Notes of Life

Author: Tessa Gratton
Publisher: Doubleday
ISBN: 978-0-857-53020-2

Blood Magic brings us the story of Silla, a girl damaged and lost after finding her parents dead, covered in blood. Everyone believes her Dad lost it and killed her Mom and himself in a murder-suicide, but Silla could never think that of her own Dad. When a spell book mysteriously arrives in the mail, Silla becomes immersed in it, hoping it will help uncover the truth. Then there’s Nick, the new boy in town with his own chilling past. Little does Silla know that he has more in common with her than she thinks.

Blood Magic is one of those books you don’t want to put down. I loved it from the one and only line of the first chapter, right until the very end. There’s one thing though… If blood grosses you out, then this book isn’t for you! As the title may suggest, blood features fairly heavily in this book. I can deal with blood fairly well, but even I felt a little queasy a couple of times while reading this young adult urban fantasy book.

The chapters alternate between first-person narratives of Silla and Nicholas, and diary entries primarily written by Josephine. I’ve read books before that have used this first-person narrative alternation and some of them haven’t worked, so I am often dubious of books that use this style of writing. However, Tessa Gratton has used it very well in this book; story flows perfectly from character to character. What’s more is that this is Tessa’s debut novel. She’s pulled off this tricky style that I’ve seen seasoned authors fail at.

Something else Tessa has excelled at… An urban fantasy novel without angels, vampires or werewolves! The heart of this story is magic that uses blood. Blood magic that has ripped apart more than one family, but can also bring people together.

This book had me teary eyed one minute and happy the next. It’s gripping, dark, chilling and emotional, with a vein of love running through it.

Blood Magic is a fantastic debut book by author Tessa Gratton and one I’d definitely recommend! Even Maggie Stiefvater (author of Shiver) recommends it! I can’t wait to see what comes next from Tessa Gratton.

Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton is released on 7th July 2011. Pre-order your copy here.

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Please note: I received this book from Random House in return for a review. However, this has in no way influenced my opinion of the book.

Author: Jess Haines
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp
ISBN: 978-1-4201-1189-7

Shiarra Waynest is back in Deceived By The Others, the third book in the exciting H&W Investigations series. Shia is off on a well-deserved break with her werewolf boyfriend, Chaz. She’s finally ready to get serious and Chaz wants her to meet the rest of the family… in other words, the rest of the pack. Maybe a full-moon weekend in the Catskills is just what she needs after what she’s been through lately… or maybe it isn’t.

Shia and Chaz have barely settled into their cabin when threatening notes start to appear, warning them to go home. With their cabin ransacked, Shia can’t help but investigate. Are the teenage werewolves of the pack pulling pranks or are they really in danger?

Having loved the first two books in the H&W Investigations series, I was eagerly looking forward to Deceived By The Others and Jess Haines certainly didn’t disappoint. If anything, the series is getting better and better and I’m looking forward to what comes next. (There’s a sneak-peek into the fourth H&W book at the end of Deceived By The Others, though that just makes me want to read the fourth book even more, and I know I’ve got to wait).

This time around the story is centred around the Shia, Chaz and the Sunstrikers werewolf pack. We (along with Shia) get to know Chaz a lot better in this book. Though, of course, Royce (the sleek, sophisticated and handsome vampire) shows up in the story too, as a H&W Investigations book just wouldn’t be the same without him!

This is a roller-coaster read of a story with a few unexpected shocks thrown in. It’s thrilling, edge-of-your-seat stuff, with the ability of making you really feel for some characters, whilst making you loath others.

Without giving anything away, the ending isn’t a cliffhanger, but its one that will leave you eagerly awaiting to find out what will happen next as it leads us into the fourth book of the series.

Deceived By The Others is a thrilling addition to the H&W Investigations novels. It had me racing through the pages, as well as having moments of being shocked and emotional.

If you like urban fantasy books, then this is definitely a series I’d recommend. To get the most out of the series, I would definitely recommend reading from the start and going from there. You won’t be disappointed!

Other books in the H&W Investigations series:

1. Hunted By The Others (Read my review)
2. Taken By The Others (Read my review)

Pre-order your copy of Deceived By The Others now!

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Please note: I received this book free from the author. However, this in no way influenced my opinion of the book.

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GIVEAWAY! (Ended – Midnight 25th June 2011 – UK time)

So, how would you like a chance to win a copy of one of the H&W Investigation books?! You’ve got a choice of either Hunted By The Others, Taken By The Others or Deceived By The Others. Take your pick!

This giveaway is international, so you’re eligable as long as the Book Depository deliver to your country (they deliver to most, but check here). All you have to do is leave a comment saying you’re in (along with which book you’d like) before midnight 25th June 2011 BST (UK) time. You don’t have to be a follower (though it is appreciated) or anything like that. Everyone’s welcome!

Once picked, I will email the winner and post their name on the blog. The appropriate book will be ordered as soon as I have the winner’s details. However, please note that Deceived By The Others will be pre-ordered and mailed when released.

Author: Cliff McNish
Publisher: Orion
ISBN: 978-1842559932

When Elliot and his brother Ben, along with their dad, move into Glebe House (an old an crumbling mansion), they soon realise they’re not on their own. Sinister events are unfolding and they’re not safe in their own home, but can they escape the clutches of Glebe House and it’s former occupants before it’s too late?

I haven’t read a ghost story in a while, so I thought a young adult book wouldn’t be too scary of a re-introduction to ghost stories. However, The Hunting Ground is quite creepy for a kids book! I guess that’s why it says “Not for younger readers” on the back of the book!

I found the book to start very well, with tension building immediately. I certainly felt a little wary when I put the book down and turned off the light… If anything had made a sound shortly after I’d put the book down, I’d have jumped out of my skin! However, I thought the story faltered a little in the middle and I began to lose a little interest. Thankfully, the pace quickened again in the final third of the book and I found myself racing through it.

Only one thing really bugged me about the book and that was the diary sections. They find pages of a diary belonging to Theo (a boy who once lived at Glebe House) and the diary entries are dotted about the book as and when they are found. Theo’s diary started off being written like a diary would be, but then the writing started to read more like a story would. It was almost as it the story was actually shifting to the first person perspective, rather than reading a diary entry.

All in all, The Hunting Ground is an enjoyable (if slightly scary!) book and is definitely one to give a go.

Buy The Hunting Ground by Cliff McNish from Amazon UK or the Book Depository.

Cliff McNish is a British author, born in Sunderland.

This is the 17th book I’ve read for the British Books Challenge.

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Please note: I received this book free through the Amazon Vine program in return for a review. However, this has in no way influenced my opinion of the book.

Author: Lauren Kate
Publisher: Doubleday
ISBN: 9780385618083

Passion is part of Lauren Kate’s Fallen series. If you haven’t read the previous two books you may want to read the reviews linked below…

1. Fallen
2. Torment

Passion follows on directly from Torment and into the Luce’s past lives where she begins her quest to find answers to the questions she has about the curse. With Daniel chasing her, she dives back through her many past lives using the announcers, to learn as much as she can and to try and end the curse. But will she get her answers? Can she unlock the past without rewriting it?

Each chapter is numbered, titled and given a place and date, so you’re immediately aware of where Luce (or Daniel) is on the journey through her past lives. Passion is different from Fallen and Torment in that their settings were very much the schools in which Luce & her friends were in and their surroundings, where as in Passion Luce is racing through the past lives and can end up anywhere from Moscow in 1941 to London in 1613 and beyond!

In the previous books, I found Daniel to be much more secretive, to the point of not really knowing if he’s good or bad, but I didn’t question his character in this book. His concern was for Luce and what would happen to her, her past and her future as she goes back through her lives. His love and passion for her shone through.

We do get to see some of the characters from previous books, but Passion mainly features Luce and Daniel (and their previous selves) as they chase back through time. We’re also introduced to one or two more, including Bill who tags along with Luce. Is he quite what he seems?

As with the previous two books, Passion is a story that builds up momentum along the way. This is the story of Luce & Daniel and of how it came to be. We learn more of the angels’ backgrounds and of why Daniel is like he is. This book is probably more emotional that the previous two as we see Daniel’s endless adoration for Luce, his passion and his heartbreak.

As with Torment, I don’t think the ending of Passion is a cliffhanger, instead it’s more of a transition from this book to the final one in the series, and it looks like we’re in for something big!

All in all, I enjoyed reading Passion as much as I enjoyed reading Fallen and Torment. I read it in 3 or 4 sittings and I already can’t wait for Rapture, the final book in the Fallen series. Rapture isnt out until spring 2012, but I’m sure it’ll be worth the wait! If you enjoyed Fallen and Torment, then I’m sure you’ll love Passion.

With thanks to Random House for sending me a manuscript of Passion to review.

Passion is released in the UK on 23rd June 2011, so why not pre-order your copy now!

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Please note: I received this book as a manuscript from Random House as in return for a review. However, this has in no way influenced my opinion of the book.

Author: Cate Tiernan
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
ISBN: 978-1444706994

Nastasya has lived a lifetime, an everlasting lifetime. As an immortal, she’s reinvented herself more times than she can count. After witnessing her friend Innocencio break a man’s back with a spell and then walking away, Nasty takes a look at herself and her friends and she doesn’t like what she sees. In fact, she’s scared, horrified even. Scared enough to run and hide from her friends, from her memories, from her life.

Nasty seeks help from a woman she once met years ago and ends up at River’s Edge. She doesn’t feel like she belongs there, but where she belongs doesn’t exist anymore. She can’t trust the people she thought were friends, is there anyone she can trust? Will River’s Edge save Nastasya or drive her deeper into despair? Will Innocencio come looking for Nasty?

Read the book to find out!

Immortal Beloved is the first book in a new trilogy by Cate Tiernan. It’s different to most paranormal/fantasy books these days, because there’s no vampires, no werewolves, no shape-shifters, nothing like that. This is about being immortal in this world and all that is brought with it, magick is also wound through the story.

The story is told from Nastasya’s point-of-view, so the other characters are all based her perspective. You almost find yourself liking or disliking the characters she does. Despite being several hundred years old, Nasty is quite immature, but when you read how she’s been wasting her life you can see where the immaturity comes from. Her immaturity also gives the character room to grow, to become who she is, not who she pretends to be.

Some might find this story slow, but I’d say to keep with it as it’s an evolving story and there are faster-paced parts to it. We learn more about Nastasya’s life through flashbacks, giving us a more detailed story.

Something I like in a book is humour and there were several instances where I had to laugh while reading Immortal Beloved. Despite what shes been through, Nastasya can be quite funny. Even on the last page the author managed to fit in some humour.

My only real problem with the book was that one of the storylines was left open, almost forgotten about, not in a cliffhanger sort of way. However, I’m guessing that this will be carried on into the second book, so it’s not a big issue.

All in all, I enjoyed reading Immortal Beloved and found it a refreshing change. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I got through it in just a couple of day and I’m already looking forward to reading the second book in the trilogy.

Buy Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan from Amazon UK or the Book Depository.

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Please note: I received this book free through the Amazon Vine program. However, this has in no way influenced my opinion of the book.