Title: Breathe Author: Sarah Crossan Series: Breathe (book 1) Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens Release Date: 11 Oct 2012 ISBN-13: 978-1408827192
Synopsis When oxygen levels
plunge in a treeless world, a state lottery decides which lucky few will
live inside the Pod. Everyone else will slowly suffocate. Years after
the Switch, life inside the Pod has moved on. A poor Auxiliary class
cannot afford the oxygen tax which supplies extra air for running,
dancing and sports. The rich Premiums, by contrast, are healthy and
strong. Anyone who opposes the regime is labelled a terrorist and
ejected from the Pod to die. Sixteen-year-old Alina is part of the
secret resistance, but when a mission goes wrong she is forced to escape
from the Pod. With only two days of oxygen in her tank, she too faces
the terrifying prospect of death by suffocation. Her only hope is to
find the mythical Grove, a small enclave of trees protected by a
hardcore band of rebels. Does it even exist, and if so, what or who are
they protecting the trees from?
My Review I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I actually received this a while ago but never got round to reading it. Then I was looking for something to give my Teen Reading Group and decided this would be a good choice so it gave me the excuse to pick it up. We are introduced into a world of the future, there is no more trees and oxygen is running out. A select few are given the chance to live inside the 'Pod', where Oxygen levels are managed and people are provided with air tanks. It still comes down to status, the rich 'premiums' can afford more oxygen, therefore can lead better lives, whilst the poorer 'subs' are taxed for any excess oxygen they use. First we meet Alina, a young girl trying to make a difference. As part of the resistance she is feisty and determined. Her mission is essential and she wants the resistance to win. She can come across as a bit cold at first and I wasn't quite sure what to make of her but I actually found myself liking her as the book went on. Sure she isn't exactly endearing but something about her made me like her and I wanted to get to know her better. We then meet Bea and Quinn. Quinn is a Premium, one of high standing, his father works for 'Breathe' the government in charge, he has an abundance of oxygen, money and opportunity but he isn't a spoilt brat, he does all he can for Bea and they are the best of friends. Bea is a sub, her parents work as hard as they can just to afford enough oxygen for them all to live on. Bea hates taking money and things from Quinn but he never makes her feel bad. There is definitely tension between them in the book - Bea loves him but he's totally clueless. I loved to see how they worked together and became closer but also more independent too. Bea really grows up through the book, her eyes are opened and she doesn't back down. I saw some complaints about the characters but for me they were well written and worked well, i could visualize them all and they seemed to be realistic enough to me, I felt like I knew them and saw them grow and develop. The whole idea is very well constructed and it all makes sense, it's a very scientific idea, how to run on limited oxygen etc, what would survive, but it's done really well and makes it totally believable. There are some questions left unanswered by the end of the book, especially who is Abel? but it is set for a trilogy so maybe we will find out in the next book. The ending of this book certainly sets you up for an exciting sequel and I can't wait to get my hands on it. October suddenly seems very far away.
Ready for a new adventure? Are you a fan of fantasy, young adult, science fiction and action stories?
“No mercy, No rules - Welcome to the Trail of Bones!”
Run with Purpose – battle cry of the Shade Wolves
Magnus, the runt of a litter of Shade Wolves, wants nothing more than to be a loyal, strong member of the pack. But when an ancient enemy threatens his friends and family, he faces a choice that could tear him from all he's known and loved.
Born in captivity, the giant panther Kelor knows nothing but suffering and loss. He struggles to find his place in this world of terror, and he battles to protect his family without succumbing to the darkness lurking inside him.
Falling captive to the evil Warden, the two are forced to fight in the battle of the beasts known as 'The Trail of Bones'. How will Kelor and Magnus learn to work together? How will they escape a fate of despair and death? How will their choices affect their comrades? Their enemies? And the forgotten magic that could doom all life of their world?
Let the adventures begin!
A fun, exciting, clean read for teens, young adults, adults and readers of all ages. Pick up your copy of this fantasy adventure today!
Are you a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Robert Jordan, Orson Scott Card, Jim Butcher and other fantasy and science fiction authors? You’ll feel right at home with Trail of Bones. This fantasy story offers a strong moral message, suspense, action, and mystery, in a world full of magic, unlikely heroes, and devious villains.
Salisbury is a rising star in genre fiction. This book makes a unique and exciting contribution in the fantasy realm. The first of great things to come. --Jake Black, "The Authorized Ender Companion" "Smallville" "Ender's Game: Recruiting Valentine"
Amazon Reviews
Conclusion:
A fantasy adventure that features lots of action and intrigue that is geared to a YA audience.
There are moments in this tale that are especially well done... story telling at a level that I'd be interested to see what this author would do with an adult orientated fantasy work.
As a dedicated YA work... 5 Stars.
~ Ray Nicholson
The beginning of a great adventure!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the first book of the Trail of Bones series. It is an unpredictable adventure, with heartwrenching acts of love and friendship. The story ended before I was prepared to put my Kindle down, and now I will wait anxiously for the second book to be published. In the meantime, I think I'll read it again with my eleven-year-old son; I'm sure he'll love it as much as I do. Give it a read!
~ HRL
Enthralling story line that really pulls you in
…The characters were some that I will not easily forget because he explains their background in a way that makes the reader really connect and believe they are real. He creates a world that I long to see. I really grew to both love and hate different characters. I think that is a sign of a really great author when they can make us feel so much emotion towards a character.
~ Janason
About Chris Salisbury
Chris Salisbury has been writing fantasy, science fiction, suspense, and action thrillers for years in independent films. Now he’s expanded his love of good movies, such as Gladiator, Counte of Monte Cristo, Saving Private Ryan, Braveheart, Star Trek, to the world of books. Trail of Bones is the first book in a planned four part fantasy, young adult series targeted at readers of all ages.
The father of four enjoys a wide range of interests from scuba diving to softball, coaching basketball to playing Battlefield 3 on his Xbox 360 or NCAA Football with his sons. He is also a big advocate for literacy and reading for young boys. There seem to be few titles that appeal to young boys and young men to hold their attention, trigger their imaginations and create a love of reading. Chris is out to change that.
In addition to the Trail of Bones series, he also has a number of other titles in development including historical fiction, action, suspense thrillers, and several science fiction properties. There’s a lot more on the horizon, so enjoy Trail of Bones but be sure to look for more captivating titles from Chris Salisbury in the near future.
Have you ever seen one in real life? They're magnificent. Huge
compared to most dogs, and they look at you with piercing yellow eyes.
It's as if they look you at say "I know things, mysterious things,
things you will never know or understand". And why not? Wolves are apex
predators of the forest but also wrapped in contrasts and intrigue. All
of this make these creatures more and more fascinating.
Wolves have powerful jaws, with razor sharp fangs, but they
rarely hunt alone. The cunning hunters travel in packs and often use
strategy, various tactics and even fear to gain the advantage over their
prey instead of brute strength and speed. In many ways they exhibit
behavior, both alone and in social settings that man at times has
emulated or aspired to. The alpha male and alpha female are the dominant
leaders in the pack and provide order to the group. Other wolves have
specific roles within the pack, such as protector, scout, hunter, or
even nurturer of the young.
Can you think of another animal that is so complex, and yet at
the same time so iconic. It's no wonder that societies have included
the wolf in their legends, myths, symbols, and cultures. A fierce hunter
worthy of fear and respect, but also one to aspire to be like. While
other top predators such as sharks or alligators seem like mindless
killing machines, the wolf is anything but. Stealth, speed, power,
cunning, loyalty to the pack, moments of play and leisure, leaders and
followers - the wolf will in many ways will always remain a mysterious
beast, perhaps one we may never truly understand, but still remarkable
and intriguing as it has throughout time.
Title: The Reluctant Assassin Author: Eoin Colfer Series: W.A.R.P Publisher: Puffin Release Date: 11 April 2013 ISBN-13: 978-0141341750
Synopsis Riley, a teen orphan
boy living in Victorian London, has had the misfortune of being
apprenticed to Albert Garrick, an illusionist who has fallen on
difficult times and now uses his unique conjuring skills to gain access
to victims' dwellings. On one such escapade, Garrick brings his
reluctant apprentice along and urges him to commit his first killing.
Riley is saved from having to commit the grisly act when the intended
victim turns out to be a scientist from the future, part of the FBI's
Witness Anonymous Relocation Program (WARP) Riley is unwittingly
transported via wormhole to modern day London, followed closely by
Garrick.
In modern London, Riley is helped by Chevron Savano, a
seventeen-year-old FBI agent sent to London as punishment after a
disastrous undercover, anti-terrorist operation in Los Angeles. Together
Riley and Chevie must evade Garrick, who has been fundamentally altered
by his trip through the wormhole. Garrick is now not only evil, but he
also possesses all of the scientist's knowledge. He is determined to
track Riley down and use the timekey in Chevie's possession to make his
way back to Victorian London where he can literally change the world.
My Review I got an e-copy of this through NetGalley to review. I read the Artemis Fowl series by Colfer and really enjoyed them so was excited to see what he would do next. I saw this advertised and thought it sounded quite good. I'm never really a fan of time-travel stories but if they are done right I can get by, and besides I love things set in the Victorian era (not sure why but anyway) so I got ready to enjoy this new book. I have to admit that I didn't particulary enjoy it though. I found the basic plot idea fascinating but it seemed to pass very slowly. I was checking the percentage progress through the book so often I felt like the pages were hardly moving. The set up was good and the whole world is built well, but it then turned into a cat and mouse game. Garrick would chase Riley and Chevie and almost catch them, they would escape at the last minute and he would chase them again, and so on, repeat. Yes the circumstances they escaped from were different but it didn't make much difference to me. I just wanted them to either beat him or be captured and get it over with. As for the characters, they remained that, characters. Usually when I read I connect to the people and they become real, leaping off the page but these didn't seem to do that, the closest to it happening was Riley, he had a certain charm, he was a loveable rogue. but that wasn't enough to make me really care. Garrick himself confused me, he went by a few different names, I think! I got muddled with references to things/people and places in the past. Then I wasn't sure if he was jsut a magician or if he actually had special powers or whether he was something worse, Colfer often refers to him as 'it was like the Devil himself was after us'. He had strange skills and would do illusions (which again confused me) and seemed to be able to do things and know things that wasn't normal. Some of it is explained by the process in the Time machine, but the rest was just strange. Chevie, although written as 17 seemed older to me, she has worldly experience and a sharp tongue and she just read as at least 20. She was a bit moany and irritated me a little bit. I did like the way she takes charge in the 'past' and takes Riley under her wing. Parts of the book seemed to pick up and I would start to dive in, then I would get turned around or they would run around 'escaping' again and I would sigh. This book took me the best part of a week for me to read, which for me is really slow, I just didn't feel the need to pick up the book and continue it. Instead of snatching any minute I could to read, i would look for something else to do to put off having to pick it up again. Maybe it just wasn't the book for me, but I really struggled with it. I know Colfer is a fab writer, he's shown that before but this time for me it just fell flat. Also, I'm not sure if this is supposed to be YA or Middle Grade, but it had a lot of gore in it. And I mean a lot, I was shocked by it. There are a lot of deaths and killings but some of them described in more detail than I felt necessary. At one point he describes how to pick the correct knife to kill someone, to make sure it cuts through muscle and bone. That's just gross. I mean there are a lot of books with fighting and blood in, but they are usually againstmonsters or zombies or something, it's different, not quite as real. I was surprised by it.
Anyway, the idea was good and it had it's moments, but for me this book just didn't make me go WOW.
Q: School is out! What is your favorite Summer Reading book??
My Answer: School still isn't out over here yet, you guys break up very early!!! But anyway, I don't think I can pick just one. Summers were always the time that I would read as much as possible, I usde every available minute to sit in the sunshine and read. My record number of books was 62 books over the 6 week holiday, i literally did nothing but read. Now I'm older and have to work I don't get summer holidays so that number has dropped but I usually have a couple of weeks and will read as many books as possible in that time.
One of my favourite books set during the summer is 'Twenty Boy Summer' by Sarah Ockler, it's an awesome book. Love it, so I guess that's my answer.
Agent Colt Shore: Domino 29: When
an ordinary kid learns he’s the heir to a secret agent dynasty,
F.A.L.C.O.N. puts him on a case to protect a famous rock group and find a
missing journalist. Before he knows it, Colt Shore has gone from body
guard to rock star to full-fledged agent when he learns that a human
trafficking ring plans to kidnap a group of teenage girls. It will take
more than his ingenuity and skills and a couple of cool gadgets to
protect his new friends and rescue the captured girls before it’s too
late.
Axel
Avian grew up in an organization not unlike F.A.L.C.O.N in a town not
unlike Springfield, Missouri. He has traveled the world for his work. To
relax, he enjoys sky and scuba diving, hang gliding, rock climbing, and
snowboarding. He reads whenever he can and routinely trounces opponents
on video games.
"Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running literacy initiative in the country. Each year, books for young people and the joy of reading are feted for a full week with author and illustrator appearances, storytelling, parties, and other book-related events at schools, libraries, bookstores, museums, and homes from coast to coast!"
I absolutely love Children's books, right from Picture Books up to YA, they are filled with so many possibilities. There is something magic about books anyway, but children's books have that extra spark for me.
No matter what your age I believe you should still be able to enjoy Children's books.
For this Giveaway I will offer a choice of one of 3 books from my favourites for each category- either a Picture Book, a Middle Grade Novel or a YA fiction. i.e one winner will win one book from one of the categories. Giveaway is International
So starting with youngest first here are the Picture Book choices:
1) Competition opens Monday 13th May
2) Competition closes on Sunday 19th May
3) Enter using the Rafflecopter form below.
4) You Must be a Follower to enter!
5) One Name will be selected at random as the winner.
6) Contest open Internationally!
8) Winners will have 3 days to reply or another winner will be selected.
There are 2 novellas that are based on the world of 'The Blemished' by Sarah Dalton. They have been given their own series called 'The Fractured'. So far there are 2 books in the series and I am going to review them both in one post.
Title: The Fractured: Elena Author: Sarah Dalton Series: The Fractured (book 1) : Blemished (book 2.5) Release Date: 14th March 2013 ASIN: B00BUR609W
Synopsis In a fractured Britain,
the Genetic Enhancement Ministry have taken control. Parents buy
designer babies and those with genetic faults are labelled Blemished and
shunned from society.
Elena Darcey is just as perfect as the
other clones, but there is something different about Elena, because
she’s in trouble. After helping Area 14’s most famous criminals escape,
Elena has to get out before her teacher-- the formidable Margaret
Murgatroyd --finds out that she is a sympathiser for the Blemished. The
perfect opportunity arises as a beauty pageant promises the winner a
trip to London. Will Elena cope with the cut-throat world of a beauty
pageant filled with sabotage, violence and betrayal? If she makes it to
London, will she find the safe haven she craves? Does she discover more
than she'd expected after meeting the mysterious Jake Bloom? My Review You see quite a bit of Elena in book 1 - 'The Blemished', although she is a secondary character she plays quite a vital part in Mina's story and you see her grow and change throughout the story so I was actually quite pleased she would be getting her own story. This book follows on from the ending of book 1 - Mina has escaped and Elena helped her get away, but no-one can know what she did or there will be serious trouble. When a beauty pageant crops up Elena sees it as her chance to escape too, to leave Area 14 and head to London, but she has to pretend to be someone else to get through and London may not be all she expected either. I like the way Elena has grown and adapted from book 1, she becomes somewhat more human and approachable. She actually seems to think about her actions and how they will affect others. This novella was short and sweet and packed with excitement. It will have you flipping the pages over desperate for more. This didn't go where I expected it to but I really enjoyed it and I still want more. The ending surprised me and I just have to know what Elena does next.
My Rating
Title: The Fractured:Maggie
Author: Sarah Dalton Series: The Fractured (book 2) : Blemished (book 2.6) Release Date: 1st May 2013 ASIN: B00CL8B1SY
Synopsis In a fractured Britain,
the Genetic Enhancement Ministry have taken control. Parents buy
designer babies and those with genetic faults are labelled Blemished and
shunned from society. Margaret Murgatroyd failed in her mission
to capture three Blemished escapees. She fears the Ministry will demote
her to full-time teacher and remove her Ministry rights. But Margaret
is surprised as she’s given a new opportunity with new responsibilities,
the only problem are old memories it brings up. Margaret remembers
herself as a young girl, Maggie Powell, and the mistakes she made as a
young lab technician working at the Genetic Enhancement Ministry as it
first embarked on its take-over of Britain. She remembers the mistakes
she made, the people who betrayed her and the way it shaped her as a
woman.
My Review Desperate for more from this world I found this and downloaded it immediately, it's only 74 pages and took me about 20 minutes to read but does so much for the series. At first I was confused as to who Maggie was, we know her as Margaret in The Blemished. She is the mean head-teacher out to get Mina, she is a formidable woman and seemingly heartless. I was intrigued what this book would bring, but it is a great addition to the series. You learn of Maggie's past - who her father was, how she got her heart broken and what she lost in life. After reading this you can kind of understand how she became so bitter, I still don't like her and she could have handled things better and moved on, but I can see why she is how she is. It was refreshing to get that insight. I still think she is horrible and uncaring but now I know why. It doesn't really make it better but it does give you a sense of understanding and I don't quite dislike her as much as I did. This also brings an insight into how the whole GEM project started and why and it makes you realise just how creepy it all is, and how realistic it seems. I am still left wanting more, I just know certain characters are going to be thrown back together and I can't wait!
Congrats to , thanks to all who entered. 
