Author and Book Facts you did not Know: Elle Casey

I saw an entry in the Daily Express yesterday, facts about authors and classic books, I thought I would find some of my own, maybe expand on some of theirs, but I will state if it comes from the paper. I will try to do one daily, starting now.

Elle Casey: She moved to France, bought a vineyard and makes her own wine. How cool is that?

She writes the fantastic series War of the Fae the first book the Changelings is free on Amazon.

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ARC Review: Don’t Even Think About It

Don’t even think about it by Sarah Mlynowski.

Contemporary teen fiction with romance, secrets, scandals, and ESP from the author of Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn’t Have).

We weren’t always like this. We used to be average New York City high school sophomores. Until our homeroom went for flu shots. We were prepared for some side effects. Maybe a headache. Maybe a sore arm. We definitely didn’t expect to get telepathic powers. But suddenly we could hear what everyone was thinking. Our friends. Our parents. Our crushes. Now we all know that Tess is in love with her best friend, Teddy. That Mackenzie cheated on Cooper. That, um, Nurse Carmichael used to be a stripper.

Since we’ve kept our freakish skill a secret, we can sit next to the class brainiac and ace our tests. We can dump our boyfriends right before they dump us. We know what our friends really think of our jeans, our breath, our new bangs. We always know what’s coming. Some of us will thrive. Some of us will crack. None of us will ever be the same.

So stop obsessing about your ex. We’re always listening.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

General Overview (No Spoilers).

I have seen a few bad reviews for this book, but I loved it. If you take it for what it is, light, fun, teenagers with telepathic powers, and of course cheesy, it is then a very good book. But try and take it too seriously it will probably fall flat. I needed a nice light read full of drama and secrets, that’s exactly what I got. It was funny, I could not put it down. For the first time in a long time, I read a book from cover to cover in one sitting. I even changed my plans so I could sit and finish this.

It does exactly what it says on the tin, what more could you want? It made me smile and gave me a warm feeling inside. The only downside was that I could not read the second book in the series straight away.

5 out of 5 stars

Step by Step Overview (Spoilers)

0% – Looks like a lot of fun, teenagers with telepathic powers, what could go wrong?

10% – The writing style/narration is different, it’s like all the characters are telling the story at the same time. I wonder how it will work when they can read each others’ thoughts. Olivia is an interesting character. She is shy and a hypochondriac, not usual for a main character, none of them seem like usual lead characters, which I really like, even the popular girls have their insecurities.

20% – I like it when there’s just one line that make you think, it’s like what you are reading actually happened, there was a line like that in Harry Potter and it smile every time I read it. There was such a line in this book, I smiled from ear to ear.

30% – It’s fun hearing all the characters secrets, knowing who fancies who, etc.

40% – Why can’t Cooper hear their thoughts? So they are not going to tell, probably a good plan. Hopefully we find out soon, why Cooper cannot hear them. I wanna know!!

50% – Poor Cooper, how is he going to handle it? Why Sadie’s apartment for the meeting, seems a strange place.

60% – I would really hate people knowing my business, even if you are not hiding anything, you still have parts of your life that you don’t want anyone else to know.

70% – Purple eyes, I would love to have purple eyes. I really want Tess and Teddy to end up together. For some reason, Cooper and Olivia are a couple who I want to be together.

80% – Who is this new nurse and what does she know? Have other students from different schools had strange side affects too? And how was it incompetence from the original nurse?

90% – Okay, I admit it, Teddy is a jerk. It’s only the first book in the series, so I assume that either they are not going to get the antidote or it’s not going to work.

100% – Yay, they did not get the antidote. Looking forward to the next one. Totally cheesy but totally different.

Who would I recommend it to?

Anyone who likes YA.

“Reader’s Bill …

Really good 🙂

mylittlebookblog

“Reader’s Bill of Rights

1. The right to not read

2. The right to skip pages

3. The right to not finish

4. The right to reread

5. The right to read anything

6. The right to escapism

7. The right to read anywhere

8. The right to browse

9. The right to read out loud

10. The right to not defend your tastes”
― Daniel Pennac

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Review: Point Blanc

Point Blanc by Anthony Horowitz (Alex Rider 2)

MI6 assigns Alex Rider, 14, undercover at an elite prep school for teen rebels after two fathers are assassinated. Principal Dr Grief and vicious cigar-smoking Mrs Stellenbosch are the only teachers. All the students act studious, perfect – and identical. When Alex finds the plot, the villains find him, and the mountain peak has only a black ski run escape.

I really enjoyed the second installment of this series. I did not know the story (no film) which was a good thing. I managed to read this in two sittings. It was all I could want and more. Alex Rider is back, on his second mission. The story was full action, but not so much that it not seem realistic. I liked the setting and the story, I like how it was feasible but (hopefully) not true. The school was really creepy and full of surprises. The ending totally got me. I need to know what happens, cannot wait for the next book to arrive so I can find out what happens. The characters were realistic and enjoyable to read about. The only thing I feel is slight unrealistic is that Alex is a little mature for a fourteen year old boy, but I suppose he has been through a lot.

Favourite Scene: The one with the crane, that was very cool.

4.5 stars out of 5.

The Dursleys: Philosopher’s Stone

I do not own to the rights to these characters, this is meant as a bit of fun. I know I said I would start this about a month ago, it took longer to start than I thought it would. I have decided to posts on what charges the characters of Harry Potter would face if they went to our courts.

Judge: Mr Vernon Dursley and Mrs Petunia Dursley. This is a preliminary hearing for offenses carried out by you both against one Mr Harry Potter. Today we are only concerned with crimes committed during his first year at school.

Vernon: Turning red. We gave him a home and food out the kindness of our hearts, we even gave him clothes, he is our … chokes on the word … family.

Judge: Raising voice. You are charged with child abuse on Mr Harry Potter for making him sleep under the stairs for eleven years and only giving him a bedroom when Mr Dumbledore found out where he was sleeping. You even locked him in his so-called room under the stairs at times and did not give him dinner. What do you say to these charges?

Petunia: Paled and let out a loud gasp at the allegations.

Vernon: Somehow managed to get redder, almost purple now. It was a roof over his head, we did not ask for him to live with us, we did the best we could with such a boy. He is a menace.

Judge: You are also accused of a abandoning your nephew , Mr Potter, at a busy railway station, King’s Cross, when you were sure he did not have a way to get to his school, when he was just eleven years old.

Vernon: His school and of his and their ways, they would make sure he got there. Lowering his voice. We just expected him to have to wait a few hours, what’s wrong with that?

Hagrid: Jumps up from the viewing gallery. What’s wrong wi’ that? What’s wrong wi’ that? Dursley ye prune. It’s jus’ as well he bumped into into one of our folk, who showed him how to get into the platform.

Judge: Settle down. Not believing the size of Hagrid. Turning back to the Dursleys. Do you deny you made Mr Potter under the stairs?

Vernon: No but..

Judge: Raising his voice to be heard over Vernon’s spluttering. Do you deny that you left your nephew on a crowded platform, lost at age eleven, to fend for himself?

Vernon: No but…

Judge: Since we have evidence from Mr Potter and these are special circumstances. Mr Potter does not want any charges brought, we feel you still need to do something. The people at Hogwarts school, say you can do community service there each weekend for three months, to clean up after a … er… recent disturbance.

Vernon: Looked flabbergasted muttering “Go there? Go there?”

Petunia: Turned ghostly pale and looked close to fainting.

Hagrid: Turning to Harry. We will show ’em what hard work is.

Judge: Court adjourned for today.

Want to read more crimes for the Harry Potter world? Look out for more in the coming weeks from characters like Hargrid and Harry, who will be sentenced soon.

 

Review: Feast of Souls

Feast of souls by Celia Friedman

What a dark, delicious fantasy that I devoured. I liked the vast range of characters and settings. How the magistars stay alive for ever is very clever indeed, it makes perfect sense when you think about it. The start had me, it was engrossed, did not want to stop until I found out every detail of this world and it’s unique magic. The middle had me wondering if the relationship between us was going to last. The end had me wanting more, I cannot wait for the next book.

The story is complex and full of rich storylines, which intertwine beautifully, they all come together well at the end. The story of the magistars was my favourite, they was so many of them and all after different agendas. The souleaters were terrifying, I hope to hear more about them.

4 out of 5 stars.

I would recommend this to Game of Thrones fans.

ARC Review: Stolen Songbird

Stolen Songbird by Danielle L Jensen

For those who have loved Seraphina and Graceling comes another truly fabulous fantasy…

For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined.

Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity.

But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting – she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods – part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader.

As Cécile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

General Overview (No Spoilers)

I loved this book. I have never read a book with a main character being a Troll. I really enjoyed it. The world the author created was brilliant, I was a little confused at times, I was unsure whether or not it was in this world or a completely new one. Tristan was an amazing character, I fell in love straight away, he was witty and passionate about his friends and beliefs. Cecile was a firecracker, she never gave up, she always went for what she wanted. I am looking forward to the second one.

4.5 stars out of 5

Step by Step Overview (Spoilers)

0% –  Looks really good, full of action, adventure and magic. Really looking forward to it.

10%- So far I am loving it. The Troll Prince has wit and charm to him. Cecile seems like she will make a good interesting main character. She seems to be always looking for a way out, has faith in her family, that they will go searching for her.

20% – I am liking Tristan the best so far, he is funny, moody and has a sharp tongue. I hope that does not change. We are learning more about what’s going to happen. Will they manage to break the curse?

30% – Tristan is leading the rebellion but does not yet trust Cecile to tell her, he seems to care a lot about her though. Wondering where where her singing is going to come into though. I also really want them to fall in love. I am a romantic at heart (shh don’t tell anyone).

40% – So they are growing fond of each other, when are they going to realise that the other one feels the same. The twins are hilarious.

50%- The mines are horrible, and the quotas are just horrendous, I want them to hurry up and get out of the caves and break the spell then lock back up for the full bloods.

60% – So Cecile is a witch. What kind of magic will she be able to use other than her song magic?

70% – Go after her Tristan, go tell her how you feel.

80% – Chris is a muppet, he is only doing what he thinks but not going the correct way about it.

90% – I wondered if we were going to get to see an earthquake or earthshake as they are called in this book. And Roland on the loose, how is this going to end?

100% – How can Tristan leave? Has he already broken the spell but no-one knows? True names hold power, that much has been revealed but why?

I would recommend this to anyone who likes fantasy.

This is a spring release for bookish Bingo.

Reread Review: United Eden

United Eden by Nicole Williams, the final book in the Eden Trilogy.

I loved this just as much as the books before it. It was full of action and just as much love for Bryn, there was another love interest, apart from Will he is the only love interest I like. John especially is just horrid, he is a bully with way too much power. The Patrick I know and love is back and as brilliant as ever. It is full of action, romance and family. It still reminds me of Twilight but it is really good and well worth the read. I would have gone mad if it was me in that box for so long, more than 1minute is too much but a week (I think), would have me going out of my mind. I found a new respect for Charles, he was only doing what he thought was right for his family. I am looking forward to the Patrick Chronicles, have not yet read them, but since he is my favourite character, they should be really good.

5 out of 5 stars.

Recommended for Twilight fans.

Hogwarts is Here

This is amazing just signed up 🙂

Reread Review: Fallen Eden

Fallen Eden (Book two in the Eden Series) by Nicole Williams.

Apart from the horrific cover this book is as good as the first in the series. The story picks up a few months after the first one left off. Bryn has got herself into a pickle yet again, this one is her own doing though. All the same characters are there, which is good, the same love interests, least there’s no new ones. It did not disappoint. I felt it was a little slow in the middle, but I missed Will and Patrick. Especially Patrick, although he was there more than Will, but his fun witty manner was mostly missing, he was quite rude and detached. I loved the ending it was amazing but once again it reminded me slightly of Twilight, I know I should compare the books, but sometimes it is hard not to. This book is worth the read and was just as good the second time around.

I recommend this series to Twilight fans.

5 out of 5 stars.