Starcrossed - Josephine Angelini

How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.



Since i read the Percy Jackson series i have been searching for another demigod series and starcrossed was perfect. It was more grown-up and a lot more frustrating. As the name implies, the two main characters are starcrossed. It took me a little while to figure out why but when i did it make me love the book even more, because it was so interesting but also hate it more because i couldn’t figure out how they would get out of their problem. The book is a very original take on an ancient Greek myth.


Helen is very special but she doesn’t know why and since she’s the narrator it keeps the reader guessing. A lot of books that I’ve read lately have built up to an ending that never manages to live up to the rest of the book but starcrossed is different. The book just kept getting better and left me thinking that there might be a sequel. I hope it comes out soon because Starcrossed left some important unanswered questions.


Starcrossed has a cleverly woven plot, some funny, irritating and violent moments. I kept thinking that i had understood the whole story and that the book was coming to an end when the book would change completely and keep going on.


I haven’t loved a book like this in a long time and wish i hadn’t finished it so quickly!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Tim Collins

Nigel Mullet is just your average, everyday vampire. Transformed at the awkward age of fifteen, he will remain this age forever, being forced to spend eternity coping with acne, a breaking voice and ineptitude with girls.
In this, brilliantly funny diary, Nigel chronicles his increasingly desperate attempts to be noticed by the love of his life, Chloe, the constant mortification caused by his vampire parents  (It’s so embarrassing when they try and bite your friends), and how unfair everything feels when you've been undead for over 80 years and you've never had a girlfriend.
Forced to hang out with the goths and the emo kids in an effort to blend in, and constantly battling his confusing desire to sink his fangs into Chloe's neck, will Nigel ever het his girl?

I stared out this book with low expectations because my brother (aged 9) had just read the wimpy kid series and even he thought that they were an easy read.
But since it was a present i decided to give it a shot.
I was pleasantly surprised because although it was an easy read it was very funny and i haven’t read a book with illustrations for years. It started out as just a diary of day to day life but turned into a very exiting story. It began as a kid's book and got more and more sophisticated as the book went on.
Simon is a very funny character who speaks like your average teenager but then ends paragraphs with phrases like "the time of our dark union approaches, my beloved" or "timing is everything in the eternal dance of seduction." I got a few strange looks because i couldn’t stop cracking up as i read this.
Starting out with bad expectations, this book just got better and better. I was so gripped that i read it in a single sitting.

Signing OUT!! :(

SORRY BUT GOING ON HOLS FOR A MONTH, CAMPING, which means... no internet!! = no bloggging. Be back in 1 month and promise to blog loads when i get back.

Beastly - Alex Flinn

I am a beast. 
A beast! 
Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright. I am a monster. 
You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll, stay this way forever ruined unless I can break the spell. 
Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly...beastly.

This book was quite surprising for me. I didn't get how such a predictable book could be so enjoyable.

We all know the story of Beauty and the Beast, innocent girl falls for a once cruel and selfish man turned to beast and saves his life through true love.

Alex Flinn adds details than made the book a lot more interesting, a modern retelling of the classic story.

It's interesting to watch Kyle's character change as the story progresses. He becomes more aware and empathetic of the people in his life, a change of heart completely.

It's a very sweet love between him and Lindy that starts of as hate. They realise they love each other and are quite alike even though he is holding her captive.

The relationships change between the characters during the book; the tutor and maid becoming a big part of Kyle's life.  People whom, in his previous, glamorous life, he would ignore and treat rudely.

Kyle spends hours reading and studying, thinking about Lindy, and also building a greenhouse. His life is completely turned around because of the curse turning him to a beast.

The book is  based on a very traditional story but apart from the obvious ending it ended a different part of the book  unexpectedly, a happy ending created as a result of Kyle’s kind heart.

The film was a bit different to the book, mainly because Kyle just has some strange tattoos and scars. Nothing too gruesome, in the book he is supposed to have claws, fur, a hunched over back. He is meant to be a real beast and not just a little out of the norm.

Overall this book was well written but I do not see why an author would choose to live in the shadow of a well known story and not imagine their own story instead.

The Trouble With Spells ( of Witches and Warlocks) - Lacey Weatherford

Portia Mullins had always lived the life of a normal teenager, up until her sixteenth birthday. She is then informed by her grandma that she is actually a witch who is a descendant of a long line of witches and warlocks. After overcoming her disbelief she finds that being a member of the coven comes with one great perk in the form of the school's handsome bad boy, Vance Mangum. Vance and Portia have an immediate connection as a budding romance begins, only to be threatened by turbulent skies on the horizon as Vance's checkered past rears its ugly head to haunt them. Portia is forced to use her untried powers in defence of everything she loves in a desperate attempt to hold on to the one thing that really matters in her life.

What I really liked about this book was all the magic. Lacey Weatherford was really good at portraying Portia's first initial shock at realising she's a witch and also later on when she realises that she's a lot more powerful and advanced in her magic than anyone realised.

Vance has got to be the best boyfriend anyone could have. Portia is very lucky even if Vance seems to jump into things a bit fast. 

Just when you start really loving the book and getting comfortable with the characters you find out about Vance's dreadful past. Having a demon farther that wants to drink your blood is a bit over ' bad parenting'.

 Portia is pulled into this messy past as it becomes part of their present and future along with her dad and grandma's coven.

This book was a very easy read for me. At the end I almost ended up in tears, but luckily I didn't break into tears before my whole family!

After a very unexpected ending I proceeded to buy and read the next book in the series The Demon Kiss and loved it just as much.

This book was a perfect mix of magic, high-school drama, romance and life-threatening danger. I feel very sorry for Vance as he suffers from cravings when around Portia as a consequence of his very horrible upbringing.

Although the second book was brilliant I personally think it could have focused more on the magical side of things. It was more about love and danger, than the actual witches and warlocks (even though the danger is being caused by a warlock.)

Maximum Ride - my drawing

Hey Guys, 

This is just an idea i had of what Max; the main character would look like. I'm not that good an artist and the copy didn't scan very well but it was good fun to draw, especially the wings. So here you go: tell me what you think!

Maximum Ride : The Angel Experiment - James Patterson

 Fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride, better known as Max, knows what it's like to soar above the world. She and all the members of the "flock"--Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel--are just like ordinary kids--only they have wings and can fly. It may seem like a dream come true to some, but their lives can morph into a living nightmare at any time...like when Angel, the youngest member of the flock, is kidnapped and taken back to the "School" where she and the others were experimented on by a crew of wack jobs. Her friends brave a journey to blazing hot Death Valley, CA, to save Angel, but soon enough, they find themselves in yet another nightmare--this one involving fighting off the half-human, half-wolf "Erasers" in New York City. Whether in the treetops of Central Park or in the bowels of the Manhattan subway system, Max and her adopted family take the ride of their lives. Along the way Max discovers from her old friend and father-figure Jeb--now her betrayed and greatest enemy--that her purpose is save the world--but can she?

I read Maximum Ride in one day. It is the most exciting and gripping novel I’ve read since the His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman. I was hooked from page one and just could not stop reading, which isn't too good for me since I’m only half a week away from end of school exams and now have the rest of the series to read.

 At first i found the book very weird with 'the flock' and their strange, self-given names. It reminded me a lot of the TV series Dark Angel but a whole lot better. This book was non-stop action, danger and adventure. I soon loved all members of the flock especially Max, the leader and Fang. 

I've only ever dreamt of flying before and James Patterson really put my dreams into words, expect in my dreams i wasn't a genetically modified not full human girl.

 I haven’t read many books that are written like James Patterson writes before, he stepped into the 14yrold Max's character completely, writing and thinking exactly as i would expect her to, which from my point of view has got to be kinda hard coming from an adult and a guy.

All fantasy books I’ve read before are very unlike this one; the kids were taken in as babies and genetically modified as scientists tested on them in unthinkable, torturous ways, as if the flock are lab rats.

The flock really explore a lot and you find yourself traveling all around America with them. 

Although I loved this book I’ve never hated a book more, if that makes sense; there are sooooo many unanswered questions at the end a book, so after another day of reading I finished the second book and the answers let to even more unanswered questions!

This book is now my number one. I found with other books I’ve read that they seem to get worse as the series goes on but no, this book keeps getting better and better!

Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead

St. Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school; it's a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're being dragged back to St. Vladimir's; the very place where they're most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy's ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi; the world's fiercest and most dangerous vampires make Lissa one of them forever.

Vampire Academy is an extremely imaginative story following a very exiting 2 best friends. The school teaches novices (Dhampirs training to be guardians) fighting, but Rose seems to get into a lot of fights outside of class as well.

My favourite thing about this book was the description and personalities. I found myself really pulled into all the scenes and could really imagine the settings, especially the school. 

Rose is my favourite character. She's very out-going, determined, sarcastic, and fun. Lissa is a bit of the opposite, very shy, quiet and careful until later on in the novel when her personality changes drastically.

 The book was very interesting, full of thrilling danger and excitement. Dimitri is my second favourite character, a very mysterious Russian guardian. When he isn't kicking ass, or giving Rose life lesson in the form of what she calls ' fortune cookies', he's standing tall and silent. 

What really completed this book was the bloody killed animals being left for Lissa. I know it sounds a bit weird but it gave the book more suspense and more of a story. I t turned out not just to be a sort-of high-school story but more of a thriller.

Although I loved this book and the sequel Frostbite, I accidentally read the blurb of a book later on in the series and I also read some reviews with huge spoilers in and found out stuff I didn't want to know. From that info I decided not to read the next load of books in this series, they seem to go on for too long and personally I thought that the series could have ended after just the 2 books I read.

 I will still miss Rose, Dimitri, Lissa and all their adventures but I’ve too little time to finish the series and a whole list of brilliant books to read!

Stray - Rachel Vincent

There are only eight breeding female werecats left . . .
And I'm one of them.
I look like an all-American grad student. But I am a werecat, a shape-shifter, and I live in two worlds.
Despite reservations from my family and my Pride, I escaped the pressure to continue my species and carved out a normal life for myself. Until the night a Stray attacked.
I'd been warned about Strays -- werecats without a Pride, constantly on the lookout for someone like me: attractive, female, and fertile. I fought him off, but then learned two of my fellow tabbies had disappeared.
This brush with danger was all my Pride needed to summon me back . . . for my own protection. Yeah, right. But I'm no meek kitty. I'll take on whatever -- and whoever -- I have to in order to find my friends. Watch out, Strays -- 'cause I got claws, and I'm not afraid to use them . . .

I've never read a book quite like Stray before, for me it was a completely new take on the paranormal genre. The were-cats (described as being like black panthers) are something I’ve never read about before. Enhanced senses, strength and completely kick-ass! This book was extremely exiting and gripping.

The main character, Faythe is a very likeable character although she gets into many fights, both physical and verbal. One of the best things about her is that she isn't flawless - making her all the more believable and real (even though she's a mythical creature).

As well as being filled with action, relationships between the characters add a lot to the story. Especially Faythe's relationships with Jace, a flirty, hot childhood friend and a complicated ex Marc, whom she still loves but he chose loyalty to his pack over her.

This book kept me up all night long reading as I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. Faythe is my favourite character, an independent thinking, sort-of feminist, freedom-seeking, determined tabby, and completely kick-ass! Quite uncommon for a tabby, she fights along with her many brothers, not leading a more usual, docile life.

Stray was quite gruesome at times as we are pulled into the life of a rapist. Although the scenes were described very well they weren't exactly 'pretty'.

The end surprised me completely, as the whole family is betrayed by a very unlikely suspect.

An absolutely amazing read. Rachel Vincent is a very talented writer who had me hooked from the very first page to the last. A must-read for any thrill-seeking readers!

Don't Die Dragonfly - Linda Joy Singleton

After getting kicked out of school and sent to live with her grandmother, Sabine Rose is determined to become a "normal" teenage girl. She hides her psychic powers from everyone, even from her grandmother Nona, who also has "the gift." Having a job at the school newspaper and friends like Penny-Love, a popular cheerleader, have helped Sabine fit in at her new school. She has even managed to catch the eye of the adorable Josh DeMarco.

Yet, Sabine can't seem to get the bossy voice of Opal, her spirit guide, out of her head . . . or the disturbing images of a girl with a dragonfly tattoo. Suspected of a crime she didn't commit, Sabine must find the strength to defend herself and, later, save a friend from certain danger. 

Don't Die Dragonfly is a wonderful mix of a high school romance, supernatural powers, danger and mystery. 

Rose has visions of the future, of a girl bleeding, a girl with a dragonfly tatoo, she then meets the girl and deciced to try and help. It all connects together, the girl and the robbery of items at school. 

Rose and her friends, Manny and Thorn try to figure out who is stealing from school and trying to frame Rose meanwhile Rose has trouble at home with her grandma, who is turning to someone else as an aprentice in 'the gift'. Dimitri, the extreemly hot guy who can talk to animals. Rose had hidden her gifts for years, trying to fit in at school but when she realises she needs her grandma's help, the grandma won't believe her, thinking she's only jelous of Dimitri's new position in her life.

This book has loads going on and I didn't stop reading it until I finished it, the book was compleetly full of mystery,  managed to keep me turning the pages but was able to reach a climax at the end.

Revenge helped made this book very interesting. Sabine Rose hates her boyfriend's best frind Evan, an obnoxious stuck-up brat who just tosses girls away with the flick of a wrist, the girl with the dragon atatoo being one of them. At the end revenge becomes very, very sweet.

The one thing that annoyed me about this book was Dominic, a seemingly very interesting character, but left compleetly unexplored by the author, at the begining it was an interesting mystery but nearing the end it just got very annoying. Wwe learn nothing of his past, although he plays quite a big role in the book.

THis book left a LOT of unanswered questions and I plan on reading the sequel to find the answers!

Forgive my Fins - Tera Lynn Childs

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush. 

Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid – she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview high school ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems – like her obnoxious, biker boy neighbor Quince Fletcher – but it has that one major perk – Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type – when they “bond,” it’s for life. 

When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily-ever-after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.




My favorite thing about this book was the characters, their personalities were so strong and likable, especially Lily and Quince, their relationship is very funny and they both appear to hate each other.


Unsuspected circumstance tie Quince and Lily together, sending them on a journey through the sea to an underwater kingdom   which is beautifully described and imaginative.


Lily annoyed me at the beginning with her obsession with Brody, whom she hardly knows and the story was a bit too light and simple. It was quite predictable and although mermaids and supernatural creatures were involved, it seemed to be more of a teen high-school romance, the only difference is that it's set under the sea.  
The book left on a cliffhanger leading up to the sequel, Fins Forever, from the ending, the second book looks better, filled with more danger as well as romance, which is always a good combo.


Overall, this is one of my top mermaid books, there is nothing wrong with a light, funny, supernatural story and i'll be sure to read the sequel, deeper and darker than the first. ( i hope)


Tera Lynn Childs is brilliant as writing good fun y.a fiction, even if she seems to keep on the good side of things, her other book Oh My Gods was equally as good, if not a bit too similar to the Percy Jackson Series.

Kindle!

As you may have noticed on my 2011 challenges page , i have been doing quite a lot of reading. All of this is thanks to my Kindle, I've had it 3 months now and have read 25 books on it.




2 pros:


Books are usually WAY cheaper than normal!


My parents think that because i read paranormal, modern fiction, everything i read is rubbish, they encourage me to read Classics, "brilliant" English literature  On my Kindle they have no power over what i read!


2 cons:


I still find it nicer to hold a book, to be able to see the cover instead of a screen
Safer to take a book with you when travelling by train or going into town

Fur- Meg Harper

Grace loves swimming in the sea; it soothes her when she's restless and comforts her when she's sad. Even her dreams are full of the scents and sounds of the ocean.

But dark shadows are troubling the waters of Grace's life. Her body is beginning to change, but not as she expected. And now that she started seeing Nik, will she be able to keep her secret to herself?

Grace has a happy life at home and school. She has two best friends, Jenna and Matt and recently has been asked out by a very popular and handsome boy at school, but there are also troubles to Grace's life. 

Firstly her mother left home when she was little and Grace doesn't know why. Secondly every year on her birthday she wakes up in the middle of the night to find the window open, the smell of sea in her room and little gifts of pearls, beads, shells and crystals left by her bed, but when she wakes up they're gone. Worst of all, almost every bit of Grace's body is covered in short, fine, silky fur.

These three mysteries keep the story going, a page turner, which mixes worlds of mystery, myth, love, changes and the sea. Since the book contains so much it's right for a lot of people but more for girls than boys.

 Grace as a character is very likeable, honest, pure and interesting. The book focuses on the father/daughter relationship but also stresses how, at times it's hard for Grace to live without her mother or a motherly figure.

 Fur was very moving, since Grace loves the sea you get to feel the magical and mystical lure the sea makes her feel. This book left me dreaming of the summer when I’ll be able to go swimming again!

Occasionally throughout the book you get to see the story from different views, like Grace's friend Matt. These short extracts confused me a bit but made me want to read on. At times the narrator will have a secret that we are not let on to, a secret from other characters. 

This book turned and twisted from calm to anger, light and darkness, it reminded me of the sea, with fits the genre of the book perfectly. Although I loved reading this book, I think it was quite an easy read and is aimed at a younger audience. 

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief- Rick Riordian

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse: Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. Percy's mom decides it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from. She sends Percy to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends, one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena, Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

Percy Jackson is a fictional adventure based around the 12 main Olympian Gods. It’s a great introduction to Mythology since it’s narrated by a young boy it’s easy to read and very funny.

Probably my favorite thing is the imperfection in the characters; too many books nowadays have perfect characters just like perfect magazine photos (both being fake.) In Percy Jackson the three main characters rely on each other filling on their weaknesses. This really fits the adventure in the book: since they go on a quest they need different qualities to complete it, working together and trusting one and another.

There are three main characters; Percy, very brave but volatile. Annabeth, extremely clever but falls for the bad guy and Grover, who has big dreams but not the strongest or bravest of the three.

The book took me a surprisingly short time to read as there were loads of cliff hangers and a mystery only to be revealed at the very end of the amazing story. It’s very well described and imaginative, creating a beautiful world of magical creatures, architecture and nature. Although the book is fiction it’s based on myths and real locations around the globe, our world with a twist. Rick Riordan is an imaginative writer who has written a funny, enjoyable story that  is now a bestselling film!

Marked - Kristen and P.C Cast

The House of Night series is set in a world very much like our own, except in 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's world, vampyres have always existed.  In this first book in the series, Zoey enters the House of Night, a school where, after having undergone the Change, she will train to become an adult vampire--that is, if she makes it through the Change.  Not all of those who are chosen do.  It’s tough to begin a new life, away from her parents and friends, and on top of that, Zoey finds she is no average fledgling.  She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess, Nyx.  But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers.  When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny--with a little help from her new vampyre friends.

If you, like me were a bit disappointed by the Twilight Saga, but still love the vampire genre House of Night is right for you. You can still have hot vampires, a young narrator, and a complex romance. (More subtle that the overpowering love triangle in the Twilight Saga)

Instead of a weak human Bella you get a wicked, strong, powerful heroine, an amusing gang of friends, and just the right amount of horror, mystery and action. Zoey is quite open to boyfriend choices (at one point she has 3!) Quite the opposite to Bella. This makes the story more interesting because you never know who she’ll choose.

 As House of Night is written from a teen girl’s point of view you really experience what she feels in a new school, environment and life, just trying to fit in- but Zoey is special she doesn’t manage to fit but stand out, becoming the most powerful fledgling at the House of Night boarding school.

House of Night is my favorite vampire series because it contains a bit of everything, you never get bored and are taken by surprise. Zoey is a very likeable character and you learn to really feel for her no matter how many people she manages to hurt.

Broken Soup- Jenny Valentine

An intriguing, compelling and moving new novel from the award-winning author of Finding Violet Park. When the good-looking boy with the American accent presses the dropped negative into Rowan's hand, she's sure it's all a big mistake. But next moment he's gone, lost in the crowd of bustling shoppers. And she can't afford to lose her place in the checkout queue -- after all, if she doesn't take the groceries home, nobody else will. Rowan has more responsibilities than most girls her age. These days, she pretty much looks after her little sister single-handedly -- which doesn't leave much time for friends or fun. So when she finds out that Bee from school saw the whole thing, it piques her curiosity. Who was the boy? Why was he so insistent that the negative belonged to Rowan


Broken Soup is very hard to describe but it's a funny,  heartbreaking story about day to day life, full of wit, charm, and warmth. We never know much about how Rowan's brother Jack died but it tears their family apart: the dad leaves, the mum is meant to be on medication and that leaves Rowan to take care of her younger sister Stroma singlehandedly.
 Life changes though when Harper and Bee enter her life she suddenly has a great friend and a loving, understanding boyfriend. The book is simply about day to day to life but Jenny Valentine writes it in a way that keeps you reading on. Broken Soup made me cry, laugh and I even reread it because i loved it so much.
Although the whole book was amazing the ending was my favorite. Revealing a small mystery and bringing the story together. The end was surprising, wonderful and sad. Broken Soup was brilliantly written and Jenny Valentine really pulls you into the story!

Northern Lights- Philip Pullman

When Lyra's friend Roger disappears, she and her daemon, Pantalaimon, determine to find him.  The ensuring quest leads them to the bleak splendour of the North, where armoured bears rule the ice and witch-queens fly through the frozen skies- ans where a team of scientists is conducting experiments too horrible to be spoken about.
Lyra overcomes these strange terrors, only to find that something yet more perilous waiting for her- something with consequences which may even reach beyond the Northern Lights. Northern Lights is the first book in HIS DARK MATERIALS trilogy. The others being THE SUBTLE KNIFE and THE AMBER SPYGLASS.


The Northern Lights was my favourite book when I was younger and is still one of my favs now. I was about Lyra's age when I read it and really felt I could connect well with her even though her world is imaginary. The adventure is exhilarating, fast paced and surprising. A journey across the world full of magical beings and places. It was like stepping into a wonderful dream. 
Lyra is stuborn, determined, fearless and incredibly likeable wheras her daemon Pantalaimon is cautious, careful and a bit of a worrier. The two are a perfect pair.There is a very surprising plot to the story involving Lyra's family which shocked me but let to the continuation of the trilogy. Philip Pullman came up with a wonderful world although it is quite like ours in many ways. Full of happiness, love, friendship but also deceptiveness, cruelty and  anger. He turns the love and dangers of our modern day world into a descriptive story that everyone will enjoy!

Ingo- Helen Dunmore

Sapphire's father mysteriously vanishes into the waves off the Cornwall coast where her family has always lived. She misses him terribly, and she longs to hear his spellbinding tales about the Mer, who live in the underwater kingdom of Ingo. Perhaps that is why she imagines herself being pulled like a magnet toward the sea. But when her brother, Conor, starts disappearing for hours on end, Sapphy starts to believe she might not be the only one who hears the call of the ocean.


When I first started reading Ingo I wasn't sure I would continue it. All I thought was "oh great, a mermaid book " but then I carried on and loved it. 
Helen Dunmore very convincingly describes the beautiful sea. Ingo is the sea we know and swim in but enhanced. More beautiful and twice as dangerous.

Helen Dunmore writes Ingo in a lyrical account of the undersea world, filled with poems and songs; the first we hear of Ingo is in a song sung by Sapphire’s father.

The novel is filled with stunning descriptions of undersea destinations, ocean currents, sea creatures and the Mer people. Although Helen Dunmore is very imaginative and describes Ingo wonderfully but she stills leaves parts of Ingo for our imagination, making the book all the more magical.

Ingo pulls Sapphire towards the sea, and as she leaves the land behind all she can think about is Ingo. Ingo becomes the main point to her life. Voices pull her towards the sea and she finds she can’t live without it.

My favorite thing about Ingo is the danger and mystery; although it’s very light and colorful we never know if Ingo is good or bad. Unlike mermaid books I’ve read before Ingo is full with danger. I just got the second book and can’t wait to read and review it!