Review: Covert Kissing - Laura Pauling

After a disastrous senior year and the prom from hell, Cassidy just wants a nice, normal summer before she begins college. However, things never quite go to plan. Soon, all of her thoughts of kissing go out the window as she contends with the summer job from hell, a very angry Jasper and a worryingly brooding Zeke.

Now, I love Cassidy, and I still do. There's something really real about her; the fact that she babbles (albeit not as much as in the first book) she's still a little bit self-absorbed, but her heart is in the right place and she appears to grow up a little bit more in this book as she tend to worry more about others than herself.

This book actually brings a lot of mystery to an otherwise very teen book concerning the boys and their problems. I actually found myself not really having a clue what they were all worrying about. I also liked how the books tied in very nicely with the first two books in carrying on story lines from most characters perspectives, particularly that of Zeke and his family issues.

This is a quick, fun read very much in keeping with the rest of the series. In fact, the author could do a longer series on Cassidy, as she is such fun that I am dying to know what one earth she will get up to at college. This part has been left unclear, so perhaps that may be the plan. It is very much in keeping with all things teen as it really includes things that any person their age would be doing and thinking about, even if it was kind of reminiscent of High School Musical 2.

There was some good pacing and the read is very engaging. The guys were delved into a little bit, though I still kind of hate Jasper. I loved seeing more of Zeke, and I liked how the romance and kissing wasn't as over the top as it could have been. The book still goes back to its roots in the end with a bit of adrenaline and some family love.

Kyra_x

Review: The Gathering Storm - Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson (12 of 14)

Just a quick warning before I start. This review will contain spoilers from the previous books! So if you do not want to know until you have read it I suggest you put off reading this for a little bit.

Rand al'Thor, having lost his hand to an ambush by the Forsaken Semirhage, sets out to bring together the nation of Arad Domon to stop the Seanchan onslaught into the country. A darkness has fallen upon the Dragon Reborn but will it affect his agreement with the Seanchan? And how far will his allies have to go to bring him back to the Light? Egwene al'Vere continues her drive to undermine Elaida's rule from inside the White Tower. But with the Seanchan threat looming ever closer can she achieve her goals in time? Or will the Shadow hold her up long enough to break the Tower beyond repair?

The Gathering Storm is the twelfth of fourteen books in Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. The book is the first one to not be written solely by Robert Jordan after his tragic death, with Brandon Sanderson chosen to finish the series. Originally planned to be the final book of the series, it was split into three books when it became apparent that a single book would be too large to print. Upon its release the book went to number one in the New York Times Bestseller List, the fifth consecutive book in the series to do so.

Obviously with a change in writer we see a change in the style of the writing techniques. The beautiful descriptive style of Robert Jordan is gone, which is a shame because you always had a picture painted in your head down to the last detail in each chapter. The pace also picks up, becoming a bit frantic in places. However this leads to the book appearing to have more urgency which, considering how close we are to the series climax helps the story along. Some of the main characters become more abrasive and lose some to their subtlety in dealing with the factions of the world. Mat and Perrin do not feature much in this book but we do see them through visions of what Rand sees when he thinks of them. This does annoy me as I believe it unnecessarily gives away the two characters story lines in the next book so you go into it knowing what to expect and not being surprised by what happens. The story lines the book focuses are extremely dramatic and lead you all the way to the huge climaxes at the end of the book.

As mush as I did miss the writing style of Robert Jordan I do feel that this book was a very good read and really helped push the story along towards the inevitable final confrontation. They chose well when they picked Brandon Sanderson to take over from Jordan, seeing that rather than keep the same style they would change slightly to make a more urgent and dramatic final stage as we approach the end.

The Gathering Storm on Goodreads

Ashley

Review: The Path of Daggers - Robert Jordan (8 of 14)

Just a quick warning before I start. This review will contain spoilers from the previous books! So if you do not want to know until you have read it I suggest you put off reading this for a little bit.

With Sammael finally defeated Rand al'Thor is made King of Illian, awarded the Laurel Crown which he renames the Crown of Swords. Now he must turn his attention west to the invading Seanchan. With his armies and the Asha'man he moves to turn back their invasion, but how far can he trust the men in black coats? Nynaeve Al'Meara, Elayne Trakand and Aviendha have the Bowl of the Winds but with the Seanchan invasion hot on their heals can they use it to break the Dark One's hold on the worlds weather? Perrin Aybara is sent to bring Masema Dagar, the Prophet of the Dragon, to heel but can he lead the mighty who choose to follow him, and will the Shaido yet hinder his plans? Egwene al'Vere works to gain control over the rebel Aes Sedai before she leads the assault on Tar Valon and the White Tower itself.

The Path of Daggers is the eighth book in Robert Jordan's fourteen book fantasy series The Wheel of Time. This book stands out above the previous ones as it was the first one to to rise, immediately upon release, to the number one position on the New York Times Bestsellers list, remaining on the list for two months. It is also the shortest book of the main series consisting of a prologue and thirty one chapters. The books title is a reference to a Seanchan saying: 'On the heights, the paths and paved with daggers.' The book is also noted for the absence of Mat Cauthon, much as Perrin Aybara was absent from the fifth book, The Fires of Heaven. This is my opinion is a great shame as Mat Cauthon in the last book was just setting out by himself, creating a great deal of the humour in the book. The book takes the series back to its best especially through Rand's story line where several major events lead him to go in a different direction at the end to what we have seen before. The darker element of the book comes in from Perrin's story line, with distrustful atmosphere's and tensions created by the different groups of people he is forced to work with.

Back on track after a couple of books that slowed the pace for the story-line, compared to the previous books. The plots are event-filled and thoroughly captivating, keeping your attention throughout and never giving any clue as to what will happen next. The only blip is the absence of Mat Cauthon, but other than that it thoroughly deserves its New York Times Bestseller number one slot!

The Path of Daggers on Goodreads

Ashley

Review: Dangerous Reflections - Shay West

Alexis Davenport begins seeing other faces in the mirror, faces that are not her own. When she inadvertently bets transported to Medieval Ireland and averts a small disaster, she quickly realises that she has the power to travel back in time. Her life is already complicated, and now her new home and boy drama are conflicting badly with her new-found gift. That's not even mentioning the shady, evil character who is meddling with time, and it seems like Alex is the only one who can stop him.

This book flew by in a blur for me. It had so much packed into it, everything to make it the ultimate teen read; magic, boys, confusion, parent issues, good friendships and a flowing, fast-paced narrative. I loved the massive amount of drama in this book - not only the brushes with history, which were great - but also those to do with moving to a new place, bullies and boys.

As characters go, not too many stood out for me apart from Alexis and her small group of friends. Even then, it was Alex that took centre-stage and only a couple of others stood out. I would have liked to see more of her friends in this book and have them explored a bit more thoroughly. Maybe this is done in the second book. Alex is not without her faults; she's selfish, easily jealous and unthinking when it comes to other's feelings. However, this doesn't make me like her any less. Let's face it, at her age, we are all like that; we all don't understand why our parents would act the way they do, we think everything is unfair and our hormones are going so crazy that our emotions flit from one to another like bees around flowers. In that way, the author has built a character we can all empathise with, who has a good heart and who quickly realises her mistakes. I loved the way she gained confidence and the ability to deal well with difficult situations - her character arc is subtle, and yet it really hits home after you read it.

The time travel element is fascinating and I loved the way it worked. Thankfully there were no loose ends in the explanation, but there was a hint of something more to come as Alex's powers develop. I loved the situations Alex found herself in and the amazing way she dealt with them, using her knowledge of history to ensure the timeline stays the same. You get the feeling that a lot of research has gone into these parts as you are truly transported to each of the times and places.

There was one thing that I did not like, and I am sure most people will agree with me here, the absolutely major cliffhanger ending. I turned the page, fully expecting there to be more story, only to be greeted with more titles from Shay West. My mouth must have fallen open and I just sat there a little bit confused. It honestly seemed like half the book had just been ripped away from me! OK, so this really makes me want to read the second book (Twisted Reflections) but most of the time I like the story to round its-self off as a whole instead of leaving the entire thing gaping like a wound.

Despite the ending, this was a great read. It's fast, shows a teenage viewpoint beautifully and it has just the right mixture of action, angst and fun. I need the second book right now.

Dangerous Reflections on Goodreads
Dangerous Reflections on Amazon.com
Dangerous Reflections on Amazon.co.uk

Thank you to Pamela Labbe at Booktrope Publishing for the review request and to Shay West for writing this great piece of fiction. This has not affected my rating.

Kyra_x

Review: A Crown of Swords - Robert Jordan (7 of 14)

Just a quick warning before I start. This review will contain spoilers from the previous books! So if you do not want to know until you have read it I suggest you put off reading this for a little bit.

Dumai's Wells is over, the Asha'man have been tested and are now considered the most deadly weapons in the world. The first Aes Sedai have sworn to Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, and now he turns his attention to Illian where the Forsaken Sammael rules. Newly raised Amyrlin Seat Egwene al'Vere and Siuan Sanche attempt to manipulate the rebel Aes Sedai into marching on the White Tower to pull down the usurper Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan. Mat Cauthon, Elayne Trakand and Nynaeve al'Meara seek in Ebou Dar for the fabled Bowl of the Winds in order to break the Dark One's unnatural control of the world weather. With the Dark One's forces and one of the most dangerous Shadowspawn trying to thwart them, can they reach their goal before the Seanchan can reassert their claim to the lands east of the Aryth Ocean?

A Crown of Swords is the seventh book in Robert Jordan's fourteen-book fantasy series The Wheel of Time. The book sees a return to the fast-paced, multi-climactic story lines that we have become accustomed to in this series. With Mat, Elayne and Nynaeve already established in Ebou Dar at the end of the last book their story-line takes off straight away, as if making up for lost time, and keeps going right to the end of the book. This also starts the real beginning of Mat's story-line away from the main plot surrounding Rand, just as we saw with Perrin when he went back to save the Two Rivers in The Shadow Rising. Mat's story lines are always good to read because they are always dramatic and add a lot of humour without taking away from the drama of the situation created in the book. The pace of the book again is not quite as fast as we have come to expect with the exception of Rand's plot which keeps jumping around from event to event to keep the book pushing forward. A bigger number to sub plots give us a good idea of what is going on all over the world whilst also creating more mystery as to characters intentions and allegiances.

All in all the book is another very good read but like the previous book, Lord of Chaos, not one of the better books in the series. The pace has been picked up again but with this book set up to go from the start by the previous book we find that it gets in to it a lot quicker. With most of the characters story-lines keeping them in one place, we look to Rand to keep the plot moving, but it does this well and pushes the book towards its dramatic conclusion.

Ashley

Review: Lord of Chaos - Robert Jordan (6 of 14)

Just a quick warning before I start. This review will contain spoilers from the previous books! So if you do not want to know until you have read it I suggest you put off reading this for a little bit.

With Rahvin, Asmodean and Lanfear all supposedly dead, the Forsaken appear to be dropping like flies. With the Shaido defeated for now, Rand al'Thor must turn his attention to binding Cairhien and Andor to him as he turns his attention to Sammael and Illian. Egwene al.Vere, Elayne Trakand and Nynaeve al'Meara fight to keep the rebel Aes Sedai on their course of action before they fall apart. Mat Cauthon leads his new army south towards Illian but can he bring the rebel Aes Sedai to the Dragon Reborn's cause and where will he have to go to make it happen? With embassies from both factions of Aes Sedai courting Rand how far can either be trusted and can Perrin Aybara save the world from disaster and Dumai's Wells? Meanwhile Morgase Trakand seeks aid to regain the Lion Throne of Andor, but will she be an ally or a prisoner to the Children of the Light?

Lord of Chaos is the sixth novel in The Wheel of Time fantasy series written by Robert Jordan. The book is marked out differently from the others as it is the first one in the series to contain an epilogue. We also see the return of Perrin in this book, who comes back after being left out of the previous book to play a pivotal role at Dumai's Wells. Apart from Dumai's Wells itself there are very few climactic endings to the story lines in this book, although the events at Dumai's Wells are more dramatic and fast paced than anything we have seen before in the series. We begin to see a lot of little glimpses from minor characters points of view which either give us a clearer picture of what is going on than the main characters, or provide the reader with more and more questions. With so many of the story lines not coming to a dramatic head we see the pace of this book stay steady until the final few chapters.

All in all the book is slower paced than some of the previous ones due to there only being one major climax rather than several, as was the case at the end of the previous book. However this is more than made up for by the events in the final chapters at Dumai's Wells which make the book in my opinion. Still a very good read throughout even if the pace does drop a little bit and a fantastic conclusion.

Ashley

The Fires of Heaven - Robert Jordan (5 of 14)

Just a quick warning before I start. This review will contain spoilers from the previous books! So if you do not want to know until you have read it I suggest you put off reading this for a little bit.

With Rand al’Thor proclaimed the Aiel’s Car’a’Carn, Chief of Chiefs, he must lead them back across the Spine of the World in pursuit of the Shaido Aiel, who are pillaging Cairhien. Can he save the city itself and if he does will the Forsaken allow him to extend his influence that far? Mat Cauthon has attempted to resolve the answers to his questions but will the result save him from what is to come and prevent him achieving the escape he so desires? Nynaeve al’Meara and Elayne Trakand have defeated the Black Ajah and the Forsaken Moghedien in Tarabon. Now they set out to find the rebel Aes Sedai, but having angered one of the Forsaken will they make it to their intended goal?

The Fires of Heaven is the fifth book of the fourteen book long series of The Wheel Of Time. The book is most noted for being the first in the series to not include an appearance from each of the three main characters. With the newly married Perrin Aybara having saved the Two Rivers from a Trolloc army he is not involved at all in this book. The book also shows Rand al’Thor’s first romantic encounter with Aviendha, an apprentice Aiel Wise One. This makes the third of the three women who Min Farshaw said will love him, with her and Elayne Trakand already identified as the other two.

We also see Rand struggle with his feelings towards women dying because of his actions. With his upbringing telling him that he should do everything to protect any women without regard to his own safety he finds himself with a female Aiel bodyguard, the Maidens of the Spear. With him holding their honour there are a number of confrontations between them which mean in the end that he must allow them to protect him with their lives when necessary. This in turn leads to him becoming hard emotionally to deal with the grief that this agreement will bring him.

Where most of the books have built throughout to a strong and dramatic ending this book is slightly different. We have the first crescendo coming during the Battle of Cairhien, the second coming in the city itself when the battle in concluded and the third incorporating both the events in the Aes Sedai camp with those at Caemlyn in Andor. This adds a very fast end to the book that lasts for a long time as we see events from several view points to give us the full picture.

A very exciting read with an ending that beats anything that we have seen before in the series for both length and drama. You think the book is over only for it to flare up again in your face, right back into the action. With the Dragon Reborn back from the Aiel Waste we again see events speed up and drive towards unseen conclusions. Once again a brilliant read that will demand your attention from start to finish.

Ashley

Review: Bitterblue - Kristin Cashore

Warning: Bitterblue is the Third book in the Graceling Realm Series. Please note that spoilers for the previous books are described here.

Bitterblue is Queen, but her Kingdom is a wreck. The people are still affected and oppressed by Leck's reign, even though it ended years ago. Bitterblue, not content with being cooped up in her office and fed paperwork, decides to take things into her own hands by exploring her city in disguise. What she discovers is that the lies and secrets of King Leck run deeper than she ever thought they could, and they are all caught up in a web of death, books and ciphers that began with her father's fixation on another land.

As always, Cashores world-building is flawless. The story transports you into the Graceling realm to Bitterblue City until your are stealing into the night with the Queen yourself. Of course, the ideas for gracelings and monsters are already fully established thanks to the first two books, but it is very easy to go back to that world, even if you have not read the previous books recently.

The character arc for Bitterblue is stunning; full of emotion, determination and realisations. Bitterblue struggles with finding out the truth about her father and the atrocities that he committed during his reign, and has to deal her own emotions as well as those of everyone affected by him. As she comes to realise the full extent of what he has done to her Kingdom, she also has to deal with the pressure to put things right again. Honestly, the range of emotions and difficult situations to be dealt with in this book is extraordinary. Bitterblue is a great protagonist, and I love the way that she is so well-rounded, full of compassion but succumbs to anger and fear just as easily. However, I was slightly disappointed by some other familiar faces, as they tended to flit in and out of the book regularly. In fact, only Po really became integral to the plot in any way.

The theme of grief and healing was very important in this book, and I love the way the author dealt with it in that although some parts were distressing, the way that Bitterblue reacts to it is very human and very understandable. It will resonate with a lot of readers on a very raw level.

As much as the book was a good read, and the ending was satisfying, there was something missing for me. The pace of the book seemed to crawl and although a lot was happening, it didn't keep my eyes open at night. The idea of ciphers was clever and well-researched, but the reading of it, and in fact the reading about Bitterblue's time in the library made for dull reading for me.

As much as I liked knowing that Bitterblue makes a great Queen, the book didn't wow me the way its predecessors did and I could have gone without reading it. Still, this is a good read for anyone who enjoys fantasy and the Graceling Realm series. Fire still remains my favourite book of the series.

Bitterblue on Goodreads

Kyra_x

Review: City of Bones - Cassandra Clare

Clary Fray is just a normal 15-year-old, that is, until she witnesses three armed teens murder a demon. She is quickly catapulted into the dark world of shadowhunters, vampires, warlocks and demons that her mother has tried so hard to keep her away from. To top it all off, a name is being whispered in the city, a person who should be dead, who is feared above all by shadowhunters; Valentine.

The book jumps straight into the plot, and smacks you in the face with new ideas. I had a thought as I was reading; would I actually understand nay of this if I hadn't seen the film first? No.. probably not. I would have been confused and bewildered by everything up until it's all kind-of-explained a couple of chapters later. At that point 'Mundie' means nothing to me. Other than that, the plot was interesting, fast-paced and kept throwing obstacles in Clary's way. You very slowly find out everything, which would make it a tantalising read for people who had not seen the film. As it was, I was just left wondering how the differences would play out.

If you're looking for a film comparison, here it is: *Spoiler Alert*  Most things were pretty much exact to the book, like the love quadrangle, the fact that Simon is quite good-looking (what? Robert Sheehan is very nice to look at), the fact that Jace is a moody so-and-so. All of it is pretty much the same, apart from that Dorothea isn't actually a demon (she was possessed) and that it was only Clary and Jace who go to Hotel Dumort for Simon, and there wasn't quite so much fighting there. Oh, and Simon gets turned into a rat, which was kind of funny. Then, near the end, the stories split quite dramatically. The film goes for the all-out action face-off between Valentine and his cronies against everyone who is able to fight, and it is set in the Institute, with the wolves turning up as a surprise. In the book, Valentine turns up twice, once in the institute and then again when Clary goes to look for Jace. Here, the wolves have teamed up with Clary and are the ones fighting, and there are zombie-type things!

So in all the book was very different from the film in terms of the ending, and though it didn't pack quite as much of a punch, at least it didn't leak a major plotline. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, where I hope my experience won't be marred by the film (Note to self: watch the film after you've read the book, not before).

A nice enough read, but Clockwork Angel definitely trumps it for a first novel in a series.

City of Bones on Goodreads

Kyra_x

Review: The Earl of Brass - Kara Jorgensen

Eilian Sorrell is an archaeologist, an explorer and an enthusiast of new sensations, sights and ideas. The one thing holding him back is his family... oh, and the fact that he will one day inherit his fathers title as the Earl of Dorset. Hadley Fenice is a forthright craftswoman working secretly for her brothers' prosthetic business, but has to take over when her older brother dies. When fate deals Eilian a difficult card in damaging his arm irreparably, the pair come together to fix him. Eilian asks Hadley along to an expedition to the Nagev desert, and what they find there is a wonderful adventure, and monumental learning curve.

The themes of this book are the things that stick out the most in your mind after reading it. There is a huge feminist slant on the entire thing, centering around Hadley's wish to do what she wants and not be hindered by simply being a woman. We even see her dress as a man in the hope that she will treated as an equal. There was also a distinct appreciation for how we live now in terms of male and female equality, however, when you compare that to the example given in the book, you find that we have a lot more to learn. Since this is primarily a steampunk novel, there was also a theme centered around other peoples' perceptions and the pressure that society keeps you under to maintain a good reputation. Thank God we don't have so much pressure on us now! This book really made me appreciate the fact that I was able to vote, or to hang out with guys and not be chaperoned, or to simply have a good education and working life.

Character-wise, there was a fairly small cast, making things very easy to remember, unlike other steampunk books I have read (I'm looking at you, Glass Books of the Dream Eaters). Eilian and Hadley were both extremely likeable and had especially strong traits. To me, it seemed like they were slightly too perfect, though. The only flaws I could find were Eilians missing arm and the fact that they were worried about what society might think of them. However, since one has nothing to do with his personality and the other is more a flaw of society, I must rule them both out.

Something that really stuck me as I was reading was the amount of research it must have taken to produce a book like this. There are intricate details of mechanisms, words I had never even heard of (until I looked them up on the Kindle), issues and ideas completely relevant to the Victorian time period, especially the preoccupation with India and even information on dress.

One of the few things that let the book down was the pacing. While the book was written in three very distinct parts, the pacing went from slow, to fast and back to slow again. For an ending, I prefer a fast pace because in this book it seemed that it took a very long time winding down. Despite some drama, it was just not in the same adventurous vein as the middle part, and therefore was a come-down after something quite exhilarating. In terms of the writing style, the author has used a third-person narrative that seems to roam through the thoughts of all of the characters. In some places, that got slightly confusing as you weren't sure who the narrator was referring to.

In spite of these issues, I still enjoyed the book very much and wonder how the author can go on to create more stories around Eilian and Hadley, as this is book one of The Ingenious Mechanical Devices. I think it is a perfect book for someone who needs a push into the world of steampunk; it doesn't have that boring Victorian-style droning, but instead has a sprinkling of romance and that all-important adventure.

The Earl of Brass on Goodreads
The Earl of Brass on Amazon

Thank you to the author, who kindly gifted me this book in return for a review. This has not affected my rating.

Kyra_x

Review: Poison Study - Maria V. Snyder

After having this book and its sequels sat on my shelf for quite a while, I finally got around to reading them. I've been wanting to read something by Maria V. Snyder for a long time because I love the sound of her books. Reminiscent of Trudi Canavan, or perhaps Kristin Cashore both of whom I have read numerous times, her books centre on fantastical lands with magic at their core.

Poison Study is the first installment of the story of Yelena. We find her cowering in a dungeon with only the rats for company. She is taken away and offered a choice - she can be executed for murder, or she can be the Commander of Ixia's new food taster. She wants to survive, but how long will it last? Yelena must study poisons and people to learn what could kill her and who to trust. She soon realises that she has magical powers, which could also lead to her death, as using magic in Ixia is forbidden.

I loved the story. It was mostly set in the 'palace', where the King once lived and the Commander now lives. In that way I'd liken it to Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore. It's about a woman seeking information and survival, but it's also about slow-building love, friendship and betrayal.

Yelena herself was perfect. She has an excellent character arc and reasons for her flaws which stem from past experiences. She has a deep power underneath it all that I think most people would empathise with. Underneath her flaws and insecurities there's a strong woman.

Valek is the man who gave her the option of being a food taster. He is complex and thoughtful, yet strong and immensely skilled. As a head of security and master assassin he has had to be pretty ruthless, but he has his reasons. I always liked him even when Yelena didn't. He's a very interesting character and his loyalty to the commander knows no bounds.

Then there's the baddie. Well, one of them. Brazell is a powerful man whose son Yelena killed. He is out for revenge and won't stop until he gets what he wants. He's a nasty piece of work, and that's all I shall say on the subject. The less said about him the better.

Snyder's writing is beautiful. It flows well and had me enraptured from the first page. She has structured it very nicely with well-paced action and interesting slower parts. The only thing I would say is that the ending felt a little rushed, with a bit too much information all at once. I would have liked to see a scene play out with Brazell.

Other than that the ending went much the way I thought it would have, which left me satisfied however I would have preferred more of a twist.

In all I think it's a very well rounded first novel for Snyder and I can only see her getting better with every book she writes. I very much look forward to grabbing the next in this series from my shelf to find out what happens next in Yelena's life.

Stacey_x

Review: The One - Kiera Kass

I finally bought it! Yaaay!

The first chapter allows you to dive straight into this book; it is simply as if you have never been away. It was like I didn't even have to try to remember The Elite, because the main twists were covered pretty nicely with 'looking back' type sentences. I hate it when a book tries to recap too much, it gets boring, so I'm really glad this didn't happen.

OK, so to recap for those of you who didn't get quite so caught up in the story as me, or for those of you who read it back in the dark ages and can't remember what just happened. America is chosen to be in the final four of The Selection, nearly screws up her chances entirely (several times) and then finally, finally, decides to stay and fight for Maxon. We found out that Maxon's dad, King Clarkson, is a complete and utter a-hole (please excuse the language, but I couldn't find a better word to describe him).

So talking about the actual story-line, the competition seems to be getting to all the girls, but now that it's just them, they all have to try extra hard to win Maxon over. America is trying, and yet somehow she goes back a step in her character arc. Yet again we see her arguing with Maxon, going over the same things she's been worried about in the first and second books, and now we have an extra issue; she wont admit to herself she actually loves the guy. I could have face-palmed, but I didn't. Strangely, these parts didn't annoy me quite as much as they did in The Elite. Maybe it is because America has matured a bit more, and maybe it's because she isn't toying around with the two boys so much. 

I loved the fact that there was a lot more dystopian type events going on here; a few attacks, a bit more subversion on America's part, sneakily doing things against the King's wishes... I thought it was all great. I noticed that it was a lot more serious though, less laugh out loud moments and more crying, or more horrible things happening.

Now for the big part: this book is the last in the series, so I really have to say something about the conclusion. You can all breathe out a sigh of relief! There are a few things you can really see coming, mostly things that have to happen to get the world back to rights. You guess what happens with Aspen eventually, but that doesn't matter because it was all so satisfying. There were a few shocking deaths thrown in there that you really don't see coming, but that just added to the whole feeling of the final chapters. I actually teared up at a death of a character who I totally detested in The Selection.. that says something for the story, doesn't it?

It was a really absorbing read, and I couldn't put it down. I couldn't stop thinking about it, actually; I just had to see what was going to happen!

The One on Goodreads

Kyra_x

Review: The Shadow Rising - Robert Jordan (4 of 14)

Just a quick warning before I start. This review will contain spoilers from the previous books! So if you do not want to know until you have read it I suggest you put off reading this for a little bit.

Rand al'Thor has taken the Stone of Tear and with it Callandar, fulfilling the biggest and most recognized portents of the Prophecy of the Dragon. Now the world knows and dreads what it to come, but who will follow willingly and who will have to be forced into line? Now with the Forsaken Sammael in Illian is striking at him the next move or does the passage of the Prophecy that suggests it have another meaning altogether. With all this to worry about still his greatest concern in Saidin, and with no one alive who can teach him how to control it, will it destroy him before he can learn? With rumours of trouble in the Two Rivers Perrin Aybara makes his way back, ready to sacrifice himself, but will he find the situation more complicated than his plans allowed for, and with Faile trailing in his wake what will he not do to protect her? Nynaeve al'Meara and Elayne Trakand continue their hunt for the Black Ajah into the troubled city of Tanchico. With a threat to Rand hidden somewhere in the city can they find it before it can be used against him and is another of the Forsaken about to take a hand? In the north Min Farshaw arrives in Tar Valon, but is even the White Tower free of the worlds struggles? Will secrets long hidden be revealed and what will it lead to? Discontent? Rebellion? Treason?! The world is falling apart but does Rand al'Thor have what he needs to unite it, or is there one more thing he must attain before he makes his move?

The Shadow Rising is the fourth book written by Robert Jordan in The Wheel of Time series. This is the longest book in the series and is the first book not to contain a prologue. With the characters once again splitting up at the start of the book we follow four main plot-lines, although we do begin to see little snippets in some chapters that give us information on what is developing in the rest of the world. The book also is the first to develop and build on the romantic entanglements that have thus far only been suggested in earlier books. With Perrin and Faile coming together at the end of The Dragon Reborn we see their relationship develop as they head towards the dangers in the Two Rivers. Also we see Rand in his first romantic relationship with Elayne Trakand, although they go their separate ways early in the book. The translation twist in the passage of the Prophecy of the Dragon, quoted my Moiraine, is very cleverly done and could easily mean what she thinks it does on face value. At the end of the book however you can see clearly how it was not but not having the relevant information to see this before allows you to go through the whole book unsure of what the next move has to be. The pace of the book slows down slightly now; it is not a chase but there in no standing still with all characters constantly moving towards their differing goals.

Once again this book is a brilliant read and with Rand al'Thor thoroughly back in the picture we can begin to move forward again. Where in the last book you knew where you were heading almost from the start, this book allows no such knowledge. Everything that happens is a surprise with the characters themselves not often sure where they are headed and those that think they are keeping it close to their chest. It all combines to add an air of excitement and anticipation for the reader throughout!

10 out of 10!

Ashley

Review: The Walking Dead - Season One

I hadn't heard much about The Walking Dead until a few weeks ago when I was bought seasons 1-3 for my birthday (Thank you!). All I knew was that it was about zombies, so naturally I thought it would be about surviving a post-apocalyptic zombie world. It is about that, but it's also so much more.

The Walking Dead centres around Rick Grimes, a police officer who has awoken in hospital after being shot only to find that the world as he knew it is gone. It is now overrun with zombies, otherwise known as Walkers. The first season focuses on his attempts to find his family and take them to a safe place. It is based on a graphic novel series of the same name.

At first I did think it was going to be another 28 Days Later. It had the same set-up, with the protagonist waking up in a hospital to find the world has succumbed to zombies. However with this being a TV series, it has the time to be much more in-depth than 28 Days Later, so I gave it more of a chance.

Another massive difference is that The Walking Dead is American. At first, I just could not get my head around the accents. Especially Shane's. It's just such a thick Southern American accent that I found it difficult to understand, but I am now used to it, though sometimes I still have to think about what he just said. I was amazed to find out that Andrew Lincoln, who plays Rick Grimes, is British. I would never have guessed. Then I saw his film credits, and that he was in Love Actually and I knew exactly who he was, admittedly because I didn't see how Keira Knightley could possibly reject him. So I think that shows that he's pretty darn versatile.


I'm also quite sure it's been more than 28 days after Rick Grimes was shot. One rather intriguing thing about The Walking Dead is that it doesn't tell you how long it has been since the outbreak, and doesn't tell you how these people became zombies. I presume that's because eventually we will get to know this through the use of flashbacks and clues throughout the seasons, and I personally can't wait.

The characters are well developed, and you can see why they do the things they do, even if it isn't for the best of reasons. Although I think Rick Grimes is great, has an awesome name and a fantastic moral compass, my favourite character is Daryl. He is basically kick-ass. I think the only things you need to know about him is that he is awesome with a crossbow and quite impulsive but is multi-faceted too. There are quite a few characters, but they are all developed properly and allow you to have insight into what it would be like for them during zombie attacks and in the aftermath of them. Saying this, I am quite surprised nobody has gone mad yet.

There are a few characters I don't like. This is mostly because they're a bit annoying or just plain stupid, but this is a series where anyone could be killed off at any moment, so I'm holding out hope.

Themes of survival, love, betrayal, loss and moral conscience make this series more than just your average zombie-filled offering. It also has the standard gory zombie scenes you would, and definitely should expect.

The Walking Dead is, in essence, everything I could ever ask for. Its got heart (figuratively and literally), guts, gore and great character development and I very much look forward to watching the other seasons.

I'm giving it 8 out of 10. It loses some points because of the few annoying characters and because I know I'm going to have to wait a while for story-lines to be completed and things to be explained. That said, I'm sure it'll be worth the wait.

The Great Hunt - Robert Jordan

Just a quick warning before I start. This review will contain spoilers from the previous book! So if you do not want to know until you have read it I suggest you put off reading this for a little bit.

With the seals on the Dark Ones prison strengthened by the One Power contained at the Eye of the World, remnants from the Age of Legends discovered that could hold the key to Tarmon Gai'don and the Dark One supposedly dead, can Rand al'Thor come to terms with the fact that he can channel the One Power and will one day succumb to madness. But is the Dark One really dead and how many of the Forsaken are now awake and roaming the world? Now, along with his friends Mat Cauthon and Perrin Aybara, Rand Al'Thor must accompany a group of Shienaran soldiers to hunt down a group of Trollocs and Darkfriends who have escaped with a valuable treasure. With the Darkfriends motives unclear the company of humans follow, through alternate worlds to a town at the continents farthest point to the west. Meanwhile Nynaeve Al'Meara and Egwene Al'Vere travel to the White Tower to begin their training to become Aes Sedai but have they uncovered a dark secret in the Tower that will take them to a mysterious army rumored to be in the west. As paths converge, all roads lead to Falme, but what will happen at the edge of the world and how will it affect the never ending battle against the Shadow.

The Great Hunt is even more fast paced than the first book; one continuous race to get to their goals before time runs out and the ones they love pay the price. The characters are beginning to develop, changed by their adventures as well as their upbringing away from the world. Events begin to shape around them as each battle their personal demons brought on through their individual situations. Lan and Moiraine all but disappear after the beginning of the book that leaves us to get to know our main characters' natural instincts and how they react to the world. Where the story line split for as couple of chapter in the last book this time you have two completely separate story lines with a couple of small offshoots for a couple of chapters from the boys adventure. Bringing characters into the book now that only had bit part roles in the last film in Min Farshaw and Elayne Trakand, we see events unfold from more points of view than just our Emonds Field villagers.

All in all another brilliant read! Robert Jordan followed up his first book with one that easily matched it in both drama, pace and excitement. This book drives the story forward and at the climax you are left wanting more, driving you into the third book before you can think.

10 out of 10!

A Storm of Swords, Part 1; Steel and Snow - George R.R. Martin

George R.R. Martin yet again delivers the next part of this epic tale with a spirit and style that makes it impossible to stop reading.

This story begins during the battle at the end of the second book, and then details the events that follow in each character's perspective. The stories vary greatly in terms of how far and wide the characters journey, both emotionally and physically. Arya, who has grown so much in the last book, is left to wander the lands, but her story does not move on nearly as much as Sansa's or Jamie's. Each chapter ending is a cliffhanger which you absolutely have to know about, only to be faced with another from a different character. As in the previous books, there are a lot of things going on at once, and as more characters are introduced, the plot only gets more complex.

This book comes as a pair with the next one, and this is quite obvious as many events unfold that will eventually cause much larger disruptions to the lives of other characters, particularly the arrival of the Dornish prince's bloodthirsty brother to Kings Landing. There are eyebrow-raising marriages and dubious alliances forming that will almost certainly become larger plot points in the next book. A few cliffhangers at the end of this book ensure that you are craving the next one soon after.

One issue I have already raised with this series is that the complexity of the book may leave some people with an aching head. If you tend to read other books in-between, you will certainly not remember events that happened in the last one, or minor characters, and yet in some occurrences the reader seems expected to remember what happened between certain characters from what seems like an awful long time ago. A reader with a short memory would want slightly more information when little-known characters become more like protagonists.

Apart from that point, it should be said that this is an excellent read which does not disappoint. In fact, it was difficult to stop reading it at times. The next book is shaping up to be every bit as good as its' predecessors. 9 out of 10.

A Clash of Kings - George R.R. Martin

A Clash of Kings begins exactly at where the last book stops off, with the shocking aftermath of King Joffreys actions. There are four Kings vying for the kingdom, the other three being Stannis Baratheon, the dead King's brother, Renly Baratheon, the younger brother, and Robb Stark, the King in the North, who seeks revenge for the death of a loved one. As more men crown themselves, death comes more quickly and in higher numbers, and no-one is safe from the carnage.

Again, the author writes in an intense and compelling manner. His characters are incredibly vast and have so many different traits you wonder how on earth he managed to imagine every single one of them, but he does. We meet new characters, too, such as Jaquen H'ghar, Margaery Tyrell, Asha Greyjoy and Brienne of Tarth, and I'm sure we shall be seeing a lot more of them in the books to come.

The story becomes more complex, and you keep wondering what on earth is going to happen to certain characters. Where will Arya go now? Will Sansa remain safe without the Hound to protect her? I can't wait to find out, and I can't wait to see what on Earth Daenerys is planning to do when she finally makes her way to the Seven Kingdoms.

This book is a little bit slower and a fair bit longer, but persevere, because I can hear a storm coming.. a Storm of Swords. 7/10.

To read my review on 'A Game of Thrones', please click this link.

Throne of Glass - Sarah J. Maas

Celaena Sardothien is Ardalan's most infamous and feared assassin. She has spent the last year in the salt mines of Endovier after being betrayed and captured; a death sentence to most, but she has miraculously survived. Now the crown prince has dragged her out of one hell and into another; a competition to become the hated King's champion (a kinder word for his personal assassin) and eventually win her freedom. However, the palace, the prince and her captor (the moody captain of the guard) are not as they first appear. Instead, she has something new to worry about; something evil is lurking n the palace, ripping competitors apart in the night. Celaena has to act before she becomes the next corpse.

Told in third person, from the viewpoints of Celaena, Dorian (the Prince) and Chaol (the Guard), Throne of Glass throws you straight into the story, at the moment where Celaena is being freed from her prison. We are intrigued from the start as there are already questions that need answering; How did she get there in the first place? Who betrayed her? How did she end up as an assassin? The plot carries you along at a steady speed throughout; nothing happens too fast or too slowly and everything is there for a reason. Unfortunately, the twists are very easy to see coming and it would have benefited the author not to sow quite as many seeds as to the plot of the second book.

Our protagonist is a strange character; she seems at odds with herself most of the time.. her assassin training giving way to a much more materialistic and silly girl. Despite that, she is quite likeable, funny and easy to empathise with even though she is a killer. The main worry here is that she actually doesn't seem like an assassin - there is one killing in the entire book and although her fighting is well described, her thoughts and actions are much too normal. The emphasis of the book actually divides its-self a bit too evenly between her relationships with other people and her adventures, fighting and planning.

This doesn't make the book any less entertaining, though. In fact, it only makes you like her more as you discover she isn't as heartless and cold as you think. It seems that most appearances are deceiving in this book, as many prejudices about characters turn out to be wrong, including your own.

The most interesting part for me was the competition; the sizing up of competitors, their alliances and the tests they undergo. I would have liked to see a lot more of this as some of the tests were just skipped over in favour of developing the love triangle. As brilliant and human the depictions of each relationship was, I could have done with a bit more action.

The story carries on in Crown of Midnight, and it has four prequels attached to give background information, which unfortunately I have not read; The Assassin and the Pirate Lord, The Assassin and the Desert, The Assassin and the Underworld, The Assassin and the Empire. The story has a lot of plot points that are unexplained, and I am sure these novellas go a long way towards covering what is references in the book. Looking to the future, there are very clear plot-lines to develop, and I hope to read about political warfare, actual warfare, lots of assassinations and a few difficult decisions for our antihero.

I read this very quickly as was always yearning to read more. Gripping and interesting, but the main character was lacking ferocity.

8 out of 10

Beautiful cover image taken from infinity-of-time.blogspot

Misfits - Series One and Two

Having recently watched both series of Misfits, I found that I was extremely impressed. I originally thought that the series was going to be too much like Heroes.

Not only was it good, it was also British. The humour was profoundly either sexual or vulgar, which was rather traditionally British, in my opinion. Nathan, one of the main characters, is the main culprit of these jokes and they hardly ever fail to amuse me.

The series is based around five young offenders who are electrocuted in a freak storm and then gain supernatural abilities. Kelly can hear peoples thoughts, Curtis can turn back time, Simon can turn invisible and Alisha, strangely, can make people want to have sex with her when she touches them. And Nathan? Well, you'll find out when you watch it.

The series feels continually a bit disturbed, with various murders and violence teamed with steamy sexual encounters, some odder than others. Simon is probably my favourite character, as although he is quite shy and creepy looking, he really gets to my heart. Nathan, who seems to be the front man in the group, can only be described as a twat, as in the series. However, he is so lively and cringingly amusing at the same time that he can be forgiven.

All the characters are well thought out, with good back stories and various layers to them that are gradually removed throughout. The only fault I can find is that the drugs and sex involved can be seen as too congruent with the themes in the other popular British series, Skins, which is aimed at the same age group as Misfits.

All in all, this series is definitely one to watch for a dark and satirical look at super powers in modern life.