Torment by Lauren Kate

Image taken from OBS Book reviews

The sequel to Fallen is just as good as its predecessor. While I NOW know what the story line is about, I ended up buying the book to find out what happens next, and not because of another stunning front cover (although, to tell you the truth, I really like the front cover to this as well)...

At this stage, Luce has just found out that she is in love with a fallen Angel. She and Daniel have been together for centuries (hence all the de ja vu feelings in the first book), and that ever seventeen years or so, he has to watch her die and come back to him again, reincarnated, all because of his choice to be with her instead of tending to his heavenly duties. This is all that Luce knows so far about her past. But because she didn't die like she was supposed to this time around, everybody - angels, demons, even Luce herself - are confused as to why things are different this time around. There is talk of end of days, the final battle, when eventually angels and demons will have to fight again for the last time. And there are a truck load of other supernatural beings all either fighting for Luce to join their side, or simply to kill her off. These are very dangerous times for Luce and for the people she cares about.

On the plus side, the "shadows" that Luce had originally mistaken in the first book to be bad omens are actually quite helpful in helping her glimpse into her past lives. She learns at her new school how to summon them and be able to see into her past for clues as to what her relationship with Daniel had been like in the past. But will this knowledge end up furthering enlightening her on her past, or destroy her hopes of her ever being together with Daniel for eternity? One must read on to find out...

While the content in this book is still pretty dark, I found the book to be more comical than the first one was. There are new characters introduced who add a bit of humour to the plot. Not that this is a bad thing, as the characters are quite likeable. And there's another love interest added to the plot, with Miles also trying to get with Luce. AND, Luce is wondering whether it would be better to be with him or not, so the relationship with her and Daniel gets more complicated than it originally was.

In all accounts, a very good read indeed. Cannot wait until the third installment comes out in a couple of months time!

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Image taken from freebooks.net


OK. So I've been meaning to read this book for a while, managed to get myself a copy of it last year, which I did not get the chance to read until early this year. To be honest, it was not so much the storyline that got me hooked (because I didn't know what it was about), but it was actually the FRONT COVER that drew me in. A couple of people have joked with me when I've told them the story that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but I have to say that the story is just as good as the front cover that adorns it.

The story is about 17 year old Lucinda Price (Luce for short), who is sent to a reform school after a dreadful accident which happened to her would-have-been boyfriend, none of which she has ever recollection of happening, but which the authorities believe she is in someway responsible for. We learn that ever since she can remember, she has been followed by these supernatural creatures called "shadows", who continually pop up just when something dreadful is about to happen either to her or one of her friends. Determined to stay off the psychotic drugs she had been forced to take as a child because of these sightings, she lies to her parents and to her doctor that she has stopped seeing them. However, they still haunt her, and they appear to be haunting her more frequently now that she is away from home.

Then from day one when she arrives at the school, she meets the most handsome young man she has ever seen named Daniel, who she feels a strange connection to. Sometime, somewhere, they have known each other before, but Luce is unable to pinpoint where, and how this is even possible. But Daniel knows her all too well, and is initially unprepared to tell her anything. That is, until strange events begin happening at the school, and Luce insists on knowing what the shadows and her de ja vu feelings for Daniel have in common. The truth which she eventually finds out in the end is both beautiful and unbearable. To find out what that truth is, you will just have to read on for yourself...

Lauren Kate sets up this book quite nicely, detailing the scenery of Sword and Cross and of what it is like to live there. The gives subtle hints as to where the story is about to go, without giving too much away. Her description of "the shadows" and their appearance at various stages of the book come at times just when you are feeling "comfortable" with the narrative, shocking you back into a feeling of uneasiness and suspense. I thoroughly enjoyed the suspense I was feeling all the way towards the final chapter.

While this is definitely catered for young teenage girls, guys such as myself can appreciate its slightly dark undertones, not to mention the little bit of violence that is contained in it. As a romance novel, it does not go "mushy" or "over the top" with its romantic content. As a contemporary gothic novel, it has all the makings of a good horror story.

In short, I highly recommend this book to anyone who is into either of those genres.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Image taken from Shelf Elf.

Well, it was about time I updated this blog, now moving on to talk about the third and final installment of the Hunger Games, and once again, Suzanne Collins has not disappointed me in the slightest!

As you can probably tell from what I recounted from the second book, the uprisings have continued, and have escalated since we last hear of them. District 13 DOES exist (sorry to spoil the ending of the second book, but I figured that within the two months of my having reviewed it, you would have and should have read it by now). Katniss is dubbed as the "mascot" for the new rebellion, and it is her job star in propaganda videos and raising hope for all of Panem. But of course, being "The Mockingjay" has its setbacks. You have the Capitol hungry for your blood. You are only told what you "need" to know when prepping up to give the speeches (leaving room for more doubt as to whether the cause you're fighting for is a just one). On top of that, you have two boys fighting over you, which is undoubtedly the LAST thing you want to deal with right this very moment. Needless to say, we read of a very emotionally fragile Katniss in this book, who everyone expects to just be able to pull things together and make everything right again.

I was told by a few people who read the book before me that they did not like how the book concluded. They felt it a bit too "rushed", and they were kind of getting sick of the whole Gale/Peter love triangle thing. I personally found the Gale/Peter thing to be an important part of the storyline, and did not feel the ending to be "rushed" at all. I felt the timing was just right for Collins to conclude the book in the way she did. And, without giving too much away, there is definitely a happy ending for Katniss after all, however bitter-sweet it appears to be.

Well, that's enough of my rambling. Go out and buy the book! You won't regret it...

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Image taken from Hunger Games Wiki.

The second installment in the Hunger Games trilogy was just as interesting as the first installment. Without giving too much away for those who have not read the first book, Katniss and her friend Peeta are the two survivors of the Hunger Games, something which the Capitol sees as a form of rebellion (there can only be one winner, and the actions they took in the first book led them both to victory). Because of the stunt they pulled, the President of the Capitol is determined to make Katniss' life a living hell. And what better way to make the make life hell for the person who you see as a threat to your rule by arranging to send them BACK into the Hunger Games the following year!

Yes, Peeta and Katniss are sent back into the Games - into a new arena, with new weather conditions, and contesting against other previous victors from the other districts.

Meanwhile, there are others in the various districts who have taken inspiration in Peeta's and Katniss' defiance from the previous year's games and have started uprisings, which the Capitol is truly annoyed about. There is also talk of the mysterious District 13, who was supposedly wiped out by the Capitol for their defiance, but who could possibly still have survivors living underground. In short, the book is just as suspenseful as the first installment.

I'm afraid I might give away too much again, just suffices to say that it is indeed another good book.

Will be starting on the final installment shortly...

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Image taken from The Book Brat.

So my sister told me one day that I MUST read the Hunger Games Trilogy. Admittedly I was skeptical at first (I am usually skeptical of current mainstream fads), but I was surprised to find that these books are actually quite good!

The first installment takes us on a journey through the dystopian world of Panem, otherwise known in our current geography books as North America. All humankind living in Panem are separated into districts, all of which are lorded over by the dreaded dictatorship of the Capitol. Every year the Capitol hosts a reality TV show entitled "The Hunger Games", which is one of many measures the Capitol has taken to keep the various districts under control. Two people from each district is selected to participate in the games, which is a violent strategy game designed for the contestants to hunt and kill each other. There can only be one winner.

This is the world in which Katniss Everdeen live, along with her mother and younger sister. When her younger sister is selected to participate in the Games, Katniss volunteers to go in her place. And so Katniss must try and survive and win the games, so she can return to her family when it is all over.

Fans might be upset with me leaving out so many important details in my summary, but I think it best to tell just enough information to have readers of this article want to know more, and what better way to know more about what happens in the story than searching out the book for oneself and reading it?

Loyal readers of this blog would have noticed that the majority of books I like are ones that make me think, and with the Hunger Games, this is no exception. As disturbing as the environment of Panem is, it is not too far from resembling the way our own world is becoming today. Avid fans of the trilogy would notice the commentaries the book implicitly makes on the current fads and trends that are slowly making our society become more selfish and conceited. In a world where people are caring less about others and thinking more of themselves, in a world where the love for humankind is slowly diminishing, the messages in this book is extremely relevant for our day.

For those of you like me who are skeptical of maintream trends, do NOT let this discourage you from reading this book, as it is definitely a good read!

The Genius Wars by Catherine Jinks

Image taken from Allen&Unwin.com


Looking back at the last few book reviews I have written here, I have realised that I have been WAY behind in updating you all on the new books I have been reading! For this I apologise...

To return to what I have read, I have definitely finished reading the conclusion to the Genius Trilogy, and just like the other two books, Catherine Jinks does not fail us in providing a rather entertaining tale!

"Genius Wars" sends us a few months later after Genius Squad has eventually been disbanded. Cadel is enjoying life as a university student, until random sightings of Prosper English force Cadel to once again live a life of hiding. This would be tolerable for him, if it weren't for the fact that his friends from the Genius Squad - not to mention his soon-to-be adoptive parents - have had threats carried out against them. Once again it is up to Cadel to save the day and protect the people he holds dear.

This book wastes no time in getting into the action, and is just as fast-paced as the first installment was. Jinks has cleverly managed to answer all questions that were left unanswered from the first two books, and manages to keep the suspense going up until the very end. The rather "ambiguous" ending I also find to be quite clever, for reasons you should find out for yourself by reading this book.

All in all, the Genius Trilogy are three of the best books I have read in a long time.

Genius Sqaud by Catherine Jinks

Image taken from www.allenandunwin.com

I managed to get myself a copy of the sequel to Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks, and I am just as impressed with the sequel as I was with the original!

The book begins with Cadel living in a foster home. He is still in contact with Sonja, and makes sure to visit her regularly. On one of these visits, both he and Sonja are approached by a guy named Trader who offers them the opportunity to join the Genius Squad, a team which has been hired to spy out all of the secret operations Cadel's "father" was involved in and expose them. This doesn't seem like a bad idea at first, until certain truths about the squad make it harder and harder for Cadel to place his faith in its members. And when Cadel finds out that Thaddeus Roth a.k.a. Prosper English has escaped from jail, his whole world is turned upside down even more....

Admittedly, the book has a bit of a slow to get into at first; the action does not come as immediately as the first book does. But if the reader is patient, he/she will see how Catherine Jinks sets the scenario up nicely. Once that is done, you're in for another bumpy ride!

It isn't every day one finds a novel as good as this, so I highly recommend this book, as well as the first book, to anybody who is interested in a good action-packed novel.

(P.S. Stay tuned for when I eventually read the third and final installment of the Genius Trilogy!!!)

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Image taken from the 5th Grade Literacy Circles website.

Matilda Wormwood is a child prodigy, although her parents don't seem to care or notice. Her father runs a dodgy car sale business, while her mother is addicted to bingo. Her brother is hardly ever at home. While all three would prefer to sit in front of the television all night, Matilda prefers to read books. These are the circumstances we find her in as she attends her first day of school, where her teacher, Miss Wormwood, is the first person to notice how special Matilda really is....

OK. So I'm going through yet another childhood phase, but so what? Roald Dahl's books are amazing, as every child who has ever read them can tell you (as well as every adult who remembers growing up reading them). Packed with adventure, humour and fun, his books have entertained children and grown-ups alike. The new editions of his books that are coming out now all boast on the front cover that he is "The World's no. 1 Storyteller", a title that Roald Dahl very much deserves to have. It has now been over a decade since he has passed away, but his memory continues to live on through his books.

The new editions also come with interesting trivia facts about Roald Dahl and his life, giving children the chance to learn more about this great author. They also explain on the back cover that 10% of author royalties from the sales of his books are now being donated to Roald Dahl Charities, which cares for children with "epilepsy, blood disorders and acquired brain injury". So by purchasing the new editions, you are not only revisiting childhood memories, but you are also making a difference in other children's lives.......

..... Not that I'm trying to promote sales in any way..... :-P

Anyway, "Matilda" is one of those books that you MUST read, either BEFORE or AFTER seeing the film version starring Mara Wilson and Danny DeVito. Seriously. You should. It's very good.

More reviews on Roald Dahl's books to follow soon!

How Mrs Claus Saved Christmas (as told to Jeff Guinn)

Image taken from James Kennedy Public Library website.

I must admit, I have found it very difficult for myself to get into the Christmas Spirit this year. Because we weren't going to celebrate Christmas the way we used to every year, it just didn't feel like Christmas to me. Thankfully I found this book on sale at a book store in the city, and it did help me forget my worries and remind myself what the season is really about.

"How Mrs Claus Saved Christmas" is a book that details exactly what the title suggests. The author takes us back to England in the early 1600's, where the Puritan movement was gaining influence in Parliament. Nicholas (Santa Claus) reportedly travels to the New World, with the hope of establishing Christmas under the colonists that have arrived there. Mrs Claus chooses to stay in England and tries to help sort out the problems that threaten to destroy England's most beloved holiday - Christmas. Because the Puritans believe Christmas to be a disrespectful and irreverent way of celebrating the birth of Christ, it is their intention for Christmas to be banned. In 1647, when the Puritan Parliament decides to pass a law that punishes anybody who dares to celebrate Christmas, it is the final straw for the townspeople, who band together to form what will be known throughout history as the Canterbury March.

Although this book is a work of fiction, it is rich in historical detail. Children and adults alike can learn a lot about the Canterbury March, the events that took place leading up to it, and how Christmas was celebrated in 1600's England. It is a reminder of a period in history where people had to fight to enjoy what we enjoy today. It is very cleverly written, and it helped me appreciate the holiday season a lot more.

Jeff Guinn is also author of "The Autobiography of Santa Claus" and "The Great Santa Search". Together, these books entitled "The Christmas Chronicles", and I believe what I had read was book number 3 of the series. I hope to be able to track down the other two books and read them as well, as the back cover to "How Mrs Claus Saved Christmas" contains exerpts of outstanding reviews of the other two books.

I recommend this book to anybody who feels like they're a bit of "Scrooge" around Christmastime.

Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks

Image taken from margeretconnolly.com


This is a great read I picked up at Dymmocks bookstore in the city. It is the story of Cadel Piggott, a boy who is extremely intelligent. He knows how to "hack into computer networks, orchestrate traffic jams and sabotage construction sites" without leaving a trace that can lead back to him (see back cover). His equally intelligent criminal father, who is locked up in a U.S. jail for trying to take over the world, wants Cadel to use his powers to succeed in what he himself couldn't achieve. His right hand man, Thaddeus Roth (Cadel's psychiatrist) is employed to keep a close eye on Cadel's progress. But as Cadel attends the classes of the Axis Institute (the university his father has set up to help aid him to become a master criminal), and encounters the various people who attend the institute, he wrestles with his own conscience, and finds it hard to live up to what his father expects him to be.

This book was very well written, with some very funny scenes throughout the work. I have found out that it is part 1 of a trilogy, so I must find the other two books and read them, because the ending of this first installation left me in suspense. I can't wait to find the other two books and see what else happens in Cadel Piggott's life...

Bringing Reuben Home by Glenda Millard

Image taken from www.allenandunwin.com

Looking on the surface, life seems almost perfect in the city of New Carradon. But looking deeper into the workings of the government, there are sinister things happening within its domed enclosure. Nobody is allowed to enter or depart the city. You are not allowed to choose who you can marry; you can only marry those who the government dictates is "compatible", and who is issued with a certified Genetic Compatibility Licence. And you are not allowed to live beyond the age of eighty. Those who approach this age, regardless of how healthy they are, are promptply euthanized on the eve of their eightieth birthday in a ceremony called a "cessation".

Reuben Gilchrist is fast approaching his own cessation ceremony, but refuses to give in to this senseless and inhumane tradition the government has instituted. He convinces his granddaughter Cinnabar and her friend Judah to find a way to smuggle him outside, where he can live to the age he is supposed to live for, and to also bury the ashes of his deceased wife in Old Carradon, where they had both originally came from. It is only days before the cessation, so Cinnabar and Judah have to quickly figure out a way to get Reuben safely out of the city, before it is too late...

Just for the record, I am NOT a fan of Science Fiction novels, but I found this one to be quite enjoyable. What intrigued me most about this book was the discourse it addresses on the value of human life: Who are we to decide who is most compatible with whom? Who are we to determine a definite age span for all? Do we have the right to meddle with people's personal decisions? These were the thoughts that generated in my head as I was reading the book, and it was good to ponder and reflect on those questions.

Glenda Millard accurately captures Cinnabar's and Judah's suspense as they race against time to rescue Reuben from his impending fate. Action-packed until the very end, you will not want to put this book down.

I recommend this book to both science fiction fans and non-science fiction fans everywhere.

Falling From Grace by Jane Godwin

It's always good to see more contemporary Australian authors out there. Although Jane Godwin has been around for a while now, I have never had the chance to read any of her books until now. I found this particular book in my local library, and after reading the back cover, I decided to borrow it and see what it was like. I found that I was not disappointed with what the book had to offer me.

Falling From Grace is the story of Annie and her older sister Grace, who mysteriously vanishes after being swept away during a storm. The story is told through the eyes of Annie, Kip (a witness), and Grace herself. The chapters switch from Kip, to Annie, and Grace at appropriate times, to help us understand what is going on in each character's mind and what each of them experience from the one incident.

There is this creepy guy named Ted who appears on the scene, around the same time that Grace disappears. Kip is the one who meets this guy. As the story progresses, the reader can't help but get the feeling that Ted has something to do with Grace's disappearance, but he/she cannot be entirely sure. It's only until the very end that everything is revealed, and because I want people to go and find a copy of this book for themselves, I shall not reveal the ending in my review.

Very well-written with a carefully executed plot and well-rounded characters, Jane Godwin presents an exciting and action-packed mystery that will keep you guessing until you've reached the end.

Alexander Kai: Death God by Metha Metharom

"I am a Necromancer,
someone who can talk to the
dead, has power over the dead
and can do a hell of a lot of other
things, which I am not sure yet
what they all are...

...I am still a little surprised
by the fact that I have agreed to
continue to do their work...

I do agree with them
though that my power, if left
unchecked could be dangerous,
so maybe that’s why I agree to
continue on with their work, to
learn more about my powers..."

When 20 year old Alexander Kai miraculously survives a brutal stabbing in the park near his neighborhood, his life is drastically changed forever. Through the aid of a ghost by the name of Oliver Jones, and a Nephilum by the name of Davis, Alexander Kai discovers that he is a Necromancer - a person with extraordinary supernatural powers, who can communicate with the dead. Furthermore, he has volunteered his services to Super Solutions, a detective agency whose mission it is to solve supernatural crimes and to bring any lawless spirits to justice. We follow Alexander's journeys between the realms of the living and the dead, as he and his fellow colleagues endeavour to solve unsual and most puzzling crimes and restore peace to the dead and the undead.

This six book series showcases some of Metha's darker works. Very well written and full of suspense, you will not want to put them down until you've reached the end. The books are written in such a way that the reader can pick up any one of them, without necessarily having to read them in chronological order, and be able to get the gist of what has happened in the previous book, without having to read from the very beginning.

The books can either be purchased separately, or altogether as one book, such is how I had read them (I received the book which had all six books in one).

I strongly recommend this series to any horror/fantasy fans out there.

Tales from the Shore by Metha Metharom

Metha Metharom explores the topic of Love once more in his book "Tales from the Shore", a new collection of short stories. However, much unlike "Love Stone", where the stories give us a discourse on HOW people fall in love, the stories cover three basic principles of WHERE love can be found.

For example, in "The Prospector and the Toucan Lady", we learn that love cannot be found in material possessions; it is found through personal sacrifice and selflessness. In "The Island and the Sea", we learn about not losing focus on the ones we care about in the search to find ourselves, and to be honest about our feelings. And in "The Crab and the Gull", we learn that love has no boundaries over racial, cultural, or gender difference.

Metha uses fairy-tale imagery to bring these themes to life. He presents these themes from a viewpoint we may never have even considered before, leaving with us a lasting impression on our minds, and gives us something to think about.

The only thing I found a little bit off-putting were the one-paragraph-pages, which made it very difficult to read, especially considering I had only access to an online copy and had to scroll down for AGES until I eventually got to the next line of text. Also, the thought of how many trees would have to die just so that this particular book could be printed made me cringe slightly.....

Overall though, this book definitely has my tick of approval, and is a great companion to read along with "Love Stone". I recommend it to anybody who is into a good romance novel, or even to those who are not into romance novels (such as myself), because there is a lot that you can get out of it.

Love Stone: A Tetralogy of Love by Metha Metharom

"Love Stone" is a collection of short stories based on the theme of Love, and where one can find Love. This book in particular is one of my favourites from Metha Metharom, and really showcases his writing ability.

My favourite short story in "Love Stone" is the story of the Rock Samurai and the Wind Maiden, because when I first read it, I did not immediately associate the story with any other romance novel. Rather, I was thinking about the worth of a human being, and how unique each and every one of us is. The Wind Maiden is the only one who can see something special with the Rock Samurai, and she spends her time moulding him into fulfilling his full potential. When we deeply care about someone, whether we are in love with that person, or if they are true friends, we want to help them showcase their best selves, and help them realize the potential they have inside. Such was the beautiful message I got from this really powerful story.

This is a great read for all ages alike.

"The Rock Samurai and the Wind Maiden" has also been published as a separate work, and can be ordered by clicking here.

For previews of "Love Stone", click here.

Inner Light: The Dragon Within by Metha Metharom

Inner Light: The Dragon Within is the story of Michael, a boy who is looking for excitement in his life, until excitement ends up finding him. Welcome to the world of dragons, dark wizards, amulets of power, danger, and non-stop action, as Michael discovers who he is and what role he plays in saving the future of mankind. Fast-paced and often humourous in most parts, Metha Metharom takes you to a world where you want to get lost in.

Metha Metharom is a new emerging author with an incredible talent. His other works include the "Alexander Kai" series, "Love Stone" and "Tales from the Shore", to name only a few. Having read a couple of his stories already ("Inner Light" being one of them), I have come to notice how no two stories are the same, and he uses different writing methods to engage with his audience. For example, the sporadic, fast-paced writing style for this particular novel really demonstrates the action and excitement taking place in the narrative, allowing the reader "feel" the adrenalin rush that the characters in the novel would be experiencing, rather than just reading about it. Also, the loose descriptions of the characters themselves allow the reader to create his/her own interpretation of the characters' physical characteristics and personalities in his/her mind. In short, it would be accurate to say that no two readers would get the same interpretation from this novel, as there are a lot of "hidden" meanings that people can get from it.

Another interesting element in this novel is that it contained an interesting blend of fantasy and Japanese anime (without the graphics, of course). Such were the images that were going on in my mind when I was reading it.

Unfortunately, I would NOT recommend this book for children (there is a fair amount of course language contained in it), but it is definitely a worth-while read for teenagers and adults.

To order your own copy of "Inner Light", or to view some of Metha Metharom's other works, please click here.