YOUNG ADULT REVIEW: Betrayal's, Monsters and Horseman

BOOK BLURB: Betrayals

The second novel in the Strange Angels series picks up with Dru neatly tucked away in a Schola that's more like a prison than a secret training facility. Except for one tiny detail ...she's the only girl in the place and is totally surrounded by tons of cute boys. But a traitor in the Order wants Dru dead and she can't trust anyone except for Graves. Too bad he's being kept busy with a new crew of wulfen teens and doesn't have time for her. As she learns the truth about who she can and can't trust, Dru's only hope may be to save herself - although the one gift that makes her special is draining away, and she doesn't know how to get it back. Will Dru survive long enough to find out who is really after her? Or is she destined for the same fate as her murdered parents? Lili's characters come alive on the page in a way that's visually stunning and she creates the same terrific pace, danger and teen romance as in Strange Angels.


REVIEW:

With the success of her adult series, Lili went on to start a young adult series that with its original offering more than blew the competition away with cracking characterisation, beautiful scene setting and above all a heroine who’s got nerve and steel whilst remaining vulnerable. Not an easy combo to manage. What really does enhance this is the way that Lili brings life to all members of the cast, be they the principle members or just little one liners who are there to be the proverbial redshirts. Its great writing, its fascinating and she brings a heroine to the fore that whilst young may yet reset the balance in the world to which she inhabits.



BOOK BLURB: Monster Republic

An explosion in a nuclear power plant. Kids patched up with scavenged body parts and bionic implants. A growing army of superhuman soldiers programmed for destruction. 'No', whispered Cameron to the monster in the glass. And he watched it shaking its hideous head. 'That's not me. You're not me'.


REVIEW:

A novel setting for a modern reader as a curse comes to twin sisters who will battle to gain the upper-hand against each other as they each ensure their own individual survival. What makes this first instalment of the trilogy so gripping is that its unpredictable, what you’d normally come to expect really does throw the curve ball as you’re never sure which way its going to go until the final page. With both characters growing with each passing page, I hope that they’ll continue to emotionally in future novels. Add to the blend a completely different writing style to the norm, the dark gothic nature of Shelley finished with a hint of historical fiction and a dash of the Supernatural.



BOOK BLURB: The Hollow

Growing up in the town of Sleepy Hollow, the mystery and intrigue over Washington Irving's classic legend are all part of daily life for sixteen-year-old Abbey. But when her best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Abbey's world is suddenly turned upside down. While everyone is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead, Abbey refuses to believe that she is really gone. And when Abbey meets the gorgeous, but mysterious, Caspian at Kristen's memorial she starts to feel like she has something to hold on to for the first time since Kristen's disappearance. But when Abbey finds a diary hidden in Kristen's bedroom, she begins to question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her disappearance or even her death? Hurt and angry at Kristen's betrayal, Abbey turns to Caspian for support...and uncovers a frightening truth about him that threatens both their emerging love and her sanity...


REVIEW:

A Young Urban Fantasy novel that bring the original tale by Irving to the modern reader and gives a new spin on the ancient and in my opinion, the best Halloween story ever. What is perhaps different is how the author deals with the loss of the principle protagonista and whilst I did feel a little cheated at not having a final solution in regard to her friends passing I did enjoy this book and will eagerly seek out future novels by Jessica. Its definitely a book that will enthuse as well as enchant many readers and will give something special to the adult reader as well. Personally I’d advise giving this book around Halloween however with a strong Christmas theme within its also something that will make an excellent stocking filler.

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: Redemption Alley - Lilith Saintcrow

BOOK BLURB:

Some cases are unusual - even for Jill Kismet.

When her police contact asks her to look into a "suicide", she suddenly finds herself in a labyrinth of deception, drugs, murder -- and all-too-human corruption. The cops are her allies, except for the ones who want her dead. The hellbreed are her targets, except for the ones who might know what's going on. Her city is in danger, time is running out, and each lead only draws her deeper.

How far will a hunter go when her city -- and her friends -- are on the line?

Just far enough.


REVIEW:

As a long time fan of Lili’s writing I really can’t wait for the latest offering to land. What has surprised me is that her UK publisher hasn’t even issued a release date yet let alone put the book out there for fans to purchase. Luckily enough the US Publisher was kind enough to send a copy through so I could keep up with my regular fix of Lili’s work.

What happens in the latest Kismet novel is a real tale of death, political intrigue, double dealing and of course murder, all of which she does well blending apparent unconnected cases together to make one giant mess that the protagonista has to fight her way out of besides being shot, stabbed and KO’d a multitude of times. A cracking novel and one that is going to make the wait for the next release even harder. If you haven’t tried her yet then give it a go. UK fans can get their fix from either known stockists of American releases such as Forbidden Planet or Murder One and numerous online booksellers. Kismet really is the all action girl with attitude. Traders look out.

YA REVIEW: Strange Angels - Lili Saintcrow

BOOK BLURB:

Dru Anderson has been “strange” for as long as she can remember. She travels from town to town with her father, hunting the things that go bump in the night and eat the unwary. It’s a weird life, but a good one–until it all explodes and a zombie busts into her new house.

Alone, terrified, and trapped in an icy town, Dru’s going to need every inch of her wit and training to stay alive. Can she trust the boy who is just a little too adult–and just happens to get bit by a werwulf? Or the strange blue-eyed boy who tells her she’s heir to a long-forgotten power? Can she even trust her own instincts?
Because Dru is not the first in her family to be killed by the darkness of the Real World. The monsters have decided to hunt back–and now Dru has to figure out who to trust, who to fight, and when to run. And not incidentally, she has to figure out how she’s going to get out of this alive.

And she has to do it in the next 24 hours, or it’s all over…


REVIEW:

When an established author takes a crack at a YA you have to wonder why they fancied writing outside their usual comfort zone and exactly how their writing will translate to a new audience.

Here Lili’s tale unfolds as an epic adventure with hints as to the otherness of the principle protagonist giving the reader not only a tale to keep them on the edge of their seats but also a story that has identifiable characters along with emotional context to give them an overall rounder appearance than a lot of other characters within YA books.

It’s well written, will appeal to both genders and presents a cracking start to a new supernatural series that has huge potential for a myriad of jumping off points. Add to the mix Vamps, Zombies and Werewolves along with a touch of Warner’s Supernatural and you’ve really got a sure fire smash. We’ll have to wait to see which way Lili will take this but I for one will be waiting its follow on with baited breath.

Epic adventure, fantastical characters with an adrenaline fuelled writing style…. Perfect.