The duo offer Celaena a dangerous but potentially lifesaving deal; competing in a competition to become the King’s Champion. If she wins then after four years of servitude she will gain her freedom. If she loses, she must return to the treacherous salt mines.

Celaena must journey back to the city she once ruled as an assassin and face the King who sentenced her to life in Endovier. She must go head to head with thieves, fellow assassins, mercenaries and soldiers in gruelling tests designed to push them to their limits.

Celaena has yet more reason to fear for her life as the competitors are slowly picked off and mutilated by an unknown creature. The bodies are surrounded by strange Wyrdmarks which hint at the reappearance of magic, something which was banished long ago by the King.

I loved Throne of Glass and thought Celaena Sardothien was one of the greatest heroines I’ve ever read about. Her voice was convincing and pulled you in from the very first sentence with her sarcastic jibes, strong willed attitude and bravado. The story is fast paced with lots of plot points to keep you interested whether it be the competition, the murdered competitors or the differing and growing relationships between Celaena and Chaol and Celaena and Dorian.

The characters are all well rounded and believable. Celaena first appears as a brave and merciless killer but she is hiding a secret which makes her vulnerable and which is slowly drawn out throughout the book, while Chaol and Dorian each go through their own transformation to help Celaena in her quest.

The whole book is packed with high action and adrenaline and finishes nicely with a few ends tied up to keep the reader satisfied but with some questions left unanswered ready for the sequel.

Throne of Glass is an amazing book and comes highly recommended. I will be eagerly awaiting the release of the second book so I can dive back into the action.

Evie is absolutely adorable with her taser and pink clothes and let’s not forget about her obsession with soap operas. Aside for what I mentioned before, I really liked her because she is different. She reminds me of Alice Cullen – a pixie with too much energy. In a way Evie is very innocent, maybe sometimes naive, but not all the time. She had to grow up fast, probably because of the importance of her job.

Like in every other book there is a main guy and his name is Lend. I have never met another character like Lend; I am still unsure what kind of paranormal creature he is. I loved the way he interacted with Evie even in the beginning when he was trying to ignore everyone.

I like the couple that Evie and Lend form. They are perfect for each other They seem so young. It reminds of puppy love. When I read about them together I remember those pics we can find on the internet with small children hugging and kissing each other. It is probably because of the way they grew up; they both needed something more in their life – answers or something else, I can’t tell.

The book is easy to read, but at the same time it is not. I really do not know why, maybe it is because of the multitude of paranormal creatures. The writing style is pleasant. The plot is quite unique. It is refreshing. If I am not mistaken this is the first time that I can say that I haven’t found any of the features in any other book. Good job!

The cover is breathtaking. I love the model and the dress is gorgeous. The only thing that I hate is the fact that the model does not remind me of Evie – the main female character. I guess it is not that important since most books do not have a cover model that represents perfectly the character.

The only thing that I did not like is the great number of creatures.

From me this book it gets: 4.4/5

A favorite quote:

“Besides, how could I ever be afraid of someone who wears so much pink?”

You should buy it. It is an amazing read.

Joseph Delaney is – without a doubt – one of my favourite authors of children’s fiction, tying in top place with Derek Landy, and that is definitely saying something about my love of Delaney’s writing because I do consider Derek Landy to be a writing genius!

This newest instalment, Slither’s Tale – the eleventh in Delaney’s Wardstone Chronicles - is a far cry from Tom’s home in Chipenden and introduces the readers to a whole new country with plenty of new characters. This time our protagonist is not Tom, but a previously unheard of creature known as Slither; so named because of the sound his tail makes. Yes, he has a tail. Initially, the plot of the Wardstone Chronicles revolved around the Spook’s fighting against the dark, but Slither’s Tale marks the second book in the Spooks series which Delaney has dedicated to the viewpoint of a different character, showing the Spook’s world through the eyes of a creature of the dark. The first book Delany tried this with was the ninth book; I am Grimalkin, which was a major success.

Even Alice and the Spook himself, John Gregory, don’t get a mention in Slither’s Tale, but don’t let that put you off! There is a familiar character who has crossed over from the county into Slither’s country: Grimalkin, the witch assassin herself. It is strange at first to see the Spook’s world through the eyes of a typically ‘bad’ character. Both Grimalkin and Slither are evil and violent characters, but with morals and common sense. They are each, equally the strongest of their kind and this is apparent in Slither’s Tale, when their personalities clash. It is easy to see that Delaney enjoys writing scenes which feature Grimalkin just as much as the audience enjoys reading them. Her presence is felt by all the characters in Slither’s Tale; she is a fierce witch assassin with unmatched skill and a powerful reputation. She has become my favourite character and I eagerly look forward to any future books in which she will certainly feature.

In writing the Wardstone Chronicles, Joseph Delaney has set up a world that rivals even that of Harry Potter and Skulduggery Pleasant. Without doubt, this is a scary world, filled with witches, ghosts and other dangerous creatures that reside in the dark. But the element of fear only makes reading more exciting, and has the advantage of enticing young children into reading. The only complaint I have ever had with any of the Wardstone Chronicles is the new book covers (I say new, but they have been around for a while now). They were changed half-way through the series and the replacement illustrations on the new jackets not only have no likeness at all to the characters being described in the books, but they resemble every other child’s fiction book currently out on the market. The previous covers are now only released with the paperback version, months after the initial release date, as a collector’s edition – but they were unique and enhanced the story’s old world feel; it was like reading a book straight from the Spook’s Chipenden library and I really miss that!

Although the Spook’s series is marketed at older children (from about 11+), I am, at nineteen, proof that anyone can read and enjoy these books without feeling that they are being directed at a younger audience. Slither’s Tale was released after it was revealed that the Wardstone Chronicles is soon to be adapted for the silver screen, under the name The Seventh Son. I can only hope that the film, to be released in late 2013, will do this excellent series justice! This is your chance to enter the Spooks world now, before the country goes Spook-crazy with the release of the film later this year! But remember, these are not books to be read after dark…

The twelfth instalment of the Wardstone Chronicles, I am Alice, is due for release in June 2013.

Matt convinces his Grandpa that they could make a difference and so together with their dog, called Dog, they set off to Yarl’s Wood; a detention centre where Aman is being held.

Aman then takes up the story as he recounts to Grandpa his journey to England. After the Taliban took control in Afghanistan, Aman and his family were forced out of their village and had to set up home in a cave. He lives in constant fear of the Taliban soldiers who have infiltrated just about everything in his town of Bamiyan, whether it is the police, the army or the local market.

He sees his father taken away for helping the American soldiers, his mother arrested and returned beaten and tortured and his grandmother killed as his cave is invaded by the Taliban and ransacked.

Never has Aman needed a friend more than when a Springer Spaniel turns up one day outside his cave. At first Aman is weary, he believes dogs are dirty and shouldn’t be socialised with but gradually he starts to trust the dog and allows her to sleep in the cave, taking care of her as much as she takes care of him. She becomes a constant companion and follows Aman like a shadow, and that’s what he decides to call her.

After his grandmother’s death, Aman and his Mother set out across Afghanistan on their way to England. Shadow leads the way, seemingly knowing exactly where she is going. That’s when they meet British soldiers and Shadow’s unbelievable past is revealed.

I have always loved Michael Morpurgo’s books and Shadow was no different, delivering on everything it promised. Told through the points of view of Grandpa, Matt and mostly Aman, Shadow is a beautiful story which brings to light the hostile environment Afghans are forced to live in now Taliban soldiers have taken control, and illustrates the incredible bravery shown by the British and American soldiers as well as the dogs who work alongside them.

Aman’s story was at times horrifying and heart wrenching but ends happily to become another treasured book by a brilliant author whose stories I will never stop reading and enjoying.

Later on they find out the Queen has been killed by DomDaniels and the Queen’s daughter has gone missing. Of course, Jenna Heap (as they named the baby found in the snow) is in fact the Queen’s daughter, while the midwife who labelled Septimus Dead actually works for DomDaniel and had been hired by him to make Septimus his new apprentice.

Later a frozen child soldier ‘Boy 412′ is thrown into the care of the Heap family. When DomDaniels finds out that the Heap family mysteriously have another child, he sends out a Hunter to track them down. But will Sally Mullin in her raggedy old cafe betray the Heaps? And will they ever rescue the Necromancers apprentice?

This was quite a mysterious book. I especially found it interesting as it claimed the book was about Septimus Heap but he ‘dies’ before the actual story starts to begin. I liked the way Angie Sage let the plot move smoothly so it wasn’t confusing.

I’d recommend this to ages 10+

My star rating is 4 out of 5.

“He was a aware of a small human heartbeat somewhere close to him.”

Rachel has been raised alone by her father and Protector, Jared. While every other girl in Baalboden was learning to sew and host the perfect dinner party, Rachel was learning how to wield a sword and kill a man twice her size. When her father disappears on a courier mission and the Commander discovers that he received a secret package from a neighbouring city before he went missing, Rachel is thrust under the Commander’s cruel and domineering eye as her life and those she loves most come under threat.

Baalboden law states that every female must have a male Protector and, with her father gone, Rachel must be appointed a new one. Just to make matters worse, Rachel’s new Protector turns out to be her father’s apprentice Logan. Rachel hasn’t spoken to Logan in two years after she declared her love for him and he failed to reciprocate.

Together, Rachel and Logan must work together as they venture into the Wasteland to brave the Cursed One, find the secret package and discover what happened to Jared, all whilst starting a rebellion which could set the citizens of Baalboden free from the Commander’s iron grasp.

Told from the point of view of Rachel and Logan, Defiance is an exciting debut novel which brings to life some good main characters in Rachel and Logan. Rachel is strong willed and unafraid to rush into situations head first and think about the consequences later. Logan is protective and clever, preferring to plan out his actions meticulously down to the very last detail. The Commander is a good old fashioned baddie, sending shivers of fright down your spine with his menacing and malevolent actions.

Although we get thrown into the action at the beginning of the book, I felt that as the story went on the action and adventure got watered down to make room for the relationship between Rachel and Logan. I wanted their relationship to be drawn out a little more with it maybe still in question at the end of the book. If Defiance had packed the same punch at the end of the novel as it did in the beginning, this book would be an all round winner for me. Defiance is the first in a trilogy and ends in a good place to get you back for the next instalment.

Following the events of last year’s Zom-B, B is well and truly dead (and has a gaping hole in the chest instead of a beating heart to illustrate the point) but is far from resting in peace. Indeed, in Zom-B Underground poor B has to adjust to life as a member of the rampaging undead. Well, maybe not rampaging exactly since being killed by having your still beating heart ripped from your chest would put a dampener on anyone’s mood, but B is certainly still a walking, talking member of society despite an absence of life per se.

However, while the majority of zombies that are trundling the streets of London are concerned with nothing more than killing folk and munching on brains, B seems to have retained her original personality and powers of reason. This puzzles both B and the team of military scientists that have imprisoned B in a hi-tech underground bunker. It turns out that B is not the only teen to escape full conversion into a mindless zombie and so the scientists have rounded up a group of these “revitaliseds” in order to see if they can be of any use against the more common or garden variety zombies. In Zom-B Underground B therefore has to adapt to a new lifeless status while figuring out how to get along with the other zom-heads (that’s what the cool kids are calling the revitalised) and what the scientists might ultimately want from them.

Zom-B Underground is a grisly, brutally realistic account of life as a conflicted zombie. B is arguably far nicer as a zombie than as a person but is still far from being a saint. B does now seem have a lot more difficulty picking on zombies than when picking on school nerds and racial minorities in Zom-B but ultimately still has a serious temper and some major killing skills. Perhaps losing a heart caused B to gain some humanity? It’s a weighty question that doesn’t really get discussed but may crop up again later in the series.

One thing is for certain though, even in undead society, B is still an outsider. While B and the other zom-heads have retained their mental faculties in a way that the regular zombies have not, B seems to be the only one able to control her bloodlust. The rest of the gang that B is matched up with positively revel in torturing and killing regular zombies and so Zom-B Underground is often a real splatterfest. Despite taking place entirely in a supposedly secure, controlled bunker, in Zom-B Underground the high body count from Zom-B is maintained. It’s not wise to get to attached to any of Darren Shan’s characters.

There is a lot of action, fighting and extreme eating involved in Zom-B Underground but ultimately not a great deal happens. B gets to grow as a zombie character, there is a tiny bit of insight into the government’s response to the zombie crisis, and a Machiavellian potential Big Bad is introduced. All of these elements could have been developed much more but, perhaps unsurprisingly as it is only book two in a planned twelve book series, Zom-B Underground doesn’t get stuck into the details of anything. Hopefully future Zom-B books will have more depth to them since it has the potential to be an excellent, gory series.

B’s story will continue in Zom-B City in March 2013.

Jackson’s life is predictable and clearly defined. He’s top of his class; he is destined to be a leader; he knows what to expect and the kind of respect he deserves. And then, one day, all of it changes. He loses a friend; he loses his future; he nearly loses his life.

The day where everything changed was the day where Jackson lost his friend and the future he had always depended on, the day where he ended up in an academy. Academies are not places for the clever future leaders of Jackson’s world. They are not places of learning, full of hope for the future and promises of a successful life. Academies are places where teachers separate themselves from the students with metal cages, where students learn to obey, not read and write, where danger, threats and

Hours later a buzzer sounds. The compartment doors click open. Enforcer Tong must control the locks from her computer. The other students are already scrambling out of their seats. They swarm past my compartment, pushing and shoving. I look up at the enforcer. She’s staring down at me.

And that’s it, Jackson’s life as he knows it is gone, and in its place is a terrifying world of harsh discipline, aggression and oppression. Nothing he has done before has prepared him for what will come next, but he must find some way, any way, to survive in a world that suddenly seems cold and heartless.

He is not alone. Jackson, for all of his confusion, seeks out friends, looks for ways to escape the trap that his life has become, and he is slowly, slowly gathering allies and discovering that all might not be as hopeless as it seems.

C.J. Harper places Jackson in a world that feels possible, one where the idea that everyone should get what they deserve has been taken to an extreme and upsetting level.  Her characters are not superheroes disguised as teens, but teenagers with all of the faults, assumptions and attitude inherent in the age group.  This makes The Disappeared, for all of its dystopic and futuristic setting, feel as if it could happen soon, could happen somewhere nearby, could be the fate of a teenage boy you see walking down the street.  Jackson’s plight is all the more haunting, because his world is so close to ours, and his adventures all the more thrilling because of the sense that they, too, could happen here.

Hannah is a mostly-typical teenage girl. She has friends, a sense of style, and a determination to make everyone believe that she’s okay. She isn’t. Not-at-all. Six months ago, her best friend Lillian died of complications from her struggle with anorexia and, within the last few weeks, girls in her suburban nearly picture perfect neighbourhood have been killed–killed and left surrounded by toys and a single paper valentine. Hannah has been busy pretending to everyone around her that she is okay, that she is healing, that she doesn’t still speak to Lillian, but she quickly finds herself drawn to the terrifying mystery that surrounds the deaths of these girls. Hannah is not merely looking for a killer; she is looking for answers to the sorts of questions that change lives, that honour lost friends, and that haunt those left behind–the sorts of questions that are as much about conversations that can never happen as events that already have.

Hannah can still see, and hear, Lillian, but she cannot connect to her anymore. She is struggling with the death of a friend and the void that the friendship has left in her life. And a nagging sense of guilt, a question of responsibility, a struggle between how Hannah thought of Lillian’s friendship and the reality of their lives.

I want to remind her about the time she took that bottle of Sour Apple Pucker from her mom’s liquor cabinet and we drank it in the back of her garage, and the time she snuck out alone to catch the midnight bus to see her dad even though it was twenty degrees out and she didn’t have permission, and that time she talked me into breaking into her mom’s house to steal a makeshift shrine to a murder victim. And that time she didn’t eat for so long that she died.

Yovanoff does an amazing job of weaving together the fast-paced murder plot with a quieter reflection on friendship and growing up (and what to do when a very cute boy appears). Hannah is not alone, she has the always-excellent Yovanoff cast of supporting characters (always excellent, always also charming and hilarious), but she does have to figure out what it means to be on her own and without Lily. In the end, this journey feels the more important, Hannah is a brave and daring investigator, but she is even more intrepid when questioning things she always assumed were true, or learning how to act on her own, without the protection of Lily’s outgoing personality.

Paper Valentine has just the right mix of teen-age romance, thrilling investigation, high school girl-angst, and Yovanoff’s trademark snappy writing.  Hannah is the sort of girl who would make a lovely friend, and this book is the sort of book that makes time fly while it’s being read.

Russalka is a world filled with strife and conflict. Raging seas and storms dictate the lives of the colonists who have started over again on the planet and a war with the Terrans still rages in living memory. The colonists have all come from Russia, from Terra, but they are no longer colonists. Instead, they are Russalkins, inhabitants of a frightening and thrilling world.

All of this history influences, but does not dictate, the life of Katya Kuriakova, a young girl just starting out into the sea-faring life that the Russalkins expect of their citizens. Katya has just finished training as a submarine navigator and will be helping her uncle make a routine trading trip in his sub, the Pushkin’s Baby. What should be a simple and successful run quickly becomes complicated by a bossy and overbearing (and far too young for his job) officer from the Federal Maritime Authority, who commandeers the submarine as an escort for his prisoner, a man accused of being Russalka’s most notorious pirate, Havilland Kane.

Katya and her uncle are soon drawn into a terrifying adventure, filled with pirates, hidden secrets in the deep water, and an old enemy poised to return. The plot streams forward, sweeping the reader into a world filled with old grudges and new dangers and the prospect of a renewed war with Terra. But, though the plot moves fast and furiously, as always with Howard it is the characters that shine, drawing the readers in and making every tense moment that much closer to heartbreaking because these are the sort of characters readers care about, root for, and lose sleep over.

And Katya, oh Katya, she inhabits this science-fiction world with strength and bravery and just the right amount of teenage attitude.

“The locksman took Katya’s identity card, looked at it briefly, and handed it back. The whole time, he never stopped chatting with her uncle.

She took it back feeling slightly cheated. She must have looked at that card a hundred times since it had arrived from the Department of Matriculation, reading and rereading the fine print. Her family had been so happy for her, Uncle Lukyan especially…And now nobody seemed to care.”

She is alone in a way that only a teenager can be, desperate to be considered grown up, still wishing to be kept safe by those she loves. Soon she will be forced to make choices that would daunt someone twice her age and decide what it really means to be Russalkin. Along the way, she inhabits a world rich in myth and mysterious depths. Katya’s World is one of those-best-kind-of-young-adult science fiction, a story that fills the imagination with what-ifs and questions, a plot that keeps the pages turning furiously. With its deft mix of mythological and historical references and science-fiction setting, this is one of those books that young adults and parents could happily read together, drawn in Katya’s increasingly turbulent wake, wondering what will happen next.