The year is 1864 and 17-year-old Stefan Salvatore is grudgingly accepting the future his father has laid out for him: becoming betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love to strengthen the family’s standing, learning the ropes to one day take over the running of the plantation and trying to keep the peace between his Father and Damon. That is until the beautiful and intoxicating Kathryn Pierce comes to stay and Stefan finds himself head over heels and craving her company. Unfortunately, Stefan isn’t the only one to find himself drawn to Kathryn—life as Stefan knows it is about to end, literally.

Origins brings us the history behind the love triangle and sibling rivalry that will span centuries and has had readers and TV viewers left desperate for more. Covering the period from just before that first fateful meeting until just after Stefan and Damon are turned, Origins answers a lot of questions and gives us a glimpse into a softer, very human Damon and Stefan, and a seemingly non-evil Kathryn. You will find yourself mourning the loss of such a close and endearing relationship between the brothers. Although it’s by no means perfect, with its brotherly competition, the dynamic is far removed from the barely maintained truce we later see. Kathryn has always been my least favourite character in both adaptations; in fact, I’m usually rooting for someone to finally give her what she deserves. But, surprisingly, I found myself liking this seemingly innocent version of Kathryn, as seen through Stefan’s eyes.

Origins will delight fans of  both the books and the TV adaptation, as well as hooking those new to the series. It has certainly become my favourite of the series. A fast paced  and sometimes nail biting trip down Stefan’s memory lane, Origins is the perfect book to curl up and spend an afternoon with some of the hottest Vamps right now. It certainly does seem true that, in Stefan and Damon’s case, “Love Sucks”.

The Vampire Diaries- Stefan’s Diaries Vol 1 Origins

Based on the Novels By L J Smith

Published by Harper Teen

Paperback, 350 pages

ISBN:978-0-06-200393-5

The hook in lines of; “Peer pressure sucks. So do Vampires.” really sum up the contents of the book. Rachel Caine is an international bestseller with her Morganville Vampires series, and after mauling through book one in under 24 hours, I can totally see how this has come about.

Claire moves to Morganville for University and is having her life made into a living nightmare by Monica and her minions. Between having her laundry thrown down the garbage chute, and being pushed down the stairs, it comes down to either moving away or dying right there in the dormitory.

Glass House becomes her savior. Michael Glass and his other housemates, Shane and Eve, form a quick bond with Claire and they work together to keep each other safe from the bullies and the other dirty little secret of Morganville… Vampires.

I could not believe how quickly this book flew. Everything happened at breakneck speed and though some parts, the violence in particular, had me wincing in sympathy, I found myself at the last page quicker than I wanted to be.
I wonder what situations Caine lived through to make Monica so solidly psychotic? The research for that character alone would have been enough to give me nightmares.

As for the Vampires, they’re mobster-like organization was rather typical of so many vampire books these days. They’re all untrustworthy and, though there were still a few surprises to be found in Morganville, I don’t know how Rachel is going to keep the rest of her books from slipping into the stereotypical corruption that comes with a Vampire community like that.

I am going to be looking for the second book in the Morganville Vampire series The Dead Girl’s Dance, as soon as I can.

I’ve been bitten by the Morganville bug, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Glass Houses—Rachel Caine

Published 04/01/11 by Penguin Books Australia

Paperback, 372 Pages

Donna Underwood has spent her life labelled a freak. As if being born into a family of  alchemists (who all belong to a super secret Order) wasn’t enough, as a child, Donna fell victim to a horrifying Fae attack that cost her both parents and left her with injuries that could only be fixed by magic. This left her hands and arms branded with silver tattoos, just another part of the curse her heritage has handed her. When the same Dark Fae kidnap her best friend, Navin, Donna faces some of her greatest fears and accepts her role in the centuries-old Human/Fae war. With the help of the gorgeous half-fae Xan, Donna races against the clock to bring Navin back home.

The Iron Witch is Karen Mahoney’s first offering to the world of YA and she has certainly hit her mark. A intriguing mix of ancient myths and legends, deep dark secrets and one young girl’s struggle to find her niche in the world, The Iron Witch will give your imagination a healthy work out with its visually rich sights and sounds. The characters are well developed and the plot is clearly defined and laid out right from the beginning, but still holds plenty of surprises. My only gripe was that it did lag a little in the middle but the action soon kicks back into high gear and all can be forgiven. Mahoney has given us insight into the history of Alchemy and its practice and enticed us with glimpses into the workings of the Order, while still holding back enough to keep us guessing.

The relationship between Donna and Navin is sweet and touching and the lengths that Donna will go to save him are a lesson to us all. Donna has a different feel as far as heroines go. Sure, there is the deep loss and the chafing against the rules and path set out for her, but  where others go after the culprits for revenge and gain a harder feel, Donna faces her fears only to save someone else; and you get the feeling that if circumstances hadn’t conspired against her, she would have left well enough alone. The feel of the character is a lot softer and, although I usually like my heroines full on kick-ass, it really did work in this case. I was hoping that Donna would uncover more memories about what really happened the night her world was turned upside down, but The Iron Witch is the only the first instalment in Donna’s journey, with The Wood Queen coming soon; so I hold out hope all the questions will be answered.

The Iron Witch has no overt  horror or adult scenes so would also be suitable for the younger YA age bracket.

The Iron Witch – Karen Mahoney

Published February 8, 2011 by Random House Australia

ISBN: 978-1-86471-827-0

Paperback, 289 Pages

Whenever you read a story set in a particular place you know that vividly describes sights, sounds and smells, the sense of place adds an extra dose of magic to the whole experience. Set in Tasmania and interwoven with its rich convict history as well as the here and now, Thyla is a breath of fresh shape-shifter scented air. Gordon has let her imagination roam amongst folklore and fact and has created a world of wonder and delight.

A teenage girl is found alone in the bush with some strange injuries and no memory whatsoever, just a name–Tessa. Taken under the wing of  Connelly, a policewoman  whose own daughter has disappeared without a trace, Tessa finds herself at Cascade Falls boarding school; and, as she comes to terms with uncovering her memories, she finds herself becoming part of a world few know exist. A world of war and the fight against evil.

Thyla is full of the normal high school drama, but with a fantastic new twist. You have the normal cliques and growing pains to deal with, but when you’re trying to uncover who the ‘you’ is you have forgotten, and learn who you can really trust with your discoveries,  it can be agonising. For Tessa, this is a great struggle; but, for the reader, it adds a deeper connection with the protagonist. The book’s feel is unique: it is written in first person, but in the style of a journal entry-type reflection, with real time action thrown in. All in all, Gordon has captured a fresh feeling on the page, taking the concept of shape-shifters and shaking it up to make it uniquely her own, and uniquely Tasmanian.

A truly beautiful story set in one of the most idyllic settings, Thyla not only breaks the mould–it smashes it to smithereens. Thyla is released April 1^st and the sequel, Vulpi, is coming soon. I am eagerly awaiting a chance to visit Tessa’s world once again!

Thyla–Kate Gordon

Published April 1^st 2011 by Random House Australia

Paperback, 279 pages

ISBN:978-1-86471-881-2

Visit Kate’s website

Imagine a world of strict borders, raids by regulators, strictly imposed curfews, and evaluations, in which a good marriage match is based on your ‘score’, and a huge gap exists between rich and poor. Now, imagine all that with no love. No romance novels or love songs, no touching, and segregation of the uncured sexes; and, if you dare catch the Deliria, you might just find yourself looked in an institution for the rest of your life.

Welcome to Lena’s world. It’s been 43 years since scientists perfected a cure for love—(Amor Deliria Nervosa)—the deadliest disease of them all. Lena is counting down the days to her 18th, when she can at last have the procedure and be safe from pain. But, with only 95 days left to go, Lena does the unthinkable…

“There was a time when love was the most important thing in the world. People would go to the end of the earth to find it. They would tell lies for it. Even kill for it. Then, at last, they found a cure”.

Delirium is the second novel from Oliver, and this, along with debut offering, Before I Fall, has already been optioned for film rights. Lena’s story is poignant and the characters’ inner turmoil and struggle against what they have always believed to be the truth is handled with such delicacy and respect it has a resoundingly truthful ring. Delirium will make you think and be frightened of the absolute power that governing bodies can hold over their citizens. I found myself constantly looking at my dearest and wanting to cry.

Just the thought of no love or the absence of any feelings whatsoever between partners, parents, children, friends, and family leaves a chilling aftershock. Delirium will trap you in the story as you root for Lena to escape and find a path of love and, undoubtedly, pain; but at least she will feel unlike so many around her. The plot does feel a little sluggish in the beginning, and the information a tad overloaded, but it is well worth hanging in there. The story that unfolds will resound in your heart and linger with you afterwards.

“Delirium”—Lauren Oliver

February 1, 2011, by Hodder UK

Paperback, 448 Pages

ISBN: 978-0-340-98092-7