Monday 31 December 2012

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Plot (taken from waterstones.com)

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. She longs for the freedom to make her own choices, but when she breaks the 'no flying' rule, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki, a descendant of dragons whose greatest defence is her secret ability to shift into human form. And her rare ability to breathe fire makes her desirable, and important, to the survival of the draki. Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. There she meets gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: he and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slipping away, and if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Rating 5*- I treated myself to this novel when in London, Christmas shopping. This is one of the best novels I have read this year. The unique dragon mythical creatures are so different to every other supernatural story, which seems to mix between vampires and angels. I was totally gripped from the beginning and I have ordered the second instalment in the trilogy.

The main protagonist, Jacinda, is a fantastic and likeable character. Alongside Will, the two gel well together and creates a romantic side to what is perhaps quite a dark plot. Jacinda is being hunted for her special talent and being the only drake left in her family (her mother and sister cannot turn) it enables a very unique twist to what usually comes to mind when thinking of dragons.

Monday 24 December 2012

Mystic City by Theo Lawrence

Plot (taken from waterstones.com)

Aria Rose, youngest scion of one of Mystic City's two ruling rival families, finds herself betrothed to Thomas Foster, the son of her parents' sworn enemies. The union of the two will end the generations-long political feud - and unite all those living in the Aeries, the privileged upper reaches of the city, against the banished mystics who dwell below in the Depths. But Aria doesn't remember falling in love with Thomas; in fact, she wakes one day with huge gaps in her memory. And she can't conceive why her parents would have agreed to unite with the Fosters in the first place. Only when Aria meets Hunter, a gorgeous rebel mystic from the Depths, does she start to have glimmers of recollection - and to understand that he holds the key to unlocking her past. The choices she makes can save or doom the city - including herself.

Rating 3*- This novel is a very different and original take on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The main protagonist, Aria is a really likable character and as you see the story in the 1st person you only know as much as Aria. The suspense created by this is fantastic and gripping, however not very much seems to happen! The slow plot reveal was backed-up by the futuristic Manhattan is half submerged under water and the novel surrounds the fear of global warming.

The dark secret that her family keeps from her is constantly surrounding Aria; however I did not feel that I was totally submerged in the novel. It was a great story and plot but the characters, especially the Fosters’ and Roses’ did not entice me into the story. I am looking forward to the next instalment, but I am not sure I will run out and buy it straight away!

Thursday 20 December 2012

New Layout

Hi again!It's been a while since I have posted, apologies!
I've been attempting a rather large pile of university work accompanied by starting my Christmas shopping. It's been a hectic month.


Don't worry though, I have not forgotten about my blog!
This post is just to tell you about my new layout. I will no longer be posting three times a week but just the once. This is due to my last year at university being demanding and getting on into the year I cannot keep up with the sheer amount of reading I need to do in order to have so many posts a week.

I will also be changing the way I review novels. I will be using a synopsis from another source, which will pretty much tell you all you need to know about the book! But this allows me more time to tell you about my actual thoughts on the novel!
Let me know what you think about the improvements and Merry Christmas!
Kate :)