Teaser Tuesday #51

 

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week I'm reading Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick.

 

The bees were were so lifelike their hind legs bulged with yellow pollen sacs. But there was something odd about the roots and when I looked more closely, I realised why.

page 192

Series Spotlight: The Gatekeepers #4

Title: Necropolis 

Author: Anthony Horowitz

Series: The Gatekeepers #4

Publisher: Walker Books

Publication date: 04 May 2009

Format: Paperback - 400 pages

Genre: YA | Fantasy/Horror

Goodreads

Hong Kong has been taken over by the Old Ones and has become Necropolis, City of the Dead. Once in, there is no way out… Evil has been unleashed on the world and only five children – with special powers – can save it. Matt and the other three desperately need to find Scar, the final Gatekeeper, who has been trapped in Hong Kong, where puddles of water turn into puddles of blood, where ghosts, demons and hideous creatures stalk the streets. Matt has no choice but to follow her. Now, both imprisoned, their only hope of survival is to reach a secret door in the Man Ho temple. But even if Scar can find her psychic power, it may already be too late.

 

 

My thoughts:

This book has to be my favourite so far in the series. This is the third time I've read it and I still can't get enough. It's definitely one of those reads where you can't turn the pages fast enough - I don't think I'll ever get tired of it.

I love the fact that this is the first book in which all of the five gatekeepers are together at some point. I've really enjoyed getting to know all of them, especially Matt and Scar. They all have their own distinct personalities and are all equally loveable. I found Matt and Scar to be the most relatable though - they questioned everything more than the others and they came across as more vulnerable at times. 

The plot of this book was what made it stand out in the series so far. For me, there was so much more suspense involved because as I read on, I got an immediate sense of how desperate everybody was becoming. Everything was depending on the five coming together.

This book has it all for me. It has the brilliant writing of Horowitz and the complex, loveable characters. It also has the mother of all cliffhangers so I definitely can't wait to read the last book for the first time.

My rating: 10/10

Anthony Horowitz:

Goodreads | Website | Twitter

 

The Gatekeepers:

1. Raven's Gate
2. Evil Star
3. Nightrise
4. Necropolis
5. Oblivion

Series Spotlight: The Gatekeepers #3

Title: Nightrise

Author: Anthony Horowitz

Series: The Gatekeepers #3

Publisher: Walker Books

Publication date: 02 Apr 2007

Format: Paperback - 416 pages

Genre: YA | Fantasy | Horror

Goodreads

Darkness covers the earth.

The Old Ones have returned.

The battle must begin.

Fourteen-year-old twins Scott and Jamie Tyler have never known who they are or where they came from, but they have always known that they possess extraordinary powers. When Scott is kidnapped by the sinister Nightrise Corporation and Jamie is framed for murder, they realise that they must use those powers if they are going to survive.

But Jamie is catapulted thousands of years into the past, bringing him face to face with the full horror of the Old Ones. Here Jamie learns that he is one of the five Gatekeepers whose power is all that stands in the way of eternal chaos. Together at last, the Five must fight the massed forces of evil. And they must win.

My thoughts:

I was looking forward to a change of pace with the third book in the Gatekeepers series. This one focuses on the twins Jamie and Scott instead of Matt and I welcomed it since I was dying to find out the other characters stories.

This book had everything I loved about the past two books. It was exciting to read and I really didn't want to put it down. I loved getting to know Jamie and his way of thinking. It becomes apparent straight away that Jamie and his brother are two of the Five and even though the story starts off a little slow, it gives a really big insight into the different life Jamie and Scott live compared to Matt and Pedro. 

I loved all of the characters in this one. I was a little disappointed in how little I got to read about Scott but it was obviously essential to the pot. I fell in love with Jamie - he was really unsure of himself at the start of the book and he just grew from there. He went a long way in the space of the story and it was great to see that brilliant character development. 

The plot itself was a little slow at the beginning and it dragged a little in the middle but overall it was fantastic. There was just the right level of suspense and excitement that I was sucked into the world of the characters and I didn't want to leave. 

This series is definitely getting better and better. I really can't wait to find out how it all comes together in the end.

My rating: 8/10

 

Anthony Horowitz:

 

Goodreads | Website | Twitter

 

 

 

The Gatekeepers:

 

1. Raven's Gate
2. Evil Star
3. Nightrise
4. Necropolis
5. Oblivion

Series Spotlight: The Gatekeepers #2

Title: Evil Star

Author: Anthony Horowitz

Series: The Gatekeepers #2

Publisher: Walker Books

Publication date: 03 Apr 2006

Format: Paperback - 352 pages

Genre: YA | Fantasy/Horror

 

 

It began with Raven's Gate.

But it's not over yet.

Once again the enemy is stirring.

After defeating the Old Ones at Raven's Gate, Matt Freeman thought he could get on with his life. But someone has other ideas.

Far away in Peru a second hate is about to open. Only Matt has the power to stop the forces of darkness breaking through, but now they know all about him. This time they're going to destroy him first.

My thoughts:

As usual, with any book that's in a series, I can't help but compare it to the books that came before. Whilst I thought Raven's Gate was really creepy, Evil Star was incredibly thrilling.

This book definitely had its special moments. There were times where I would get a real adrenaline rush just reading a certain chapter where the characters got into a spot of bother. It made for such an exciting read that I finished in no time. Even when there wasn't anything happening much plot wise, I would be waiting for something dramatic to happen - the anticipation was great. 

The writing was as great as ever. I really love how Horowitz has never failed so far to build up so much suspense. I really managed to feel everything I was supposed to for the characters. I was full of anxiety and amazement at parts, especially the moments where I was really gunning for the characters to get away from danger.

 

The introduction of the new character, Pedro was flawless. He was there more or less from the beginning and he was brought into the story with no hiccups whatsoever. I took a liking to him immediately and I thought he and Matt interacted really nicely - they came across as close as brothers sometimes which was incredibly sweet. 

 

Overall I thought this was a great read. I'm really anxious to find out when all of the characters get together because judging by this book, when the five come together, it's going to be epic. 

 

 

My rating: 8/10

 

Anthony Horowitz:

Goodreads | Website | Twitter

 

The Gatekeepers:

1. Raven's Gate
2. Evil Star
3. Nightrise
4. Necropolis
5. Oblivion

Teaser Tuesday #50

 

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week I'm reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

 

 

I hate burns, have always hated them, even a small one got from pulling a pan of bread from the oven. It is the worst kind of pain to me, but I have never experienced anything like this.

 

page 215

Series Spotlight: The Gatekeepers #1

Title: Raven's Gate

Author: Anthony Horowitz

Series: The Gatekeepers #1

Publisher: Walker Books

Publication date: 01 Aug 2005

Format: Paperback - 288 pages

Genre: YA | Fantasy/Horror

 

 

He always knew he was different.

First there were the dreams.

The the deaths began.

When Matt Freeman gets into trouble with the police, he's sent to be fostered in Yorkshire. It's not long before he senses there's something wrong with his guardian: with the whole village.

Then Matt learns about the Old Ones and begins to understand just how he's different. But no one will believe him; no one can help.

There is no proof.

There is no logic.

There is just the Gate.

My thoughts:

This is one of the first books I read when I started to read constantly. I've always had a soft spot for this series, similar to Harry Potter, because I kind of grew up reading it. Since I haven't read it since starting the blog, and the fact that the last book in the series, Oblivion, just came out, I thought it would be good to do a series spotlight on it.

I remember reading this when I was about eleven years old and being seriously creeped out. It brought back memories of that feeling reading it this time round too. This book definitely has elements of a classic horror story to it. The character gets lost in the woods, gets chased by demonic dogs and is living in a village of seriously crazy people. It definitely has the basics of a great creepy read and I thought it still managed it with me reading it eight years later. 

I still really enjoyed Horowitz's writing. It has this simple structure to it that makes you breeze through the book in no time. It's also got bucket loads of suspense and that creepy factor that sends a shiver down your spine. It's simple and effective.

Raven's Gate's plot is great but you can definitely tell it's the beginning of a series. It mostly feels like an introduction into Matt and Richard's new world and an introduction into the series' plot as a whole. Two of the main characters are introduced and you can tell that a lot more are going to be included along the way. It doesn't really take anything away from the main plot of the first book but it has a certain kind of charm in itself. You feel that you're at the start of a great journey if you want me to be cheesy about it. However, if it was a stand alone, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much - I have a load of questions I need answering. 

My rating: 8/10

 

Anthony Horowitz:

Goodreads | Website | Twitter

 

The Gatekeepers:

1. Raven's Gate
2. Evil Star
3. Nightrise
4. Necropolis
5. Oblivion

In My Mailbox #44

 

In My Mailbox is a weekly post hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where bloggers can discuss the books we got in the mail this week.

 

This week I got:

 

 

Artichoke Hearts by Sita Brahmachari

 

 

 

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

 

Happy reading everyone!

Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Raven Boys

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Series: The Raven Cycle #1

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication date: Sep 19th 2012

Format: Paperback | 454 pages

Genre: YA | Paranormal Romance

Goodreads

 

Even if Blue hadn't been told her true love would die if she kissed him, she would stay away from boys. Especially the ones from the local private school. Known as Raven Boys, they only mean trouble.

But this is the year that everything will change for Blue.

 

This is the year that she will be drawn into the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys. And the year Blue will discover that magic does exist.

 

This is the year she will fall in love.

My thoughts:

I did not expect that this book would turn out to be anything like it was. I am also kicking myself for not reading it up until now.Honestly this book was amazing! It's definitely up there among my favourites just for the story telling alone. Maggie's writing really stepped up a notch with this one in my opinion.

 

What I noticed and appreciated most was the depth that the characters had. I felt like I was only told just enough about each of the characters to begin to understand them. Each character had such a distinct and unique personality in relation to the others that you couldn't help but love all of them for different reasons. They all had their own different strengths and weaknesses, their own vulnerabilities and their own uses. Every single character was essential to the story and that made the read all the more enthralling.

 

The plot was just perfect. This book is one of the original ones - you won't find a book like this which makes it exciting to read. You don't know what's going to happen because you haven't read anything like it before. The plot really did make me resent putting this book down when I had to - I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. All I can say is…the second book couldn't come soon enough.

 

The Raven Boys was also impeccably written. The story was set at a perfect pace for what was happening, and the details were beautiful so I had no problem using my imagination to make reading this book an even better experience. 

 

Overall this book really has it all for me. It's magical.

 

My rating: 10/10

 

 Maggie Stiefvater:

Goodreads | Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

In My Mailbox #43

 

In My Mailbox is a weekly post hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where bloggers can discuss the books we got in the mail this week.

 

This week I got:

 

 

Dead Silence by Kimberly Derting

 

Happy reading everyone!

Review: Ten Tiny Breaths by K. A. Tucker

Title: Ten Tiny Breaths

Author: K. A. Tucker

Series: Ten Tiny Breaths #1

Publisher: Atria

Publication date: February 2013

Format: ebook | Netgalley

Genre: NA | Contemporary

Goodreads

Just breathe, Kacey. Ten tiny breaths. Seize them. Feel them. Love them.

 

Four years ago Kacey Cleary’s life imploded when her car was hit by a drunk driver, killing her parents, boyfriend, and best friend. Still haunted by memories of being trapped inside, holding her boyfriend’s lifeless hand and listening to her mother take her last breath, Kacey wants to leave her past behind. Armed with two bus tickets, twenty-year-old Kacey and her fifteen-year-old sister, Livie, escape Grand Rapids, Michigan, to start over in Miami. Struggling to make ends meet, Kacey needs to figure out how to get by. But Kacey’s not worried. She can handle anything—anything but her mysterious neighbor in apartment 1D.

 

Trent Emerson has smoldering blue eyes, deep dimples, and he perfectly skates that irresistible line between nice guy and bad boy. Hardened by her tragic past, Kacey is determined to keep everyone at a distance, but their mutual attraction is undeniable and Trent is determined to find a way into Kacey’s guarded heart—even if it means that an explosive secret could shatter both their worlds.

My thoughts:

This book was definitely not what I was expecting.

The first thing I noticed (and loved) about this read is that it was so emotional from the first page. It wasn't in the sense that I was crying all the way through, but that the emotions of the characters and the raw pain came through really well and I felt an extreme level of empathy straight away. 

I thought that the fact I felt that way was testament to how well the characters were written. Given that the book talks a lot about the consequences of drunk driving, I was a little wary of how it would come across. I did guess what would happen about half way through the book as well so I was a little apprehensive about how I would feel about some of the characters who did wrong. Am I meant to hate them or forgive them? But in the end I kind of just pitied all of them and I realised I just had the same thoughts as the main character...

This book really does tug at your heartstrings. You read about the main character basically taking a downward spiral in her mental health even if she's doing nothing that will have an effect physically. Kacey is one of those characters with a cold, icy barrier around her personality that she uses as a defense mechanism. She constantly pushes people away and denies that the wall hiding her lovely personality is ultimately destructive. There are a lot of those characters out there but this book takes it to a whole new, realistic level. I loved how none of Kacey's actions were out of place because the writer made sure to explain everything going on inside Kacey's head. It really did make you root for her before anything got any worse.

The plot was great. Like I said, I did guess the basics of it about half way through the book but it didn't make me enjoy reading the book any less. It was all about the journey the characters take with this book - at the risk of sounding cheesy! 

Overall I really loved this read and will definitely be getting it on paperback when it comes out in October.

My rating: 10/10

K. A. Tucker:

Goodreads | Website | Facebook | Twitter

Review: Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

 

Title: Bitterblue

Author: Kristin Cashore

Series: Graceling Realm #3

Publisher: Gollancz

Publication date: 01 May 2012

Format: Hardback - 576 pages

Genre: YA | Fantasy

Goodreads

Eight years after "Graceling," Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck's reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle--disguised and alone--to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realising that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past. 

Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck's reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn't yet identified, holds a key to her heart.

My thoughts:

I think I put off reading this one for so long because I couldn't stand the thought of the series ending. I bought the book as soon as it came out last year and just didn't pick it up - in that time though, I read the first two books in the series twice over. After finishing Fire, the second book in the series, I just couldn't take it and had to find out what happens. 

Normally with series I experience a lot of anticipation in the sense that I worry if the last book will disappoint me, especially if the rest of the series was as good as this one. I never experienced that with this series. These books are not just about what happens in them, but how the story is told. Cashore really does have this gift with writing that makes the storytelling wonderful and something you can't stop thinking about. It makes me think about sitting in front of a fire with a cup of tea, listening to my grandfather tell me about the good old days when he used to play on farms and whatnot. It's not about what he's saying but how he says it that pulls me in. Cashore is definitely one of my favourite authors just on that merit alone.

This is a really big book! And yet I found myself finishing it in just a day because I couldn't put it down. It helped that college is off right now so I had a day to do as much reading as I could. But it was so exciting - it seemed at times that this whole kingdom under Bitterblue's command was at stake and everything was going wrong - I really couldn't turn the pages fast enough.

I also loved how all of the books were connected in the end. It was so lovely and it was a great ending to a series as a whole. It left a lot to interpretation but not so much so that anything was left unresolved. 

Overall I guess you can tell I loved this book. It has amazing writers, brilliant characters and suspense to boot. The whole series is amazing so if you haven't read it, please pick up the books and read them, you won't be disappointed. 

My rating: 10/10

Kristin Cashore:

Goodreads | Blog | Twitter 

Review: Pretty Dark Nothing by Heather L. Reid

Title: Pretty Dark Nothing

Author: Heather L. Reid

Publisher: Month9Books 

Publication date: April 23rd 2013

Format: ebook | Netgalley

Genre: YA | Paranormal

Goodreads

It’s been twenty three days since Quinn has slept for more than minutes at a time. Demons have invaded her dreams, stalking her, and whispering of her death. The lack of sleep and crippling fear are ruining her life. Energy drinks and caffeine pills don’t make a dent. When Quinn dozes off in the school hallway, Aaron, an amnesiac with a psychic ability, accidentally enters her nightmare. The demons are determined to keep them apart, and Aaron from discovering the secret locked away in his memory. Together, they could banish the darkness back to the underworld for good. That is, unless the demons kill them first.

My thoughts:

I delved into this story with an open mind and no expectations. I found the summary to be intriguing since it doesn't reveal much at all and so I read the first page of this book and gradually saw that it had great potential. However, for me, this was the kind of book that started off great and just went downhill from there.

At first I enjoyed the writing style and I started to get into the character's personalities and lifestyles. I loved how the demons and bad dreams were depicted - it added such an unusual touch of horror to it - the kind that is just enough to get you to expect something creepy to come along sooner or later. But it became disjointed and confusing after a little while. I felt that I was missing chapters out and found myself reading back over little bits and pieces in case I skipped a page accidentally.

Aaron as the book went on, to me, was a great character. But Quinn I found hard to like from the very beginning. Her first love cheats on her, dumps her with no explanation and she's confused as to whether she should take him back? NO! That's the answer! A lot of the book was her thoughts bouncing back and forth between her taking him back or being with Aaron. It became really annoying.

The plot also started off great. I was going along with it fine, wanting to find out the answers to my questions and what happens, but then it became overwhelming. Especially towards the end, I'm still confused as to where that came from. It was so out of place since there wasn't a single clue as to that ever happening and not in a good way. 

In short, this book wasn't for me but of course, that's just my honest opinion. I would encourage you to give it a try if it looks like your cup of tea.

My rating: 4/10

Heather L. Reid:

Goodreads | Website | Facebook | Twitter

Review: Bloodspell by Amalie Howard

Title: Bloodspell

Author: Amalie Howard

Series: Bloodspell #1

Publisher: Langdon Street Press

Publication date: Jun 1 2011

Format: ebook | Netgalley

Genre: YA | Paranormal

Goodreads

The spell was simple...

Cruentus Protectum (Defend the Blood)

But what do you do if your blood is your enemy?

Victoria Warrick has always known she was different. An outcast at school, she is no stranger to adversity. But when she receives an old journal for her seventeenth birthday, nothing prepares her for the dark secrets it holds -- much less one that reveals she's a witch with unimaginable power.

What's more, when she meets the dazzling but enigmatic Christian Devereux, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Enemies will hunt her. Friends will turn on her. The terrible curse that makes her blood run black will stop at nothing to control her. And Christian has a sinister secret of his own...

Without knowing whom to trust, can Victoria survive her blood's deadly desires? Or will she lose everything, including herself?

My thoughts:

I struggled to give this book a rating since I don't really know how I feel about it.

I was completely enthralled at the start of the book. There was so much mystery involved that I couldn't help but be sucked straight into the story. I was desperate to find out all the answers. 

I really liked the dark tone to the story that was there from the beginning. It was a constant battle for Victoria to control her powers and stop herself from hurting those who she loves. The author had no problem making Victoria's thoughts as dark as possible and it definitely came across in the right way - I immediately noticed how hard she was trying and was instantly sympathetic. 

The characters were also great at the beginning of the book. I loved Christian straight away and Victoria really grew on me as I was let in on more and more of her secrets. I liked the way the characters interacted and how they had just started to develop and maybe change a little in some cases.

However, the last half or so of the book was incredibly different. I thought it took a completely different turn and it didn't really feel like it stayed true to the characters. The plot started to become more focused on Cristian and Victoria and everybody else was excluded for a long time. It really was like reading two completely different books - the last part of the book was too much of the unoriginal vampire romance for me. 

My rating: 5/10

Amelia Howard:

Goodreads | Website | Facebook | Twitter