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Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Ink Exchange by Melissa Mar


First Published in Great Britain in 2008 by Harper Collins

Paperback : 313 Pages
ISBN : 13-978-0-00-726717-0

Images cluttered the page, but one tattoo set her nerves on edge; inky-black eyes surrounded by wings like shadows coalescing.

Mine. The need was overpowering. Leslie looked up. "This one," she said. " I need this one."

But the image is more than just tempting art, and it draws Leslie into a world of shadows and desire ... into the world of Faerie.

The 2nd book in the series and it was a nice change to find that the focus was moved to Leslie, one of Aislinn's troubled friends. Leslie's home life can only be described as horrid, and when she finds herself being drawn to the tattoo shown to her by Rabbit, she has no idea that the home life she is trying to leave behind, is only the beginning.

Irial has chosen Rabbit to tattoo those that find themselves drawn to the mystical art. And when Leslie finds herself latching on to the tattoo ... she finds out that it not what she bargained for. Irial is King of the Dark Fae and he wants Leslie, he can feel the tattoo working to strengthen the connection between the two of them. Leslie begins to wonder what is happening to her and why Irial is the one 'person' she feels herself being drawn to.

Must be hard when your best friend begins to get caught up in all the Fae goings on .. but Aislinn finds a way to protect her friend the best way that she can, not totally filling Leslie in on everything, in the hope that they can break the bond between Irial and Leslie and let her get on with her life.

Unfortunately, things don't always go to plan ... for Leslie or Irial. As things unfold, things will happen that you won't see coming, but you will be pleasantly surprised.

This story ... even though centred more around the Dark Fae ... is not boring, story once again flows well, and leaves you with hope for Leslie and Irial ... this is worth reading.

RATING : 7/10

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

First Published in Great Britain in 2007 by Harper Collins

Paperback - 328 pages
ISBN - 13-978-0-00-726307-3

RULE 3 : NEVER STARE AT INVISIBLE FAERIES.
Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in the mortal world.

RULE 2 : NEVER SPEAK TO INVISIBLE FAERIES.
One of them, a beautiful faery boy named Keenan, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

RULE 1 : DON'T EVER ATTRACT THEIR ATTENTION.
Now it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King and is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost. Without her, summer itself will perish ...

Considering I had this book on the shelf for ages, and I kept putting off reading this, I really expected not to like it. First mistake I made ... reading the prologue, I had a preconceived idea of how the book would finish.

The more I read, the more I enjoyed the story. The characters all seemed strong and their continuity flowed well throughout the book. We have the lovers ... Aislinn and Seth, her strong saviour ... and Keenan and Donia, to me a tragic love story.

When reading this book, ask yourself would you make the sacrifices that these couples do ... for the sake of faery and mortal alike? Nice to see that Melissa shows that there can be compromise on everyone's part ... lesson in life alot of us should learn.

Good story, well researched, nice writing style - on to the next book in the series,
INK EXCHANGE

RATING : 6/10

Saturday, November 6, 2010

:The Dark Divine by Bree Despain:


First published by Egmont USA in 2010

Paperback : 372 pages

ISBN : 978 - 1 - 4052 - 5458 - 8

~~~~~~~~~~
Daniel looked up at me. His dark eyes searched my face. There was something different about those too-familiar eyes.
Maybe it was the way the orange light from the streetlamp illuminated his pupils.
Maybe it was the way he stared without blinking.
His eyes made him look ... hungry.

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I had no idea what this book was about when I bought it - which is a refreshing change. So as I started to read, I began to form a picture in my head of each of the characters. Nothing unusual there. The story moves along ... we have a good girl, from a good family, with a hot guy after her, what more could you ask for.
Enter Daniel ... and you know from the moment he says hello to Grace, you know that the nice smooth life she has is going to change.

As I continued to read, I remember thinking that I had it all sorted - I knew exactly how the book was going to end ... WHAMMO I was wrong ... maybe the signs were there, but I became too involved with Grace & Daniel, so I would have missed them. There was a nice twist to this book ... so you won't be disappointed when you read it.

I love the way that Bree wrote this story ... her descriptions at times had me reading faster as things started to happen, and then I could sit back and read leisurely when things quietened down.

RATING : 7/10

:Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer:


First Published in 2008 in Great Britain by Atom
Paperback - 702 pages
ISBN : 978-1-905654-30-7

When you loved the one who was killing you, it left you no options. How could you run, how could you fight, when doing so would hurt that beloved one? If your life was all you had to give, how could you not give it? If it was someone you truly loved?

To be irrevocably in love with a vampire is both fantasy and nightmare woven into a dangerously heightened reality for Bella Swan. Pulled in one direction by her intense passion for Edward Cullen, and in another by her profound connection to werewolf Jacob Black, a tumultuous year of temptation, loss, and strife have led her to the ultimate turning point. Her imminent choice to either join the dark but seductive world of immortals or to pursue a fully human life has become the thread from which the fates of two tribes hangs.

Now that Bella has made her decision, a startling chain of unprecedented events is about to unfold with potentially devastating, and unfathomable, consequences. Just when the frayed strands of Bella's life--first discovered in Twilight, then scattered and torn in New Moon and Eclipse--seem ready to heal and knit together, could they be destroyed... forever?

The astonishing, breathlessly anticipated conclusion to the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn illuminates the secrets and mysteries of this spellbinding romantic epic that has entranced millions.

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Finally ... the last book in the Twilight Saga ... and a totally brilliant way to finish the story. We all know what a phenomenon this story has turned into ... and how Edward Cullen is adored by everyone ... well just about! But we should really remember, this is Bella's story ... from the very beginning, she has overcome every hurdle thrown at her, to be with the man she loves - Edward Cullen. And she has succeeded.

Bella has grown ... and it shows more than ever in this book. Emotional struggles - the way she is prepared to sacrifice her life for her unborn child, and the thought of having to send her away to save her life, while she, along with all the Cullens, and their witnesses may perish at the hands of the Volturi.

I found myself swooning when I was reading about the wedding, and even more so when they reached Isle Esme (I am really looking forward to those scenes in the movie!) and could totally understand her possessiveness over her baby, and her fears.

Travelling on the journey with Bella, it is nice to see her be more positive about herself, especially when her special talent (shield) is given a name and she is taught how to use it.

Bella and Edward ... 4 books long, but not long enough for all the die hard Twilight fans, me included. Undying love, self sacrifice ... it's in all the books ... personally, I could have kept reading another 4 books ... and totally wish that Stephenie would finish off MIDNIGHT SUN ....

In case you hadn't noticed ... I haven't rated any of the Twilight Books ... cos for me (even New Moon) they all get a 10/10 ... but I guess you would have thought that anyway.


NOTE : I have heard and read alot of rumblings over the last few years that this is just another romance, where everyone lives happily ever after ... blah blah blah. And I even have one friend who has refused to read the books because of that!

All I can say is this ... happily ever after is what we all spend our entire life searching for ... so no one should have been surprised that is how the saga finished. If it had ended with the death of Bella and Edward trying to kill himself because he couldn't live without her, everyone would be debating "If only Bella had lived .. that would have been a better way to end the story"


Thursday, November 4, 2010

: Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer :


First Published in 2007 by Little, Brown and Co
Paperback - 629 Pages

ISBN : 978 - 0 - 316 - 03255 - 1

In the dead silence, all the details suddenly fell into place for me with a burst of intuition.
Something Edward didn't want me to know.
Something that Jacob wouldn't have kept from me ... It was never going to end, was it?

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This is the 3rd book in the Twilight Saga, and once again Stephenie has kept everything moving along smoothly - with lots of action and romance thrown in. I like the way that Stephenie writes ... not alot of senseless descriptions of scenery, or useless information that isn't relevant to the storyline.

The beginning of a comraderie between Edward and Jacob, their sole purpose to keep Bella safe, once they realise that the newborn Vampire Army has been created to kill her ... is interesting and funny at times.

Edward's undying love shines through once again ... and Jacob's love for Bella really comes to the surface for the first time in my opinion. And also as we get to see in insight to other characters in the book - Seth and Leah especially, I really liked that. And Bella - watching her become aware that she loves Jacob - not the way she loves Edward - it is portrayed with great emotion.

The Vampires and Werewolves working together is brilliant - just showing in real life, opposite sides can work together for the greater good.

Once again, I found myself totally swept away with the story - and the emotions also kicked in during certain parts of the book - well done yet again Stephenie.

This book transitioned into movie form really well too. As always ... you are never going to get everything into a movie exactly as it appears in the book - but they really did do a great job with this one.

Breaking Dawn is the next book in the saga ... with the movie currently being filmed now - Part 1 not released until November 2011 ... soooooooooo far away for this addict.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

: New Moon by Stephanie Meyer :


First Published in the US by Little Brown in 2006
Paperback - 563 pages
ISBN :978-1-905654-35-2

'Shoot,' I muttered when the paper sliced my fingers. I pulled it out to examine the damage. A single drop of blood oozed from the tiny cut.

It all happened very quickly then.

'No,' Edward roared ... Dazed and disorientated, I looked up from the bright red blood pushing out of my arm - into the fevered eyes of the six suddenly ravenous vampires.

For Bella Swan, there is one thing more important than life itself : Edward Cullen. But being in love with a vampire is even more dangerous than Bella could ever have imagined. Edward has already rescued Bella from the clutches of one evil vampire, but now, as their daring relationship threatens all that is near and dear to them, they realise their troubles may just be beginning.

Passionate, riveting and deeply moving, New Moon, the compelling sequel to Twilight, irresistibly combines romance and suspense with a supernatural twist.

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Right we all know that I love the Twilight Saga - so as soon as I finished reading Twilight, reached for New Moon and started reading. In the beginning, I loved it ... and then totally felt Bella's pain when things started to turn sour in her life. I felt her pain when Edward left ... and totally loved the few pages with the months only printed on them. That in itself said it all.

I loved the way that Bella connected with Jacob ... reaching out for a friend, but part of me was screaming at her "Don't do it ... it's going to be the beginning of something you can't stop". Reading through this book - feeling Bella's never ending search for Edward ... any way that she could connect with him, through acts of danger ... just brilliant.

But - for me ... I didn't overly enjoy the Bella and Jacob story ... all I wanted was for it to skip ahead to where Bella find that connection with Edward again ...

Stephenie did an amazing job of this book, the emotions were felt with each word I read. Very powerful writing. I could feel the impatience within Bella as she travelled to Italy with Alice, and the desperation to find Edward before he revealed himself, meaning sure death by the hands of the Volturi.

Out of the series of books ... I like this one the least ... is it because I am a true die hard Edward fan? Am I looking for the eternal forever, the love story to be just how I want it? True right I am ... but that said, each time I read this series of books, I give this one a shot again ... Stephenie, you rock - you threw in alot of different things I wasn't expecting, and had me reaching for Eclipse by the time I had finished. That is yet another story ... lol