Thriller
Written by Kat Ellis
Contemporary, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Published August 18th 2020
320 Pages
Thank you to Penguin Teen Australia
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★★★★☆
Welcome to Harrow Lake. Someone's expecting you.
Lola Nox is the daughter of a celebrated horror filmmaker, she thinks nothing can scare her.
But when her father is brutally attacked in their New York apartment, she's swiftly packed off to live with a grandmother she's never met in Harrow Lake, the eerie town where her father's most iconic horror movie was shot.
The locals are weirdly obsessed with the film that put their town on the map and there are strange disappearances, which the police seem determined to explain away.
And there's someone - or something - stalking her every move.
The more Lola discovers about the town, the more terrifying it becomes. Because Lola's got secrets of her own. And if she can't find a way out of Harrow Lake, they might just be the death of her.
Soirees, premières and receptions celebrate acclaimed filmmaker Nolan Nox. Behind the abrasive façade is an overbearing father, placing his professional livelihood above the wellbeing of his daughter. Apart from the occasional industry gathering, Lola Nox is a recluse, forbidden to leave their New York City apartment. Nolan reminding Lola of how her mother abandoned their family. Lola is looking for adventure and against Nolan's wishes, leaves the apartment only to return home to a horrifying crime scene. Nolan has been brutally wounded and while his life hangs in the balance, Lola is sent to live with her estranged grandmother in Harrow Lake, where Nolan produced his infamous cult film Nightjar.
Lola is an interesting character. She's likeable but it becomes apparent that she's a product of her environment, living her life according to Nolan's rules. Rules which aren't necessarily to keep her safe but to control her. As Nolan recovers in hospital from his injuries, Lola has been sent by her father's friend and assistant to her estranged grandmother's house in Harrow Lake. It just happens to be the twentieth anniversary of the Nightjar film release, with the community celebrating each year with a festival.
Lola's estranged grandmother's property is surrounded by a gnarly forest and under the thick canopy, residents whisper the urban legend of Mister Jitters roaming the forest searching for a Little Bird, the community offering teeth to an ancient tree in the forest to keep their families safe. Much weird indeed. Although Harrow Lake is eerily atmospheric, there's an overwhelming sense of wrongness. It's no wonder Lola's mother Lorelei was so eager to escape when she met Nolan and played the role of Little Bird in the original film.
The fairground is home to the carnival created for the Nightjar film, built amongst the landslide caused the mountain to collapse and bury the historical church in a sinkhole. Urban legend tells the story of Mr Jitters, a centuries old man who was said to have been buried alive and survived by cannibalism. The local folklore warns children of venturing into the forest or risk being captured by Mister Jitters. Mister Jitter's is the stuff of nightmares and even though the residents of Harrow Lake laugh it off as being superstitious, most of them believe something is lurking around the town.
Strange happenings are afoot friends. Lola's suitcase disappears and she's forced to wear her mother's Little Bird costumes. The likeness is uncanny to the point where even her elderly grandmother believes Lola is Lorelei. Lola is staying in her mother's room where jitterbugs line the shelves and tremble sporadically. It's creepy as hell and made my skin crawl. Lola is determined to unravel the mysteries of her mother, why she was adamant in leaving Harrow Lake and why did she return before abandoning her only child?
The most striking aspect of Harrow Lake is how the story unravels, a nonlinear narrative shared amongst the community as the history of Lorelei and their town is revealed. Unreliable narrators, those with alterative motives and those who are determined to safekeep the secrets of their strange, foreboding town. Kat Ellis has created a superb vintage horror that will enthral readers until the final page.
Written by Ellie Marney
Mature Young Adult, Thriller, Mystery
Published September 2020
400 Pages
Thank you to Allen & Unwin
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★★★★★
Interviewing convicted juvenile killers for the FBI leads Emma Lewis and Travis Bell on the hunt for a serial murderer who targets teenagers. A riveting young adult thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seat from start to finish.
It's 1982, and the innovative FBI Behavioural Science section is breaking new ground. Emma Lewis and Travis Bell, two teenagers with valuable skills, are recruited to interview convicted juvenile killers for information on cold cases.
When they're drawn into an active case targeting teenagers, everything starts to unravel. Over Travis's objections, Emma becomes the conduit between the FBI and an incarcerated serial killer, nineteen year old Simon Gutmunsson, who is a super intelligent sociopath. And although Simon seems to be giving them the information they need to save lives, he's also an expert manipulator playing a very long game.
Can Emma and Travis stop a serial killer on the loose or will they fall victim themselves?
Eighteen year old Emma Lewis continues to endure the psychological trauma of being held captive, the sole survivor of man who abducted young women as wives. Now studying forensic psychology at University, Emma is about to embark on a landmark venture with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, adolescents recruited to interview adolescent sociopaths to help understand the psychological motivation of their crimes. Emma is a determined and resolute young woman, intelligent, perceptive and resilient. She's reluctant to join the Federal Behavioural Science Unit, tempted by the prospect of accelerating her education.
Travis Bell is the son of a decorated police offer, killed in the line of duty by a sociopath killer, now pursuing a career in law enforcement. Travis has been recruited by the FBI and alongside Emma, plans to make the most of the opportunity he's given to forge a career and honour his father's memory. Travis and Emma are strangers, brought together by circumstance but form a tentative and platonic friendship over their shared experience, Emma's abduction and Travis' father killed by Simon Gutmunsson. They share moments of attraction but their working relationship and budding friendship was lovely, seeing them trust one another without the complications of a romantic relationship. Both Travis and Emma are healing and given the circumstances of the investigation, I'm thankful their connection remained purely platonic.
Simon Gutmunsson, he's charismatic and under any other circumstances, even endearing. Ellie Marney created a likeable sociopath and I'm equally parts delighted and horrified. Simon is known as The Artist, he doesn't consider himself in the same lowly league as a sociopathic killer, he artfully killed his victims as a calling card, proud of his extracurricular activities. Simon is highly intelligent and curious about Emma, alluding to the current murderous spree by the unknown assailant. The FBI hope by understanding juvenile killers like Simon, they'll be able to profile and catch the current serial killer, using Emma and Travis at bait to see what Simon knows.
The killings are brutal. We're given a glimpse into the mind of the killer as he strings up his victims and performs ritualistic killings. It's terrifying and creates an incredibly urgent storyline, using the cryptic innuendo provided by Simon and applying his insights to the current, open case before the killer strikes again. Holy shit. None Shall Sleep is creepy, downright terrifying but balanced with moments of tenderness and a gentle and tentative friendship.
This is next level Marney, a little bit batshit, pee yourself while reading and jumping at shadows for the next three months. Outstanding!
Written by Sarah Epstein
Mystery, Contemporary, Australian
400 Pages
Published March 2020
$19.99
Thank you to Allen & Unwin Australia
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A gripping mystery about a missing boy and a group of teenagers, one of whom knows something but isn't telling, from the award winning author of Small Spaces.
Henry Weaver is missing.
Three months ago, thirteen year old Henry disappeared from The Shallows during a violent storm, leaving behind his muddy mountain bike at the train station.
Mason Weaver is trapped.
While Mason doesn't know who he is or what he's capable of, he knows the one thing binding him to this suffocating small town is his younger brother, Henry.
Chloe Baxter wants answers.
Why would Henry run away without telling her? One of Chloe's friends knows something and she's determined to find out the truth.
As Chloe wades into dangerous waters and mason's past emerges, a chilling question ripples to the surface. How far would you go to keep a secret?
In the small town of The Shallows, the community has endured bushfire that ravaged the land and a torrential storm on the night that thirteen year old Henry Weaver disappeared, three months ago. Chloe Baxter has returned to The Shallows from Sydney, her parents separating when her mother was desperate to escape the small, working class town. Chloe's father manages a small roadside motel once popular with tourists and those passing through The Shallows, now small businesses barely keeping their heads above water since the local economy survived on the tourist trade.
Returning to town, Chloe is determined to find Henry once again, placing missing posters around Sydney provided no information to the whereabouts of her friend and upon return home, plans to begin the search once more. What happened to Henry? Why didn't he tell Chloe he was leaving and why is his older brother Mason so hellbent on destroying his life?
Deep Water begins with the story of the Weaver family, Henry, older brother Mason and their mother, a woman surviving on alcohol, cigarettes and gambling. Growing up in the Weaver household, the boys are being abused by their mother, Mason's father has always been absent and Henry's father left for the big smoke, no longer able to withstand the physical and mental abuse. Mason has always tried to protect Henry from their mother's rage, bearing the brunt of her abuse and neglect as Mason begins to spiral downwards, desperate to escape The Shallows. Mason is an incredibly multilayered character, he's sensitive and hides his feelings in a bottle of alcohol, destructive behaviour and a notorious reputation.
Chloe is an interesting character, she's relatable but often unlikable and still carrying the grief of losing Henry, determined to find her friend and the brother she always wanted. On the night Henry disappeared, Chloe was meeting Raf, her best friends brother. Together they huddled in the small, ramshackle hut in the surrounding bush as Henry braced the storm and never returned home. Chloe and Raf kept their liaison a secret, to their friends and even the local authorities investigating Henry's disappearance, the local police officer once involved in an affair with Chloe's mother before she left The Shallows.
The most striking aspect of Deep Water is the writing, a masterclass in how to write multiple, multilayered characters while creating an exhilarating storyline. Australian young adult book of the year, without a doubt. The reader is introduced to each character as a dual narration from both Chloe and Mason, with sporadic chapters from Henry talking to a new friend he made online, Chloe's privileged life, although not perfect and Mason as he struggles to survive. Their characters are contrasting and once friends, as Henry was adopted into their ragtag group of friends, Mason begun to isolate, feeling left out of his friendship circle as Henry became more embedded. It's an issue that Mason resents Chloe for, choosing Henry's friendship and not reaching out to him. It's messy and realistic and written so beautifully, the delicate threads between friends becoming severed and mended in time.
Besides Chloe and Mason, I enjoyed the sibling relationship between Sabeen, Chloe's best friend and her brother Raf, Chloe's crush. Sabeen and Raf are wonderful, Sabeen a loyal and compassionate young woman and Raf, a quiet young man who has adored Chloe from a distance for the past few years. Sabeen's father is from Pakistan, a sperm donor Sabeen proudly announced when she and Chloe met at the tender age of only six years old, her mother's both own and run the local pizzeria, feeding the small brood of friends. Tom was an interesting character. Also part of their friendship circle since they were children, Tom's father is in prison while he was raised by his grandparents, his grandfather owning the local oddities store come makeshift pawnshop. Tom escaped The Shallows, studying at university while maintaining his friendship with Chloe and although unaware of his intentions, Tom is keen on Chloe despite her feelings for Raf.
Deep Water raises the discussion of several important issues throughout our communities. Poverty and low socioeconomical conditions, family violence, parent infidelity, alcoholism, violence, toxic masculinity and grief. Wonderfully diverse characters and stories threaded together with care and compassion.
It's magnificent.
Written by Lauren Oliver
Mystery, Thriller, Paranormal
416 Pages
Published October 18th 2018
Thank you to Hachette Australia
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★★★★☆
It’s been five years since Summer Marks was brutally murdered in the woods.
Everyone thinks Mia and Brynn killed their best friend. That driven by their obsession with a novel called The Way into Lovelorn the three girls had imagined themselves into the magical world where their fantasies became twisted, even deadly.
The only thing is, they didn’t do it.
On the anniversary of Summer’s death, a seemingly insignificant discovery resurrects the mystery and pulls Mia and Brynn back together once again. But as the lines begin to blur between past and present and fiction and reality, the girls must confront what really happened in the woods all those years ago, no matter how monstrous.
The nonlinear narrative accompanies Mia and Brynn, known as The Monsters of Brickhouse Lane, as they investigate potential suspects in the ritualistic death of their friend Summer. Summer Marks is a foster child, her mother a substance abuser, her only possession a novel acquired from her maternal mother. The Way Into Lovelorn is a fantasy novel written by Georgia Wells and despite being published, the novel is incomplete. A point of contention for Summer, inspired to create her own The Way Into Lovelorn sequel.
Although barely adolescent, Mia Ferguson, Brynn McNally and neighbour and suspect Owen Waldmann were ostracised by the community despite being acquitted of her death. Mia was unrolled from school and tutored privately, Owen migrated to Scotland to complete his education while Brynn endured the abuse and aggression of her peers, unafforded the privilege of a private education. Brynn escaped her torment by entering rehabilitation for substance abuse, providing positive samples to remain within the counsellors care, her relationship with her mother and sister fractured.
Mia is returning to Twin Lakes on the eve of the anniversary of Summer's death to help her mother, a hoarder since the tragic incident that finds solace within her abundance of possessions. As Mia's mother enters counselling, Brynn is released from rehabilitation and for the first time in five years, the two former friends reunite to investigate Summer's murder.
The narrative centres on Summer and her interaction with Mia and Brynn as teens, their adoration of The Way Into Lovelorn and the importance of the fictional sequel the three friends created. It explores the motives behind the killing, from her relationship with Owen at Mia's expense, her manipulation of Brynn and her feelings for Summer and her character development from child to a manipulative and often malicious young woman.
Although I've enjoyed Lauren Oliver's novels in the past, Broken Things is considerably her break out novel. The nonlinear narrative is well paced, a blend of mystery and suspense as the storyline adds upon layers of intrigue. Very much a classical whodunit novel that readers will thoroughly enjoy.
Written by Ellie Marney
Contemporary, #LoveOzYA
384 Pages
Published March 1st 2018
Thank you to Allen & Unwin Australia
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★★★★★
Bo Mitchell has little on his mind except school, footy and friends. Rory Wild has grown up on a nearby commune and is attending a normal high school for the first time. Bo is determined to find out everything about her, even her secrets...
In Bo Mitchell's country town, a White Night light show event has the potential to raise vital funds to save the skate park. And out of town, a girl from a secretive off the grid community called Garden of Eden has the potential to change the way Bo sees the world. But are there too many secrets in Eden?
As Bo is drawn away from his friends and towards Rory, he gradually comes to believe that Eden may not be utopia after all, and that their group leader's goal to go off the grid may be more permanent and more dangerous than anyone could have predicted.
A wonderfully compelling novel from the acclaimed author of the Every series.
G'day and welcome to the town of Lamistead Victoria, where everyone knows your business and doesn't mind a gander in your windows. There's not much to do in Lamistead for sixteen year old knockabout kid Bo, footy, school, hanging round the soon to be demolished skate park. And no cooking. Definitely no cooking. Bo just wants to make his old man proud, a hard ask with all those bloody rules, the tough old bastard.
Just outside of town, the locals will have a yarn, there's a place where all the tree huggers live called Eden. No one knows what's going on in Eden but most will tell you there's a roo loose in the top paddock. Including that tough old bastard. So when Rory Wild rocks up at school one day with her hairy pits and getaway sticks, she's a punching bag for the halfwits of Lamistead.
Naturally Bo has got the hots for Rory and not just for her hairy pins. If that was the case I'd have to beat them off with a stick. This chick is smart and doesn't think Bo's a dickhead. Bonus. Starting out as mates, I loved those kiddos. Rory gave Bo the guts to want more than bring a local frothy drinking footy player and even though his dad'll be devo, he wants a cook tucker. Rory learns what a wasteful pack of mongrels Lamistead is until Bo adopts the recycling lifestyle, even giving his mates a serve for being wasteful.
Eden isn't the great unwashed that the pricks of Lamistead want you to think, it's a whole village of veggoes growing their own carrots and saving the planet. Probably should have called it Flatulence Town just quietly. The message at the heart of Eden is getting your hand off it and taking care of your own back paddock. Grown your own tucker and reuse shit you have laying round the house. We might not all want to be Greenies, live in a commune and meditate but we need to pitch in before this world goes down the gurgler. Whip up an Eden in your own back paddock and teach your ankle biters the value of reusing and recycling.
I'm always banging on about Aussie authors because let's face it, they're grouse and Ellie Marney is the top chick of Aussie authors. Let me tell you a bit about my mate Marno, she's a fair dinkum Aussie legend, she's a hard working mum living out in the sticks and raising a group of ankle biters. She knows her shit. She writes no bullshit books with heart and White Night is a bloody ripper. She's a beaut mate.
Eden isn't the great unwashed that the pricks of Lamistead want you to think, it's a whole village of veggoes growing their own carrots and saving the planet. Probably should have called it Flatulence Town just quietly. The message at the heart of Eden is getting your hand off it and taking care of your own back paddock. Grown your own tucker and reuse shit you have laying round the house. We might not all want to be Greenies, live in a commune and meditate but we need to pitch in before this world goes down the gurgler. Whip up an Eden in your own back paddock and teach your ankle biters the value of reusing and recycling.
I'm always banging on about Aussie authors because let's face it, they're grouse and Ellie Marney is the top chick of Aussie authors. Let me tell you a bit about my mate Marno, she's a fair dinkum Aussie legend, she's a hard working mum living out in the sticks and raising a group of ankle biters. She knows her shit. She writes no bullshit books with heart and White Night is a bloody ripper. She's a beaut mate.
Written by Sarah Epstein
Contemporary, Thriller, #LoveOzYA
384 Pages
Publishing April 1st 2018
Thank you to Walker Books Australia
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★★★★★
We don’t pick and choose what to be afraid of. Our fears pick us.
Tash Carmody has been traumatised since childhood, when she witnessed her gruesome imaginary friend Sparrow lure young Mallory Fisher away from a carnival. At the time nobody believed Tash, and she has since come to accept that Sparrow wasn’t real. Now fifteen and mute, Mallory’s never spoken about the week she went missing.
As disturbing memories resurface, Tash starts to see Sparrow again. And she realises Mallory is the key to unlocking the truth about a dark secret connecting them. Does Sparrow exist after all? Or is Tash more dangerous to others than she thinks?
The New South Wales coastal town of Port Bellamy is synonymous with Mallory Fisher, abducted from the promenade carnival and discovered wandering the surrounding forest physically unharmed. Natasha Carmody wandered the carnival alone, visiting the small rural community as her brother was welcomed into the world. Child psychiatrist Ingrid Ballantine believes Sparrow is a manifestation of isolation, a fabrication created by a child displaced by a sibling. Natasha has endured the degradation and resentment of her mother, a woman disengaging with her daughter over the fabricated account. Detectives interviewed Natasha Carmody who was present the day Mallory was abducted by Sparrow, a nondescript shadow disregarded as a suspect.
Natasha Carmody is a photography enthusiast, a conscientious young woman and diligent daughter. Sparrow is a constant and menacing presence, a figure cloaked in shadows believed to be the vivid imaginings of a narcissistic child. It begun at Willow Creek, the derelict childhood home of her father. Sparrow would enter through the bedroom window, coercing eight year old Natasha into dangerous predicaments for his own amusement and gratification. His manipulation culminating with the disappearance of Mallory. Although Sparrow engages in predatory behaviour, cruelty and manipulation, he is not a sexual predator.
Natasha Carmody is a photography enthusiast, a conscientious young woman and diligent daughter. Sparrow is a constant and menacing presence, a figure cloaked in shadows believed to be the vivid imaginings of a narcissistic child. It begun at Willow Creek, the derelict childhood home of her father. Sparrow would enter through the bedroom window, coercing eight year old Natasha into dangerous predicaments for his own amusement and gratification. His manipulation culminating with the disappearance of Mallory. Although Sparrow engages in predatory behaviour, cruelty and manipulation, he is not a sexual predator.
Mallory now communicates through non verbal cues, diagnosed with selective mutism, her recollection of her ordeal unable to assist the authorities. Mallory experiences anxiety, preferring the sanctuary of her bedroom and online friendships. Morgan Fisher was present at the carnival when Mallory disappeared, accepting culpability for her abduction. Morgan is an interesting character, although self condemning his positivity is infectious. His tentative friendship with Natasha is sincere and compassionate, although Morgan unsuspects Natasha's involvement in the abduction investigation.
Although Natasha concedes that Sparrow is a manifestation, she is an unreliable protagonist. The nonlinear narrative blends present tense with the childhood psychiatric transcripts succeeding the abduction. Natasha now experiences social anxiety, apprehensive of forming new friendships. Her friendship with Sadie is wonderful, a young Māori woman identifying as lesbian, her single mother operating a small catering business is inspirational.
Another extraordinary aspect is Sarah Epstein's ingenuity to create an atmospheric environment, as a bystander encompassed by the narrative, menacing and foreboding. Small Spaces is a compelling, unpredictable and consuming debut. Phenomenal.
Although Natasha concedes that Sparrow is a manifestation, she is an unreliable protagonist. The nonlinear narrative blends present tense with the childhood psychiatric transcripts succeeding the abduction. Natasha now experiences social anxiety, apprehensive of forming new friendships. Her friendship with Sadie is wonderful, a young Māori woman identifying as lesbian, her single mother operating a small catering business is inspirational.
Another extraordinary aspect is Sarah Epstein's ingenuity to create an atmospheric environment, as a bystander encompassed by the narrative, menacing and foreboding. Small Spaces is a compelling, unpredictable and consuming debut. Phenomenal.
Contains spoilers. See my review for All Fall Down and See How They Run
Embassy Row Book Three
Written by Ally Carter
Mystery, Contemporary
Published February 2017
336 Pages
Thank you to Scholastic Australia
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★★☆
The princess is dead. Long live the princess.
Centuries ago, the royal family of Adria was killed… Or so everyone thought. Now Grace Blakely knows the truth. There was one survivor, and that survivor’s blood runs through her veins. This simple fact could cause a revolution, which is why some people will stop at nothing to keep it from coming to light.
There is only one way for Grace to save herself, save her family, and save the boy she loves. She must outmaneuver her foes, cut through the web of lies that has surrounded her for years, and go back to the source of all her troubles, despite the risk.
If she wins, she will inherit a throne. And if she loses, she will inherit the fate of all the dead princesses who came before her.
The royal bloodline ended the night the castle was besieged, a family slain and an interim King reigning over the citizens of Adria. Grace's mother believed in children's fairytales, the night the royal family had perished, a samaritan protecting baby princess Amelia from the brutal revolution, the royal bloodline surviving.
My Thoughts
Take The Key and Lock Her Up begins mere moments after the revelations of See How They Run, Jamie is injured, Alexei a fugitive and Grace is determined to carry her mother's legacy, finding evidence of the lost princess.
Grace Blakely is a descendant of baby Amelia, a centuries old mystery that the government and Society of Ardia are determined to protect. Since moving into the embassy to live with her grandfather, Grace has been embroiled in controversy. Grace is relentless in her search to uncover her mother's findings, needing evidence as leverage against Adria and the royal family who occupy the throne. I admire Grace's tenacity as a character and enjoyed her relationship with her brother and love interest Alexei, who are now fleeing Adria with the assistance of Dominic.
While in previous installments, the murder mystery aspect added drama and intrigue, the focus is now placed upon on Grace, while the narration of friends and embassy residents were left unresolved. Grace is a character who has struggled with her mental health, placed within a health facility leaving her distressed. Her anguish and post traumatic stress disorder is now absent, apart from the occasional inner monologue reminiscing the death of her mother. Unfortunately, the storyline felt entirely repetitive. One aspect I found fascinating about the series were the ancient and secretive society of women, political puppeteers that seemed a convenient device of justification for the lawless Embassy Row, where adults in authoritarian positions maim and murder. Unfortunately it wasn't fully explored.
Suspension of disbelief was virtually impossible. Although entertaining, I wasn't immersed or as engaged as I've been with the previous installments but was surprised by the ending and a little disheartened by the vigilante justice imposed. The Embassy Row series has been wonderfully entertaining, secrecy and intrigue creating a narrative that will enthrall and delight readers but unfortunately the finale left me feeling disappointed.
Written by Jeanne Ryan
Contemporary, Thriller
Published July 2016
320 Pages
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Australia
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★★☆
A high stakes online game of dares turns deadly.
When Vee is picked to be a player in Nerve, an anonymous game of dares broadcast live online, she discovers that the game knows her. It tempts her with amazing prizes taken from her personal online page and teams her up with her perfect boy, sizzling hot Ian. At first it's exhilarating, Vee and Ian's fans cheer them on to riskier dares with higher stakes. But the game takes a twisted turn. Just how far will Vee go before she loses Nerve?
Nerve is in cinemas now, starring Emma Roberts, Dave Franco and Juliette Lewis.
For quiet and reserved Vee, she's always lived her life behind the theatre curtain, adhering to authority and rebuilding her tentative relationship with her parents. Nerve, a reality show based on the daring and provocative, where players compete for honour and pride. Fuelled by spite, Vee applies to both challenge herself and the misconception of her innocence by entering a preliminary dare by dousing herself in water at a local coffee house.
Enticed by cash and prizes, Vee and fellow stagehand Tommy begin their night of adventure, despite her promise to Sydney, Vee's best friend and Nerve enthusiast. As the stakes increase, so does the danger and Vee is playing a game in which there are no winners. Only survivors.
My Thoughts
Nerve was highly entertaining, a cautionary storyline of actions, consequences and foremost, greed. Vee is a quiet achiever, a stagehand which sees her transform her fellow students behind the curtain. Vee has always lived in Sydney's shadow, her best friend and leading lady of their high school theatre is loved by all and adored by many. It's Sydney's onstage leading man in which Vee has developed an interest but he sees her as little more than a juvenile. Insecure and anguished, Vee completes her application for Nerve, an online sensation which sees thrill seekers compete for cash and prizes, often with dire consequences.
I found it difficult to invest in Vee's character, she didn't feel genuine and as the game of Nerve progressed, she was conquered by greed and allowed herself to be manipulated. The romance was chaotic. Vee was interested in best friend Sydney's leading man but it soon becomes apparent that he has feelings for Sydney so naturally Vee believes that Sydney has betrayed her. Fellow stagehand Tommy is interested in Vee, but Vee then turns her attention to her Nerve game partner Ian, who's attractive but without substance.
The enticement of Nerve is the game itself.
Contestants being pursed by a faceless organisation to entice them with lavish prizes and the lure of becoming minor celebrities. The more popular participants become, their lives belong to the faceless organisers. I'm still not entirely sure why the game existed. Profit from paid Watcher subscriptions? To humiliate and manipulate participants? Monetary gain from sponsorships? Who are they? Apart from two game hosts in the final rounds, the reader never learns who the Nerve organisers are, how the game begun or how they are not held responsible for what can be seen as torture entertainment of teens. The prologue is confusing, it mentions a young woman named Abigail, who is a former contestant on Nerve but plays no part within the storyline and the open ending posed more questions than answers.
Although entertaining, Nerve felt incomplete, lacked character development and world building. The overall storyline was wildly captivating but sadly a little too ambitious for so few pages.
Written by Fleur Ferris
Contemporary, Mystery, #LoveOzYA
Published July 22nd 2016
276 Pages
Thank you to Random House Australia
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★★★★★
Ebony Marshall is in her final year of high school. Five months, two weeks and four days... She can't wait to leave the town where she's known only as Black. Because of her name, of course. But for another reason, too.
Everyone says Black Marshall is cursed.
Three of her best friends have died in tragic accidents. After Oscar, the whispers started. Now she's used to being on her own. It's easier that way.
But when her date for the formal ends up in intensive care, something in quiet little Dainsfield starts to stir. Old secrets are revealed and terrifying new dangers emerge.
If only Black could put all the pieces together, she could work out who her real enemies are. Should she run for her life, or stay and fight?
Seventeen year old Ebony Marshall, social pariah and simply known within her small country town as Black. In her final year of school, Ebony works part time at the local water treatment plant, her father's own enterprise that provides clean water for the region. But Black has always lived her life on the fringe, the girl for who tragedy defined her and left her ostracised by her community and peers who believed ebony is damned. All except new student Aiden.
Aiden has heard the rumours, but befriends ebony against despite the dire warnings of the curse of Black Marshall. As the teens form a tentative friendship against all odds, Aiden is hospitalized. Only this time, the curse of Black Marshall has taken a dangerous direction with deadly consequences.
The Pure Apostles fuel the fears of the Whispers, a devoted group community members who follow the teachings of Father Ratchet. Five months, two weeks, and four days is all that separates Black and freedom, freedom from the Whisperers and small town ideals.
Until the Pure Apostles see Ebony as a threat.
And come for her.
My Thoughts
Fleur Ferris is spectacular. Black was a brilliant blend of a contemporary, mystery and exploring small town prejudice and one girl's fight to live. Ebony Marshall's young life has experienced devastating grief, but yet the seventeen year old is still able to hold her head high despite now being a social pariah. Once affectionately known as Black, now it holds negative connotations after losing multiple friends in devastating accidents. Her only friend is her work colleague Ed, only a few years Ebony's senior and someone who has never judged her as others have, as a curse and plight on the small community of Dainsfield.
What endeared me to Ebony was her determination and resilience. She's been subjected to the taunts of her peers and given a wide birth by the community since losing her small group of friends at such a tender age, labelled as a curse and unable to grieve for all she had lost. Ebony refuses to be bullied or belittled, especially against those who the Pure Apostles have convinced Ebony is a threat to their children and community. It's after Ebony begins to develop a relationship with new student Aiden when the Whisperers begin an aggressive campaign against the teen, when an accident sees Aiden's life holding by a thread and the small town of Dainsfield begins to unravel.
The Pure Apostles are a religious cult, with a history devoted to exorcising demons. Ebony has been labelled as a threat since conception and as the secrets of Dainsfield threaten to erupt, Ebony will need to fight or risk becoming yet another urban legend. The Whisperers were undeniably alarming, following the teachings of Father Ratchet who is the driving force behind the curse of Black Marshall. Ebony is watched, monitored all by a group who remains anonymous, leaving the reader unaware of which characters belong to the unhinged congregation. Ebony's storyline may be fictional, but all too similar to cases all over the world where religious leaders have faith cleansed parishioners in similar circumstances, giving Black's storyline an eerie and unsettling emotive.
Although Incredibly disturbing, Black was completely riveting. I was unable to tear myself away from Ebony's narrative and the town of Dainsfield brought to life. Fleur Ferris is a remarkable storyteller, sharp, accomplished and confident. I loved the unpredictability. It left me feeling unsettled and reading long into the night. Absolutely compelling and I loved every moment.
May contain spoilers. See my review for All Fall Down
Written by Ally Carter
Contemporary, Mystery
Published in Australia February 2016
320 Pages
Thank you to Scholastic Australia
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★★★★
Inside every secret, there's a world of trouble. Get ready for the second book in this new series of global proportions, from master of intrigue, New York Times bestselling author Ally Carter.Grace's past has come back to hunt her... And if she doesn't stop it, Grace isn't the only one who will get hurt. Because on Embassy Row, the countries of the world stand like dominoes, and one wrong move can make them all fall down.The twists get twistier and the turns get even more shocking in the second thrilling installment of Embassy Row.
It's been seven days since Grace was embroiled in an international scandal on Embassy Row, where she is now trying to come to terms with the revelation over her mother's death and the scarred man that has plagued her nightmares since as long as she can remember. Brother Jamie has now returned home from West Point and has brought a friend, fellow student and recruit Spence who is more than happy to watch over Gracie, especially now that Alexei has returned.
After a show of male dominance, Spence's body turns up washed up on Embassy Row and Alexei becomes the main suspect. The volatile Russian Embassy want to turn Alexei over to the authorities in order to maintain peace, but through a series of whispered conversations, Alexei is guilty until proven innocent and justice for the young Russian will be at the hands of his demise.
But what Grace uncovers while proving Alexei's innocence will bring her world crashing down. Spence's death isn't an accident and what he may have stumbled upon will put all their lives at risk. A long standing myth and centuries of secrets will reveal the foundations Embassy Row is built upon.
Kelly's Thoughts
Ally Carter is amazing. Not only has she yet again crafted an incredible installment in the Embassy Row series, but has upped the ante with more action, more suspense and a shitload more intrigue and danger that will ensure readers are kept on the edge of their seats. Once again we're transported back to Embassy Row, where nations live in unity but tensions remain at an all time high. It follows Gracie, the granddaughter of the United States delegate who is still coming to terms with her mothers death and the hand she played in what she sees as destroying her family. It's no wonder older brother Jamie has returned home. I found it strange that in the midst of what is a setback to Grace's mental health, her brother would bring a friend to tag along. Spence was suspiciously protective of Grace, especially as Alexei returned to the Embassy and even came to blows with the Russian. He added nothing to the storyline, and felt as though he was trying to take advantage of Grace's emotional state, even if he wasn't entirely sure why she was so fragile.
I didn't like Spence. As a character or attempting to become a love interest and I'm not surprised at Jamie's rage. In See How They Run, Grace now has more secrets to unravel with the introduction of the history and mythology behind Embassy Row, which surprised me. Sadly it didn't elaborate on the mystery beyond a treasure in which a secret society of woman on Embassy Row vow to protect. I'm hoping the third installment will expand on the mythology rather than the focus being almost solely on Grace's well being.
Grace and Alexei have a strange relationship. Initially Jamie's best friend who was asked to keep an eye on Grace in her brothers absence, Alexei and Grace are both attracted to one another but neither willing to admit how they feel. The romance between the two is a little too slow burning. I can understand why given Grace's situation but it's still frustrating for readers of the series nonetheless. It's far too drawn out.
I didn't like Spence. As a character or attempting to become a love interest and I'm not surprised at Jamie's rage. In See How They Run, Grace now has more secrets to unravel with the introduction of the history and mythology behind Embassy Row, which surprised me. Sadly it didn't elaborate on the mystery beyond a treasure in which a secret society of woman on Embassy Row vow to protect. I'm hoping the third installment will expand on the mythology rather than the focus being almost solely on Grace's well being.
Grace and Alexei have a strange relationship. Initially Jamie's best friend who was asked to keep an eye on Grace in her brothers absence, Alexei and Grace are both attracted to one another but neither willing to admit how they feel. The romance between the two is a little too slow burning. I can understand why given Grace's situation but it's still frustrating for readers of the series nonetheless. It's far too drawn out.
I love this series. It's so wonderfully written and Grace is such a likable and intriguing character who always manages to find herself embroiled in the politics of living on Embassy Row. It's an engaging, quick read that is impossible to put down. But be warned, Ally Carter is known for her cliffhangers and this one's a doozy.The Final Verdict
Cover Redesign by me.
All for the Game: Book One
Written by Nora Sakavic
Young Adult, Sports, LGBT
Published January 15th 2013 by Smashwords Edition
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★★★★★
Neil Josten is the newest addition to the Palmetto State University Exy team. He's short, he's fast, he's got a ton of potential—and he's the runaway son of the murderous crime lord known as The Butcher.Neil Josten has lived his entire life on the run from his father. A father who would not hesitate to kill Neil if he is were to be found. Neil finds himself in the small town of Millport with a population of nine hundred. It is there that the coach from Palmetto State University finds him and offers him a spot on the team. PSU boasts one of the most aggressive Exy (a fictional sport) teams in America - the Foxes. It is no secret that to qualify, one must have had a difficult life.
Signing a contract with the PSU Foxes is the last thing a guy like Neil should do. The team is high profile and he doesn't need sports crews broadcasting pictures of his face around the nation. His lies will hold up only so long under this kind of scrutiny and the truth will get him killed.
But Neil's not the only one with secrets on the team. One of Neil's new teammates is a friend from his old life, and Neil can't walk away from him a second time. Neil has survived the last eight years by running. Maybe he's finally found someone and something worth fighting for.
After much consideration, Neil agrees to join the team - understanding the consequences of his face being flashed on plasma screens all over the nation making him a viable find for his father. However, Neil is not alone in his fight for survival. The Foxes consist of ten kids that are damaged and broken in their own way. The entire team has everything to gain, yet nothing to lose which makes them dangerous opponents both on and off the court.
I won't do this book justice. I know I won't. I can't even wrap myself around my thoughts at the moment. I'm stumbling through the woods trying to find my way out. I'm quickly discovering that this will be a series that will hold onto my soul forever. One of those books where you go nothing can get better than this book. I mean that with every bit of me. My only complaint is that the original cover is ugly, I had to make my own because I knew with one glance at the other one people would think it was a cheap story based on the lazy cover (shh we all care about the cover a little bit).Kynndra's Thoughts
This book kept me awake. I finished it at nearly 3:30 AM and I couldn't sleep until 5:40 AM simply because I was worried for the characters as if they were real people. I had to hold off reading the second right at that moment because I knew if I started I probably wouldn't have stopped. I think when people hear a book consists of sports, we wrinkle our noses (unless sports are your thing). In my case, I hate sports so that was my initial reaction when I read the synopsis. But I was wrong, and 100% ignorant. I'm happy I pulled myself out of my shallowness and read this book.
Also the Exy (sports) scenes are actually bad ass and I was always into them.
I know I say a lot of the books I read are my favorites. That's because I'm open to enjoying just about everything as long as it entertains me. But this was different. The Foxhole Court gnawed a gaping wound into my feelings, it left me shattered. These characters, all ten of them broke my damn heart. They're on the team for a reason, horrible and gut wrenching reasons. But they are still strong. They are fighters, especially our MC's (Neil, Kevin and Andrew). This book consisted of the richest cast of characters I've ever read. Each was so different and had different personalities and voices.
The plot was brilliant. Despite the book heavily focusing on Exy, the plot was always up in your face. Neil puts himself in a vulnerable position, after eight years of running he has finally crept out of the shadows. His dad is a psychopath, and he knows one day he'll come for him. Not only that, but some of his teammates are rabid and viscious in their ways. Some will make Neil earn his place on the court, some will make him wish he never accepted the position. Either way, Neil must go through hell and back throughout the book. It made for a fantastic thrill ride that always had me nervous and pleading for the safety of Neil. Plus, there's a few plot twists that put me through the ringer."People want to pretend people like us don't exist, you know? Everyone hopes we're someone else's problem to solve. They don't understand, so they don't know where to start. They feel overwhelmed and give up before they've taken the first step."
The writing is a bit unpolished, but I think that's what added a special effect to it. There are no pretty words to nurture the nasty world the Foxes were birthed in. Nora Sakavic made sure to emphasize that she has no problem hurting a character. Nothing is predictable, nobody is safe. The Foxes have been fighting tooth and nail since birth. They'll fight to survive no matter the end result.
I probably won't review the next two, but since I've read them I'll tell you right now: This series is fucking amazing. It's so dear to me that I can't begin to tell you all how much the story and the characters meant to me. I don't care what I read after, nothing will beat this series.
Give this book a chance. You don't even have to spend your money on it, its free on Amazon and Smashwords. The sequels are only a dollar each. It's everything: broken boys and girls, bruises and blood, tears and sweat. The characters are loveable in so many ways, despite their flaws they are unhateable. The plot is terrifying yet exciting. The writing is raw and focused on telling a twisted and soul sucking story. There's nothing quite like this. I plead for everyone to read it and suffer with me.in conclusion
Kynndra is going to go curl up on the heater and watch some X-Files while wallowing away about the end of this book.
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Check out my review for Trust Me, I'm Lying
Written By Mary Elizabeth Summer
Mystery, Crime
Published December 1st 2015
368 Pages
Thank you to Random House Australia
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★★★★
Staying out of trouble isn't possible for Julep Dupree. She has managed not to get kicked out of her private school, even though everyone knows she's responsible for taking down a human trafficking mob boss, and getting St. Agatha's golden boy Tyler killed in the process. Running cons holds her guilty conscience at bay, but unfortunately, someone wants Julep to pay for her mistakes... With her life.Against her better judgment, Julep takes a shady case that requires her to infiltrate a secretive organization that her long gone mother and the enigmatic blue fairy may be connected to. Her best friend, Sam, isn't around to stop her, and Dani, her one true confidante, happens to be a nineteen year old mob enforcer whose moral compass is as questionable as Julep's. But there's not much time to worry about right and wrong, or to save your falling heart, when there's a contract on your head.Murders, heists, secrets and lies, hit men and hidden identities... If Julep doesn't watch her back, it's her funeral. No lie.
Julep now finds herself living with her foster parents, while running her own detective agency. After the ordeal of the human trafficking ring, Julep still lives in the shadow of Tyler's memory while carrying the guilt of his death on her slight shoulders. Along with Murphy and their new associate Lily, Julep's latest case is to infiltrate The New World Initiative, founded by a fellow grifter and suspected of links to fraud and embezzlement. Never having felt more alone since Sam left, Julep finds herself leaning on Dani, the Ukrainian enforcer who was once contracted to take her life. But Petrov's imprisonment doesn't mean that Julep's life isn't in danger as a contract is taken out on the black market. Not only to end Julep's life, but to make her suffer as a consequence.
Just when J. D Investigations is struggling to find evidence against The New World Initiative, a brazen murder will reveal a link between her latest case, the institute and the infamous Blue Fairy, a link to Julep's missing mother. But as her life hangs in the balance, fighting her feelings for a girl that sees her as nothing more a child who needs protecting and finding her mother becoming her main priority, something has to give. Julep hopes that this time, she won't lose anyone else that she loves.
The romance was heart achingly beautiful and unexpected. Julep feels so deeply but in a rare moment of vulnerability is afraid to take a chance. It added such a likability to her character and also allowed her to bond with her new foster mother, Mike's wife Angela. As the story unravels, Julep goes undercover to infiltrate what seems to be a cult organisation, linked not only to the famed Blue Fairy, but also to her mother who had abandoned her. Unlike the first installment, I found Trust Me, I'm Trouble to be far less predictable and really enjoyed the strong focus on Julep's personal life. I feel readers can now begin to understand why she attempts to remain emotionally detached from those around her. Julep has faced abandonment, the death of Tyler, losing Sam, the incarceration of her father and all while her life had been in jeopardy, not once but twice. Fans of Ally Carter will adore this series.
Just when J. D Investigations is struggling to find evidence against The New World Initiative, a brazen murder will reveal a link between her latest case, the institute and the infamous Blue Fairy, a link to Julep's missing mother. But as her life hangs in the balance, fighting her feelings for a girl that sees her as nothing more a child who needs protecting and finding her mother becoming her main priority, something has to give. Julep hopes that this time, she won't lose anyone else that she loves.
I absolutely love this series, It's sassy, clever and incredibly entertaining. Our young heroine in sixteen year old Julep is a grifter, or con artist if you will. After her mother left her and her father behind, she followed in her father's footsteps, running schemes through her private school and fleecing wealthy teens of their spare change. In Trust Me, I'm Lying, Julep was involved in finding clues her father had left her, stumbling into a Ukrainian organised crime ring that was trafficking young girls. She's now known as the patron saint of lost girls, a title that doesn't sit well with the teen grifter. What makes this series so incredibly engaging is Julep. She's confronting, sassy and multi layered despite her calm and collected facade. What sets Julep apart from other lesser protagonists is that she isn't pretentious or vain, and certainly couldn't care less about how she's perceived by her peers.Kelly's Thoughts
The romance was heart achingly beautiful and unexpected. Julep feels so deeply but in a rare moment of vulnerability is afraid to take a chance. It added such a likability to her character and also allowed her to bond with her new foster mother, Mike's wife Angela. As the story unravels, Julep goes undercover to infiltrate what seems to be a cult organisation, linked not only to the famed Blue Fairy, but also to her mother who had abandoned her. Unlike the first installment, I found Trust Me, I'm Trouble to be far less predictable and really enjoyed the strong focus on Julep's personal life. I feel readers can now begin to understand why she attempts to remain emotionally detached from those around her. Julep has faced abandonment, the death of Tyler, losing Sam, the incarceration of her father and all while her life had been in jeopardy, not once but twice. Fans of Ally Carter will adore this series.
Sassy, intense and wonderfully written, The Trust Me series is an engaging and entertaining blend of contemporary, mystery and adventure with a surprising and bittersweet romantic storyline. Readers will enjoy Julep's character development from ruthless grifter to a girl who now isn't afraid to let others past her emotional walls. With an ending that broke my heart, I can't wait to see what's in store for Julep... Hopefully the happy ending this sassy, snarky teen deserves.The Final Verdict
Kelly is a part time crime fighter, a dairy connoisseur and possibly the best dancer the world has ever seen.
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Written by Jennifer Donnelly
Historical Fiction, Mystery, Romance
Published November 2015
320 Pages
Thank you to Five Mile Press / Hot Key Books
★★★★★
Josephine Montfort is from one of New York's oldest, most respected, and wealthiest families. Like most well off girls of the era her future looks set, after a finishing school education, she will be favourably married off to a handsome wealthy gentleman. But Jo wants a more meaningful and exciting life, she wants to be an investigative journalist like her heroine Nellie Bly.But when Jo's father dies after an alleged accident, she begins to investigate his death with the help of a young reporter, Eddie Gallagher. It quickly becomes clear he was murdered, and in their race against time to discover the culprit and his motive, Jo and Eddie find themselves not only battling dark characters of the violent and gritty streets of New York, but also their growing feelings for each other.
Josephine is a Montfort and the next generation of one of New York's elite families and is expected to little more than a charming yet demure wife to be. The year is 1890 and young ladies are being trained to marry well, keep a tidy home and occupy their time with the garden or being an effervescent host. All except Jo. Jo considers herself as a writer, wanting to delve into the problems of the world and reporting the truth to those who seek more. So when her father is found dead from what the police are saying is an unfortunate accident, Jo knows that to find the truth she must investigate.
Jo finds herself at her family owned newspaper, and while eavesdropping on a jovial conversation between reporters, it's there that she meets Eddie. Eddie is a reporter who craves action, no longer content to report on society's elite so when Jo asks for his help in finding out who played a part in her father's murder, Eddie hesitantly agrees. Trying to keep the young heiress in line is proving to be a task far more difficult than Eddie expected, Jo isn't the shy, meek girl he had expected and isn't afraid to ask the tough questions. Whoever killed her father will stop at nothing from keeping Jo and Eddie from discovering the truth, including putting both their lives in danger.
I'm not the biggest fan of historical fiction, let's face it, it's quite often boring and like watching paint dry. But These Shallow Graves? Phenomenal. I loved it from cover to cover. I may have even licked the pages a little. It follows the storyline of Josephine, a society girl born into wealth in an era where girls are trophies, lovely to look at but not held in high regard. She dabbles with investigative articles for her school's whimsical newspaper, but craves more and dreams of being able to report from the slums of New York's underbelly. I adored how Jennifer Donnelly highlighted how restricted females were in 1890, trained as doting wives and not allowed independent thoughts. None more prevalent than when Jo walks into Eddie's life.
Eddie is a knockabout larrikin. He's a reporter who wants to investigate real stories, not just the society pages he's forced to write. He's never met anyone like Jo, determined as she is beautiful and not at all like the well polished girl from the society pages. As the two follow the leads to find her father's killer, Jo and Eddie form a tense and tentative friendship. Their attraction is undeniable, but Jo is from a wealthy family who would never accept a lowly writer as her companion, especially not now she's betrothed to one of New York's most eligible bachelors. The forbidden romance was intense, seeing the bond forming between Jo and Eddie was so incredibly lovely as Eddie struggled to keep her safe. In an era where women of substance are well bred and demure, Jo refuses to conform. I adored her character as an individual and within her budding relationship with Eddie. She doesn't lose perspective or is willing to play the damsel in distress, which is often the issue I find with young adult historical fiction.
The only issue I found was that the big reveal was predictable. But then again, when it comes to mysteries, I'm suspicious of most characters. I would have loved to have seen this turn into a series. With Jo's conclusion, readers could follow her story beyond the final page and I for one would buy the shit outta that.
Jo finds herself at her family owned newspaper, and while eavesdropping on a jovial conversation between reporters, it's there that she meets Eddie. Eddie is a reporter who craves action, no longer content to report on society's elite so when Jo asks for his help in finding out who played a part in her father's murder, Eddie hesitantly agrees. Trying to keep the young heiress in line is proving to be a task far more difficult than Eddie expected, Jo isn't the shy, meek girl he had expected and isn't afraid to ask the tough questions. Whoever killed her father will stop at nothing from keeping Jo and Eddie from discovering the truth, including putting both their lives in danger.
Kelly's thoughts
Eddie is a knockabout larrikin. He's a reporter who wants to investigate real stories, not just the society pages he's forced to write. He's never met anyone like Jo, determined as she is beautiful and not at all like the well polished girl from the society pages. As the two follow the leads to find her father's killer, Jo and Eddie form a tense and tentative friendship. Their attraction is undeniable, but Jo is from a wealthy family who would never accept a lowly writer as her companion, especially not now she's betrothed to one of New York's most eligible bachelors. The forbidden romance was intense, seeing the bond forming between Jo and Eddie was so incredibly lovely as Eddie struggled to keep her safe. In an era where women of substance are well bred and demure, Jo refuses to conform. I adored her character as an individual and within her budding relationship with Eddie. She doesn't lose perspective or is willing to play the damsel in distress, which is often the issue I find with young adult historical fiction.
The only issue I found was that the big reveal was predictable. But then again, when it comes to mysteries, I'm suspicious of most characters. I would have loved to have seen this turn into a series. With Jo's conclusion, readers could follow her story beyond the final page and I for one would buy the shit outta that.
These Shallow Graves is nothing short of lovely. Telling the story of an oppressed girl in an era where women are treated as breakable, demure and incompetent of independent thought. Josephine's dry sarcasm and her ability to discover a world so far removed from her own was incredibly charming. An intense and slow burning romance, mystery and intrigue, These Shallow Graves is a phenomenal read from a fresh voice in young adult historical fiction.The final Verdict
Kelly would one day like to play an extra on The Walking Dead and is currently practicing her zombie moaning.
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Written by Becca Fitzpatrick
Contemporary, Thriller, Romance
Expected Publication November 2015
400 Pages
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia
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★★★★
Stella Gordon is not her real name. Thunder Basin, Nebraska, is not her real home. This is not her real life.After witnessing a lethal crime, Stella Gordon is sent to the middle of nowhere for her own safety before she testifies against the man she saw kill her mother’s drug dealer.But Stella was about to start her senior year with the boyfriend she loves. How can she be pulled away from the only life she knows and expected to start a new one in Nebraska? Stella chafes at her protection and is rude to everyone she meets. She’s not planning on staying long, so why be friendly? Then she meets Chet Falconer and it becomes harder to keep her guard up, even as her guilt about having to lie to him grows.As Stella starts to feel safer, the real threat to her life increases, because her enemies are actually closer than she thinks…
Stella never expected to land in a small town like Thunder Basin, where she's just been ripped from her former life after witnessing a brutal murder arriving home late one night. Her wealthy single mother feeds her drug addiction through her dealer, who Stella is now being protected from. With her new life in witness protection comes her new identity, a gruff retired police officer as her new foster mother, Stella has traded her uptown lifestyle for the dust bowl of a rural town where it proves difficult to keep a secret while praying Danny Balando's cartel can't find her.
Carmina or Gran as she's known in Thunder Basin, vows to keep Stella safe which seemingly includes keeping her distance from the boy next door Chet, handsome, strong and a boy who represents all that Thunder Basin is. Keeping her identity a secret, it isn't long before Chet and Stella form a tentative friendship, with her boyfriend in Reed never too far from her thoughts. Through Chet, the small town takes Stella into their fold and finally gives the almost eighteen year old a sense of home and familiarity. All apart from the wealthy and golden boy in town Trigger McClure. Trigger likes his girls demure and has a history of violence that the town turn a blind eye to and now he has his sights set on Stella, determined to find out who she really is.
Stella is in danger of not wanting to leave the rural community, of finally finding a place where she belongs and in danger of being found. Perhaps it's not her new life in hiding that's based on lies...
Stella is in danger of not wanting to leave the rural community, of finally finding a place where she belongs and in danger of being found. Perhaps it's not her new life in hiding that's based on lies...
Kelly's thoughts
Becca Fitzpatrick's second foray into the world of young adult thrillers was brilliant. It blends a wonderful contemporary romance with a heart pounding thriller that will no doubt earn the Hush Hush author a more mature audience. I loved it and it's by far her best release to date. Mixing a contemporary with a traditional thriller, the blend produces an engaging and enthralling read that will no doubt also lure readers in with it's slow burning romance and intense storyline that sways between young and new adult.
Stella's character has been placed into obscurity for her own safety against a man she's accused of murder. Her mother's drug dealer with underworld crime connections is seeking revenge against the girl who's story has put him behind bars. She's angry, not only at her deadbeat mother placing her in that position but being forced to leave behind her comfortable life and boyfriend Reed. So when she's placed into witness protection with a gruff former police officer in a dust bowl of a tiny town, she's counting down the days until she turns eighteen and can escape.
But then she meets boy next door, the utterly charming Chet. Chet is not only raising his younger brother alone, but is still coping with the loss of his parents. He instantly forms an attraction to Stella's sassy attitude and the two form an easy but gentle friendship. I found the romance incredibly lovely and most surprisingly, relatively drama free. Being in witness protection, Stella can't reveal her true identity and although she's attracted to Chet, refuses to act on her feelings which is a refreshing change. She soon settles into life in Thunder Basin but being an outsider and not conforming to small town values, it isn't long before she catches the eye the town darling in Trigger. But Trigger isn't a love interest, far from it and his history of violence against the town's young female population may be notorious, but even authorities turn a blind eye. His vendetta against Stella becomes a dangerous situation not only due to his violent history but he knows that Stella isn't who she seems to be. It does touch on violence against women and may be a trigger for those who have been in a violent or abusive situation or relationship, so please be mindful that most readers will find Trigger's character confronting.
Stella undergoes an incredible transformation from wanting to escape Thunder Basin, to warming to the community and even her guardian in Carmina. Seeing their relationship bloom and the former police officer becoming the mother figure that Stella never had. Stella begins to realise she's fallen in love with her new life, but never becomes complacent. She's aware that her life is in danger, but ever allows that fear to overcome her or stop her from living.
Stella's character has been placed into obscurity for her own safety against a man she's accused of murder. Her mother's drug dealer with underworld crime connections is seeking revenge against the girl who's story has put him behind bars. She's angry, not only at her deadbeat mother placing her in that position but being forced to leave behind her comfortable life and boyfriend Reed. So when she's placed into witness protection with a gruff former police officer in a dust bowl of a tiny town, she's counting down the days until she turns eighteen and can escape.
But then she meets boy next door, the utterly charming Chet. Chet is not only raising his younger brother alone, but is still coping with the loss of his parents. He instantly forms an attraction to Stella's sassy attitude and the two form an easy but gentle friendship. I found the romance incredibly lovely and most surprisingly, relatively drama free. Being in witness protection, Stella can't reveal her true identity and although she's attracted to Chet, refuses to act on her feelings which is a refreshing change. She soon settles into life in Thunder Basin but being an outsider and not conforming to small town values, it isn't long before she catches the eye the town darling in Trigger. But Trigger isn't a love interest, far from it and his history of violence against the town's young female population may be notorious, but even authorities turn a blind eye. His vendetta against Stella becomes a dangerous situation not only due to his violent history but he knows that Stella isn't who she seems to be. It does touch on violence against women and may be a trigger for those who have been in a violent or abusive situation or relationship, so please be mindful that most readers will find Trigger's character confronting.
Stella undergoes an incredible transformation from wanting to escape Thunder Basin, to warming to the community and even her guardian in Carmina. Seeing their relationship bloom and the former police officer becoming the mother figure that Stella never had. Stella begins to realise she's fallen in love with her new life, but never becomes complacent. She's aware that her life is in danger, but ever allows that fear to overcome her or stop her from living.
The final verdict
Becca Fitzpatrick has finally found her niche, carving her very own genre with a blend of a contemporary thriller, with a slow burning romance and small town charm. From cover to cover, it delighted, enthralled and enchanted me. I loved it immensely.
Dangerous Lies Blog Tour Stop
As part of my tour stop for Becca Fitzpatrick's Dangerous Lies releasing tomorrow, I've decided to take photos from around my local area. Dangerous Lies is set in the small country town of Thunder Basin which could almost be just a stroll from my own doorstep. But living in rural Australia as apposed to Nebraska, both share a dry, arid heat where not only do the tough survive, but thrive.
Kelly is on a semi hiatus, as she's got stuff going on. Remember to enter our International Lillytales bookmark giveaway here.
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Themis Files: Book One
Written by Sylvain Neuvel
Science Fiction, Adult, Thriller
Published April 26, 2016 by Del Ray
ARC obtained through Netgalley
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★★★★★
A girl named Rose is riding her new bike near her home in Deadwood, South Dakota, when she falls through the earth. She wakes up at the bottom of a square-shaped hole, its walls glowing with intricate carvings. But the firemen who come to save her peer down upon something even stranger: a little girl in the palm of a giant metal hand.Seventeen years later, the mystery of the bizarre artifact remains unsolved—the object’s origins, architects, and purpose unknown. Carbon dating defies belief; military reports are redacted; theories are floated, then rejected.
But some can never stop searching for answers.
Rose Franklin is now a highly trained physicist leading a top-secret team to crack the hand’s code. And along with her colleagues, she is being interviewed by a nameless interrogator whose power and purview are as enigmatic as the relic they seek. What’s clear is that Rose and her compatriots are on the edge of unraveling history’s most perplexing discovery—and finally figuring out what it portends for humanity. But once the pieces of the puzzle are in place, will the result be an instrument of lasting peace or a weapon of mass destruction?
The day a young girl falls through a hole in South Dakota is the day the world changes forever. Years later, that same girl who first fell into the mysterious giant hand is back. She is now the lead physicist on a project dedicated to recovering and reassembling the pieces of what is believed to be a metal giant.
An unknown figure invested in the project is behind the screen, questioning the main characters as the story is told in interview segments. Following the projects lead participants: Rose, Kara, Vincent and Ryan is an exciting ride as together they slowly reassemble an ancient old artifact. However, they may be in over their heads as what they soon discover is that this is not a man made machine.
kynndra's thoughts
Sleeping Giants is quite honestly something I've never read before. I went into it knowing relatively nothing. You see, I've been going through a phase where the idea of extraterrestrial existence is not only intriguing but exciting. So when I saw this beauty on Netgalley I was quick to request it. I'm happy that I did, for it's one of my favorites this year. The novel is told in a unique interview/files format between a mysterious figure and those involved with recovering the Giants pieces. This worked better than I originally thought it would as it makes you feel like you're in on this highly classified job.
The story flowed really quickly, I think part of that is due to how it's written. Neuvel made sure the interviews were to the point - there's no beating around the bush here which is something I really appreciated. However, it also was a page turner because of how thrilling it was. As a reader, just like the characters, you're both so obsessed with finding out what exactly it is that they've stumbled upon and what this obscurely large artifact is doing buried across the globe.
"I'm just saying, these things are buried in the dirt. The reason for that might be slightly less romantic than what we're all hoping for..."
As for the characters, they too were a treat. All involved with the reassemblage of the Giant were dedicated to their mission while also remaining unique in their own way. They each had their motives and their own voice. The interviewer had to be my absolute favorite. He's an asshole, but is someone I found to be cheeky and appealing. I'm happy that that the Themis files will be a series as I need to find out who the hell he is.
In the beginning I kept envisioning something similar to Transformers - you know when the man falls through the ice and discovers the robot in the Arctic? And BOOM they all come to life and start wrecking havoc? No, nothing to that magnitude, but let me assure you it's still very exciting. The entire time I was transfixed, waiting for the next big discovery. Sylvain Neuvel certainly has a knack for capturing and holding his audiences attention. I have a feeling that this series will become something HUGE. It has the qualities a book needs to have to be made into a big budget movie or even a television series.
I realize I'm being very vague.. but as I'm writing this review, I realize I can't say much partially because this book is about the discovery and it just wouldn't be the same if I emphasized more on what happens during the course of the plot. Sleeping Giants doesn't come out for nearly half a year, although I hope when it does you'll all pick it up - or rush to Netgalley and request a copy ASAP!
Sleeping Giants was an absolute thrill ride that leaves the reader wanting more. You'll be flipping through the pages with a frantic need to know EVERYTHING. Sylvain has created something believable and brilliant here. The story was unpredictable, and even more important - something exciting. It makes you wonder what hides beneath our home planets soil, and just maybe - we're not alone, maybe we never have been. Sure to be a hit amongst all who enjoy exploring the unknown.in conclusion
KYnndra is currently reading The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon, binge watching The X-Files and pondering the possibility of aliens.
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Written by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Science Fiction, Space Opera
Expected Publication November 2015
608 Pages
Thank you to Bookworld Australia and Allen & Unwin
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★★★★★
One moment, Kady Grant and Ezra Mason have nothing bigger to worry about than each other. Specifically, avoiding each other in the wake of their messy break-up. In the next second, their entire world falls apart.The year is 2575 and one of the mega corporations that control much of deep space has just fired the opening salvo in an intergalactic war, destroying Kady and Ezra's planet. Forced to flee on a small fleet of crippled rescue ships alongside thousands of other refugees, the fear of enemy warships chasing them down is at first all consuming but soon becomes the least of their worries. A deadly plague is ravaging the refugees on the ships, the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be an enemy, and High Command is refusing to acknowledge that there may be a serious problem. As Kady plunges into a tangled web of data in search of the truth, she realises that Ezra is possibly the only person who can help her save the refugees before it's too late.
Seventeen year old Kady Grant was still at school when the first explosion signaled the beginning of the intergalactic war, the sky raining fire down upon the illegal mining community of Kerenza. Kady knows the settlement must evacuate, even if former boyfriend Ezra Mason is standing in her way. To survive the deadly BeiTech strike, Kady finds herself on board the scientific vessel in Hypatia, escaping into the dark reaches of outer space. BeiTech are determined to destroy any survivors, having unleashed a deadly bio weapon with the potential to kill mankind. Their fleet has taken on heavy fire and the journey to a jump port to reach a populated core system is months within reach, with BeiTech still in pursuit.
The Alexander is a battle carrier transporting refugees from Kerenza, recruiting civilians in plight for survival. The Alexander is armed with an Artificial Intelligence Defense Analytics Network that has been severely damaged during their escape, shutting down the on board amenities and overriding personnel. Kady is the brains, Ezra the brawn and through a series of infiltrated accounts, surveillance and documents, together they will uncover a series of deception, conspiracies and a deadly plague that threatens to kill what's left of the survivors.
ponderings of a booknerd
Fucking incredible.
Illuminae is one of the most unique and incredible experiences that I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Presented in a series of documents, security footage and instant communications, it tells the story of Kady and Ezra and what is ultimately the evacuation of their home planet in Kerenza after it was attacked. Their world is blow apart by BeiTech, a mega corporation who have overtaken the small planet Kerenza to mine for resources while killing it's inhabitants in the process. Both Kady and Ezra managed to escape and now on board space vessels who are looking for a safe passage into another galaxy, with the in pursuit BeiTech warship determined to ensure no survivors remain alive. What ensues is a phenomenal science fiction story with an intense romance that will leave readers feeling exhilarated.
The unique format is nothing short of brilliant. The storyline is told through a series of documents, interviews, images and various forms of correspondence presented as a inquiry portfolio. The illustrations, the recorded email and messages recorded only heighten your experience as a reader. It left me utterly breathless.
As a reader, you're thrust into what is an internal inquiry on board the survival ships, in order to understand what happened prior to boarding. With resources low on board both vessels, civilians are recruited to fight against the pursuing hostiles. Ezra will join the assault while Kady finds herself in intelligence training on board the Hypatia, allowing her access to online network communications. It soon becomes apparent that any information inhabitants are given is little more than propaganda, and Kady uses her position to access the secure communication system in order to find answers.
It's within the system where she communicates with Ezra while a deadly plague threatens to wipe out all on board. AIDAN, the artificial intelligence that commands the vessel is dysfunctional at best. Through the turmoil, emerges a tentative friendship between Kady and Ezra, repairing their relationship and trust in one another once more.
The storyline was intensely fierce and Kady an extraordinary heroine while Ezra was charismatic and charming. Although told through the perspective of being a bystander, the in depth reports, interviews and conversations allow readers to immerse themselves within the storyline effortlessly, observing what is essentially conspiracy theories and witnessing Kady expertly working her way through a series of digital breadcrumbs. I had expected a well written space opera, but what I found was an intelligent and brilliantly written science fiction thriller that far exceeded my expectations. Tenfold.
Mind fucking blown. Believe the hype. Every. Fucking. Word.
Illuminae is a visual masterpiece. Blending engaging characters with a unique format and explosive storyline was nothing short of breathtaking. Both Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff have created a phenomenal and flawless narrative that will captivate readers until the final page is turned. Strap yourself in for one hell of a ride.
Illuminae is one of the most unique and incredible experiences that I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Presented in a series of documents, security footage and instant communications, it tells the story of Kady and Ezra and what is ultimately the evacuation of their home planet in Kerenza after it was attacked. Their world is blow apart by BeiTech, a mega corporation who have overtaken the small planet Kerenza to mine for resources while killing it's inhabitants in the process. Both Kady and Ezra managed to escape and now on board space vessels who are looking for a safe passage into another galaxy, with the in pursuit BeiTech warship determined to ensure no survivors remain alive. What ensues is a phenomenal science fiction story with an intense romance that will leave readers feeling exhilarated.
"Am I not merciful?"
The storyline was intensely fierce and Kady an extraordinary heroine while Ezra was charismatic and charming. Although told through the perspective of being a bystander, the in depth reports, interviews and conversations allow readers to immerse themselves within the storyline effortlessly, observing what is essentially conspiracy theories and witnessing Kady expertly working her way through a series of digital breadcrumbs. I had expected a well written space opera, but what I found was an intelligent and brilliantly written science fiction thriller that far exceeded my expectations. Tenfold.
the final verdict
Illuminae is a visual masterpiece. Blending engaging characters with a unique format and explosive storyline was nothing short of breathtaking. Both Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff have created a phenomenal and flawless narrative that will captivate readers until the final page is turned. Strap yourself in for one hell of a ride.
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