more time to think through actions and decisions before they have to be taken. These are ordinary everyday people who, through extraordinary circumstances, find the strength to start to re-make the world.

So for those of you who like myself have always been sure you’d survive. Enter Roux’s world and put your belief to the test. The lessons learnt here may just help save your life.

Sadie Walker is Stranded- Madeline Roux

Headline

ISBN:978-0-7553-7916-3

Released:10^th January 2012

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel #1)

After two years on the run, best friends Rose and Lissa are caught and returned to St. Vladimir’s Academy, a private high school for vampires and half-bloods. It’s filled with intrigue, danger – and even romance. Enter their dark, fascinating world through a new series of 144-page full-color graphic novels. The entire first Vampire Academy novel has been adapted for book one by Leigh Dragoon and overseen by Richelle Mead, while the beautiful art of acclaimed British illustrator Emma Vieceli brings the story to life.

Paperback, 144 pages

Published August 23rd 2011 by Razorbill

ISBN 1595144293 (ISBN13: 9781595144294)

For what I have come to know of graphic novels this version does not have much on the side of “novel”. I have read the book, the first in the very well known Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead, and was very much looking forward to see how it was interpreted into graphic novel form.

The first thing I noticed was the format of this particular book, it’s glossy full colored pages are very detailed and eye-catching. I think the artist did a great job. What I was surprised to see was the lack of dialogue and “novel”. The story has been shortened so much it just includes the basic points that drive the story, lots of drama and huge emotional scenes, and then it’s over.

What this does lead to is a very fast paced action packed story. All key points are hit on and a great re-cap of book one of the series. It’s a very short book at 144 pages and can be easily read through in one sitting. There is just enough intrigue and romantic influence that the reader can get a feel to the characters and the world.

Hey guuuys!

It’s Lisa here with another review! I’ve been reading a lot of great books lately, so I have tons of reviews I need to write, and finally get them posted. Today’s book is The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter. Basically, it’s a modern re-telling of the Greek Myth of Persephone. Right after reading the synopsis, and before even opening the front cover, I decided to do a bit of my own research to have at least some understanding of Persephone’s story. You don’t really have to do this to understand and comprehend the story itself. But I just decided it would be fun to have some background knowledge. This is what I found out:

“In Greek mythology, Persephone, also called Kore (the maiden), is the daughter of Zeus and the harvest-goddess Demeter, and queen of the underworld. Homer describes her as the formidable, venerable majestic queen of the shades, who carries into effect the curses of men upon the souls of the dead. Kore was abducted by Hades, the god-king of the underworld . The myth of her abduction represents her function as the personification of vegetation which shoots forth in spring and withdraws into the earth after harvest; hence she is also associated with spring and with the seeds of the fruits of the fields. Similar myths appear in the Orient, in the cults of male gods like Attis, Adonis and Osiris, and in Minoan Crete.”

*I didn’t write this myself, this is just something I found, while researching. Thank you Wikipedia!!*

The main character of The Goddess Test is named Kate. She’s an average teenage girl, going to high school, and lives with her mother. Sadly, Kate’s mom is in her final stages of cancer, and any day could be her last. Her dying wish is to visit a small town named Eden, which is located in the middle of nowhere. Without any argument Kate agrees to take her.

Kate isn’t only moving into a new (and small) town, and a new (but very old) house, but also into a new school. Not wanting to make friends, knowing she won’t have the time for them anyways, she only wants to go to school, finish classes, and spend the rest of the day with her mother. Kate isn’t there for fun; she’s there for her mom.

Not knowing what she will do once her mom isn’t with her anymore; Kate is scared, stressed, and just wants to spend every moment with her mom, never knowing if it might be her last.

Bumping (literally) into a very cute boy, Kate faces her first problem before she can even get to her very first class at her new school. Think about that popular girl in school, who is one of the sweetest people you’ve ever met, but as soon as you turn around, you know she’s talking crap about you. Every high school has one, think VERY hard! That is exactly who Ava is.

Besides Ava, Kate also meets and befriends a quiet boy, who walks to school every day listening to his music through his oversized earphones. His name is James. Going through a hard time, Kate leans on James a lot, even crying in front of him. Kate’s life is nothing like normal ever since her mom was diagnosed with cancer, but James is her piece of reality, and normality. He is her rock, in a way.

I don’t want to give away too much of The Goddess Test, so I’m only telling you that Ava invites Kate to a “party” and a accident happens and Ava gets hurt really bad. Doing the only thing she could, Kate screams at the top of her lungs, for help. Not sure what to do, or if anyone can hear, she continues to yell her heart out. That is, until she sees a figure standing a few feet away from her.

To save Ava, Kate has to accept the stranger’s (which we find out is named, Henry) deal. And if you’ve read my bit of research above, you might just know who he is, and what the deal is! 🙂

I wasn’t originally planning on reading The Goddess Test, not because I didn’t want to, but simply because I didn’t really know much about it. After finishing the first three or four chapters, I fell in love and was so grateful that I picked it up. I’ve never really read any books on mythology, nor retellings, so I wasn’t too sure what I would think about it.

But The Goddess Test was amazing! I really enjoyed the main character Kate, and how she slowly (because usually I feel the character is always rushing) falls in love. I like that she goes from scared, feeling sorry for herself, and not wanting to communicate or socialize with anyone, to doing whatever she can to save her friends. Kate grew so much throughout the story, and I loved the pace.

The second book, Goddess Interrupted is coming out in April (I believe, don’t quote me on that!) and I’m excited to see what happens to Kate, Henry, and Ava! I would recommend picking up The Goddess Test now, so you jump right into the second one, once it hits the shelves!

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoyed my review!

• ISBN-13: 9780373210268
• Publisher: Harlequin
• Publication date: 4/19/2011
• Pages: 304