Review: Withering Tights by Louise Rennison

Title: Withering Tights

Author: Louise Rennison

Published: HarperCollins (July 8th 2010)

No. of Pages: 320

Grade Rating: B+

Hilarious new series from Queen of Teen – laugh your tights off at the (VERY) amateur dramatic antics of Talullah and her bonkers mates. Boys, snogging and bad acting guaranteed!

Picture the scene: Dother Hall performing arts college somewhere Up North, surrounded by rolling dales, bearded cheesemaking villagers (male and female) and wildlife of the squirrely-type. On the whole, it’s not quite the showbiz experience Tallulah was expecting… but once her mates turn up and they start their ‘FAME! I’m gonna liiiiive foreeeeeever, I’m gonna fill my tiiiiights’ summer course things are bound to perk up. Especially when the boys arrive. (When DO the boys arrive?) Six weeks of parent-free freedom. BOY freedom. Freedom of expression… cos it’s the THEATRE dahling, theatre!!

Okay, well..erm, where to start? Withering Tights is the newest novel by one of the most popular writers for teenagers, Louise Rennison. Having not read any of the Confessions books, I cannot compare her latest series to her last. However, I will carry on with this series, even if there are thirty-five books collectively, because they are hilarious, hoot-filled and highly entertaining!

This isn’t the type of book that can be picked apart and analysed. This is the type of book that someone might read to pass the time in wacky, funny and slightly bonkers way. The content of this book is just, for lack of a better word, bizarre. It is a memorable, tumultuous account of a nutty girl and her quest for the bright lights of fame! Throughout the book, I never really came across a plot line but I’m sure that’s the point of the entire novel. It is up and down and all over the place; throwing together snogging with singing, dancing and doughnut-eating.

As I’ve said before, Withering Tights is really odd, layered with quirks. Although at times it is perfectly funny, other times it just embraces its zaniness and the punch line of a ‘joke’ isn’t really delivered very well. It’s just so abnormal, it begins to lose its funniness and you begin to wish that Tallulah would speak some English for a page or two. Saying this, there is a fun, little glossary in the back of the book explaining what some of Tallulah’s bizarre vocabulary actually means.

Sometimes, Withering Tights was shake-the-book-whilst-on-the-brink-of-tears funny, eccentric and very, very engaging but at others it was too abnormal whilst also being far too normal (regarding Tallulah’s supposed ‘bonkers-mates’ who were actually quite bland and far from unusual) but nevertheless, it is still super-fun and very entertaining!

The video below actually has a hilarious reference in the book and can be considered Withering Tights' soundtrack so, enjoy!

Review: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Title: Crescendo

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

Published: Simon and Schuster (Oct 14th 2010)

No. of Pages: 427

Grade Rating: B+

Nora Grey's life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn't pleasant, but atleast she got a guardian angel out of it: a mysterious, magnetic, gorgeous guardian angel. But, despite his role in her life, Patch has been acting anything but angelic. He's more elusive than ever and even worse, he's started spending time with Nora's arch-enemy, Marcie Millar.

Nora would have hardly noticed Scott Parnell, an old family friend who has moved back to town, if Path hadnt been acting so distant. Even with Scott's totally infuriating attitude Nora finds herself drawn to him - despite her lingering feeling that he's hiding something.

Haunted by images of her murdered father, and questioning whether her nephilim bloodline has anything to do with his death, Nora puts herself increasingly in dangerous situations as she desperatly searches for answers. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything - and everyone - she trusts.

Crescendo is the much anticipated sequel to Hush, Hush, one of my all time favourite books and one of the few paranormal romances I absolutely love. As you can probably tell, I was expecting big, big, big things from Crescendo and, as per usual, it's only natural for one to be a little bit dissapointed. They're unlikely to be whoppers but this review may contain a few spoilers.

The prologue was amazing and 100% piqued my interest in to reading the other four-hundred or so pages left to go. I was sucked straight into the storyline and it was nice to see, within the first chapter, that Patch and Nora’s relationship was going so swimmingly. However, come the next few pages, Nora was going crazy; gushing out some rather cringe-inducing, sickly lines to her *new* boyfriend. I was just thinking, Nora, please stop confessing your undying love, because this was not the Nora I met in Hush, Hush. Enter stage left some really childish squabbles and everything seemed to plummet into a big ball of misery. Things seemed to be going so well and then everything began to crumble and suddenly all the things I had been looking forward to reading about had just fallen to the ground and been stamped on a hundred times by Nora’s newly found annoying personality.

As I was saying: Nora. She was great in the first book. A rational, nice protagonist; a rare thing. I had such high hopes for her but she just went and ruined everything by making ridiculous choices and overall, not thinking about the priorities in her life. Her character was not consistent and frankly, it was just one big complaint after the next with her. I wasn’t particularly surprised when Patch and Nora broke up. It was rather obvious it was going to happen (after all, it is a SEQUEL). But, Fitzpatrick could have created a new love interest a little more, shall we say appealing. Scott Parnell, to me, just seemed like a slime ball. My favourite character throughout the book was Vee. I liked her funny, sarcastic humour and despite what others may have thought about her in the Hush, Hush, compared to Nora, Vee was a saint.

This book wasn’t awful, it just wasn’t as good as its predecessor. It was definitely interesting enough for me to keep reading on. The intertwined mystery and odd goings-on were intense and never obviously predictable. I’m not sure what else I can really say about the book without sounding like I absolutely hated it; because that wasn’t the case at all. It is, after all, part of one of my favourite current series and I don’t think there is anyway I can dislike a Hush, Hush book. It is an episode in a great story and whilst I can’t pinpoint any particular amazing things about it, I still enjoyed it and will be reading the next book in the series: Silence.

Review: Glee: The Beginning by Sophia Lowell

Title: Glee: The Beginning
Author: Sophia Lowell
Published: Headlie (Aug 25th 2010)
No. of Pages: 224
Grade Rating: A-

Calling all Gleeks!
Get more of your favorite characters in this official Glee prequel!
All great performances deserve a warm-up! Enroll early at McKinley High--before New Directions was even a glimmer in Mr. Schuester's eye. When did Rachel first decide Finn was more than just a jock? When did Puck and Quinn start their secret romance? And how did the fledgling Glee Club function without a fearless leader? Hint: It wasn't exactly a perfect melody.

Break out the gold stars and refill the slushies: It's time to find out what happened to all your favorite characters before the show-mance began.

I have to say that when I first received this book, I was slightly pessimistic about how good it would be. You sometimes find that TV to book adaptations flop just as much as book to TV adaptations. But, I found that I actually thoroughly enjoyed Glee: The Beginning. It was just like watching an episode of the hit show although I found that it had been adapted so it was more child-friendly for any younger readers. Before, I surely avoided TV tie-ins; but now I might just think twice!

Glee: The Beginning serves as a brilliant prequel to the show; referring to past plot points and cleverly weaving together to create the actions that we watch on TV. This book was very entertaining as well as being a nice companion to the show as we learn more about some of our favourite characters. It provides so much more insight into previous events and how they have unfolded. Readers learn how long Mercedes and Kurt have been chummy and how Puck and Quinn’s secret romance first began to blossom. All of your questions and/or ponderings are answered in this prequel.

The characters are also written just how they appear in the show; especially Rachel and my personal favourite character: Sue Sylvester. Some of the heinous but hilarious things that she comes out with in the show, are just like the things that are written in this book. I could easily visualize the faces of these eccentric and identifiable characters as I was reading some of the dialogue that was bouncing of the page. Rachel’s appearances in the book where also very funny but there is no doubt in my mind that she is extremely annoying. I liked how each character was true to their identity in the show.

It was slightly annoying how some references made in the book where quite questionable but it didn’t end up bothering me too much. If you’re a fan of the show, I would definitely recommend this book to you. It is a fun, easy read to lap up if you’re waiting for the next episode to air.

Review: Rules Of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

Title: Rules Of Attraction
Author: Simone Elkeles
Published: Simon and Schuster (Jan 6th 2011)
No. of Pages: 368
Grade Rating: A-

When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado . Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.

I don’t know if having read Perfect Chemistry before I attempted this book was a good thing or not. Perfect Chemistry is my number one, favourite book in the world, ever. Therefore, I had very high expectations for Rules Of Attraction, the sequel to the aforementioned, godly book. This new instalment introduces the reader to two new characters: Kiara and Carlos. Rules Of Attraction had so much potential to be like it’s predecessor, but unfortunately it fell short of my expectations. I agree, writing a sequel to Perfect Chemistry had to be done even if the finished product may be a slight disappointment.

In Rules of Attraction we see Carlos Fuentes come America; the new home of his brother Alex and his girlfriend Brittany (power couple). There is trouble in Mexico, therefore moving to America is viewed as the safest option. Throughout the book, I didn’t really feel like there was a solid plot. It was all very predictable and I feared it was turning into one big cliché. This book is basically about forbidden romance and that it is all. When danger appeared, I felt like it was brushed away very easily. It lacked real fire and sparkle that was never far in Perfect Chemistry. It was a slight cheese-puff but I still managed to enjoy the book. It wasn’t really as great as I was expecting it to be, but it was by no means, bad.

One thing that Elkeles can do is write. She can write really good, believable characters that sound so authentic. Her teenage style of writing worked perfectly with the book and as the chapters alternated you could hear two really different personalities coming through. Whilst the characters were good, they still didn’t compare to Alex and Brittany; but if you are approaching this book without having read P.C, I’m sure you won’t find as many problems as I have.

I loved the non-stop explosive action that resonated between Alex and Brittany. It snap, crackled and popped off the page. However, the most important thing was that I liked them in their own right. I liked Kiara and Carlos, as a couple but individually, they had rather grating flaws. Kiara was a tad…wet. Boring. She just lacked the qualities of a good female lead although I think her complexities will be relatable to others. She was only ever interesting when she was with Carlos. Although, all Carlos seemed to do was complain about white people. I mean, I understand your angst but it was slightly thrust upon the reader at a lightening fast pace. Fortunately for him, his personality was, at times, absolutely hilarious. The only character in the book that I actually really, really liked was Tuck.

This series is definitely worth a read although I am aware that sequels have a notorious reptuation. A step-down but still a good book!

Review: Fortune by Megan Cole

Title: Fortune

Author: Megan Cole

Published: HarperCollins Children's Books (July 8th 2010)

No. of Pages: 402
Grade Rating: B-

Fortune tells the story of three very different girls – Madison from New York, Simonetta from Rome and Sapphire from London – who all receive mysterious invitations to the 50th birthday of Brad Masters, billionaire record executive. But what could the girls possibly have in common? The truth shocks them all, and turns three strangers into something much closer and more dangerous – after all, family make for the deadliest enemies...

Most of all, though, Fortune is something totally new in the booming teen romance market. So it's time to wet our lips and unashamedly embrace the glitz and glamour of the snogbuster.

Fortune is a glitzy, glossy read certain to be gracing poolsides this summer. Combining first love and the lives of three of filthy rich daughters of one prestigious billionaire, this debut read is perfect for a lazy day at the beach. Best served with a fancy cocktail.

Upon arrival, I clutched this book in both hands and counted down to the perfect summer day until I could finally begin to read. With backstabbing, billionaires and boys, where could this book possibly go wrong? The truth is, it did go wrong in quite a few places. Fortune replicates the life we all want for ourselves with lashings of designer clothes and private islands thrown in for good measure. Fun, scandolous, girly reads are admittedly my forte so I was dissapointed when Fortune fell rather flat. It's a good escapist read not to be taken to seriously that you could happily throw in a beach bag and dig into whilst sunbathing. But don't be fooled by the gorgeous cover; Fortune had its flaws.

Fortune wasn't very well executed. It could have benefitted from alternating chapters between the three main characters: Madison, Sapphire and Simonetta. The third person narrative was very choppy. At times, you didn't really know who you were meant to be focusing on as the direction of character focus shifted at the start of a new paragraph. Although Madison and Simonetta were described often, Sapphire was the main female protagonist and generally the nicest. Even though most of the attention was on Sapphire, you never really felt any connection to her because of the way the book was written. I would have liked to have ventured into the mind of Madison on more of a regular basis as some of her plans and thoughts must have made for good entertainment. If there had been first person narrative, you would've felt a deeper connection to the characters and there emotions and as Simonetta was very aloof, I didn't feel like I knew her very well.

 I don't feel as if Fortune brought anything new to the table. As it was described as the start of generation (massive overstatement by the way) I was expecting something that was never really there. The speech between the characters felt forced and unrealistic and the pace just moved too quickly. Cole told you about all of the glitz and glamour taking place but I never felt immersed in that luxury lifestyle.

Despite my mixed feelings, Fortune is still a carefree summer read that is good as long as you don't over-analyse it too much. I still found myself laughing and gasping along with the plot but hopefully this isn't the best book that I will read about the life of the rich and famous.

Review: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Title: Wintergirls

Author: Laurie Halse Anderson

Published: Viking Juvenile (March 19th 2009)

No. of Pages: 282

Grade Rating: A+

“Dead girl walking,” the boys say in the halls.

“Tell us your secret,” the girls whisper, one toilet to another.

I am that girl.

I am the space between my thighs, daylight shining through.

I am the bones they want, wired on a porcelain frame.

Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the skinniest. But what comes after size zero and size double-zero? When Cassie succumbs to the demons within, Lia feels she is being haunted by her friend’s restless spirit.

In her most emotionally wrenching, lyrically written book since the multiple-award-winning Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson explores Lia’s descent into the powerful vortex of anorexia, and her painful path toward recovery.

Wintergirls is a raw, painfully realistic account of a girl coping with an eating disorder that killed her best friend and is making her life a living hell. Lyrical and heartbreaking, Wintergirls is a must-read.

This is a hard book to read. Do not read this if you are looking for something light, fluffy and full of hearty laughs because I guarentee you, this book will not will not make you laugh. You will not even crack a smile. Wintergirls will crawl inside your shell and won't stop banging on your brain until you finish it. Laurie Halse Anderson writes a poetic novel plagued with loss, depression, self-destruction and hope. Wintergirls is a cry in the darkness. It will reach out to you but only if you reach back. Lia is a girl facing a difficult eating disorder. Her best friend Cassie, died of this eating disorder and she is now going through the motions of feeling incredibly guilty about her death. Wintergirls explores the emotions that drives these girls to the most extreme need to be beautiful.

The emotions portrayed in this book are so powerful, you feel like you have the same disease. You feel like you are Lia and you feel the same things she does. Lia is obsessed with her appearance, her weight, how many calories she eats, how much fat she eats. She feels like she needs to be the thinnest she can possibly be. Wintergirls is so special because you are given a terrifyingly accurate look into life as an anorexic teenager. This book is one of the rare few that uncovers every feeling you have when you have an eating disorder. Lia doesn't want to have this disease but she does. She doesn't want to be this thin but at the same time, it is her only goal. She wants to eat but she just can't make herself do it. Lia's voice holds you hostage until the very last word. Her story will never let you go.

Anderson's writing is extremely lyrical, poetic and real. The words sink into your mind one by one. Her style reminds me very much of Elizabeth Scott's, another author I really love. The way this book is written emphasises the harsh, gritty experience that Lia is going through. It is written as if the main character has written it herself which brings you closer to the story. Only a real talent could have carried off this book in the way that it was.

I think Wintergirls is an important novel for teenage girls obsessed with their looks but I suggest you read it even if you are or not. The message is so clear within the pages it practically slaps you in the face. You will be too horrified to even contemplate taking the same path as Lia. I believe Wintergirls has the power to change a generation and I think you should read it.

Review: Zelah Green: Dating Queen by Vanessa Curtis

Title: Zelah Green: Dating Queen

Author: Vanessa Curtis

Published: Egmont Books (5th July 2010)

No. of Pages: 240

Grade Rating: B+/A-

My name is Zelah Green and I'm a Cleanaholic. It's the summer hols and I'm on major Flirt Alert. I've joined mysortaspace.com and ever since I've been getting emails from loads of boys. Boys are Dirt Alert AND Germ Alert. Don't even talk to me about kissing...The rest of my life's a bit rubbish too. That's because: my dad is moping about the house missing his girlfriend; my ex-best friend still isn't speaking to me; my grumpy weirdo Satanist friend has turned up to stay; my cleaning rituals are are taking up way too much time; and, most importantly, the guy I really like, Sol, has disappeared off the face of the earth...

Warm and funny, Zelah Green is back with her next instalment! Zelah Green: Dating Queen was a deep book with a light-hearted approach perfect for younger girls about to branch out into fully-fledged Young Adult.

I read and loved the prequel Zelah Green: Queen of Clean and, therefore, was exceedingly eager to get my hands on the next book in the world of Zelah. In this episode of her life, threatened by her OCD, Zelah gives the world of dating a try to see if she can recover her heart after it was broken by the mysterious Sol who was mentioned in the previous book. Whilst being an extremely quick read (I read it in little under two hours) it was still very enjoyable. Vanessa Curtis has created a charming coming of age series that welcomes new readers who want to broaden their horizons in the world of YA. This is a truly original read that approaches a serious subject matter in a light-hearted way.

Zelah is a fantastic protagonist whilst maybe not being the most obvious choice. Her OCD works its way into her everyday life making things a great deal harder. I have never encountered a character with an OCD before in a Young Adult book. I think Zelah's condition is very rare and unique to someone of her age which makes her all the more interesting and loveable. I expected to tire of her 'little problem' but you really begin to empathise with her and understand that she hates her condition and would do anything to get rid of it. This book is also greeted with the same faces from the prequel but we still manage to delve deeper and deeper into their lives and discover some unexpected things.

Even though this book is quite short, everything is equally paced and nothing ever really seems rushed. The author never makes Zelah's OCD seem unrealistic and her surrounding characters reacted in believable ways. There were some moments where I was laughing out loud! This book really has a little bit of everything in it. There was humour, tension and plenty of bittersweet moments. A book for everyone.

Review: Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

Title: Living Dead Girl
Author: Elizabeth Scott
Published: Simon Pulse (Sept 8th 2009)
No. of Pages: 170
Grade Rating: A+

Once upon a time I was a little girl who disappeared.
Once upon a time my name was not Alice.
Once upon a time I didn't know how lucky I was.
When Alice was ten, Ray took her away from her family, her friends -- her life. She learned to give up all power, to endure all pain. She waited for the nightmare to be over.
Now Alice is fifteen and Ray still has her, but he speaks more and more of her death. He does not know it is what she longs for. She does not know he has something more terrifying than death in mind for her.
This is Alice's story. It is one you have never heard, and one you will never, ever forget.

Lyrically horrifing, Living Dead Girl is like nothing I've ever read before. Gut-wrenchingly heartbraking does not even begin to cover how incredible this tiny little book is. This book is proof that good things come in small packages.

I feel physically sick just writing this. After reading the final three word chapter, a wave of emotion just poured over me. Never have three simple, honest words affected me so much. This book is disgusting, horrific and at times terrifying but so, so good. Living Dead Girl will never escape from my subconscious mind. This excruciatingly powerful story will never be forgotten by any reader who will ever read it; if they love it or hate it. Nothing could have prepared me for the shock that has been enclosed within the pages of this novel. Scott handles an extremely sensitive topic with precision and care. You want to put it down but you can't. You have to know what happens next. You have to keep reading. You feel as if the life of Alice depends on it. I've never felt so many emotions that have stemmed from a book. Hatred, anger, fear, shock. Living Dead Girl should be read by everyone.

Alice is the narrator of the story. She was taken from a school trip five years ago by a man that claimed he would look after her. Alice fills this story. She brings it to life and without a narrator like her, this book wouldn't have been half as good. I felt so painfully sorry for her during every single second, whilst the words sunk into my brain. I wanted to reach into the story and hold out my hand for Alice to grab. I felt like I needed to help her. To be as scared, lonely and vulnerable as she was, is something I hope I never have to experience. You know Alice is a good person and you hate to see her blaming herself  and dwelling on her past life as a free girl.

Elizabeth Scott is a hero. I've no idea how she managed to write such a stark, horrifying book. Highlighting this issue is admirable and demonstrates how we may blott out the things we desperately don't want to hear or face. Without a shadow of a doubt in my mind, this book is for teens. Every teen should read it and feel so lucky for what they have. I dreaded almost every scene but couldn't tear my eyes away from the page. I don't want to even comprehend how these things happen to people everyday. This novel has opened my eyes to how scared these people are and how we must try and help them.

The style of writing is almost poetic and I loved every minute of it. Scott is a beautiful writer and I will be collecting her books in the future. Haunting, searing and difficult, Living Dead Girl is one of the best books I've ever read.

Review: Dear Dylan by Siobhan Curham

Title: Dear Dylan
Author: Siobhan Curham
Published: AuthorHouse (March 24th 2010)
No. of Pages: 196
Grade Rating: B+

Fourteen year old Georgie Harris feels as if the summer holidays are over before they have even begun. Banned from going to the local drama workshop by her bully of a step-dad and her increasingly fragile mum, she is consigned to six long weeks of looking after her tooth-fairy obsessed kid sister. Sick of feeling like the outsider at home and at school, she starts emailing the one person she thinks might understand; Dylan Curtland, star of the popular soap opera Jessop Close. And when Dylan starts emailing back, Georgie finally feels a tiny spark of hope. At last she has someone who really gets her, someone who really wants to help. But in the faceless world of email all is not as it seems...

Dear Dylan is a thought-provoking and equally heart-warming book with wide appeal to both teenagers and adults. Written entirely in emails, I really enjoyed reading this and would reccomend it as the perfect gift for teenage girls!

Full of issues for the modern day teenager, Dear Dylan was quirky, whimsical book. I usually like books written in an email typeface and this certainly was know exception. The events didn't unfold in the way I thought they would which proved to make this a shining star, exploring an unpredictable relationship. When Georgie Harris decides to contact soap-star Dylan, she is beyond thrilled to have received a response. Soon enough realising that these emails are automatic replys to every fan, she is shocked when she finally receives a real email from her favourite actor. Her love for on-screen hunk, Dylan is really sweet and very funny at the beginning of the book when she is in the first stages of email. We think Georgie is going to be an average teen but soon enough dive beneath the surface.

Georgie really brought Dear Dylan to life. She was fantastic and it was fascinating to get a look in on her life and all of her troubles. She experiences every humiliating incident that most teens do such as crushes, toxic friends and family issues. She is extremely likeable and well-written with a personality that shines. As well as being easy-to-relate-to, I felt a lot of empathy for Georgie. At times, I felt so sorry for her and wanted to enter her bubble and be her friend when she had none. As things just start to go right for her, everything that possibly could, goes wrong. Her miserable, bully of a stepdad tries to shatter her world as we take a look into her first love.

I think many people would benefit from reading this. It can be quite a serious story at times but has a spark of light-heartedness around every corner. I found myself cheering for Georgie and willing the plot to go on and on. The structure of emails is fabulous and is really the only way the book should have been written. I'm not sure why I didn't love it, but I certainly did like it! Curham has written a poignant, honest account that I predict, will be loved.

Review: 13 To Life by Shannon Delany

Title: 13 To Life
Author: Shannon Delany
Published: St. Martin's Griffin (June 22nd 2010)
No. of Pages: 320
Grade Rating: A

Something strange is stalking the small town of Junction…

When junior Jess Gillmansen gets called out of class by Guidance, she can only presume it’s for one of two reasons. Either they’ve finally figured out who wrote the scathing anti-jock editorial in the school newspaper or they’re hosting yet another intervention for her about her mom. Although far from expecting it, she’s relieved to discover Guidance just wants her to show a new student around—but he comes with issues of his own including a police escort.
The newest member of Junction High, Pietr Rusakova has secrets to hide--secrets that will bring big trouble to the small town of Junction—secrets including dramatic changes he’s undergoing that will surely end his life early.

13 To Life is thrilling love story with a supernatural twist. Anybody looking for a raw werewolf story better sit this one out, but if a gorgeous book intertwined with intrigue and mystery is your thing, this is definitely for you. This book had me reading non-stop and I loved every minute!

When the mysterious new boy, Peitr Rusakova comes to the small American town of Junction, the whole school is in a frenzy. With his rugged good looks and brooding appearance, he definitely makes it as the number one love interest. I really liked this book; I pretty much liked everything about it. Even though the summary may not be the most original, that didn't make it any less good. I was expecting quite an action-packed novel with terror and love at first sight, but what I recieved was something nothing quite like that. This book is very character driven. The plot doesn't really pick up until the end which is something I defnitely admire. Delany manages to hook the reader right up to the ultimate revelation. It reminds of Hush, Hush in that aspect, which was one of my favourite books of the year!

I my opinion, the charcters really complete 13 To Life. Heroines of these kind of stories tend to annoy the hell out of me but Jessica wasn't like that at all. I loved her cynicism and wit which shone through her tough exterior. She didn't fall at the knees of Pietr the first time she saw him but proved a good challenge for his ego which was what made them such a perfect pair. I loved Pietr. A lot. He was sweet but elusive. Thoughtful but distant. And not to mention very easy on the eye. The fact that he was a closet bookworm made him even more loveable. The bad boy with the good heart, this couple certainly made my favourite list!

Jessie's strange relationship with her best friend Sarah is nice but at times odd. As you read on, you uncover the mysteries lurking beneath the seemingly perfect exterior of their friendship. Lacquered with secrets, I couldn't stop reading to find them all out. Pietr's secret along with the truth behind Jessie's mother's death combine to make chilling bait for the hungry mouth of the reader. 13 To Life exceeded my expectations and it is safe to say, I like werewolves more than vampires. At times deep and full of life's little mysteries, anybody with qualms or pondering on whether to read this, you will not be dissapointed. I cannot wait for the sequel!

Review: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Title: Vampire Academy

Author: Richelle Mead

Published: Puffin (May 29th 2009)

No. of Pages: 336

Grade Rating: A

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

Vampire Academy is a wonderfully thrilling start to the series. Full of magical Vampire lore and a totally kick-ass narrator, this is a vampire book like no other. Definitely not 'just-another-vampire-book' this is not to be missed,

I'm pleased to know that Mead wrote this book a few years before the vampire hype began taking over the world. This means that Vampire Academy isn't just another cheap copy that centres around vampires. As I'm not really a vampire fan, I wasn't sure how much I was going to like this. I already knew that readers had responded overwhelmingly well to this series. Therefore, I expected to like it but I didn't expect to love it. To my surprise, it was a thoroughly enjoyable first instalment and I now can't wait to get stuck into the sequel! I usually find with the very first book to a series, that it is confusing and just set up for the next. Thankfully, Vampire Academy had a compelling plot that was its own. The ending left you dying for more but the rest of the book had twists and turns a'plenty.

The plot was fascinating. Rose frequently had flashbacks to previous events but Mead kept you dangling by a very thin string; leading you on as you yearned to learn more and more about our protagonists and their very chilling pasts. The storyline itself is fairly complicated but the structure of the book is so extraordinarily done, you can easily read along without getting confused. Although it is important to pay close attention to what's happening, your attention rarely leaves the words radiating from the pages. The lore focusing on the Moroi, Strigoi and dhampirs is brilliant and extremely individual. I've never read a book with this kind of vampire world in it which made Vampire Academy even more unique.
 
Rose is one amazing protagonist and I'm so glad she narrated the book. Don't get me wrong I loved Lissa but Rose had this fabulous fearless quality that made her likeable but dangerous at the same time. Her 'no-nonsense' attitude was fierce and full of girl power. Her constant witty remarks and back chats could have gotten annoying if they weren't so funny! Extremely kind but tough, seeing life through her eyes was brilliant and her romance with the dashing Dimitri added to the list of enviable things about this girl. Team Dimitri, woop!
 
Just to be critical, I did have a little trouble getting into at the start. It was quite slow and I was reluctant to constantly read. Fortunately it picked up around a third of the way through. I'm looking forward to giving the rest in the series the highest ranking. This a deliciously dark adventure that is just the start of something amazing!

Review: Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Title: Sisters Red

Author: Jackson Pearce
Published: Hodder Children's Books (June 3rd 2010)
No. of Pages: 336
Grade Rating: A-

The story of Scarlett and Rosie March, two highly-skilled sisters who have been hunting Fenris (werewolves) -- who prey on teen girls -- since Scarlett lost her eye years ago while defending Rosie in an attack. Scarlett lives to destroy the Fenris, and she and Rosie lure them in with red cloaks (a colour the wolves can't resist), though Rosie hunts more out of debt to her sister than drive. But things seem to be changing. The wolves are getting stronger and harder to fight, and there has been a rash of news reports of countless teen girls brutally murdered in the city. Scarlet and Rosie soon discover the truth: wolves are banding together in search of a Potential Fenris -- a man tainted by the pack but not yet fully changed. Desperate to find the Potential to use him as bait for a massive werewolf extermination, the sisters move to the city with Silas, a young woodsman and long time family friend who is deadly with an axe. But the clues to finding the Potential aren't adding up, and Scarlet is shocked to learn new details of Silas's family history. Meanwhile, Rosie finds herself drawn to Silas and the bond they share not only drives the sisters apart, but could destroy all they've worked for.

Lashings of gore, horror and magic are never far in Sisters Red. This is a heart-stopping fairytale retelling with a quirky modern day twist. I dare anyone not to fall in love with this book and with a cover like that, how could you not?

My expectations of Sisters Red literally sky rocketed! I could not wait to get my hands on a copy and start reading; expecting so many incredible things from it. I suppose that because I had such high hopes for it, it wouldn't be as good in reality. The monsters and mystery and murder (oh my!) were fantastic elements in the story and definitely came through but there was something on numerous occasions that stopped me fully connecting with the story. Whenever there was a duel between good and evil, I was completely engrossed and ready for more action. However, at other points in the book, I didn't find it as strong although it has an amazing plot.

The two female protagonists, Scarlett and Rosie, were incredibly kick-ass, feisty and simply everything you could possibly want in leading ladies. Their contrasting personalities were certainly something I picked up on and loved. Rosie is shy and girly but at times feels like a side-kick to her older sister whereas Scarlett is tough but loving and is intent on ridding the world of the Fenris. Even though they were so different, it didn't stop them from hunting the deliciously despicable werewolves like proffessionals! And then there was Silas. Sweet, lovely, dreamy Silas the woodchoppers son. Let's just say that I absolutely loved him. Really, he was flawless.

There may be many werewolf books around at the moment, but I truly believe Sisters Red will stand out. I adored the Little Red Riding Hood twist and the mythical lore surrounding the Fenris and the symbols that marked their packs. Although they were similar to the typical dangerous male predators, I still found them fascinating. They were raw and very real. Something you will imagine haunting you in your dreams and after reading this book, I promise you that you will never want to go walking in the woods again.

I really, really liked Sisters Red and I cannot wait for the next of Pearce's fairytale retelling series. This will definitely be popular among fans of fantasy, the paranormal or anyone just seeking a little thrill. It's quaint whilst being modern; exuding a divine charm. A perfect getaway!

Review: Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

Title: Shade
Author: Jeri Smith-Ready
Published: Simon Pulse (May 4th 2010)
No. of Pages: 309
Grade Rating: A

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last. Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone. Well, sort of.
Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan’s violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura’s new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.
As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart…and clues to the secret of the Shift.

Shade is an intoxicatingly unique and divine debut YA novel with a supernatural twist. Including elements such as ghosts, mystery and a good old-fashioned love triangle, where could it go wrong? Nowhere.

I'm not sure what I was expecting when I opened the pages of Shade for the first time. I suppose, a witty, heart racing novel with a darker side. And that is exactly what I received. However, I wasn't expecting a truly original premise. The author has woven together a well-thought-out plot that leaves the reader wanting to know more and more about the Shift and Aura's abilities. Although, it was a little confusing at the start, I soon loved the idea of the Shift and the different ghost patrols. Although it did have a more sinister aspect, it was a lot of fun to read about.

The characters were also amazingly three-dimensional and likeable too. Aura was a great female protagonist who was not at all annoying throughout the entire book. I hate it when similar characters complain and make the worst out of most situations, but she was determined and positive whilst having realistic emotions. I liked how all of the characters were life-like but at the same time, had the ability to see and communicate with ghosts. I was rooting for Logan all the way through the book but at the same time, liked reading Zachary and wanted him to pull through as well.

Jeri Smith-Ready is a fantasic author, capturing teenage personalities perfectly. I can definitely see many more of her books becoming successful in the YA genre. Her writing is addictive and absorbing and never fails to entertain the reader. The ending left a good lead up to the sequel, Shift, which has a release date a little too far away for my liking. I can't wait to carry on with the series and see how things work out for Aura.

All in all, Shade is a must-read for older teens. Any fan of the supernatural will enjoy this book, with it's pulse-racing synopsis and added-to-the-favourite-list characters. An amazing start to the series.

Review: Stargazer by Claudia Gray

Title: Stargazer

Author: Claudia Gray

Published: HarperCollins (29th April 2010)

No. of Pages: 328

Grade Rating: B

Evernight Academy: an exclusive boarding school for the most beautiful, dangerous students of all—vampires. Bianca, born to two vampires, has always been told her destiny is to become one of them.

But Bianca fell in love with Lucas—a vampire hunter sworn to destroy her kind. They were torn apart when his true identity was revealed, forcing him to flee the school.

Although they may be separated, Bianca and Lucas will not give each other up. She will risk anything for the chance to see him again, even if it means coming face-to-face with the vampire hunters of Black Cross—or deceiving the powerful vampires of Evernight. Bianca's secrets will force her to live a life of lies.
Yet Bianca isn't the only one keeping secrets. When Evernight is attacked by an evil force that seems to target her, she discovers the truth she thought she knew is only the beginning....

Stargazer is the second book in the Evernight Academy series and follows Bianca after she was seperated from Lucas, a vampire hunter. This book is a well worth a read if you enjoyed Evernight, but I didn't find it as good as its prequel.
 
Stargazer doesn't leave off exactly where Evernight finished but is written a few months after the previous events. I remember being really excited for the next in the series when I finished Evernight, but Stargazer picks up and unfortunately didn't restore that excitement. I found it quite hard to get into once it had started and it was about halfway through the book before anything of note happened. I was expecting to be thrown into the action from the first page but I thought that it dragged on for a bit at the beginning. However, once the action started, it was hard to put this book down. It definitely took one or two unexpected turns that caught me off guard and it became increasingly difficult to predict what was going to happen next.
 
I also thought that the characters improved in Stargazer. Before, I was definitely on Team Balthazaar as I found Lucas extremely rude and demanding. Now, I'm officially undecided as to who I think Bianca should end up with. One thing I disliked about Bianca this time was how she constantly made her love for Lucas very clear but at the same time had feelings for Balthazaar and wanted to act on them. I continued to like Bianca and was glad that Balthazaar centred around the plot more this time.
 
I found Stargazer to be more of an in-between book. It definitely left desires to read Hourglass after the action-packed ending. If only it could have been that eventful throughout the entire book. I'm intruiged to see what will happen in the next book and I will certainly continue with the series. A good read for vampire fans.

Review: Viola In Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani

Title: Viola In Reel Life

Author: Adriana Trigiani

Published: Simon and Schuster (April 29th 2010)

No. of Pages: 288

Grade Rating: A-

Viola doesn't want to go to boarding school, but somehow she ends up at Prefect Academy, an all-girls school in South Bend, Indiana, far far away from her home in Brooklyn, New York. Now Viola is stuck for a whole year in what seems to be the sherbet-coloured-sweater capital of the world. Ick. There's no way Viola's going to survive the year - especially since she has to replace her best friend Andrew with three new roommates who, disturbingly, actually seem to like being at Prefect. She resorts to viewing the world (and hiding) behind the lens of her video camera. But boarding school is nothing like Viola thought it would be, and she soon realises that she may be in for the most incredible year of her life. But first she has to put the camera down and let the world in.

Viola in Reel Life is a heart-warming book about a girl called Viola Chesterton, who's documentary making parents send her off to boarding school in Indiana. There, she experiences things she never thought would happen. She makes friends with the girls in her dorm and finds love in the most unexpected of places. This is a sweet little book perfect for rereading!

One thing I started off really loving about Viola In Reel Life was Viola herself. I instantly liked her and her wry, snarky sense of humour. I loved her interests in film making and her overall personality. I also found it truly special that she had a 'Vote For Pedro' T-shirt inspired by Napolean Dynamite (one of my favourite films) which added to her unique and slightly quirky personality. I also really liked the supporting characters including Viola's room mates. They all seemed to be very welcoming and supportive of Viola-perhaps a little too nice. Ever the stirrer, I would have liked to have seen some conflict between some of the characters as I thought that that scenario would have been more realistic. It is natural that girls backstab and bitch about other girls but none of this seemed to occur. Even though it sounds quite evil, I found it a little bit annoying how all of the characters were so nice to eachother.

Judging by the blurb, I didn't think that there would be anything particularly original about the plot. Thank goodness I was proven wrong. It was a pleasant surprise when some paranormal elements were added to the story and how each event and character nicely tied together. Viola In Reel Life was a fairly quick read with a steady pace and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. It definitely had its flaws but nothing too important to mention. I liked how Trigiani focused on film making. It's certainly not something you read about everyday and learning about it through the book was fascinating.

I think people who are fans of all genres will like Viola In Reel Life. It posesses a charm that immediately captures the readers attention and draws you into the story. I definitely can't wait for the sequel, and I will be looking out for more things by Trigiani.

Review: Ondine: The Summer Shambles by Ebony McKenna

Title: Ondine

Author: Ebony McKenna

Published: Egmont Books (April 5th 2010)

No. of Pages: 292

Grade Rating: B-

This is a brilliantly witty fairy tale with a mystery that is as surreal as it is sinister. One girl. One boy. One spell to be broken. Ondine de Groot is a normal fifteen-year-old who lives with her family in the European country of Brugel. She has a pet ferret called Shambles. But Shambles is no ordinary ferret...He's Hamish McPhee, a boy cursed by a witch. A witch who happens to be related to Ondine. When Shambles turns back into Hamish temporarily, Ondine knows that she has to help him break the spell. He is the most gorgeous boy she has ever met and her one true love! He just can't remain a ferret forever. Can he?

Ondine is a seriously cute, kooky novel about a girl who is in love with a ferret. Just from those eight words, you can tell that this a truly original and sweet little book featuring a feisty herione and a feel-good fairy tale.

I don't know if I was expecting what was served up to me in the shape of Ondine or not. For some reason, I thought it was going to be a historical fiction and, to be honest, I'm not sure if it was or not. It mentioned things like The Eurovision Song Contest and mobile phones so it can't have been set too long ago. On the other hand, I received a rather prim and dated feeling when reading (which is definitely not a complaint) but I wasn't sure as to whether see this book as a novel set a while ago or one set in present day. Adding to the quaint ambience of the text, I absolutely adored Brugel! This is the setting of Ondine and possibly a future holiday destination-that is, if it was a real place.

Ondine was a fantastic female protagonist. She was like a modern day Anne Of Green Gables with a certain magical element about her. The relationship between her family and friends was strong and believable, but I felt that her relationship with Shambles/Hamish was at times a little bit rushed. In Brugel, magic is not uncommon, but I thought that she took to her pet ferret being a human a little too well and fell in love with him even quicker. Despite this, I loved Shambles/Hamish and his cute Scottish lingo and enjoyed every time he was in the scene.

The plot moved a little fast for my liking and had me thinking that this is more suitable for younger girls. I wasn't too fond of the way that the events just kept coming and going so fast. I didn't think that you could really empathise with Ondine or any of the other characters because the scenarios didn't last long enough for you to really understand how they were feeling.

Nevertheless, Ondine was a whimsical, wacky tale for readers who love the tenderness of old fashioned fairytales and the comedy of Shrek. The footnotes were a help addition for you to understand some of Shambles'/Hamish's Scottish brogue with a fun plot to match. I dare you not to fall in love.

Review: I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend by Cora Harrison

Title: I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend
Author: Cora Harrison
Published: Macmillian Children's Books (March 5th 2010)
No. of Pages: 342
Grade Rating: B

When shy Jenny Cooper goes to stay with her cousin Jane Austen, she knows nothing of the world of beautiful dresses, dances, secrets, gossip, and romance that Jane inhabits. At fifteen, Jane is already a sharp observer of the customs of courtship. So when Jenny falls utterly in love with Captain Thomas Williams, who better than Jane to help her win the heart of this dashing man?

But is that even possible? After all, Jenny’s been harboring a most desperate secret. Should it become known, it would bring scandal not only to her, but also to the wonderful Austen family. What’s a poor orphan girl to do?
In this delicious dance between truth and fiction, Cora Harrison has crafted Jenny’s secret diary by reading everything Jane Austen wrote as a child and an adult, and by researching biographies, critical studies, and family letters. Jenny’s diary makes the past spring vividly to life and provides insight into the entire Austen family—especially the beloved Jane.

I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend is a sweet, heart-warming tale of love, friendship and ball gowns. Written in diary form, Jenny Cooper reveals her secrets and desires in a book that fans of Jane Austen novels will enjoy!

I really enjoyed reading this book despite not having read anything by Jane Austen before. It picked up from the first page and I was immediately transported back to 1791 in the streets of Southampton. As I live near Southampton and in Hampshire (where the story is set) it was really interesting to see the contrast between the time periods through Jenny's eyes. I loved the additions to the text as well. There were beautifully drawn illustrations accomponying real prints of short stories that Jane Austen wrote. The story progressed nicely at the beginning and towards the end, but I felt a little bit stuck in the middle. The plot never really seemed to be moving forward. I suppose the plot wasn't a key focus in this book, but it would have been nice if a surprise twist occured once in a while, just to spice it up.

I loved Jenny as a narrator. She was shy, kind and just an overall great character. There was nothing particularly unlikeable about her at all. I really liked learning her story and the problems she faced throughout the book. Jane, who was also a main character, was very smart, humorous and witty. She kept the story alive with her sarcastic remarks and zesty attitude. It was nice to see that the author challenged herself by writing Jenny who is quite unknown and mysterious in the life of Jane Austen. I think it worked well as a way for the reader to learn more about Jane's teenage years and of her cousin.

I couldn't help feeling sad when IWJABF ended. I had grown to like Jenny and had to accept that I'd probably never read her again. There is nothing to really tell you about Jenny Cooper except this book itself and when it was over, I felt like I had to say goodbye to her character forever (oh dear, how cheesy). Knowing she was a real person, brought her to life and made you want to learn much more about her.

I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend is a must-read for fans of Jane Austen. It's a great resource to dig deeper in the famous novelist's life with a gorgeous cover to match. It's not for everyone, but I liked it!

Review: Swapped By A Kiss by Luisa Plaja

Title: Swapped By A Kiss

Author: Luisa Plaja

Published: Corgi Children's (29th April 2010)

No. of Pages: 343

Grade Rating: A-

Rachel hates her life and everyone in it - she even has suspicions that her on/off boyfriend David might not be entirely trustworthy. However, when David invites her to a music festival in England featuring their friend's band, she jumps at the chance for an overseas adventure. Hoping to surprise David, Rachel arrives at the festival early, where she runs into a nasty surprise of her own - she sees David kissing their friend Jo. Distraught, Rachel runs off, wishing she could leave her life behind...the next thing she knows, she's back with David. But not as herself...She's now in Jo's body! Can she keep the swap a secret from David until she can work out exactly what's going on and get her revenge? Over the course of a very weird weekend, Rachel puts herself in someone else's shoes and finds that her own maybe weren't as uncomfortable as she'd always thought. But can she ever be herself again?

Swapped By A Kiss is the third book by Luisa Plaja but the second book in the 'Kiss' series-the first one being Split By A Kiss. This book was fun, original and refreshing, with an awesome setting of a festival. Luisa has written an enjoyable sequel that fans of Freaky Friday will love!

When I found out that there was a sequel to one of my most-loved books of 2009, I jumped at the chance of reading it. Swapped By A Kiss was a fantastic book that moved away from the protagonist of the last book: Jo and focused on her fiery, feisty friend Rachel. I expect nothing less than amazing when I read Luisa's books and that's what I get every time! I really liked how this time, the setting was England and how the American characters reacted to it as if it was a parallel universe. Swapped was full of laughs and embarrasingly relatable moments-I loved it!

My opinion of the characters changed as well. In the last book, I didn't really know very much about Rachel and consequently didn't seem to like her. In this novel, the spotlight is focused on her and how she reacts when she see's her best friend kissing her boyfriend. We get to see a softer, more emotional side of Rachel whilst also learning about her back story which involved a few twists and turns in itself! There is a always an element of surprise lurking somewhere near the end of the books which I always can't wait to discover.

I also really liked Tori more in Swapped. She ditched her position as one of Chelsea Cook's minions and we also saw a different side of her. I really liked the alternating chapters between Jo and Rachel. Jo's chapters were more uncommon and written as diary entries (which were hilarious) whilst Rachel's took up most of the book.

All in all, I adored it and I'm currently craving more in the way of the 'Kiss' books-I can't wait to see how the story develops between all of the characters. If I'm being brutally honest, Split is still my favourite but then again, only by the tiniest percentage. Thank you for this amazingness Luisa!

Review: The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell

Title: The Carrie Diaries

Author: Candace Bushnell

Published: HarperCollins (April 29th 2010)

No. of Pages: 389

Grade Rating: A-

Before Carrie Bradshaw hit the big time in the City, she was a regular girl growing up in the suburbs of Connecticut. How did she turn into one of the most-read social observers of our generation?

The Carrie Diaries opens up in Carrie's senior year of high school. She and her best friends -- Walt, Lali, Maggie, and the Mouse -- are inseparable, amid the sea of Jens, Jocks and Jets. And then Sebastian Kydd comes into the picture. Sebastian is a bad boy-older, intriguing, and unpredictable. Carrie falls into the relationship that she was always supposed to have in high school-until a friend's betrayal makes her question everything. With her high school days coming to a close, Carrie will realize it's finally time to go after everything she ever wanted.

The Carrie Diaries is a superb young adult novel with the true voice of one of the most loved female protagonists of our time. Mixing love, heartbreak and some serious fashion, this will be a must-read for teenage girls who want a great girly escape read or just want some of that good old eighties nostalgia!

I was expecting good things from The Carrie Diaries, and I truly was not dissapointed. This has all of the obstacles every teenage girl will be facing today: boyfriends, toxic friends, high school, homework, dreams, ambitions and cliques. To spice things up from the usual novel of teenage angst, it is thrown thirty years into the past to the year 1980. That means big hair, egos and a young Carrie Bradshaw. To embarrass myself and show how juvenile I am, I have to say that I've never watched more than two episodes of Sex and the City nor have I watched the film so I can't really compare old and young Carrie. However, after reading this book, I'm very tempted to give the series a go!

I can't believe how much I loved Carrie. She was so likeable whilst being very headstrong and at the same time a little bit ditzy. She had a wonderful personality and voice, you had a clear sense of who she was. I loved how she had so many dreams and ambitions and had no intentions of giving them up, no matter how many road-blocks she may have to overcome. I can definitely relate to her now and her character. I really, really enjoyed seeing life through her eyes and how she coped with her school friends, her boyfriend(s) and her family issues.

During the book, she is faced with a boy dilemma-not something she's used to. She must choose between bad boy Sebastian and intellect, George. One thing that really bothered me about this book was how Carrie reacted to the two of them. She was completely smitten with Sebastian, doting on his every word no matter how rude he was to her. He was a bad to the bone and she was completely blind to it, even though his arragonce was constantly displayed to her. On the other hand, she liked George but became very angsty towards him when he was being perfectly nice. Carrie was supposed to be a feminist, except she was anything but around Sebastian. I disliked how much of a push-over she was around him and how forgiving she was.

Nevertheless, I fell under the spell of The Carrie Diaries. It's a witty favourite of mine, perfect to be re-read! I definitely reccomend it to fans of the show or to teenagers who've never watched it (like me!). It doesn't matter, you'll love it either way!

Review: Captivate by Carrie Jones

Title: Captivate
Author: Carrie Jones
Published: Bloomsbury (5th April 2010)
No. of Pages: 258
Grade Rating: B+

Zara and her friends knew they hadn't solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king's needs grow deeper every day he's stuck in captivity, while his control over his people gets weaker. It's made him vulnerable. And now there's a new king in town.
A turf war is imminent, since the new pixie king, Astley, is moving in quickly. Nick nearly killed him in the woods on day one, but Zara came to his rescue. Astley swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he's one of the good guys. Nick isn't buying it, though Zara isn't as sure -- despite herself, she wants to trust the new king. But it's a lot more than her relationship with Nick that is at stake. It's her life -- and his.

Captivate was a thrilling second installment from Carrie Jones bursting with pixie power and danger around every corner. For lovers of Need, Captivate will satisfy that affection and supply more. A great addition to this fun, unique series.

Jones's first novel in this series Need, was enjoyable but by no means my favourite book. Many things about the story aggravated me and I was wary that those things would be back in the sequel. I put off reading this for a few weeks expecting it to be similar or maybe worse than Need. Fortunately, that wasn't true at all! Captivate was very different to Need and I can safely say I enjoyed it more. We saw a lot more of the pixies and their vicious, blood-thirsty ways which gave the book slight originality and edge. I was holding my breath at some points, waiting for the deciding revelation that kept me wanting more and more. The ending was nicely set up for the next in the series which I'm sure will be even more captivating!

In Need, it didn't go unnoticed that I didn't like Zara very much. I didn't bond well with her whilst finding her too stubborn but at the same time irritatingly immature for my liking. Before I began to read this, I told myself I would have to ignore what I found annoying and focus on the plot. In Captivate, Zara loses that quality that she possessed in Need and became almost-dare I say it?-likeable. I also found that her supporting characters became more three-dimensional whilst their personalities shone through their actions.

I loved the aspects of the Valkyries and Valhalla portrayed in this book. It just spiced up the plot and gave a surprising twist on events. It was also a refreshing aspect as I'm unfamiliar with these fae creatures but have studied Valhalla once or twice in History. It was a nice change from the obvious choice of vampires and added to the unpredictable line-up of fantasy creatures present.

Altogether, Captivate was a fast-paced, action-packed fantasy novel which I willingly devoured. I am pleased to say I am a fan of this series. I wouldn't reccomend this as a stand-alone novel and I would suggest you read Need first so you became aware of the characters and their stories.