Review | All Fall Down #1 by Ally Carter

Summary

Grace can be best described as a daredevil, an Army brat, and a rebel. She is also the only granddaughter of the perhaps the most powerful ambassador in the world and Grace has spent every summer of her childhood running across the roofs of Embassy Row.

Now, at age sixteen, she's come back to stay - in order to solve the mystery of her mother's death. In the process, she uncovers an international conspiracy of unsettling proportions, and must choose her friends and watch her foes carefully if she and the world are to be saved.

Review

Ally Carter does it again. Not only is this one bad-ass government, military etc based novel it was exactly what I and I'm pretty sure others out there needed ever since they read the last book in the Gallagher Academy or even the Heist Society. Even though all of All Carter's series are in the same genre/environments, Ally has made them all so unique it's unbelievable to think that the same author wrote them.

All Fall Down was such a quick and compelling read that I wanted more, not only has the ending left me with a million questions it has also let me thinking what will become of Grace now that she knows the truth? DAMMIT. One chapter after another I was thrust deeper into the secrets at Embassy Row, some that should be kept hidden harder than most. At points it became hard to think or even feel what the main protagonist, Grace felt. Which was quite disappointing because it was written through her point of view, I personally hope this isn't the case in the second novel, however Grace is a strong character, who's character is yet to be developed and shown to us. In this novel we saw the aftermath of Grace losing her mother and finding out the truth, but I feel more is yet to come, especially for Grace.

While reading All Fall Down, I couldn't help but bring out the inner spy in me and try and solve the mystery with Grace. But Ally has done it again and left me speechless because it leaves you unable to predict what is going to happen next, and I love that in a novel. Not only was the plot-line captivating and intense, supporting characters made this even more awesome. I mean, come on who doesn't love a Russian boy. BUT can't he just stay in one place. I really wished there was more on Alexei and who he was, yes we knew he was Grace's elder brothers friend but I needed more, plus I wanted to see more between Grace and Alexei, I could just sense something about to happen but then, BAM he's gone.

All Fall down was a compelling YA read, that must be read by all. In this novel, Ally has done something different that has taken YA to a whole new level. With the ending of this novel, there are lot of directions it can take, and I for one feel it's going to be kick-ass and mind-blowing because now it's time to see Grace doing what she does best... And that is yet to be shown to us all. This novel shows the quest to uncover secrets yet get tangled in more, friendship that will stick together and cliffhanger that will leave you wanting more.

All Fall Down - Ally Carter 4 Stars

Review | The Catalyst #1 by Helena Coggan

Summary

Rose Elmsworth has a secret, for eighteen years, the world has been divided into the magically Gifted and the non-magical Ashkind, but Rose's identity is far more dangerous. At fifteen, she has earned herself a place alongside her father in the Department, a brutal law-enforcement organization run by the Gifted to control the Ashkind. But now an old enemy is threatening to start a catastrophic war, and Rose faces a challenging test of her loyalties. how much does she really know about her father's past? How far is the Department willing to go to keep the peace? And, if the time comes, will Rose choose to protect her secret, or the people she loves 

Review

The Catalyst was simply a mind-blowing and stunning read, I'm going to be honest and say that I did not know Helena was 15 years old to get this published, the story-line was gripping enough for me to want to read it. But for a young woman to achieve such height at a young age is amazing, and I for one cannot wait for the next installment. 

I enjoyed reading this novel from third person, it gave me more to see with all the characters, we get to see how they progress from the very beginning to the very end of the novel, which though is very slow we get to see how they handle certain situations. Though I enjoy reading - from time to time - third person novels, it got confusing at certain points as to who done what or what happened to so and so, making me think back to who that chapter was focusing on. I personally don't enjoy doing that, I prefer having what I just read completely clear and fresh instead of having to recollect what just happened. 

Hybrids, Demons, Angels and Ashkind. All thrust into a world just after war with drastic changes, changes with hierarchy and power, but that doesn't always mean that Ashkind will change and accept it without a fight. NOPE. The Department had quite a few likable characters that made reading this novel a lot more interesting, I feel that supporting characters made this novel even more amazing. Even young Rose herself, such a strong and courageous protagonist, but it got the point were I was left thinking "but she's only fifteen" *thinks back to when I was fifteen* uhmmm... moving on. Despite the decisions and situations Rose was placed in, she was a very likable character who's presence made a huge impact on the novel. I loved her relationship with her father, sometimes even I forgot that he wasn't her father, he found her and took her in, But their relationship and bond was simply amazing to read. This novel just shows that there are strong bonds besides family.

Rose Elmsworth isn't the only one who keeps on surprising us, David Elmsworth is not far behind. Such a true form of a leader, the character was written very well, all emotions were clear to see. We saw what truly lay behind David, a worried father with many secrets and tricks up his sleeve. This novel was mind-blowing and I must say that this should be read by you all, despite all the mixed reviews, read it and fall in the depths of a new London, where Hybrids are threats and Angels compel you to spill your secrets. What can Rose expect from The Department when they are threatened by a force far more deceiving than any they have met, but most of all what can she do to help all those she loves?

The Catalyst - Helena Coggan 4 Stars

The Book Chapter | Blogiversary + UK GIVEAWAY

WOAHOOO The Book Chapter turns one today *passes cake around* and ASFGHJKL I am just speechless as to everything that has happened this year. When I started on this crusade - Arrow reference YES - I was just me, excited to start something new, somewhere I could turn to and express my thought freely on all the books I read. 

Thinking back I wonder why I didn't think about starting a blog sooner, I guess you can blame my ever growing pile of books stacked by my bed. But I am so glad I made that decision. Not only have I some place that I can call my own, but I have met some amazing people through Twitter and various other social sites - mainly twitter though, hey gotta give it credit, right - some are through book tweets and others are through similar hobbies and let's face it, mainly TV SHOWS, yup you heard right. Supernatural has not only made an epic fan and Impala enthusiast out of me, it has also made the amazing trio, the epic three musketeers out of Fi, Zoe and I. And I could not have asked for better friends whom I could just casually have an SPN GIF war with. Rita and Georgia 'Gee', not to worry I have not forgotten about you, let's be thankful for The 100, we can now all fan-girl TOGETHER about Bellamy because Zoe has finally started The 100. 

And now to make the Blogiversay more epic for you all, Elizabeth Masters was so very kind and awesome enough to give me a copy of Empire the second installment in The Invaders Chronicles to giveaway today on my blog. Oh, and did I mention it's a hardback and if that doesn't tickle your fancy it is SIGNED by both John Connolly and Jennifer Ridyard. *bows* you're welcome *exits stage* *rushes back* also I will be having a Twitter giveaway in the upcoming week, The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey also hardback, Now lets read those books and raise a little hell - Supernatural reference - I am on a roll, Fi you should be proud of me. 

For the chance to win Empire you can also enter via Twitter (HERE) or through the Raffle-copter form below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review | The Dolls #1 by Kiki Sullivan

Summary

Boys want them. Girls want to be them. Someone wants them dead.

Peregrine Marceau and Chloe St. Pierre are the Dolls, Impossibly beautiful and dangerously powerful, they hols the town of Carrefour under their spell. Yet newcomer Eveny Chevy is not so easily swayed by their glamour - until she discovers she is a Doll too. And when a killer sneaks past the locked gates of Carrefour, only the Dolls' combined powers can stop the murderer in their midst.

Sultry, seductive, irresistible... Welcome to Carrefour. 

Review

I do not know where to start off this review. You can blame that on the lack of posts I've been writing or simply blame it on college. Wow, college is making a reputation with the amount of things I blame on it. Oh well, it deserves it. But none the less lets get back on topic of The Dolls by Kiki Sullivan. This book was an interesting read for me personally, I knew this was going to be something different to my usual choice of books but I guess I needed it, after all the last book I read was around the beginning of January. Okay, stop judging me. 

I don't want to give much of the plot line away because it releases in March but this book is a must read if you're after something weird, mystical, most of all full of witches and charms. However though this novel is based around voodoo and New Orleans - which is awesome by the way - I just didn't seem to see much of the surrounding whilst reading, and that is a big thing for me because I like to visualize the area and the surrounding. Though, in the last couple of chapters I could totally picture the New Orleans partying style - give me some credit guys, after all I do watch The Originals and they got mad partying skills in New Orleans - Carrefour, on the other hand is something you have to experience when you read it. 

The so called Dolls, Peregrine and Chloe really annoyed me at times - okay all the time -, like come on someone is out there hunting you down and all you want to do is whip up some charms to have the best clothes, figure and get guys to like you and fall all over you, just because of some stupid PARTY?!! SERIOUSLY? Come on. Eveny - also a Doll - had more sense to see the danger around her, though at times she made me put the book down and just say "how on earth is she not having a breakdown with everything she just learnt", like who wouldn't have a break down by moving from Brooklyn to isolated Carrefoure. WHAT?!!

HOWEVER, Kiki has done an awesome job bringing this novel, this book cannot be predicted it sure left me wanting more and teetering on the edge of my seat until after the last page was read.... Which left me in an even more OMG state - guess you'll have to read it to find out - but that ending, need the next book. This book has everything from mysterious murders, misfit high schoolers but most of all a new life for Eveny with unfathomable powers, after all she is a Doll.

The Dolls - Kiki Sullivan 4 Stars