Wednesday, 9 May 2012

I want to read that...

Blindspot by Laura Ellen

From Goodreads: There’s none so blind as they that won’t see.


Seventeen-year-old Tricia Farni’s body floated to the surface of Alaska’s Birch River six months after the night she disappeared. The night Roz Hart had a fight with her. The night Roz can’t remember. Roz, who struggles with macular degeneration, is used to assembling fragments to make sense of the world around her. But this time it’s her memory that needs piecing together—to clear her name . . . to find a murderer. This unflinchingly emotional novel is written in the powerful first-person voice of a legally blind teen who just wants to be like everyone else.

I'm really liking the sound of this one! Plus I adore the cover.

It's published October 2012.

Monday, 7 May 2012

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

For Review: HarperCollins
Published: 1 May 2012

From Goodreads:  One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature


I absolutely loved Divergent when I read it last year -  it really surprised me.  Not only did I love Insurgent but I loved it even more than Divergent - and it managed to surprised me too.

The story picks up pretty much where it left off in Divergent.  All the characters are having to face the consequences of what has happened and face up to their actions.  And that proves not to be an easy task. Plus there is still danger and more choices to face.

One of the things I love about this series is the relationship between Tris and Tobias.  I love them both as characters individually and I adore how there are together.  Even in this instalment, when their relationship is strained by the secrets they keep, you can still see how much they care for each other and how good they are for each other.  I loved that Tobias calls Tris on her recklessness and I loved that she tells him some hard truths too.  I love the way she stood up to him at the end.  It was kind of a fist pump, you go girl moment for me (internally at least, I'm kind of hoping I didn't actually do it...).

Again the story was action packed and I flew through it at break neck speed.  I think it's safe to say I enjoyed every minute.  What surprised me though, was how there were consequences for what happened in Divergent.  The characters were all given time to process it and their part in it - and I loved the fact that Tris found her part in it hard.  That she had to deal with what she'd done.  It gives the story an anchor, a believability that is needed given everything else that is going on.  It meant I emotionally invested in the story too and that really makes it a book of awesomeness!

I can't wait for the next instalment.  I loved the end to this - how it answers questions and raises new ones.  Characters I thought I knew completely surprised me (both in a good way and a bad way) and I'm really looking forward to the repercussions -  I really, seriously can't wait to continue the story!


Friday, 4 May 2012

I want to read that....

Meant To Be by Lauren Morill

From Goodreads: Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question.

It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").

But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.

Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.


I'm loving the sound of this!  I'm looking forward to the fact part will be set in London! Also, the cover is ace:)

It's published November 2012

Thursday, 3 May 2012

Divergent by Veronica Roth

For Review: HarperCollins
Published: February 2012

From Goodreads:  In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.


WOW! Just ... wow. I had heard so many great things about this one when it was first released so I was expecting it to be good but it completely blew me away. I read it in one sitting and absolutely loved it!

The story is set in a world where the society is divided into factions, each representing a particular virtue.  When you are sixteen you take a test to find out which faction will fit you best - and this is used (in theory) as a basis for your choice on which faction you want to belong to,   Once you choose you are faced with initiation - if you fail you end up factionless. 

I found the world they live in to be quite harsh.  Not only does choosing a faction mean having to face initiation and possible finding yourself factionless, but if you choose one different from your family then that means turning your back on them.  It must be a difficult choice.  But it does make for interesting reading!  There is an undercurrent of uncertainty, competition and the raised stakes doesn't always bring out the best in people.

I loved Tris and having her voice the story. There is just something about her I really like - she's strong but I'm not sure she realises it. And of course I absolutely loved Four!  And the two of them? Well...!!!!!!

This is seriously action packed.  I loved every minute and really enjoyed working out (or at least trying to work out) what was actually going on.  You know it's going to be something big but I was blown away by the end.  It is a brilliant first instalment in what promises to be a phenomenal series.



Tuesday, 1 May 2012

Book Trailer: Sruck by Jennifer Bosworth



How have I only just seen this?  Seriously awesome!

Struck is published 8 May (US) and 26 April (UK)

I know what I want to read next...

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