***Review*** The Kin: Suth's Story (The Kin #1) by Peter Dickinson

On the Back of the Book

Suth is the leader now. It is up to him to bring the others to safety.

The Kins have been scattered and the old, good ways are gone for ever. Only Suth's skill and courage can save his little band of orphansas he leads them on a desperate journey out of the desert. The discovery of a mysterious, green valley seems to promise safety. But Suth suspects that the unknown Kin who live there could be the most dangerous enemy of all...


Pre Read Thoughts

I don't remember what drew me to this book in order for me to buy the whole set but it was a couple of years ago now. Actually it was probably because I have this desperate urge to buy books every time I go out. I bought the series at my favourite used book shop for £1.50 each (That makes £6 for the whole series. That's cheaper than one brand new book.) The whole series are in excellent condition and I'm very happy with my purchase. The cover is striking, it really appeals to me even though I'm 20 and this is a kids book. The synopsis is really intriguing and makes me really excited to read the book.


Post Read Thoughts

Wow. I loved this book so much. The scene setting was incredible and the chapters being broken up with oldtales inbetween them really helped to keep the story fresh and added depth to the whole thing. I loved the oldtales because they gave an insight into how the people believed their world began. The writing was exquisite, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I also want to point out that the premise intrigued me and I'm so glad I enjoyed this story because I would've been gutted if I hadn't.

The only character that truly matters in this story is Suth because it's his story into the world of adulthood. He's written extremely well and doesn't automatically get everything he's ever desired. His emotions are well portrayed and I think they're obvious even to the kids that this book is actually aimed at. Although Suth is the most important character, he wasn't my favourite. My favourite character was a girl called Tinu. I think she was written realistically and I loved every moment that she was on the page.

Overall I adored this, really I did. The premise is huge and would make an awesome adult novel but the author has managed to make it an awesome kids story. I keep saying kids because I can't believe it, I personally think it's harder to make a story understandable for children as you aren't always sure what words they know and which they don't. As I have already said, the writing was stellar and the story solid. I recommend this to people of all ages.

My Rating

4 stars - This is a solid opening to this 4 part series. I never considered giving this 5 stars although I'm not entirely sure why., maybe I would have liked more detail and a longer story? I'll let you know if I ever figure it out.

***Review*** Bunker by Andrea Maria Schenkel

On the Back of the Book

It had been a normal day at work.

Monika was locking up, ready to head home, when the man arrived. She didn't see his fist until it was far too late.

Bundles into a car, tied up and taken in darkness to an old mill in the thick of a forest, she has been flung into a bunker. It is only now as time passes and she sees her attacker in the light, that she notices the startling resemblance to someone from her very dark and buried past.

Someone she never wanted to see again.

Pre Read Thoughts

This book is different to what I normally read but I decided to pick it up as both me and  my mum wanted to read this. I think the cover is creepy - in a good way. It feels as though you're trapped in the forest with nowhere to go. It definitely helps the synopsis out, together they make this book feel edgy. The RRP is £7.99, normally this wouldn't bother me but the book is a mere 177 pages and I feel that knocking a couple of quid off would make the price fairer. However, I found this as part of a 3 for £5 deal at my local bookshop so I only paid £1.99. I love a bargain!

Post Read Thoughts

I really don't know what to say about this one. It's difficult to sun it up but if I don't do it now, I never will. Although it's not my number one genre I really like crime/thriller type novels. This one never really captured me though. I found the set up confusing. There was too much being told in too short an amount of time. The more I read, the more confused I got. I realise this book is a translation from German but I'm not sure that's the problem. Another thing I found was that the English was very simple. I've seen more elaborate words in YA. Maybe that is a translation issue and it sounds more adult in German. Saying that I don't want to blame everything on the translator, por woman.

I didn't really find myself relating to either of the main characters. I found their personalities quite dull. I get that they were in a difficult situation but that could have brought certain character traits to the fore. This didn't really happen though and so I felt like I was missing something with them. Especially as they had no connection with each other.

Overall I feel kind of disappointed, this book could have been awesome with Monika becoming attached to her kidnapper (yes I'm thinking Stockholm syndrome) but I think the book lacked depth like that. This book is a bit of a jumbled mess, it's confusing and it tries to cover too much in too short a time though. I will say that the cover I have ties in well with the novel, helping you to visualise the area where the story takes place. I don't think I'd recommend this book and I doubt I'll ever read anything else by this author.

My Rating

2 stars - It's not the worst book I've ever read but by no means is it anywhere near the best. I don't think this is worth a read unless you're a hardcore fan of the genre. Even then, I'm sure you could find something better.

A Final Note

There's a bit of swearing. It's the same two words over again and they aren't that major. There is some violence as well. This is an adult book and I think it should be kept that way.

***Review*** The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

On the Back of the Book

Imagine if you will, New York City, 1899

Society's elite: the glamour, the grandeur, the glittering parties, the most handsome beaux, the most beautiful debutantes... the rich girl, the humble boy, the forbidden love, the stolen glances, the whispers, the scandal, the mystery, the revenge.

You are cordially invited to step into
The Luxe
Where the secrets are dark
and the sins are delicious...
R.S.V.P.

Pre Read Thoughts

Confession time! I've read this before, but in my defence it was years ago. This was a cover book. I fell in love with the girl's dress. It's so pretty and if I lived in the 19th century I'd want to be the girl in that dress. Saying that, my cover is too busy for my taste, it's got all these swirls and flowers and butterflies on it and it ruins the effect of the dress. Hence why I haven't used it. The RRP is  £6.99 which is more than reasonable. I also want to point out that I love how the synopsis is set out, it's so cool, it creates intrigue.

Post Read Thoughts

I first read this book a couple of years ago and I adored it. Now though it didn't really grab me as much as it did then. The story was essentially Gossip Girl except the frocks were bigger and iPhones didn't exist. The pace of the story was a bit hit and miss, the first 200 and something pages were dull, less would have been more. The author's style of writing got old pretty quickly, too much time was spent on materialistic things as opposed to the plot.

The characters are from Gossip Girl. I can prove this:

The Luxe  - Gossip Girl
Elizabeth   - Serena
Penelope  -  Blair
Henry      -   Nate
Diana      -   Vanessa
Lina        -    Jenny

I know that looks like a list but if you've either read or watched Gossip Girl you should know the character traits of each character. My favourite character is Diana. I love how vibrant and full of life she is. The others are pretty boring and generic and I didn't really connect with them.

Overall I quite like the book. I don't think it's a particularly strong opening to a series but not many YA books are now. I found myself wanting to know less about Elizabeth the society girl and more about Elizabeth the person. Her attitude to Will as she describes him contradicts the way she feels, this annoys me. I wanted this story to be different from Gossip Girl but with Alloy Entertainment involved, how could it be?

My Rating

3 stars - I should probably give it less but because this book brought me joy at one point in my life I've decided to be generous. This is a definite must for Gossip Girl fans. However if you're looking for an interesting insight into the workings of upper-class New York in the 19th century, you're looking at the wrong book.

A Final Note

Sex is eluded to. The author cuts away before anything really happens though, but to be on the safe side I recommend this for 14+.

***Review*** Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

On the Back of the Book

Cathy and Heathcliff, childhood friends, are cruelly separated by class, fate and the actions of others. But uniting them is something even stronger: an all-cunsuming passion that sweeps away everything that comes between them.
Even death...

"My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks," said Cathy. "I am Heathcliff."

Pre Read Thoughts

I have always been intrigued by classic novels. I buy them with every intention of reading them and then they languish on my TBR for years. Seriously, it's like a desperate urge that overcomes me, so when I saw this I had to buy it. The RRP is £6.99 which is the normal price for a paperback book. I'm not a fan of the cover -- It can only be described as Twilight-esque, I'd prefer it if the random flower wasn't there. Also while I'm at it with the Twilight references, the declaration that this is Bella and Edward's book is off-putting if you aren't a Twilight fan. Which I'm not.

Post Read Thoughts

No matter how hard I tried I just couldn't get into the story. I started this book over and over again and I just couldn't get anywhere with it. Finally I had what I describe as a moment of genius (my family disagree), I got the audiobook and while I listened to it I crocheted a blanket. Now the book's finished, the blanket however...

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I ended up liking the story although for me it was less of a love story and more a tale of forgotten and not so forgotten ghosts. If you read the book you'll see why. The story takes a while to warm up but it's worth getting through the dull beginning to get to the heart of the book. The narrative is strong and Nelly Dean's tale of The Heights and The Grange is compelling.

I hated most of the characters, they were either selfish, inconsiderate, rude, manipulative and spoilt or even worse they were all of them. Linton was the most frustrating. I wanted to throttle him. If he'd treated me like that... (we'll leave that rant before I get started.) I did like Hareton, Nelly and Mr Lockwood though. They came across really well.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the story, despite its lack of plot. Nothing happens, if you're a lover of high action novels, you should probably step away from this. The writing was superb, head and shoulders above the majority of what's published now. Also because I had an audiobook I just want to say that the people who read it (I've forgooten their names) were incredible. They really brought it to life and have made me appreciate audiobooks.

My Rating

4 stars - I loved nearly everything about this book. It isn't five star material for me but it's close. I think this is a must for book lovers, especially if you like the classics.

***Review*** Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Jane Austen & Ben H. Winters

On the Back of the Book

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters expands the original text of the beloved Jane Austen novel with all-new scenes of giant lobsters, rampaging octopi, two headed sea-serpents, and other biological monstrosities. As our story opens, the Dashwood sisters are evicted from their childhood home and sent to live on a mysterious island full of savage creatures and dark secrets. While the sensible Elinor falls in love with Edward Ferrars, her romantic sister Marianne is courted by both the handsome Willoughby and the hideous man-monster Colonel Brandon. Can the Dashwood sisters triumph over meddlesome-matriarchs and unscrupulous rogues to find true love? Or will they fall prey to the tentacles that are forever snapping at their heels? This masterful portrait of Regency England blends Jane Austen's biting social commentary with ultraviolent depictions of sea monsters biting. It's survival of the fittest -- and only the swifest swimmers will find true love!

Pre Read Thoughts

I approach this book with caution. The last mash up of a Jane Austen book I read, didn't really work for me. I found it to be forced and not at all amusing. I'm hoping that this book does better because once again the idea is sound. The price is in dollars... again, so I don't know how much I paid for it. The cover is hideous, tentacled men aren't exactly known for their dashing good looks though are they? Now a random note before I start to read this book. I'll explain it as I go so don't worry. Before I read a book I hand it to my cat and normally he'll give it a sniff, and rub his face on it but he refuses to look at this book. The last time he did that I hated the books. Maybe he's trying to tell me something...

Post Read Thoughts

I guess the question is: Where do I start? Do I start with my declaration? No I think I'll end it there. Or  maybe I should start with details? Nah, they'll follow in a moment. I'm going to start with Mystic Mischief the psychic cat. If you read my pre read thoughts section you'll know he refused to look at the book. Well his premonition turned out to be correct. I really wish I'd listened to him. This book is diabolical, every momemt I spent with it is a moment I'll sadly never get back.  It has all the same issues as Pride and Prejudice and Zombies but they're worse in this one! How is that even possible? I thought the humour was forced, the writing boring and it's essentially two books forced into one and that just doesn't work for me.

The characters were dull and unispiring. There was no substance to them and I found myself wanting to fall asleep. They didn't really work with the situations that they were placed in. The word caricature kept coming to mind throughout the stories. (There were two stories.) I was also disappointed by the sea monsters, they didn't eat everyone and that's what I wanted them to do. It would have ended my torture quicker.

I think that by now you can tell that I hate the book and I genuinely can't think of a nice thing to say about it. I'm a quick reader, I pride myself on this, it means I can post multiple reviews a week without holding any back, but this one book has taken me nearly 2 weeks to finish. I'm now way behind my monthly reading target. As I said, I wasn't amused by one thing in the book, I can't take even the smallest amount of enjoyment from it. Reading this was a genuine chore. My overall opinion is low, so low in fact I will now make that declaration I told you about earlier: This is the worst book I have ever had the unfortunacy to read in my life... and I've read a lot of books.

My Rating

1 star - To be honest it doesn't even deserve that but I had to give it something. Now what shall I do with the book? I can't give it away because someone might then read it and that's the last thing I want. I could burn it I suppose but then the smoke would make it difficult for to breathe for about a year (in real time terms this is about an hour). I shall have to hide it in a box. I implore you, don't buy this book, don't even borrow it. Just walk away from it. Trust me.

***Review*** Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink

On the Back of the Book

Two sisters. United by blood. Divided by a prophecy.

Lia Milthorpe's determination to end the prophecy that has divided her family for generations is stronger than ever. With time dwindling, Lia sets out on a journey to locate the missing pieces of the prophecy needed to close the Gate, and to persuade her sister Alice to help her - or she will have to risk her life trying to close it herself.

Lia has Dimitri by her side but Alice has James, the man who once loved Lia - and maybe still does. James doesn't know the truth about either sister, or about the prophecy that divides them. And Alice intends to keep it that way.

There are some things sisters aren't meant to share.
And some secrets that could destroy them both.

Pre Read Thoughts

I've been waiting for this book for three months and it's finally here! As you can see I got very excited as I opened the packagibg that I eagerly took off the delivery man and tore it open. I won't lie, I was disappointed to find it's one of those giant paperbacks. You know like Divergent and the Fallen series? This is because my copies of Prophecy of the Sisters and Guardian of the Gate are hardbacks. Well that and the fact I don't see the point of the larger paperbacks. They tend to be more expensive - This copy of Circle of Fire RRP's at £10.99 - That's £4 more expensive for like a cm of extra height. How is that worth it? I know a hardback tends to be £12.99 which is another £2 but you're paying for a cover that can stand up to damage better. However thanks to Amazon's pre-order price guarantee I paid £5.49 for it. I wish I had the money to pay full price but I just don't, plus they don't actually sell the book in my town and I'm travel sick. Anyway, back to the book, I adore the cover, the slight differences to the US cover are really nice. I like the smaller font and the shiny gold bits are awesome... and shiny!

Post Read Thoughts

My mind has been blown. I knew this trilogy was special when I read book one and was unable to put it down. I fell in love with Michelle Zink's magical way with words in a way I never thought I would. I pride myself on never pre-ordering a book because I have the self control to wait but with this series I pre-ordered not only this book but its predecessor. I fell into the world of Lia Milthorpe and I loved it each time so much that I immediately wanted more. I'll tell you how I fell in love with a YA trilogy in this review.

As I said before Michelle is quite simply a fabulous writer, her words grab you and drag you into her mythical world of prophecies and sibling rivalries. The story itself is so far removed from every other book on the market right now, that I'm left wondering why nobody else has thought to do something like it. While every other author is taking us to the future, this trilogy drags us back to the late 1800s. The pace of the story is perfect, it's not too fast and it's not too slow and none of the story feels unnecessary.

The characters are flawed and I love that, there's nothing better than a character that has imperfections. Lia is a character I've always liked, her strength and determination to fulfil the prophecy fill me with awe. I really relate to her and understand everything she felt. Dimitri was even sweeter in this book and I didn't think that was even possible.  His love for Lia is amazing and the fact that he respects her wishes and opinions is like a breath of fresh air.  My favourite character has to be Alice though, she's a character of many flaws and mysteries. In the book Lia describes her as a "beautiful mystery" and I have to agree, and some part of me will always wonder about her.

Overall I wish there were more ways for me to say the word "amazing". There wasn't one thing I didn't like about the story. (Please don't point out the price thing. I know.) I actually wish that this wasn't the end and that there were more books to come, I could read about these characters forever. The ending was beautiful and poignant and I had tears in my eyes as I read of the fate of Lia and her friends. Something I really loved and think deserves a mention is the way that Lia and Dimitri's relationship doesn't take presidence over the actual plot. Now I have to wait what feels like an eternity before I can get my hands on A Temptation of Angels, yes March really does feel that far away.

My Rating

5 stars - The highest rating I give. I would offer more - if I could be bothered to re-do my rating system - but I can't. This book has had me tripping over myself as I attempt to find the words to explain my adoration. I recommend the whole trilogy to everyone. Seriously, if you haven't read this trilogy, what are you waiting for?

A Final Note

There's an intimate scene between Lia and Dimitri that I suggest parents check out before handing to younger teens.

***Review*** Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith

On the Back of the Book

Journey Back to Regency England --- Land of the Undead!

Readers will witness the birth of a heroine in Dawn of the Dreadfuls - a thrilling prequel set four years before the horrific events of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. As our story opens, the Bennet sisters are enjoying a peaceful life in the English countryside. They idle away the days reading, gardening and daydreaming about future husbands  - until a funeral at the local parish goes strangely and horribly awry.

Suddenly corpses are springing from the soft earth - abd only one family can stop them. As the bodies pile up, we watch Elizabeth evolve from a naive young teenager into a savage slayer of the undead. Along the way, two men vie for her attentions: Master Hawksworth is the powerful warrior who trains her to kill, while thoughtful Dr Keckilpenny seeks to conquer the walking dead using science instead of strength. Will either man win the prize of Elizabeth's heart? Or wll their hearts be feasted upon by hordes of marauding zombies? Complete with romance, action, comedy and an army of shambling corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls will have Jane Austen rolling in her grave - and just might inspire her to crawl out of it!

Pre Read Thoughts

I can't start a series without finishing it and this is a policy that has my mum wanting to tear my hair out because if I don't like a book I complain about it bitterly until I read a book I do like. So with that policy in mind I am now looking at the prequel to the distinctly average Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Now I won't lie to you, I managed to get this book as part of a 'buy one get one half price' offer at WHSmith. Don't ask me what the other book was, I don't have a clue. But that offer means I'm not sure how much I paid for it. Once again the price is in dollars and I'm beginning to wonder if I should Tweet Quirk Classics and inform them that there is more than one currency in the world, for example in the UK we have the pound. I once again dislike the cover but I do like the synopsis so I'm going to spend my time looking at the back cover.

Post Read Thoughts

I started this book with a sense of trepidation, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies wasn't a good book and I feared that this was going to be the same but it wasn't. Freed from the constraints of Jane Austen's classic story, this book proved that my suspicions that P&P&Z had a solid premise that was do-able, were correct. This book was delightfully funny and a joy to read. Although I did have trouble getting into the story at the beginng, I soon found myself in my own little zombie slaying world. I really enjoyed the author's writing style it was easy to follow and extremely entertaining.

Unlike last time the characters are filled with life as the Bennet sisters learn about becoming warriors. I was disappointed by Jane initially but she came into her own at the end of the book. Elizabeth turned into an awesome heroine before my very eyes, there were many scenes were I was laughing in delight at the way she handled herself. Not all the characters were likeable though, Kitty, Lydia and Mrs Bennet are as annoying in this book as the are in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. but I think that's due to the flaws of the characters as opposed to bad character development.

Overall this prequel is superior in every way. I loved the story and the opprtunity to see the Bennet sisters learn their ninja skills was priceless. I  am so happy that this book was created as it proves the potential that sat hidden in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Although I feel that this does contradict some of what's insinuated in P&P&Z I don't think it matters they were hardly true facts set down by the other author. The final pages were filled with tension and an army of shambling corpses, comedy gold that had me on the edge of my seat.

My Rating

3.5 Stars - I enjoyed this book. I didn't realise just how much though until I wrote this review. This is so going on my guilty pleasures shelf though because I wasn't expecting to like and I was decided that I was going to hate it. The most disappointing thing about this is that Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is so disappointing that most people will probably run away from this book screaming. Please don't! This is good!

A Final Note

I have just started a Twitter account for the blog so I can keep you all up to date on what I'm reading and when I've written a new review, and also because I want to get to know you all.  You'll find me here: @ShadowsIReview on Twitter. I hope that you'll follow me.

Follow Friday number 6

Follow Friday is an awesome meme hosted by two super awesome book bloggers that can be found at  Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

This week's question is a toughie... once you see it you'll know what I mean.

Q. Talk about the book that most changed or influenced your life (was it a book that turned you from an average to avid reader, did it help you deal with a particularly difficult situation, does it bring you comfort every time you read it?).

A. The reason this is a hard question for me is because every book changes my life. I suffer from a form of depression called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (I won't go into why I have that sort of depression in particular.) and I struggle to do things most people find easy, you know like going out and making friends so for me reading books is my escape, I read because it takes me away from my troubles for a while. I blog because it easier to talk about something at home where I feel safe.

I think the book that I will choose for this though is The Hollow by Jessica Verday not because it did anything special but because it was the book I was reading when I decided to start blogging this time 5 months ago. I'll even show you a picture of the book:

TA-DA! It's like magic lol.

Anyway I'm going to stop before I start blithering on about my life. What book changed your life? Let me know. Also FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER: @ShadowsIReview (I only got Twitter a couple of days ago lol.)

Have a wonderful weekend and don't forget to leave me your links new followers.

OH! While I remember! If you scroll down the page a bit... I'm hosting a giveaway! You can win a book of your choice from Book Depository as long as it's £10 or under! (That's the price of Divergent in the shops you know.)

***Review*** The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold

On the Back of the Book

"My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6 1973. My murderer was a man from our neighbourhood."

Watching from her place in heaven, Susie Salmon sees her suburban family devastated by her death, isolated even from one another as they try to cope with their terrible loss alone. Over the years, her friends and siblings grow up, fall in love, do all the things she never had the chance to do herself. But life is not quite finished with Susie yet...

Pre Read Thoughts

I first heard about this book when they advertised the film on television. My mum decided to buy the book and once she'd read it, I stole, I mean borrowed it from her. I tried to read it a while ago but I didn't have the concentration for it but now I'm going to try it again.  As I have borrowed this I paid absolutely nothing but my mum paid £7.99 which is the average price for a book of its size and format. The edition I have has the cover that ties in with the movie and I personally prefer it to the other cover. It gives a really creepy vibe of Susie walking towards her death.

Post Read Thoughts

The Lovely Bones is a thought provoking but difficult to read novel. The picture it paints isn't a pretty one and I really had to work hard to stay with the book. I found the pace to be quite slow and the reason of the book didn't become apparent to me until the final pages. Saying that though I enjoyed Alice Sebold's way of writing, some of her descriptions of heaven blew me away.

I felt that there were too many characters that weren't integral to the plot. Ruana and Len are two of those characters, they just stand on the sidelines waiting to be given a role that matters and it never arrives. Even those that did matter like Jack and Lindsey felt too far away for me to truly know what they're feeling, I was always slightly too far away to feel their pain. The only time I truly felt anything was during Susie's murder and I think that's because it's the last true emotion from Susie. As far as the quality of the character's is concerned, writing this book from Susie's POV was a mistake.

Overall The Lovely Bones doesn't live up to the hype for me. While I was reading the book my mum kept popping her head around my bedroom door and asking me if I liked it and every time I said I didn't adore it she looked a little sadder. The point I'm trying to make is that my mum is one of those people who got reaaly excited over this book. I liked the writing but I think it's becoming increasingly obvious that I can't truly love a book where I feel distanced from the characters. I can't believe I'm writing this but I think I prefer the film.

My Rating

3 stars - I liked the writing but little else. I will say that the premise is interesting and I'd love to see other authors try something similar. I'm not sure I'd recommend this but my mum definitely does.

A Final Note

There's swearing, rape and murder in this one. I've seen people label this as YA but I wouldn't give this to a teenager.

I want to thank my mum for lending me the book and to say that I'll give it back once Mischief has got off it.

A couple of blog developments that I'd like to point out are that I'm now on Twitter: my twitter name is @ShadowsIReview if you're interested in following and that I'm hosting my first ever giveaway!

100 FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY!

So I've been meaning to do this for a while now but I was waiting for the Rafflecopter thing to make it easier for me. Anyway I got the e-mail today and I've set it up. The giveaway will run from today until September 6th.

***Review*** Across the Universe by Beth Revis

On the Back of the Book

Amy has left the life she loves for a world 300 years away.

Trapped in space and frozen in time, Amy is bound for a new planet. But fifty years before she's due to arrive, she is violently awoken, the victim of an attempted murder. Now Amy's lost on board and nothing makes sense - she's never felt so alone.

Yet someone is waiting for her. He wants to protect her - and more if she'll let him.

But who can she trust amidst the secrets and lies? A killer is out there - and Amy has nowhere to hide...

Pre Read Thoughts

Across the Universe has been doing the rounds on Goodreads for a while now and it's actually how I first heard about the book. I liked what I heard enough for me to pick this up at my local WHSmith as soon as it came in. I may have got this as part of an offer, I can't remember for sure though. The price on the back states that this retails at £6.99 which is the normal price. Now I have to say that I've only just noticed the beauty of the cover, in fact I thought the top half of the cover was a blob, not two people and a background. I love the colours that have been used and the different textures. I'm going to miss the different textures you find on book covers when I go digital. For now though, I'm looking forward to reading this one.

Post Read Thoughts

Wow. I've been to read this one for ages and I'm really glad that I picked it up. I found the story to be extremely addictive, it left me wanting more and every time I put it down I'd find myself wandering back to it and diving into the story all over again. The quality of the writing is supreme and I saw only one spelling mistake. Compared to some books I've read recently, that's stellar work from Ms Revis and her editor.

I love the characters they felt real and I could really sympathise with them and I liked the way they managed to deal with the secrets that surrounded their world. Amy dealt with her difficult situation beautifully and I liked how she refused to be anyone but herself. Elder is another strong character, even if his name is rubbish. I was willing him on as he went on a quest to discover the truth about Eldest and Godspeed. I think some of his actions were selfish though and this stopped me from absolutely adoring him. My favourite character though was, without a shadow of a doubt, Harley. I loved him.

Overall this is a strong story with strong characters. Although the plot was a little obvious in places this book had enough going for it to keep me hooked. I loved Beth Revis' writing style and I love how her story doesn't conform to every other YA love story. I thoroughly recommend this and I now sit here eagerly waiting for A Million Suns.

My Rating

4 stars - A great story, the only thing that let it down is the fact that I knew what was going down at least 100 pages before Amy and Elder. Mind you that always tends to happen with me and whodunnits. It's definitely one to read, maybe even worth having on your shelf. Some of the ideas in this book are really interesting.

A Final Note

Simply put there's a bit of swearing and sex features quite heavily at one point. Not for under 14s as there is an attempted rape.