Unravelling by Elizabeth Norris

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: HarperCollins

Pages: 416pgs

The Story

24 meets the X Files in the biggest teen blockbuster of the summer . . .

STOP THE COUNTDOWN. SAVE THE WORLD.

Leaving the beach, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit head on by a pickup truck.

And killed.

Meanwhile, Janelle's father, special agent for the FBI, starts working on a case that seems strangely connected to Ben. Digging in his files, Janelle finds a mysterious device - one that seems to be counting down to something that will happen in 23 days and 10 hours time.

That something? It might just be the end of the world. And if Janelle wants to stop it, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets - and keep from falling in love with him in the process . . .

The Review

A big thanks to HarperCollins Australia for sending me a review copy of this book!

24:05:59:32

These numbers right here are the very first thing you see when you start reading this book and with every chapter, instead of a clever 'witty' title name or having the simple use of chapter numbering, a countdown begins to tick away until the end of this book. Yup that's right, there's a countdown which is pretty awesome and I was straight back to the good old days of the tv show 24! So to not disappoint my readers, UNRAVELLING runs exactly like 24 in so many ways what with its fast-paced storyline, thrilling adventures, addictive and interesting chararacters, and not to mention there are a whole lot of "WHAT THE HELL?!" moments occuring. . . so there's honestly a lot to like about this book and its sci-fi-ness which happens to be one of my favourite genres of all time, especially in young adult!

In Elizabeth Norris's debut novel UNRAVELLING, seventeen-year-old Janelle is almost like every teenager in town: She has the perfect family, a good paying job and a super-hot and popular boyfriend to boot. However, despite her seemingly perfect life that she lives, with her father working for the FBI and with her curiosity getting the better of her, she soon discovers something really big and catastrophic is about to happen in less than 24 hours and without her even realising it, the countdown begins to set in motion after she is hit by a truck that appears out of nowhere. And everything - everything including her life being 'mysteriously' saved - all leads back to the loner boy from her local high school, a boy named Ben Michaels, and it's up to Janelle and her new friends to unravel the secrets, the mysteries and even the whole masterplan of what could be possibly the end of the world.

UNRAVELLING was not the book I was expecting. To be quite honest with you I didn't really know what to expect from a book such as this one except that everyone I know has been praising it up and since I'm a huge sci-fi book lover I was suddenly on the bandwagon and so eager to read it too. But as much as I hate to say this, I wasn't overly impressed with this book. From the start I was going "yeah, yeah, this is an okay read for me" but there were other times too where I was a little bit unbelieving with some of the events involving the FBI and I was also a little bit bored by the storyline itself, simply because there wasn't enough sci-fi elements to keep me really, really interested. I mean, of course there is some sci-fi in this book but it wasn't the type of sci-fi I was looking for. That's not to say that this story wasn't enjoyable, because it was in certain aspects. The author, Elizabeth Norris, after all builds up some interesting company for her main lead, Janelle, and the events weren't as predictable as I thought they would be, so I was really entertained by that part of the book.

On the plus side of things and for our leading female heroine, I'd thought Janelle was a great gal to have behind this type of setting and I loved the similarities she had shared with one of my other favourite heroines from the past, Veronica Mars. With her being smart, resourceful, tough-as-nails, sometimes witty and with a tiny smidge of naiveness about her, I actually found Janelle was someone you could easily relate to on a general basis. Sure, her actions and her motivations for doing certain things weren't the least bit rational but I loved the way she would always want to protect her younger brother, Jared, and her parents as well, which I know - if I were in her shoes and in her current situation - that I too would do the same thing as her, so I loved her character for that.

Alongside Janelle on this crazy journey of hers, there was also the enigma of the love interest, Ben Michaels, whom was probably my favourite character in the entire book. I mean his other friends were pretty cool, but Ben had really cut it into my hottie books. Without revealing too much about his character arc (because that would spoil everything in the storyline) I will say the thing I loved most about Ben was how the author had written him in - you know, when the author continually makes you question whether or not you should trust this particular boy or not and I love those types of boys and their mysterious ways. Sure, it's clear to everyone that Ben is hiding something important from Janelle (it's so obvious) but all in all I trusted him, and by the end of the book I was 'kind of' in love with him. Heck, ditch Janelle already and give me a book all in Ben's POV right now . . . yes, yes thank you Elizabeth Norris! *wink wink* Loved him!

Overall, UNRAVELLING may not have been the book I was expecting nor did it exactly blow me away in the way I hoped it would, but it was good enough to make me still want to read the sequel and it'll be interesting what happens next in the life of Janelle and Ben considering what happened at the very end.

The Rating 3 1/2 / 5 stars

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: HarperCollins

Pages: 272pgs

The Story

Thirty-five beautiful girls. Thirty-five beautiful rivals . . .

It's the chance of a lifetime and 17-year-old America Singer should feel lucky. She has been chosen for The Selection, a reality TV lottery in which the special few compete for gorgeous Prince Maxon's love.

Swept up in the world of a elaborate gowns, glittering jewels and decadent feasts, America is living a new and glamorous life. And the prince takes a special interest in her, much to the outrage of the others.

Rivalry within The Selection is fierce and not all of the girls are prepared to play by the rules. But what they don't know is that America has a secret - one which could throw the whole competition . . . and change her life forever.

The Review

A big thanks to HarperCollins Australia for sending me a review copy of this book!

In a dystopian society where people are divided simply by numbers, for our main leading lady, America Singer, she is classified as a five. But that's not such a bad thing in her world. After all, while being a number five doesn't exactly mark her out to be special nor anyone privileged like your number one's and two's are, but her family aren't reduced to being mere servants and they have just enough to eat in the means of survival. Not like her handsome friend, Aspen, who is a six. As much as America wants her future plans to come true like they are suppose to, but her mother wants more for her daughter's life so when the opportunity arises itself, she convinces America to enter The Selection, a fierce competition where pretty girls compete for the heart of Prince Maxon and the crown of Illea. But unlike most teenage girls wanting a better life for themselves and for their families, America isn't the least bit interested in a rich, spoilt boy as her heart has already been set on her forbidden love for Aspen, a boy she so desperately wants to marry and share her life with. But when a devastating and heartbreaking event takes place in America's life which changes everything, she sees The Selection as her only escape from the reality she now fears the most. The question is: Will her heart always belong to Aspen or will America eventually fall in love with someone else of the unexpected?

The first installment in this YA trilogy, THE SELECTION, which is heavily marketed as the Hunger Games meets The Bachelor, has been one of the most unfairly criticized books by far in YA literature this year. Before even its release date, there has been so many negative and hateful reviews for this book alone and it'd really put me on the edge to say the least. It made me quite mad actually if I'm being honest with you here. I mean, I almost didn't read this book because of such reviews and this so-called 'controversy' that happened between the author herself and her agent had also put me off, but secretly it also made me want the book even more and more! So thank you dear readers for your opinions because I absolutely adored this book to pieces! Literally . . . I LOVED IT and I cannot even fathom why so many readers disliked this book so much. I honestly saw nothing - I repeat nothing - wrong with it. Sure there wasn't too much world-building in some regards of the book, but who the hell cares when you have a captivating, romantic storyline with such a variety of characters that you will love and form some connection with! I'm truly speechless here as I write this review because I am so in love with this book right now!

As far as main heroines go, THE SELECTION's America Singer was one of my all-time favourites this year of 2012! In the past I've read reviews where some readers called our America bland, disinteresting, sometimes selfish, and almost 'too much like' Twilight's Bella Swan (c'mon people please she's nothing like her!) but personally I would call her strong and completely ordinary because immediately I liked her when I met her and she . . . well, she felt like someone you would meet in real life - someone who is just like you and me, you know? - and I liked that certain connection that I had with her. The same connection was the same with her two love interests as well, Aspen and Maxon, whom were just as interesting as the main heroine was. After all, neither of them acted the way I thought they would when I first met them and in the end they both actually made me feel differently towards each of their character's which was a pleasant surprise.

Regarding the love interests and what they had to offer up to the storyline, I still think it's rather unfair to judge and choose a side between the two boys since Aspen, the boy whom you will first meet in the book, didn't exactly have a large part in the book - if not at all - though I can see there's definitely some hottie potential there for him in the works. But since Aspen didn't get much of the spotlight, even though he's awesome in his own kind of way and can be a bit a jerk at times, I have to say Prince Maxon had me totally swooning over to his team of many fangirls (for the meantime at least) and I say sign me right up baby to The Selection! Along with America's feelings towards him I too wanted to hate his guts like she did, but Prince Maxon was someone you shouldn't judge by first glance because he was a prince charming for sure and he left a huge impression on me. A HUGE one! Sure Maxon may have been a bit naive about his kingdom and of the people living within it, but with this sweet and vulnerable side to him that is eventually shown to our America and the rest of the girls, Prince Maxon totally turned out to be everything and if not more than I wanted from his character originally, and I can see why so many readers want him so badly for themselves. He was really, really something!

Overall, THE SELECTION was one of those reads that surprised me in every possible way and it left such a huge smile on my face due to this surprise! It only goes to show not to trust those negative reviews out there (hey, haters gotta hate), where people are trying to put an author and their book down . . . because I absolutely adored this book! While this book is not for all readers, I admit this, but if you love a book filled with beautiful things, reality tv-like aspects, dystopian societies and heart-pulsing romances leaving you questioning everything in Kiera Cass's world, then this book is most certainly the book for you! It certainly was for me!

Also before I forget, a big thank you to the author, Kiera Cass, for this mind-blowing debut novel of hers because I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of her sequel, not to mention I can't wait until CW's tv show adaptation of her novel gets to see the light of day because really . . . I'll be right there waiting at the tv screen with popcorn at the ready and a crazy-ass smile on my face . . . so you can definitely count on that from me!

The Rating

5/5 stars

Before I Wake by Rachel Vincent

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Pages: 346pgs

The Story

I died on a Thursday - killed by a monster intent on stealing my soul. The good news? He didn't get it. The bad news? Turns out not even death will get you out of high school . . . Covering up her own murder was one thing, but faking life is much harder than Kaylee Cavanaugh expected. After weeks spent "recovering," she's back in school, fighting to stay visible to the human world, struggling to fit in with her friends and planning time alone with her new reaper boyfriend. But to earn her keep in the human world, Kaylee must reclaim stolen souls, and when her first assignment brings her face-to-face with an old foe, she knows the game has chnaged. Her immortal status won't keep her safe. And this time Kaylee isn't just gambling with her own life . . .

The Review

A big thanks to HarlequinTeen Australia for sending me a review copy of this book!

I think I'm with everyone else when I say the Soul Screamers series is one of my all-time favourite YA book series and every single book Rachel Vincent brings out just keeps getting better, better, and better!

BEFORE I WAKE, the sixth installment of the Soul Screamers series, picks up shortly after the previous book If I Die had ended, where our main leading lady, Kaylee Cavanaugh, had died and was practically brought back to become the new extractor of the afterlife. But as she must slowly come to grips with her own death, deal with a new job and a new reaper boyfriend, and with her having very little patience to deal with just about everybody else's problems on top of it all - including her ex-boyfriend Nash, things for Kaylee are about to get even more complicated when souls are being stolen and it's up to Kaylee and her friends to figure out who is behind it all, which will soon force Kaylee to make the hardest decision she's ever made before!

This new installment was yet another brilliant book coming my way and it packs quite an emotional punch if I do say so myself. I mean, the writings of these heartbreaking situations that Kaylee continuously faces with is just another one of Rachel Vincent's most wonderful trademarks and one that I personally love her for. And don't get me wrong here readers, I love to be shell-shocked by events, but man oh man . . . I can't predict what's going to happen next in this particular series alone . . . like AT ALL because it's shock-after-shock and twist-after-twist and honestly I'm really, really scared right now to read the final installment of this series next year, because I can tell that Vincent is going to make me cry harder in the future . . . I just know it! While BEFORE I WAKE may not have been my favourite of the series so far, but there's so much going on in this book and it's absolutely crazy - but I love series so much that I can handle crazy any time!

For our main heroine, Kaylee has been one of my favourite characters in YA for what feels like a very, very long time. She's strong, brave, selfless, snarky, caring, hella complexed, but most of all she's someone who accepts her mistakes and tries to move past them in the best way possible! Even if it breaks her heart doing so. But from each book and through each obstacle Kaylee faces, her character continues to grow and you are given even more reasons to love her each time . . . she's such a fine character and it's quite stupid of me to think a single paragraph is going to justify her as a great heroine. But hey - it's true. I love her to pieces!

But it's not just Kaylee growing . . . it's every other character in the book too. For one, there's the reaper Tod, Kaylee's ex-boyfriend's dead brother (yeah it's a little complicated for our girl), who shines throughout the entire book. Now I've always been a #1 fan of Tod and his superb humour to lift my spirits up, but what's changed in his character is that this time round he's actually in a relationship with Kaylee (I know finally!) after a bad break-up with his brother Nash, and while I'm sorry to not love Nash as much as I used to, but it's great to come together with other fans and praise Tod for all his hotness radiating in this book! Seriously he's so hot it's not funny and just reading about his relationship with Kaylee puts a smile on face. They are better suited than Kaylee and Nash ever were and they were all so, so good together.

Speaking of Nash's character, I do feel sorry for the guy and what happened to him in the previous book (even if it was his own fault). But I'm happy to report that he's slowly getting back on track - whatever that means - which is good to see and I hope Nash gets a good ending one way or another because he really does still love and care for Kaylee, but there's no longer that sizzle between them anymore and I think one day he'll see this . . . and hopefully get over it. Then there's Nash's ex-girlfriend and 'sort of' bestfriend Sabine. Ah, Sabine. Now I really dislike her. I mean sure, I tried to like her in this book and when I finally did . . . she just went straight back to being that nosey little teen that she is and I hate her for it. *face palm* She's annoying, okay? Can't connect with her even if I tried. Then there's Emma (Kaylee's best friend) who is supportive as ever, then there's Kaylee's dad who is so #1 on my best Dad list, and there's also so many other characters - including the baddies - who just shine in this novel as well . . . why must there be so many fantastic characters in such a short read??? Honestly I don't know how Rachel Vincent does it!

Overall, to say BEFORE I WAKE is amazing is a total understatement in my books but there's so much to love in this series and it never fails to disappoint me! If you haven't read this series yet, then what the hell are you WAITING FOR? GO READ IT NOW! PRONTO!

The Rating

4 1/2 / 5 stars

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Greenwillow

Pages: 320pgs

The Story

Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around tehm.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club - in the depths of her own despair - Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for - no matter what it costs her.

The Review

I have heard nothing but amazing things about this book, before I even started reading it, and I knew it was a complete must for me! First let me just say that I am a huge Edgar Allan Poe fan. He has forever been awe-inspiring for me ever since Ive read his works at a young age and honest to god he was one of the main reasons why I wanted to be a writer in the first place. So, when I came across this title, seeing and recognising the title and reading that is was inspired by one of my favourite Poe stories, Masque of the Red Death, there was no denying that I was going to adore this book inside and out! And once again I was right.

MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH is a wonderfully-blended steampunk tale about a young teenage girl named Araby Worth, who lives in a plague-stricken city of New Orleans. Being the daughter of a scientist, who is now under the protection of Prince Prospero, she enjoys a somewhat 'glamorous' life athough she is still haunted by the death of her twin brother, Finn, which she can only escape from by partaking in drugs at the Debauchery Club, where her friend April also comes along with her, the niece of the Prince himself. With the city slowly deteriorating with deadly diseases killing nearly half of the population and with so very little masks to be used in order to contain these diseases alone, there is little hope for Araby to survive. But as soon as Araby decides to change her ways, she will not only encounter many dangers that could threaten her and her family, but she will also encounter many questions not only about her family and friends, but also questions about her entire city.

This book literally blew my mind. Not only could I feel the clever familiarities of Poe's story being interwined with this storyline, but I could feel the author's own story as well which was just as beautiful, compelling and seductive as the original. What amazed me with this book was that it was nothing like anything out there in young adult books and it sets itself apart entirely, with a world that is part of the past, part of the present and part of the future that is far more different to what we're aware of now. As Bethany Griffin takes us into this new world she has created, the book works like magic as you slowly begin to get sucked into this plague infestation and ultimately everything about this book from its dark world-building to the mysterious dark romances . . . there is honestly not enough to say in order to do this book the justice it clearly deserves!

Apart from the wonderful storyline, what captivated me the most were the characters themselves, even the ones with smaller purposes to the story. Araby, for one, was such a fantastic main heroine. She was smart, kind-hearted, and she was always courgeous in every single situation she faces - no matter the danger, she's already there and prepared to fight for the cause. To some readers from what I've read in past reviews, Araby may be a very depressing character for some since for the majority of the book she continues to push herself away from others, punishes herself when she has a chance at true happiness, and at times she is still struggling to deal with the world that is withering around her and even with her twin brother's death which is the main contribution to her own depression. But damn, once this girl changes and stops hiding behind her mask, she is a reformed young woman and everything about her puts a smile on my face because she's a beautiful person with a lot in her to still love. And loved her I did.

But when there's a heroine there are always love interests involved. In this case a love triangle. I don't do love triangles as much as I used to, but this one is clearly an exception. For Araby's character she has two very worthy and hella sexy love interests - Will, the mysterious tattooed proprietor of the club whom Araby is instantly attracted to and damn I don't blame her, and then there's Elliot, the wealthy aristocrat and the brother of Araby's best friend, April, whom she's attracted to as well, only she doesn't trust him as much as she does Will since Elliot has many secrets of his own. MY GOD THESE BOYS! Where most fangals can have only one fictional boy team that they remain faithful to, but seriously . . . when it comes to Will and Elliot alone, I just can't seem to choose between them! Firstly, you trust them and you love them. And then the next you don't trust them and you want to cry in frustration because these two boys are just so insufferable but in the best possible way of course! While I feel Elliot had more of a connection to Araby than Elliot did at first, both on an emotional and personal scale, but I guess I'll have to wait and see in order to find out just which team I'm on. Oh heck - I'll just say Team Elliot right now and I'll see what happens because Elliot was the boy I was so obsessed with. Seriously. LOVED HIM!

Overall, MASQUE OF THE READ DEATH is painted as a sinister and twisted story just like the original Poe tale. Beautifully written, page-turning, and every as bit as rich and complex as I expected it to be, it's no wonder why Griffin's haunting creation is a solid novel and it deserves every single high praise it's been getting because I'm lusting, craving and WANTING more from this series!

The Rating

5/5 stars

Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

Release Date: 7th August, 2012

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Pages: 320pgs

The Story

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network. When Zoe starts to malfunction (or "glitch"), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they're caught and deactivated, or worse. In this action-paced debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.

The Review

A big thanks to the publisher on netGalley for accepting my request in reading this book early!

Zoe lives in a society where order is everything in her world. Your actions. Your life. Your personality. Everything must have order. As soon as children are born in Zoe's world, everything in their lives are already planned out for them and are controlled by a simple concept of a chip that is placed inside them and are monitored by the people whom call themselves Regulators. But unlike most teenagers, Zoe has a secret to keep. She's glitching. In fact, she's been glitching for a few months now without a single person noticing. For once she can think for herself, feel what she wants to feel, and she can not be controlled by them. But if the regulators ever find out her secret, they'll have to re-program her or worse . . . de-activate her . . . for good.

GLITCH was a young adult book that has been on my to-read list for a quite some time now and I've been super excited to read it despite the average ratings it has been given previously. So when netgalley was offering up this title for readers, I just instantly jumped at the chance to read it. But when I started this book, when I continued to read through the tale, and when I ended up finishing it, this book certainly had its appealing sides which a lot of readers will love and enjoy, but the book itself was just not what I was expecting it to be like. Not whatsoever.

Firstly, the storyline starts off really slow and at some points in the book I wanted to give up. It's not a bad story . . . not at all . . . it was just slow with not too much happening. I mean, I don't mind an author taking their time to deliver a great action-packed book to their fellow readers - which Heather Anastasiu still does in a way - but sometimes slow-pacing can affect a reader for the majority of the book and in this case it did for me. The same goes for the characters, unfortunately. It took me a long time to warm up to each of the characters due to the slow-pacing.

For example, the main character, Zoe, was mostly tolerable but she also could be unlikable at times too, and I wanted more action from her than words and words. I understand she has two personas in this book, one where she's experiencing a glitch and the other one where she's trying to fight against it, but there wasn't that oomph of life I needed from her, you know? Even her love interest, Adrien, had potential greatness inside of him but, like with Zoe, he'd gotten on my nerves as well. At least when he kept saying his words of, "Crackin' Hell" which I wasn't a fan of. Trust me here . . . it was driving me crazy! See, the thing is, despite some of the funny things exchanged by the characters (for sure there was definitely some hilarious things being said and other awkward-but-funning stuff characters mentioned that related to stuff like 'pleasure' hehe you know what I mean, right? wink wink) and despite not completely falling nor caring about the characters all too much, they were still likable in their own way and it's really up to you as a reader whether or not to like this book or give it a fair go.

Overall, if you love dystopian books no matter their shape or form, then you'll love this book. It might not be everyone's cup of tea but I found GLITCH was something you need to read at the once and it offers up an interesting first installment to a YA series. While I was hugely letdown by this book, but I'm still going to give the second book another shot in the future, especially since how this book ended. It really interested me then . . .

The Rating2 1/2 / 5 stars

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Razorbill

Pages: 418pgs

The Story

The second thrilling installment in Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy spinoff series

Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students - children of the wealthy and powerful - carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Richelle Mead's breathtaking Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive. In this second book, the drama is hotter, the romances are steamier, and the stakes are even higher.

The Review

THE GOLDEN LILY is the second installment of the Bloodlines series - a spinoff series of Richelle Mead's other YA series Vampire Academy, it picks up shortly after where the first book had ended. In this next sequel however, with the Alchemists being vastly impressed with the smart and sassy heroine Sydney Sage's work and dedication with the Moroi and Dhampir community, everything for once seems to get back to its original normalcy. But when her current mission is to continue in keeping the Moroi Queen's sister, Jill Mastrano, safe from assassination and when Sydney's relationship and sudden friendship with another fellow Moroi guy, Adrian Ivashkov, grows closer and deeper each day, Sydney soon begins to question everything she grew up with - the Alchemist's old but traditional ways of serving and even her own beliefs. And what's worse . . . something sinister is lurking amongst Palm Springs and it's up to Miss Sydney Sage herself to figure it out what this danger is before everything is all too late.

As a self-professed fan of Richelle Mead, both with her young adult and adult series, I'm very happy to say THE GOLDEN LILY definitely hit the mark, and I loved it as much as I loved the first book, Bloodlines. There's just something about Mead's writing that makes you giggle like a school girl and I have no clue whatsoever on how she does it again and again, but I love anything written by her - absolutely anything. As most of you know Mead's previous Vampire Academy series was my ultimate favourite book series in the YA genre but for some reason I found that I loved its spin-off series, Bloodlines, a hell of a lot more which continues to surprise me. So with an easy-to-follow storyline, plenty of twists and turns that await at every corner and with characters developed in all sorts of ways, it's no wonder why this series beats out Vampire Academy in a heartbeat. IT'S SO FREAKIN' AWESOME!

When it comes to Sydney Sage, I love her way, way more than I ever did love Vampire Academy's main heroine, Rose Hathaway. I still love our Rosa, don't get me wrong, but Sydney is just my kind of heroine, you know? For anyone who reads this book, using myself as an example, with Sydney's character alone you are always able to find something within yourself to relate to - both physically and emotionally -with Sydney and on a personal level too. And personally for me, Sydney and I couldn't be any more different. We're like the same person for the most part and I guess that's why I love her so much. We have this quirk about us where some may not quite understand at first. We have smarts about us and we don't care that we're geeky. We also love learning about new things and embracing that. We love books (c'mon who doesn't?). But what I identify with her the most, is that we are careful with who we trust and who we allow into our lives, and that's just something Sydney and I share with our common and almost-like second natures. From Bloodlines Sydney was just a girl who was closed off from the world and that's not such a bad thing . . . but all she needed to be opened up a little bit and in this sequel that's exactly what happened - she learned about herself, what she truly believed in, what she enjoys from her life and for once she knows who she trust! Even herself. There's such a brilliant development in her character and I swear I'll stop with the high praises right here and now because I could go on for hours with just how amazing Sydney is and what an inspiration she is to me - even for a fictional character.

As much as I love the secondary characters (including Eddie, Jill, Trey and heck even the okay-but-a-total-douche and newly introduced Brayden) and as much as I loved seeing appearances coming from Dimitri and Sonya which was a very exciting moment for me since you know how much I love, love, love Dimitri from the VA series, but let's go straight to the boy we just HAVE to talk about, that being Mr. Adrian Ivashkov. Oh boy oh boy. Adrian!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally Adrian gets to play more of a part in the book and get close to our leading girl, Sydney Sage.

For a complicated character such as Adrian Ivashkov, I was really surprised by how much he has grown as a leading male character and unlike in the Vampire Academy series, where he was previously going out with Rose Hathaway and trying to impress her constantly, this time round Adrian is actually changing his ways for himself rather than forcing things that shouldn't be forced on someone as reckless as Adrian was back then. So, I really liked that change in him. Adrian has come a very long way in my books and when you overlook his gorgeous looks, his humorous witty banter (which hits every high note), and even his excuses in trying to be a bad boy that we know he can sometimes be, but deep down inside, Adrian is still a caring guy and he cares deeply for Sydney. You can just see right through him in this sequel and oh Adrian . . . *cue the infinite cries*

While the storyline was awesome and epic in all the right places, but really guys . . . it was Adrian and Sydney's relationship - their new friendship they have accumulated overtime - that was the only thing running through my mind at the time of reading this book. One of the elements of the book I just WANTED to read. C'mon . . . it totally was the only thing on our minds, right?! Adrian and Sydney would seem like the most unlikely people to become friends and share some conversations with, but where there are opposites there is also some attraction in the shadows and Team Sydrian totally had its steamy chemistry as we've seen in Bloodlines. There's this tango dance going on between both of these characters and I swear they will drive me to my own insanity one day. Sydney was so oblivious to Adrian and even the way she acted around him . . . gosh . . . it made me swear all sorts of things in the air.

And then there's Adrian . . . now he drove me right up the walls, what with his words of wisdom and the way he would always make himself excuses to spend some good quality time with Sydney . . . and to us readers it was SO obvious. Argh. You characters . . . you will be the death of me. And that ending . . . that ending scenes that I wanted so badly to happen and where it had finally happened and then torn me into little pieces . . . argh . . . Richelle Mead you are truly the Queen of all Evils in the writing world. Angst. So much angst people! *let's now cue the following gif of my current feels*

Overall, THE GOLDEN LILY was everything I hoped it would be, if not it was more than I ever saw coming in the Bloodlines series. With so much happening in so little time and with a book that is like riding an emotional rollarcoaster (one that will make you sick with heart failures, with some casual strokes and with some symptoms of running noses and red eyes from all that crying), I can definitely say without a doubt that readers will not be disappointed by this sequel and I'm so eager for the third book, The Indigo Spell, even if I'm fearful to read it as well. Oh man . . . that ending . . . THAT ENDING! Angst people. ANGST!

The Rating5/5 stars

Dead Time by Anne Cassidy

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Pages: 344pgs

The Story

Rose and Joshua first met when Joshua and his dad came to live with Rose and her mum. Then their world turns upside down when their mother and father go out for dinner one evening and never return. With police inquiries going nowhere, Rose is dispatched to live with her chilly, unfriendly grandmother and Joshua is sent to live with his uncle. Then Joshua comes to London to study and Rose is witness to not one, but two murders. Why is this happening to Rose? Can it be anything to do with the investigations Joshua has been doing into the disappearance of their parents? A taunt and pacy thriller that is the start of a stylish new serieis from an acclaimed writer for teens.

The Review

A big thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me a review copy of this book!

Anne Cassidy's new book, DEAD TIME, follows a girl named Rose, a sometimes lonely and quiet young teenage girl, whom had experienced a past tragedy where her mother and her 'sort-of' stepfather disappeared five years ago. So when Rose witnesses two other murders of kids from her local high school, she is more than determined to find out who did it - which is easier said than done. But when she starts to reconnect with her estranged stepbrother and friend, Joshua, he is even more concerned and yet far more eager to find out what happened to their parents and as a result they begin investigating . . . leading to all sorts of trouble.

My feelings towards this book are mixed. There are parts where I really enjoyed the plot and its main characters, and then there were other parts too, where I found myself a little overwhelmed by the book's events and was sometimes confused by them as well. While the whole mystery side to the storyline was mostly easy to follow and at times contained pretty exciting stuff, but what the story lacked was oomph from the main character, Rose, who had blindly followed Joshua's every action and move when it came to finding out what happened to their disappearing parents. I understand the connection they shared and why Rose would allow Joshua to lead the way, but for some reason I wanted more character depth from her and more strength to built up into her character, you know? But regardless of that, I still liked the book and their characters, and assuming that this book is apart of a series, I really hope there will be more improvement in the next installment!

Overall, I would highly recommend DEAD TIME for all you mystery and thriller lovers out there. With lot's of questions that are eventually answered along the way, and with many surprising twists added into the mix, readers will definitely enjoy reading this book!

The Rating

3/5 stars