Artemis Fowl and the Eternity Code- By Eoin Colfer

In this book Artemis gets himself in a sticky situation, Butler close to death and fairy technology in the wrong hands. Its a great book, Eoin Colfer turns the book into a fantasy heist. This of course keeps you guessing and wondering what will happen next. My favorite part is when Artemis says a statement to Jon Spiro and then disappears in front of his eyes and how it turns him into gibbering moron. By the end of the book, i really wanted to read the next, its not a cliffhanger really it just gets you even more interested.

The Hunger Games- by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games is about a girl called Katniss and how she enters the hunger games where when 24 people enter only one will come out. A cruel way of showing the various districts that the Capital still reins high but the problem is that all kids that enter will be forced to kill each other for survival and this is too much for Katniss, to kill a friend. Its a great book and that Suzanne shows us that food shouldn't be taken for granted, my favorite part was when Katniss and Peeta are about to eat poison berries so no one wins and how the capital quickly pronounces them as the winners of the Hunger Games.

Artemis Fowl and the Arctic Incident- By John Flanagan

In this book Haven is in turmoil with a goblin uprising with a ex-LEPrecon commander as their leader, Foaly is framed by a old class mate and Artemis is desperately trying to rescue his father from the Russian Mafiya. Eoin Colfer has made a dramatic twist and has made what once was enemies allies, with an agreement Artemis helps stop the uprising of the goblins and the fairies help save his father. Things don't go to plan and a dear friend is in mortal danger. My favorite part is at the end of the book and Holly has just healed Artemis's father and how in the first time in this book he acts his age.

Artemis Fowl- By Eoin Colfer

The book Artemis Fowl is when a young criminal mastermind, Artemis Fowl, decides he wants to restore his families name as a billionaire by doing what no human has done before. Kidnapping a fairy and holding it to ransom for lots of gold. Eoin Colfer twists what we have originally thought of fairies, a dwarf tunnels his way through things not with a pick axe but the teeth (mouth) and out you know what. Its a great book but i must say that my favorite part was when Butler took out a whole LEPrecon unit by himself while they were invisible to the naked eye.

The Kings of Clonmel- By John Flanagan

In this book John Flanagan reveals Halts past, in the past books you know next to nothing but now you learn almost everything about Halt. In the book the Icebound Land Halt threatens that he is royalty to a warlord, now you learn of the difficulties of his past. Its a race against time to save a kingdom from being taken, from its own people! My favorite part is when Halt throws back his hood and says hello brother, i could almost see how Halt's brother pales and stutters, in disbelief.

Lies- By Michael Grant

The book Lies is based after the book Gone and Hunger, all the people over 15 disappears and a mysterious wall is cutting the small town off from the outside world and kids are developing dangerous powers. In this book, Sam has all the pressure of being leader of his shoulders but somehow his mind won't accept that Drake is dead and not about to kill him. Orsay and her friend Nerezza convince Mother Mary that its time to take the jump and take all the little kids with her. My favorite bit is when Astrid realizes that she was being too controlling and makes the 10 rules that all kids in the FAYZ ( Fall out youth zone) have to follow, then she resigns. This book is filled with a big plot and seems to draw you in to the next book after it.

The Hunger Pains trailer

As Hunger Games fever seems to be spreading quicker with the release of the movie, I thought I'd share this hilarious trailer from the authors of the Twilight Parody, Nightlight. If you've seen the movie, or even the trailer, this clip becomes funnier, so check it out!

Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins

To tell you the truth I felt extremely let down by Suzanne Collins in the last book of The Hunger Games, I was expecting an epic ending something to leave me thinking of forever, like the first book but when I read the last page all I felt was disappointment, Collins had so much potential to end Mockingjay with a bang and she didn't!


As many of you know I loved The Hunger Games; it was fast-paced, thrilling, suspenseful. Catching Fire wasn't as good but it was still enjoyable but it didn't let me down, I figured it was leading up to Mockingjay to make a mind-blowing, epic conclusion. 

I guess I am being unfair, I did set my expectations too high but I consider Collins as a brilliant writer and knows how to spin a story. Unfortunately she didn't demonstrate her talent in this book. Possibly the only thing that made this series so fantastic was the Hunger Games [SPOILER] but that ended at the end of the second book.

In this book I found the love triangle infuriating, Katniss toyed with Gale and Peeta's emotions and seemed to jump back and forth between the boys making me want to scream if you can't choose just give yourself some space and time, in the meantime don't go around kissing them both. Collins rushed important parts that infuriated me such as the deaths of main characters and the last battle. An annoying thing about Katniss in this book is that she is never in control, she barely stands up and fights anymore, which annoyed me. I have to say I am glad with the guy Katniss decides on in the end.

Review: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2) by Suzanne Collins

Compered to the first Hunger Games I found the 2nd one a bit of a disappointment, but what can Suzanne expect when she set her bar so high on the first one? While the Huger Games is a fast-paced, intense, dystopian, filled with romance and horror, I found this book similar. After the annoying cliff hanger in the first book, Catching Fire is intense from the start to the end and follows a similar plot but not at such a fast pace, which I found annoying since most of the action didn't happen till the end and then another cliff hanger occurred.


Don't get me wrong I loved it! It was not what I expected, unique and eventful but it was not as mind-blowing as the first book. 

Review: Lucky by Alice Sebold

I give all a fair warning, this is not a happy book, you will not smile or laugh while reading it but cringe. From the first sentence I knew this was going to be a brutal book, when the protagonist reviles in detail her rape. What made this book even more gripping is that it is based on a true story, on when Alice Sebold herself was raped in a park off-campus when she was walking back one night.


Sebold tells her story bluntly where at times I found it difficult to read. I knew before I read this book that it was based on true events and not made up, so it made the book pretty traumatic. An interesting thin about this book was reading about what happened to Sebold after the rape, how she dealt with her family and friends, even strangers. I liked how Sebold's first line in the book was: “This is what I remember…”, and her last line suggests:  “This is what I’ll never forget…”. This was a difficult story to read but said things that needed to be said and heard to people who have been raped and those who fortunately haven't.

Review: Days Like This by Alison Stewart

I was extremely excited about this book since A. It's set in Australia, B. It is similar to John Marsden's Tomorrow series [which I love] and C. It was a fantastic YA read, that needs more publicity! The genre of dystopian is rapidly growing, [these have to be some of my favourites] such as The Hunger Games, these books mainly take place in America in the future, which does not seem as real to me but since this book is based in Australia it had a great connection to me and made it seem real.


Days Like This follows Lily, who has not stepped outside of her house since the Wall was built, in Sydney. "The Warming" has stripped the land bare; anyone living outside the priviledged area around Sydney is left in the barren wasteland to perish and is shown no mercy. Life at home has been dreadful for Lily and her twin brother Daniel, only her little sister is shown love from their parents, when Daniel disappears, Lily knows she is also in danger and must escape.

I found Lily very likeable, she loves her family and willingly risks her life to save them.  Lily is strong, stubborn and clumsy, she seems so real and full of courage she was able to make me admire her. 


I love how Alison Stewart has used a mixture of characters, made some loveable, others dangerous and many heroic, making the plot thicker with mystery and suspense. The plot was amazing, the mysterious that surrounded this future world made me turn the pages fast with eagerness! Unfortunately the ending was a huge disappointment, it was rushed and ruined the book, I think it could of been made into two books and built on, more of the mysteries solved but overall I thought it was a fantastic book.

Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games is about a 16 year old girl who has to face incredibly hard obstacles.  This book can be enjoyable for any ages, preferably not children since there are violent death scenes through out the book.

I have to say this book is a book no one I've met so far can put down, worst thing is when I first decided to read it, it was getting late and I had school the next day but I thought I'll just read the first chapter next thing I know it's 3 in the morning and I am full of adrenaline scrambling around my room for the sequel! 


This book was able to make my sob uncontrollably for half an hour then hold my stomach from laughing the next, to hiding my head under my blankets when Peeta confesses his love for Katniss on live t.v. The Hunger Games is a fantastic book that I re-read over and over, but the first time I read it had to be the best. I must say that Suzanne Collins has alot of guts, by writing a book about kids being forced to kill each other and very talented to make me and various other readers to feel extreme happiness that out of all the kids to die in the games our favourite wasn't one of them. The Hunger Games is an exciting yet gruesome story but after reading it it is able to embed itself in your mind.

Review: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Never Let Me Go is a fictional story focusing on three classmates from a unique boarding school, who have to each deal with the questions of loss and mortality. Kazuo Ishiguro is able to  talk about the difficult issues of the future that we all have to eventually face. How as we grow older, we'll lose our friends and family, things once familiar to us disappear, while trying in vain to cling to our memories of how things used to be. Kazuo asks one of life's unanswerable questions, of how do we come to accept the fact that our lives are limited and attach some meaning to our limited existence? 

After finishing this book it definitely made me think and consider the important points that was dealt with in the book. This novel is extremely different from my average reads. The book was not fast paced but followed the life of the three school children as they grow up, information was slowly given. The book didn’t make its own statements, but lets the reader form their own ideas, making it a very interesting read.

Erak's Ransom-John Flanagan

Erak's Ransom is when Erak gets himself captured and held for ransom. The book goes from the desert, executions and a race for Tug. Will is in his final year of apprenticeship, he displays himself being nervous in the epilogue, but this is very funny. Its a great book and you can tell John Flanagan has looked up things about the desert it. My favorite part is when Horace is puzzled why the executioner has fallen backwards instead of lopping a certain rangers head off.

Review: Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

I loved this book, the beautiful description used through out was able to paint a vivid image of the city during the 17th century. The protagonist, Griet, is a maid to a Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, whom she falls in love with but finds out that the feelings are not mutual. Griet is also unsure about the butcher boy who wants her hand in marriage. Through the book Griet experiences: the jealousy of 'the other woman', the burden of her parents expectations of her to be able to look after them and the well known pain for all, the pain of moving away from home. I found this book captivating by being able to paint images in my mind of times in Europe in the 17th century, since it fascinates me the way people lived back then.


The book is beautifully written with an obvious amount of research done on the time period and the painter.   The pace of the book is also very slow, not a lot happens over the the three years Griet lives with the Vermeers.

I  love this book and think many other Young Adults will enjoy it since, I like many others love historical fiction and will spark a lot of interest. I don’t think this book would be interesting to most boys. I would definitely recommend this to any historical fans but be warned  this book moves at a slow pace.

Review: The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham

I have to admit I saw the movie before I read the book, and this has to be my 'once in a life time' time that I've preferred a movie to the book. Both, fortunately follow a similar plot, a beautiful love story set in England and Hong Kong in the 1920's.


I found by viewing the movie and reading the book I was able to understand the characters and appreciate the movie by expanding on the books original plot and building up the characters, making them more appealing, in the book I found them a bit snobby and Kitty [the protagonist] nails that part in the movie!
SPOILERS AHEAD:
Although the book is beautifully written, I expected a better ending, like the movie, the director was able to sum the movie up with its last scene, showing Kitty rejecting Charles [her former lovers'] advancements when she returns to England with her son, after her husbands death. 


At the end of the book I would of preferred a bigger resolution between Kitty and Walter [her husband], but she never loved him making it an even bigger disappointment since I am sure Walter still did. I was annoyed at how quickly after Walter's death Kitty was able to move on with her life and embrace the luxuries of Hong Kong but it showed realism since Kitty had hardly any affection for her husband. Another annoying thing about Kitty throughout the book is that her character never developed, she did not grow to love and accept her family or her husband but continued to be the same whiny person throughout.

Although I was greatly disappointed that Kitty never fell in love with Walter, I was pleased in the end when Kitty told her father that she would raise her daughter to be independent. I found the books message unclear but left me full of hope at the end that she was able to raise her daughter to not turn out like her, self-absorbed and selfish.

The Siege of Macindaw- By John Flanagan

The Siege of Macindaw is continued from the last book and continues with the last plot. Alyss is prisoner in the fortress of Macindaw and Will is helpless to save her, Horace is back and ready for fighting. Will, Horace and Malcolm must find a way to take Macindaw before the Scotti invade and you will never guess how they plan it with only 32 warriors! When needed at least 300 warriors. My favorite part is when Malcolm takes the role given to him (sorcerer) and scares the wits out of the Skandians!

The Sorcerer in the North- By John Flanagan

The Sorcerer in the North is when Will has graduated and has his Silver Oakleaf and a fief to protect. Will gets sent to find out what is happening in the fief of Norgate, to see what the talk of a sorcerer and a curse is about. Disguised and able to infiltrate the cursed barons castle, Will comes face to face to the night warrior (10 foot tall warrior, with evil laugh). My favorite part is when Will deals with the Skandians when the garrison of a the castle can't. Its funny and interesting of how he did it I definitely recommend this book to other readers!!

Review: The Poison Throne by Celine Kiernan

This book was absolutely amazing! It is set in a period time but is from another world where people can talk to ghosts and cats. What really completed this book had to be the relationships between the main characters. The protagonist, Wynter calls Prince Razi her brother, which always felt kind, since he always looks out for her like a big brother does. When Wynter becomes jealous of Christopher, Razi's new friend annoyed me since he is nice, till I realised that she is acting like a protective sibling. 

Since the book is quite detailed and thick, the action unfolded slowly through out the book, most of this book was about introducing the characters and creating the world, the descriptions of the world create an amazing images in my mind. I know this isn't a very well known book, probably lost amongst all other great fantasy books such as Harry Potter and The Hunger Games but it is a definite book to read.

 

Review: Earthly Joys by Philippa Gregory

Earthly Joys is another one of Philippa Gregory's fantastic Tudor novels. Gregory writes about English royalty and politics, lust and deception of 17th century England. Following through the royals, King James is newly crowned the King of England and has loyal advisors such as Cecil Roberts and the Duke of Buckingham. The story is told from the point of view of John Tradescant, a famous gardener. John’s skill as a gardener catches the attention of powerful men in England who want to create amazing gardens in their homes to show off their wealth to the royal court. 

Although this book has a lot of details of plants, which I know little of, I nether-the-less enjoyed all the descriptions of the plants and travels that occurred to obtain plants rare in England. This book is about the gardens of England but also John and his son John, and how the attitudes of common people were changing towards their royalty and their quest for freedom and the ability to possess their own private land. Events in America at the time was having an impact on the English population, they were becoming angry with the extravagance of the English royalty while the country was suffering from bad harvests and the plague.  Although I enjoyed this book, The Other Boleyn Girl still has to be my all time favourite by Philippa Gregory!!

Review: Bad Kitty by Michele Jaffe

A quirky girly book that grasped my attention with its peculiar title. For Michele's first young adults book she deserves a standing ovation, each of her characters have such deep and unique personalities it makes the characters seen life like, each having their own quirks and flaws makes them hilarious and the book a joy to read.

An annoying flaw of the book has to be the footnotes that were used throughout it became seriously annoying at times. The infuriating thing about the footnotes, is that they play an important role in the book so you have to read them, making the book less enjoyable. I think this is definitely a book to read especially if you like light humour, mystery and fashion although you must be very patient in some parts.

Review: Gallagher Girls 4# by Ally Carter

The Gallagher Girls book 4, Only the Good Spy Young, this has to be Ally Carter's master piece, this is the book where we hear about a bit of Zach's background! Like the first three books in this series it kept me hooked till the end. While in book 1 it goes along with young school girls that make bombs in their chemistry class and can kill a man with a blunt pencil. Through the series the books become serious, it shows the danger of being a spy, the torture and kill that can be inflicted on one and the pain and suffer that will follow. This book is darker then the others, serious, something that is deep and takes a while to be solved. I have to say that though I love this series with all my heart the suspense is positively killing me. My head is racing with all the possible outcomes in the next book, the ending such kept me on my toes, this is a series I have grown to love, one I have to recommend to any girl who loves chick lit but likes a girl with a good arm when it comes to punches!

Review: A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

I loved this book, it is a great young adults novel that I immensely enjoyed, the book jumps and mixes different cultures such as India and England and is other worldly by mixing with a faerie world.  Gemma  doesn't belong in any of them, and she recognises that, she is the outsider trying to find her place. 


I didn't like the other main characters because I felt that the protagonist, Gemma, was treading on thin ice by being friends with them. I liked Gemma although she can be selfish, angry, and petty, cut her some slack she's only sixteen-years-old. The friendship between Gemma and the other three girls is based on a desire for freedom - I don't think the girls were ever meant to appear as best friends.

The story had a terrific flow and had enough suspense to keep me guessing - it's also a easy read. The visits to the faerie realm were amazing to read - a pure dream for the characters but not without a dark edge. Bray is able to not fall for every cliche when inserting her romantic parts, but followed the similar love plot of a dangerous and mysterious boy that is intriguing, making this book a even bigger success.

The Will of the Empress by Tamora Pierce

I think that this book is another example of the amazing books that Tamora Pierce has written. This book is about 4 young mages, who are also a foster family accompanying Sandraline fa Toren , who is on of the 4 mages, to her lands and, inevitably, to Sandraline's imperial cousin, Berene, empress of Namorn (one of the countries in this series) who does not want the four powerful, but young mages to leave, doing all in her power to stop them. If you are interested in starting this series at the beginning read 'the magic in the weaving' in the circle opens quartet. This book is perfect for 12+ years. It's genre is fantasy.

Oak Leaf Bearers-By John Flanagan

In the book Oak Leaf Bearers, Evanlyn is carried away by a angry Temujai warrior. With Will unfit and accuracy with the bow low but Halt and Horace save the day but this brings up the topic of a invading force that stands in there way of getting home. The four friends work together with the Skandians to defend their country. But the odds are against them, my favorite part was when Halt finally found a purpose of a Skandian helmet in his disguise (Halt was very sea sick).

The Ice Bound Land-By John Flanagan

The book The Ice Bound land is set in the countries of Skandia and Gallica. With Will and Evanlyn (princess Cassandra) taken as slaves and sold, with Halt desperately forming a plan to go rescue his apprentice which ends with him banished from the kingdom, with Horace who wants to rescue his friend too. In the book, due to the enslavement in the yard of the great hall, will becomes mindless and blank, and closing the distance to death. My favorite part is when Will throws the steak knife into the keg, with amazing accuracy and makes Slagor yelp like a frightened puppy.

Rangers Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan. John Flanagan

I like the way John Flanagan develops the characters and the way he lets you see others characters point of view. I would recommend this book to everyone as I enjoyed it a lot. My favourite character, so far, would have to be Will. I say 'so far' because I still have many more to read.

The Burning Bridge-By John Flanagan

The book the burning bridge is a great and inspiring book, set after the book, ''the Ruins of Gorlan'' in the series ''Rangers Apprentice''. John Flanagan introduces a new exciting plot, Morgarath is planning a second rebellion one that has the kings forces hopeless and at his mercy. My favorite part is when halt tricks the kings army and Morgarath's too but seems to escape the kings anger with ease. The book stops at a cliff hanger that makes the readers mind restless until the next book is in the readers hands.

The Ruins of Gorlan  By John Flanagan

The Ruins of Gorlan is a great book it shows how a anyone can be something special. I specially like the bit when Halt catches Will red handed. John Flanagan has written the book and has defiently used his imagination for the strange monsters of the mountains and how it relates to life ( anyone will do anything for a bit of money ). Its a awesome plot that makes you want to read the next which of course i want to do :).

"Five Bells" by Gail Jones

Set in Sydney over one day, "Five Bells" chronicles the individual stories of 4 people who serendipidously come together one sunny day at bustling Circular Quay. There is youthful Ellie, brimming with life, tragic James, a teacher, Irish Catherine who is recovering from her brother's untimely death, and Pei Xing who has been quite damaged by her experiences during the Cultural Revolution in China.  It is a 5th person, a child who innocently brings these characters together.  An evocative read from a talented Australian author.  (Margaret Saunders)

A worthy winner!

So what, that you are left thinking about some flaws in the plot after you put down Booker Prize Winner 'The sense of an ending' by Julian Barnes. The read itself is so absolutely absorbing that you forgive all gaps of logic. After all, why would Adrian send his diary to Veronica's mother and why would she leave it to Tony in her will? I love how the author, through the central character of Tony, plays around with notions of memory and responsibility. The setting rings true, the characters evolve in their likability and the clever descriptions of conversations and events are delightful. Even when all is revealed, you will be left guessing.