The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong

Chloe Saunders is fifteen and would love to be normal. Unfortunately, Chloe happens to be a genetically engineered necromancer who can raise the dead without even trying. She and her equally gifted (or should that be 'cursed'?) friends are now running for their lives from the evil corporation that created them.

As if that's not enough, Chloe is struggling with her feelings for Simon, a sweet-tempered sorcerer, and his brother Derek, a not so sweet-tempered werewolf. And she has a horrible feeling she's leaning towards the werewolf ...

Definitely not normal.

A brilliant last book in the Darkest Powers trilogy. It answers all the questions we had regarding the first two books but left some of the bigger questions open for the Darkness Rising trilogy which starts with The Gathering, released in April 2011.

It's the pacing, again, that make this such a great read. Unputdownable (yes that really is a word!) and not one to read if you're hoping to go out at some point.

Again, this book picks up exactly where the last one finished and we get to see how the group are coping in safety after being rescued by an old friend.
It's great to read about the friendships becoming stronger as they are put through tougher challenges, constantly questioning who they can trust. Especially great (for me at least) is getting more in depth with Chloe, Derek and Simon. I won't ruin it but she ends up with the right guy!

If you've read the first two then you should definitely pick up this one and finish the series the way Kelley intended it to be finished.

Rating
5/5


Book Depository: The Reckoning
Amazon UK: The Reckoning

The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong

Chloe Saunders used to be a normal teenage girl - or so she thought. Then she learned the shocking truth - she is a walking science experiment. Genetically altered at birth by a sinister team of scientists known as the Edison Group, Chloe is an aberration - a powerful Necromancer who can see ghosts and even raise the dead, often with terrifying consequences. Even worse, her growing powers have made her a threat to the surviving members of the Edison Group, who have decided it's time to end their experiment - permanently ...


Now Chloe is running for her life with three other supernatural teenagers - a charming sorcerer, a troubled werewolf and temperamental young witch. Together they have a chance for freedom - but can Chloe trust her new friends?

This is the second book in Kelley's Darkest Powers trilogy. Kelley has a talent for pacing her books just right. There's a lot of excitement happening but she doesn't overload one chapter with loads of stuff then make the next several chapters boring. She paces it just right to keep the reader hooked and that's exactly what happens to me with every one of her books. Whenever I try to put them down for a break, something exciting happens that makes me keep reading and before you know it, it's stupid o'clock in the morning and the book's now finished.

The Awakening picks up where The Summoning left off. We find out more about the group of people behind this and the teens find out more about their parents. I actually felt more empathy for Tori in this book, and anyone that's read Kelley's adult Women of the Otherworld series may see some similarities to another young witch.

A must read for any Kelley fan and any YA fan.

Rating
5/5


Book Depository: The Awakening
Amazon UK: The Awakening

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

All Chloe Saunders wants is a life like any normal teenager - the chance to get through school, make friends, and maybe meet a boy. But when she starts seeing ghosts, she knows that normal life will never be normal again.

Soon the ghosts are everywhere, demanding her attention. When Chloe finally breaks down, she's admitted to a group home for disturbed kids. At first Lyle House seems okay, but as she gets to know the other patients - charming Simon and his ominous, unsmiling brother Derek, obnoxious Tori, and Rae, who has a 'thing' for fire - Chloe begins to realise that something strange and sinister binds them all together, and it isn't your usual 'problem kid' behaviour.

And they're about to discover that Lyle House is not your usual group home, either ...

So this is actually a re-read and I'm slightly biased since I love Kelley Armstrong's writing. This is the first in her YA trilogy, Darkest Powers. We meet Chloe and the other Lyle House inmates and we learn why they're all there.

The friendships that are made are interesting. Right off, you're routing for the underdog since they're all kind of underdogs and, as is usual for me with Kelley's books, you get sucked in and don't want to put the books down. Luckily, since it's a YA it's a nice quick read and easily done in one sitting.

The story is a nice intro to the trilogy and by the end you're dying to read the next book.

Rating 5/5


Book Depository: The Summoning
Amazon UK: The Summoning

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

Dru knows that The Real World - peopled with ghosts, suckers and zombies - is a frightening place. She's ready to kill first and ask questions later, so it's going to take her a while to work out just who she can trust.

Dru Anderson has been 'strange' for as long as she can remember, travelling from town to town with her father to hunt down things that go bump in the night. It's a weird life, but a good one - until in an icy, broken-down town, a hungry zombie bursts through her kitchen door. Dru is going to have to use every inch of her wit and training. Can she stay alive long enough to fall for one - or both - of the guys hungry for her affections?

I'm a fan of Lilith Saintcrow's Dante Valentine series so I was keen to try her YA series. I can happily say I wasn't disappointed, I enjoyed the first in the series and I believe I have the 2nd already waiting on my shelf.

Dru is a likeable character, although her and her father sort of struck a Supernatural similarity for me. I found myself connecting with Dru, there was something familiar about her uncomfortableness around people.

I'm finding myself with a little crush on Graves, I seem to be developing a lot of new literary crushes lately. Probably due to all the new series I've been reading, good for my bookshelf but unfortunately very bad for my bank account.

If you're a fan of Lilith Saintcrow's other books then you should enjoy this one too. Her writing is well paced and keeps you hooked.

Rating: 4/5


Book Depository: Strange Angels
Amazon UK: Strange Angels

Blood & Ice by Robert Masello

When journalist Michael Wilde is commissioned to write a feature about a remote research station deep in the frozen beauty of Antarctica he is prepared for some extraordinary sights. But on a diving expedition in the polar sea he comes across something so extraordinary as to be almost unbelievable - a man and woman chained together, deep in the ice. The doomed lovers are brought to the surface but as the ice begins to thaw the scientists discover the unusual contents of the bottles buried beside the pair, and realise that they are all in terrible danger ...

The blurb to this book instantly caught my attention. It's a rare occurrence for me to pick up a book that I've never heard of by an author I've never heard of. But I'm glad I did, this book is a different twist on the whole vampire myth. It looks at it from a purely scientific point of view.

The story spans from 19th century London to modern day America and follows both the doomed lovers and Michael Wilde. There's a lot going on in this story so there's definitely enough for everyone. The author obviously done a lot of research to make his story believable, either that or he's an avid climber and polar explorer.

As much as I loved this book, it took me a while to read since I tend to do most of my reading at work and it's only certain authors or a really exciting book that keeps me reading once I get home. Unfortunately this story just didn't have that grip factor for me. It's definitely a great read though and I'd recommend it. I'm going to be on the lookout for more books by this author.

Rating:
4/5


Book Depository: Blood & Ice
Amazon UK: Blood and Ice

Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler

Living in small town Rockabill, Maine, Jane True always knew she didn't quite fit in with so-called normal society.
During her nightly swim in the freezing winter ocean, a grisly find leads Jane to startling revelations about her heritage: she is only half human.
Now, Jane must enter a world filled with supernatural creatures that are terrifying, beautiful and deadly - all of which perfectly describe her new 'friend' Ryu, a gorgeous and powerful vampire.
It is a world where nothing can be taken for granted: a dog can heal with a lick, spirits bag your groceries and whatever you do, never - ever - rub the genie's lamp.

I'd only heard of this book through the Falcata Times book review blog. It was the second book in the Jane True series that was reviewed there but the cover image instantly caught my eye and when I saw the first one in Forbidden Planet the other week, I snatched it up.

Never having read anything by the author before, I didn't know what to expect. Nicole Peeler is a fantastic author. Her characters are fabulous and really come to life on the page. I loved Jane almost instantly.

The storyline was well paced, not too slow but not too much happening all at once either. The humour was subtle as well. I'm not a fan of overdone humour or humour that's not actually funny, Ms Peeler done a good job.

I could easily see myself being friends with Jane, she's quirky and very likeable, as are her friends, Tracy and Grizzie. Ryu is HOT! I may have a crush on him *blush*

All in all, a very well written story that grabs you and holds you 'til the end. I'm glad I picked it up and can't wait until I can buy the next one.

5/5


Oh yeah, and the cover also gave me a tattoo idea so HUGE bonus there!


Book Depository: Tempest Rising
Amazon UK: Tempest Rising