Book Review (92).

A Beautiful Dark (A Beautiful Dark #1)

by Jocelyn Davies

Publication: 1st October 2011

Publisher: Harper Collins Australia

Pages: 390

Genre: Paranormal

Age Appropriate: Young Adult

On the night of Skye's seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites—like fire and ice—Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye's life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move—only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.

In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can’t help falling for, and Devin, who she can’t stay away from, the consequences of Skye’s choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.

A Beautiful Dark is the first book in a captivating trilogy by debut author Jocelyn Davies.

My Thoughts.

I absolutely adored this book, it kept me on the edge of my seat especially towards the end and that cliffhanger, of course now I have to wait till September for the next book and the aftermath of the previous one.

Skye's friends have thrown her a surprise party for her seventeenth birthday, where she meets a boy Asher whom she is attracted to, and after a brief conversation thinks nothing more of it until he gets into a fight at her party with a boy he arrived with, and in the middle of it the boiler beneath the cafe explodes ending the party.

School starts and she runs into Asher and the boy he was fighting with his cousin Devin, as well as being in a lot of her classes they also appear to be everywhere Skye is and she starts to think that they are following her, not only that but out of school she has the feeling that someone is watching her and every morning she wakes to find her bedroom window open after closing and locking it before bed.

All the while that she's developing feelings towards them, especially Asher what she doesn't know is that they have been sent to watch her, because of the actions of her deceased parents who died on her sixth birthday she's been closely watched unbeknown to her all her life.

While it did take a while to find out just who and what Asher and Devin are, the book was that interesting and exciting that it didn't matter, the storyline was intriguing enough to keep my mind away from wondering what they were.

I found the history of her parents really interesting and I would have loved a bit more of their back story.

I loved the interaction between Skye and Asher I liked them as a couple and they were both hilarious together.

Skye's friends Cassie, Dan and Ian made a great group and made for interesting friends and a nice diversion throughout the book.

This has been one of my favourite books that I've read this year and if I had of known how good it was going to be I would have tried to get to it a bit sooner.

Highly reccommended.

I give this 5/5.

A Big Thanks To Harper Collins Australia.

In My Mailbox (30).

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

Review.

Once In A Full Moon (Full Moon #1) - Ellen Schreiber
Magic Of The Moonlight (Full Moon #2) - Ellen Schreiber

A Big Thanks To Murdoch Books Australia.

Brought.

Darkness Before Dawn (Darkness Before Dawn #1) - J.A London
Messy - Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan
A Midsummer's Nightmare - Kody Keplinger
The Glimpse - Claire Merle
Fated (The Soul Seekers #1) - Alyson Noel
Dark Kiss (Nightwatchers #1) - Michelle Rowen
Tangle Of Need - (Psy-Changeling #11) - Nalini Singh
Taken By Storm (Raised By Wolves #3) - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Of Poseidon (Of Poseidon #1) - Anna Banks
The Girl In The Clockwork Collar (Steampunk Chronicles #2) - Kady Cross
Nightshifted (Edie Spence #1) - Cassie Alexander
Unbreak My Heart - Melissa C. Walker
Shift - Em Bailey
Lethal Rider (Lords Of Deliverance #3) - Larissa Ione
Dani Noir - Nova Ren Suma

Book Review (91).

Night Star (The Immortals #5)

by Alyson Noel

Publication: 16th November 2010

Publisher: St Martin's Griffin

Pages: 302

Genre: Fantasy

Age Appropriate: Young Adult

**Warning contains spoilers from previous books in the series**

After fighting for centuries to be together, Ever and Damen’s future hinges on one final showdown that will leave readers gasping for breath. Don’t miss this explosive new installment of the #1 bestselling series that’s enchanted millions across the world!

Haven still blames Ever for the death of her boyfriend Roman, no matter how hard Ever’s tried to convince her it was an accident. Now she’s determined to take Ever down…and destroy Damen and Jude along the way. Her first step is to tear Ever and Damen apart—and she has just the ammunition to do it.

Hidden in one of Ever’s past lives is a terrible secret about Damen—a secret that illuminates new facts about her relationship with Jude, but that’s so dark and brutal it might be enough to drive her and Damen apart once and for all. As Ever faces her greatest fears about the guy she wants to spend eternity with, she’s thrust into a deadly clash with Haven that could destroy them all.

Now it’ll take everything she’s got—and bring out powers she never knew she had—to face down her most formidable enemy. But in order to win, she must first ask herself: is her own survival worth dooming Haven to an eternity of darkness in the Shadowland? And will learning the truth about Damen’s past hold the key to their future?

My Thoughts.

I was apprehensive about starting this book, after a promising start the books seemed to go downhill as they went along, but I'm happy to say that this one wasn't really bad at all.

In the last book Jude killed Roman because he thought that he was attacking Ever and because of that Haven vowed to kill both Jude and Ever.

So while awaiting for the time when Haven's threat becomes a reality Ever discovers that the videos that she and Damen view in their Pavilion house in Summerland have been heavily edited, and that Damen seems to take her away from Jude in each of their past lives, none so tragic then when she and Jude were slaves, Ever was beaten quite often by her owner and after having been brought by Damen and taken away from her family she finds that Jude and her family are killed in a house fire, and Ever gets upset and breaks up with Damen not sure what else he has removed from the videos of her past lives, it leaves her wondering whether she really was meant to be with Damen or whether Jude is her true soul mate.

Haven who is slowly losing her grip on reality has taken over as queen bee at school and Stacia as been knocked down a notch and finds herself the victim of ridicule and torment that she used to dish out to everybody else.

Honor who used to be Stacia's best friend has now taken up with Haven and has gotten rid of all her old group of friends not without some warning though from Ever.

Back to Haven who has become addicted to the elixir she needs to keep her alive and young through her immortality has gone through the year's worth that Roman had left after his death, and is suffering from withdrawal if that's not enough she continuously attacks Ever and on some occasions Jude.

Ever tries desperately to find the t-shirt that Roman was wearing the night he died, the t-shirt that has the spilt elixir on it in hopes that Damen might be able to figure out what it was made of but finding it is not going to be easy especially when Haven realises the significance of why Ever wants it so much.

There is finally a resolution to one of the problems in this book which is desperately needed to keep this series interesting.

With only the last book in this series to read I'm hoping that it turns out to be a really great read with everything resolved.

I give this 3.5/5.

Feature And Follow Friday (29).

Q: You are a matchmaker — your goal, hook up two characters from two of your favorite books. Who would it be? How do you think it would go?

I honestly sat here for quite a while trying to think of someone, anyone from two of my favourite books, but couldn't so I cheated and picked two characters from a favourite series that will never end up together.

I picked William - The Ever Randy (my favourite, Gena please write his book soon!) and Viola - Keeper Of Narcissism (one of my new favourite characters) from the Lords Of The Underworld Series by Gena Showalter.

Now for anyone who knows this series and has especially read Paris' book you will know that William is extremely vain and so is Viola, so you can imagine they'd be together and all they'd be talking about was their looks.

It may make for an extremely unhealthy relationship but would be extremely funny to read about.

Book Review (90).

The Darkest Seduction (Lords of the Underworld #9)

by Gena Showalter

Publication: 28th February 2012

Publisher: HQN Books

Pages: 504

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Age Appropriate: Adult

**Warning Contains Spoilers From Previous Books In The Series**

At long last, New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter unveils the story of Paris, the darkest and most tormented Lord of the Underworld….Possessed by the demon of Promiscuity, immortal warrior Paris is irresistibly seductive—but his potent allure comes at a terrible price. Every night he must bed someone new, or weaken and die. And the woman he craves above all others is the one woman he'd thought was forever beyond his reach …until now. Newly possessed by the demon of Wrath, Sienna Blackstone is racked by a ruthless need to punish those around her. Yet in Paris's arms, the vulnerable beauty finds soul-searing passion and incredible peace. Until a blood feud between ancient enemies heats up. Will the battle against gods, angels and creatures of the night bind them eternally—or tear them apart?

My Thoughts.

I along with a lot of fans of this series were eagerly anticipating Paris' story and while it was good it didn't live up to my expectations, don't get me wrong I gave this book five stars but that also has a lot to do with other subplots going on in the background and the other characters, including my favourite William-The Ever Randy (please Gena write his book next please!!!!).

While I really wanted Paris to be happy and to be that I knew he would end up with Sienna, I didn't find their relationship as exciting as previous couples in the series, but it wasn't all bad Paris the keeper of Promiscuity found that as long as he had Sienna he didn't need to sleep with anybody else, one particularly funny part involving Paris' relationship with Sienna came when all the Lords and their wives/girlfriends held an intervention for Paris to stop him making out with himself (nobody else could see Sienna besides anyone heaven/hell related) so they had no idea it was Sienna he was kissing, Anya's speech was hilarious and with her being one of my favourite characters in the series I'm always happy when she gets a chance to shine.

Of course every couple in this series has their problems they need to solve before their happy ever after comes around and Paris and Sienna was no exception, Cronus told her she needed to gain Galen's trust  and if she didn't that Paris and the rest of the Lords would die but we all know that Cronus is always up to something and in this book he finally gets his come-uppance.

Zacharel an angel who works with Lysander, is sent to help Sienna and try to convince her to join the upcoming angel war, I'm very excited to see what his story will be like which is coming out this year.

Kane finds himself in a very bad situation and I felt so bad for him and what happened to him but he was eventually saved by the Four Horseman and I'm intrigued to find out what happens especially with the female he met at the end.

We were introduced to some new Lords and a new character Viola keeper of Narcissism and minor goddess of the afterlife, I loved her she was like the female version of William with how much she loves herself and her screeching (their form of tweeting), she was just hilarious and has moved in with the Lords and their mates and I love how each of them pawn her off to one another to get rid of her.

Galen kidnaps Ashlyn and offers her in trade for Legion who after her time in hell is afraid of everyone and spends all her time shut away in her room but to save Ashlyn goes to him promises to stay if her doesn't hurt anybody, I can see that this might be the start of a new relationship, Galen seems almost obssessed with her and I'm interested to see how that will pan out.

Ashlyn finally has the twins and their names are hilarious as much as William who delivered the twins tries to come up with substitutes.

And finally last but never ever least William who steals every scene he's in, we finally meet his father and find out a little bit more about him, I really want to read his book and I'm assuming his pairing with Gilly, I loved his whole thing with the hair conditioner trust me it doesn't sound all that humorous but it was.

I love the interactions between William and Paris they're a pretty funny duo when they're stuck together,  now I eagerly await to see who will be the main character in the next book.

I give this 5/5.

Australian Book Cover Reveal.

This is to reveal the cover to the Australian release of Jay Kristoff's book 'Stormdancer'.

Stormdancer (The Lotus War #1)

by Jay Kristoff

Release Date: 21st August 2012 By Pan Macmillan Australia

A DYING LAND 

The Shima Imperium is verging on the brink of environmental collapse; decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshippers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, land choked with toxic pollution, wildlife ravaged by mass extinctions.

AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST
The hunters of the imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger—a legendary beast, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows thunder tigers have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.

A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL
Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a hidden gift that would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her.

But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.

Waiting On Wednesday.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine where you can spotlight an upcoming release that you're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on....

The Dead And Buried

by Kim Harrington

1st January 2013 By Scholastic Point

Jade loves the house she's just moved into with her family. She doesn't even mind being the new girl at the high school: It's a fresh start, and there's that one guy with the dreamy blue eyes. . . . But then things begin happening. Strange, otherworldly things. Jade's little brother claims to see a glimmering girl in his room. Jade's jewelry gets moved around, as if by an invisible hand. Kids at school whisper behind her back like they know something she doesn't.

Soon, Jade must face an impossible fact: that her perfect house is haunted. Haunted by a ghost who's seeking not just vengeance, but the truth. The ghost of a girl who ruled Jade's school -- until her untimely death last year. It's up to Jade to put the pieces together before her own life is at stake. As Jade investigates the mystery, she discovers that her new friends in town have more than a few deep, dark secrets. But is one of them a murderer?

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century

by Rachel Harris

11th September 2012 By Entangled Publishing

On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze. 

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore. 

Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?

The Forsaken (The Forsaken #1)

by Lisa M. Stasse 

10th July 2012 By Simon And Schuster

A thought-provoking and exciting start to a riveting new dystopian trilogy.

As an obedient orphan of the U.N.A. (the super-country that was once Mexico, the U.S., and Canada), Alenna learned at an early age to blend in and be quiet—having your parents taken by the police will do that to a girl. But Alenna can’t help but stand out when she fails a test that all sixteen-year-olds have to take: The test says she has a high capacity for brutal violence, and so she is sent to The Wheel, an island where all would-be criminals end up.

The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway.

Poison

by Bridget Zinn

12th March 2012 By Disney/Hyperion

A teen girl finds herself a would-be assassin, hunting down her former best friend, the princess of the realm, via the aid of an enchanted piglet.

The Dark Unwinding

by Sharon Cameron

1st September 2012 By Scholastic Press

A spine-tingling tale of steampunk and spies, intrigue and heart-racing romance!

When Katharine Tulman's inheritance is called into question by the rumor that her eccentric uncle is squandering away the family fortune, she is sent to his estate to have him committed to an asylum. But instead of a lunatic, Katharine discovers a genius inventor with his own set of rules, who employs a village of nine hundred people rescued from the workhouses of London.

Katharine is now torn between protecting her own inheritance and preserving the peculiar community she grows to care for deeply. And her choices are made even more complicated by a handsome apprentice, a secretive student, and fears for her own sanity.

As the mysteries of the estate begin to unravel, it is clear that not only is her uncle's world at stake, but also the state of England as Katharine knows it. With twists and turns at every corner, this heart-racing adventure will captivate readers with its intrigue, thrills, and romance.

34 Pieces of You

by Carmen Rodrigues

4th September 2012 By Simon Pulse

There was something about Ellie... Something dangerous. Charismatic. Broken. Jake looked out for her. Sarah followed her lead. And Jess kept her distance, and kept watch.

Now Ellie’s dead, and Jake, Sarah, and Jess are left to pick up the pieces. All they have are 34 clues she left behind. 34 strips of paper hidden in a box beneath her bed. 34 secrets of a brief and painful life.

Jake, Sarah, and Jess all feel responsible for what happened to Ellie, and all three have secrets of their own. As they begin to confront the darkest truths about themselves, they will also find out what Ellie herself had been hiding all along...