Book Review: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

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Title: Thirteen Reasons Why

Author: Jay Asher
Genre: Young Adult / Realistic Fiction / Mental Health
Publisher: Penguin
Publication Date: 27th December 2016
ISBN: 9780141387772
Stand Alone/Series: Stand alone
Pages: 336 pages
First Lines: "Sir?" she repeats.  "How soon do you want it to get there?"

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Synopsis:  
The #1 New York Times bestseller and modern classic that's been changing lives for a decade, gets a gorgeous revamped cover and special additional content.

You can't stop the future.
You can't rewind the past.
The only way to learn the secret . . . is to press play.

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker--his classmate and crush--who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah's voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out why.

Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a firsthand witness to Hannah's pain, and as he follows Hannah's recorded words throughout his town, what he discovers changes his life forever.

My Thoughts:
I did watch the tv show first.  See here for the quickie review on the tv show! Part of me always likes to read the book first.  You get so much more out of books than movies / Tv Shows!  The book is obviously different as well, because a tv show tailors to a wider audience of both readers and non -readers.

First thing: the way Hannah chooses to go is different.  I'm not going to say how because I don't want to ruin it for you but that's the first thing.  The other part is Clay listens to all the tapes in one night in the book as opposed to dragging it out in the tv show.  For the book, I think it was a better choice to have it play out in one night otherwise the book would have dragged on and became boring.

When the tapes begin in the book, I could hear Hannah Bakers voice from the show, because the tapes in the book seemed word for word.  It was good!  Though I can't help comparing the tv show to the book, I did like tv Hannah Baker that little bit more.

For me, I put the book down about halfway through.  I'm not sure whether it was because I knew how it was going to end, or whether I lost interest a little bit.  I'd like to think it was the first reason.  Obviously I did pick it up but there was a moment where I didn't think I was going to finish it.  I'm glad I did though.

Like the tv show, and most of you, I was itching to get to Clay's tape.  I think that's what drove me to pick the book back up.  I knew what it was going to say, but like any other story, you always take away something different each time you read a book.  This was also where I really fell in love with the other character Tony.  He's compassionate towards Clay and a genuinely caring person.  You also get to see the other side of Clay that is empathetic and sensitive.  All in all, if you've watched the tv show you should read the book.  Just remember books always hold more than a tv or movie can ever portray.  This was a great read.

Not sure I'd recommend it to anyone under the age of 15 though because it touches on things like suicide, bullying and rape.


Book received from:  Purchased.

Day Shift by Charlaine Harris

Title: Day Shift

Author: Charlaine Harris
Genre: Paranormal / Fantasy
Publisher: Gollancz
Publication Date: 5th May 2015
ISBN: 9780575092891
Stand Alone/Series: Midnight Texas#2
Pages: 320 pages
First Lines: It isn't the rumbling of the trucks that seizes Manfred Bernardo's attention; it is the silence that falls when their ignitions die.

Contains Possible Spoilers if you haven't read Midnight!

Synopsis: 
There is no such thing as bad publicity, except in Midnight, Texas, where the residents like to keep to themselves. Even in a town full of secretive people, Olivia Charity is an enigma. She lives with the vampire Lemuel, but no one knows what she does; they only know that she’s beautiful and dangerous.

Psychic Manfred Bernardo finds out just how dangerous when he goes on a working weekend to Dallas and sees Olivia there with a couple who are both found dead the next day. To make matters worse, one of Manfred’s regular—and very wealthy—clients dies during a reading.

Manfred returns from Dallas embroiled in scandal and hounded by the press. He turns to Olivia for help; somehow he knows that the mysterious Olivia can get things back to normal. As normal as things get in Midnight…

My Thoughts:
Day Shift is the second book in Charlaine Harris' new series Midnight, Texas.  I thoroughly enjoyed Charlaine's Sookie Stackhouse series and the Midnight series does not disappoint!

 The series begins with Manfred Bernardo a psychic, moving to Midnight, Texas.  There he finds and unusual close-nit group of residents with their own closet of secrets.

I found Day Shift jumped into the action a little quicker than Midnight, and it certainly hooked me from the first chapter.  An unusual event occurs in Midnight and it has the residents on edge.  A mysterious company has resurrected the boarded up hotel and it is bringing traffic to Midnight.  Not something that they want at all.

Another mysterious guest appears roughly the same time as the opening of the hotel and takes up temporary residence in the Rev's chapel.  What really gets the story going, is when he is out on a working weekend to Dallas and a long standing client of his dies.  Which sets the dominoes falling.

I really enjoyed the secrecy of each character.  I won't give up any secrets there but there were a few surprises amongst the group and I am curious to see where  Charlaine takes this in the third book.

Manfred as usual is the favourite for me but in these novels Charlaine has given multiple viewpoints told in third person omniscient, which could get confusing if you read too fast.  There were a couple of times I had to reread a paragraph to pick up who was telling this particular part of the story.

I loved how Charlaine makes reference to characters from her other books in this series, including one character that I know of that shows up in the Sookie Stackhouse novels.  If you know those books you have a fair idea of this particular person's skills and background.  Another nice tie in I think!

All in all I love Charlaine Harris' writing style and her stories! I'm definitely going to look into the other series she has created for my next lot of reading material.  I just can't wait for Night Shift to be published.

Book received from:  Bought this one!!

Unwanted by Amanda Holohan

Title: Unwanted

Author: Amanda Holohan
Genre: Young Adult/Dystopian/ Sci Fi/Post Apocalyptic
Publisher: Penguin Australia
Publication Date: 28th January 2015
ISBN: 9780143571094
Stand Alone/Series: Stand Alone I think!
Pages: 336 pages
First Lines: It was coming for her.  She sensed it following her through the empty crumbling alleyways - tracing the scent of her body, already slick with sweat

Synopsis:  All her life, Bea has wanted nothing more than to become a sniper on the wall and earn the coveted ink of a Dread warrior - a mark of distinction among her people. She knows that one day the terrifying Erebii might break through the city's outer defences, and if her people aren't prepared and the wall is breached then the last human city will fall. But everything Bea thinks she knows is about to be challenged... What does the ink really do as it flows underneath their skin and who is the mysterious Unwanted boy that keeps appearing in her life? 

My Thoughts:  I think what I enjoyed the most was the unique detail this dystopian had over other books in the genre.  It made the book stand out for me.

I love all things dystopian but there has to be an aspect that hooks me from the beginning that some books tend not to have.  For Unwanted it was the swirling ink and the crows and the Erebii.  The further along in the story and there were more aspects that made this book stand out. (I shall not mention these as they may spoil the book for others)

Unfortunately there were a few things that I didn't like.  The first one, and this could be personal preference, but the chapters in the beginning of the book seemed too long.  I don't know whether anyone else found this out, but I found that first chapter a bit of a struggle.  I was just getting to know the character but I felt there needed to be a break, even if the chapter was halved, though I know it would have been hard considering what she was doing.

The other thing that bothered me was that Gus wasn't as strong a character as I'd hoped him to be.  I mean I'm not after a super hero but a bit more fight for her would have been nice.  Maybe just me.

In saying that, I loved Bea and Red.  Two of my favourite characters for sure!  There was enough mystery about Red and it kept me itching to find out what the go was with him.

Even though there were a few things that bothered me, I absolutely loved the ending!  I fully expect a sequel!!  I can't find anywhere that there will be but I have to know what happens next.  I need to know!

I'll be keeping an eye out for more work by Amanda Holohan for sure!

Book received from:  Penguin Australia

All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Title: All The Bright Places

Author: Jennifer Niven
Genre: Young Adult / Contemporary
Publisher: Penguin Australia
Publication Date: 7th January 2015
ISBN: 9780141357034
Stand Alone/Series: Stand Alone
Pages: 400 pages
First Lines: Is today a good day to die?

Synopsis: 
Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.
Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister's recent death.
When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it's unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the 'natural wonders' of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It's only with Violet that Finch can be himself - a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who's not such a freak after all. And it's only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet's world grows, Finch's begins to shrink.

My Thoughts: 
I received this uncorrected proof from Penguin Australia and I was pretty excited to read this.  When I read it was likened to John Green's novels and Eleanor and Park I couldn't wait to start reading.  As you can tell in the picture to the left, there was so much I loved about this book!  There were those lines that I wanted to savour, and come back to again and again.

I loved being in Theordore Finch's head.  I warmed up to Violet too after a little while, but Finch was my favourite character by far!  His changes in character and dress, his views on the world, his way with words.  They drew me in.  He would be the kind of person that could lift you up in a moments notice.  But he has these moods that pull him down, and make him "Sleep."  And all he wants to do is stay awake.  In the Now!

I was sad for Violet.  For surviving the crash but losing her sister and dealing with the aftermath.  To wake up and be on the ledge, have someone who was in the same boat save YOU, and then be portrayed as the hero.  For falling for Finch, and living again.  

The story itself was beautifully written.  For me there were no "lulls" or boring parts in the book. I enjoyed every bit!  I don't know whether I missed the signs,  but I didn't realise initially, that it was a story that includes mental illness until it is brought up within the book . I knew one of the main characters was fascinated with death, the other grieving for a loved one.  But there was so much more than just this!

There are so many things I want to do now.  Finch and Violet wander their state as part of a school project.  Their own rules being No phones, and leaving something at each place!  There is also mention of epitaphs in the book as well.  Another thing I'd love to have a go at.  I found after reading this that I wanted to do so much more with my life than just live.  I wanted to be something to someone and books like this really make you sit back and want to evaluate the things that you have done and want to do in life.  We are only given so many days in our life before it's too late.  Before we reach our own "Built-in ending" and I guess this has kick started the bucket list for me.

This story is about two teens who have ended up in the same place physically and emotionally and they fall in love.  It's about suicide, and survival, and grief, and love.  It's about finding the perfect day, and being the person you're supposed to be, and to matter!

This book is one that is well worth reading.

Fave Lines:  Just to pick one would be so hard!!
Page 41 - Maybe no one else will ever visit them and appreciate them or take the time to think they're important, but maybe even the smallest places mean something.
Page 315 - We do not remember days we remember moments.



Book received from:  Penguin Australia

The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey

Title: The Infinite Sea
Author: Rick Yancey
Genre: Young Adult/Sci-Fi
Publisher: Penguin Australia
Publication Date: 27th August 2014
ISBN: 9780141345840
Stand Alone/Series: The Fifth Wave #2
Pages: 336 pages
First Lines: There would be no harvest.  The spring rains woke the dormant tillers, and bright green shoots sprang from the moist earth and rose like sleepers stretching after a long nap.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE FIRST BOOK!

Synopsis:How do you rid the earth of seven billion humans? Rid the humans of their humanity.
Cassie Sullivan and her companions lived through the Others' four waves of destruction. Now, with the human race nearly exterminated and the 5th Wave rolling across the landscape, they face a choice: brace for winter and hope for Evan Walker's return, or set out in search of other survivors before the enemy closes in. Because the next attack is more than possible – it's inevitable.
No one can anticipate the depths to which the Others will sink – nor the heights to which humanity will rise . . .

My Thoughts:
I must admit I was super excited when this rocked up on my doorstep.  Completely over the moon.

I started reading and the first chapter in had me hooked completely.  Drew me in to this group but wow by the end of the chapter I was shocked.  I knew that this would play a part further into the book so I kept reading wondering when this would pop.

The story itself is told through various characters: Cassie, Ringer, Evan Walker, some in first some in third.  This itself caused me a bit of an issue at the beginning when I thought I was in Cassie's POV then found out it was Ringers.  It wasn't made obviously clear to begin with but I did eventually tell the two apart. Especially towards the end of one of the scenes with Ringer and Teacup.

The one problem I had was that I was confused a bit of the time.  It had been so long since I'd read The Fifth Wave and when there were references and things that came up I felt a bit lost.  So if you intend on reading this, I suggest refreshing with the last couple of chapters of The Fifth Wave before moving on.  I think I have to blame this a little on the fact I read way too much lol.

I'm interested to see where Rick takes this story.  There were a few revelations and we find out a fair bit about the main characters in the book including a few new characters!  So I'm itching for the next book.

I must say the only thing that bothered me a little was that this seemed be more Ringer's story than Cassie's.  I felt like we spent alot more time in her head than Cassie's.  I begun to really like her but I wonder how the third book will turn out!

Good read!

Book received from:  Penguin Australia

The Revenge of Seven by Pittacus Lore

Title:  The Revenge of Seven

Author: Pittacus Lore
Genre:  Young Adult/Sci Fi
Publisher:  Penguin Australia
Publication Date: 26th August 2014
ISBN:  9780718178369
Stand Alone/Series:  Lorien Legacies #5
Pages:  320 pages
First Lines:  The nightmare is over.  When I open my eyes there's nothing but darkness.

Synopsis: 
The have killed four of us.
 They will not rest until we are all dead.
 They will not stop until your planet is theirs.
 They think we are broken.
 We will not be defeated.
 We are all that stands in their way.
 We know secrets they thought hidden.
 We have power they never expected.
 The time has come for them to fall. The Garde have suffered the ultimate betrayal: Number Five has allied himself with the Mogadorians, killing Eight and helping the Mogs to abduct Ella from the safe house. Now the fight for Earth's survival has just become that much more impossible. The Garde may not have time to mourn their fallen ally, but they'll make sure to avenge him. And help is at hand from the most unlikely of sources: Adam, a Mogadorian, has turned his back on his people. He might just be their lifeline, but are the Garde repeating past mistakes by putting their trust in him?

My Thoughts:  I received this book a little while ago, but because I'm one of these readers that wants... no NEEDS to read things in order, I picked up Fall of Five first. Once I'd finished that I was so glad I had The Revenge of Seven to keep gong because seriously things couldn't be left as they were.

It's worse after reading this book because I now have to wait HOW LONG to find out what is going to happen after this crazy as cliffhanger.  Like seriously!!

So,  The Revenge of Seven for me wasn't gripping enough to be read in one sitting.  It was good don't get me wrong.  But I found myself putting the book down alot in the beginning.  It wasn't that it WASN'T good.  I just wasn't compelled to fly through this like some books.  But in saying that I still thoroughly enjoyed the read.  I couldn't help but feel like this was just setting things up more or less for book 6 because apart from a few smallish revelations which threw a few curve balls at the reader, there was no "Oh my God" moments up until the VERY end and then it was like. No don't end on THAT! But obviously it did!

The garde split up a few times during the book having each group heading in different directions.  They are left to deal with less than ideal circumstances and I must admit I was on the edge of my seat just as something big was going down only to have the Author switch to another character!

There was one really surprising element in the form of Adam.  Of course this is all I will say but deep down I was cheering for him a bit.  Another surprising thing were the amount of Chimaerae (or however it is spelt) in this.  Finally Bernie Kosar is not completely alone!

There was a funny moment in the book that has stuck with me even now after finishing this off, and that one of the chimaera goes from being a canary to a rhino midflight.  Amusing to say the least.  I'd love to see this done in cinema, but alas I shall keep wishing.

There are a few things that are revealed in this book as well.  Obviously you will have to find these out for yourselves!  I'm surprised to find when Six and gang reach their destination and find out the outcome of their mission.

Once hitting the halfway mark I couldn't put the book down.  I needed to know what was going to happen to John, Marina (Seven) and the gang and by the last page I was trying to magically manifest the next book along unsuccessfully.

If you have been reading the Lorien Legacies series don't stop reading this book because there are a few slow spots because at the end you are going to be wishing that the next book was right there in front of you!


Book received from:  Penguin Australia for review.

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Title:  Eleanor and Park
Author:  Rainbow Rowell
Genre:  Young Adult / Contemporary / Realistic Fiction
Publisher:  Orion (Hatchette)
Publication Date:  30th April 2013
ISBN:  9781409120544
Stand Alone/Series:  Stand Alone
Pages:  336 pages
First Lines:  He'd stopped trying to bring her back.  She only came back when she felt like it, in dreams and lies and broken-down deja vu

Synopsis:  Eleanor is the new girl in town, and with her chaotic family life, her mismatched clothes and unruly red hair, she couldn't stick out more if she tried.
Park is the boy at the back of the bus.  Black tshirts, headphones, head in a book - he thinks he's made himself invisible.  But not to Eleanor... never to Eleanor
Slowly, steadily, through late-night conversations and an ever-growing stack of mix tapes, Eleanor and Park fall for eachother.  They fall in love the way you do the first time, when you are young, and you feel as if you have nothing and everything to lose.

My Thoughts:  Eleanor and Park isn't what I expected at all.  I'm glad to say it was better than I initially thought it would be. I am slowly reading more and more contemporary and realistic fiction.  I wouldn't say it's my favourite genre because I prefer post apocalyptic and paranormal books but I really enjoyed Eleanor and Park from beginning to end.  There were no borings bits that I found tends to happen in some contemporary which was a bonus too!

There are so many instances in the book where I can relate to both Eleanor and Park.  The very first time that Eleanor shows up on the bus, I felt so bad for her.  But I also love her attitude when faced with so many challenges.  I would have probably cried a long time before she did and I think that is why I loved her so much.  With her mismatched clothes and the way that she uses ribbons and ties, I was so glad that the Author made her the way she was and not some perfect stereotype of a girl that everyone tries to conform to be.

I really felt for Park too.  Especially towards the very end!  His parents were so supportive of him, it was hard to imagine this sort of thing happening back in 1986, and his father knowing what he knew about the family.  I think that's what makes his family all the more likeable.  Especially his Mum.

I guess this is a really good example of how first loves go.  The awkwardness, and uncertainty when getting to know another person you happen to really like.  By the end of the book I was wishing it didn't have to end!

Favourite part of the book would have to be around 170, when I happened to be sitting there grinning like an idiot at work and thinking Nawwwwwwwwwwww this is awesome!

Definitely not suitable for younger readers as it does explore their relationship a little more than other YA books.


Fave Lines:  Eleanor was right. She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something.
Book received from:  Hatchette Australia

The Young World by Chris Weitz

Title:  The Young World
Author:  Chris Weitz
Genre:  Young Adult / Dystopia / Post Apocalyptic
Publisher:  Atom / Hachette
Publication Date:  29th July 2014
ISBN:  9780349001937
Stand Alone/Series:  The Young World Trilogy #1
Pages:  352 pages
First Lines:  It's another gorgeous spring day after the fall of civilization.  I'm doing the rounds, following the path that winds through Washington Square Park like a warped infinity sign.

Synopsis:   Welcome to New York, a city ruled by teens. After a mysterious Sickness wipes out the rest of the population, the young survivors assemble into tightly run tribes. Jefferson, the reluctant leader of the Washington Square tribe, and Donna, the girl he's secretly in love with, have carved out a precarious existence among the chaos. But when another tribe member discovers a clue that may hold the cure to the Sickness, five teens set out on a life-altering road trip to save humankind. The tribe exchanges gunfire with enemy gangs, escapes cults and militias, braves the wilds of the subway and Central Park ...and discovers truths they could never have imagined. 

My Thoughts:  I was pretty stoked.  I arrive home from work one afternoon with a couple of packages sitting on my desk.  I had requested a book from Hachette a little while ago and was lucky enough to be given a few different books to read.  This was one of them.

I must admit, I did read the back of the synopsis and think, "Damn, no zombies in this." I've read similar post apocalyptic story lines like this before too but you know what?  I love the post apocalyptic/dystopian genre and have not yet reached my threshold of "I've had enough of this".. yet.

I must admit, I wasn't completely hooked the first few pages in, but like alot of other books that turn out to be awesome, I kept going.  And I'm glad I did.

The two viewpoints in the book are Jefferson, reluctant leader/Generalissimo and Donna, his long time friend. Both POV's are in first person present but unlike Jefferson's, Donna seems to talk to the reader a little more.

I liked Chris Weitz's writing style and his characters were true to form of typical teenagers (without hopefully stereotyping teens), eg. declarations of love, the constant use of "like", everything is so amplified when your a teen.  It almost as if teens feel more than any other age group.  Hopefully that makes sense.  I got that feeling throughout the book.  Maybe not as up front and in your face obvious but it was there.

There were parts of the book which were less enjoyable than others, but I had to look at it this way.  If you were to take any adult and child away from a scenario leaving teens, how would things be.  I can totally understand the grouping.  Maybe not so much the emphasis on the "b&*%es" and the whole sexual objectification, but this is really only targeting one small group in the whole story and not all characters agreed with that attitude.  On the other hand I did laugh at the group from the library.  A little bit scary but at the same time a bit amusing and a little gross.  Sorry if there are a few spoilers here, I'm trying to keep some things as vague as possible so as not to ruin it for others.

I can see other readers saying this type of story has been done before, but really which ones haven't?  I'd love to see where the next two books takes the story and its characters!  Maybe in the second and third book it will set this trilogy apart from other books in this genre.

I've also read that this book has been optioned for movie rights already by Warner Bros so keep your eyes open.  It would sure make a great movie.  Especially since the author happens to have had a hand in The Twilight Saga: New Moon, A Better Life, About a Boy, The Golden Compass and American Pie.  Yep.  I reckon the movie should be good :)

Fave Lines:  "..You and Jefferson will have ten Eurasion babies.  Me and Theo will adopt half of them.  I'll host a TV show called Apocalypse Wow." Page 327
Book received from:  Hachette Australia

As Stars Fall by Christie Nieman

Title:  As Stars Fall
Author:  Christie Nieman
Genre:  Young Adult / Contemporary
Publisher:  Pan Macmillan Australia
Publication Date:  1st July 2014
ISBN:  9781743517697
Stand Alone/Series:  Stand Alone
Pages:  320 Pages
First Lines:  The light was strange.  The darkness was a deep red, and there was a thickness between the stars.  And the air was strange too.  It had a bitter tang.

Synopsis:  In north-eastern Victoria, bush-covered hills erupt into flames. A Bush Stone-curlew escapes the fire but a woman studying the endangered bird does not.
When Robin's parents split up after the fire, her mother drags her from the country to a new life in the ugly city. Robin misses her dog, her best-friend, the cows, trees, creek, bushland and, especially, the birds. Robin is a self-confessed, signed-up, card-carrying bird-nerd. Just like her dad.
On the first day at her new school, Robin meets Delia. She's freaky, a bit of a workaholic, and definitely not good for Robin's image. Delia's older brother Seth has given up school to prowl the city streets. He is angry at everything, but mostly at the fire that killed his mother.
 When the Bush Stone-curlew turns up in the city parklands next to Seth and Delia's house the three teenagers become inextricably linked. Soon their lives are circling tighter and tighter around each other, and the curlew.

My Thoughts:  As Stars Fall was one of those books that I really enjoyed, most of the time.  I hate to say it but there was a part in the middle in the section named "States and Transitions" where it was, well for me, a bit slow and I kept putting the book down, because I just wasn't interested.

In saying that,  I really enjoyed the rest of the story.  The beginning, "Disturbance" drew me in, and had me feeling sad for both the bird and the woman. Especially the woman as she lost her life in the fire.  We've had some serious fires in Australia, and in February 2009 was the most extreme.  The fires were so bad that they jumped roads and incinerated cars, homes, people.  "Black Saturday" was a very sad day, and the pictures that circulated, including the Koala who came up to the cyclist for water, showed how harsh and unrelenting it was.

The characters were unique, and it was easy to tell each voice apart.  It is labelled at the beginning of a narration change, but even so, to me, it didn't seem needed.  Robin is the new girl at school, a country girl, who has moved to the city with her mother.  She's strong but confused on how she fits into the new city life and is having trouble adjusting.

Delia and Seth are struggling to deal with their grief, and anger; the aftermath of losing their mother.  Living with their father who is drowning out his sorrows with alcohol rather than dealing with his grief head on.  Delia seems to be a little bit of a loner at school, but when it comes to the new girl she has no problem sticking her neck out for her and telling the other "In" girls just how it is.  I feel like she's trying to be so strong that she's just about to crumble under the surface.  Seth skips school, and is drowning out his sorrows another way.  But the thing I love the most about these characters, is how they each see the bush stone curlew.  And this is what ties them all together.

The story is narrated by all three of these characters, Robin in first person, and Delia and Seth in third person.  But occasionally throughout the book, you see the curlew narrating her story, as well as an essay here and there from Selena.  It adds to the story I think, but it also seems to slow the narration and jars it a little.

Overall I did like this book.  There are bits that I didn't like, but it picks up where it needs to towards the end and I loved the ending.  Not for everyone though.

Book received from:  Pan Macmillan Australia

Review: Dangerous Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Title:  Dangerous Creatures
Author: Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Genre:  Young Adult/Urban Fantasy/Paranormal
Publisher:  Penguin
Publication Date:  20th May 2014
ISBN:  9780141354101
Stand Alone/Series:  Dangerous Creatures #1
Pages:  Enter
First Lines:  There are only two kinds of Mortals in the backwater town of Gatlin, South Carolina - the stupid and the stuck.  At least, that's what they say.

Synopsis:  Ridley Duchannes is nobody's heroine.
She's a dark Caster, a Siren.  She can make you do anything.  She can't be trusted. By Anyone.
But that hasn't stopped her boyfriend Link from falling in love with her - or taking her with him to follow his rock-star dream.
New York City is a dangerous place for both Casters and Mortals, and soon Ridley realizes that Link's bandmates are keeping secrets.
Determined to uncover the truth, what she finds out is worse than she could have imagined.
Link has a price on his head that no Caster or Mortal can ever pay.
With lives on the line, what's a Siren to do?

My Thoughts:  I absolutely loved the Caster Chronicles  and hadn't realized that there was going to be a spin off with Ridley and Link until Penguin sent me a package in the mail.

I was a bit skeptical to begin with because I got to about page 15 and wasn't really into this as much as I'd hoped to be.  I just wasn't really warming up to Ridley like I had with the characters of Beautiful Creatures.  I guess I was hoping to find that bit of Lena within her and I couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.

But I'm glad I kept reading because once I hit page 24 and then to 112, the tables had turned and I thought wow!  Ridley, I could get used to this. The run in with Link's mother before they leave had me thinking I could get used to Ridley's attitude, but what really did it for me was the part with Ridley in the Hair Salon.  I'd been hooked.

Ridley didn't really stand out for me in the Caster Chronicles but I'm happy that she's been given her own series with Link.  She's attitude, doesn't deal with anyone's crap and surprisingly deep, deep, down there is a soft side to her.  Paired with Link, it makes for an interesting duo.  Link isn't the brightest spark, but he's genuine, head over for heels for Ridley, and terrible band member with his lyrics.

If you've read the Caster Chronicles, you'll more than likely enjoy this spin off series!  I recommend to read the Caster Chronicles first, it will give you a better understanding of the family but it is not necessary!

Fave Lines:  When it came to relationships, the truth never set anyone free.  The Truth only set things on fire. - page 95.
Book received from:  Penguin Australia

Riot by Sarah Mussi

Title:  Riot
Author:  Sarah Mussi
Genre:  Young Adult/Mystery and Thriller
Publisher:  Hatchette Children's Books
Publication Date:  1st May 2014
ISBN:  9781444910100
Stand Alone/Series:  Stand Alone
Pages:  352 pages
First Lines:  Mothers from problem families should feel 'ashamed'.  They are damaging society and should stop getting pregnant, according to a senior government advisor.

Synopsis:

A hard hitting, near future thriller from the author of SIEGE
Years of cuts have devastated Britain: banks are going under, businesses closing, prices soaring, unemployment rising, prisons overflowing. The authorities cannot cope. And the population has maxed out.

 The solution: forced sterilization of all school leavers without secure further education plans or guaranteed employment. The country is aghast, but the politicians are unshakeable. No more free housing for single parents, no more child benefit, no more free school meals, no more children in need.

It's time for the young to take to the streets. It's time for them to RIOT.

My Thoughts:
After reading some of the various short reviews I was a bit worried I wouldn't like Riot.  The idea of sterilization amongst school leavers had me interested but a bit wary.

I hit 11% of Riot and was pretty much hooked.  There is one part that involves a baby that I really didn't like but apart from that, I was flying through the pages wanting to find out what happened next.  The book follows Tia the main character also known as Anonymous or EVE.  She's part of the resistance to the Snip bill they are trying to bring in for uneducated youths leaving school and without jobs.  She's also the daughter of the man trying to bring in the snip bill.  While the riots she helps organize with ADAM are meant to be harmless, the first time we see her protesting, it turns violent, ending in bloodshed and an injured Tia.

In steps Cobain.  A yob as the book refers to.  As I don't live in England I had to Google this. "a rude, noisy, and aggressive youth." is the meaning that Google produces. but Tia soon learns this is not the case with Cobain when he saves her more than once.  

The scary thing about Riot is that it is only set in 2018, and most of the topics that are brought up in the books, seem quite possible.  Although, I couldn't see a government bringing in the Snip Bill on Teenagers.  It wouldn't be so far fetched in doing this to prisoners etc.  So it felt realistic enough to me.

I really enjoyed reading Riot. The beginning does throw you a little when it starts with a patient being snipped, but once you keep reading all the blocks fall into pace.

I'd definitely be interested in picking up more books from Sarah Mussi to read.

Book received from:  Net Galley

Disharmony: Immortal Combat by Leah Giarratano

Title:  Disharmony: Immortal Combat
Author:  Leah Giarratano
Genre:  Young Adult/ Paranormal/ Urban Fantasy
Publisher:  Penguin Australia
Publication Date:  21st August 2013
ISBN:  9780143565703
Stand Alone/Series:  Disharmony #3
Pages:  384 pages
First Lines:  No matter how desperately she dug her heels into the sun-baked clay of the Voodoo Queen's backyard, Betsy Washington closer.

Synopsis:
A war that will end the world or save it . . .
The prophesied war is raging. Luke's destiny is unstoppable, Sam's losses and powers are unravelling her mind, and Jake's family secrets put the whole world in peril. And that's before the darkest warlock of all time makes his first move on the chessboard. A move he's planned for centuries . . . 

My Thoughts:
Immortal Combat is the last book in the Disharmony Trilogy and while I looked forward to seeing how Leah tied up the end of this series I was kind of disappointed by the ending.

I liked how she has progressed Luke, Jake and Sam's powers up to what they are and I was looking at Immortal Combat being the ultimate awesome finish but I guess it lacked the POW! that a final book should have at the final crucial moment.  It just didn't capture me.

We find out more of what each character can do in this book and seen what happens when powers emerge when each main character is not quite ready for it.  We are also introduced to the final players in the game that we have only heard snippets of in the previous two books.

I couldn't help but cheer Luke on in this novel.  He always seems to be the underdog and being the "Psychopath" doesn't always give him a good Rep!  I also loved the interactions between Luke and his sister Arabella who was a failed psychopath.  They stood out against the rest of the group but somehow I kept thinking Arabella might have played the psychopath better than Luke but I favoured him ultimately.

I would like to see more of Leah Giarratano's work as she has got some really awesome writing I just

Book received from:  Penguin Australia

Monsters by Ilsa J. Bick

Title:  Monsters

Author:  Ilsa J. Bick

Genre:  Young Adult / Dystopian / Science Fiction

Publisher:  Egmont USA

Publication Date:  10th September 2013

ISBN:  9781606841778

Stand alone or series: Ashes Trilogy #3

Pages:  688 pages

First Lines:  Alex had fallen like this only once in her life.  That happened when she was nine and took a wild leap from Blackrocks Cliff off Presque Isle into the deep sapphire-blue of Lake Superior.

Possible Spoilers if you haven't read Ashes and Shadows!

Synopsis:The Changed are on the move.
The Spared are out of time.
The End...is now.
When her parents died, Alex thought things couldn't get much worse--until the doctors found the monster in her head.
She headed into the wilderness as a good-bye, to leave everything behind. But then the end of the world happened, and Alex took the first step down a treacherous road of betrayal and terror and death.
Now, with no hope of rescue--on the brink of starvation in a winter that just won't quit--she discovers a new and horrifying truth.
The Change isn't over.
The Changed are still evolving.
And...they've had help.
 With this final volume of The Ashes Trilogy, Ilsa J. Bick delivers a riveting, blockbuster finish, returning readers to a brutal, post-apocalyptic world where no one is safe and hope is in short supply.
A world where, from these ashes, the monsters may rise.

My Thoughts:
This is by far the longest book in the Trilogy and I'm grateful for it.  It also took the longest to read but being the last book in the Trilogy I really wanted to savour the world and its characters before it was all over too soon.

I have to also point out that there is a list of Characters at the end of the book that will help freshen the memory of what's happened so far.  I thought it be a good idea to tell you it all now so that if you are like me, and take a little bit to remember what happened in the last book.  This is a big help.

The first thing I noticed with Monsters was that it wasn't as goretastic as the other two books.  Don't get me wrong, there's violence but not to the extremes(or shock value) of the first two books.  There's more backstory  for the characters than I had noticed in the first two, and this is good because it fleshes (excuse the pun) the characters out more and I guess there was a little more empathizing with the less likable characters.

I both liked and hated that there were so many viewpoints.  Alex, Ellie, Tom, Greg, Peter, Chris. You see my point.  Right when I was getting into one viewpoint Ilsa flips over to another character.  I know this is to be expected to keep you reading... and by god did I do some reading to get back to finding out about that particular character.  But then I'd be pulled into another character .. the cycle goes on.

I couldn't help but wondering all throughout the book.. when are Ellie, Alex and Tom getting back together. And, I have to say that this time reading about Ellie, I didn't want to reach in a throttle her as much as I wanted to in the first book.  She's grown up since we've last heard from her and thank god for that.  It was actually nice to see a more mature POV from her.

Tom on the other hand seemed to be slowly falling apart at one point.  His time away from Alex really plays on his mind and in doing so, starts to form cracks in his sanity.

Wolf was a curious character I'm not sure whether I really liked or whether I was turned off from such a descriptive telling of smell lol.  He shows more so than ever the protectiveness  towards Alex but it all came back to me as Why!  Why has he changed.  And that I guess is where my answer was.  Evolving.  While I wish some other characters did a little more evolving, my shock at which characters had changed had me thinking.. HOW is this going to end.  Because right now.. she aint gonna be pretty!

While I wouldn't say this is the most ideal ending I wanted to happen, I think I'm pretty happy with how it did turn out.  I'm not sure if bittersweet is the right word I'm thinking of, but it's quite close to it.

Book Received from:  Netgalley (Requested)

The Vale Girl by Nelika McDonald

Title:  The Vale Girl

Author:  Nelika McDonald

Genre:  Young Adult

Publisher:  Pan Macmillan Australia

Publication Date:  1st August 2013

ISBN:  9781742612423

Stand alone or series: Stand Alone  

Pages:  320 pages

Book Received from:  Publisher

First Lines:  I live in Banville, a small town that begins and ends at no discerible point in the middle of bloody nowhere.

Synopsis:Fifteen- year old Sarah Vale has disappeared from the small town of Banville.
Resident copper Sergeant Henson attempts to find the missing girl but the locals dismiss his investigations. What would you expect with a mother like hers anyway?
No one really cares except teenager Tommy Johns - for Sarah Vale takes a straight line to his heart.
And, sometimes, one true champion is all it takes to tear a town's veneer apart.

My Thoughts:
I'm glad I was sent The Vale Girl.  Right from the the Prologue I was drawn in.. and the moment I began reading this, I knew I was going to have a hard time putting it down.

The story revolves around the lead up and the disappearance of Sarah Vale a fifteen year old girl living in the small town of Banville.  A town that surprisingly attracts its share of tourists with the popular Grevillea Festival held in the main part of town

Chapter One is a real eye opener.  It begins with Sarah collecting money from various hidey holes to keep up with the Vale household bills.  Right here, it's clear Sarah is the responsible adult in the parent daughter relationship.  From here on in, I could tell Sarah was on her own.  Her travels to school are no better, dealing with bullies and having the neighbour all but look the other way but hang around out the front until the bullies are on their way.  The neighbour stays long enough after for a quick smile before ducking off back inside.  This behaviour is quite weird to me until I realise what year the novel is based in, as well as how small the town of Banville actually is.

Everybody knows everyone else, and reputation and money more often than not trumps the deeds one does in a small town.  In the late 1960s it's hard to imagine that a human being could turn the other way when someone is in need of help but when the person you thought was doing the wrong thing, also supplied you another service, it would be silly to bite the hand that feeds you.. so to speak.  So things get swept under the rug.  And that unfortunately is the way things are for the people in Banville.  So when poor Sarah goes missing, everyone's lips are sealed and no one knows anything, which certainly makes the Sergeants job that little bit harder.  But thanks to a persistent teen named Tommy who also happens to be Sarah's only friend, and a Sergeant with his gut feeling something isn't right, this one can't be swept under the rug and forgotten.

The Vale Girl is told through a number of viewpoints including Sarah, Tommy, Sergeant Henson, and another character, the story ropes you in and has you hanging for another piece of the puzzle.

Nelika McDonald has an awesome knack for bringing a town and it's characters to life in a believable and authentic setting.

Definitely a recommended read!

Fave Line:  There were so many I loved!   'Sometimes when you think you want something its only when you get it that you realise you were wrong. That it wasn't what you wanted at all. But by then it's usually too late.'

In the After by Demitria Lunetta

Title:  In The After

Author:  Demitria Lunetta

Genre:  Young Adult/Scifi/Dystopian

Publisher:  Harper Collins 

Publication Date:  25th June 2013

Stand alone or series:   In the After #1

Pages:  261 pages

Book Received from:  Bought (e-book)

First Lines:  I only go out at night.  I walk along the empty street and pause, my muscles tense and ready.

Possible Spoilers if you haven't read this.  

Synopsis:
They hear the most silent of footsteps.
They are faster than anything you've ever seen.
And They won't stop chasing you...until you are dead.
Amy is watching TV when it happens, when the world is attacked by Them. These vile creatures are rapidly devouring mankind. Most of the population is overtaken, but Amy manages to escape—and even rescue “Baby,” a toddler left behind in the chaos. Marooned in Amy’s house, the girls do everything they can to survive—and avoid Them at all costs.
After years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living in a former government research compound. While at first the colony seems like a dream with plenty of food, safety, and shelter, New Hope slowly reveals that it is far from ideal. And Amy soon realizes that unless things change, she’ll lose Baby—and much more.
Rebellious, courageous, and tender, this unforgettable duo will have you on the edge of your seat as you tear through the pulse-pounding narrow escapes and horrifying twists of fate in this thrilling debut from author Demitria Lunetta.

My Thoughts:
I was really drawn in with the synopsis and I mean look at the cover.  Awesome right?!

The books split up in to three Parts: Part One After, Part Two New Hope, Part Three Guardians.  I have to say the strongest part of this book for me was definitely Part One.

Part One, we are introduced to Amy and Baby, the two main characters in the book.  The story is told in Amy's POV first person present tense.  I have to admit, I really liked Chapter One.  The fact that she can only go out night is definitely the opposite of what I would do and what most would do if there are zombies or aliens.  I mean look at Legend.  Hole up in a bathtub with the dog for the night and fingers crossed make it through until the morning.  Well these monsters "thankfully" can't see well in the dark.  Hearing is ultra fine but the bad eye sight is a definite plus for the survivors.

Chapter two onwards we get a bit of the back story and everything leading up to Baby.  I have to admit, this story is the strongest when both Amy and Baby are together.  Their relationship for me makes the story all that more captivating.  The best thing is the way they have learned to communicate with each other since the creatures have turned up.

Part Two got a little confusing.  The chapter starts with what I thought was flash backs and then what happens currently but it didn't make sense.  The way I understand it now was the italics start off small to begin with and it's like this is the current scene but she's drug addled thanks to the Dr.. and because the story that she's telling is longer it becomes the main focus.  I guess maybe because she's dreaming or whatever.  Towards the end the italics become clearer until it clicks that wow.. it's not what I thought at all.  Once I got past Part two I thought,  even though it was a little jarring, it was pretty smart.  Get two of the most important parts and weave them together.  I think if it was done a little bit differently it could have been better.

Others who have reviewed this book comment on the romance as lacking.  It's almost none existent for me that I almost didn't notice it.  I'm happy with the way that Part Three played out.  I don't want to say too much else and ruin it but there are some big revelations in Part Two and Part three.  For some of you it may be a let down, for others it will be nowhere near what they expected.  I was in the latter of the group.  And I can say that I'm looking forward to the next book In The End which will be out next year.

For those of you that may or may not have enjoyed The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey, this might be up your alley!

The Diabolist by Layton Green

Title:  The Diabolist

Author:  Layton Green

Genre:  Mystery/Suspense

Publisher:  Thomas and Mercer

Publication Date:  4th June 2013

ISBN:  9781611099843

Stand alone or series:   Dominic Grey #3

Pages:  375 pages

Book Received from:  Layton Green (Author) Uncorrected proof

First Lines:  They called themselves the House of Lucifer.  Thirty minutes before midnight High Priest Matthias Gregory swung wide the doors to Red Abbey, and one by one the members filed inside.

Synopsis: While investigating the murder of a Satanic cult leader, two private investigators follow the trail of a reclusive New Age prophet and are plunged into a vortex of black magic, ancient heresies, and the dark corners of their own pasts.

My Thoughts:
It's been a little while since I've read any of Layton Green's work but as always I slipped into the story as if I'd read the previous books a day before.

I found from Chapter one that it had me in it's grips.  I mean names like House of Lucifer and "the Letter" and sermons at midnight, I knew I was going to be up all night reading this from start to finish. And I did!

The biggest thing for me about these novels is the amount of research these novels must take.  And as much as there is so much to take in, I never once got bogged down by the technicals.  I loved it.  Bring on more!

Another thing I love about these novels is, from the beginning, things seem all magical and supernatural as if there could be no other logical explanation and then walks in Viktor Radek and Dominic Grey!  It's so real world

I have to say my fave character of the series will always lie with Dominic Grey.  He's the ultimate in awesome.  He's smart, switched on and doesn't let anyone pull the wool over his eyes.  His past (for me) justifies who he is as a person now and I find that well rounded in a character.  Layton has just got a way with building credible and three dimensional characters (even the bad ones) that seem to jump of the page and demand to be remembered.

Viktor has some of the same qualities as Grey and I think that's why they make such a good team,  but I think he gets a little caught up in the details of each crime.  The research.

The appearance of the blonde did throw me in the beginning, and I kept thinking she could have been somebody else throughout the novel.  It put a good spin on things and I wondered when she would pop up again and what her role would be at the end if there was one.  I was very surprised.

Dante was one creepy and sadistic bastard. (excuse the french)  I kept reading thinking, surely Grey and Dante would go head to head.  Ultimate good guy against ultimate bad dude,

This was an awesome story and another great addition to the Dominic Grey series.  I love the history and detail that Layton puts into the novel.  The characters are well formed and come alive on the page, which means from start to finish I'm glued to the book.  Well done!

The Accident by Kate Hendrick

Title:  The Accident

Author:  Kate Hendrick

Genre:  Young Adult/

Publisher:  Text Publishing

Publication Date:  26th June 2013

ISBN:  9781921922855

Stand alone or series:   Stand Alone

Pages:  272 pages

Book Received from:  Text Publishing

First Lines:  Phones ringing, the constant chug of photocopiers, the whirr of the fans.  People talking, walking, typing...  After the months at home I'd forgotten how busy the world can be.

Synopsis:

A rainy night.  
A car crash.   
After the accident Sarah moves to a new school. A new place where no one knows what happened to her or her brother—where she doesn't have to deal with the history that's pulling the rest of her family apart.  
Will is keeping his head down at home, just trying to get by. Then his sister Lauren comes back—as caustic as always but somehow changed. Will doesn't know what upheaval brought her home. But it's sparking some serious change in his life too.  
Eliat's got no mother of her own, and she's way too young to be one. Looking after a two-year-old, trying to finish school—sometimes all that keeps her sane is partying as hard and fast as she can. Now the pressure's building and Eliat just wants to get away.  
Just get into a car and drive.   
In this impressive and beautifully written debut, Kate Hendrick sets the butterfly effect in motion. The moving stories of three teenagers going through crucial changes—before, after and around the accident—show how random actions acquire significance. How one pivotal moment could transform your life and you might never know; how what you do matters.

My Thoughts:
I'm not sure whether it was just me but the beginning of The Accident was hard to get into.  You have three different characters; Sarah whose POV is told a while after the accident aka "Later.", Will whos POV is told after the accident, and Eliat who's POV is told before the accident. 

My biggest thing was getting confused with who was who.  For me there didn't seem to be a distinct voice for each of these characters but there was something about their stories that spurred me on to keep going.  I kept having to flick back to the beginning of the chapter to see which "POV" time it was before what I was reading clicked a little more.  Once I got to about halfway, things got easier.  Again this could just be me, and others may not find this problem.

I think my favourite character had to be Sarah.  I really enjoyed her POV especially when she encounters a tape that her brother had made.  Just reading about her watching it over and over had me feeling quite sad along with her.

Eliat's wake up call couldn't come soon enough.  From someone who has had a kid, I found it really hard with some of the things that Eliat did.  Her nonchalance towards Tash simply grated on my nerves at times.  It wasn't all the time throughout the story but it was enough for me to want to reach in and go "You've had this child, grow up, step up and take charge."  My little rant done lol.

Overall, while I found the beginning of the novel confusing, I was quite happy with how the story tied together at the end.  I'm glad I stuck with this.

Haze by Paula Weston

Title:  Haze

Author:  Paula Weston

Genre:  Young Adult/Australian

Publisher:  Text Publishing

Publication Date:  22nd May 2013

ISBN:  9781922079923

Stand alone or series:   The Rephaim #2

Pages:  384 pages

Book Received from:  Text Publishing

First Lines:  I almost wish I still had the blood-soaked dream of the nightclub.

Synopsis:

"But what if we can’t find Jude?" He leans closer. His breath is warm on my ear. "We will."
"How can you be so sure?" I want to believe him so badly, but this is Rafa. The guy who’s all action and no plan. His smile is tired, knowing. An echo of a shared past I don’t remember.
"Because I’m not smart enough to give up, and you don’t know how to."

Gaby Winters’ nightmares have stopped but she still can’t remember her old life. Still can’t quite believe she is one of the Rephaim—the wingless half-angels who can shift from place to place, country to country, in the blink of an eye. That she was once the Rephaim’s best fighter. That demons exist. That Rafa has stayed.

But most of all, she can’t quite believe that her twin brother, Jude, might be alive.

And Gaby can’t explain the hesitancy that sidetracks the search for him, infuriates Rafa, and sends them, again, into the darkest danger.

My Thoughts:
I'm glad to have a few questions answered from book one Shadows.  But now I've got a few more I didn't have before.

Both Gaby and Rafa are definitely my favourite characters.  I love them all with the exception of Mya who just annoys me to bits (But we have to have characters like these sometimes) but I can see how they all play there part in telling the story.

I hate to say this, as much as I like Jason, he's a bit of a dark horse.  I definitely feel he has some hidden plans.  He's not very forthcoming in information and when he is it's because it's almost forced out of him.  Not being part of the Outcasts or the Sanctuary gives him a unique POV of the whole situation.  Would like to see what is revealed from him in the next book

(Spoiler alert - highlight to reveal)

OMG finally getting Jude back!  He is a big reason I want to read the next book.  He's a definite favourite and the fact he is looking after Gaby (which is unexpected due to their history)and not running back to Mya makes me think this next book is going to a whole new level of awesome!

For me personally I felt like the ending was finished a little abruptly.  Once I got to the end I turned the page and thought there might have been just a little more but there wasn't.  I suppose it just gets me thinking about the predicament they all are in and the need to find out what happens next.

Wildlife by Fiona Wood

Title:  Wildlife

Author:  Fiona Wood

Genre:  Young Adult/Adult Crossover fiction

Publisher:  Pan Macmillan

Publication Date:  1st June 2013

ISBN:  9781742612317

Stand alone or series:   Stand Alone

Pages:  384 pages

Book Received from:  Pan Macmillan (Publisher)

First Lines:  In the holidays before the dreaded term at my school's outdoor education campus two things out of the ordinary happened. A picture of me was plastered all over a twenty-metre bill board at St Kilda junction. And I kissed Ben Capaldi.

Synopsis:Boarding for a term in the wilderness, sixteen-year-old Sibylla expects the gruesome outdoor education program – but friendship complications, and love that goes wrong? They’re extra-curricula.
Enter Lou from Six Impossible Things – the reluctant new girl for this term in the great outdoors. Fragile behind an implacable mask, she is grieving a death that occurred almost a year ago. Despite herself, Lou becomes intrigued by the unfolding drama between her housemates Sibylla and Holly, and has to decide whether to end her self-imposed detachment and join the fray.
And as Sibylla confronts a tangle of betrayal, she needs to renegotiate everything she thought she knew about surviving in the wild. A story about first love, friendship and NOT fitting in.

My Thoughts:
I was stoked to be sent another book by Fiona Wood.  I had read Six Impossible things a couple of months ago and really enjoyed this, and when in the synopsis it had one of the characters from her other book I was pretty happy.  The only prob was, after reading one or two chapters, I couldn't actually remember Lou from the first book.  In the end I flicked through Six Impossible Things and had an "Oh that's right" moment when I found that Lou was Fred's girlfriend.  Fred, who happened to be Dan's (The main character) best friend.  I can honestly say Lou didn't stand out as much as I thought in that first book.  But in Wildlife we get to see Lou as well as the other main character, Sibylla up close and personal.

I did find it hard to begin with, to tell the difference between both characters.  Yes, they lived different lives but every now and then I'd get jumbled up and have to flick back through the previous chapter to find either the trailing ants, or the wings to remember who did what.  It gets easier as the novel goes along but at the beginning it was confusing.

That said I did really enjoy reading Wildlife.  Both girls are thrown into camp for a whole term, learning survival skills, and things nature related, as well of some of their curriculum from school.  I kind of wished to some degree that our school had done that for us.  It sure would have made things interesting.

I really felt for Lou.  Her loss is really felt throughout each chapter especially when she would refer back to things that happened in the past.  I also liked that she was quiet and didn't follow in the steps of the so called popular girls in the cabins.

I also could relate to Sibylla quite alot too.  She reminded me alot of how I used to deal with things at school.  Go with the flow, and ignore the two faced girls who would pretend to be your friends.

By the end of Wildlife I wished there was more to read.  To find out anything more about these two girls.  I really didn't want the story to end.  The two lines at the front "Lose yourself.  Find yourself." reallly rung true for this and I look forward to reading more of what Fiona Wood has in store for us.  Bring it on!