***Review*** Rumours (The Luxe #2) by Anna Godbersen

On the Back of the Book


December 1899 - New York City

Manhatten has bid farewell to its brightest star, the dazzling Miss Elizabeth Holland. Yet the rumours about her untimely demise continue. Meanwhile her sister, the irrepressible Diana, has been seen in the company of not one but three eligible bachelors. Might there be a fourth?

In high society, reputation is everything.
The Holland family simply can't afford to be the subject of such wicked whispers. Heaven forbid that they should fall so spectacularly from grace...

There is a very fine line between truth and lies, love and hate. And all is about to be gloriously revealed.


Pre Read Thoughts


Once again this is a re-read and I was initially attracted by the cover, looking at the UK cover now though it's too busy with all the stuff coming out of the corners. They take over the picture and detract from the beautiful girl in the beautiful dress (which is why I'm using the US cover). The RRP is £6.99 and that's what I paid for it. It's a fair price. I admit that I was disappointed with the generic symopsis because The Luxe's was so indvidual and I guess I was hoping that they'd stick with that idea.


Post Read Thoughts


After reading this book for a second time, I'm beginning to thoroughly regret my decision to re-read this series. What 18 year-old me loved, 20 year-old me detests and this is no exception. This book would be so much better if it was a couple of hundred pages shorter and if every single item of clothing was given its own paragraph. Okay, I may have exagerrated about the clothing a little but so much of this book is irrelevant to the plot development. It took me nearly a month to read this I was so bored and frustrated. I kept putting it down after a couple of pages. Reading a book should be fun.

The characters are so incredibly dull. They don't want to make me read the book, they make me want to throw it into a fire or at the very least at a wall. I don't connect with them in any way or have any sympathy for them whatsoever. Their behaviour  is atrocious and there don't seem to be any repercussions for them either. If I had to choose a character that was tolerable I'd say Diana, but only because I liked her in book one, she's had a complete personality transplant in this one and I missed the old her. I have nithing further to say on any of them because they aren't worth my time and I should be naming a character because I either liked them or loathed them, not because I have to.

Overall I'm not a fan of this book anymore, it's too like Gossip Girl and that series bored me to tears. There's too much fashion and not enough depth to the story. I found the writing to be boring and too focussed on unimportant, trivial details. On a positive note I like the idea of starting the book with the main event from the end of the book. Granted, I'd like the idea more if the rest of the book was good quality writing but apparently I'm asking far too much.


My Rating

2 stars - No more Mrs Nice Reviewer, I gave the first one 3 stars because I used to like it but I can't do it with this one as well. It isn't fair to the books that I give a good rating to because I like them. This book is distinctly average. There's not too much that I did like but there isn't anything that truly drove me crazy and made me feel anything towards this book. If you're absolutely desperate and this is the only book you have to read then go ahead, otherwise steer clear unless you're a Gossip Girl fan.

***Review*** City of Bones Mortal Instruments #1 by Cassandra Clare

On the Back of the Book


Clary Fray is seeing things. First she witnesses three teenagers stab a boy in a New York Nightclub - then the victim vanishes before her very eyes. Her mother has disappeared, and a hideous monster is lurking in her apartment. With her life spiralling into darkness, Clary discovers she has stumbled across an invisible war between ancient demonic forces and the secretive Shadowhunters - a war in which she may have a fateful role to play.


Pre Read Thoughts


I have a cnfession to make: I've been avoiding this series. It's had so much hype and I'm the girl who hates Vampire Academy and thinks that the Hunger Games is average. I have high standards and I don't think this series will live up to them. Also this series has been endorsed by Stephenie Meyer and my opinion of her is pretty low so I don't trust her opinion. However I had to pick this up when it got chosen as a September group read for the GR group I moderate. I managed to find a used copy for the princely sum of £1.90. Another upside is I have the old cover that doesn't have a shining, naked man on it. Saying that, I don't like that cover either, neither of them grab me and make me want to read the book. Finally I want to point out that I detest the synopsis. It makes Clary sound like she belongs in a mental asylum.


Post Read Thoughts


I don't know what to say. Trust me, I don't mean that in a good way. I can't describe how I feel about this book. I will say this though: it frustrates me. It could have been amazing like so many other YA books could have been amazing, but it isn't, it's rubbish. The execution is poor, things aren't explained properly, the pacing is a disgrace (It reminded me of the VA pacing), there are major continuity issues and worst of all it's predictable. I could see everything coming from a mile off. I hate that, I read a book to escape not to sit here and whinge once I've finished it.

On to the characters. I'm going to start with Simon because he's easily the least annoying of the love triangle but that may be because he's barely involved. I figured out on page 1 that he was in love with Clary, the author didn't even bother to hide it, this just made Clary seem even more stupid when he told her. Next up on my hit list: Jace. I hate him. He's an idiot, there's absolutely nothing sexy about a guy who thinks he knows everything and not only that but he's the best at doing it all. His sarcasm grew old quickly, especially as Clary and Simon are also sarcastic. Sarcasm overload from the main characters and I like sarcasm. Some of his actions didn't make sense with how he came across and I didn't feel like he was actually even attracted to Clary. Speaking of Clary. She's my worst enemy when it comes to this book. She's boring, woe is me, stupid, blind, self-centred and lacks personality. Well of course she lacks personality, this is an alarming trend in YA at the moment. She's another self insert where teens can pretend that Jace is their boyfriend and that they're in love and it's going to last forever and ever. Well I'm 20 years old and I expect more than that from a character. I'm not asking for much, just a little depth. Anyway... I'm ranting. I shall tell you how I feel about Clary in a sentence: I detest her.

Overall this is one of the worst books I've read all year. I can't think of one positive thing to say about it. It's rubbish and I hate it and after I've read the trilogy if I see the name 'Cassandra Clare' it will be too soon and may cause me to do damage to something close to me. This author is hereby banned from Basically Books! for as long as I moderate the group. I am not going through this again.


My Rating


1 star - I was going to give this 2 to be nice but writing this review has showed me just how much I detest this book. I am so upset about this book that I'm currently in mourning for all the trees that lost their lives so that this could be printed. No tree deserves to die for this. I recommend this to no one in the world especially not the impressionable 12 year olds that this is 'suitable' for.

***Review*** The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

On The Back of the Book

Here is a small fact

You are going to die.

1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier.

Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall.

Some important information

This novel is narrated by death.

It's a small story, about:

a girl

an accordionist

some fanatical Germans

a Jewish fist fighter

and quite a lot of thievery.

Another thing you should know

Death will visit the book thief three times.

Pre Read Thoughts

Now the story of how I came to read this book is slightly different from normal. I moderate a group on Goodreads and this is one of this month's (September's) group reads. My mum then bought it for me as a sort of 'it's actually your brother's birthday but here's one for you' present. What can I say? She's thoughtful is my mum. I love the cover, Liesel dancing with Death. It's very simple but it's very effective. I also love how the background has a sort of stained parchment look to it. The UK RRP is £7.99 which is what I'd expect to pay for an adult paperback. Finally I want to point out that I'm in love with the synopsis.

Post Read Thoughts

First of all I have a suggestion: if you're going to read this book you're going to need some tissues. The ending comes at you like a steel freight train. You can see it coming but you stand there in denial until it hits you... Okay I think we've just discovered that analogies aren't my thing so moving swiftly on...

I've been left so speechless by this book that I think I've forgotten how to review. I'll give it a good go anyway though. I absolutely adored this book, when it was in my hands I never wanted to put it down. The scene setting was phenomenal, the story played like a film in my head all the way through. I also adored the choice of narrator. I love books where the layout or the narrator is a little unconventional and this one is no exception. The idea to have Death narrate a book set during a period of time when millions of lives were lost is genius. Saying that, to pull it off you have to really know how to weave a tale and fortunately Marcus Zusak can do that.

Liesel is a great character, I really loved her and I sympathised with her greatly. I wanted everything to work out for her but she wasn't my favourite character. That title is reserved for her best friend, the boy with hair the colour of lemons, Rudy Steiner. He filled the pages with life and I felt that I could almost reach out and touch him. Something I want to point out, and this happens very rarely for me, there wasn't a character that I detested. Sure there were some nasty articles but they all added to the bigger picture and that picture is sublime.

Overall I've done a very poor job of telling you why you should read this book but read it you must. The writing is stellar, the world vivid and the idea so original that it must be calling to you. I'll let you in on a couple of secrets. Not only did this book make me cry but it's going on to my very rarely used favourites shelf. This is one of the best books I've read all year.

My Rating

5 stars - Beautiful, magnificent, worth every bit of hype that it gets. This blew me away and made me eager to read after a bit of a reading slump. I'm going to recommend this to everyone. It's a must read as far as I'm concerned.

A Final Note

There's swearing and violence. Don't let that hold you back though. Go forth and read The Book Thief!



***Series Review*** The Kin by Peter Dickinson

I think that an overall review is a great way to summarise a series without having to trawl through the internet without looking for loads of reviews.


Pros


1. Brilliant premise

2. Well Written

3. Full of excitement

4. Beautiful covers

5. The oldtales between the chapters add another layer to the story.

Cons


1. I didn't find the characters easy to connect with.

2. They got a bit repetitive

3. Quite a lot of people die.

4. The language is quite simple as it's a children's book.

5.  They were'n long enough.


Best Book: Both Suth's Story and Noli's Story are equally as good.


Worst Book: Mana's Story

My Rating


3.5 stars - Although flawed and weakened by the final story this is still a quality series. if you have children or just like books about how human evolution may have happened then you should definitely give this series a read.


The Individual Reviews


The Kin: Suth's Story
The Kin: Noli's Story
The Kin: Ko's Story
The Kin: Mana's Story

***Review*** The Kin: Mana's Story The Kin #4 by Peter Dickinson

On the Back of the Book


'Blood falls,' said the voice. 'Men follow.'  Mana knows the awful prophecy could mean the end of the Kin.

The long journey of the children of the Kin has led them to a distant land. But here they are threatened by the deadliest enemy of all. People. Terrifying demon men, collectors of human skulls ...

The Kin's plan to trap the demon men is clever, horrifying, and very dangerous. But it is their only chance of survival. And it depends on Mana ...


Pre Read Thoughts


The final book in the Kin series and like the rest it was an impulse buy that cost me £1.50. I have to say, considering it's a second hand book it's in stunning condition. I'v seen brand new books that look tattier than this. Once again the cover illustration is absolutely gorgeous. It really draws you to it and makes you want to dive into it to see what it's all about. The synopsis is brilliant, I find myself so excited to read the book so that I can know what the Kin have to face next. I can't wait to finish the series.


Post Read Thoughts


The author changed things with this book and I don't think it worked. The main thing is the style of the oldtales, I personally didn't like the simpler way of telling them. I get that it's how the Kin would have told them but after three books of the other way it wasn't necessary to change the style. Also I think the plot of this story was slower than the others and it didn't grab me as the others did. I had to force myself to sit down and read the story. Saying that, the wirting and scene setting were phenomenal and I enjoyed them very much.

This is Mana's story and if I'm honest I wish it wasn't. Mana never really stood out in the previous stories as she had no personality or any quirks whatsoever. Wuth that opinion pretty much on my mind as I picked this up I hoped that the author was going to change my mind. That didn't happen though. She was dull as dishwater and being stuck with her PoV nearly bored me to tears. Tan was barely even mentioned but the other former children of the Kin (Suth, Tinu, Noli and Ko) seemed to have rediscovered the closeness of the first two books which I was glad to see.

Overall this book isn't as good as the others and I'm really disappointed by this. The oldtales were weak, the plot never really got going and the lead character failed to connect with me. As this is the last book I was hoping that such a good series would have a strong end. I found that there were still some loose ends that I would've liked clearing up. As it is this is pretty forgettable. I only finished this 2 hours ago and the details are starting to slip away. However I stand by my positive notes, the writing and scene setting were incredible and I think that having the children that were abandoned by the Kin close to one another is incredibly important.


My Rating


3 stars - I knew about halfway through the book that this wa gonna be my rating. I wish that this had been from either Tan or Tinu's PoV, I feel that using Mana was the wrong decision and this really held the story back.



***Review*** The Kin: Ko's Story (The Kin #3) by Peter Dickinson

On the Back of the Book

Ko is full of dreams. In his imagination he's always the hero who saves the Kin. Now he must face real dangers, real enemies...

The rains have failed, there is no food, and starving beasts are one of the many perils that face the Moonhawk Kin. Their long journey in search of Good Places meets an impassable marsh, where hungry crocodiles lie in wait. Ko, of course, dreams of finding a way across. And his adventures lead the Kin to an astonishing discovery ...


Pre Read Thoughts

As with the rest of the series, this was an impulse buy I made a couple of years ago. It cost me £1.50 at my favourite used book shop and it's in incredibly good condition. The cover illustration is once again absolutely stunning, it tells you so much about the story at a glance. The synopsis is filled with danger and tension and it makes me want to read the book so much.


Post Read Thoughts

This didn't grab me as much as the previous two books. I wasn't entirely sure why at first but I figured it out a bit later on in the paragraph. This book doesn't lack anything that the other two had, the scene setting was beautiful, the oldtale was wonderful and the writing sublime. Now I'll get on to why I didn't fully enjoy this book as I promised I would. It wasn't the book in any way, shape or form, it was me. I've been distracted all day in preparation of one of my other passions in life: the British Touring Car Championship qualifying (It's a form of motorsport and my personal favourite. Just in case you were wondering).

The main character of this story is Ko and I have to say I really liked him, he reminds me of myself. He's a dreamer and I found myself connecting with him in a way that I hadn't with Suth and Noli. I hadn't liked him in the previous books because some of his actions were incredibly stupid and although he's hardly mature in this one I found myself liking him anyway. Noli, Suth, Tan and Tinu aren't mentioned as much in this one and I think that it's a shame as the closeness they had in books 1 and 2 was integral to the story.

Overall I liked the book but my distraction and quite possibly the lack of chemistry between the characters made this book slightly less enjoyable. I still liked the author's writing style but some things that I personally thought were important weren't mentioned and I'd have liked them to be. I think if you've read the previous books it's definitely worth picking this one up.


My Rating

3.5 stars - A great book but probably the weakest in the series. I still want the books to be longer so that, as the reader I can learn more about the lives of the Kin members. I can't wait to read the final book in the series.

***Review*** The Kin: Noli's Story (The Kin #2) by Peter Dickinson

On the Back of the Book


Noli heard Moonhawk's voice inside her head. 'Go!' it said. She felt the mountain shudder. Was there time to escape?

Noli, Suth and their little band of orphans are all that's left of the brave Moonhawk Kin. Fleeing from an erupting volcano, they seek safety in a huge ravine. But Noli's visions warn of more terrifying violence from beneath the earth... And when they reach what seems to be safety they find a new and fearsome enemy waiting for them.

Pre Read Thoughts


As with book one this was an impulse buy. It cost me £1.50 at the same used book shop and is in excellent condition considering it's 12 years old. The cover illustration is stunning, I adore it. I think it's a lot different to what would be put on the cover of a children's book now. The synopsis is enough to intrigue you and make you want to delve into the story. I'm really excited to see if this book's as good as its predecessor.

Post Read Thoughts


I have to say that I loved this one too. It was every bit as good as Suth's Story. The scene setting was once again incredible, I could picture the landscapes in my mind clearly. I also adored the oldtales in between the chapters. They add another story into the mix as we learn of the legends and beliefs of the Kins. Once again the writing was of great quality and I found myself craving more.

The main character of this story is a girl called Noli (as you'd probably figured from the title). I liked her in the first book and I liked her even more in this one. She is wise beyond her years and her maturity shines through beautifully. Although Noli is likeable I wouldn't go so far as to say I loved her. Once again my favourite character was Tinu, she was even better in this book. She's a painfully shy girl but she's also incredibly intelligent and her ideas help to keep the Kin alive.

Overall this is another awesome story. I can see the ideas growing as each Kin member becomes an adult and also as they discover new things about the world that they live in. The writing is really good, the author knows exactly what he's doing and it shows. Once again I recommend this to people of all ages.

My Rating


4 stars - Another book that deserves 4 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact  I wish it were longer, I'd have loved to know some of the things that happened in more detail. In a way being a children's book is what stops this from getting 5 stars.