My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent
I was looking forward to this book very much but unfortunately it didn’t really live up to my expectations.
MSTT is about a young girl called Kaylee. Kaylee lives with her aunt and uncle and cousin Sophie. She’s a fairly regular girl except she seems to have developed a talent for predicting people’s deaths and it turns out that Kaylee is in actual fact a Banshee or Bean Sidhe. I don’t know a great deal about Banshees and I would be interested in finding out more but that being said I found this novel a bit flat. I did read it fairly quickly because it’s a fairly straightforward read but nothing really stood out for me.
The romance felt too quick. Within a matter of days (or hours) the two main characters were completely comfortable with each other. The concept of what Kaylee was and her abilities just felt somehow pointless. Kaylee is a banshee, she sees people’s auras and can see they’re going to die and then she is consumed with the need to scream at the top of her lungs (but apparently this sounds like a beautiful soul song to any other Banshees in the vicinity) and the point of this is to help the soul pass over – or to make the soul linger. But what happens to those peoples’ souls who die without a Banshee there to help with this? Plus in this book there seem to be hoards of banshees all living within the immediate vicinity of each other.
The characters seemed a bit one dimensional – Nash, all of a sudden heard Kaylee, knew what she was and was overtaken by an all consuming passion for her – just by hearing her voice which calls to him. I don’t understand how Nash has never heard her voice before – okay maybe it’s a very big school and as a popular guy he has no reason to notice Kaylee but as her voice sings to him – and as her friend is totally gorgeous and been the girlfriend of one of his friends you might be forgiven for thinking they might have crossed paths and he would have ‘heard’ her before then. Her cousin Sophie is one of the ‘popular’ crew – but she doesn’t really stand out as being particularly ‘mean’. I must say that Todd was a pretty good character and with a bit more development might have been more of a draw but he didn’t have enough time in the book perhaps he will feature more in future books.
But, I probably would have liked the book more if the ending had been more believable – but I don’t want to give anything away so I won’t go further with that – I just didn’t find the villain plausible.
The redeeming feature for me was the mythology and I will definitely look up some more information about Banshees but personally I thought this novel could have been much better and I think it loses an opportunity for more creepy hair raising moments.
Rating: -C
My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers Book 1)
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
I loved this book!
This is a story about Sam, an eighteen year old girl who is amongst the popular crowd at school. She’s the girl with a perfect life, perfect friends and a perfect boyfriend. I don’t think I’m giving anything away by saying that at the start of the book Sam dies in an accident whilst returning home from a party. However, the next day she wakes up again to relive the same day over. And so starts the story of Sam reliving the day of her death over and over until she comes to the realisation of what she has to do to break the cycle.
I finished this book last night – after reading it in two days, and didn’t want to write anything about it at first because I was a bit overwhelmed. I think this book is so well written. LO has done an amazing job getting into the hearts and minds of these teenagers. Their hopes and fears, their meanness to each other, their way of thinking and speaking. There are genuinley funny moments countered by very sad and touching ones. It’s just really moving watching Sam change over the course of the week as she watches how the smallest change in her day can have a major impact on the other people around her. Contrary to many people I actually didn’t strongly dislike Sam, even at the start of the story. She always came over to me as someone who is not completely happy with her own choices but she’s basically been living like that for so long that she’s forgotten how to be any different. Her and her friends are the popular girls of the school which basically means they are incredibly mean, shallow and self centred – and obviously gorgeous with bodies to die for that they know how to dress! B ut, even reading Day 1 there are small points where you can see that Sam is not totally all that she seems in fact she stills seems bewildered that she is part of the ‘popular’ crew at all. In fact Sam’s friends (and boyfriend) are also not how they seem – facts that she will discover during the course of the week.
Basically the book is a bit of a cross between Groundhog Day and Mean Girls but I love the concept of it. I love the idea that Sam has the chance to go back to that day and do something different to change the lives of the other people in the story. I also found it really touching to watch her as she came to realise that she’d never see her family again (except on this one day of course) and never get to watch her sister get older. I liked the way that in spite of her friend’s (and her own) faults she realised that she genuinley loved them. And, I really found myself caring about Sam and how her story would end. I also felt so sad for her family, waking up each day and getting on with their daily lives with no idea that Sam was replaying the day of her death.
To me, this story was about a number of things. Living life fully every day because you don’t get the chance to do it again. Being conscious of your actions and how they affect others and remaining true to yourself.
The ending of the book is bittersweet but I think it’s the most fitting way that it could end really.
I really enjoyed this book and would have no hesitation in recommending it to others – although in tems of the YA audience there are references to drugs, sex and alcohol.
Rating A++
Before I Fall
Trade Winds by Christina Courtenay
This book was bought for me as a present and probably not one that I may otherwise have picked up. It’s part of a new series of books published by Choc Lit. I guess Choc Lit gives you an idea what sort of books these are going to be – obviously a romance with some mind candy. The sort of book that you should probably take on holiday and read whilst lying in the sun with a long cold drink of something. And that’s exactly what this novel is.
The story is based on two characters. Killian, who lives in Scotland and has been disinherited by his grandfather and seeks a living gambling and Jess, who lives in Sweden and believes her stepfather is swindling her out of her inheritance. The story contrives to bring the two characters together and the romance obviously follows. This is certainly a very easy book to read. I think if you are seeking a great deal of depth or historical detail you would probably be disappointed but if you want a nice light hearted read with a couple of good looking characters who undertake a little adventure and escape a few life threatening situations then it’s all wrapped up nicely in this book.
I can’t say I was absolutely riveted by this book but also I had no problem in reading it. It was a bit contrived in parts and probably tried a little bit too hard in the last quarter of the book to bring both elements of adventure plus a lovely neat ending – but really can you complain about that?? I don’t know. What’s wrong with a nice light hearted read after all. Not everything you read has to be deep and meaningful!
I guess given that these books are for the romance lovers out there the only criticism I would have is there wasn’t enough of the romance element. There was some build up and anticipation which was okay but then before you knew it you have two people who to my mind are too well established – in more ways than one! I felt as though they ‘grew up’ too quickly and were almost like a seasoned couple – I guess I’m trying to say that they had lost the excitement element to their relationship which was a bit disappointing. Also, things seemed to come very easily for them and nothing was ever stressful which under the circumstances they were in is a little bit unbelievable. If you compare this to a novel like the Bronze Horseman, by Paullina Simons -now there is a love story to remember!
That being said this is a nice easy book to read and a must for anybody who fancies a bit of a holiday read that is not too heavy on detail. I’ll check out ‘choc lit’ again to see what else they have.
Rating -B
Trade Winds
Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead
19 December 2010
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Christina Courtenay, Hunger, Last Sacrifice, Michael Grant, Richelle Mead, Trade Winds
Last Sacrifice is the 6th and final installment in the Vampire Academy series of books (although there is to be a ‘spin off’ series based on some of the other characters).
I’ve really enjoyed this series of books – although I don’t particularly recommend that they be read on their own – I think that the whole series needs to be read to give a proper understanding of the lifestyle, history and characters involved. I think RM has down a wonderful job of creating this whole other vampire world that sits secretly alongside our own, a world with a fully developed background, superstitions and myths.
I also enjoyed watching the change in Rose throughout the series. Rose is a great character. She’s tough and can stand up for herself but she’s also devoted to her friends and not afraid to get into any number of situations to help others. She’s not perfect of course and makes a lot of mistakes, some which she deeply regrets, but with the benefit of hindsight I guess it would be a perfect world (or a boring book with very little story involved!).
Anyway, this book starts with Rose in prison, accused of the murder of the Queen (for which the punishment is the death penalty). Dimitri is also being kept under lock and key as not everyone is convinced that he truly is a dhampir again or think he may be a Strigoi spy. Rose’s friends, assisted by Dimitri break Rose out of Jail and she becomes a fugitive assisted by Sydney (the plan being to keep her safely in hiding). Meanwhile, Lissa remains at court and tries to uncover who the real killer is. Of course Rose has no such intentions of playing a sleepy role and embarks on her own search for Lissa’s secret sibling. And so two stories begin to unfold.
I did enjoy this book although not as much as I hoped. Whilst I think that RM has tried to give everyone a happy ending this is never going to be easy – and particularly where a love triangle has been written into the plot. As far as I’m concerned I never had any doubt about who Rose would (or should) end up with but obviously in this case there’s always somebody who is going to be unhappy. That being said there were a few surprises along the route and I never guessed the actual murderer or the final outcome between Rose and Lissa. I guess what I found a little disappointing was the interaction between Dimitri and Rose which wasn’t as gripping as in the previous books and the ending felt a little bit rushed (even though this isn’t a small book). In the last book Dimitri was absolutely adamant that he didn’t want to be near Rose or to speak to her and she was understandably heartbroken and yet here he is at the start of book no.6 helping her to escape from prison and joining her on her road trip/hideout/adventure. Also, it seemed rather obvious that Dimitri’s feelings for Rose had changed and yet I didn’t really have any real understanding or sense of why that was – or more to the point how quickly he’d had a turn around. I think that I might have enjoyed a little less time spent in Lissa’s ‘head’ and a bit more time sorting out some queries between Rose and Dimitri. Although I thought the Lissa element was enjoyable in this book and at last give Lissa a chance to do something for Rose.
This probably sounds more critical than I intended. I think this has been a really excellent series, I think Rose is a great character and I would definitely recommend reading them.
Rating -A
Vampire Academy: Last Sacrifice
Hunger (Gone) by Michael Grant
14 December 2010
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Gone, Hunger, Michael Grant, The Fayz
This is the second book in the series picking up the story of Gone 3 months on. Gone is based on the children who live at Perdido Beach. Mysteriously all the adults, in fact anyone of the age 15 or above has disappeared and at the same time some of the remaining children are developing strange powers. The first book introduced us to Sam who, due to his level-headedness has become the Leader of the remaining children – well at least the children who are not living at the Academy. The children at the Academy are led by Caine who already understands his own special powers and wants to make the most of them to take control. And this gives an incredibly basic summary of the first novel.
Hunger, as it’s name implies, takes us three months down the line when all the food is starting to run out and the children are beginning to starve. Sam has unwittingly become the surrogate father to over 300 children (some very young) and is trying to keep things afloat whilst having to arbitrate over ‘silly’ everyday arguments such as which dvd is going to be watched that evening. Basically Sam has so many everyday duties to perform and constant worries to try and overcome that he has very little time to focus on the real problems that are swiftly heading his way. This story sees the further development of the characters and the addition of some new mutant powers. It also sees the breakdown of relationships between the children as the real hunger takes hold with the ‘normal’ children starting to feel resentful of the ones with powers who seem to run the show.
This book is an interesting concept – it reminds me of a cross between Lord of the Flies and the X-Men and demonstrates the way that circumstances can vastly alter a person’s nature, that bad can become good and that heros are sometimes least where you expect to find them. I like the way that MG writes, he makes you care about his characters and he packs in a lot of drama and action. I would think though that this book may not be suitable for a younger audience as MG certainly doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to the fighting and conflict scenes.
The only criticism I would really have is that this is a long book – and I don’t particularly have a problem with long books – but in parts the story does seem to drag a little – and strangely enough not because of a lack of action because there seems to be always plenty going on. I think perhaps some of it could have been edited so that you cut to the chase a bit quicker. It almost feels sometimes that there is so much going on that you become almost bored with it – I know that sounds crazy but perhaps there should have been the odd chapter where things were less hectic. That said the ending is very gripping and I practically raced through it.
I’m looking forward to reading Lies which is already sat in wait however I’ll probably read a few other books first. So many books…
Rating B+
Hunger (Gone)
