Doctor Who: The Darksmith Legacy: The Art of War by Mike Tucker

On the Back of the Book

The Darksmith have the Eternity Crystal and are eager to finally fufil their contract with their mysterious client. The Darksmiths have also reprogrammed Gisella, the robotic 'daughter' of Varlos, who now seems to be working for them. The Doctor learns that the Darksmiths are due to hand over the Crystal to their client at secret rendezvous on present day Earth. Will the Doctor be able tointercept the transaction in time? Or will the Crystal begin a war that will continue for all eternity?

My Thoughts

This book was hard for me to rate, the first half was slow and didn't really capture my attention but the latter part was filled with danger and excitement. I kind of feel that this book wasn't necessary to the Legacy though.

Now in my last review I called Gisella a traitor, alas! I was wrong! Come back Gisella, all is forgiven! A great bluff by the authors but I'm not sure I like such a complicated plot twist in a kids book. The Doctor wasn't really up to much in this book. The focus of the story wasn't really on him though. The Krashok's are horrible, so the author's done something right.

Overall the story was an okay set up for the final book. It deals with some serious issues in the sense that Lord Blackheart wants to resurrect his dead wife. The story could be used as a way to tell children about death and about once the person's gone, they can't come back.

My Rating

3.5 stars - This may not be one of the best books in the series but it's rating is boosted by the solid ending.

• Book summary from the back of the book


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Doctor Who: The Darksmith Legacy: The Pictures of Emptiness by Jacqueline Rayner

On the Back of the Book

The Doctor finds himself on trial before The Shadow Proclamation where the Crystal is legally returned to Gisella. The Doctor is ready to continue his mission until Gisella betrays him, staying with the Darksmiths. But she accidentally reveals where the Darksmiths are meeting their client. The Doctor arrives on the chosen planet, and becomes involved in an adventure involving missing eyes and souls. Will the Doctor solve the mystery and stop the hand over of the Crystal?

My Thoughts

This is easily my favourite of the whole series. It had a fantastic plot that carried the story along at a terrific pace. The end of this book has really moved the story along. I can't wait to discover the end.

I have only one word for Gisella - traitor, and with that word the Doctor once again finds himself on his own. However I didn't really miss Gisella, there wasn't time to. There aren't any other major players in this book, which is a shame because I would've liked to have seen more of Megan from wardrobe. She was a pretty cool character. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Mitra.

In the words of the Doctor, this book is brilliant. It had everything a book needs and more. I even found myself sympathising with the baddie! I only wish the book could have been longer as it could have been developed so much more.

My Rating

5 stars - If the final two books are anywhere near as good as this one then they're going to be fantastic.

• Book summary from the back of the book



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Doctor Who: The Darksmith Legacy: The Planet of Oblivion by Justin Richards

On the Back of the Book

The Planet of Oblivion is where the Darksmiths met their clients. A once pleasant planet with lush jungles, it has now been reduced to a charred and scorched mess. A few surviving inhabitants desperately try to bring the planet back to life, with the help of the Dravidians. But are these technically accomplished insects helping for thei own gain? Will the Doctor get closer to the identity of the Darksmiths mysterious clients?

My Thoughts

I really liked this story. It had a good pace, a nice plot and an interesting cliffhanger.

I did notice a spelling error and that bugged me quite a lot. I feel it's imperitive for childrens books are edited so there isn't a single spelling mistake as it isn't going to help a kid in school.

The characters were so-so. I didn't really sympathise with the crew of Orbit Station 3, even though they were fight ing two battles at once. I found the Dravidians to be pretty transparent. The only characters that I liked were the Doctor and Gisella. This is definitely a plus for the author, if I hadn't liked them, I would've been wondering why I was reading the book in the first place.

Overall the story was better than the characters. I find that this book could be used by parents as a lesson on the destructiveness of fire. It's so much more fun to learn while reading something you enjoy. Extra points for the author for teaching important life lessons.

My Rating

4 stars - A solid story with an important message, all nicely wrapped into a 128 page Doctor Who book. One of my favourite Darksmith Legacy books.

• Book Summary off the back of the book


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Doctor Who: The Darksmith Legacy: The Game of Death by Trevor Baxendale

On the Back of the Book

The hunter becomes the hunted as the Doctor tracks the Agent from Paris towards the Silver Devastation. Th eDoctor hopes the Agent will lead him to where the Crystal can be destroyed. Following the trail, Gisella and the Doctor arrive at an elegant country house where they are welcomed to join the game. The rules are simple: Survive the night and you are a winner. But where is the Agent and why did it come here?

My Thoughts

I was really looking forward to this one as the author wrote my favourite Torchwood novel. I was left feeling disappointed though. This book didn't grip me and it took day s to read it, quite a feat considering it's only 128 pages long. The pace was okay, I just didn't like the plot or the way it was executed.

The characters were okay, I didn't really like any of the ones that were created specifically for this story. The Doctor and Gisella weren't too good either. I also missed the tension of the Darksmith Agent chasing them. He only appeared in the last few pages.

Overall I wasn't happy with this book at all, but that's my own fault for over hyping it in my head. I was also annoyed at the High School Musical reference. I don't think HSM and Doctor Who have the same target audience.

My Rating

3 stars - Fo rme this is the weakest in the series so far. I didn't really enjoy it and it did n't contain much excitement. I just hope that the next book's better.

• Book summary from the back of the book
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Doctor Who: The Darksmith Legacy: The Vampire of Paris by Stephen Cole

On the Back of the Book

The Doctor and his new companion, Gisella have escaped the robot agent and the rampaging Dreadbringers. The Doctor, more than ever, wants the Crystal destroyed and must find the Crystal's creator, Varlos. But Varlos has been dead for years. The Doctor and Gisella must travel back in time to Paris to find clues to Varlos' whereabouts. Will they find him in time or will the Darksmiths finally capture the Doctor?



This book isn't as good as previous ones in the series, in fact it's one of the weakest in the series. I t had a really good premise and could have been one of the best so I was slightly disapppointed. There's no denying the steady pace of the book though and that the author made reference to events that had happened on TV.

Gisella had one of her major reveals at the end of this story. I kind of saw it coming but was still surprised by parts of it. Once again the Doctor's portrayal is really good. Other characters just blended into the story and didn't really stand out to me. I did like Nicholas though.

Overall the characterizations of the major characters is better than the actual plot. I struggled to really get into the story and it didn't really hold my attention.

My Rating

3.5 stars - It's not the best, but then again it's not the worst either. The great characterizations are what stopped me from giving this 3.

• Book summary from the back of the book
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Doctor Who: The Darksmith Legacy: The Depths of Despair by Justin Richards

On the Back of the Book

The Doctor has arrived on the planet Flydon Maxima - also known as 'Despair' since the whole planet is flooding. A scientific base has been monitoring the slow melting of the glaciers and their advanced equipment looks to have been created by Varlos, the Darksmith who created the Crystal. But why would Varlos risk saving the planet? And who is the mysterious Gisella?

My Thoughts

This book is easily the best of the series so far. I could see the events of the story unfolding in my head and the pace of it meant that I finished the entire book in under an hour.

The Doctor's companion for the series is introduced in this book and I have to say I quite like her. She has some secrets that could lead to some interesting plot developments. The Doctor is amazing in this book, the author even managed to fit 'allons-y' in, twice!

Overall it's a pretty decent story. It was definitely my favourite at this point in the Darksmith Legacy. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. This series is shaping up to be pretty good.

My Rating

4.5 stars - I've read books that are aimed at an older audience that are more childish. This series is offering a really good story arc and is making kids aware of the damages of Global Warming. That really shouldn't be taken for granted.

• Book summary from the back of the book
• Image from Google

Slight Issues With Posting

So anyway, I've been reading loads and I have reviews to do but my computer has chosen to have an identity crisis. It's not going to be fixed until Wednesday at the earliest. I'm using my mum's computer but it doesn't seem to like my blog much and there isn't any room for my review book. I'll see about sneaking down early and moving it but it's not a guarantee.

I guess this means I'll just keep reading and have a mammoth session on here when it's recovered. I'm so sad. I miss my blog.

Until my computer's better or I can have a good amount of time on this one,

Toodlepip

Char

Doctor Who: The Darksmith Legacy: The Colour of Darkness by Richard Dungworth

On the Back of the Book

The Doctor is in pursuit of the Agent and the Eternity Crystal. His travels have taken him to the forbidding planet of the Darksmith Collective, Karagula. Before the Doctor can reach the hidden Dark Cathedral, he arrives at a village without any children. It is a mystery the Doctor must unlock before he can find the Crystal. Will the Doctor solve the mystery and will he find the Crystal before the Darksmiths retrieve it?

My Thoughts

This book isn't as good as the first two. It kind of reminds me of a less violent Torchwood: Children of Earth. The plot had a nice pace but it didn't grab me and the only reason I finished it so quickly is because my computer seems to be having an identity crisis.

I wasn't too keen on the stand alone characters. They weren't remarkable in any way and just a couple of hours after finishing the book I can tell you absolutely nothing about the characters. I also wasn't too keen on the Doctor's portrayal. I was also sad at the loss of some of the mystery around the Darksmith Collective.

Overall this book didn't compare to the other two, it wasn't as exciting, the characters weren't as memorable. I could go on, but aia won't.

My Rating

3 stars - This book seemed to lack something, I'm not quite sure what though. While it didn't take me long to read this, it's due in part to the small page count. I doubt I would have continued with this series if this was book 1.

• Book summary from the back of the book
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Doctor Who: The Darksmith Legacy: The Graves of Mordane by Colin Brake

On the Back of the Book

The Doctor has discovered the Darksmiths' Eternity Crystal and is determined to destroy it before it falls into the wrong hands. But to find out more about the Crystal, the Doctor must travel to Mordane, the peaceful cemetery planet. But once the sun goes down, Mordane turns into a planet of nightmares. Will the Doctor manage to hold on to the Crystal and fight off the living dead?

My Thoughts

I find this to be a worthy follow up to The Dust of Ages. The pace was consistent and even though this is by a different author the story progression feels natural. I also liked the recap of events so far at the beginning of the book. It's a handy little thing to have as opposed to having to read the story again, because that would evidently be boring for the intended audience of the story.

I loved the character Catz. She was the kind of girl that the Doctor would have as a companion. Chandra and the Captain however were pretty average and didn't really have much involvement in the story. The mystery surrounding the Darksmith Collective at this point is pretty gripping. I loved the Doctor but there were moments when he should have whipped out his specs, but he didn't. It's little quirks like this that should be mentioned in books that are spin offs of TV series.

I really liked the stories and the activities, they were very engaging. If I'm honest I preferred book 1 but the difference is so slight I'm not sure if it matters. The ending wasn't as much of a cliffhanger but it does raise some very interesting questions.

My Rating

4 stars - I stand by what I said when I gave book 1 4 stars. As a kids book, this is pretty awesome. As a Doctor Who book, it's pretty awesome. In other words, it's pretty awesome, a definite must for Doctor Who fans.

• Book Summary from the back of the book
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Doctor Who, The Darksmith Legacy: The Dust of Ages by Justin Richards

On the Back of the Book

It is a few years into our future, and there are bases on the moon. A recent survey has shown something unusual, an unknown power source. When a tall, skinny spiky-haired stranger turns up and announces he's from the Bureau of Alien Technology doing a spot check, the survey team know they've found something special. But is this special power source a blessing or a curse?

My Thoughts

First of all I realise that this book is intended for readers younger than myself, however I love Doctor Who so I just had to read this. The book had a fast pace, not surprising since it only had 118 pages but it is the first of 10 part series so this could have easily been the scene setter. It wasn't though and I have to say it's already thrown up some interesting parts.

The characters that were created specifically for this book are really good, but I wasn't always convinced of the Doctor. I couldn't picture him too well and I didn't get David Tennant's voice in my head like I normally do and this disappointed me. I did love the Doctor's ingenuity though and his ability to handle all situations.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to get stuck into book 2. The story was left on a cliffhanger so it's probably for the best if you have all 10 books at home.

I also want to point out the puzzles in the book. It's a nice interactive touch that's really appealing for the age group The Darksmith Legacy is aimed at. The last one in this book had me completely stumped and I'm 20!

My Rating

4 stars - As long as you don't expect a piece of literary genius, this book is awesome. It's perfect for kids to read and even of you aren't a child you should still read it. A definite must for Doctor Who fans everywhere.

• Book summary from the back of the book


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Girl, Aloud by Emily Gale

On the Back of the Book

This is serious.
This is BIG.
Dad has finally lost it.

He's entered me for The X Factor.

This would be slightly less of a crisis if:
1. I could sing.
2. Any tiny bit of me actually wanted to be a star.
3. I hadn't lost my two best friends to a boy in brown boots.

Inside I'm screaming, I just wannabe... me!

My Thoughts

Girl, Aloud has one major flaw: the blurb. You read the back of the book and this sounds like a nice, light, fluffy novel, but it isn't. The story of Kass Kennedy deals with a couple of pretty heavy issues: a mentally ill parent and adultery in fact. This story isn't one to be taken lightly.

The misleading blurb aside, this is a really good book. The issues it raises are dealt with sensibly in a realistic manner and not the insane ramblings of someone looking through rose tinted spectacles. The X Factor may be at the heart of this story but the family whose lives are described are anything but normal.

I also found the use of KT Tunstall's 'Other Side of the World' quite profound because in a way that's exactly where all the characters are in regard to each other.

My Rating

4 stars - It's not the perfect book but it's pretty close. I thoroughly recommend this to readers of YA who are looking for something a little deeper than books like Twilight.

A Final Note

This book does contain swearing, so it's not one for a younger reader despite what it says on the publishers website.

Also I thought I'd post a link to Kass' audition song, Other Side of the World by KT Tunstall - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OodwL4TL2rQhttp://

• Book Summary from the back of the book



• Image from Google



• Song is a youtube link

Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong

On the Back of the Book

Paige Winterbourne is a witch. Not that you'd notice - no warts, no green skin, no cute little wiggle of the nose whenever she casts a spell. No, most of the time she's just a normal twenty-three-year-old girl: works too hard, worries about her weight, wonders if she'll ever have a boyfriend. Okay, so she does have an adopted teenage daughter, Savannah, who wants to raise her black witch of a mother from the dead. And who is being stalked by a telekinetic half-demon and an all-powerful cabal of sorcerers. But other than that, Paige has a really ordinary life. That is until the neighbours find out who she is, and all hell breaks loose. Literally...

My Thoughts

It took me a long while to get into this book. I had so much trouble with Paige's narrative. I didn't like her in Stolen and didn't see how she deserved to get a whole book. The plot however, made up for any reservations I had about whether reading this was a good idea. Once the plot had got into its stride the book moved at a nice pace until the end, where I once again found my self getting confused. If I'm honest, I'm beginning to wonder if it's me or the author.

As good as the plot was I still wasn't any more a Paige fan at the end than I was at the beginning. However I did like Lucas and Savannah, the former is just a regular guy who just so happens to be a sorcerer. Another thing I liked about him was that he always had a plan. Savannah brought life to the book with her temper. I kind of remember being a bit like at her age, angry with the whole world.

Overall book 2, Stolen, was a better book. Elena was a better main character. Yet in this book she's barely mentioned, despite what it says on the back of the book.

My Rating

3 stars - I marked it down for two reasons: 1. Paige doesn't have the personality to have an entire book and 2. The end had me baffled and I hate that in a book.

A Final Note

As this is an adult book there is sex, violence and swearing. It's definitely not for younger teens.

• Book summary from the back of the book


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Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

On the Back of the Book

Obsessed with creating life itself, Victor Frankenstein plunders graveyards for the material to fashion a new being, which he shocks to life with electricity. But his botched creature, rejected by Frankenstein and denied human companionship, sets out to destroy his maker and all that he holds dear.

My Thoughts

This book is considered a classic, but at first I struggled to understand why. The book has a really slow pace and there seems to be a gulf between the reader and the narrator. I know that the book was written nearly 200 years ago but if I'd felt that in a book written a couple of years ago I'd have pointed it out. I am not discriminating against an older book.

I wasn't too fond of the characters. Frankenstein came across particularly badly in my opnion, his actions were irresponsible and his unwillingness to accept his responsibilities only prove my point. His family and friends were unremarkable and I was beginning to wonder what possessed me to read this book in the first place when the monster started to get a bigger role. I found myself sympathising with him and wanting him to find happiness despite the prejudices he faced from those who were unwilling to accept something that wasn't the same as them.

Overall I enjoyed Frankenstein even though it took me 2 and 1/2 weeks to read it. It's a deeply thought provoking story and the description and characterization of the monster are stunning.

My Rating

3 stars - A good book, but it's not brilliant. It was nice stepping out of my reading comfort zone to experience this book. If anybody told me that they wanted to read a classic then I really would suggest this one as it has a powerful message and even if it's meaning has been distorted over time as the human race has evolved, it's still a worthwhile read.

• Book summary from the back of the book


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Diary of a Wimpy Vampire: Prince of Dorkness by Tim Collins

On the Back of the Book

Transformed into a vampire at the awkward age of fifteen, Nigel Mullet will remain this age for ever, and must spend eternity struggling through adolescence.

In his latest hilarious diary, Nigel starts the new term as one of the most popular pupils in school, and he's finally got a girlfriend after more than eighty years of being single. But his life soon unravels when a new pupil, Jason, joins his school...

When Jason steals his girlfriend, Nigel vows to get revenge. But the more he discovers about Jason the more confused he gets. Who exactly is this mysterious new classmate? And how can Nigel win his true love back?

My Thoughts

This is a simple but very funny book. It's the follow up to Diary of a Wimpy Vampire. If I'm honest I thought that book one had a pretty solid ending and didn't need a sequel but apparently what do I know? Also I didn't think that this book was anywhere near as good as the first. The last 100 or so pages were extremely enteraining and reminded me of why I liked book 1 enough to buy this one though.

There's a new character in this one who is a bit of a rival for Nigel. The new character seems to be a bit dog-like, I think you can see where this is going.

The plot is a bit similar to book one and of there are any more planned then the author can't continue with the same plot over and over because eventually everyone will get bored but it was still very entertaning and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

My Rating

3.5 stars - I've marked this down due to the plot similarities between this book and its predecessor and the majority of this story being nowhere near as good as the last bit. I still think that if you've read book one then this is worth a read though.

Stolen by Kelley Armstrong

On the Back of the Book

Elena Michaels is a wanted woman. She hasn't done anything wrong. Well, not recently anyway. But 10 years ago her lover turned her into a werewolf: the only female werewolf in the world in fact.

And now, just as she's coming to terms with it all, a group of scientists learns of her existence. They're hunting her down, and Elena is about to run straight into their trap. But they haven't reckoned on Elena's adoptive family, her pack, who will stop at nothing to get her back. They haven't reckoned on Elena herself, either, and that's a very big mistake...

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book. Saying that though, this book had a completely different feeling to it than book one, Bitten. That's because this is the first book that was written with the intention of being a series. That doesn't lessen the enjoyment of the book though. The plot is different to a lot of paranormal's that I've read (although Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville books did have a similar plot line. They were written after this though). It had a nice pace that didn't leave me feeling disappointed.
My favourite character is Elena. She's feisty and intelligent and refuses to be what others want her to be. Unlike most other leading ladies, she doesn't need to hang on to her man as though her life depends on it. Which is lucky really, it makes the book a lot better.
I think that this is one of my favourite paranormal books of the year. The only down side was I got a bit confused at the end. That was entirely my own fault though and is no reflection of the quality of the book.

My Rating

4 stars - A really good, entertaining novel. I thoroughly recommend it fans of adult paranormal romance/urban fantasy.

A Final Note

This book is for an adult audience and contains sex, violence and swearing. Definitely not for teenagers.

• Book Summary from the back of the book


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The Sixth Form at St Clare's by Pamela Cox

On the Back of the Book

'That's exactly what I'm suggesting,' broke in Isabel impatiently. 'I think there are TWO Doras!'

The O'Sullivan Twins are now head girls! And two heads are better than one when dealing with Dora, a new first former.

There's more trouble at St. Clare's'

My Thoughts

Something is immediately off with this book. The reason for this is, although it's a continuation of the St. Clare's series by Enid Blyton, this book hasn't actually been written by Enid Blyton.

It has all the hallmarks of a St Clare's novel, a thief, a misunderstood teen, all of my favourite characters. It's enjoyable enough but there's something missing and there's no denying it. It just doesn't feel right.

Another thing I noted which made me realise just how different these authors are is xhaptewr length. Enid Blyton tended to have eight pages per chapter at the longest but Pamela Cox's chapters just go on.

My Rating

2.5 stars - An okay book but it doesn't fit in the series if you're a die hard Enid Blyton and have been brought up reading her stories. If that doesn't bother you however, then this is a lovely book for children and adults alike.

• Book summary from the back of the book




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Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

On the Back of the Book

That morning, my brother's life was worth a pocket watch...

One night fifteen-year-old Lina, her mother and young brother are hauled from their home by Soviet guards, thrown into cattle cars and sent away. They are being deported to Siberia. An unimaginable and harrowing journey has begun. Lina doesn't know if she'll ever see her father or her friends again. But she refuses to give up hope.

Lina hopes for her family.
For her country.
For her future.
For Love - first love, with a boy she barely knows but knows she does not want to lose...
Will hope keep Lina alive?

My Thoughts

I am absolutely blown away by this book. The writing is, quite simply, sublime. When you read a book with such a heavy storyline, you find you're psyching yourself up to reading but with Between Shades of Gray, the writing is so beautiful that you find time is falling away as you get pulled into the horrors of Lina's story. Before you know it, you've finished the book.

The characters are many things, some are vile, some are evil, some are desperate and helpless, but my favourite is definitely Lina, the main character. To have hope despite everything that has happened to her is incredible. I love how she uses her art as a way to vent how she feels about her captors. It's such a dangerous thing to do but she documents her struggles anyway. It's really admirable.

My Rating

5 stars - This is my absolute favourite book of the year so far. If I could give it more than five stars I would. I think this book is going to be with me for a long time.

A Final Note

If you are of a sensitive disposition you probably shouldn't read this. As much as I adored it and am raving about it there is some violence and death. There are also two instances of swearing. Not recommended for younger teens.

• Book Summary from the back of the book



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Fifth Formers of St Clare's by Enid Blyton

On the Back of the Book

'Felicity!' Must you play that awful, gloomy tune again?' said Anne-Marie. 'I'm trying to get the last verse of this poem right.'

The fifth form are sharing studies this year. And tempers are fraying. t's going to be a very tense term!

There's more trouble at St Clare's

My Thoughts

I liked this book but I'm not quite sure what I want to say about it. I enjoyed the story but I read this one straight after reading book six and it did feel like more of the same thing.

The characters have some problems that teenagers today still face: exams. As there does tend to be in Enid Blyton books, there's even a thief!

Although I did like the book, the amount of narrators did get a bit confusing. The point of view would change really suddenly and I'd find myself back tracking in an attempt to figure out what had just happened. A sense of stability in the chapters would have been marvellous.

My Rating

3 stars - It's a good read that you can enjoy in a matter of hours. It's not one of my favourite Enid Blyton's but it's worth a read none the less.

• Book Summary from the back of the book


• Image from Google

Claudine at St. Clare's by Enid Blyton

On the Back of the Book

Mam'zelle beamed. 'You will like little Claudine! For she is French. She is my niece!'

But Mam'zelle is in for a shock! Out to break every school rule, new girl Claudine is no teacher's pet...

There's more trouble at St Clare's

My Thoughts

The sixth book in the St Clare's series is nothing new. In fact it's exactly the same as the rest of Enid Blyton's books but with a different set of characters. Saying that, I still found the story engagingand didn't see some of the plot twists coming - in a kid's book! I normally see plot twists a mile off, but Enid Blyton got me good.

There's nothing extraordinary about the characters. They're a bunch of middle class teens with the occasional token poor girl and a snob who hates the poor girl. Some of the girls aren't very nice people but by the end of the book they've learnt their lessons and are having a wonderful time.

It's another quick read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Enid Blyton was one of my favourite childhood authors and I still love to read her books today.

My Rating

3 stars - A lovely read that fills your heart with joy and a sense of how jolly nice the world used to be. It's not a groundbreaking piece of literature but it was still good enough to keep me entertained.

• Book Summary from the back of the book



• Image from Google

Mud City by Deborah Ellis

On the Back of the Book
Fourteen-year-old Shauzia dreams of seeing the ocean and eventually making a new life in France, but it is hard to reconcile that dream with the terrible conditions of the Afghan refugee camp where she lives. Making things worse is the camp’s leader, Mrs. Weera, whose demands on Shauzia make her need to escape all the more urgent. Her decision to leave necessitates Shauzia dress like a boy, as her friend Parvana did, to earn money to buy passage out. But her journey becomes a struggle to survive as she's forced to beg and pick through garbage, eventually landing in jail. An apparent rescue by a well-meaning American family gives her hope again, but will it last? And where will she end up?



My Thoughts

This is such a beautiful story. Although this book is part of a series, I don't think that you have to read the first two books to understand what's going on in this one.

The heart of this story is so touching and it helps to move the story along at a nice pace. The story really makes you think of the consequences that come from war are.

Shauzia's character is well written and I found myself willing her on in her journey. Every single one of her actions was understandable and the only difference is if I was in those situations I wouldn't have the courage to do what she did.

I found that I had tears in my eyes as I read the last few pages. I won't say what happened but it was such abrave thing for the characters to do that and if anyone has really done that then I am in awe of you.



My Rating
5 stars - This is one of those rare books that is filled with a sorrowful story that won't let you go. It's a really quick read, there are less than 200 pages and I read it in a couple of hours, but they were a couple of the best hours of my day with Shauzia's story playing like a movie in my head.



A Final Note
There is a bit of violence but as the story is set in Pakistan, a country that ended up with refugees from Afghanistan it's understandable. Just in case you're interested the first two books are:

and:

They're also both stunningly beautiful books that should be read.

• Book Summary from Goodreads
• Images from Google

Gossip Girl: I Will Always Love You by Cecily von Ziegesar

On the Back of the Book

Blair, Serena, Nate, Dan, and Vanessa went off to live their lives.Now they're coming home for the holidays.

A lot can change in a few months . . . but some things never do.

It finally happened: we went to college. We started over. No one knows who we've coveted, what we scored on the SATs,where our parents live, or when we became debaucherous. We've learned new things, made new friends, and maybe even met the loves of our lives. We've changed.

Or at least, some of us have. But old habits are hard to break-especially when faced with your former besties and former flames. With everyone back in the city for the holidays, this break is guaranteed to be filled with makeups, breakups, and shakeups.

Lucky for you, I'm here to report all the scandal as it happens. Let the games begin!

You know you love me,

xoxo Gossip Girl

My Thoughts

This is the final Gossip Girl novel but with the previous three efforts not living up to expectations I wasn't expecting much from this one. I was pleasantly surprised. Gone where the endless designer references and the childish behaviour (mostly). They've all grown up and are a lot more mature. This book made me remember why I liked Gossip Girl so much in the first place.

This book has a really nice pace once you've got into it but it struggles a bit at first. The character development was a breath of fresh air. I was so sick of reading about people who didn't change. It was almost as though time stood still for them, in a bad way. So yeah they've grown up and this made me a very happy bunny.

This is definitely one of the better Gossip Girl novels and is worth a read if you've read the rest and weren't happy with the initial ending. (A bit like I wasn't.)

My Rating

3 stars - Overall it's a really enjoyable, quick read. Saying that it takes a while to get into it and I don't think I'd have finished it so quickly if I wasn't feeling ill. I'd say that this was for hardcore fans that made it to the end of the series.

A Final Note

Swearing, sex, drugs, it's a Gossip Girl novel, I think you've got the message by now.

• Book Summary from Goodreads


• Image from Google