Reviewed by Arianne: Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee.

Product details:
Publisher: Skyscape.
Hardcover, 335 pages.
Release date: August 5th 2014.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Ages: 12+
Reviewed by: Arianne.

 In the Labyrinth, we had a saying: keep silent, keep still, keep safe.

In a city of walls and secrets, where only one man is supposed to possess magic, seventeen-year-old Kai struggles to keep hidden her own secret—she can manipulate the threads of time. When Kai was eight, she was found by Reev on the riverbank, and her “brother” has taken care of her ever since. Kai doesn’t know where her ability comes from—or where she came from. All that matters is that she and Reev stay together, and maybe one day move out of the freight container they call home, away from the metal walls of the Labyrinth. Kai’s only friend is Avan, the shopkeeper’s son with the scandalous reputation that both frightens and intrigues her. 

Then Reev disappears. When keeping silent and safe means losing him forever, Kai vows to do whatever it takes to find him. She will leave the only home she’s ever known and risk getting caught up in a revolution centuries in the making. But to save Reev, Kai must unravel the threads of her past and face shocking truths about her brother, her friendship with Avan, and her unique power.

Gates of Thread and Stone was one of the last books I read in 2014, and it also turned out to be one of my favourites. Thrilling, well-written and packed with detail, it's perfect for fans of City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau or The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson. A dystopian-steampunk adventure with its feet firmly planted in fantasy, plus the occasional nod to real-world mythology, it’s a spectacular addition to any YA shelf.

Seventeen-year-old Kai knows that keeping secrets keeps her safe. In a world still recovering from the after-effects of a devastating, long-ago war, trust is hard to come by — so when her beloved older brother Reev vanishes, Kai risks everything to find him, including her life. Enemies abound in this epic tale of love and loyalty, from the monstrous gargoyles who lurk outside the city’s walls to the infamous rebel known as The Black Rider, but for Kai, who can control the threads of time, danger may be much closer to home than she thinks.

Kai is a fantastic heroine. She’s brave and resolute. She learns fast and she puts her whole heart into everything she does. Even more than that, she is seriously skilled, and she’s not afraid to do the impossible if it means she’ll get her loved ones back. The closeness Kai shares with her older brother Reev is at the very core of the novel, but neither of them is perfect and revelations from the past threaten to destroy everything they’ve worked to build since Reev rescued her on a riverbank all those years ago. 

 I adored Kai’s romance with gorgeous, tough love interest Avan, too. It’s passionate and enthralling, but rooted deeply in friendship and camaraderie; it’s a breath of fresh air.  Kai and Avan go to extraordinary lengths to protect one another and that involves a lot of sacrifice for both of them; it’s such an emotional part of the book, you feel as if you’re with them, every step of the way.

The most surprising thing for me about this book, however, was how real the characters felt. Gates of Thread and Stone deals with some big themes, but there’s something so refreshing about the way Lori allows her characters to be human and flawed and funny; I loved that.

I definitely found myself wishing the book was a little longer — though this can only mean I’m more excited than ever to read its sequel, The Infinite! Kai’s ability to control time doesn't play as big a role as you'd expect and sometimes it feels as if the book is running on two very separate tracks — the competing elements of traditional ‘mahjo’ magic and Kai’s seemingly unrelated gifts are never truly reconciled. The book’s setting jumps from place to place; Kai and Avan are constantly rushing back and forth, whether that’s from his family’s shop to the Labyrinth or from the White Court to the decadent (and decaying) Etu Gahl, so here’s hoping we get more detail on each location in the next book.

The plot, however, is near flawless. It twists and turns right to the last page. I definitely saw some of it coming, but then again I had theories that were proved totally wrong – it’s the kind of book that really keeps you on your toes. The ending is particularly brilliant; it leaves questions unanswered yet is a hugely satisfying read.

In short: Gates of Thread and Stone proves that sometimes a book really is worth the hype. Featuring a dizzyingly diverse and complex main cast, the book’s world building is incredibly distinctive and full of flair. The writing is exquisite; it’s stylish but reliable, intense but whip-smart. Lori M. Lee is destined for great things, and Gates of Thread and Stone is just one of them.

--Arianne.

Beauty Review: Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Firm.

It's Like a Primer for Your Tired Eyes!

On the lookout for a great new anti-ageing eye cream? Then, look no further than Dermalogica's Age Smart Multivitamin Power Firm. I first tried this out when I received a sample sachet and it had such an immediate tightening and brightening effect on the skin around my eyes that I had to rush out and buy the full size right away. This comes in a  15ml tube - and it is a beauty splurge at around £40/€50 -  but a little goes a long way. This is like a primer for tired eyes, with a velvety-smooth texture and pleasantly fruity scent.  

This also works to combat lines around the lip area, but I haven't been using it for that purpose, so I can't really comment on its effectiveness. My guess though is that if it's good for eyes, then it's probably good for lips too, right?

I've been using this as my morning eye cream for around three weeks now, and I love it. My usual morning eye cream (I use Esteée Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Eye in the p.m) is Clinique's All About Eyes which is also very good and it's less costly than this, so if you're looking for a great eye-cream that won't break the bank, that's a good bet, as is Boots No7 Protect and Perfect Eye Cream (everything in the No7 Protect and Perfect range is pretty much top notch and affordable to boot. I always get mine on 3-for-2).

One thing I have noticed about Mulitivitamin Power Firm is that in contains silicones, and a number of reviews I've read have noted concerns regarding this: namely that the inclusion of silicones means that the product sits on top of the skin rather than sinking into it, thus creating an 'illusion' of smooth skin rather than actually banishing lines and wrinkles. That's interesting to me - especially since this is like a primer for skin - and like any good primer it has an immediate mattifying effect. That said, this does absorb well -and quickly- into the skin, and it seems to be working for me. So far, so good.

It's also a good eye-cream for those of you with sensitive eyes.


So, what's in the tube?

Vitamin A.
Vitamin C.
Vitamin E.
Green Tea.
Red Seaweed.
Silicones.
Click here for a full (and scientific) list of ingredients.

*****

Beauty Buzz: Chanel Spring 2015 Collection Réverie Parisienne Limited Edition.

Image via Chanel.com

I'll tell you a little secret about me: I am obsessed - and I mean - OBSESSED with Chanel nail polishes.  When they are limited edition, that's when my obsession gets out of control. I'm talking Particuliere, I'm talking Jade - that one was so difficult (impossible) to get on release that I had to settle for a dupe from Urban Outfitters. It was a pretty good dupe, actually, although a shade or two darker than Jade. At the time, Jade was selling for hundreds of dollars on eBay - and though it is pretty crazy, my Chanel nail polish obsession is not quite crazy enough to shell out that kind of money on a nail polish. 

I always breathe a sigh of relief, then, when Chanel release limited edition collection nail polishes that I am not entirely crazy about. Hey, it saves on cash and time spent trawling eBay when the collections inevitably sell out.

Chanel's new spring 2015 collection is inspired by a 'palette of colours gathered in a Parisian garden', and while these purple and pink shades (Tenderly and Désirio respectively) are quite pretty - they are not really me. I rarely wear pinks (apart from summer pedicures) and while I like the purple to me it looks similar to a shade I had a couple years back; Essie's Merino Cool, in case you were wondering. I'd have to see it in store, though, so see just how similar they are. I think this one is a little lighter than Merino Cool. Actually, the more I look at it, the more it's growing on me. Maybe I need to take a closer look at Tenderly, after all...

What do you think of the new Chanel limited edition nail polishes?

You can see the full collection - including some rather nice eyeshadow quads and a pretty blush by the name of Angélique Here.

The Chanel spring 2015 collection is available now.

Images via Chanel.com

TV Things: Fortitude on Sky Atlantic. The Killing Meets Broadchurch Meets Twin Peaks.

image via sky.com

With its big budget and impressively all-star cast to boot, Fortitude, Sky Atlantic's new Arctic Thriller, has been on my radar for quite a while. I think the first promos aired back in November. Now, it's finally here.  Fortitude premieres on Sky Atlantic on Thursday January 29th and promises murder, mystery and dark secrets and a forever chilling setting.

Described as perfect for fans of The Killing, Broadchurch and Twin Peaks, Fortitude boasts a very impressive award-winning ensemble cast including Michael Gambon, Stanley Tucci, Christopher Eccleston and The Killing's Sofie Grabol.

Here's More:*

Academy Award nominee Stanley Tucci, Michael Gambon, Christopher Eccleston, Sofie Grabol, Richard Dormer, Jessica Raine, Luke Treadaway, Nicholas Pinnock and Johnny Harris will star in the 12 hour thriller, which is centered on a mysterious death in the Arctic Circle and will be filmed in Iceland and the UK.

Fortitude is a place like nowhere else. Although surrounded by the savage beauty of the Arctic landscape, Fortitude is one of the safest towns on earth. There has never been a violent crime here. Until now. In such a close-knit community a murder touches everyone and the unsettling, mysterious horror of this crime threatens the future of the town itself.

The local Chief of Police, Sheriff Dan Anderssen (Dormer), has to investigate alongside DCI Morton (Tucci), the detective who has flown into Fortitude so fast that questions are being asked about how much he knew, and when. As these two cops try to make sense of the killing, each finds compelling reasons to mistrust and suspect the other.

The murder is a catastrophe for Hildur Odegard (Grabol), the town's Governor. It threatens her ambitious plans to transform Fortitude from a mining town into a site for high-end tourism. And for Henry Tyson (Gambon), a wildlife photographer who only has weeks left to live, the murder is the catalyst to unearthing Fortitude's darkest secret.

Fortitude airs on Sky Atlantic in the UK and on Pivot in the US.

So, will you be watching?





* Additional information via sky.com.

Reviewed by Arianne: Love Hurts Edited by Malorie Blackman.

Product details:
Publisher: Corgi Children's.
Paperback, 576 pages.
Release date: January 29th 2015.
Ages: 12+
Reviewed by: Arianne.
Source: Received from publisher for review.

 Malorie Blackman brings together the best teen writers of today in a stunningly romantic collection about love against the odds. Featuring short stories and extracts about modern star-crossed lovers from stars such as Gayle Forman, Markus Zusak and Patrick Ness, and with a brand-new story from Malorie Blackman herself, Love Hurts looks at every kind of relationship, from first kiss to final heartbreak.

Love is the theme of the moment when it comes to short story collections, whether that’s romantic love, familial love or – perhaps most essentially of all — love for oneself despite faults and fears. Following on from the success of 2014’s My True Love Gave to Me comes this UKYA offering, edited by Malorie Blackman. One of the best things about the anthology is the diverse range of experiences it features, particularly LGBTQ stories.

Short story anthologies are always divisive, but if there’s one thing I’ve seen consistently in reviews for Love Hurts, it’s that it needed more original stories, and I'm in total agreement. Most of the new stories written for the collection are magnificent and incredibly diverse, but there should have been new content on every page, not hidden away between extracts. While it could be a great way of allowing reluctant readers to experience an array of young adult fiction, this book’s best potential champions – long-time YA fans, advocates and book bloggers – are taken for granted. With that in mind, I'll only be reviewing the original fiction from the anthology, though it is worth noting that there are some great excerpts thrown into the melee, too.

Tumbling by Susie Day - 5 stars

My favourite story by far from the anthology. If you're going to buy this anthology, buy it for Tumbling, because it is ridiculously fantastic. On the surface it’s just the story of Shirin and Candy (also known as eyebrows and vaticancameltoes), but it's also about love, friendship, Tumblr, fangirls, Sherlock, self-doubt and honesty; it's engaging and fun, devastating and utterly relatable. I’m already campaigning for Shirin and Candy to get their own full-length novel! They’re impossible to resist. Susie Day is an author who just gets what it’s like to be a modern teenager. The writing is spectacular, too - it’s sleek, natural and so, so funny. 

Gentlewoman by Laura Dockrill - 4 stars

A powerful, haunting, immersive tale of identity and self-worth which reaches far beyond the pages it’s given. Stark, contemporary and sometimes bleak, it's the kind modern YA everyone should be reading.  It focuses less on romance than the other stories and stands out because of it; well worth checking out.

Humming Through My Fingers by Malorie Blackman - 2 stars

The story of a blind girl and a sighted boy's first meeting, the execution of the opener is a catastrophe. As it's the anthology's opener, my disappointment with this story almost made me put the book down. I’ve never seen so many tropes packed into so few pages! Worse than that, the sheer lack of understanding of what it’s like to live with a visual impairment borders on the unbelievable. Main character Amber is treated as if her sole purpose is to improve the lives of the able-bodied people around her. Any flashes of her own agency are quickly quashed. I wanted to see her selfish or angry or delirious with joy, but she’s never even given the chance to seem real.  Really did not enjoy this one.

The Unicorn by James Dawson - 4.5 stars

A brilliantly woven, highly emotional and surprisingly entertaining story, proving that you don’t have to lose out on character just because you’re dealing with big themes. A rollicking war-era story, there’s a sense that every word counts. It fits neatly with the rest of the anthology while still making you want to return to it time and again.

The Liar’s Girl by Catherine Johnson - 4.5 stars

Undoubtedly the most unique short story in the entirety of Love Hurts. Like The Unicorn it’s historical fiction, but it has a very different feel. Chilling, fierce and just a little bit dangerous, it’s told directly to the reader and balances a creepy atmosphere with a tale of passionate love like an acrobat on a high wire. 

--Arianne.

-----

Want to win a copy of the Love Hurts anthology and check out these stories for yourself? Just leave a comment on Arianne's review (along with a contact email address)* to be entered into the draw.

Competition closed.

Book Review: I Was Here by Gayle Forman.

Product details:
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK.
Paperback, 288 pages.
Release date: January 29th 2015.
Rating:  3½ out of 5.
Ages: 14+
 Source: Received from publisher for review.

 From the bestselling author of If I Stay - this summer's YA blockbuster film.

This characteristically powerful novel follows eighteen-year-old Cody Reynolds in the months following her best friend's shocking suicide.

As Cody numbly searches for answers as to why Meg took her own life, she begins a journey of self-discovery which takes her to a terrifying precipice, and forces her to question not only her relationship with the Meg she thought she knew, but her own understanding of life, love, death and forgiveness.

A phenomenally moving story, I Was Here explores the sadly all-too-familiar issue of suicide and self-harm, addressing it in an authentic way with sensitivity and honesty.

 A new novel from YA Tour de Force Gayle Forman is always a cause for celebration – and high expectation. If I Stay gave all of us all the feels, while Just One Day and Just One Year saw us captivated by the romantic adventure that was Willem and Alyson’s whirlwind love story. With I Was Here, however, Forman has changed track. She’s gone dark. The topic is suicide, and the grief left in its wake. As such, I Was Here is a sometimes bleak read, a book without hope, because the awful thing, the worst thing that could happen, well, it’s already happened.

That said, while I Was Here deals with the most tragic of events – awful, heart-wrenching events, it failed to have an emotional impact on me. Here’s why:

When we first meet Meg she’s already dead; our introduction to her is a suicide note sent via time-delay email to her loved ones – her parents, and her best friend, Cody. By the time Meg’s suicide note is read by Cody, it’s too late.  There’s nothing Cody can do to save her best friend, no way she can turn back time.  Cody is in complete shock, and understandably so. Cody and Meg were like two peas in a pod, so everybody said. They were inseparable. Meg was the leader in their pack of two. And Cody is lost without her. Where does she go now? What does she do? It’s sad, right. I know it is. But it didn’t work for me. Why? Because Meg is already dead. We don’t know her. We’re never going to get to know her. This friendship of her and Cody’s. We don’t see it.  Meg is in the past.  We’re told that she and Cody are best friends, but we never get to see their bond in motion.

And it’s a problem too, because Cody is the focus here, and she’s not a particularly likeable character.  As the friend that got left behind, Cody is angry, and while that’s understandable, as a reading experience, it’s not particularly enjoyable. Cody is angry at everyone, herself included. Cody is sure that had there been signs to Meg’s depression, then she would have seen them. As Meg’s best friend, how could she not have seen this coming?  Cody is convinced that there’s more to Meg’s death that meets the eye: and when she finds an encrypted file on Meg’s computer – she’s sure she’s found the key to the answer she so needs.

Cody’s search to find the truth about Meg’s death leads her on a road trip, where she’s accompanied by Ben McAllister, a beautiful guitar-playing boy who dumped Meg after a one-night-stand and broke her heart. Cody thinks Ben is a jerk, and she treats him accordingly, but as they delve into the mystery of Meg’s suicide, they find themselves inexplicably drawn to each other. You know where this is going, right?

As a study of the aftermath and impact of suicide and the grief and confusion that abounds, I Was Here hits the right notes. And as always, Forman’s writing is just lovely to read: her writing –always worth reading- is maybe the reason I’m rating this book a 3.5 instead of a 3.  The story of I Was Here, though really doesn’t break any barriers; its tropes are little tired, especially the road trip and ensuing Cody/Ben insta-romance that has been done so often before, and better than here. This, coupled with characters and relationships that I felt were lacklustre and even a little bland at times, means that I’m not recommending I Was Here as a must read. 

If you’ve enjoyed Forman’s previous novels, then I say give this one a go. It’s definitely not the best I’ve read from her though, lacking the originality, wonderfully drawn characters and emotional punch we’ve come to expect from this much lauded author.

Gayle Forman Must-Read: If I Stay.

Beauty on Trial: Ren Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial.

 From time to time I'll be putting beauty products (and their sometimes very big claims!) on trial and reporting back after a month or so with my findings.

First up, is Ren's Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial.  Adored by Beauty Bloggers galore, this Vitamin C infused mask promises to transform your skin in sixty seconds, no less.

The Lowdown*

What is Ren's Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial exactly?

A transforming treatment that instantly revitalizes and visibly rejuvenates the skin. Formulated with potent water-activated Vitamin C it will neutralize urban grey in a flash, leaving skin looking firm, toned and smoothed, while reducing the signs of fatigue, photo-ageing and skin imperfections. Skin instantly glows with renewed health and radiance.

What results can I expect when I use this product?

Skin instantly looks and feels re-energised, re-awakened.
Reduces the appearance of lines, imperfections and photo-ageing.
Tones, firms and banishes urban grey.

How do I use it?

Use every 3 days. After cleansing, apply over face and neck massaging with circular movements. Dampen finger tips with water and massage again to activate the Vitamin C. Leave for 1 minute. Rinse thoroughly.

What Skin type/s is it suitable for?

All skin types except those prone to sensitivity.

First Impressions

So, I have to confess that when I was reading all those glowing blogger reviews of this product -and even when I purchased the product from Look Fantastic - not once do I remember ever reading in any of those reviews or in the product description on the LF site, that this product is not suitable for skin that's prone to sensitivity. Uh. I first spotted the sensitivity warning on the back of the tube, and it is clearly listed on the official Ren site, so maybe I should have looked there first, eh?

However, not all products that warn against use for skin prone to sensitivity make me break out, so I will try this out, but maybe not three times a week - maybe once a week to start. Lisa Eldridge, in her review, noted that this was maybe a little too grainy for her skin, and so she smoothed it over her skin, rather than rubbing it in, and I think that's what I'll be doing too. 

I have done a patch test, and no redness has occurred (so far!) so hopefully this will work out for me. Otherwise it'll be a rather sweet gift for my sis!

As for the smell, well, it's a little medicinal - and very citrussy. (I guess that'll be all the Vitamin C!) Oh, I've just had a flashback to my childhood right there and realised that this smells exactly like the orange-flavoured cough medicine that I used to take as a kid .  Exactly like it! This isn't orange in colour, though - it's green.

I'll be reporting back with my full review of Ren's Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial a few weeks from now. In the meantime, if you've used the product, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

*Product description 'answers' via renskincare.com.

Beauty Buzz: Chloé Love Story Eau de Parfum.

Beauty Buzz: In which I treat you to a sneak peek of my beauty wish list.

With a design inspired by the Ponts des Arts 'love locks' bridge and an advertising campaign fronted by Clémence Poésy, Love Story, the new fragrance from Chloé, exudes all the sophistication and seduction of endlessly romantic night in Paris.

I have long been a fan of Chloé perfumes - the signature scent is also my signature scent (six years and counting!) and so I was very excited to hear of this new fragrance a few months back. Love Story took a while to get to our shores (it released in France way back in August) but it's here now (exclusive to Debenhams until the end of the month, I believe) and I, for one, plan on treating myself to a bottle very soon.

 Love Story is marketed as a 'night' fragrance - according to its ad campaign at least - but I've heard that it is a very light, fresh, floral fragrance, best suited to day. That makes sense to me, as for the most part, Chloé fragrances are very floral and fresh. The only one that comes to mind as being suitable as a night fragrance is Love Chloé a gorgeous musky scent  that I wore religiously a couple of years back.  Love Chloe just oozes sophistication, whereas Chloé and See are flighty, fun, and yes, even flirty.

With notes of orange blossom, neroli and jasmine, I reckon Love Story is another one that will fall into the light, fresh, fun and flirty category.

Have you tried Love Story? I'd love to hear some feedback on this one!

Reviewed by Arianne: Famous in Love by Rebecca Serle.

Product details:
Publisher: MacMillan Children's.
Paperback, 309 pages.
Release date: January 15th 2015.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Ages: 12+
Reviewed by: Arianne.

She fell in love with him in the books - now she has the chance to star opposite him in the film . . .
Paige doesn't think she's particularly special, but after getting the starring role in a massive film adaptation of the bestselling Locked trilogy, the rest of the world would disagree. Now she's thrown into the spotlight, and into a world of gossip, rumour and deceit. The only people who know what she's going through are her two male co-stars, and they can't stand the sight of each other. Paige knows it's a mistake to fall in love on the set of a movie, but days of on-screen romance and intensity start to change her mind. The question is, can she keep what happens behind the scenes a secret when the world is watching her every move?

For fans of Susane Colasanti and Amy Finegan, if you’re looking to start 2015 with a fun, glamourous, laugh-out-loud YA read, Famous in Love could be the one for you.

Even I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It’s a carefree, light-hearted contemporary – yet it’s not all that different from a classic epic fantasy. You’ve got the court gossips (reporters and paparazzi), the ordinary heroine with a big dream (Paige Townsen), the treasured prince (Rainer Devon), the loveable rogue (Jordan Wilder) and, of course, a seemingly impossible quest: starring in the film adaptation of a global-phenomenon book series while the world watches on, just waiting for someone to fall from grace.

Paige has always wanted to be an actress; she’s thrown herself into local productions and read screenplays for as long as she can remember. She gets her shot at stardom when she’s plucked from obscurity to play the female lead in a blockbuster new movie alongside some of the most famous teen heartthrobs on the planet. Swept onto set — and into a veritable storm of publicity — in Hawaii, it’s a dream come true until Paige realizes that her co-stars detest each other, notices her best friends are moving on without her, and feels  the  weight of fans’ expectations suddenly on her shoulders. 

If you don’t like love triangles, look away now, because Paige, Rainer and Jordan are locked in the love triangle to end all love triangles. Rainer is the star who inspires screaming fangirls with a single glance, Jordan the mischievous bad boy with trouble on speed dial. Away from the cameras, however, Serle rather brilliantly fleshes them out with problems and secrets of their own.

The book’s rags-to-riches formula is predictable, but there’s solid research and great detail too — in fact, I would’ve loved to have seen more of it. The writing is straightforward and reads like a real teen voice, but it also blindsides you with wisdom and truth.

Unfortunately, the book wasn’t without downsides. Paige spends more time thinking about what it would be like to be with Rainer and/or Jordan than she actually spends getting to know them. The book’s sweet, vapid tone starts to wear thin, particularly when the author tries to introduce more serious themes and it just doesn’t coalesce. It’s spilling over with tropes, including the main character being a girl who ‘doesn’t know she’s pretty and who doesn’t care about what she wears’ yet who spends more pages focusing on how she looks than on her actual talents. Paige is often immature, and passive; it would have been so refreshing to see her take charge of her own decisions and identity, but girl power isn’t a huge priority in this novel. However, there is a glorious level of drama in the book and if you can stick with it, I guarantee you’ll be drawn into the story.

Of course, I have to talk about the ending, which is going to divide readers the world over. All I’ll say is that I definitely did not agree with Paige’s final choice – though with two sequels yet to be released, there’s still plenty of room for a change of heart!

In short: a fun and stylish read that showcases the lighter side of YA contemporary. It’s not perfect, but it is exactly what it claims to be: a breezy, forget-your-worries-and-read-instead novel featuring characters you can’t help but root for.

--Arianne.

Cover Alert: The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich.

This is a Cover Alert and Wish Wish Wish post combined, because every time I read the synopsis of this book, I want it more and more. It just sounds SO GOOD. And SO ME. And I really don't know how I'm going to wait until August to read it. Also, I don't want to read it in August. I want to read it, like, now when the nights are cold and dark and stormy, not in August when the days are (hopefully) warm and balmy.

However, unless someone takes pity on me and sends me a review copy, I guess I'll have to wait it out. In the meantime, some here are the super spooky UK and US covers for THE DEAD HOUSE.

UK Cover

Part-psychological thriller, part-urban legend, this is an unsettling narrative made up of diary entries, interview transcripts, film footage transcripts and medical notes. Twenty-five years ago, Elmbridge High burned down. Five people were killed and one pupil, Carly Johnson, disappeared. Now a diary has been found in the ruins of the school. The diary belongs to Kaitlyn Johnson, Carly’s identical twin sister. But Carly didn’t have a twin . . . 

Re-opened police records, psychiatric reports, transcripts of video footage and fragments of diary reveal a web of deceit and intrigue, violence and murder, raising a whole lot more questions than it answers.

Who was Kaitlyn and why did she only appear at night? Did she really exist or was she a figment of a disturbed mind? What were the illicit rituals taking place at the school? And just what did happen at Elmbridge in the events leading up to ‘the Johnson Incident’?

Chilling, creepy and utterly compelling, THE DEAD HOUSE is one of those very special books that finds all the dark places in your imagination, and haunts you long after you've finished reading.

US Cover

So, which cover do I prefer?

Well, I saw the UK cover first and really liked it. But...Now that I've seen the US cover I think I like that one a little bit more. It's just so spooky and dark and with that big old house and that creepy old tree and all, it looks like THE perfect Halloween read. Still, I love the tagline on the UK cover, which gives me shivers down my spine!

How about you. Which cover do you prefer?

The Dead House by dawn Kurtagich releases August 2015 in the UK and September 2015 in the US.

Reviewed by Arianne: The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman.

Product details:
Publisher: Tor UK.
Paperback, 329 pages.
Release date: January 15th 2015.
Rating: 3½ out of 5.
Reviewed by: Arianne.

 The first installment of an adventure featuring stolen books, secret agents and forbidden societies - think Doctor Who with librarian spies!

Irene must be at the top of her game or she'll be off the case - permanently...

Irene is a professional spy for the mysterious Library, which harvests fiction from different realities. And along with her enigmatic assistant Kai, she's posted to an alternative London. Their mission - to retrieve a dangerous book. But when they arrive, it's already been stolen. London's underground factions seem prepared to fight to the very death to find her book.

Adding to the jeopardy, this world is chaos-infested - the laws of nature bent to allow supernatural creatures and unpredictable magic. Irene's new assistant is also hiding secrets of his own.

Soon, she's up to her eyebrows in a heady mix of danger, clues and secret societies. Yet failure is not an option - the nature of reality itself is at stake.

I love the concept of this book. “Think Doctor Who with librarian spies”? It’s a premise straight off my Reader-Blogger Wishlist! It’s the perfect blend of historical fantasy and magical realism with the slightest of nods to science fiction, and it has the added bonus of a gorgeous cover, too.

It centres around protagonist Irene, who works for the titular Library. As an agent of this mysterious and surprisingly shady organisation, Irene’s destined to spend eternity searching for and saving books from thousands of alternate realities so that they may be stored safely in vast archives outside  of linear space and time. In fact, her life’s work is ticking along very nicely, thank you very much, until new recruit Kai – well, I say new recruit; he’s actually been there for five years – cannons onto the scene. So far, so intrigued.

To Cogman’s credit, the world-building of The Invisible Library is pretty exceptional. Detailed and full of secrets, the influence of other well-known genre authors is clear. The Invisible Library also gets an entire star for its inclusion of fantastical creatures, including fae and – most importantly, since I’ve been asking for more books about them all year – dragons. 

The writing and pacing are solid, though they don’t crackle with restless energy or sparkle with stunning prose.  Unfortunately, the execution of the book itself let me down. 

One of the best things for me about urban and high fantasy is that it has the ability to make you sit up and think “Wow, I don’t know if these characters are going to make it out alive at the end of this!” in a way that most contemporary fiction doesn’t, but I didn’t see that here. Nobody wants to see their favourite characters dangling off the edge of a cliff too often, but you have to admit it makes for a more emotional, gripping story.  

Irene and Kai are fabulous on paper, but they don’t come alive as they should. Maybe it was because I was expecting more sub-plots or tension between them, or even a romance, but essentially, they’re just not real enough to root for. Kai had a lot of potential, with his leather jacket-wearing antics and questioning nature, but he, like Irene, seems to have no flaws. I don’t care how beautiful he is or how capable she is; if they’re not making mistakes or being challenged by the plot, I’m not interested. 

The Invisible Library is a story that has, in its own words, been “not only spotlessly laundered” but “ironed and starched”. There are some fabulous flashes of humour, but I wanted more. This is not a book which advocates living life out loud; it reads more like a manual than an adventure. I wish I could say I loved it, but honestly, the more I read of The Invisible Library, the more my reading experience became about what wasn’t there instead of what was. What if the writing style had been more irreverent, joyful or humorous?  What if it had been more diverse and relatable? What if there had simply been higher stakes?

In short: with an incredible premise and brilliant world-building, The Invisible Library ticks all the boxes — unfortunately, merely ticking boxes isn’t enough to make a book spring to life. The writing is solid, but it’s weighed down by facts, figures, statistics and too-long descriptions. There’s undeniable series potential but I don’t know if I’d return for a sequel.

--Arianne.

Reviewed by Arianne: Rogue Wave by Jennifer Donnelly.

Product details:
Publisher: Disney Press.
Hardcover, 320 pages.
Release date: January 6th 2015.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Ages: 10+
Series: Waterfire Saga #2.
Other Books in Series: Deep Blue.
Reviewed by: Arianne.

 In this exciting sequel to DEEP BLUE, Serafina uncovers more clues about the talismans, Neela ventures into a sea dragon's nest, and Ling learns the identity of their foe.

Serafina, Neela, Ling, Ava, Becca, and Astrid, six mermaids from realms scattered throughout the seas and freshwaters, were summoned by the leader of the river witches to learn an incredible truth: the mermaids are direct descendants of the Six Who Ruled-powerful mages who once governed the lost empire of Atlantis. The ancient evil that destroyed Atlantis is stirring again, and only the mermaids can defeat it. To do so, they need to find magical talismans that belonged to the Six.

Serafina believes her talisman was buried with an old shipwreck. While researching its location, she is almost discovered by a death rider patrol led by someone familiar. . . . The pain of seeing him turned traitor is devastating.

Neela travels to Matali to warn her parents of the grave threat facing their world. But they find her story outlandish; a sign that she needs to be confined to her chamber for rest and recovery. She escapes and travels to Kandina, where her talisman is in the possession of fearsome razormouth dragons.

As they hunt for their talismans, both Serafina and Neela find reserves of courage and cunning they didn't know they possessed. They face down danger and death, only to endure a game-changing betrayal, as shocking as a rogue wave.

If you’ve read my review for Deep Blue, you’ll know that I have a love-hate relationship with this series. The Waterfire Saga is a light-hearted, fun foray into the mystical realm of upper middle grade fiction (despite what the marketing team may try to tell you).  I love Jennifer Donnelly’s writing and the rich underwater world she’s created, but I just haven’t fallen for the Waterfire Saga the way I’d hoped I would — yet.

Serafina has been on the run – or should that be on the swim? – ever since the events of Deep Blue left her home in ruins. Her only hope lies in finding six talismans which once belonged to the founders of her world’s six kingdoms, but she can’t do it alone. Thrown together by fate, Serafina, Neela, Ling, Astrid, Ava and Becca must combat myriad forces of evil or face a lifetime enslaved by brutal captors. Ghosts, death riders, death traps, sea dragons and even ruthless former allies make their quest a perilous journey indeed.

Serafina and Neela are once again leading ladies, with a quick visit to Ling and occasional glimpses into the lives of the other heroines (there doesn’t really need to be six of them, but I expect it will make for a spectacular showdown in the final instalment). I enjoyed Neela’s storyline immensely, particularly her role in the uprising of Kandina, a settlement led by the fantastically fierce Kora. I love so many of the secondary characters in this series, but Kora is definitely at the top of the list after reading this book. She’s so dazzling — tough, fearless, skilled, commanding; she’s everything the other heroines should be and more.

Serafina’s love interest Mahdi found his way into my heart again, too. He’s the most complicated character in the series and it really pays off. He’s certain of his love for Serafina but as one of the few royals left who can go out in public without being imprisoned, he’s forced to make difficult choices and takes a huge risk in helping to lead the underground (undersea?) resistance. Serafina inevitably clashes with him over his twisted loyalties and seemingly traitorous actions, but fans of their romance will be pleased to see their relationship ultimately strengthen over the course of the novel.

I only had one other major issue with this book. Deep Blue was magnificently fuelled by girl power, but Rogue Wave is a book which sees its fabulous female lead experience catcalling and harassment, without giving her a chance to call the perpetrators out on it in a way that would tell readers “This kind of behaviour is not okay, whether it’s in fiction or reality.” There’s one sequence where Serafina is assaulted by a leering soldier because of what she’s wearing, but instead of having her use her kick-ass abilities to get herself out of the situation, Donnelly writes: “She decided to go along with him. She had no other choice. She couldn’t afford to make a scene…” I’m not the kind of person who insists that all books should have a moral or be used to ‘teach’ readers, but even I could see that the way this incident was treated in Rogue Wave was wrong. This is a book that should be fun for young girls and make them feel empowered, not reinforce unhelpful, stereotypical responses to a dangerous situation.

That said, I really did enjoy the rest of the book. It’s absolutely packed with plot, and I loved it. The pages race by in a frenzy of friendships, discoveries, chase sequences, betrayals and determination. The pacing’s not quite perfect and there are several unnecessary puppet villains, but as a reader you’re flung from one deadly situation to the next, and I was hooked. It ends with a shocking revelation which, while not executed in the most original of ways, is sure to come into play in the next book.

In short: Rogue Wave is a novel so good it hasn’t even heard of the second-book slump. It’s full of action, adventure, magic and romance, and while it’s not without fault, it’s got a lot of heart and will you keep hooked right to the last page.

--Arianne.

Book Review: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins.

Product details:
Publisher: Transworld.
Hardcover, 384 pages.
Release date: January 15th 2015.
Rating:  4½ out of 5.
Ages: Adult
Source: Received from publisher for review.

To everyone else in this carriage I must look normal; I’m doing exactly what they do: commuting to work, making appointments, ticking things off lists.

Just goes to show.

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning and every evening. Every day she passes the same Victorian terraces, stops at the same signal, and sees the same couple, breakfasting on their roof terrace. Jason and Jess seem so happy together.

Then one day Rachel sees something she shouldn't have seen, and soon after, Jess disappears. Suddenly Rachel is chasing the truth and unable to trust anyone. Not even herself.

Tense, taut, twisty and surprising . . . The Girl on the Train creeps right under your skin and stays there.

 With starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews and a soon-to-be-in-the-works movie, The Girl on the Train, the debut novel from former Journalist Paula Hawkins, is already one of the most buzzed about titles of 2015. Even before this book was published it was talked about in ‘hottest fiction auction of the summer’ terms and you know that those eye-roll inducing words ‘next Gone Girl’ have been mentioned somewhere along the lines, too. This kind of hype can make or break a book for me, and it's often true that when a book attracts this much pre-publication buzz, it’s hard to live up to all that publisher acclaim. Especially for a debut.

But The Girl on the Train is no ordinary debut. As for living up to all that pre-publication buzz – this book has no problems on that front either.

An astutely written, intensely gripping page-turner, The Girl on the Train introduces us to Rachel, who is not so much a girl, but a divorced thirtysomething, who has never gotten over the fact that her marriage, to Tom, didn’t work out. These days, Rachel’s life is empty; her only solace the copious amounts of alcohol she drinks to numb her pain, to help her forget what a mess her life has become.  Worse still, Rachel’s daily commute rubs salt in the wounds of her failure; each day on her way to and from work, she has to pass the house she lived in with her ex-husband; a house he now shares with his new wife and adorable baby girl.  What’s a girl to do, but, like Rachel, reach for another gin in a tin, right? But Rachel isn’t so much a character you’ll identify with as she is a complete and utter mess and a really messy drunk at that; someone you’d avert your eyes from, if say, you happened to be sitting next to her on a train.

Rachel drinks to escape from the awful reality of her broken-down life, but she also forms a daydream world where she passes away the time on her commute; a world populated by two: a perfect couple who live a few doors down from her old home, and who Rachel sees in passing from time to time. This sneak peek into the seemingly perfect life of others, brightens Rachel’s very existence. She starts to feel like she knows these people. She gives their relationship a backstory, and she even gives them names - Jason and Jess -perfectly alliterative names for this perfectly paired couple. The reality is, of course, that nobody is perfect, and that goes for Jason and Jess too.  One day, Rachel sees something shocking, something she never could have imagined happening in the perfect world of Jason and Jess, and the next she learns that Jess, or rather, Megan, which is her actual name, is missing.

Soon Rachel finds herself immersed in the missing person’s case of Megan Hipwell. Soon, she discovers that maybe she’s in too deep. Soon after that, she realises that maybe there’s no way out.

Compulsively readable, The Girl on the Train is one book that will keep you flipping the pages late into the night.  With three narrators in the form of Rachel, Megan and Anna (Rachel’s ex-husband’s now wife) this book is as intricately plotted as it is thrilling. It might keep you guessing till the end, and then again it might not (I guessed what was going on pretty early on) but it is nevertheless a truly addictive book with shades of Hitchcock, shades of S.J. Watson’s Before I go to Sleep, and yes, I’ll say it,  shades of Gone Girl too.  Since reading Gone Girl, I’ve read a lot of books in my search for the ‘next’. The Girl on the Train is the book that has come closest to that page-turning thrill-ride for me.

Recommended.

Beauty Review: Glamglow Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment.

A luxury skincare product straight out of Hollywood, California, the GlamGlow range of treatment masks were originally created exclusively for those who live life on the A-List. Nowadays, they are readily available to you and me, but they still promise the Hollywood perk of photo-ready skin.

So, do they work?

As I write this, there is a storm going on outside and the central heating is cranked up to high. All well and cozy for me, but what about my skin? My skin is thirsty. It needs a drink. And, sure, I can drink water all day long to keep my skin hydrated, but sometimes, it needs something a little extra. These days, I am all about hydrating masks, specifically those containing that wonder ingredient, hyaluronic acid. I have a couple of masks in rotation at the moment - some better than others - and for a supercharged moisture infusion the GlamGlow ThirstyMud Hydrating Treatment really works.

I've been using this once or twice a week for around about two months now, and let me tell you, I can't get enough. This hydrating treatment is fast becoming a must-have product for me, and it's one that's worth its price tag - around €65/£50 leaving my skin feeling ultra-soft, hydrated and, yes, glowing.

You can use this mask night or day - I prefer to apply it before bed and leave it on overnight for some intense hydration, but you can also leave on for 10-20 minutes before tissuing off  and massaging in any excess. 

I've also read this works fabulously as in in-flight treatment, or a post-shave treatment for guys.

So, what's in the Jar?

Some skincare products taste good enough to eat, and this is one of them. With it's creamy consistency, the GlamGlow Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment is like breakfast in a jar - think oats and nuts, honey and bananas. So, those are not the actual ingredients of this, but here's what it does contain:

Hyaluronic Acid
Citric Acid
Olive Leaf
Apple Extracts
Micro HydraClay
Coconut Oil
Orange Blossom Honey
Ginger Root
Click here for a full list of ingredients.

Like the sound of this, but not ready to splurge? You can buy sample packs of all GlamGlow treatments on the dedicated US and UK websites. This is how I first tried out the GlamGlow mud masks - I generally like to try before I buy with EVERYTHING as my skin often reacts badly to products, so I'd love if more and more companies made these sample packs available.

If you are ready to buy, then Look Fantastic currently has the GlamGlow range on offer with £10 off selected products - with free worldwide delivery.

Have you tried GlamGlow?

Introducing Beauty Reviews to Daisy Chain Books!

Completely unrelated-to-this-topic photo via We Heart It

As mentioned in my New Year, New Look, New Blog post, I'll be introducing some beauty reviews to the blog in 2015.  I'm no expert, and I won't be dishing out any professional advice - but here's  a little bit of what you can expect. 

Beauty Reviews - my focus will be on skincare products, and right now I'm all about anything that is hydrating. It's winter, and like everybody else my skin suffers from the central heating/cold weather combination that hits us right around this time of year. Lately, my skin has been feeling all dried out, so expect some reviews on some pretty heavy-duty hydrating products.

 My skin tends to play up quite a bit - it is sensitive to the max - so it makes sense that a lot of the products I use are very gentle/specifically formulated for ultra sensitive skin. If that sounds like you, then we'll be beauty BFF's.

Beauty Buzz: I'm all about finding and trying new products and while I don't have a huge beauty budget (although I spend far more than I should on skincare!) I will be highlighting new product launches in my Beauty Buzz/Most Wanted posts. 

Budget Beauty Buys: I'm all about quality beauty and skincare - if a product is worth the splurge, then I'm willing to spend, but I'm also all about budget beauty buys - I've even found a €5 concealer that has pretty much replaced my €24 concealer. I'll be highlighting Supermarket/Drugstore best buys too, because who doesn't love a good bargain?

The beauty section of this blog is most definitely a work in progress and over the next few months I will see how it goes. I'm not sure how exactly I'm going to bring in an influx of readers who are on the lookout for beauty news and reviews. After all, everyone that reads this blog is here for the books, right? But I'm hoping that at least a few of you will be interested in this new beauty section too!

If you have any suggestions/what you'd like to see in the beauty section, let me know in comments.


P.S: Some of my favourite beauty blogs:
Caroline Hirons
The Sunday Girl
Viva Adonis - Irish Beauty Blog!


Do you have any great beauty blogs that you follow? I'm on the lookout for beauty blogs to follow (I basically read the three above, and Essie Button from time to time) and I want to find some more!

My first beauty review will be up later today!

Reviewed by Arianne: All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven.

Product details:
Publisher: Penguin.
Paperback, 400 pages.
Release date: January 8th 2015.
Rating: 4½ out of 5.
Ages: 14+
Source: Received for review.
Reviewed by: Arianne.


The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park in this compelling, exhilarating, and beautiful story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who intends to die.

Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister's recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.

All the Bright Places is an incredible, painful, beautiful, heart-wrenching supernova of a book. 

A movie adaptation is already in the works with Elle Fanning attached to star as leading lady Violet, while fans still eagerly await news of who will play the book’s other narrator, the indomitable and unforgettable Theodore Finch. More importantly, however, the kind of powerful, stunning novel that blindsides you not once, not twice, but in every single chapter. It’s an emotional rollercoaster and it’s not for the faint-hearted. There’s a delicate brutality to the narrative that both dares you to look away and challenges you to read on.

Violet and Finch are very different, but what counts is what they have in common (to start with, that’s being on the same precarious ledge at the same precarious time and somehow both walking away to fight another day). Trauma and loss has made Violet a shell of the person she once was. She’s given up on her dreams and finds herself wondering what she really has left to live for. Thankfully as the book goes on we get to see her more mischievous, inventive side, which you’ll really enjoy if you’ve found issue books a little lacking in personality or character in the past.

Finch, on the other hand, is passionate, dangerously clever and utterly chaotic, each mood swing almost as self-destructive as the other. Torn between despair and recklessness, many readers will recognise that it’s bipolar disorder which plagues Finch, while many more will simply hope against hope that he will somehow find help and be able to reclaim his existence from its greedy hands. It’s a timely reminder that while many of us are lucky enough to be understanding and aware of as well as educated about mental illness, many people, particularly teens, suffer not in silence but from sheer lack of resources - and compassion. 

Rather brilliantly, one of the most memorable things about Violet and Finch’s story is that it isn’t about ‘moving on’ or ‘finding a cure’. It’s about learning to live with what you’ve been given, and trying to find moments of joy in the most turbulent of storms. Needless to say their relationship isn’t exactly conventional, and the odds seem stacked against their unlikely partnership, but it’s impossible not to root for them. I loved their romance and only wish we could have seen more of it, but with such big themes to conquer and such flawed characters to explore, the book is positively brimming over with other details that keep you reading.

This is a book that demands to be noticed. It’s designed to touch readers on a deeply personal level. It provokes discussion as well as emotion and I can guarantee that once you read it — for better or for worse — you won’t be able to stop thinking about it. Filled with searing clarity and messy, confusing love, it pierces the heart and captures the imagination.

Unfortunately, five star reads are hard to come by on my shelf, and I’m going to have to be just as tough on All the Bright Places as I am on any other book. For one thing, seasoned YA readers will probably be able to tell that this is the author’s first foray into young adult fiction, and I would have loved to have seen a stronger, more prominent plot on occasion. Sometimes the sheer tragedy of the book can seem exploitative, while the breakneck writing style, particularly in Finch’s chapters, can take some getting used to. Comparisons to Jodi Picoult and Hilary T. Smith are probably more apt than misleading comparisons to John Green and Rainbow Rowell, because while All the Bright Places is likely to cause a worldwide shortage in Kleenex being released, there aren’t as many tender or heart-warming moments as I would have liked. However, it is still a fantastic read, which is why it gets 4.5 stars and huge acclaim from me. 

In short: All The Bright Places is everything I’d hoped it would be and more. It’s a courageous and hard-hitting tale of love, loss and survival, set against a backdrop of tough issues and a stunning writing style. It’s so close to perfect, I think I’ll be recommending this one for years to come. I can't wait to see what Jennifer Niven has in store for us next.


--Arianne.

christmas reading round-up: The Retribution of Mara Dyer, Sharp Objects, Paper Chains & The Girl on the Train.

SPOILER ALERT!

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer was simultaneously one of the most addicting and confusing YA books I've ever read. I had so many theories for what the hell was actually going on with 'Mara' when I read that book and not one of them came even close to being right. After reading that first book I thought for sure that there was some crazy kind of paranormal activity going on. After all, it all started with a Ouija Board. Anyway, I was wrong. As the books went on, it became clear that was up with Mara was more scientific and/or genetic than paranormal. I have to admit that my interest waned a little as my paranormal hopes began to fade. But, there was Noah.  And, I'm going to insert some Twilight references here, but bear with me: Noah is to the Mara Dyer series what Edward is to Twilight. He's Michelle Hodkin's trump card.  He's got that hair for one thing. Oh, and remember that sparky dialogue between Noah and Mara in book one. It was EVERYTHING. I have all the quotes saved and I read them over and over. Why then did Hodkin pull a New Moon and lose Noah from this book? I'll never figure that out. 

And, Okay, so Noah is not actually dead. I mean, you knew that already, right? But he is largely absent from this book. And this book misses him. Let's just say that Noah maybe brings out the best in Mara, and she is damn scary without him. Mara went to the dark side in this book, and she ain't coming back.

Animal lovers: Some upsetting scenes involving horses, be warned.

The book was, for me, not as compelling as the previous books in the series, but that's maybe because my recall of the previous books isn't great right now. It's been a while since I've read them - three years since I read the first book, I think. And that's never good. So while this book was a pretty good read, I felt like it needed something more. Or maybe just more Noah.

It's a 3.5 for me for The Retribution of Mara Dyer, with an overall 4 Star rating for the series.

*****

Ever since I read Gone Girl a couple years back I've been meaning to read Gillian Flynn's other books and I finally got around to it this Christmas. If I had to sum up Sharp Objects in one word it would be: SICK. Seriously, this book turned my stomach a couple of times with it's themes of murder and self-harm, and its very descriptive inclusion of abattoirs. The parts about those poor pigs were the hardest for me to read, FYI. If I wasn't already vegetarian, I'd probably be considering it after reading this book.

Anyway, I loved Gone Girl, and even though I thought this book was  all kinds of sick and twisted and stomach-churning, I pretty much loved it too. I am hooked on Gillian Flynn's writing and her twisty tales and I'm all ready to delve into Dark Places pretty soon. 

Sharp Objects deals with the murder of two pre-teen girls in a shady small town where everyone has their secrets - and what sick secrets they are. Chilling. Scary. And chilling. And sick.

Four Stars.

*****

Before I start talking about this, I should point out that it's not YA. I'm saying that, because until I reached Part II of Paper Chains, I was pretty sure it was YA/NA and that the characters Hannah and India were in their late teens, or at a push, very early twenties. I don't know why I convinced myself before reading that this was YA (the synopsis or the cover maybe) but when I started reading, I was very sure it was YA and that's because the characters - mainly Hannah - read like teenagers to me. 

Hannah is a self-loathing Australian who has run away from home and now lives a solitary existence in London. That is until she runs into free-spirited India who is back-packing her way around the world. India also has her secrets; a secret love, for one,  who she is sending love letters to via a series of travelling strangers, but she has a bigger secret too. For me, India's secret was obvious from the start, and so it lacked the emotional impact it might have otherwise had on me. Hannah's secret was less obvious - it didn't even occur to me because, well, I thought Hannah was a lot younger than she actually turned out to be. 

I had my gripes with this one: the ending was rushed for me, but the storytelling is compelling, and the lead-up to all the 'reveals' is pretty good. It's maybe one I would have had more fun reading this in the summer rather than in the middle of winter. That's just me. 

Read it if you like well-written chick-lit with a warm heart (and a suckerpunch!)

3.5 Stars

*****

My first 2015 read!

I'll be writing up a full review for The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins very soon, but just to say that if you like thrillers, and, dare I say it, if you liked Gone Girl, then you'll want to add this one to your 2015 reading list. The Girl on the Train is an astutely written, intensely gripping page-turner, and it deserves to be a big hit for debut author Hawkins. It's already a big hit with a few bloggers I know, and the movie rights have been snapped up too!

Full review to come soon.

*****