REVIEW: THE DIG

The Dig
Author: Audrey Hart
Series: Yes, #1
Publisher: Backlit Fiction
Release date: November 2011
Genre: YA, mythology
Kindly given by the author for an honest review

When Zoe goes off to Crete to visit her aunt and uncle at an ancient Greek archaeological dig, she ends up transported back to real ancient Greek times. Except here, mythology is turned on its head, and the Olympian Gods are real, living people. Teenagers in fact. But will they be able to help her find out why she has mysterious powers like them and how she can get home, or will Zoe find herself up against the wrath of the gods?

Review: I really enjoyed the Greek mythology aspect, with the Olympian gods - Zeus, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, Aphrodite, Hermes - featuring heavily in the second part of the story. What's interesting about them was that they were just like real teenagers, having strops and being mean to the new girl. Except they have incredible (and dangerous) powers that they can use if something isn't to their liking.

I did like Zeus, the beautiful winged God, as he kept popping up to help Zoe when she needed it most. He was protective of her, encouraging and instantly saw the good inside her. He's still quite mysterious, and I hope to see more of the real him, beyond the god persona, in the next book.

I'm not sure yet if I've made up my mind about the main protagonist Zoe. To start with I was like, yeah I completely get how she feels as the outsider. She was independent, brave and didn't worry about having loads of friends or being popular. But then she bashed girly girls and clique girls, whilst spending all her time fawning over Zeus and hoping to kiss him. I'm going to reserve my judgment until the next book, although really I can't complain because personally I don't like perfect characters without any flaws.

Audrey Hart's writing style was really unique, peppered throughout with quirky metaphors, humour as well as references to pop culture and TV. I think that The Dig would be a great read for younger girls and teenagers, as it was a light read that wasn't bogged down with heavy mythology but kept light and fun. Saying this though, there were messages entwined in the story about friendship and judging others that are definitely relevant to this audience. With lots of adventure thrown in, from time travelling to trials of fire (quite literally) on Mount Olympus, the pacing was fast and the plot full of danger and suspense.

I'm really intrigued to see where the story with Zoe and Zeus goes next, and honestly I have no idea what might happen with them as there were no huge plot lines left hanging. I guess though we have to wait and see in the next book!

Rating: 4*

REVIEW: CARRIER OF THE MARK

Carrier of the Mark
Author: Leigh Fallon
Series: Yes, #1
UK Publisher: HarperCollins
UK Release date: October 2011
Genre: Paranormal YA
Kindly given by the publisher for an honest review

Their love was meant to be.
When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÍs.
But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction. (Goodreads)

Review: As soon as I started reading Carrier of the Mark, I felt like I was reading Twilight again. The similarities felt quite striking, from Megan moving to a new town with her father, the mysterious DeRis family that no-one ever mixes with, and the gorgeously handsome Adam that blatantly ignores Megan before admitting he can’t stay away from her. It’s not that I mind the similarities too much, but it made the story feel familiar without inspiring a feeling of excitement in me that something unique and different was going on. However the setting for the story was Ireland, and I haven't read any books that are set there so I was pleased to read about somewhere new and different.

The 'science' behind the carrier genes and royal blood was rather confusing but interesting. I'm not sure I understand why Megan is so special in terms of being a girl with the mark but I did like the elemental aspect, where Megan, Adam, Aine and Rian are gifted with the power to manipulate earth, air, fire or water. Aine’s ability to make plants instantly grow and to communicate with animals was really cool. If I could get my garden to grow beautifully whilst chatting with a raven, I would be very happy indeed.

I really wanted to enjoy Carrier of the Mark but being presented with another male love interest like Adam, who was obviously very handsome and swoon worthy but with little substance to him was a tad frustrating. I could describe very little about Adam except for the fact that he’s gorgeous, he likes Megan and seems nice enough. For me, this just wasn’t enough to feel like I knew him and really could get behind him as a character. The good bit though was that with Megan being up the fourth element, they were not only uncertain whether elemental powers were causing their attraction but they were also forbidden by the Order from being together. This added more depth to their relationship, testing their feelings for each other and causing some emotional tension and turmoil.

Fast paced but familiar, Carrier of the Mark has left a lot open for the next books to continue, and there is bags of potential for the story and characters to develop further. We can only hope that Leigh Fallon rises to the challenge!

Rating: 3.5*

REVIEW: THIS GIRL IS DIFFERENT

This Girl is Different 

Author: JJ Johnson
Series: No, standalone
UK Publisher: Peachtree Publishers
UK Release date: April 2011
Genre: Young adult
Read via NetGalley

Home-schooled Evie has decided to spend her senior year in high school. But Evie isn't like most teenagers, because this girl is different. Strong willed and independent, when Evie starts school she is drawn to change the oppressive rules and regulations. But she'll find that things don't change as easily as she might have thought they would have and some people just don't want to change.

Review: When I started reading I instantly loved Evie's alternative lifestyle. Her and her mum live in a self-sufficient eco dome home with their own cow, growing their own vegetables and fighting the 'man'. From the off, this book was different to the normal kind of book I read. Teetering very close to the edge of a stereotypical alternative home-schooled life, This Girl is Different just manages to avoid predictable stereotyping and retain a realistic and human feel.

I really liked Evie. She is unique, independent, assertive and thinks for herself. She has real values and diverse interests, and makes a great protagonist. I loved seeing her perspective as she enters the school environment with its strange rules and regulations, and I totally empathised with her as she struggled to understand these rules and break free from its oppression often causing unintentional chaos.

But I didn't completely understand her attraction to Razas, and found it very shallow for someone with such a strong moral compass. Sure I understand the fall-head-over-heels-at-first-sight thing. And whilst Razas appreciated her uniqueness, he was shallow, pestered her for sex, and didn't acknowledge their relationship to anyone other than Evie. In my opinion, she deserved someone better.

This Girl is Different tackles lots of big social issues such as oppression, freedom of speech, bullying, student-teacher relationships, justice, the school institution, and moral values. As is typical of real-life these kind of issues aren't always clear-cut black-or-white situations. For example, when standing up against a teacher that bullies students turns in an opportunity for the whole student body to discriminate against each other, who is in the wrong? Despite the fact that Evie is trying to tackle these issues in school and make life better for everyone, she sadly makes things worse because for everyone else oppression and dictatorship is the norm. JJ Johnson doesn't attempt to give answers to these big questions and dilemmas, but Evie's wholehearted approach of seeking justice certainly makes you think and reflect on the issues.

With so many issues crossing its pages I kind of expected some big social message or lesson to come across at the end of the book, which didn't happen (and I'm actually thankful for). The chapter quotes slowly filtered little messages throughout the book and worked really well relating to the context of the current chapter. I think this worked so much better than having a big moral to the whole story.

This Girl is Different is a unique and refreshing look at growing up, facing social and moral dilemmas and discovering who you are.

Rating: 4*

REVIEW: BLOOD MAGIC

Blood Magic

Author: Tessa Gratton
Series: Yes, #1
UK Publisher: Random House Children’s Books
UK Release date: May 2011
Genre: Urban fantasy

Grieving for the loss of her parents who died in an apparent suicide-murder, Silla receives a mysterious book detailing the magic rituals her father used. Using her own blood as a source of power, Silla discovers her enthusiasm for the magic. When Nicholas moves across the cemetery from her, she discovers a kindred spirit and together they learn the magic together. But they soon realise that someone is out to use the magic for evil and will not leave Silla’s family alone.

Review: For some reason I've only just got around to reading this book, despite buying it months ago. I wasn't disappointed as it's faced paced and exciting, although some bits were really bloody and gruesome!


Blood Magic is told from the dual perspective of 17 year old Silla and, newcomer to her small town, Nicholas. The swapping between their narratives kept the story flowing. Diary extracts from a third perspective, young Josephine who is learning and using magic, were really captivating. We don’t really know who she is, but we see her relationship with magic grow and change into something corrupt, and it is these extracts that add another layer of mystery, interest and intrigue.

Silla is a really interesting character as she is truly hurt and damaged from the death of her parents. We see the interested she used to have, as well as the masks that she 'wears' to convey her thoughts, temper, and feelings. For her this is a huge coping strategy after the death of her parents. Although she feels empty inside she still manages to convey real character and depth, which is why I liked her so much. The fact that she doesn't cling to Nick like a lost puppy is also a positive.

Being new to the area, Nicholas stands out from everyone else like a sore thumb. I like the fact he embraces this and revels in being different. I do like his nickname for his stepmother Mary, whom he affectionately calls Lilith – the name of the demon queen!

The plot was quite simplistic and with the help of some very obvious clues I easily guessed who was behind things. Despite this I still really enjoyed the story because it was so fast paced and exciting.

Having a dislike of blood, I found some details of the magic rituals a little gory. In particular the 'rabbit' scene was bloody and nauseating – personally I feel that this could have been tamed down or left out as I had to skip bits in sympathy of my sensitive stomach. I also find it odd that Silla can’t stand the sight or thought of blood because it reminds her of finding her parents dead covered in blood, yet at the same time she is happy to cut herself open and slather herself in blood. Perhaps this is meant to demonstrate Silla growing and healing thanks to the magic, but it seemed rather discordant to me.

Tessa Gratton’s writing style is wonderful - it's flowing and fluid. Here is certainly a very promising writer that we can expect great things of!

Rating: 4*

REVIEW: DARK INSIDE

Dark Inside

Author: Jeyn Roberts

Series: No, standalone

UK Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books

UK Release date: September 2011

Genre: Dystopian

Kindly sent by the publisher for an honest review

When the world is ripped apart by earthquakes, a terrible evil pours out and infiltrates the minds of the weak. The rest of humanity must fight to survive against these hunters who will stop at nothing to kill everyone left alive. Clementine, Aries, Michael and Mason go on their own journeys across North American finding friendship and love in a world that is filled with violence and darkness.

Review: In post-apocolyptic aftermath four young people face the changing side of humanity, and the resulting destruction and death. I honestly couldn't put this book down despite the fact that I was ridiculously scared when reading it. Each page was filled with violence and pure terror. This is truly a book for the strong of heart, and stomach. As each of the characters is faced with the horrifying baggers (killers), it's like being right there with them feeling the heart-stopping fright and unnerving suspense of whether they will be caught or survive. 

What I found really interesting was how each of the characters dealt with this violence and death - did they run away or stand and fight? Do they put their own life at risk for others or protect themselves at all costs? I liked the fact that each of the characters had their strengths and weaknesses and would react differently depending on the context. None of us knows how we would react in similar situations - I can only hope that I would be brave, but after three weeks surviving I'm not sure I could keep it up! In Dark Inside they can't hide behind normal everyday life, but their inner fears and true characters are bared for all to see.

Each chapter is written from the point of view of the four different characters Clementine, Aries, Michael and Mason, which helps move the story along and keep the fast pace flowing. I did struggle to remember which character was which at the start of each chapter, because so much happens to each of them. This is really just a small niggle though.

The 'disease' that infected the weak turning them into killers was pretty ambiguous. There is the implication that this has happened before to other cultures, but I'm still unsure what it is and why it happened at this precise point in time. I did like the concept of Nothing, able to give us an insight into the 'dark inside', and whilst I liked the ending I still what to know what will happen after. That little extra element of clarity would have really helped me get a better grip on the bigger picture.

Gripping and terrifying, Dark Inside is a compulsive read that will make you afraid of the dark and what lurks within.

Rating: 4*

REVIEW: THE IRON WITCH

I know I’m a little behind on this review, but I guess I put off reading this one because I haven’t overly enjoyed other Fey stories in the past. I am however really glad I read The Iron Witch.

The Iron Witch

Author: Karen Mahoney

Series: The Iron Witch #1

UK Publisher: Random House Children's Books

UK release date: January 2011

Genre: Contemporary YA, Faerie 

Seventeen year old Donna has a secret. As a child, her hands and arms were mutilated by a Fey wood monster. She has been brought up learning about the Fey as well as having iron surgery on her hands. With ties to the Order of the Dragon, a secret sect charged with protecting humans from the Fey, she’s kept everything hidden from her best friend Navin for three years, but when she meets Xan events start happening that force her to bear all.

Review: Donna is a charming mixture of fiery resolve and insecurity. Her hands, rebuilt and woven with iron, not only give her strength and power but make her feel like an outcast from her peers. Despite her ability to fight Fey with her iron hands, Donna is certainly a character that I could relate too, and her moments of shyness and awkwardness take me back to that age. Although The Iron Witch is written in third person, diary extracts give us an insight into Donna’s past and feelings, without feeling constructed or deliberate.

Donna immediately relates to Xan because he too has a secret and exists on the edge of the popular crowd. The connection and common knowledge they share makes me feel as Donna does, easily enamoured with Xan’s rough exterior and caring character.

Other minor characters including those belonging to the Order of the Dragon were touched upon in enough detail for you to know something odd is going on, but left enough back to keep the mystery and leave potential openings for the next stories. The fact that the 'good' guys are suspicious presents an interesting dichotomy for Donna, as well as adding varying levels of antagonsits to the story.

With Donna's iron hands, Karen Mahoney gives an interesting twist and approach to the Faerie element, adding in scientific and alchemical elements which for me make the story far more interesting than I expected.

I don’t normally like Faerie stories, but I really enjoyed The Iron Witch. It has a perfect blend of Fey mystery and legend, teenage worries and enchanting characters.

Rating: 4*

Look out for the next in the series, The Wood Queen, coming out in 2012.

REVIEW: FORGOTTEN

Forgotten

Author: Cat Patrick

UK Release date: June 2011

UK Publisher: Egmont Books Ltd

Genre: YA

Summary: When sixteen year old London Lane wakes up every morning it is like starting life over again, because at 4.33am her brain resets and she can’t remember what happened yesterday or the day before.

London can however ‘remember’ snippets of the future – like which of her classmates will get pregnant before graduating. The one person she can’t see in her future is Luke Henry, the boy she likes and has to fall for and meet new every day.

Review: London Lane has a memory condition where she doesn’t remember the boy she likes or what she wore the day before. I really love this concept, including the notes that she has to write for herself every night ready to read the next morning. It reminds me a little of the film 50 First Dates, where Drew Barrymore can’t remember anything when she wakes up.

What makes this story so good though is the flawless writing as well as the characters. It is such an interesting read you will really want to finish it in one sitting.

London’s condition must be stressful, exhausting and slightly terrifying. Only her best friend and her mum know about her condition and can help her remember things that happened in the past. I started the story slightly confused, wondering what the notes were and so on, but it just put me straight in London’s shoes of how she must feel every morning waking up knowing only the future and not the past. She handles the uncertainty of her past and the pressure of knowing the future really well, even when her best friend refuses to hear what might happen in the future and she discovers her mum has been hiding things from the past.

Luke Henry meets London on his first day at school, and instantly she falls for him. Every day London falls for him over again, which is so sweet, endearing and romantic. I still don’t feel I know enough about Luke, however you instantly like him as a thoughtful, caring and romantic kinda guy.

I thought I had figured out what would happen at the end, so I wasn’t expecting the unpredictable twists that the story took. Forgotten touches on love, friendship and whether we can control our own fate - a really addictive and endearing read! 

Rating: 4*

REVIEW: A BEAUTIFUL LIE

A Beautiful Lie

Author: Irfan Master

UK Publisher: Bloomsbury

UK Release date: January 2011

Genre: YA, MG

Summary: Set in India in 1947, when racial tension was rife and the country was on the verge of dividing, Bilal weaves a web of lies to keep his father safe from the truth of his India at war.

Members of the community become caught up in the lies, helping Bilal as the India he knows falls down around him, irrevocably dividing communities and friends alike.

Review: When Bilal realises that his father is dying, he is dogged about making sure he never discovers just how bad things are getting. His determination and loyalty to his father are endearing and heart wrenching; his guilt about all the lies he must tell make him an even  sweeter and more innocent character.

During all his attempts to make sure no one tells his father the truth Bilal has the unswerving help of his friends. Bilal, Manjeet, Chota and Saleem all stand up for each other when fights start and fires are set in the village. It is really sad to see the four friends become separated because of their religious differences and the growing violence in their village.

Seeing the Partition through Bilal’s eyes we watch as his community is torn apart by blind hatred and age-old friends are at war with each other. The violent tension between religious groups builds throughout the story, however the writing maintains a lovely flow and almost rhythmic pace. The rich and vivid descriptions of the village and Indian life help to bring the story alive and make it feel like a real account from 1947.

A Beautiful Lie is not the normal kind of book I would pick up and read due to the real historical elements but it is a powerful and endearing debut story none-the-less about family, friendship, love and religious (in)tolerance.

Rating: 4*

REVIEW: DIVERGENT

Divergent

Author: Veronica Roth

UK Publisher: Harpercollins

UK Publication Date: May 2011

Genre: Dystopian

Summary:

Living in a society split into factions based on common values might seem ideal. But if you don’t fit into one of those factions, life can be very dangerous.

Beatrice Prior is Abnegation, a faction that values selflessness above all else. But being selfless doesn’t come naturally to Beatrice, and she must decide if she wants to stay with her family in Abnegation or move to a different faction: Dauntless who value bravery, Candor who tell only the truth, Erudite who seek knowledge or Amity who value peace above all else.

Taking the aptitude test should tell Beatrice where she belongs, but instead she discovers she’s Divergent. She doesn’t know what it means, only that it’s dangerous to be one.

Review: Once I started reading Divergent, I just couldn’t put it down. It really is one of the best YA debuts we’ve had so far this year.

I really enjoyed the build up of anticipation and attraction between Tris (Beatrice’s new faction name) and Four, her initiation trainer. Their connection felt real and natural, as an instinctive attraction to each other, rather than just falling for the perfect gorgeous hunk. As trainer, Four has to maintain his tough and hardened persona, but as we get to know him through Tris we find out there is so much more to him. I couldn’t help but fall for him myself! Both characters have their flaws and insecurities, which makes them so much more real and likeable.

The initiation into her new faction is brutal and unpredictable, not only forcing initiates to show their true character but also giving the plot a strong undercurrent of tension that feels like it might just explode at any minute. The appearances of Dauntless leader and power-hungry sadist, Eric, are enough to make your toes curl in anticipation!

Divergent also looks into tensions between the factions and the prejudices different sections of society hold against each other, but I don’t want to say anymore because it really is a story you should read yourself!

As Veronica Roth’s debut novel, it is a gripping and thrilling look at identity, finding your place in society and finding friendship and love!

Rating: 5*

IN MY MAILBOX #3

In My Mailbox was started by the lovely Kristi (over at Story Siren) - check out her blog for more information. 
IMM today, I have some (UK) YA Debut Authors for 2011, which will be part of this year’s challenge hosted by The Story Siren, and which I have got incredibly behind on. I think most people besides me will have read Divergent by now, but hopefully you will find one of these of interest:

A Beautiful Lie, Irfan Master
January 2011
Bloomsbury
An extraordinarily rich debut novel, set in India in 1947 at the time of Partition. Although the backdrop is this key event in Indian history, the novel is even more far-reaching, touching on the importance of tolerance, love and family. The main character is Bilal, a boy determined to protect his dying father from the news of Partition - news that he knows will break his father's heart. With great spirit and determination, and with the help of his good friends, Bilal persuades others to collude with him in this deception, even printing false pages of the local newspaper to hide the ravages of unrest from his father. All that Bilal wants is for his father to die in peace. But that means Bilal has a very complicated relationship with the truth...

Neversuch House (#1), Elliot Skell
March 2011
Simon & Schuster Children's Books
Neversuch House is home to the very unusual Halibut family. Spanning generations, the Halibuts all live together totally isolated from the outside world, never needing - or wanting - to step outside the walls of Neversuch, with every whim being catered for by a mass of servants. But when twelve-year-old Omnia Halibut sees a hooded figure emerging from the woods by the Wall, she can't help but wonder who the man is and why he is skulking around the House. And as Omnia sets out to discover the truth she triggers a chain of events that threatens to destroy Neversuch House forever. For the House is steeped in secrets, secrets that some people want to remain hidden, and, as Omnia tries to unravel the mysteries of Neversuch House, someone is watching her, and they will do anything to stop her from revealing the truth...

Divergent (#1), Veronica Roth
March 2011
Harpercollins Children's
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.
Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

REVIEW: PARANORMALCY

The first book on my Debut Author Challenge list for 2011 is Kiersten White, so here is my review:

Paranormalcy

Author: Kiersten White

Publisher: HarperCollins

Genre: Paranormal fantasy, YA

Summary (from Goodreads): Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours.

But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the centre of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures. So much for normal.

Review: As soon as I picked it up, I couldn’t help but skip my way through Paranormalcy. In fact it hardly felt like I was reading, more like the story was unfolding in front of me as I turned the pages.

Throughout Paranormalcy, Evie struggles to come to terms with who she is – a teenager; an employee of International Paranormal Containment Agency (IPCA); a girl with a special gift to see through the glamour of paranormals. She desperately wants to live a normal teenage life, but working for the IPCA, which is also her home and family doesn’t make it easy. When she meets Lend in unusual circumstances, he challenges her to think more deeply about her life and that of the paranormals she is helping catch.

Whilst Becky at TheBookette saw comparisons to Guantanamo bay, I saw similarities to X-men (maybe that says something about me?): people, or more accurately paranormals, with special powers existing in society but hiding from its prejudices reminded me of the setting in X-men. Paranormalcy manages to sensitively touch on issues around personal freedom and discrimination without bringing down the pace and flow of the story.

The story remains light-hearted, probably due to Evie’s character and relationship to Lend. I was relieved that Evie maintained a realistic balance between fear, wilfulness and flirting (I can’t stand female characters that are headstrong and ‘bad-ass’ without any depth of character). Her narrative voice was sassy, vulnerable and funny, making her likeable and easy to relate to.

Lend I liked from the word go. His character background is really interesting, and you can’t help but want to find out more about him.

Paranormalcy gives an interesting twist on the supernatural theme; with its likeable characters and constant pace it keeps you engaged in the story and wanting to read more.

Rating: 4.5*

2011 DEBUT AUTHOR CHALLENGE

Normally I pick up books quite randomly from the library, without really focusing on who/what I'm reading: I simply enjoy reading. But for 2011 I've decided to treat myself by buying myself a book every month. (This might seem a ridiculously small amount of books, but as I have so little money at the moment this really is a big treat for me!) Each of these books will be a YA book written by a debut author, and which I will review. The reason....

'The Story Siren' is hosting the 2011 Debut Author Challenge, and I will be taking part. All you have to do is read 12 YA/MG books by authors that are debuting in 2011, and you can take part in it whether or not you have a blog. If you want more information or to find out how to sign up then go here. 

So far, my planned books for the year are:

January: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White [Review here]

February: The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney 

March: TBC

April: Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton 

May: TBC 

June: TBC 

July: TBC 

August: TBC 

September: TBC 

October: TBC 

November: TBC 

December: TBC

I'll be updating my side bar as I figure out which books I will be reading each month.

Is anyone else taking part, or do you have any suggestions for debut authors?