Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

Published by Simon & Schuster
Out Now in the UK

If this book doesn't fly off the shelf, i don't know what will.

What a heartbreakingly beautiful love story, that had me hooked throughout the night! (Another almost sleepless night!) Nikki has been gone almost one hundred years when she returns to earth, yet time passed differently in the Everneath, only six months has gone by and her guilt and heartache has forced her back. Everneath is built apon the Hades/Persephone myth, with a twist.

Truth be told I am a fan of Greek Mythology and Persephone always make me think and i actually enjoyed this breath of fresh air into the YA market. As you can see the cover is stunning and that ultimately grabs hold of a prospective buyer, that and a good summary. So straight off we meet her and Cole, and much to Cole's surprise she wants to live again, and doing so is only given 6 short months in which to say goodbye.

Insert Jack, the love interest of both past and presant who was left heartbroken. He helps Nikki heal, while they both fall back in love. - awww -. I love how Ashton has created a strong female lead who can actually have a choice in who she ends up with! Cole, is darkly handsome while Jack is honest and cute, ones a musician from the everneath and one is a starring American Football player. Both desirable in that context but Cole is dark and manipulative.

Now ill switch to the end, and what an ending! Jack and Nikki have struggled to find away to stary together but are unsuccessful and in all the hub-bub the Shades come for Nikki and...and...! It had me bawling my eyes out at 4am, and trust me not alot makes me cry. Ashton finely weaved a plot line that will leave the reader hanging out to dry. I mean, is there no better way to have it?

So all in all i loved this book and i can't wait for a possible book 2. I just hope Ashton keeps up the good work!

Talia x

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Published by: Scholastic


I love a good dystopian series, and this sets the bar very,very high.

I love the concepts in this series and the constant excitement doesn't fail to impress either. the First book is where we get the concept and the second, and third is the struggle for survival that is continued from the decisions made. Katniss is a very strong and likable lead for the series and Peeta i have to say is adorable, but i wasn't always convinced by him, but meh, I can have my fan-girl moments, no?

Collins exhibits an amazing concept that in this day and age is enough to make even the toughest of politicians know that this shoul dnever happen. taking 24 tennagers from 12 districts for a battle to the death? THAT SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED. But yet it has everyone at the edge of their seats as they read and weep with the emotions and trials Katniss and Peeta have to overcome.

Book One was my all time favourite odf the series so much so Book Two couldn't compare. Book Three had me in tears along with Katniss as everything was going wrong, until it went right, but no spoilers here!

I am saddened to see a twilight-like hype about the up-and-coming movies for the series, but i have my doubts. If it is anything like the twilight adaptions i may have to eat the books as it will wreck anything i felt for the series, the fact that Collins let that happen.

Overall this series will have you hooked from the first page, and leave you with nightmares at the thought if that was a reality.

Talia x

Demon Trappers Series By Jana Oliver

Riley Blackthorne just needs a chance to prove herself – and that’s exactly what the demons are counting on…

Seventeen-year-old Riley, the only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper, Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father's footsteps. The good news is, with human society seriously disrupted by economic upheaval and Lucifer increasing the number of demons in all major cities, Atlanta’s local Trappers’ Guild needs all the help they can get – even from a girl. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing crush on fellow apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving distressed citizens from foul-mouthed little devils – Grade One Hellspawn only, of course, per the strict rules of the Guild. Life’s about as normal as can be for the average demon-trapping teen.

But then a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood. And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, sudden tragedy strikes the Trappers’ Guild, spinning Riley down a more dangerous path than she ever could have imagined. As her whole world crashes down around her, who can Riley trust with her heart – and her life.

Published by Macmillan Childrens Books.

Finally, finally, finally. A book about Demons! I love the idea of demons, no idea why or how just do.

Riley is a protangonist that i enjoyed to learn and read about. She is witty, not self centered and doesnt give an asshat about what the men in the guild think of her. It is very quickly into the series that she loses her Dad. Before the end of the first book she loses him again and at the end of the second book she finally gets him back but hey, hell may have other idea's.

Riley's love life is atrostious at best and absymal at worst. The reader thinks she may have found love twice in the first two books, Simon and Ori are lovely but they can change and quickly, shame to be honest. She has one constant hearteache and she doesn't give him any slack, ever. 

Oliver's writing technique is very good and she portrays accents quite effectively especially Angus's, I should know! :)

The Demon's were a joy to read about and learn, how they are all different grades of strength. I loved how one demon gets attached to Riley and helps her out.  To be honest it is quite cute!

I have a few minor quips, If petrol is so expenive how can Riley drive around easily yet not pay her bills? And why are there so many demons roaming the earth to begin with?

Jana Oliver is a fantastic writer and it really a nice person to talk to. I have pre-ordered Forgiven ready for my March reading and can't believe there is only one more book after Forgiven!

Talia x

The Darkest Powers Trilogy by Kelley Armstrong

After years of frequent moves following her mother’s death, Chloe Saunders’s life is finally settling down. She is attending art school, pursuing her dreams of becoming a director, making friends, meeting boys. Her biggest concern is that she’s not developing as fast as her friends are. But when puberty does hit, it brings more than hormone surges. Chloe starts seeing ghosts–everywhere, demanding her attention. After she suffers a breakdown, her devoted aunt Lauren gets her into a highly recommended group home.

At first, Lyle House seems a pretty okay place, except for Chloe’s small problem of fearing she might be facing a lifetime of mental illness. But as she gradually gets to know the other kids at the home–charming Simon and his ominous, unsmiling brother Derek, obnoxious Tori, and Rae, who has a “thing” for fire–Chloe begins to realize that there is something that binds them all together, and it isn’t your usual “problem kid” behaviour. And together they discover that Lyle House is not your usual group home either…

Published by Atom

FINALLY! A book with a female necromancer lead, for YA! I broke my very small bank (sigh) buying this series and boy, am i glad i did. Chloe isn't 16 or 17, yet she has a good awareness of herself and others that many protagonists don't have that make them quickly disliked by a reader. If there was a quip it was she was a constant victim till about halfway through book 2.

There is  a love triangle, but that is the way of books nowadays Chloe/Derek/Simon could be compared to Bella/Edward/Jacob and Riley/Simon/Beck quite easily. Although atleast there is no vampires in this book, as that genre is getting congested with cheap knockoffs.

I enjoyed particularly the transition between teenager and wolf for Derek and how Chloe kept him sane and it was nice to see their relationship bloom i was also disheartened at the controlling side of Derek and i can see problems in that future.

Chloe and Tori really come into their own during the series and the reader can see Tori wasn't just put in to be the antagonist! Thank god! Chloe grows into her powers and it is nice to see how she copes and learns. Although it was sad to see Armstrong struggled to decide what part Chloe's Aunt played in this, is she dead, ghost, dead again?

Overall this series is a good read and is thourghly enjoyable and is a definate top read of mine that sits, quite comfortably on my - overly stuffed - bookshelf.

Talia x

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

"Throughout all my histories, I found no one I loved more than you...no one."

Those were some of Rhode's last words to me. The last time he would pronounce his love. The last time I would see his face.

It was the first time in 592 years I could take a breath. Lay in the sun. Taste. Rhode sacrificed himself so I, Lenah Beaudonte, could be human again. So I could stop the blood lust.

I never expected to fall in love with someone else that wasn't Rhode. But Justin was... daring. Exciting. More beautiful than I could dream. I never expected to be sixteen again... then again, I never expected my past to come back and haunt me...

Published by Macmillan Children's Books

I'm a fan of Vampire books and this, to me, is a slightly different interpretation. We meet Lenah as she is just turned back to human and her darling Rhode is dieing. She isn't a normal Heroine either which is refreshing. She was a Queen of a coven of male vampires until she agreed to go underground for many years.

I enjoyed Lenah's flashbacks into her life before and seeing, from her point of view how she has changed and matured. I enjoyed seeing her learn how to live in the 21st century and how she copes when her coven want her back.

Now for the bad. This book was basically drowning in love interests. 400pages isn't quite enough, in my view, to fit 4+ of them and to be honest it wasn't really nessesary. She gets over Rhode very quickly, she seemed almost to forget he gave her life for her. Also this book is full of very Stereotypical people, i mean the blonde girlfriend who is typically the Bitch? Pah-leese.

I did think this story highlighted how important it is to live yourlife the way you want to and not forgetting who you are in the mean time.

Talia x

Sorry for the short review, got alot to fit in, in an hour ;)

Tempest by Julie Cross



The year is 2009.  Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler.  Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

Released: Out now!

Holy god, what a book. This book makes the take a rollercoaster on their emotions. I mean how can a book do that? Julie Cross is debuting into the world of wonderful YA with Tempest a time-travelling book that I can actually get my head around. What is interesting is the fact it is written from a guys point of view by a female author, and i think she has pulled it off very well. *insert bowing to the writer*

Jackson Meyer has the recessive Tempest gene, which allows the holder to travel through time, with and without consequences along with a better memory capacity e.g. Photographic memory etc. In 2009 an event takes place which rocks his work literally. He is thrust back into 2007 and cannot get back. During this time he learns many home truths about his Dad and who's after him, oh and did i mention he has to get back to 2009 to save Holly?

So, this book is super enjoyable once, and only once the story picks up, it is really nice to know the background of Jackson and Holly and this and that, you know? But me? I'm a fast paced story lover, a book that keeps churning out suprise after suprise. It is really only the last third that the story pace picked up and the reader was swept away. It made me enjoy the story alot more and i finally understood why the author added so much background, we were going to need itto get our head around the story.

Cross then changed everything we already knew at the last minute and left us, the reader looking at that last blank page going, crap, i have to wait an eternity for the next one!

Thanks to Mykindabook on twitter for holding a competition to win a pretty hardback version!

Talia x

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

Published by: Hodder & Stoughton (UK)
Released: Out now!





Doesn't the blurb just make you want to read more? It did to me, so what did i do? I bought it, poor little broke me! I confess i am a HUGE fan of dystopian novels when they are done well and when they aren't done well, i slate it and donate the book as it doesn't deserve a place on my overly crammed bookcase. This review is a shorty as i don't have much time!

Delirium is a dystopian fans dream, a fresh take on what it would be like and the ridiculous things 'governments' would do and say. So love is classed as a disease that they have found the cure for although they can only give it too them when they are 18. Lena's Mum was immune to the cure and was taken when she was younger so she lives with her extended family most of whom have been cured. Lena will struggle through ordinary teenage problems with a dystopian twist, Will i still be good friends with Hana after the procedure? How can i fall in love with Alex. (oomph!)

This novel is so beautifully written and described i felt like i was in the novel living Lena's life. The plot is so well integrated the reader knew what would happen but would still not expect it.
It comes into its own about two thirds through where the action picks up before te reader is dumped unceremoniously on the edge of a very high cliff. So as you do, look online and find book two 'Pandemonium' is out later this year! YAY!

Dystopian novels are not for everyone but if you are yet to try one, this is going to be one of my top three dystopian series!

Talia x