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Friday, 13 February 2009
Daughters of Darkness (Nightworld Series #2) by LJ Smith
Synopsis:- Fugitives from Night World, three vampire sisters leave their isolated home to live among humans in Daughters of Darkness. Their brother, Ash, is sent to bring the girls back, but he falls in love with their beautiful friend.
Source:- Simon & Schuster
Review:- This is the second story in the Night World series. Whilst the main characters do not remain the same, like I'd thought and hoped it was still quite a decent read. It's something that you would read when you don't want to concentrate too much on what you are reading. However, having said that I would have probably enjoyed it a lot more had I read it in my teens.
2009 Read & Review Challenge
Another one of Miz B's challenges is the 2009 Read & Review. Seeing that I have personally decided to review as much of the books that I read this year I was thrilled to find the above challenge, this will ensure that I have the correct motivation to keep going. I will also ensure that from now on I will review as soon as I finish reading the book as I've got a few that are left unreviewed at this stage and some parts of the books I've already forgotten which isn't any good. I will try and get all my reviews up to date asap.
Secret Vampire (Night World Series #1) by LJ Smith
Synopsis:- Vampires, werewolves, witches, shapeshifters - they live among us without our knowledge. Night World is their secret society, a secret society with very strict rules. And falling in love breaks all the laws of the Night World.
In Secret Vampire, Poppy thought the summer would last forever. Then she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Now Poppy's only hope for survival is James, her friend and secret love. A vampire in the Night World, James can make Poppy immortal. But first they both must risk everything to go against the laws of the Night World.
Source:- Simon & Schuster
Review:- This is a typical story of hidden true love. James & Poppy have been best friends forever, both are in love with the other, unknown to the other. This is a very basic teens story but it does tug at the heart strings but it's a short and light read and it's very predictable. It's not unique in any way but the only thing I really liked about this particular book is that it captures the innocence of true and first love, which happens to be the same in this book. There is a suspenseful part towards the end but this is short lived. So don't expect too much from this book it's simply a guilty pleasure with lots of cliches.
Rating:- 5 out of 10
The Last Days by Scott Westerfeld
Synopsis:- Strange things are happening: people going crazy in the streets, friends disappearing, angels (or devils) clambering on the fire escapes of the city. But for Pearl, Moz and Zahler, all that matters is their new band. As the city reels under a mysterious epidemic, they combine their talents with a vampire lead singer and a drummer whose fractures mind can glimpse the coming darkness. Will their music stave off the end of the world? Or summon it?
Set against the gritty apocalypse that began in Parasite Positive or Peeps, The Last Days is about five teenagers who find themselves creating the soundtrack for the end of the world.
Source:- The Last Days book cover by Scott Westerfeld
Personal Review:- This book is the sequel to Peeps and whilst I was disappointed that it didn't really take you from the end of Peeps it was still a good read. I was hoping that The Last Days will follow Cal, Lacey, Morgan and Sarah into their new lives and into the war that is raging, but unfortunately, whilst Lacey and Cal do make guest appearances towards the end they weren't the main characters of this book.
However, having said that, The Last Days still had it's own charm. It takes you from a simple story of a bunch of teenagers starting up a band to eventually realizing, amongst themselves, what is truly happening in the world, or in their world. Soon they are well informed and helping Peep carriers such as Lacey and Cal to kill the worm that made it's appearance towards the end of Peeps.
Once again I was slightly disappointed with the ending. Like Peeps' ending I found the Last Days ending a bit bizarre and unrealistic, but having said that, being a Young Adult novel I thought that maybe the ending is what is expected in this age group. Despite the ending I still thoroughly enjoyed the book, whilst it's something that I probably wouldn't re-read again it was an enjoyable read whilst it lasted. I read this book in less than 24 hours so it really wasn't bad at all.
Rating:- 6 out of 10
Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris
Synopsis:- This is the second of Charlaine Harris' books starring Harper Connelly a woman who got hit by lightning as a child and got left with a gift of finding the dead and being able to identify their cause of death.
Harper is hired by a skeptic Professor who wants to prove to his class that she's a fraud. His ultimate test was to take Harper to the College cemetery which hasn't been used for over 50 years and the list of the people buried there was recently uncovered and was impossible to obtain.
Harper goes through the norm, naming the people buried in the graves and naming their cause of death when in the last grave something goes awfully wrong. Harper feels two bodies instead of one. Harper then realizes that the second body that was buried there recently, on top of the original body is that of the little girl that she was hired and failed to find a few months prior.
Due to this big coincidence Harper and Tolliver finds themselves in the middle of a murder investigation, both looking to be likely suspects. If things couldn't get worse, the Professor, after a heated and public argument with Harper is found dead on the very same grave! The duo seeks to find their own evidence, to solve the murder mystery and to untangle themselves from being seen as suspects. Unfortunately every evidence they uncover further points to them being guilty.
Personal Review:- Whilst I preferred the first book in the series, Grave Sight, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book. The only reason I found Grave Sight to be a better book is because it took me awhile longer to figure out who the actual culprit to the crimes were, whereas with this one it was obvious early on in the story.
Having said that this book was still a great read. It's a very easy read, but the book contains enough mystery, twists and turns for it not to become a bore, even if you already guessed who the murderer was. I will definitely be reading more of Charlaine Harris' books.
Rating:- 6 out of 10
Thursday, 12 February 2009
Peeps by Scott Westerfeld
Synopsis:- A year ago, Cal Thompson was a college freshman more interested in meeting girls and partying than in attending biology class. Now, after a fateful encounter with a mysterious woman named Morgan, biology has become, literally Cal's life.
Cal was infected by a parasite that has a truly horrifying effect on its host. Cal himself is a carrier, unchanged by the parasite, but he's infected the girlfriends he's had since Morgan. All three have turned into the ravening ghouls Cal calls Peeps (Parasite-positive). The rest of us know them as vampires. It's Cal's job to hunt them down before they can create more of their kind.
Bursting with the sharp intelligence and sly humor that are fast becoming his trademark, Scott Westerfeld's novel is an utterly original take on an archetype of horror.
Source:- Barnes & Noble
Personal Review:- As you will see from my reading list I have grown quite interested in the whole vampire stories, hence this was totally up my alley. This is the first Scott Westerfeld book that I've read and whilst it would be unlikely that I would re-read Peeps again I thoroughly enjoyed it the first time around and has gotten me interested in reading the rest of Westerfeld's books.
This is not your usual vampire story. This had many twists, turns and theories. His take on the whole vampire environment was so unique and his explanations to the usual vampire themes were so realistic that it started sounding more facts than fiction. Westerfeld's writing technique was quite interesting as he makes every second chapter as a "fact" chapter about different types of parasites. I initially decided to skip these parts but strangely enough I found these chapters quite interesting, not so much due to the actual facts itself but due to the depth, interest and horror that it adds to the main story line.
Rating:- 6.5 out of 10
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Casual Classics Challenge 2009
MizB is hosting a "Casual Classics Challenge", which is to read 4 "Classics" between January 1st 2009 and December 31st 2009 and since I'm going to be reading a lot of classics already by personal choice I thought it'd be a great addition to my other reading challenges, but I think this would be it for me this year. I don't want to join too much and overwhelm myself as I do want to complete the challenges. As I finish reading I will write the titles of my "read" classics. Till then...
1.
2.
3.
4.
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
2009 100+ Reading Challenge
This is another of my Reading Challenges. Further information can be found here. I will write and add to my list as I read and review the books. Hope you join and have fun!!
15. The Hobbit by Tolkien
16. Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring by Tolkien
17. Lord of the Rings Two Towers by Tolkien
18. Lord of the Rings Return of the King by Tolkien
19. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
20. New Moon by Stephanie Meyer
21. Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer
22. Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer
23. Dracula by Bram Stoker
24. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
25. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
48. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
2009 Young Adult Challenge - COMPLETED!
Another J Kaye Challenge, this one is to read 12 Young Adult books in 2009. I wouldn't normally do such a challenge but lately there has been so many great Young Adult books out eg. Harry Potter and Twilight series that I've gotten really interested in finding more great ones, so here's a great motivation. Sign up and guidelines can be found here.
12. So Yesterday by Scott Westerfeld
16/02/09 - I've removed the listing of the books, I will just fill it up as I go. I also have decided that I won't be doubling up on the listing, the items that will show up in the "1st in series" won't be showing up on this list.
1st in Series Challenge 2009 COMPLETED!
I've joined several Reading Challenges and I am thrilled to find them. This particular one is to read 12 "1st" books in a series between January 2009 and December 2009. It is being hosted by J Kaye, sign up and guidelines can be found here. J Kaye is hosting other Reading challenges so check those out too, you don't have to have a blog to join. Anyhow, these are my 12 books:-
7. The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld (Midnighters)
8. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy)
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