Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky #1) by Veronica Rossi

Reviewed by: Siobhán
Format: Paperback
Pages: 375
Published: 7th Feb 2012 (UK)
Publisher: Atom
Source: Publisher for Review
Genre: YA Dystopian
Buy: Amazon UK I Amazon US I Book Depository

Description:

Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim. Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He's searching for someone too. He's also wild - a savage - but might be her best hope at staying alive. If they can survive, they are each other's best hope for finding answers

7

The Vampire Stalker by Allison van Diepen

Format: Paperback
Pages: 250
Published: 3rd Nov 2011 
Publisher: Scholastic
Genre: YA Paranormal
Buy:Amazon UKIAmazon USI Book Depository

Description:

What if the characters in a vampire novel left their world--and came into yours?

Amy is in love with someone who doesn't exist: Alexander Banks, the dashing hero in a popular series of vampire novels. Then one night, Amy meets a boy who bears an eerie resemblance to Alexander. In fact, he IS Alexander, who has escaped from the pages of the book and is in hot pursuit of a wicked vampire named Vigo. Together, Amy and Alexander set out to track Vigo and learn how and why Alexander crossed over. But when she and Alexander begin to fall for each other, Amy wonders if she even wants him to ever return to the realm of fiction.

Review:
I have been looking into buying this book for a while but I kept putting it off just because my TBR is kinda insane. However, out shopping I found it super cheap and decided to pick it up. Now I am wishing I just left it and got it from the library.

The Vampire Stalker is a a teenage girl, Amy who is obsessed with Alexander Banks, a boy from a book.She knows he is just a fantasy. However, one night her world is turned upside when she actually meets Alexander. And realising he is real she helps him out by track down Vigo, the bad vampire from the books, Otherworld series. Amy soon starts to fall in love with Alexander and is forced to accept that he may have to leave her soon.

The premise for this book has the potiental to be amazing. I mean, come on, who hasn’t been in love with a book from a book? And secretly wishes they were real? I know I have on many occassions lol. However, the book just seems to fall flat.

The characters, I jus couldn’t really connect with. Especially Amy, which is a shame because in therory I should I have like her, she is cute and fun and of course is a big reader. But at times I found her character quite immature. There was also no character development for Amy she was the same all the through. However, I did like Alexander and I think the book would have been better having his POV.

TVS was a very quick read though. I read it in  a few hours. The plot itself isn’t fast paced, it’s actually quite boring. It does get a bit more exciting near the end of the book. However, it was predictable! I knew exactly what was going to happen. There was no twists or turns to the plot. No explosive action scene. Even the romance in the book isn’t really all that.

Although, I did like hearing about the world that Alexander lived in. It was interesting. I also really like that idea of parallel dimensions and how the author of the Otherworld Series had visions and that how she wrote the books. It would have been great to read more about her.

Overall though, The Vampire Stalker is a very light read if you want just a filler and give your brain a rest from heavier books. It’s a short and quick read. And I am sure many people will love this book. Sadly, I wasn’t one of them.


Rate: 2/5

5

Abandon (Abandon #1) by Meg Cabot

Format: ARC Paperback
Pages: 304
Published: 2nd Sept 2011
Publisher Macmillian Childrens Books
Genre: YA Paranormal, Mytholocial Retelling
Buy on Amazon: UK I US

Description:
Last year, Pierce died - just for a moment. And when she was in the space between life and death, she met John: tall dark and terrifying, it’s his job to usher souls from one realm to the next.


There’s a fierce attraction between them, but Pierce knows that if she allows herself to fall for John she will be doomed to a life of shadows and loneliness in the underworld. But now things are getting dangerous for her, and her only hope is to do exactly what John says.

Review:
I have never read a Meg Cabot book in my life (I know where I have been right? ) Her books never really caught my interest. Until I see this one. I thought the cover was stunning and the description sounded so exciting and after reading The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter I was really exciting to reading another Hades and Persphone retelling. However, sadly this book falls flat and left me seriously disappointed.

Usually here is where I add my own little description of the plot of a book. However, this book didn't seem to even have a plot. It basically involves Pierces a young girl who died two years ago and goes to the Underworld but manages escape from John Hayden (ruler of this underworld) by throwing a cup of tea in his face. ?!? I mean eh? John is meant to be ruler of the Underworld, strong and full of power but a 15 year old girl manages to escape by throwing a cup of tea on him I mean come on!

Abandon seems to take place over like one day but with loads of flashbacks telling us about what happened to Pierce after she came back from the underworld. Pierce OMG, I have never hated a main character so much in my life. She is so annoying. She is one dimensional and just comes across very immature. Here is this guy who loves her wants to spend forever with her and she doesn't even see it until the very end of the book. ARGH!!! John I actually did like him. I would loved to have seen more of him in the book, since he only appears a few times. The book would have worked if it was in his POV i think. He is interesting, powerful and dangerous and kinda yummy. He could have took me to his underworld. I would have gladly stayed lol.

The story itself its very very very slow, boring and very anti climactic. I kept waiting for some awesome thing to happen and makes the story amazing but it never comes. The writing is all over the place. One minute Pierce is talking about something then the next without any warning she does a flashback that has nothing to do with the original point and then doesn't go back to her original point until about 20 pages later.

However, it was all bad at around page 263 there is an interesting turn of events that was exactly rather good. So for that I probably will pick up book 2 when it comes out just to see if it gets better.

And even though this book wasnt really for me. I will still read more of Meg's book. I have read so many great things about her work and want to try more. If you like Meg Cabot or retellings please give this book ago. Just because I didn't really like it doesn't mean you won't. :)



Rate: 2/5

8

My Misadventures of a Teenage Rock Star by Joyce Raskin

Format: Kindle ARC
Pages: 112
Published: 13th June 2011
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Genre: YA Fiction, Music

Description:
Rock ’n’ roll isn’t just about sex and drugs. It’s about self-expression, lasting friendships, and self-empowerment. That’s what Alex learns after she starts playing bass for a rock band in this almost true story. Joyce Raskin, author and musician, culls from her memories to create this funny, touching, and honest look at what it’s like to be a teenager, a girl, and a rock star all at the same time.

Also included are a note from the author, instructions on how to play basic guitar chords, advice on songwriting, and more!

Review:
I got this from netgalley just after reading Audrey Wait thinking it would be sort of the same. However, it wasn't. It was very very short and I read it in just a few hours. So this is just going to be a short review

The story follows young Alex, a fourteen year old girl who doesn't fit in anywhere until she learns to play the bass guitar but her older brother. It sees her deal with boys, drugs and other series issues. It really was like reading a guide. A Girls Guide to being  a young Rock Star.

Alex is a young girl I think alot of young girls could relate to. She is a nobody in school. So when when she starts in a band people can to reconise her. I'm on the fence if I liked her or not. I can understand why other may like her, she is fun and interesting at time. However, most of the times she is just annoying. All she cares about is herself, boys and her music. Although there is one part in the story that I did like her when one of her friends get into an incident that is just horrific and Alex really is quite mature about they whole thing.

Reading the book it didn't really flow that well. Instead of normal chapters there was stories. Now some stories continued from a previous story but most jumped from one thing to another and there was quite big time gaps in events that I didn't really like. However, the author, Joyce does a great job and describing the music scene for a young girl, the good and the bad.

Rate: 2/5

Orginally Review: 7 May 2011

2

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Format: Hardback
Pages: 386
Published: 7th June 2010
Publisher: Walkers Books
Genre: YA, Realistic, contemporary

Description:
Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to centre stage of her own life - and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey's boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie's own. Joe is the new boy in town, with a nearly magical grin. One boy takes Lennie out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But the two can't collide without Lennie's world exploding...

Review:
The book is about girl called Lennie who is trying to deal with the fact that her sister has died. She finds comfort in the sisters boyfriend Toby, as well as catching the attention of the new boy Joe. She is torn between these to boys and is leading two lifes. However, soon her two worlds collide and her world is blown apart.

I had read so many great things about this book. Most people raved about it. So I decided to get it when I was at the library and I was excited to read. However, I was seriously disappointed. I found the story very very slow and it seemed like it was building up to something but never really got there. The characters I just couldnt connect with at all. And I felt little sympathy for Lennie. Even though I get that she was griefing and being close to Toby felt like she was close to Bailey her sister. But to me it just felt wrong.

The only reason this book hasn't got a lower rating is because I love how the book looks. In inside pages are white with blue and scattered throughout the book are "photos" of things that Lennie wrote on and then thrown away. It was a really nice touch to the book. I just wish the story was good.

Rate: 2/5

Originally Review: 21 July 2011

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