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