Unrivalled by Alyson Noël

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 368

Publisher: MIRA Ink

Released: 10th of May 2016 

EVERYONE wants to be someone.

Layla Harrison wants to be a reporter.

Aster Amirpour wants to be an actress.

Tommy Phillips wants to be a guitar hero.

But Madison Brooks took destiny and made it her own a long time ago.

She’s Hollywood’s hottest starlet, and the things she did to become the name on everyone’s lips are merely a stain on the pavement, ground beneath her Louboutin heel.

That is, until Layla, Aster, and Tommy find themselves with a VIP invite to the world of Los Angeles’s nightlife and are lured into a competition. The prize, or rather the target? Madison Brooks.

Just as their hopes begin to gleam like stars through the California smog, Madison Brooks goes missing. . . . And all of their hopes are blacked out in the haze of their lies.

What I Have to Say 

Although not a bad story, this was a book about people I didn't like going head to head in a competition that frankly, I didn't care about. The start captured my interest, but then the entire book was the build up to that moment, with no real clues given to what happened. Basically, anyone who wants even a small bit of closer, must read the next book in the series. 

I'm just really disappointed, because I love Alyson Noël as a writer and I just expected more of her. I think if I liked any of  the characters or had any sympathy with them, I might have liked the book more, but I just felt like they were terrible people, although technically not bad characters, just unlikable. 

The story was entertaining enough though and to be fair, I will probably get the next book to find out what happened to Madison, This book really just wasn't for me though. 

My thanks go to Netgalley and MIRA Ink for providing me with this copy for review. 

Desolation by Derek Landy

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Pages: 460

Publisher: Harper Collins

Released: 7th of April 2016 

Other Books in the Series: Demon Road

Reeling from their bloody encounter in New York City, Amber and Milo flee north. On their trail are the Hounds of Hell – five demonic bikers who will stop at nothing to drag their quarries back to their unholy master.

Amber and Milo’s only hope lies within Desolation Hill – a small town with a big secret; a town with a darkness to it, where evil seeps through the very floorboards. Until, on one night every year, it spills over onto the streets and all hell breaks loose.

And that night is coming. 

What I Have to Say 

I can't decide whether I like this book better or Demon road. At first I didn't like the fact that it wasn't about the road trip anymore, but then I started to like it because it was a road trip. There were bits about it I liked and bits that I missed about the first book, sometimes there were bits that I liked that I simultaneously was glad they were different and sad that they weren't the same as in the first book. I don't think I'll ever decide which was better, but either way, this didn't have the dip of quality that often ruin the second book in a trilogy. 

I loved the scoobie crew and their van. It was the perfect parody to bring into this series to make it wonderful. I'm especially glad that they came in this book rather than the first one. I also loved Amber's relationship. It was nice to see that despite the chaos of her life, she could find a person to flirt with in a way that didn't seem unnecessary to the plot as a lot of relationships in these types of action packed books seem. 

All in all, I felt it was a brilliant continuation of this trilogy. I think I'll be a little sad once I've read the next book, but at the moment I can't wait to see what happens next. 

My thanks go to Harper Collins and Netgalley for providing me with this copy to review. 

Soldier by Julie Kagawa

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 416

Publisher: Harlequin UK 

Released: 26th of April 2016

A fighter dedicated to saving humankind from dragons in strictest secrecy.

That was what Garret Xavier Sebastian thought he was part of as a soldier of the Order of St. George. What he learned from a fiery dragon hatchling twisted all he believed in and set him on a collision course with certain death-but not without a chance to put things right.

Betrayed and on the run again, Ember and rogue dragon Riley discover an unthinkable truth about Talon and St. George. They'll need Garret's skills and insider knowledge of the Order to negotiate an impossible deal-and if they fail, there will be no way to stop all-out war. 

What I Have to Say 

I don't know what it is about this series, but I'm just not as into it as Kagawa's other books, which I adore. I was so excited for Talon's release, but it just fell flat for me. My interest picked up a bit with Rogue, but it seems to have dipped again with Soldier. I think part of the reason is that I'm just completely bored with love triangles. It was never something I was that interested in to start of with and the more they were inserted into books that just didn't need them, the more bored I become with them. 

That said, I really liked the ending. It was as epic as I have come to expect from Julie Kagawa and SPOILER there's a really cool sword fight. It had a lot of intense emotion and really made me look forward to seeing what's going to happen in the next book. 

Even though I'm still just not into this series, I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next, 

The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 288

Publisher: Chicken House

Released: 5th of May 2016 

Forbidden to leave her island, Isabella Riosse dreams of the faraway lands her father once mapped.

When her closest friend disappears into the island’s Forgotten Territories, she volunteers to guide the search. As a cartographer’s daughter, she’s equipped with elaborate ink maps and knowledge of the stars, and is eager to navigate the island’s forgotten heart.

But the world beyond the walls is a monster-filled wasteland – and beneath the dry rivers and smoking mountains, a legendary fire demon is stirring from its sleep. Soon, following her map, her heart and an ancient myth, Isabella discovers the true end of her journey: to save the island itself.

What I Have to Say 

This is a must read for fans of fairy tales and anyone who's ever lost themselves into the world of stories. Isabella is the kind of girl who lives her life believing in a fairy tale because it's better and more magical than real life and so when danger calls she does what any good heroine should do and heads into danger head on. 

Set on a fictional island somewhere off the coast of Spain, The Girl of Ink and Stars is an evocative story that delves deeply into the realm of cartography. The maps that Isabelle's father draws are so integral to the plot while also revealing a lot about the process that is used to make them. It was really interesting to read about. 

I also loved the friendship that was integral to the plot. It shows how difficult it can be when you have a friend of a different class, who doesn't understand how hard it can be for those who don't have money and acts selfish and spoiled, but it also shows how the bond that the girls share can override it, sending Isabelle into danger to search for her friend. 

I'm really glad I got a chance to read this book and hope that more people will discover it. 

My thanks go to Chicken House for providing me of a copy of this book for review. 

Map of Bones by Francesca Haig

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 416

Publisher: Gallery Books

Released: 3rd of March 2016 

Other Books in the Series: The Fire Sermon

Four hundred years in the future, the Earth has turned primitive following a nuclear fire that has laid waste to civilization and nature. Though the radiation fallout has ended, for some unknowable reason every person is born with a twin. Of each pair, one is an Alpha—physically perfect in every way; and the other an Omega—burdened with deformity, small or large. With the Council ruling an apartheid-like society, Omegas are branded and ostracized while the Alphas have gathered the world’s sparse resources for themselves. Though proclaiming their superiority, for all their effort, Alphas cannot escape one harsh fact: whenever one twin dies, so does the other.

Cass is a rare Omega, one burdened with psychic foresight. While her twin, Zach, gains power on the Alpha Council, she dares to dream the most dangerous dream of all: equality. For daring to envision a world in which Alphas and Omegas live side-by-side as equals, both the Council and the Resistance have her in their sights.

What I Have to Say 

This series is developing in such an interesting way. I've always loved a good government conspiracy in a book, but this is bringing it to a whole new level. 

I really like the way that they're using Cass's psychic powers. I like the threat of madness that hangs over everything, especially when she meets with other psychics. It's interesting how some of the most seemingly innocent ramblings of certain characters are ignored even though they're the most important things of all. I think I'd like to see more of Cass falling apart in the next book. 

 

Even though I enjoyed reading this book, I did find it a big contrast to the first book. The first book is so set on the journey to the island and the subsequent events that the lack of that goal and focus on smaller goals felt a little bit of a let down. 

I don't think this effected my overall enjoyment of the book though. I think I was actually enjoyed this one a lot more than the first because I was so interested in the developments that were made. I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book. 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Gallery Books for providing me with this copy for review. 

How Not To Be Weird by Dawn McNiff

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 272

Publisher: Piccadilly Press 

Released: 7th of April 2016 

Woody wants to get un-weird - and fast! And he'll find help in the most unlikely of places.

Woody is forever worried about being different. He thinks himself weird and a bit of a wuss, and two bullies Della and Casey make sure he doesn't forget that. It doesn't help that his mum is slightly bonkers. She dresses up as a sheep for a living - mostly for her job as a children's entertainer. And not to mention the fact that she forces Woody to wear old granny jumpers that she finds down the local charity shop. Gooner the dog doesn't help either, always getting Woody in some awkward, smelly and rather messy situations! 

But Woody's got a plan to get unweird - and fast! Just in time for his first day at secondary school. He starts off with some rules . . . 'Don't listen to Mum about anything to do with your life, ever'. . .and. . .'don't wear old lady clothes'. And with the help of his way more normal, yet rather extravagant GlamMa and the discovery of his Dad's peculiar lucky charm, he soon finds a new sense of charm, un-weirdness and a heap load of shenanigans come his way! 

What I Have to Say 

A cute story embracing weirdness and difference, despite what the title says, How Not To Be Weird has many important messages about being your own person and knowing what you want. Woody is an interesting, quirky and naturally weird character who suffers a lot of self esteem issues who I'm sure many children and young teenagers can relate to. 

In general, I enjoyed the book. I found Woody fairly easy to relate to in a lot of ways but with some differences to make him interesting. He felt like a real kid, struggling to fit in and thinking that he had to change everything about himself to fit in, I know I felt this way when I was his age.

The only complaint I really have is that the story wasn't really compelling. I didn't have the drive to read on and find out what would happen next. The ending was fairly predictable and it just didn't capture me. 

All in all, it was good though. I like the style that McNiff writes in and will continue to read her books. 

My thanks go to Hot Key Books for providing me with this copy for review. 

The Bombs That Brought Us Together by Brian Conaghan

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 320

Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books 

Released: 21st of April 2016 

Fourteen-year-old Hamish Law has lived in Little Town, on the border with Old Country, all his life. He knows the rules: no going out after dark; no drinking; no litter; no fighting. You don't want to get on the wrong side of the people who run Little Town. When he meets Pavel Duda, a refugee from Old Country, the rules start to get broken. Then the bombs come, and the soldiers from Old Country, and Little Town changes for ever.

Sometimes, to keep the people you love safe, you have to do bad things. As Little Town's rules crumble, Hamish is sucked into a dangerous game. There's a gun, and a bad man, and his closest friend, and his dearest enemy.

Hamish Law wants to keep everyone happy, even if it kills him. And maybe it will ... But he's got to kill someone else first. 

What I Have to Say 

I really didn't take to this book. At all. I don't know why originally, but I just couldn't connect to the characters at all or really get much interest in the plot. It got better as I went on, especially after the sister was brought into the action, but it wasn't enough to get me very invested in the story. 

I also found the characters just so stupid at the start. I mean, I know they're young, but the way they get involved with the Big Man just for a few chairs even though they know that he's a bad person to let get a hold over them, it just took away any pity I had for the characters. 

This was just not the book for me.