Born at midnight by C.C. Hunter

Kylie is an average teenager - she likes hanging out with her bestfriend Sara, and her parents are getting a divorce.  Her father is moving out, leaving her with her mother the Ice Queen, so to let loose one night she goes to a party and ends up in more trouble than she has ever been and gets shipped off to a camp for troubled teens.  But the teens at the camp are not your average teens - they're werewolves, vampires, shapeshifters, faeries, and maybe even a few related to the gods.  Kylie is convinced that she is not one of the freaks (although she tries not to think of them that way) even though it is hard to ignore that things are different when she finds herself rooming with a witch and a vampire. 

The boys at camp are interesting, and some of them are more than a little tempting, but things are very complicated and between her personal life and her potential lovelife Kylie is already stretched thin - when you add in the fact that she has no idea what she is or how she fits in with the other supernaturals, Kylie is one short step away from a nervous breakdown.  Then things at the camp take a darker turn and it is all she can do to keep her head above water, rather than drowning in the hidden dangers of her new world.

There are so many books about supernatural beings floating around at the moment that it can be difficult to find something that makes a book unique, something special.  The remarkable thing about this book (the first in a series) is that C.C. Hunter has taken all the mythology out there and created a world that is genuine and believable.  It becomes so easy to believe that there really are vampires and witches out there, and that people like Kylie really can see ghosts. 

Without ruining too much of the storyline for people who want to read this awesome book, Kylie and her new world had the potential to become just another same-old-sam-old read, but I had the guilty pleasure of reading this book as fast as I could to get to the end as fast as I could.  I felt almost guilty reading this book because there are so many books out there that fail to meet the high standard of this first novel, yet the cover looks like every other supernatural book out there so I was getting those looks from co-workers when they saw the sparkly cover.  This was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more books by this author and hopefully the rest of the series keeps to this same high standard.

If you like this book then try:

• The unidentified by Rae Mariz
• Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
• Hex hall by Rachel Hawkins
• Legacies by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill
• Deception by Lee Nichols

Reviewed by Brilla

Rosebush by Michele Jaffe

Jane is in hospital after an epic party the victim of a hit-and-run car crash that left her crumpled and broken in a rosebush.  As she lies in her bed unable to talk or move she relives part of the accident, but not enough to put together the events of the night and what really happened.  Over the coming days as her condition improves in small and unusual ways Jane finds herself doubting what she remembers of that night, what her friends tell her, and what is really going on around her.  Was it really an accident, or is there something more sinister going on.  As the memories of the accident begin to return Jane also finds herself remembering events from the past, events that affect not only her.

Michele Jaffe is the author of several teen novels and has a deft touch with her storytelling, and she has chosen a difficult storytelling tool with the use of the flashback as a main part of her novel.  Too often novels that rely on the flashback fail because the author is too heavy handed or unrealistic - but Jaffe handles it well, although there is the odd time where I have to admit I went "huh?" but it soon settled back into the story.  

This was an addictive read, and the events unfold in a rapid setting and just as rapidly you are dragged into the "perfect" world of Jane and her friends.  Quite quickly the perfectness wears off and you realise how much of an act Jane's life is, and how quickly she also realises that she (and things) need to change.  A very engaging read that is quite different from the humour sprinkled novels that Jaffe has written before.  An excellent and recommended read for those who love novels about cliques, about mysteries, and about the perfectness of teen life before it all comes crashing back down to earth.

If you like this book then try:

• Bad kitty by Michele Jaffe
• Jinx by Meg Cabot
• The kidnapping of Christine Lattimore by Joan Lowery Nixon
• I am the cheese by Robert Cormier
• The lying game by Sara Shepard

Reviewed by Brilla

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Welcome to the future - a future that could be just around the corner, or decades away.  In this future world Girl15 is about to become an adult, and during her naming ceremony she becomes Deuce and joins the ranks of the hunters who find the food that feeds her people and defends the enclave from the Freaks that patrol the tunnels eating anything and anyone they can bring down.  It is a world of strictly enforced rules and harsh penalties, where those who defy the elders are exiled from the enclave to wander for the rest of their (very short) lives in the wild areas beyond the safety of the barricades.  As a huntress Deuce is paired with Fade, an outsider who has been accepted into the enclave for the skills that he brings, but who has never been accepted as a true part of their society.  On their first real trip beyond the barricades of their enclave Deuce makes a discovery that will change her life forever.

Deuce has always followed the rules without question - when you die before you turn 30 life is very short, and you don't have time to fight for change.  In a short space of time Deuce realises that if she is to survive she must start making her own decisions, and choose the way she wants to live her life.  With Fade by her side she embarks on a journey that will change her life forever, opening doors to new possibilities that she never dreamed existed, and introduce her to new dangers and new threats.  How safe can her world and her future be when the Freaks are becoming smarter, more organised, and more dangerous - and the elders who are supposed to be protecting them think they are crazy.

This was a fast-paced read that appealed because it was a fresh take on the whole zombie/dystpia theme that has been in several novels over the past few years.  Ann Aguirre is an engaging author who has written a solid and thoroughly enjoyable read - the only complaint being that the ending felt a little rushed, like she was trying to stay under a word limit and chose to end somewhat abruptly rather than trim words from somewhere else.  Deuce is a great main character ad lacks the whiny edge that some of the heroines/heroes have had in other similar novels, you want to stand with her rather than slap her across the back of the head and tell her to get over herself.  A thoroughly enjoyable read and hopefully Aguirre will write more books for teenagers - particularly ones as well researched as this was.

If you like this book then try:

• Rot and ruin by Jonathan Maberry
• The hunger games by Suzanne Collins
• The enemy by Charlie Higson
• The Marbury lens by Andre Smith
• The crossing by Mandy Hager

Reviewed by Brilla

Inside out by Maria V. Snyder

Welcome to the Inside, the only world that Trella has ever known.  Trella is a scrub, she lives in the Lower levels and along with a multitude of other scrubs she helps to keep the Inside running for the scrubs and the lucky people who live in the Upper Levels.  The Uppers are a place that scrubs can only dream of, where there is plenty of space and everything is just so much better.  In the Lower levels everyone works in ten hour shifts of their assigned tasks, cooking, cleaning, recycling, and washing in a never ending stream of work.  Scrubs have no families, they are raised in groups of ten under a Care mother who raises them until they are of age to be assigned their future careers and then they move into the adult world of neverneding work.  Everything is controlled by the Pop Cops who keep check on their health, their lives, and their children.  It is an oppressive world that Trella escapes every chance she can get, mostly by hiding and sleeping in the pipes that she maintains - earning herself the nickname of Queen of the Pipes.

That nickname makes her the focus of interest from the latest Prophet to arrive in the Lower levels.  Trella never trusts the Prophets because they are sent by the Pop Cops to feed people dreams, ideas, and hopes to keep them inline, but the Broken Man is not like other Prophets.  Drawn into a dangerous conspiracy, Trella soon finds herself over her head as a simple act leads to dangerous and rapidly spreading consequences.  The dream of Gateway, a near-mythical exit from the world of Inside, is a powerful drawcard for a lot of the scrubs and even some of the Uppers who are not what Trella was expecting.  Drawn deeper and deeper into the conspiracy, Trella risks not only her life, but also the lives of those around her as she races against time to solve the mystery of the Gateway and the secret of what lies Outside.

This is the first of at least two books, and although the beginning was a bit odd/almost slow, the momentum builds throughout the first chapters and becomes almost impossible to put down.  The dystopia theme is very popular at the moment for young adult novels, and while it seems at first as though this may just  be one amongst many, it soon becomes clear that this is not your run of the mill dystopian novel.  Trella is a strong character, and she is supported by a cast of characters that you love and/or hate with a passion.  Hidden amongst the pages are some twists that I didn't see coming, and I won't ruin the surprise by talking about them as it may impact somewhat on your enjoyment of this fantastic novel.  I can't wait to read the sequel, Outside in.

If you like this book then try:

• The roar by Emma Clayton
• The sky village by Monk Ashland and Nigel Ashland
• Because we were the travellers by Jack Lasenby
• Arrival by Chris Morphew
• The lab by Jack Heath

Reviewed by Brilla

Solomon crocodile by Catherine Rayner

Solomon crocodile is full of mischief and having loads of fin bugging all the other animals on the banks of an African river - until he comes up against a rather large and annoyed Hippo who tells him off.  But that is not the end of the story as there is something or someone else bothering the frogs, the dragonflies and the storks.  A fun and delightful book with gorgeous illustrations that are full of energy and bounce - just like Solomon.  A funny read for younger readers listening to their favourite big person read aloud to them, and a great read for slightly older children who are exploring the wonders of reading for themselves.  I love this book and now want to see what else this author has written - and if she hasn't written anything else yet, then I hope she does write more with the same energy and fun of this one.

If you like this book then try:

• Don't let the pigeon drive the bus by Mo Willems
• I'm the biggest thing in the ocean by Kevion Sherry
• Cushie Butterfield (she's a little cow) by Colin McNaughton
• Giggle, giggle, quack by Doreen Cronin

Reviewed by Brilla

Z.Rex by Steve Cole

Adam Adlar is living with his dad in Santa Fe over the holidays, while his dad works on his Ultra-Reality (U-R) gaming console.  If his dad can get it to work properly, it will be the biggest thing ever - no more controllers or gamepads, the game will be able to work directly from the players mind.  Adam is his dads favourite (and only) test subject, and together they are making the system work.  They are in a race against time though, as the research is expensive and the funding is always close to running out.  When an opportuntiy comes up for a distraction Adam's dad takes it, but the gone for a few days quickly turns into missing for lots of days and Adam is getting worried.  When things take an even more dangerous turn, Adam finds himself in the company of a genetically created dinosaur named Z.Rex and it seems hell-bent on finding his father - but for what purpose?

This is the first book in The hunting series and starts the series with a bang.  One of the best things about this books is that it is fast moving, has a gripping story, but also avoids using lots of complicated language which makes it accessible to younger readers who want to extend their reading, but also allows teenagers who are struggling a little with their reading to enjoy a really good read without feeling like they are being talked down to.  I really enjoyed this book because it was surprisingly complex, even though the language was not heavy with technical words or vocabluary building words it didn't feel like the story was brought down to a younger level - instead it felt as though the author really knows his audience and is trying to include as many people in the telling as possible.

If you like this book then try:

• Serpents of Arakesh by V.M.Jones
• Raptor by Paul Zindel
• The lost castle by Michael Pryor
• Star split by Kathryn Lasky
• Hex by Rhiannon Lassiter
• Genesis by Bernard Beckett

Reviewed by Brilla

XVI by Julia Karr

Welcome to the city of Chicago in the year 2150.  It is a civilised city of the future where every teenage girl receives a XVI tattoo on her 16th birthday - a clear sign to everyone that she is now ready and legal to have sex.  Some girls embrace the sex-teen culture, learning all the skills and tricks to attract a man, any man, so they can experience sex for the first time, and as often as they like once they have their tattoo.  But not everyone believes the hype, the propaganda that sex is something that every girl should want as soon as she has her tattoo. 

One of those girls is Nina Oberon, who dreads turning sixteen, getting her tattoo, and becoming a target for every sexed up guy who sees her as fair game.  Her mothing Ginnie has always supported her, always made sure that she can make up her own mind, but sometimes that isn't enough.  Nina has never wanted her tattoo, but her best friend Sandy is like a walking advertisement for everything that the GC wants teenage girls to be - sexed up and ready to go.  When her mother is murdered, Nina suddenly finds herself in a very vulnerable position, she is without her mother and without a lot of the answers that could keep her safe.  She is finding new friends and new supporters, but there is a dangerous enemy working against her and if they win she could lose her family, her beliefs, and even her life.

Dystopian novels are a growing genre for teenagers at the moment, and at first it seemed as though this may have been just another one amongst many, but as I read further I became more and more addicted to the story and the wealth of information within the story.  Unlike other authors in the same genre, Julia Karr has really fleshed out her world, giving it a depth and breadth that is sometimes missing - it felt like a real time and place rather than just somewhere that was created by somebody.  I hope that there are more books of a similar calibre from this author as this is an amazing book regardless of the fact that it includes a lot of reference to sex - there is no actual sex in the book, and all references to sex are handled within context rather than thrown in your face.  Highly recommended, although you may find the first few chapters a bit odd to get into to, definitely worth the read.

If you like this book then try:

• The barcode tattoo by Suzanne Weyn
• Matched by Ally Condie
• The limit by Kristin Landon 
• Witch and wizard by James Patterson
• Hunger games by Suzanne Collins
• The unidentified by Rae Mariz

Reviewed by Brilla

River marked by Patricia Briggs

For the first time ever I feel the need to include a SPOILER ALERT with a review - if you have not read the rest of the series and are not up-to-date with the life and trials of Mercedes "Mercy" Thompson then do not read past this point as you may end up learning more about the earlier books than is good for you.

Okay, now that is out of the way I can say without doubt that the Mercy series is still going strong with this sixth book in the series.  From the start Mercy has been a strong, independent almost anti-hero who makes mistakes, has her flaws (did I mentions she can be really stubborn yet), and has this amazing ability to end up in the wrong place at the right time.  Over the past five novels Mercy has fallen into more trouble than is humanly possible, but as she is not human but a Walker who can turn into a coyote, then maybe that explains it.  This time around Mercy and Adam have left on their honeymoon, and they are camping in a very flash RV in a campground that wont be open to the public for some time to come.  But it turns out the honeymoon comes with Mercy's own special brand of complications, and Mercy and Adam soon find themselves caught up in the mystery of a river monster that is killing tourists and locals alike. 

For the first time you really get a blending of Native American mythology and magic from Mercy's ancestry in the story, and as I am not from America and don't have a sound knowledge of what is real with Native American culture and what is just for TV and novels I can only say that it appears to have been handled with respect, but I can say it answered a lot of questions and made the story so much more because it added to the general mythology of mercy's world and built on a world view of what it is like to live in a world with vampires, werewolves, walkers, the fae - and now some other things entirely (don't want to spoil things for you too much). 

I love this series, and one of the things I love best about it is the seamless way that Patricia Briggs blends together the real world that we know, with a fantasy world that blends magic, monsters, and the fae into a world that you think is just around the corner.  Other authors have tackled this "urban fantasy" genre before with varying success, and some series that started strong have become less readable over time, but the Mercy Thompson novels just keep getting better and better, and the companion Alpha and Omega series is just as addictive.

If you like this book then try:

• Cry wolf by Patricia Briggs
• Knight of ghosts and shadows by Mercedes Lackey and Ellen Guon
• Burning water by Mercedes Lackey
• Blood price by Tanya Huff
• Dead witch walking by Kim Harrison
• Guilty pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton

Reviewed by Brilla

Town possum, outback possum by Yvonne Morrison; illustrated by Heath McKenzie

Many readers will be familiar with the story of the town mouse and the country mouse - and this re-telling of the old story is both familiar and new at the same time.  For most New Zealanders possums are a pest species that must be removed at all costs (no matter how cute and fluffy they may appear), but to Australians they are a species that should be cared for and protected.  So putting aside the whole pest thing, and concentrating instead on the cute-appeal of possums, I thoroughly enjoyed this updated version of the classic story. 

Jessie the city possum, complete with bring purple suitcase, visits her cousin Jack in the country.  After a few days Jessie is bored out of her (Jack's) tree and convinces Jack to come to the big city to see where she lives instead.  The trip to the city is not what Jack expected, and when he has the chance to scamper back to his home in the country he takes it. 

This book has a delighful Australian flavour (though as a Kiwi maybe I shouldn't admit that), and the illustrations are highly engaging.  It wil be interesting to see if more re-told traditional stories come from this team.

If you liked this book then try:

• Cindy and the lost jandal by Chris Gurney & illustrated by Ross Kinnaird
• Little Red and the cunning kuri by Chris Gurney & illustrated by Sarah Nelisiwe Anderson
• The ugly hatchling by Yvonne Morrison & illustrated by Dave Gunson
• There was an old lady who swallowed a mozzie by P. Crumble & illustrated by Louis Shea

Reviewed by Brilla

The important things by Peter Carnavas

Helping young children cope with the death of a loved one, particularly a parent, is never easy.  Reading and sharing picture books and novels about losing a loved one can help, but too often those stories come across as fake or condescending.  The important things is a real treasure, a book that appeals for lots of different reasons.

Christopher and his mother have a strong relationship, with Christopher's mother almost seeming like superwoman with all the different things that she does - watering the garden, cooking breakfast, painting the house, building things out of blocks - all because Christopher's father has died.  One day his mother cleans up the small, old, and unimportant things that had belonged to his father and packs them into a box which they take to a second-hand store in the city.  Over the next few days and week the things begin to reappear - and one night Chrisopher's mother finds out why.

This is a charming book that is lovely to share, even with children who have not lost a loved one.  It neatly sidesteps the usual pitfalls of being too emotional, or too much "it will be alright", or "we know exactly how you feel".  I loved this book and hope that it will bring comfort to children who have lost someone dear to them.

If you liked this book then try:

• The sunshine cat by Miriam Moss & illustrated by Lisa Flather
• Always and forever by Alan Durant & illustrated by Debi Gliori
• Old Hu-Hu by Kyle Mewburn & illustrated by Rachel Driscoll
• The grandad tree by Trish Cooke & illustrated by Sharon Wilson

Reviewed by Brilla

Burn bright by Marianne de Pierres

Retra has escaped from the only home she has ever known, catching a barge to the magical island of Ixion.  The life she leaves behind is one of heavily enforced rules, the life of a Seal, a people despised by even the other people of Grave.  Ixion is the island of legend, a place where people go to escape the life they live, a place where she hopes to find her missing brother Joel.  When Joel left her life went from bad to unbearable, and even the adventurous trip to Ixion can not stop her attempts to find him.  But things are not what Retra expected on the island, and she soon finds herself caught between worlds, between ideas, and between factions.  What are the dangers that lurk in the shadows of the island, and what is the whispering voice that seems to sound in her ears when no one else is around, words that seem to speak to her soul.  Even with the attention of one of the Ripers, Retra is not safe from the dangers that hide in the eternal night of Ixion.

I picked this book up because it came with high praise - and was almost tempted to put it down again when I saw it was compared to Twilight (and as most people know I am not a big fan of Twilight).  However, I was really impressed with this book, and hope that the next book in the series is not far away as it was thoroughly enjoyable.  Retra is a complex character, and the world she lives in is just as complex, with a supporting cast that is fully realised and fully involved in the plot.  There are times when I stumbled and wondered if I had missed somthing - but that may have just been because I was reading when I was tired.  This is a great read and doesn't have the same old, same old that other "vampire" novels have - not that this really classes as a vampire novel, but more books in the series may make a more "vampire" feel to the series.

If you like this book then try:

• Blood and chocolate by Annette Curtis Klaus
• Tinker by Wen Spencer

Reviewed by Brilla

Thirteen days to midnight by Patrick Carman

Jacob Fielding is not your average teenager for several reasons - the main one being that when he tells someone that they are indestructible  they become indestructible   He didn't know he could transfer the power to be indestructible, to be immortal, until he passes it along by accident.  That simple act starts a chain of events that no one is prepared for - not Jacob, not his best friend Milo, and not the new girl at school.  As the days pass and they experiment with the power, Jacob begins to feel that there is something dark and dangerous lurking under the surface, something that he is not quite getting.  When he learns the truth about his power he begins a race against time to save himself, his friends, and maybe even his soul.

This is an interesting read, if for no other reason than it asks the question - if you could have any super power in the world, what would it be?  Jacob appears to be an ordinary teenager living with a priest after the tragic death of his guardian in a car accident.  His best friend Milo is your average best friend - nothing special to look at, has a big mouth that gets him into trouble, and has two out-there parents who run a bookstore that specialises in obscure sci-fi and fantasy.  Into this picture comes the unbelievably perfect Ophelia (just call her Oh) and that is the start of the real story. 

Jacob has been given the gift of invincibility - he can't die when he is shot, stabbed, hit by a car, nothing can kill him.  By mistake he finds out that he can pass the power on to someone else and then call it back.  Oh believes they should use the power to save lives, and at first it seems like a solid plan - until they have to make choices about who should live and who should die.  This could have come off as a preachy book, preaching right and wrong, who gets to live, who gets to die - and even could have been mistaken for a philosophy text or religious studies textbook.  What you actually get is a gripping read that keeps you guessing about what is really happening till the last few chapters, and by then you don't care that you may have figured out what is happening because the story drags you along to the satisfying conclusion. 

If you enjoyed this book then try:

• Out of sight, out of mind by Marilyn Kaye
• Numbers by Rachel Ward
• Finding the fox by Ali Sparkes
• Wolf brother by Michelle Paver

Reviewed by Brilla

The hidden gallery by Maryrose Wood

The hidden gallery is the second book in the Incorrigible children of Ashton Place series and continues on from where The mysterious howling left off.  For those of you who have never heard of this series, the Incorrigble children are three siblings who were found running wild in the woods by Lord Ashton.  Penelope Lumley becomes their governess in the first book after she graduates from the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females.

In this enjoyable sequel Penelope and her charges find themselves in London, after Lady Constance Ashton decides to relocate to London rather than allow Penelope to travel to London by herself.  From the start the trip seems shrouded in the risk of disaster, and in a short space of time Penelope finds herself surrounded by some mysterious characters, and some that seem like they are up to no good.  While the household rocks and rolls with the whims and whines of Lady Constance, Penelope finds herself caught in a tangled web of mystery and uncertainties.

This is the second book in the series and continues strongly from the previous book.  Penelope is a charming and resourceful young woman, and the Incorrigibles seem to attract attention of all sorts (not always the right kind).  At first this series seemed like it was a bit of a ripoff of the Series of unfortunate events, but the Incorrigible children is at this point a better series and I look forward to seeing how this series develops as there are some ideas tickling at the back of my mind about where this series is heading, but we will see what happens.

If you enjoy this book then try:

• The bad beginning by Lemony Snicket
• The children of Green Knowe by L.M.Boston
• Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo

Reviewed by Brilla

Argus by Michelle Knudsen, illustrated by Andrea Wesson.

Just a quick review so Brilla doesn't feel lonely :).


Sally’s class are raising chicks, but her chick, Argus, is different to the others. WAY different… like green-and-scaly and growing-really-fast and eating-other-chicks different.

What is so much fun about this tale of difference, acceptances and love, is that it is never, ever stated WHAT Argus is. He’s just a very different chick.

I love the teacher, Mrs Henshaw. What a cool teacher! Unflappable.

The illustrations, done in watercolour and ink, are appealing.

*Sigh* if only all picture books were this adorable.

If you like this book try:

• Edwina, the dinosaur who didn’t know she was extinct by Mo Willems.
• George and the dragon by Chris Wormell.
• Tadpole’s promise by Jeanne Willis, illustrated by Tony Ross.
• The monster at the end of this book by Jon Stone, illustrated by Michael Smollin.
• Your pal Mo Willems presents Leonardo the terrible monster by Mo Willems.

Reviewed by Thalia.

Circle of fire by S.M. Hall

Maya Brown is 15 years old, intelligent, athletic - and the adopted daughter of Pam, one of the UK's top intelligence agents.  Driven into hiding because of a kidnap threat. Maya and Pam are trying to live normal lives while security agents shadow their every move and try and protect them.  Pam is on a task force to prevent an attack by Muslim extremists, and her work has brought her into conflict with an emerging group that has big plans for the UK and for Europe.  When Pam is kidnapped, Maya feels frustrated and angry that no one is listening to her, so she breaks away from the protection of the security agents and her mothers agency.  Her plan is simple - rescue her mother and stop the bad guys.  Facing danger at every turn, Maya has to act quickly and be willing to take risks, including risking her own life.

This is the first book in a new series that seems to be somewhat daring on the part of the author.  Using Muslims, and extremists in particular, seems a very bold move - one that seems almost designed to inflame people's opinions.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that the author made no judgements and told a well thought out story, that includes elements of Muslim culture and Muslim extremists, but does not use gratuitous, in-your-face views.  Maya is a believable heroine, and she does not rely on gadgets or the support of adults and secret agents.  The story feels very real, and Maya is easy to relate to and I look forward to reading more books in this series if the author can keep up the pace.

If you like this book then try:

• Deep end by Sam Hutton
• Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz
• The recruit by Robert Muchamore

Reviewed by Brilla

Darkly dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

Dexter is a cold, calculated killer who kills without remorse and with an attention to detail that makes you shudder - but he is also one of the good guys.  When his foster father discovered that there was a monster lurking in the mind of his foster son, Harry schooled Dexter and taught him to hunt other people like him - other killers.  Years later, Dexter still lives by the code of Harry, hunting down the monsters of Miami and dealing with them one by one, satisfying Harry's sense of justice, and satisfying the Dark Passenger that lurks inside his mind.  He is careful about his targets and plans everything in advance, down to the smallest detail, and he has never been caught. 

But a new serial killer has entered Miami, a killer who seems to call to Dexter, who brings out the curious and playful side of the Dark Passenger.  Dexter is curious and cautious, this new killer intrigues him and he wants to know more, but there is also danger - some people already suspect that he is different, fake, pretending to be human.  If only they knew how right they were, that the friendly Dexter they know is a mask for the killer that lurks underneath.

This is the second time I have picked up this book - the first time was when the first series of the TV show came out and I read only a few pages before giving up.  Seeing it a second time made me reconsider and I am glad I did because it was a damn good read.  Dexter is a great character, and as the novel is told from his perspective you get amazing insight into the way his mind works.  You might expect this to be a gory novel, but it is surprisingly lacking in gore, what you get instead is a gripping read that keeps you guessing from beginning to end - although knowing there is more than one novel in the series kind of ruins some of the suspense.  A fantastic read and I can't wait for to read the next book in the series once I have cleared some room on my reading shelf.

If you like this book then try:

• I am not a serial killer by Dan Wells
• Violence 101 by Denis Wright
• Level 26: Dark origins by Anthony E. Zuiker and Duane Swierczynski

Reviewed by Brilla

Clarity by Kim Harrington

Clarity "Clare" Fern is psychic - along with the rest of her family.  Clare can see things from the past from a persons point of view when she touches something they have touched, her brother Perry is a medium who can talk to spirits, and their mother is a telepath (which makes it really hard to keep secrets from her).  To the tourists in their home town of Eastport they are a tourist attraction, a fun diversion where the Fern family tells them things from their past and maybe even connect them to friends and relatives they have lost.  For the locals, particularly the local high school kids, Clare is a freak to be teased and tormented.  When a murder occurs in their close knit community, Clare finds herself working with the Mayor's son, and the new detectives son to solve the murder - unofficially of course.

This book was a lot "lighter" than I was expecting.  I have read other books that seem to cover this idea in more depth and with more "grit" - but this was still an enjoyable read.  Clare is an interesting character and one of the cool things about her world is that the psychic abilities of Clare and her family seem real - based on facts and laws that govern what they can do and what they can achieve.  The story seems to unfold easily, starting with a dramatic glimpse of the present before diving into events of the past few days before launching back into the present and the big conclusion. 

Overall this was an enjoyable read and I look forward to future books from this author.  She has written a book that is fresh and free from the usual cliches, and has managed to avoid writing a predictable book.  Harrington kept up a good pace throughout the story, and the last few chapters passed in a blur as I rushed towards the end to see how the book was going to end.

If you like this book then try:

• Legacy of lies by Elizabeth Chandler
• Other by Karen Kincy
• Jinx by Meg Cabot
• Deception: Haunting Emma by Lee Nichols
• Legacies by Mercedes Lackey

Reviewed by Brilla

Daniel X: the manga by James Patterson with Michael Ledwidge

This is the manga-ised version of the first book in the Daniel X series, and while I am not usually a fan of turning books into graphic novels because it always seems like it is just an attempt to make more money, that is not the case this time.  With these graphic novels (there are also graphic novels based on the Witch & Wizard and the Maximum Ride series) I don't get that same feeling, and it may partly be because James Patterson is such a supporter of encouraging children and young adults to read - and it doesn't matter what they are reading. 

One of my favourite reading philosophies is that reading is reading and should be encouraged.  If your child, teenager, husband, whatever is reading then encourage them - it doesn't matter if it is high literature, a graphic novel, a magazine, cards from the latest fad of collectors cards, or even the back of a pack of biscuits it is still reading.  Daniel X is not high literature but it has been richly illustrated and brought to life, complimenting the book of the same name, and allowing more people to become engaged with this series. 

Daniel X lost his parents when he was only 3 years old, watching them die at the hands of an alien known as The Prayer.  He escapes, but he also suddenly finds himself on his own, The List his only possession.  Fast forward 12 years and Daniel is now a fully fledged alien hunter, tracking down and eliminating the aliens that populate The List - aliens that want to enslave, eat, or eliminate the people of Earth.  Daniel is moving up the list and is about to take on Number 6 - but is he biting off more than he can chew?  I won't say anymore, but you can easily loose yourself in this interesting trwist on the aliens-amongst-us science fiction.

If you liked this graphic novel then try:

• Maximum ride: the manga by James Patterson
• Witch & Wizard: Battle for Shadowland by James Patterson

Reviewed by Brilla

Numbers by Rachel Ward

Jem is a foster kid, living with the label of orphan after her mother died of a drug overdose when she was a child, and she never knew who her father was.  She doesn't do well at school, she doesn't seem to fit in with her foster family, and a dark secret keeps her from connecting with the people around her.  Jem can see numbers when she looks people in the eye, and it's not just any number, its the date that they are going to die.  She has always seen the numbers, even as a small child, but it wasn't until her mother died that she finally figured out what the numbers were - date of death. 

Now Jem is 15 and living with an okay foster mother, but she is on the fringes and alone - until she makes a connection with Spider, another social outcast.  When she sees a group of people with the same number Jem panics and drags Spider away, just before a terrible tragedy strikes, and now they are on the run from the police and hiding from the world around them.  Jem is spinning rapidly out of control, caught up in Spider's contagious energy and drive, as they run towards a goal that one of them may never reach.

I loved this book, and kept sneaking every chance I could to read it so that I could read it quickly and see what happens.  Jem is a wonderful character, full of flaws and all the other things that make her so human.  Spider is like so many young people I know, he sees what he thinks his future will be and wants to change it - not knowing that Jem already knows the date of his death and is desperate to change it.  The world they live in is gritty and real, the people around them are fleshed out and feel like they live and breathe - people that you might find walking down the street or wagging from school down at the local park.  The only thing that took getting used to was the amount of swearing - but again, it was not gratuitous swearing, it was real language that the people lived and breathed.

I'm already waiting for book two (even though there are other books on my shelf that I should be reading first) and hope that the series stays strong.

If you like this book then try:

• Vilolet eyes by Nicole Luiken
• Gifted touch by Melinda Metz
• Shadowland by Meg Cabot (Jenny Carroll)
• When lightning strikes by Meg Cabot (Jenny Carroll)

Reviewed by Brilla

The dragon of Trelian by Michelle Knudsen

Calen, the mage's apprentice is not the best student in the world, and he always seems to be fumbling his way through his studies and failing to meet his masters expectations.  Meg is a princess from a family of girls who hides a rapidly growing baby dragon in the nearby forest.  They live very different lives, but in the lead up to a royal wedding, Calen and Meg meet and shortly afterwards find themselves facing a dangerous enemy who will stop at nothing to destroy the kingdom of Trelian - starting with Meg, her sister, and the rest of the royal family.  The only way to stop this enemy is for Meg and Calen to work together, and for Calen to master the skills of magic that seem to have elluded him until now.

This is the first book in a new series from Michelle Knudsen, who is best known for her picture books like The library lion.  As soon as I finished it I was online trying to find out when the next book in the series is due to be published.  The world of Trelian is well thought out and contains all the elements you want in a good fantasy, without the cliches that normally choke a novel like this.  Calen is not a terribly enthusiastic student, yet he develops his skills and abilities in a logical way.  Meg is a feisty princess who is not afraid to do what she wants, but she also balances that with the needs of her family and the rest of Trelian.  Her dragon friend is also well thought out, with the fact that he is still a baby realised fully, and he too has to grow into his skills. 

If you enjoy a good solid fantasy series that feels like it could be real world somewhere then try The dragon of Trelian.  It is a fantastic debut novel, and with high quality writing, and a thoroughly enjoyable world filled with likeable heroes, I can only hope that Michelle Knudsen keeps writing in this genre for many years to come.

If you like this book then try:

• Wolf brother by Michelle Paver
• Warriors: Into the wild by Erin Hunter
• Alanna the first adventure by Tamora Pierce
• Into the land of the unicorn by Bruce Coville

Reviewed by Brilla