What's left of me by Kat Zhang

In a world where every body is born with two souls, it is the norm for one of those souls to fade into oblivion while the body is still a child, leaving one soul and one body - the way they say it should be.  But sometimes something doesn't happen (or does happen) and both souls survive, creating one of the dreaded hybrids that everyone fears so much.  Any child that doesn't settle at the right time, or when it is known for certain that the child is a hybrid, they are sent to one of the institutions to be "mended" so they can become part of society again.  It is a dangerous time to be a hybrid, and everyone knows to be on the lookout for the danger signs of a potential hybrid.

 

Eva and Addie live their lives with the constant knowledge that they can be discovered at any time - that one day someone will realise that Eva never fully faded away, that although she no longer has control over their body, she is still very much alive.  Addie has worked hard for both of them, keeping Eva a secret from everyone (including their family), trying to blend in with the other children so the doctors who watched her and waited for her to settle can relax and really believe the lie that she and Eva told.  It hasn't been easy, but they have managed until now - now they are both in danger, but it is a risk they both must be willing to take.

 

To tell you too much of the plot of What's left of me has the potential to ruin the story, because some of the greatest pleasure with this book is the unraveling secrets and the unfolding plot within plot that drives the story forward.  The idea behind the hybrid chronicles is fresh and original, the idea of each body being born with two souls is intriguing and makes you wonder what it would be like to have another personality (in fact another person) share your body with you, someone to talk to who has experienced everything you have, who can help with your homework when you are having a brain dead day - but then also realising that the other person ceases to exist (or you do) before you are fully out of childhood is just mind blowing.

 

On top of all that you add the fact that some people don't settle like they are "supposed" to, that some people become wanted criminals just because they are different - because they are hybrids.  The history of this world explains some of the paranoia, but the story also gives you intriguing glimpses of a conspiracy, or hidden ideas and dangerous secrets.  What's left of me was fascinating, gripping, and once you got used to the idea of how Eva and Addie "worked" it was a fast paced and smoothly written story that has left me desperate for book two to see what happens next.  While not as fully "dystopian" as some of the other books in this genre, this book will appeal to readers who like that genre.

 

If you like this book then try:

• The hunger games by Suzanne Collins
• Eve by Anna Carey
• When we wake by Karen Healey
• Slated by Teri Terry
• Revived by Cat Patrick
• Variant by Robison Wells
• Subject seven by James A. Moore
• Numbers by Rachel Ward
• XVI by Julia Karr
• Sleeper code by Tom Sniegoski

 

Reviewed by Brilla

When we wake by Karen Healey

Tegan Oglietti was sixteen years old on the day she died, and just over one hundred years later she is revived from cryogenic stasis to find she is living in a very different world.  The Australia she knew is a distant memory  - the food, the people, the technology, and the music are all different - the only thing that is the same is Tegan.  She has woken to a world where the military that paid for her care and revival essentially own her, she can ask for what she wants, but ultimately Colonel Dawson and his team have the right to tell her what to do and when.  In some ways this is an advantage, Tegan has no clue about her new world, the technology is strange and scary - she can't even recognise some of the things she sees for what they are (I mean who knew a computer could become so small and un-computer like). 

Australia has also become closed and unfriendly, no one can become an Australian citizen or resident, the only way to be Australian is to be born there to Australian parents.  Tegan quickly becomes a source of media interest, and she has the dubious pleasure of being the target of groups that consider her to be without a soul (because she died and therefore no longer has a soul because her soul is with God), and another group that says Tegan is not an Australian because she had already died.  It is a tense and confusing time, made more confusing because things are not what they seem.  People are keeping secrets from Tegan, but who and what are they hiding?

Dystopian novels still seem to be really popular at the moment, and while when we wake is not your typical post apocalyptic dystopian novel, it is somewhat more poignant because you get to experience the world that was and the world that is through the same pair of eyes.  Tegan's story is not a smooth transition from start to finish, there is a little bit of jumping around in the story that took a little getting used to, but by the end I didn't notice the transitions from one view to the other.  This was an enjoyable read, one that was absorbing and had plenty of ideas bouncing around in my head - like how do you control population growth if you are seen as a land of plenty, are people really dreaming if they think that in the world of the future everyone will be able to live clean and green, and how far should a government go to protect just their people and their land when everything on the planet is connected? 

This story had a lot of different levels and I enjoyed the story as much as the message - the writing was strong, the characters were interesting and well developed, and I liked some of the things that were so normal that we still consider different or wrong.  A great read, and while it feels like there might be potential for a sequel (or at least another book set in the same time and place, but from a different persons perspective).

If you like this book then try:

• Arrival by Chris Morphew
• The interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina
• Beta by Rachel Cohn
• Origin by Jessica Khoury
• The line by Teri Hall
• The Selection by Kiera Cass
• Revived by Cat Patrick
• Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
• Eve by Anna Carey

Reviewed by Brilla

Master and God by Lindsey Davis

Having learnt so much about Vespasian, (in Davis' previous standalone novel, The course of honour) I’ve always wondered how and why his younger son, Domitian, turned out so badly. Vespasian and his oldest son, Titus, appear to be so capable and sane. Domitian, not so much.

The story begins with the meeting of young Flavia Lucilla, reporting a burglary, and vigile Gaius Vinius. Their first meeting is cut short when Rome is threatened by fire while the Emperor Titus is on his second visit to Pompeii, following the infamous 79AD eruption. Days into fire-fighting and Gaius meets the emperor’s heir, Domitian. This fateful encounter sets the scene for the following story, with Gaius appointed to the Praetorian Guard, and Lucilla’s growing fame as a hairdresser to the court.

Underlying the changing relationship between the two, is the growing madness and paranoia of Rome’s Master and God, the Emperor Domitian. A situation that leaves Rome edgy and afraid.

Davis is adept at weaving modern-day sensibilities and dialogue into a richly detailed historical setting. You feel as though you can taste and smell the food, and feel the cobbles under your feet. Not only is this a well-paced, brilliantly researched, yet accessible, historical novel, it is also a story of relationships, and moral struggles.

If you like this, try:

• Davis' Falco novels, beginning with The silver pigs.
• Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn.
• Pompeii by TL Higley.
• Rome: the emperor's spy by MC Scott.
• Hero of Rome by Douglas Jackson.
• Masters of Rome series by Colleen McCullough.

Reviewed by Thalia.

The gobbledygook is eating a book by Justine Clarke and Arthur Baysting; illustrated by Tom Jellett

There are some books that just grab you as soon as you start to read, while others grab you as soon as you see the cover - and The Gobbledygook is eating a book is definitely one of those books that grabbed me from the moment I saw the front cover.  This strange little monster sitting all alone on the cover, clasping pages lovingly to its chest while gazing up at the title had me intrigued, and the punchy and amusing story that follows kept me hooked right to the end. 

The rhythm and rhyme keeps up through the whole book and carries the reader from page to page as the Gobbledygook meets a little girl who is determined to show it how books should be used (and how they shouldn't be eaten).  As a librarian working in a public library I really enjoy any book that encourages children to read books for the fun of it - because reading for pleasure encourages literacy skills and helps set children up for their future of work, study, and play. 

This has been one of my favourite picture books recently for encouraging reading for fun - the story is fresh and new, and the illustrations match the text perfectly.  Boys and girls will both enjoy this book, and I am sure that there will be loads of parents out there soon who can recite the Gobbledygook from memory!

If you like this book then try:

• The children who loved books by Peter Carnavas
• No T.Rex in the library by Toni Buzzeo; ilustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa
• Bark, George by Jules Feiffer
• Don't let the pigeon drive the bus by Mo Willems
• Click, clack, moo: Cows that type by Doreen Cronin
• Tadpole's promise by Jeanne Willis; illustrated by Tony Ross
• No, David! by David Shannon
• Croc and bird by Alexis Deacon
• Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
• Stephanie's ponytail by Robert Munsch; illustrated by Michael Martchenko

Reviewed by Brilla

My dad is beautiful by Jessica Spanyol

Finding books about mums and dads can be a challenge, especially if you want to find a book about just one of the parents for children that have either lost a parent or don't know one of their parents.  My dad is beautiful is an incredibly simple, yet also incredibly sweet book about one little child and all the reasons that they think their dad is beautiful (although maybe it should really be "my dad is great because...").

I loved the simplicity of this book, it has great repetition for young children coming to grips with language, and it is also a great book for fathers to read to their children.  The illustrations are simple and have a unique charm because they have bears rather than people (you don't have to worry about what you look like as a dad). 

This would make a great fathers day present for dads with young children - especially when they come to grips with the story and can read it to their own dads.

If you like this book then try:

• My mum is beautiful by Jessica Spanyol
• Just like my mum by David Melling
• Just like my dad by David Melling
• Kisses for daddy by Frances Watts
• My dad is brilliant by Nick Butterworth
• My mum is fantastic by Nick Butterworth
• I love you just the way you are by Virginia Miller

Reviewed by Brilla

Let's go for a drive! by Mo Willems

Elephant and Piggie are the bestest of friends and they have all sorts of adventures and great times together - and Let's go for a drive! is no exception.  Elephant has the great idea of going for a drive, but needs a helping hand to plan the adventure - and Piggie is just the pig for the job.  What follows is the typical madcap madness that has become Mo Willems trademark for this terrific twosome.

Elephant and Piggie books are perfect for reading aloud - either big person and little person, or (as our personal favourite) read aloud to an audience by two friends who can bring all the energy and enthusiasm of the books to live.  The illustrations perfectly match the story and bring an infectious enthusiasm that encourages readers to throw themselves into character and do justice to the stories. 

I am not sure how Mo Willems manages to come up with all the storylines that he does for our favourite elephant and pig, but everytime a new story appears at work their are squeals of delight and a rush to find the right partner to read the story with so you can entertain everyone with the story at the same time.

If you like this book then try:

• My friend is sad by Mo Willems
• Elephants cannot dance! by Mo Willems
• I broke my trunk! by Mo Willems
• Happy pig day! by Mo Willems
• Watch me throw the ball! by Mo Willems
• Don't let the pigeon drive the bus! by Mo Willems
• Don't let the pigeon stay up late! by Mo Willems
• New socks by Bob Shea

Reviewed by Brilla

The children who loved books by Peter Carnavas

Angus and Lucy are two children who may not have a lot of material things, but the one thing they have a lot of is a love of books.  Their house is a small caravan crammed to the brim with books, they don't have a television, and they don't have a car - but they have worlds at their fingertips through their extensive collection of books.  Their hundreds of books are piled here and there around the caravan, but one day their home can take no more and the books have to go.  What Angus, Lucy and their parents discover is that their home is very empty indeed without their books, they have lost their books but so much more.  One day somethings tumbles out of Lucy's school bag that will change things - for all of them.

This is a charming picture book that is simple but very effective, and makes a wonderful addition to any family bookshelf for read aloud sharing.  The characters are simply but warmly drawn, and the world they inhabit could be anywhere in the world, or just around the corner.  The story is simple, but also has a hidden depth, and while there is the strong message that reading and books are important, it is delivered in such a way that it doesn't hit you over the head with the message.  A wonderful, warm, shareable read for the whole family - from little ones listening to stories, through to preschoolers learning to sound out their words, through to school age children who enjoy a lovely family read.

If you like this book then try:

• No T.Rex in the library by Toni Buzzeo; illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa
• The Gobbledygook is eating a book by Justine Clarke and Arthur Baysting; illustrated by Tom Jellett
• It's a book by Lane Smith
• Library lion by Michelle Knudsen; illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
• The library dragon by Carmen Agra Deedy; illustrated by Michael P. White
• Wild about books by Judy Sierra; pictures by Marc Brown
• The librarian of Basra: A true story from Iraq by Jeanette Winter
• Miss Brooks loves books (and I don't) by Barbara Bottner; illustrated by Michael Emberley
• The library by Sarah Stewart; illustrated by David Small

Reviewed by Brilla

Throne of glass by Sarah J. Maas

Celaena Sardothien is beautiful and deadly, sent to the salt mines of Endovier for the crime of being Adarlan's Assassin.  She has survived in the death camp for a year, something no one else has ever done, and she has survived with her mind and spirit intact - although her physical shape leaves a lot to be desired.  She is waiting to die, waiting for the mines or the King to finish her off - she does not expect the Crown Prince to offer her a chance at her freedom.  There is only one catch, to gain her freedom she must win a tournament and become the King's Champion.  As King's Champion she will have to obey his orders, including assassinations, but after just four years of servitude she will be free to live her own life.

The training for the tournament will not be easy, she must rebuild her body after a year of hard labour, and return her strength after a year of near starvation - and she she must survive the trials themselves, and the tests that form the tournament.  There is also something dark stalking the halls of the castle, something that is picking off the other potential champions one-by-one, killing them in a brutal and gruesome fashion.  Life at Court is also not easy, there are undercurrents of deceit and maneuvering for power that are as dangerous as the battles and training.  Hidden behind a false name, and forced to hide what she is really capable of, Celaena slowly realises that there is more to the tournament and life in the castle than she thought.

Throne of glass is the first book in what promises to be an epic series, one with real depth and an addictive storyline.  Celaena is intense, surprisingly vulnerable, driven, and very human - characteristics that make her both more believable and more relatable.  The language of the story is quite modern, there are moments where it almost seems like the story could be happening right now, but that adds to the relatability of the story (nobody likes reading a book when you have to keep a dictionary handy to figure out what the characters are talking about).  The other characters are well developed and equally engaging, even if at times you want to slap some of them (yes Kaltain I am talking about you!).

This is not a lightly written novel, it has depth and character, which is just as well as the story is over 400 pages and it takes a good writer to keep an audience thoroughly engaged through all of those pages - and Maas does it with style and skill.  There is great promise for this series if Throne of glass is any indication, and Maas has the potential to become one of the great fantasy voices of her generation, a new master (or mistress if you prefer) of the genre.  I enjoyed this book immensely and look forward to seeing what is next for Celaena and her world, as the ending hints and promises there is more to come.

If you like this book then try:

• Arrows of the queen by Mercedes Lackey
• Graceling by Kristin Cashore
• Grave mercy by Robin LaFevers
• The hunt by Andrew Fukuda
• Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
• The pledge by Kimberly Derting
• Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst
• Daughter of smoke and bone by Laini Taylor
• The demon trapper's daughter by Jana Oliver

Reviewed by Brilla

Megacatastrophes!: nine weird ways the world could end by David Darling & Dirk Schulze-Makuch

I’m quite partial to the odd science book. Odd in both senses: an-indeterminate-number and quirky. It sounded like it fitted both definitions.

When I have a few things going on and my brain’s feeling a bit full, I relax by reading non-fiction. Popular science books are a favourite at this time – enough information to keep my mind occupied, but not so difficult that I struggle to figure it out.

This is entertaining in content and in writing style. Chapter 2 ‘When physics goes wrong’ is particularly relevant, with the discussion of the search for the Higgs boson (‘The God Particle’) using the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

The subject itself is fascinating and, having watched a few docos on it, thought it would be right up my alley. And it was.

Entertaining, educational, and intriguing. Good for science-fans, but not necessarily serious science-types.

Other info-tainment sciency-books are:

• The geek-manifesto by Mark Henderson.
• The science of Doctor Who by Paul Parsons.
• Bad science by Ben Goldacre.
• Star Trek, I'm working on that by William Shatner.
• Science is golden by Karl Kruszelnicki.

Reviewed by Thalia.

Singer by Jean Thesman

Gwenore’s mother is a witch – the evil and powerful Rhiamon. Her whole life has been lived in fear of her mother’s power. Until now, when she must escape. Aided by friends – and fairy folk – Gwenore is hidden in an abbey, until her health recovers, then to a community of women. Gwenore is renamed Mary, then Singer. In the community, Gwenore learns new skills – that of healing and of song. But, still she must run. This time to Ireland. However, fate – or greater powers – intervene and she is landed at Lir. There she befriends the Children of Lir – children of the king. However her mother’s evil reaches even this hidden land. Gwenore must decide which path to take. Can she save the Children of Lir?

Based on a traditional tale, which is similar to Grimm’s ‘Six Swans’.
4 stars from me.

There are many other teen-ish books based on fairy tales, but I’d start with these:

• The Swan Kingdom by Zoe Marriott.
• Beauty by Robin McKinley.
• Deerskin by Robin McKinley.
• The Elemental Masters series by Mercedes Lackey. [Brilla and I have both reviewed a few Mercedes Lackey's in the past...]
• Beastly by Alex Flinn.
• Egerton Hall trilogy by Adele Geras.
• Snow White and Rose Red by Patricia C Wrede.

Reviewed by Thalia.

Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst

Liyana is the Vessel of the Goat Clan, the body that will become the home of their beloved goddess Bayla.  For years she has trained, keeping her body in perfect condition so that it will be a suitable vessel for their goddess, a body that is pure and unblemished.  But on the day of the ceremony that will free Liyana's soul from her body leaving the way open for Bayla, the goddess fails to appear and Liyana finds herself abandoned by her people as they search for a more suitable Vessel.  Left in the desert to die, Liyana instead finds herself in the company of the trickster god Korbyn, the first meeting on what will become an epic quest to find not only Bayla, but all the missing gods and goddesses of the desert.

 

The absence of the gods and goddesses has been noticed by some, and it is a race against time for Korbyn and Liyana to reach the other Vessels in time - because some of the clans may not be as kind as Liyana's was.  It is a dangerous time to be traveling, the sun is punishing, and the desert is struggling under the strain of a great drought that is also wreaking havoc on the Empire that shares a border with the desert people.  It is up to the Vessels to find their gods and goddesses, to release them into the world so they can use their magic to breath life and water back into the desert.  But there is an evil force at work, one that wants to ensure the gods and goddesses never find their way back to the desert.

 

I loved Vessel from the start, it has a richness and depth that you feel from the first words, and the main character of Liyana is right up there with some of the toughest and most believable heroines.  She is not perfect, she is not immortal, she is a girl who feels the plight of her clan and all the people of the desert - but she is also a young woman who doesn't want to die just so a goddess can have her body, even if it means the salvation of her people.  The other characters round out the story, providing balance and a sense of wholeness that would be missing if the story was just about Liyana - the story is about them all, and at times each character has their own moments in the spotlight (even if it may only be for a short time). 

 

The world building here is very detailed, but Durst doesn't bury you under a mountain of detail at the beginning of the story, you learn more about the world as you go along.  It really feels like a traditional story that has been told around a fire for generations, a tale that has maybe grown a little with each retelling.  The story almost has a life of its own at times, and the ending packs a punch that you do not expect.  There is just the right amount of love, adventure, betrayal, danger, and magic to keep the tension and pace moving in this addictive read.  Once I started I didn't want to stop, and the ending was just wow - I now really want to read the other books by this author to see if they meet the same high standard. 

 

I have said this a few times already this year, but this is one of my favourite books of 2012 and highly recommend people try it - and that includes the adults out there.  An absorbing read where you really find yourself cheering on the team when things are going well, mourning with them when things go wrong, and cursing the bad guy when you find out who it is.

 

If you like this book then try:

• Drink slay love by Sarah Beth Durst
• Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth Durst
• Grave mercy by Robin LaFevers
• Origin by Jessica Khoury
• Graceling by Kristin Cashore
• Daughter of smoke and bone by Laini Taylor

Reviewed by Brilla

Meeting the family: one man's journey through his human ancestry by Donovan Webster

I’ve watched a couple of docos on the National Geographic channel about the National Geographic’s genographic project and the whole idea of the project, and human genetics, has had a long-term fascination for me (as my university transcript attests, with a stage two Human Evolution paper to my credit).

With all this in mind, I was expecting a lot from this book – particularly with the foreword by Spencer Wells, head of the genographic project. On the whole, it didn’t disappoint. (As long as you can ignore the glaring reference to Christchurch being New Zealand’s national capital, that is. I expect better from you, National Geographic!)

Geographic error aside, this offers a look into one person’s genetic heritage – with the understanding that many of us will have similar genes (at least, if you’re descended from Northern European / British stock). From Tanzania to Lebanon to Uzbekistan to Spain to his home in Virginia, Webster explores the commonalities of human existence, and how the race spread around the globe.

By the end of the journey you, like me, might have been seduced by the apparent simplicity and joy found in the lives of the Hadzabe in Tanzania. You might also be worried about our future. Or maybe, reassured by Webster’s argument – quite sanguine about it. What I can say is that I’m desperate to visit the Guggenheim in Bilbao, but not too sure about their house specialty dessert (I’m not an eating-with-your-hands sort of gal).

Some other intriguing titles you might like are:

• The seven daughters of Eve by Bryan Sykes.
• The journey of man by Spencer Wells.
• Homo mysterious by David Barash.
• The first human by Ann Gibbons.

Reviewed by Thalia.

Counting backwards by Laura Lascarso

Taylor is about to face the consequences of her actions in a big way - she stole a car, and to ensure she learns the error of her ways she has been sent to Sunny Meadows to continue her schooling and to become "rehabilitated".  The school is nothing like she expected, the smiling faces on the brochure were nothing but a lie, and it is a lie she has to live with until she has finished her rehabilitation.  The school is a mental health unit and youth detention centre hidden behind the veneer of a school for teenagers - where the male and female students are kept carefully apart, and every moment of their day is monitored by the safeties. 

Taylor hates the school with a passion, she wants nothing to do with their therapy or their rules, and she wants nothing to do with the Latina Queens who have decided that she needs to learn a lesson too.  She is in a strange place with rules she doesn't understand, and where for the first time in her life she has no way of working the system.  She dreams of escape, the chance to get away, away from the mother who promised to stop drinking but is still a raging alcoholic, and away from the father that tries to control her life and who she always ends up fighting with.  Her friendships on the inside seem to help, but more than anything she wants to get away - from the pain, from the control, and from the way her breath catches in her chest sometimes and makes it hard to breathe.

Counting backwards is a powerful and engrossing novel, one that tackles a topic that is taboo for some authors - teen mental health.  Taylor is a relatively normal teenager, but due to events beyond her control she has developed an anxiety related disorder, one that makes it hard for her to breathe.  Without giving away too much of the story, the disorder has been caused to some degree by her alcohol mother who has always failed Taylor - she promised to give up drinking and be sober, she promised to be a real mother, and she failed at every turn.  The apparent villain of the story is Taylor's father, the one who keeps pushing her to be more, to not make the same mistakes he did. 

This is a story about self discovery, about lashing out at everyone who hurts you (including yourself), and learning to work the system.  Taylor is a broken character, damaged by years of neglect from the person who should have loved and protected her, and it takes a complete breakdown for Taylor to realise exactly who she is and what she really wants.  I don't want to spoil the story too much because the journey you take with Taylor is one of discovery and self discovery, and even though not every teenager will go through what Taylor does, there is an echo of teenage transformation here - of the change from being a teenager making immature decisions, to becoming an adult and making adult decisions. 

The environment feels very real too, and after having visited a care and protection facility here in New Zealand it felt very real when Lascarso talked about the safeties, the isolation room, and the lack of privacy, and how people had to earn the privileges of privacy and personal belongings.  This is a challenging read as it is more than a little emotional, and I wouldn't recommend it for 'tweens or young teens unless they are particularly mature because they may not fully understand all the contexts - but this was an amazing read, one that I enjoyed (although I was not always comfortable) reading from start to finish.

If you like this book then try:

• Trafficked by Kim Purcell
• Pushing the limits by Katie McGarry
• Variant by Robison Wells
• I swear by Lane Davis
• The half life of Ryan Davis by Melinda Szymanik
• Dead to you by Lisa McMann
• Hate list: A novel by Jennifer Brown
• Such a pretty girl by Laura Wiess
• You are my only by Beth Kephart
• The adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
• Tighter by Adele Griffin

Reviewed by Brilla

The very hungry zombie: A parody by Michael Teitelbaum and Jon Apple

There are some classics that are just asking for a parody, and The very hungry caterpillar has finally met its match in this funny (and also strangely charming) parody.  The book does not stray too far from the original Eric Carle story, either in terms of illustration style or format, but it has a wicked sense of humour that is both subtle and utterly dead pan at the same time.

This is not a book for the kiddies, it is definitely one for the adults.  The images and words are not suitable for younger children, although older children may appreciate the rhyme.  One of the biggest things that bugged me about the book was the mistake near the beginning - the moon "shone" down on a corpse, it did not "shown" down on a corpse.

This was loads of fun to read and it was passed around the workplace and the house with plenty of glee - it is not often that a parody manages to capture the charm of the original while also making itself completely silly.  A must read - though maybe not during halloween.

If you like this book then try:

• Go the f**k to sleep by Adam Mansbach
• All my friends are dead by Avery Monson and Jory John
• If you give a kid a cookie, will he shut the f**k up?: A parody for adults by Marcy Roznik and Miranda Lemming
• OMG! That's not my husband ... by Kasey Edwards
• OMG! That's not my baby ... by Kasey Edwards

Reviewed by Brilla

Every other day by Jennifer Barnes

[I know Brilla has already reviewed this, but I thought I'd do it too...

Every other day Kali is human. And, on the other days, not so much. On those days, she’s resistant to pain, heals super fast, and is compelled to hunt the preternatural creatures lose in the world. Therefore, it’s a pain – well, disaster, really – when, on a human day, she realises cheerleading popular girl, Bethany, is destined to die. Bethany has been bitten by a chupacabra. Because of her lifestyle, Kali hasn’t made friends, so is shocked when Skylar approves her. But, Skylar has her own secrets – and a handy bunch of big brothers – all of which will come in very handy, vital, if they are to save Bethany and survive the upcoming battle. And maybe, just maybe, Kali will find out who and what she is.

Not so much action heroine, but a teen discovering her identify within an urban fantasy setting… 4 star read for me.

If you like this one, try:

• The changeover by Margaret Mahy.
• The Blue Girl by Charles de Lint.
• Glass Houses by Rachel Caine.
• Demon in my view by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes.
• The fallen by Thomas Sniegoski.
• Waywalkers by Catherine Webb.

Reviewed by Thalia.

The interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina

Welcome to the world of Ashala Wolf and the Tribe, it is a world where the Balance is the most important thing to many people, an order that must be kept at all costs to stop another Reckoning.  The Reckoning was a time of terror and natural disasters, when the world tore itself apart and what reappeared from the flood waters was not the Earth that we know now.  Settled into their cities, the Citizens live a simple life with no technology and exploiting the land - and people like Ashala are labelled Illegals because of the abilities they have.  Some can talk to animals, others can make the ground shake, or they might be able to make it rain, or in the case of Ashala, they can do amazing things when they are asleep. 

It is not a safe time or place for Ashala and her Tribe, Neville Rose from Detention Centre 3 is determined to stop Ashala - even if it means risking the lives of the Tribe and the staff at the Centre.  Captured by Neville Rose and detained in Centre 3, Ashala is wounded and at their mercy.  They want Ashala because of the secrets in her head, and when they can't get what they want by asking, Rose is prepared to use the machine to get the answers he wants - even though it may mean breaking Ashala's mind.  Trapped, wounded, and with her abilities hampered by the rhondarite collar she wears Ashala is at their mercy - but she is not as vulnerable as she appears.

The interrogation of Ashala Wolf was fresh, original, and kept me on the edge of my seat right from the start.  Kwaymullina has a unique and powerful voice, one that blends together a tense science fiction/adventure with a thoroughly envisioned world view and mythology that has echoes of Aboriginal beliefs.  There is no preaching here, while Ashala and her Tribe live in harmony with the land and the animals that live in/on it, that is not shoved down your throat - they are the way they are because that is the way they have to be. 

This book is gripping, intense, well written and keeps you guessing and off balance right until the end - hopefully the rest of the books in this series are as gripping as this book was a real treat eagerly devoured in one sitting. 

If you like this book then try:

• Origin by Jessica Khoury
• Slated by Teri Terry
• Eve by Anna Carey
• Legend by Marie Lu
• Revived by Cat Patrick
• Enclave by Ann Aguirre
• Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
• Wither by Lauren DeStefano
• Arrival by Chris Morphew

Reviewed by Brilla

Emerald by Karen Wallace

Emerald and her brother have always had a distant relationship with their mother. Emerald is much closer to her foster mother, Aunt Frances. Now, after years of ignoring her existence, her mother’s power has come to threaten Emerald’s future. Emerald’s mother has promised her in marriage to Lord Suckley, a gross, ill-mannered, and cruel old man. But, as Emerald begins to discover, this is just a small part of her mother’s plan. A plot to kill the queen – Queen Elizabeth I. In order to discover more, and foil the plot – not to mention avoid marrying Suckley – Emerald must learn to become a court lady. And, by doing so, she must try and keep her family and friends safe – including her pet bear, Molly. All the while, she gathers more secrets, some that could destroy her family and world.

A tale of history, intrigue, and romance. One that doesn't require much thought...

Books of a similar flavour are:

• Grave mercy by Robin LaFevers. 
• Ladies in waiting by Laura L. Sullivan.
• Gilt by Katherine Longshore.
• At the house of the magician by Mary Hooper.
• The Queen's lady by Eve Edwards.
• Tudor Rose by Anne Perry.
• Tread softly by Kate Pennington.
• A sweet disorder by Jacqueline Kolosov.
• The stolen one by Suzanne Crowley.

Reviewed by Thalia.

Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury

Regency period romance with Egyptian mysteries, adventure, spies, and an unsuitable love interest. What more could a reader want?

 

Agnes loves learning – she knows 10 languages, some of which she taught herself. When stressed, she translates lines from the works of A Lady (Jane Austen) into various languages. In her debut season, she is pursued by the season’s biggest catch, Lord Showalter. However, at his Egyptian mummy unwrapping party, Agnes spirits away a relic from inside the wrappings. And this leads her into adventure and romance, the latter not with Showalter, but with Caedmon, an assistant at the British Museum. Maybe, by the end, she will be able to live her dream of riding a camel in Egypt – and being able to use her brain.

 

I give this one 3.5 stars.

 

If you like this one, try: If you like this one, try:

• The diamond of Drury Lane by Julia Golding.
• Bloody Jack: being an account of the curious adventures of Mary “Jacky” Faber, Ship's Boy by L.A. Meyer.
• I'd tell you I love you, but then I'd have to kill you by Ally Carter.
• Sorcery and Cecelia, or, The enchanted chocolate pot : being the correspondence of two young ladies of quality regarding various magical scandals in London and the country by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer.

Reviewed by Thalia.

Feedback by Robison Wells

Feedback is the sequel to Variant and there are some pretty big ***SPOILERS*** in this review because of the amazingly intense cliff hanger at the end of the first book.  If you like to read series in order or think you might read Variant then read it first and don't read anymore of this review.  The surprise is worth the wait - and at least you don't have to wait long for the sequel like the rest of us did.  You have been warned.

Benson is on the outside, he has escaped from the school, but he hasn't escaped their reach.  In a town near the school he finds one of the students from the school, one of the students that was killed, and he makes the amazing discovery that people he thought were just machines are in fact connected to real teenagers who are still very much alive.  With Becky severely injured and unable to travel far he has no choice but to put off his plans for escape - at least for the time being.  Settling into the town isn't easy though, there are people who want to escape and seek their freedom away from the school, there are others who just want to ride it out and see what happens, and there are others who seem to have given up entirely.

Benson has wanted to escape, to get away, but he feels that he has to stay for Becky and keep her safe.  Things get complicated when he is drawn into a bigger escape plan, a plan that seems doomed to fail as long as Maxwell is able to control the students through fear and pain.  As the enemy closes in and loyalties are tested, Benson must make some difficult decisions - should he stay or should be go?  What is more important, one person or a whole town? 

Feedback is the explosive sequel to Variant and it carries on from the cliffhanger of the first book, jumping straight back into the action which took a little bit of getting used to as it has been some time since I read the first book.  Benson is a fascinating and inspiring hero, not because he is super human and rushes into danger, but because you can feel the conflict within him as he tries to balance his decisions, as he has to make sacrifices to do what he thinks is right.  The action is intense and keeps up both the pace and the tension, and once I was past the first few chapters and I had thoroughly settled back in with the cast of characters that made the first book so exciting and gripping, I resented every interruption that got between me and the ending. 

I don't want to give too much away, but there is a sense that there could be another book in this series, and if there is (please let there be Mr. Wells) then I am sure that it will reveal some more gob-smacking secrets like Variant and Feedback did.  According to his website there is going to be a new book in a new series soon called Blackout and I can only hope it is just as good as these two.  Wells is a phenomenal author, not only because he builds such believable characters, but also because he is so good at keeping the tension and the pace moving - he doesn't move so fast that you get left behind, and he doesn't go so slow that you lose interest, he gets it just right.  This is not one for just the guys either, if you enjoy well written action and adventure (and that includes the adults in the audience) then give this series a try.

If you like this book then try:

• Variant by Robison Wells
• I hunt serial killers by Barry Lyga
• I swear by Lane Davis
• Origin by Jessica Khoury
• Agent 21 by Chris Ryan
• Slated by Teri Terry
• The industry by Rose Foster
• Legend by Marie Lu

Reviewed by Brilla

Haven of obedience by Marina Anderson

Natalie Bowen is used to being in control, she is the owner and editor of a successful magazine, and she knows how to get what she wants when she is in bed - or so she thinks.  When she discovers that her best friend Jan has been to an exclusive weekend retreat where people can get in touch with their true sexual self she decides in an impulsive moment that she would like the same, she would like to reach the same sense of confidence and relaxation that Jan has reached.  For years Natalie has felt as though there is something missing in her relationships, something that drives away the men she has affairs with, men who accuse her of being too dominant and aggressive in bed.

The Haven is not what she expected, but her pride wont let her quit, even though every part of her seems to fight against the rules and discipline of the retreat.  It is a whole new world, one where she has to learn about giving other people pleasure, about delaying her own pleasure, and following the instructions of other people - particularly her tutor Simon.  It is a very different world, and despite some interesting experiences in her first weekend, it is the second weekend that will test what she is willing to learn, what she is willing to take on board.  Everything has always been just right, the way she wants them, but now Natalie needs to learn to let go and do what someone else wants - someone who knows how to make her body scream for more.

It seems as though every book today that deals with BDSM of any kind is automatically compared to Fifty shades - the expected result when a series of books that has BDSM as part of the "package" becomes an international phenomenon.  This automatic comparison does little to benefit books about the subject, and actually does little for Fifty shades either.  Haven of obedience is a slickly written, well presented novel about BDSM that avoids a lot of the cliches and coarse/crude language of other sexually explicit books.  The world Natalie enters is one that appears well researched, and there is a "genuine-ness" to the experiences and conflict that she experiences as she learns more about the world inside and outside the Haven, and learns more about herself. 

There are some graphic sex scenes, more so than the ones in Fifty shades, but they are not as graphic as some of the stories that are out there - and the story is a story with sex in it, rather than a series of sexual encounters strung together with some bad dialogue.  If you enjoyed Fifty shades but found it a bit vanilla, or if you are after an interesting read that is not too graphic, then try Haven of obedience and see if it is your cup of BDSM.

If you like this book then try:

• Velvet glove by Emma Holly
• Sweet addiction by Maya Banks
• Belong to me by Shayla Black
• Dark secret by Marina Anderson
• Forbidden desires by Marina Anderson
• Eighty days yellow by Vina Jackson

Reviewed by Brilla