Tantalizing Trailers: Seeking Crystal by Joss Stirling

I came across this literally 30 minutes ago, I cannot tell you how excited I got so I just HAD to put it up straight away. Love love love this series with a capital L

Title: Seeking Crystal

Series: Benedict #3

Author: Joss Stirling

Publisher: OUP 

Publication Date: 16 Oct 2012

Synopsis from Goodreads

Sparks will fly . . . Passion will ignite . . .

Crystal Brook has always been the dud Savant in her family; paranormal powers just aren't her thing. Dropping out of school with a clutch of 'E' grades and no future, she lives in the shadow of her high-flying sister Diamond. On a trip to Denver, a chance encounter with the dashing Benedict brothers leaves Diamond head over heels in love and engaged to be married. Crystal, on the other hand, is unimpressed by their charms . . . in fact no boy can annoy her as much as Xav Benedict! Back in Venice, their families assemble for Diamond's wedding and a powerful enemy seizes the opportunity to attack. Crystal and Xav must join forces to save their loved-ones, unlocking a secret that, until now, has lain deeply buried . . .

TOTAL SWOONAGE - WANT WANT WANT NEED NEED NEED

Guest Review: 15 Days Without a Head by Dave Cousins

Title: Fifteen Days Without a Head

Author: Dave Cousins

Publisher: OUP

Publication Date: 5 Jan 2012

Synopsis from Goodreads

Fifteen-year-old Laurence Roach just wants a normal life, but it’s not easy when your mum is a depressed alcoholic, and your six-year-old brother thinks he’s a dog. When Mum fails to come home one night, Laurence tells nobody, terrified he and his brother will be taken into care if anyone finds out. Instead, he attempts to keep up the pretence that Mum is still around: dressing up in her clothes to trick the neighbours and spinning an increasingly complicated tangle of lies. After two weeks on their own, running out of food and money, and with suspicious adults closing in, Laurence finally discovers what happened to his mother. And that’s when the trouble really starts . .

GUEST REVIEW BY BETH OF THE PIECES OF ME

When this novel reached me, I expected a zombie slash comic story with jokes and guts round every corner. I couldn’t have been more wrong and the title is more than a little confusing! In fact, 15 days Without A Head deals with some seriously hard hitting issues in an accessible and easy to read way. I think the novel is aimed a few years younger than most those Emma sends across but this doesn’t detract from its quality and for a debut, I can’t knock it.

Our protagonist is Laurence and the story is told from his point of view. He comes across as a really nice guy, struggling as hard as he can to deal with his mother’s alcoholism whilst also acting as mum and dad to his younger brother Jay. Within the first few pages of the book, Laurence is screamed at, hit and then his mother simply disappears, leaving no trace and no sign she’s going to be back. This leaves Laurence and Jay in an impossible situation. They’ve already dealt with social services in the past and this isn’t something Laurence will let happen again, so he simply pretends his mum is still home and tries to survive, convincing Jay she’s just at work.

To add another definitely comic twist to the novel, Laurence has been impersonating his father on a radio phone-in competition to win a holiday, answering question after question in a slightly dodgy Scottish accent. Laurence believes that winning the holiday will turn his mother’s fortunes around but now she’s gone, he doesn’t really know why he’s carrying on. Add into the mix a new friend in the form of Mina and Laurence somehow has to find a way to keep his neighbour Nosy Nelly from finding out about their mum being gone and also try and juggle school and looking after Jay. Surely this is all too much for a fifteen year old to deal with?

This novel is extremely well written and pitched at the right level so the hard hitting issues are dealt with in a way which bring you from laughter to tears and back again all in the space of ten minutes! It deals with a range of issues including alcoholism, single parenthood and poverty in a way that reflects the difficulty of living with such issues without being judgemental.

A brilliant debut and a triumph for Dave Cousins, it’ll be great to see what comes next from him.

Tantalising Trailers: Vanish by Sophie Jordan

This one is firmly on my 2012 wish-list

Title: Vanish

Series: Firelight

Author: Sophie Jordan

Publisher: OUP

Publication Date: 2 Feb 2012

Synopsis: From Goodreads

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love? 

Such an atmospheric trailer with powerful 'fighting' music

Review: Stealing Pheonix by Joss Stirling

Title: Stealing Phoenix
Series: Benedict #2
Author: Joss Stirling
Publisher: OUP
Publication Date: 1 Sep 2011

Synopsis from Goodreads

Yves' story.This is about getting you out...I'm stealing you.Phoenix belongs to the Community - a gang of thieves with paranormal powers. Yves Benedict - an American student visiting London - is her mark. But Yves turns out to be more than just a target. He is her destiny. Her soul-mate. But the Community owns Phoenix's past and it wants her future too.

REVIEW

Please bear in mind this is book 2 of the series and may therefore contain spoilers for the first book.

I can't say that this is a direct sequel to Finding Sky because it isn't more like a companion novel with the focus on a different brother. I know that this has probably been said and I just hate to compare books but it really is along the lines of The Drake Chronicles by Alyxandra Harvey in respect that it follows the different stories of 7 brothers but this time they aren't vampires, lol. If you know me you know how much I love love love The Drakes. The soul-mate theme is a winner for me, serious swoon time.

Told in first person narrative but this time with alternating perspectives of Phoenix and Yves, the next brother down from Zed features in Finding Sky. Yves is nothing like Zed, he has his geek on and is totally happy with it, a tech whizz he really is quite an astounding character. So smart, clever and nice. I heart him. 

I really liked Phoenix as a character, she accepted who she was and got on with things when they needed to be done. Not knowing any other kind of life and 'cult brain washed' to a degree I felt protective of her and was rooting for her from the outset. Although she is very self-aware she realises her abilities and limitations. I don't know many people my age who are that self aware let alone a teen. The way in which she used libraries as a haven immediately endeared her to me. 

Images of Oliver Twist  abound at the the start, re-enforced later in the narrative with references to Fagin and the band of pick-pockets he commands. 

I could have totally slapped Phoenix for resisting her destiny. Seriously I would completely love a soul-mate, and with such a hot guy I don't think I would be running away. 

I am not going to go into details of the plot as I will be forcing this into the hands of passing strangers to read and want them to have the full experience of just how clever the way in which the plot unravels really is. Topical references within the narrative aid the realism of the story. Again the way in which the title is involved within the plot itself is just genius. 

I loved the way in which Sky and Zed's relationship was developed alongside this companion novel, a brilliant piece of plot/character control on behalf of Joss  Stirling. The way in which Sky as depicted as a role model for Phoenix even though she is younger was inspirational. Sky has a wonderful maturity about her that really shines through the storyline, probably due to her experiences in Finding Sky. 

The way in which 'family' is depicted within this series pulls at my heart strings and emphasises that we can make our own families and they should be cherished. 

Finding Sky was a really hard act to follow because it was just so amazing. Stealing Phoenix lives up to it yet provides a fresh new take on the characters, setting and addition to the plot. I am seriously hooked on this series and I wish I could get my next fix as soon as possible. 

Seriously go read it you won't regret it. 

Review: Finding Sky by Joss Stirling

Title: Finding Sky
Series: Benedict #1
Author: Joss Stirling
Publisher: OUP
Publication Date: 7 Oct 2010

Synopsis from Goodreads

When Sky catches a glimpse of Zed for the first time, lounging against his motorbike at school, she is drawn to him just like every other girl in Wickenridge. But Zed sees something special in her that the other girls don't have. Zed tells her they are both Savants - people with special powers like telepathy and the ability to see into the future. Not only that, she is a Savant too, and his soulfinder - meant to be together.

When a soulfinder speaks telepathically to her partner, it's like all the lights coming on in a building. You lit me up like Vegas. But for Sky it's just not that easy - she's a mystery to herself, haunted by nightmares from her past before she was adopted, and riddled with doubt and insecurity. Just when Sky is slowly coming round to the idea of being with Zed she is kidnapped by a family of criminal Savants. In a chilling twist, Sky and Zed's relationship is put to the ultimate test and the fate of those she loves lie in Sky's hands. Will Sky have the strength to embrace her power and be brave enough to control her own destiny, or will the dark demons of her past prevent her from realising her true potential?

REVIEW

I cannot believe it took me so long to read this book, I am seriously kicking myself because OMG this book is so so so me. What can I tell you, kick ass female central character, to die for bad boy, soul-mates, serious swoonage to be had. I should have been sold at soul-mates but who knew. I make no apologies for shouting how FREAKIN AWESOME this book is.

The beginning of the book is told in third person narrative, giving insight into the origins of Sky, the start is quite startling and my sympathy's were immediately draw to Sky. Being able to see auras - how amazing - yet she is afraid of her abilities, something that has been drilled into her that they are not normal.  

I have to mention that the chapter heading are just beautiful.

The main story is told in first person narrative from Sky's perspective. Honest and independent, adopted from the age of 10 her childhood is surrounded in mystery.  I tried to understand Sky by imaging what it would be like to not know who you are/where you came from/what happened to you or even the reason you can't remember any of these things. I really felt for her, it must be like having a constant presence in the back of your mind pressing to push through but just slightly too weak to break down the barriers.

The writing style is gorgeously tactile, sensory encompassing. Fabulous use of simile within the descriptions aid the imagination.Of course I have to mention the utterly beautiful description of music used within the narrative - as if it were alive, it makes us feel alive or soothes us depending on the situation. To quote 'music soothes the savage beast/breast' so true in my case [ : D ] 

It was easy to relate to Sky and seeing the world through her eyes it was easy to understand that while I think it would be nice to have these extra abilities they come at a cost and there is also a burden to having them. Clearly depicted within the storyline. The portrayal of the psychic powers was exceptional; both sides of possessing such power clearly shown, how it can be used for either good or evil, how having such gifts can corrupt in the quest for power. 

I did have a little trouble in reconciling the image I had of Sky in my head with her ability to make herself blend into the background due to her terrible shyness and lack of confidence. Her character development throughout the book was astounding.

Sky's development as a character is aided greatly by her relationship with Zed. I am just going to keel over and swoon for ages at the thought of Zed. Sky and Zed are each others balance, they bring out the best in each other and the chemistry between them sizzles off the pages. Zed comes across as a total bad boy *swoon* as the story develops you can understand why he needs an outlet. The idea of soul-mates warms my heart, this is one of the things that I find romantic (I don't find much romantic as I am too much of a cynic at my age lol).

I completely adore how the title works with the story as it unfolds - so so so clever. I am not going to go into detail about the plot even though I have made little notes regarding it as I don't want to spoil it. This is one of those books that you have to put the pieces together for yourself in order to fully appreciate just how brilliant it is.

An utterly compulsive read, I actually stayed up all night to read it as I just could not bear to put it down. Fabulous characters, brilliant interactions, just an all round AMAZING book. I am unbelievably happy that there are going to be more in the series.