Book Review (42).

The Future of Us

by Jay Asher, Carolyn Mackler

Publication: 5th January 2012

Publisher: Simon And Schuster Australia

Pages: 356

Genre: Romance/Contemporary

Age Appropriate: Young Adult

Price: $16.99

It's 1996 and less than half of all American high school students have ever used the Internet. Facebook will not be invented for several more years. Emma just got a computer and an America Online CD-ROM with 100 free hours. When she and her best friend Josh log on to AOL they discover themselves on Facebook... fifteen years in the future. Everybody wonders what life has in store for them.
Josh and Emma are about to find out.

My Thoughts.

Having never read anything by either author before starting this book I wasn't sure what to expect but I definately wasn't disappointed and will be seeking out other books by the authors.

The year is 1996 and Emma has been given a new computer from her Dad and it's while she's setting it up that her childhood best-friend and next door neighbour Josh comes over with a AOL cd with free internet usage, things are strained between the two after Josh admitted he liked Emma but she didn't feel the same.

It's when the cd is loaded that Facebook comes up on the screen and Emma and Josh discover that it's 15 years in the future and while Emma isn't happy with her life in the future, Josh discovers that he's married to the most popular girl in school.

Emma does whatever she can to change her future after discovering she's not happy in her marriage, it seems everyday one little action can and will change the future be it involving marriage, kids and jobs and the refresh button changes things as well.

It's while Josh is trying to start a relationship with his future wife that Emma realises she has stronger feelings for Josh than she realised, and she also tries to change her best friend Kellan's future too without telling her what's going on.

I loved the concept of this book and I also had to love at some of the status updates that Emma reads on Facebook , and the alternate chapters are great and becoming one of my favourite things in books lately.

I definately reccomend checking this out.

I give this 4/5

A big thanks to Caroline @ Simon And Schuster Australia,

Book Review (41).

Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2)

by Cassandra Clare 

Publication: 6th December 2011

Publisher: Margaret K. Mc Elderry Books

Pages: 502

Genre: Fantasy/Steampunk

Age Appropriate: Young Adult

**Warning May Contain Spoilers From The First Book In The Series**

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

My Thoughts.

As much as I loved the previous book in this series this one kicked it out of the park, when I got to the end of the book,  I sat there in disbelief and even let loose a few tears.

We find out that when Will was twelve he had a curse put on him by a demon that anybody that he loved would die and so that's why he pushes everybody away, of course I love Will and to find out why he's the reason he is, is just so heartbreaking so he tries to find the demon that cursed him with the help of Magnus Bane.

Tessa finds herself growing closer to Jem now that Will has told her he doesn't want to be with her, while she also tries to find out who and what she is.

Charlotte is threatned with being replaced as the head of the institute by Benedict Lightwood if she can't find Mortmain (Magister) within two weeks.

The love triangle between Tessa, Will and Jem is just tragic you know that Will and Jem both love Tessa, meanwhile Tessa believing that there's no hope with Will finds herself falling in love with Jem, we all know this can't end well and while I definately prefer Will I just couldn't bear how upset Jem would be if Tessa did end up with Will.

We find out about another spy in the institute who is helping Tessa's brother Nate with information to pass along to the Magister who still wants Tessa for his own.

I'm in two minds about the ending while I did like it I also ended up in tears and not for a good reason, I just hope the next book works out the way I want it to.

I give this 5/5.

In My Mailbox (12).

In My Mailbox Is A Weekly Meme Hosted By Kristi Over At The Story Siren.

Pre-Order.

Vampire Academy: Official Guide - Richelle Mead

On A Dark Wing - Jordan Dane

Storm Born (Storm Born Comic #1) - Richelle Mead

Brought.

Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) - Tahereh Mafi

Book Review (40).

Touch of Power (Healer #1)

by Maria V. Snyder

Publication: January 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen Australia

Pages: 390

Genre: Fantasy

Age Appropriate: Young Adult

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Territories, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life...

My Thoughts.

This is the very first book I've ever read by Maria V. Snyder and it definately won't be my last.

Avry is a healer, someone who can take injuries and diseases into her own body, unfortunately for Avry all healers a are being accused of spreading the plague and so are being hunted down and executed.

It's after Avry is in jail after saving a little girl's life that she is rescued by Kerrick and his friends who plan on escorting her to heal Prince Ryne who is lying in stasis  after catching the plague.

Avry initially refuses to heal Prince Ryne as she has previously had a run in with him and doesn't like him and the plague is the one disease healers can't recover from.

While traveling with the men she becomes close to all of them except Kerrick who is a forest mage and can camouflage himself who seems cold and unfeeling.

I loved the developing romance between Avry and Kerrick  while it took a while it wasn't until they were seperated they both realised their feelings and I can't wait to find out what else is in store for their relationship.

I was upset when we lost one of the characters from the group that Avry traveled with just wish he hadn't died.

But through it all this is an exciting and intriguing read and I only wish the next book is out sooner, I absolutely loved it.

I give this 5/5

A huge thanks to Gabby @ Harlequin Teen Australia.

Feature And Follow Friday (11).

Q: The New Year is here — and everyone wants to know your New Years Blogging Resolution! What are you going to try to revise, revamp and redo for 2012 on your blog?

My resolution after breaking four toes this year is to not break any bones at all next year!

Fingers crossed!

Book Review (39).

Ashes of Midnight (Midnight Breed #6)

by Lara Adrian 

Publication: 26th May 2009

Publisher: Dell Publishing Company

Pages: 368

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Age Appropriate: Adult

**Warning This Review May Contain Spoilers From The Previous Books In The Series**

A woman driven by blood. A man thirsting for vengeance.
A place where darkness and desire meet...

As night falls, Claire Roth flees, driven from her home by a fiery threat that seems to come from hell itself. Then, from out of the flames and ash, a vampire warrior emerges. He is Andreas Reichen, her onetime lover, now a stranger consumed by vengeance. Caught in the cross fire, Claire cannot escape his savage fury—or the hunger that plunges her into his world of eternal darkness and unending pleasure.

Nothing will stop Andreas from destroying the vampire responsible for slaughtering his Breed brethren . . . even if he must use his former lover as a pawn in his deadly mission. Blood-bonded to his treacherous adversary, Claire can lead Andreas to the enemy he seeks, but it is a journey fraught with danger—and deep, unbidden desires. For Claire is the one woman Andreas should not crave, and the only one he’s ever loved. A dangerous seduction begins—one that blurs the lines between predator and prey, and stokes the flames of a white-hot passion that may consume all in its path. . .  

My Thoughts.

I quite enjoyed this book but not as much as I enjoy the stories about the Order, we have Andreas Reichen hunting down everybody that had a hand in the slaughter of everybody in his Darkhaven and he's saved Wilhelm Roth for last.

He sets out for one of Roth's properties to kill him only to find the only one there is Reichen's former lover and now Roth's Breedmate Claire, Reichen has also lost control of his power (pyrokenisis) and Claire who was the only one who survived (all her guard's were killed) finds Reichen burning in the morning sun so after getting him inside to let him recover she uses her power (entering into other people's dreams) to contact Roth and to let him know Reichen is in the house, Roth sends out enforcement agents that unknown to Claire are there to kill Reichen, Claire escapes with Reichen and they're on the run till they can get into contact with the Order who all believe that Reichen died at his Darkhaven with everybody else.

It takes a while for Claire to believe that Roth is responsible for killing everyone that lived in Reichen's Darkhaven but after venturing into Roth's dreams she confronts him and he admits it's true.

The order also get the closest to Dragos than they have ever been finding his abandoned lab and the discovering the empty cells of the breedmates and the Gen One he's holding captive.

This series seems to get better with each book.

I give this 4/5 

In My Mailbox (11).

In My Mailbox Is A Weekly Meme Hosted By Kristi The Story Siren.

Review.

(Arc) Spoiled - Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan (Allen & Unwin Australia)

Pre-Order.

Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2) - Cassandra Clare

Shattered Souls - Mary Lindsey

Deadly Little Voices (Touch #4) - Laurie Fariaa Stolarz

Gifts.

100% The Vampire Diaries: The Unofficial Guide - Evie Parker

Straight Shooter - Matthew Lloyd (Signed)

Brought. (E-Book)

A Taste Of Midnight (Midnight Breed #9.5) - Lara Adrian