Review: Creepy & Maud by Dianne Touchell

Creepy & Maud by Dianne Touchell
Release Date: October 1st 2012
Publisher: Fremantle Press
Source: Purchased by me
Pages: 220
 My Rating: 

From Goodreads: "Hilarious and heartbreaking, Creepy & Maud charts the relationship between two social misfits, played out in the space between their windows.

Creepy is a boy who watches from the shadows keenly observing and caustically commentating on human folly.

Maud is less certain. A confused girl with a condition that embarrasses her parents and assures her isolation.

Together Creepy and Maud discover something outside their own vulnerability — each other’s. But life is arbitrary; and loving someone doesn’t mean you can save them.

Creepy & Maud is a blackly funny and moving first novel that says; ‘You’re ok to be as screwed up as you think you are and you’re not alone in that.'"

Review: Crewel by Gennifer Albin

Crewel by Gennifer Albin
Release Date: October 4th 2012
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Source: Received from publisher
Format: Australian Paperback
Pages: 360
Find it on Goodreads
My Rating: 

From Goodreads: "Enter a tangled world of secrets and intrigue where a girl is in charge of other’s destinies, but not her own.

Sixteen-year-old Adelice Lewys has always been special. When her parents discover her gift—the ability to weave the very fabric of reality—they train her to hide it. For good reason, they don’t want her to become a Spinster — one of the elite, beautiful, and deadly women who determine what people eat, where they live, how many children they have, and even when they die.

Thrust into the opulent Western Coventry, Adelice will be tried, tested and tempted as she navigates the deadly politics at play behind its walls. Now caught in a web of lies and forbidden romance, she must unravel the sinister truth behind her own unspeakable power. Her world is hanging by a thread, and Adelice, alone, can decide to save it — or destroy it"

Thank you to the lovely people at Allen and Unwin for providing me with a copy for review. This in no way influences my review, all opinions expressed are my own.

Where to even start with Crewel? It was a new and unique concept, at least to me. Being able to alter threads of time? Pretty cool!

Adelice Lewys has a gift. Or I guess you could call it a curse. In a world where women, known as Spinsters, can thread time, nothing is easy. Time is nothing but a blanket of sorts, made up of threads. Spinster contain the ability to weave new threads but to also rip existing threads. Altering life and causing death.

Adelice's parents spent her whole life trying to conceal her from the Coventry, they didn't want her ability to become known. By anyone. At the end of the school year all the girls under go testing, testing to see if they could become a Spinster. Adelice has managed to hide her ability her entire life, but she slips during testing. She slips and she knows. She knows that they will come for her that very same night.

She doesn't tell her parents, so when they show up her parents have to act quickly. Adelice gets shoved into a secret under ground tunnel she knew nothing about with her mum and her sister. While her dad is left there to by them some time. Their plan fails though. Adelice gets caught, and running from collection is punishable by death. Only she wakes in the Coventry to find herself in a cell. Surely that is better than death?

Adelice starts to develop her ability inside the Coventry and along the way she discovers that she isn't like the other girls there. She is far more special than she ever thought, than any of them ever thought.

A unique and fast paced read that kept me on the edge and wanting to know more. I pleasantly surprised to find such a unique read in Crewel. Can't wait to see where the second book takes us and a very big door was opened right at the end of this story.

If you liked this review then make sure to check out my review of The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld, another book revolving around the concept of time.

What do you think? Does this sound like your type of read?

Happy reading!

Review: Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
Release Date: June 1st 2012
Publisher: Hardie Egmont Grant
Pages: 324
Series: Of Poseidon #1
Source: Borrowed from Jade <3
Find it on Goodreads
My Rating: 

From Goodreads: "Galen is the prince of the Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach. When she runs into Galen — literally, ouch! — both teens sense a connection. But it will take several encounters, including a deadly one with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma's gifts. Now, if he can only convince Emma that she holds the key to his kingdom . . .

Told from both Emma and Galen's points of view, here is a fish-out-of-water story that sparkles with intrigue, humor, and waves of romance."

See below the bump for the review!

Review: The Diviners by Libba Bray

The Diviners by Libba Bray
Release Date: November 2012
Pages: 578 pp
Publisher: Allen and Unwin
Source: Received from Publisher
Find it on Goodreads

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

From Goodreads: "1920s New York. A teen clairvoyant. An old evil. It has begun...

Halloween Spooktacular! Review: Slide - Jill Hathaway

Hi everyone and welcome to Halloween Spooktacular! If you would like to know more about this event and to also enter our first giveaway, please click here!

Slide byJill Hathaway
Series: Slide #1
Release Date: March 1st 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Purchased myself

My Rating: 4/5 Stars
Spooky Rating: 3.5/5 Cobwebs

From Goodreads: "Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth--her sister's friend Sophie didn't kill herself. She was murdered.

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn't actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else's mind and experiences the world through that person's eyes. She's slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed "friend" when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie's slashed body.

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can't bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting distant lately, especially now that she's been spending more time with Zane.

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again."

Let me start by saying that even before opening this book to start reading it, the cover had me spooked. I find that I can't look at it for too long because her face is way intense and I feel like she can somehow see deep into my soul. Creepy *shudders*. Because of this it took me a fair while to actually see the hands that are reflected in her eyes. Pretty cool little added detail there!

Now onto the actual review!

Review: Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

Poison Princess by Kresley Cole
Release Date: October 1st 2012
Series: Arcana Chronicles #1
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Format: Paperback ARC
Source: Publisher for review purposes

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

Thank you, thank you, thank you to the lovely people at Simon and Schuster for sending me an ARC of Poison Princess. Though I was sent a copy, all opinions and views that are expressed are my own!

The first book in a new series revolving around the cards of a Tarot Deck. Sounds interesting right? I don't know a whole lot about the cards of a Tarot deck but it has always intrigued me!

Let's start with this cover. GORGEOUS. It's all dark and mysterious, somewhat dystopian looking location. Is it weird that the thing I most enjoy about this cover is the jaw line of the guy? Seriously though, look at it! I know the picture above isn't the best quality and even still you can see it!

Review: Whispering Hills by Taryn browning

Whispering Hills by Taryn Browning
Release Date: March 19th 2012
Source: Ebook from SupaGurl Books
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

From Goodreads: "For as long as she can remember, 17-year-old Alexis Forbes can hear the thoughts of others. Most recently, she is disturbed by the dark, unfamiliar voice of a frightening killer: callous, cunning, charismatic…and dead. 

She hears his every sinister thought. But she can’t tell anyone. No one would believe her. Alexis is suddenly being haunted by a terrifying past she doesn’t remember, and a ghost with a serious score to settle. Even Chance, the gorgeous new guy she’s falling for, has his own ghostly secret. He’s definitely not like any guy she’s ever met. Alexis soon discovers she has a connection to the dead and it runs much deeper than she could ever imagine. And if the sociopathic entity has his way, she’ll finally be sentenced to the fate she escaped thirteen years ago."

Hi everyone! I am fortunate enough to be on the Whispering Hills blog tour hosted by the SupaGurl Books Blog! The ebook was supplied by SupaGurl Books, this does not in anyway change my review!


 I was very excited to read Whispering Hills having read Dark Seeker by Taryn Browning not too long ago. I was definitely not disappointed!

Whispering Hills is a journey of love and friendship, of course with some little added benefits! Alexis can hear other peoples thoughts and so can Chance the two main characters. Then there is Summer, the witch! Who would have thought that all this in one little town. 

Alexis was a great female lead. Falling hard and fast for the new boy in town Chance. There is something strange about him, she can't hear his thoughts like she can everyone else. Much to the dismay of her classmate Summer, Chance is hanging around far to much. Summer and Alexis never really spoke before but Summer has been noticing that maybe Summer is more than she once thought. Summer is probably my favourite character, which is unusual for me. Usually my favourite character is the dreamy boy! Not this time! Summer belongs to a family of witches and has this attitude that says 'get out of my face' without even needing to say anything. 

There is one thing that I will say, I think the two characters fell for each other far to quickly. It was a sort of insta-love kind of situation. Though for the premise of the book it did work pretty well. I loved the inclusion of ghosts! I haven't read many ghost stories and this one has definitely left me wanting to venture into it a bit more!

I really enjoy Taryn Browning's writing style. It is easy and fast to read without being to simple. The story flowed really well with some unexpected twists along the way to keep you on your toes. I found that Whispering Hills bore a similarity to The Body Finder, which I also loved.

I definitely recommend Whispering Hills to YA fanatics, especially those who are into ghost stories, and even those that aren't. If you haven't already you should check out Dark Seeker, also by Taryn Browning, which I absolutely loved! 

Review: When Copper Suns Fall by KaSonndra Leigh

When Copper Suns Fall by KaSonndra Leigh
Release Date: December 6th 2011
Publisher: TriGate Press
Source: Ecopy sent by author
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

From Goodreads: "In fifteen-year-old Chela Prizeon’s city, alchemy is forbidden and angels hide among the mortal. With a deadly virus ravaging the globe, Chela’s nightmarish memories compels her to experience a past riddled with gloom, and now her brother is infected.

Chela’s only hope is the Caduceans, slayers sworn to protect the last seven Light Keepers and the ancient memories they share. A group led by the sometimes elusive, sometimes infuriating boy who intrigues Chela. But can she trust this boy with the mysterious past, someone who can influence her memories?

With the Caduceans aid, Chela races to defeat her rivals, to unearth dark family secrets, desperate to find a cure…only to discover the glutovirus is far more than a simple disease.

In this haunting debut, KaSonndra Leigh offers an escape into an intriguing new world filled with celestial creatures, fascinating villainy, high-stake choices, and a secret romance, When Copper Suns Fall, is a fresh and original urban fantasy—with a dystopian twist—that will take readers on an unforgettable adventure."

Thank you to Kasonndra Leigh for sending me a copy for review, this in no way influences my review.

When Copper Suns Fall is so far unique to the other YA books I have been reading. First of all think dystopian, then think dystopian but with Angels. I didn't know what to expect but I was pleasently surprised!

I finished When Copper Suns Fall in two sittings, which hasn't been happening often lately. I have been in a bit of a reading slump.

The characters have great depth and the plot was well thought through. I would not give the plot justice, if I tried to explain it, it would be confusing. Though it wasn't confusing while reading it.

Chela, the female lead is part of a very small group of rare descendants. Chela has great power, that she must keep a secret, as she discovers along her journey. Magic is forbiden. What is more forbiden? No one can know her secret. No one can know she has power. WHen it comes down to the 'man in charge' she winds up being penalised for using magic. She jsut can't risk word of her power getting out.

Faris *sigh*. Faris keeps showing up in Chela's life at the most convenient times and she doesn't understand why. But oh lordy, who could complain! Faris is a loveable character, who is not perfect. He is flawed in more ways than one. The only other thing about Faris I will say is, expect a few great twists involving him!

Seth is the character out to 'get' Chela. He wants to use her and her power and will stop at nothing. He kidnaps her best friend and threatens to kill her. He has been posing as a SOC (authorative figures) but is far far from it.

With very unexpective twists and turns, captivating characters and an enthralling story line, When Copper Suns Fall  is a story about a journey, love and friendship.

Happy reading!
- Amy

Review: Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead

Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead
Releas date: December 27th 2011
Publisher: Zebra
Series: Dark Swan #4
Goodread | Book Depository | Amazon


My rating: 4/5 stars


From Goodreads: "Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham strives to keep the mortal realm safe from trespassing entities. But as the Thorn Land's prophecy-haunted queen, there's no refuge for her and her soon-to-be-born-children when a mysterious blight begins to devastate the Otherworld...

The spell-driven source of the blight isn't the only challenge to Eugenie's instincts. Fairy king Dorian is sacrificing everything to help, but Eugenie can't trust the synergy drawing them back together. The uneasy truce between her and her shape shifter ex-lover Kiyo is endangered by secrets he can't--or won't--reveal. And as a formidable force rises to also threaten the human world, Eugenie must use her own cursed fate as a weapon--and risk the ultimate sacrifice... "
  Let me start by saying that I have loved every book of Richelle Mead's so far. The Vampire Academy and the Dark Swan series are the only two I have read though I would like to read the Succubus series soon. Shadow Heir is the fourth book in the Dark Swan series and I have to say that it wasn't my favourite, but it was still really good.


If you haven't read the first 3 books in this series please do not read this review as there will be spoilers. If your one of those people who likes spoilers, then feel free to continue reading!


Like the other Dark Swan books, Shadow Heir follows the story of Eugenie, the main character. I have to say Richelle Mead has a knack for creating strong female lead characters, and I like it! Eugenie is a kick your otherwordly ass kind of woman. She was brought up to be a Shaman. She banishes ghosts and deals with other supernatural creatures. She is a tough cookie (though calling her a tough 'cookie' doesn't sound very tough) and I love that about her. However in this book, she does show some weakens, which really made me connect to her even more (I will go into more detail later).


So we found out at the end of book 3 that Eugenie is pregnant. Now for any normal woman that wouldn't be so bad. But for Eugenie? Let's just say that her dad 'Storm King' (a macho macho man) who before he was killed wanted to take control of the human world as well as the otherworld. Storm King had great great power, and if you didn't catch it by his name he can control the weather, in a grave way. He passed this trait down to Eugenie and along the way she has learnt to control it. HOWEVER, she finds out that there is a prophecy that goes a little something like this: "Storm Kings first born nephew will be the destroyer of worlds." So you can imagine that there are many people who don't want to see Eugenie mother a boy. Eugenie goes to find out whether she will be having a boy or a girl. Deciding that if she has a boy she will abort the pregnancy and if she has a girl, she won't. So when she finds out she is having twins, a boy AND a girl, she can't bring herself to abort them. Nor can she let anyone hurt her or her unborn children, and boy do they try!


That is pretty much where  book 3 ends and book 4 is a couple months down the track. Eugenie is now a couple months further along in her pregnancy and all is going fairly well, she has managed to hide from those who wish her and her children dead. Eugenie delivers her twins early and though they need to be hooked up to many machines in the first couple months of their lives they are healthy little babies. As much as it pains Eugenie, there is trouble in the otherworld and she has to leave her twins to help save her kingdoms.


Now for the characters. Eugenie, now that she is a mother and has to think of more than just herself when it comes to saving the day, she has started to show weakness, but in a good way. She finds it hard to leave her twins to save the otherworld. She is more emotional throughout the book because of this, but she is still the toughest woman out, she just has a new side to her!


Dorian. Oh Dorian... What can I say about him? In the first couple of books I despised him. I couldn't understand at all why Eugenie even went there. But as their story continued, I grew to LOVE Dorian. He is just so.. so.. *sigh* there really aren't any words to describe him. He is arrogant and selfish but when it comes to Eugenie he will do anything for her.


Then there is Kiyo. Dislike dislike dislike! I liked Kiyo int he first couple of books but now I'm a Dorian fan all the way. Especially with the events that occur as a result of her pregnancy.


If you're still reading this and haven't read this series, I HIGHLY recommend it. If you want a lead character who can seriously kick some otherworldy behind, and some pretty intense shall we say 'romance' scenes, who am I kidding, romance? Sex scenes, intense sex scenes. Then this series is for you!

Update: Just found out that this is the last book in the series. Though it was still really good I felt there was one major thing left a bit to open for my liking. Really want to know what happened! I hope this isn't the last one and what I heard is wrong!If you have read this series, what did you think?


Happy reading!
- Amy

Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

*Check out my 300 follower giveaway for your chance to win!*

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Release Date: January 3rd 2012
Publisher Australia: Murdoch Books. America: Harper Collins
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon


My Rating: 4/5 stars


From Goodreads: "Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim. 

Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He's searching for someone too. He's also wild - a savage - but might be her best hope at staying alive. 

If they can survive, they are each other's best hope for finding answers."

Review: A Witch in Winter by Ruth Warburton

A Witch in Winter by Ruth Warburton
Release Date: January 5th 2012
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Edition: Proof Copy, 346 pages
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

From Goodreads: "Anna Winterson doesn't know she's a witch and would probably mock you for believing in magic, but after moving to the small town of Winter with her father, she learns more than she ever wanted to about power. When Anna meets Seth, she is smitten, but when she enchants him to love her, she unwittingly amplifies a deadly conflict between two witch clans and splits her own heart in two. She wants to love Seth, to let him love her – but if it is her magic that's controlling his passion, then she is as monstrous as the witch clan who are trying to use her amazing powers for their own gain. 

Although a perfect fit for the paranormal romance genre, A WITCH IN WINTER avoids fangs, excessive body hair and submissive female leads, and tells the heart-wrenching story of a couple meant to be together, but being forced apart. Seth is utterly irresistible and Anna is an empowered, proactive young woman with unimaginable magic inside her. This is fast-paced, sensuous writing with believable incantations inspired by Warburton's research into witchcraft legend and old English"

I won this book in a giveaway hosted by the author, Ruth Warburton on twitter, so I would like to say thank you! Receiving a free copy of this book does not influence my review. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Though it did take a lot longer to read than I would have liked. This had nothing to do with the writing or the story, purely because I was so busy that I didn't have much time to read. 

Anna is a witch. A witch who doesn't believe in witches. When she moves to a small town and into 'Wicker House,' things start to change. Anna experiences crazy storms and finds a very unusual book, and manages to enchant a boy into loving her. Sounds juicy right? Well it is. 

Anna is a great female lead. She has been without a Mother most of her life and she has turned out just fine. Though she wishes that her Dad would tell her what happened or even more about her Mum. Especially once she finds out she is a witch. She manages though, finding a clan that are willing to help her and in turn she is willing to help. When it comes down to it, she will put her life on the line to save her new town and her new friends. 

Seth, oh lovely lovely Seth. The boy with the bad reputation. The same boy that Anna casts a love potion on. A nice twist to the story as we think that he is in love with Anna because the spell, while towards the end we aren't sure. There are also questions raised about who Seth is. Upon meeting one of his relatives who tells Anna to leave them alone her type aren't good for them. So there are many questions to be answered in the second instalment! 

Overall this was a fast paced, action packed, filled with boy drama novel that Ruth Warburton has managed to carry out very well. She has done an amazing job creating a unique and very intriguing story that kept me hooked the entire way! Can't wait for the second book!

I know this review is a little sparse compared to my others, but I read it a couple of weeks or so ago and should have written the review then, but I found myself without the time! Pretty much all you need to know though, is that this book was amazing, and you should check it out :)

What are you all currently reading? I'm on a book buying ban so I will be living vicariously through you until I finish my TBR pile!! 

Happy Reading!

- Amy

Review: Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

*Check out my 100 follower giveaway for your chance to win!*

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Release Date: June 11th 2009

Publisher: Penguin Books

Edition: UK Paperback, 424 pages

Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

My Rating 4/5 stars

From Goodreads: "It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live. 

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend."

This was my first Sarah Dessen book! I don't know how I took so long to jump on board, she must have slipped through my radar somehow. This was one I picked up at my library, because I felt like an easy contemporary read. Along for the Ride really fit the bill for that!

I really loved Auden's character. Really academic and not so social. She feels it's her fault that her parents got divorced. Surely she could have prevented it? Once she realised that her parents waited for her to go to bed before arguing she would stay up later and later in hopes they wouldn't fight at all. Eventually it didn't matter what time she went to sleep, her parents would still fight. But by this point she was pretty much an insomniac and was awake and alert for all of the fights. She blames herself, and as a result she tries to please her parents by being academic. 

Auden decides that she wants to spend her summer after senior year with her Dad and his wife Heidi and their new baby girl Thisbe (don't particularly like the name, but then neither do half the characters in the book). Having spoken to her mum previously about the new baby and finding out that when raising Auden and her brother, her mum pretty much did it all alone as her dad 'needed his full 9 hours sleep,' Auden walks into pretty much the same situation with her Dads new family. Heidi is stressed to the max, not knowing how to look after Thisbe and run a business and do all of the domestic things that are expected of her. 

Auden was never very good in social situations so when she first meets the girls working at Heidi's shop, she is pretty judgemental. The girls are far more into their looks and into boys than she has ever been. Finding herself with a job working at the store doing Heidi's books, she realises that there is much much more to the girls there and she can finally call them friends. 

Of course along the way she meets a boy, Eli, but of course he is socially unavailable, and has been since the car accident. He doesn't talk to anyone and he rarely goes to the parties or hangs out with his friends. But somehow he finds himself talking to her, she is different to everyone in town. She doesn't look at him with pity for what happened and he finds it refreshing. They take comfort in each other during the night, as they both are insomniacs. Word starts to get around that the old Eli is starting to show himself again.

Sarah Dessen is a great YA writer, though I did find that some of the information included could probably have been skipped. I thought that it took a little bit too long for the story to get going. I really didn't care much for Auden's Mums dinner party with her students that seemed to drag on for a couple of pages at the start of the book. I would have preferred the start of the book to be more about Auden and not her Mum. However once the book got underway it was a really great read, I look forward to reading more of Dessen's work!

Have you read any of Sarah Dessen's work? What would you recommend?

Happy Reading!

- Amy

Review: My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

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My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent 
Release Date: July 29th 2009
Publisher: Harlequin 
Edition: Paperback, 279 pages
Series: Soul Screamers #1
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon


My Rating 4/5 stars


From Goodreads: "She doesn't see dead people. She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally. 

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next."

I was at my library the other day to pick up a book that I had on hold, I was wandering the shelves when I came across this one. I've heard a lot of good things about this book and author throughout the blogosphere and on Goodreads. 

I wasn't sure what to think of the blurb for this one, minus the screaming bloody murder, it sounded a bit similar to The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting. In that both lead characters have senses about death. That's pretty much where the similarities end. 

My Soul to Take follows the story of Kaylee, your not so average high school girl! She sneaks out to a club one night with her friend, Emma. They are dancing the night away with some pretty cute boys when Kaylee gets a seriously strange feeling about one of the other club go-ers! She doesn't know how, but she knows that poor girl hasn't got long left to live. She starts having a sort of panic attack and she has to physically stop herself from screaming because the urge is so great and she doesn't want to cause a scene. What makes things worse? Nash, one of the popular kids from school has witnessed all of this. Just great. He will go back to his friends on Monday and tell them all about her little break down. Not only does Nash not tell his friends what happened, he is the one who manages to calm her down. 

Kaylee offers Nash a ride home from the club, it's the least she could do. They start talking and Kaylee comes to realise that maybe Nash isn't as bad a guy as she once thought. He listens to her crazy death prediction and doesn't make her feel like a fool. The next day Kaylee switches to the news and sees that the girl from the night before, who she predicted would die. Did die! It all goes somewhat down hill from there for Kaylee. But at least she has gotten some answers about who, or what, she is! Turns out she is a banshee, who screams a song for the dead to suspend the spirit long enough for them to make peace. 

I have never read a book about banshee's before, nice and refreshing for a book not to be about vampires or werewolves, don't get me wrong I still love books about these, but it's not like the majority of YA books out there are about banshee's, right? So this was a welcome change! 

I really enjoyed this book by Rachel, it was imaginative and creative. Her writing was easy to read and made for a quick finish. I finished this in one sitting, I just needed to know what was going on! Since it is a mystery why Kaylee feels and acts the way she does when she senses someones death. I liked not knowing everything that was going on too early in the book, left some of the mystery to it. Especially since even Kaylee didn't know or even think that she (SPOILER ALERT) wouldn't be human, so why would I as the reader think any different?

I really don't know why it took me so long to pick up this book but I'm glad I finally did! I look forward to reading the second instalment to this series, to see the relationships in the book develop and to see what will happen to Kaylee next! 

If you have read this one, what did you think of it?

Happy Reading!

- Amy 

Review: Dark Seeker by Taryn Browning

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Dark Seeker by Taryn Browning
Release Date: September 27th 2011
Edition: Ebook 298 Pages
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

My Rating 4/5 Stars

"For 17-year-old Seeker, Janie Grey, ridding the Baltimore streets of the undead is an inherited duty passed down from her Cherokee ancestors. 


Training Lesson #1: Never trust the undead.


After her father’s tragic death, Janie creates her own life lesson: Love isn’t worth the risk. Both lessons are easy to follow until she encounters the flawed Kai Sterdam. At first, she believes he is the hybrid she is trained to hunt. But, when he has human traits, she determines she doesn’t know what he is. As Janie’s intrigue over who Kai is pushes her deeper into his mysterious past, she discovers a shocking truth that is even more harrowing than the evil they are up against. It’s a secret Kai wants to keep hidden, especially from Janie."


First off, thanks to Taryn Browning for providing me with an ecopy for review! As always this does NOT alter my review in anyway, all thoughts expressed are my own. 


Now lets get down to the review!! I sat down to start this book and finished it in one sitting! This is the first in the new Dark Seeker series and it did not disappoint! 


This story follows the life of Janie, a high school student and a Seeker. A Seeker, someone who is raised and trained to rid the streets of the undead. She spends her days being an ordinary teenager, going to school and her nights fighting and killing the undead. I liked how kick-ass Janie was, she knew what she had to do and she knew that if she didn't innocent people would die. She has promised herself she will never fall in love. Following the tragic death of her dad, she learnt that it is better not to get too close. She does have friends at school but she is by no means popular, constantley getting picked on by popular girl Molly. Little does Molly know that Janie could kick her ass into next year!

One night Janie is over her head with the undead, they are getting closer and closer to her school and she doesn't know why. She was unprepared for a big fight that night. Just when she thinks things couldn't get any worse. Someone pulls her aside and finishes off the undead for her. Facing her saviour she realises that he is undead himself! So why did he save her life? 

His name is Kai and oh gosh he's a bit dreamy! He's one of the undead that she usually fights and kills. So what stopped her from following through the threat? He has human features, very unusual for his kind. He has green eyes and doesn't smell... well.. horrible. Kai is even tougher than Janie and on meeting her for the first time, (when Janie tries to kill him) he is drawn to her. He becomes very protective of her, even though he knows that for the most part, she can look after her self. Kai saves Janie's life on more than one occasion, completely going against everything she has learnt as a seeker.

Janie and Kai are falling for each other but their love is somewhat forbidden. In more ways than one their relationship is truly complicated. But your not going to get anymore spoilers from me regarding that!

Taryn Browning has done an excellent job on this book. Her writing kept me interested and also kept me guessing. I knew something was up with her Uncle but I did NOT see that twist coming at all! I like to be surprised by books and Taryn  Browning achieved this in Dark Seeker. The book was fast passed, action packed and easy to read, three things I love in a book.

If you haven't already I suggest you check this one out! I look forward to reading the second one in this series to see what gets thrown at Janie next!

Happy reading!
- Amy

PS. Sorry about the biggish gaps between paragraphs guys, usually I can fix it but it doesn't seem to be working...

Review: This Girl Is Different by J.J. Johnson

This Girl Is Different by J.J. Johnson
Release Date: April 1st 2011
Publisher: Peachtree Publishers
Edition: Egalley
Goodreads | Book Depository

My Rating 4/5 Stars

From Goodreads: "Evie is different. Not just her upbringing-though that's certainly been unusual-but also her mindset. She's smart, independent, confident, opinionated, and ready to take on a new challenge: The Institution of School. 

It doesn't take this home schooled kid long to discover that high school is a whole new world, and not in the way she expected. It's also a social minefield, and Evie finds herself confronting new problems at every turn, failing to follow or even understand the rules, and proposing solutions that aren't welcome or accepted. 

Not one to sit idly by, Evie sets out to make changes. Big changes. The movement she starts takes off, but before she realizes what's happening, her plan spirals out of control, forcing her to come to terms with a world she is only just beginning to comprehend. 

JJ Johnson's powerful debut novel will enthrall readers as it challenges assumptions about friendship, rules, boundaries, and power."

This novel wasn't anything like I expected it to be. Then again, I'm not sure what I was expecting! J.J. Johnson has created a character that is so far different than your average 1st world teenager! Kudos! Evie is such a great character, I thought that I would find her irritating when I first started reading, but I really didn't. 

Being home schooled and growing up in a democratic, green (the eco friendly green) environment, she finds it really difficult when she goes to a public school. A public school where the teachers rule and the students drool pretty much! 

Rajas is the love interest in this book. He doesn't like labels. Especially the label of boyfriend and girlfriend. Which Evie understands, but as the story goes on she can't understand why the label matters so much. I really liked Rajas as a character, except for one of the things he did that hurt Evie. All characters have their downfalls though, that's what gives them depth, right? Rajas and Jacinda are her two best friends at the school, Rajas her not-labelled-boyfriend and Jacinda his cousin. Jacinda, on the outside, is your typical cheerleader stereotype. But as the story builds we come to realise that she breaks this stereotype, which I really liked. It's not very often (in my reading and viewing anyway) that there is a cheerleader who is a lovable and deep character.

Evie wants nothing more than to help better the school system by allowing the students to have a say. But she goes about it all wrong. Creating a blog with the help of Jacinda, where students can talk freely about whatever they please. Their first post was a 'lightning strike' against one of the teachers, that called a student fat and needed to eat less to get skinnier. This of course spirals way out of control, friendships and relationships are tested. Not only that, but the school gets thrown into turmoil, all because of this one blog. It's amazing that one blog could hold so much power, but J.J. Johnson wrote the story in a believable way. Had this happened at my school, I can see a some what similar situation arising!

I understand where Evie is coming from, I couldn't understand all the rules that my school had. I freaked out that one time I got detention for something absolutely ridiculous, that I can't even remember why I got it. I went to a private school and I do think that a lot of the rules were so random, but others were needed. Especially after reading this book, where total chaos broke out when the system was seriously questioned! 

I really enjoyed this book, J.J. Johnson has written a great and intriguing story, that more than held my interest the entire way through the book. The ideas throughout the book had me thinking about my school life and my life in general, at how one person can make such a difference. Not only that, but I liked how eco friendly she was (her whole house, eco friendly!). 

This is the second galley that I have read from NetGalley, and I so far have not been disappointed! If you haven't already, you should jump on that band wagon!

Happy reading everyone!

- Amy

Review: Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Hereafter by Tara Hudson
Release Date: June 7th 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Edition: Paperback, pages 404
Goodreads | Book Depository

My Rating 4/5


From Goodreads: "Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their new found happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever"

This is the first book I have read that surrounds ghosts, and I was a bit unsure before I started it, but it didn't let me down! This is a beautifully written and easy to read book, that kept me hooked the entire time. I really love the idea behind this love story, a ghost and a human? Not a very favourable combination!

Amelia is dead. She is a ghost wandering around aimlessly not knowing how much time has passed since her death. She is confused and lonely, having not seen any other ghosts like her. No one can see her. That is until Joshua. Joshua can see her having died for a couple minutes in the river, and Amelia helps Joshua to get to the surface. By help, I pretty much mean she just yelled at him to get moving, since she can't actually touch anything, being a ghost and all.

Since that day in the river, Joshua has been trying to find Amelia to find out what really happened in the river, since no one else saw her. Amelia tells him that she is a ghost and that he is the only one who has been able to see her since her death.

Joshua was a little too accepting of this for my liking, there was no freak out on his behalf. This was the one thing I didn't like about the story. I just think if you found out that you had been hanging out with a ghost you would maybe freak out a little (or a lot). Anyway, that was pretty much the only problem I had with this book.

 Joshua's Grandma is a Seer, and when Amelia turns up at Joshua's house, she can see her. His Grandma thinks that Amelia is an evil ghost and wants to get rid of her, not realising that Amelia is actually a good ghost.

Then there is Eli. Oh how I hate him. Eli is the evil ghost that the Grandma thought Amelia was. He wanders earth trying to captures ghost and take him to his world, to use for evil purposes. He is trying to recruit Amelia as his "apprentice" but she won't have a bar of it!

With twists and turns and and old rickety bridge, Hudson has created a love story between two unlikely companions. I look forward to the second instalment of this series!

Happy reading!
-Amy