Kell

I read them as an adult and loved them, but if you expect them to be anything like Twilight or Shiver, then you'l be barking up the wrong tree, because there's nothing really supernatural romance-y about them at all. The characters are all quite "normal" apart from being witches and wizards as part of their heritage. It's more a school series (think Malory Towers etc) with a touch of magic thrown in. Yes, there is some peril that needs to be overcome, and they grow darker as the series progresses, but you'll find no vampires (sparkly or otherwise) or angsty teens worrying over whether or not they should kiss/sleep with their boyfriend and having to decide between two of different species as a potential boyfriend, or considering how that relationship will affect their family. I actually think the Harry Potter books are WAAAAYYYYY better than the likes of Twilight (which I find well below mediocre, to be honest), but they're an entirely different kettle of fish, so you can't realy compare the two directly. In terms of writing ability, Rowling beats Meyer hands down every time, even with the earlier books which are far simpler in style (her writing preogressed with the stories and grew with Harry and his friends). In terms of storyline, again, Harry has a more complex tale - yes, it starts simple, but everything weaves together to make a rich tapestry of plot and characters which have far more depth than anything in the Twilight books. Also in terms of universal suitability, Harry wins again - you can read the earlier books to a much younger child and not have to worry about any kind of reference to anything steamy, whereas I'd say Twilight etc are strictly for the older teens and adults, Harry potter can be enjoyed by readers of ALL ages and appreciated by all.

Cover Crazy What I Love: The clean, white cover with the pale background; the stark contrast of her black hair and the intricate design on her kimono; the splash of red that you don’t necessarily immediately realise is blood dripping down her sleeve… I’ve always loved the combination of black, white and red – there’s something rather classy about it, and this cover is so elegant to boot. The eye is drawn straight to the female figure and then drifts over the rest of it, picking out all the details. It’s just a beautifully stunning design. Synopsis: Japan, 1699. On a moonlit night in Ezogashima, the northernmost island of Japan, a woman is running through the forest when an arrow zooms out of the darkness to strike her dead. Meanwhile, a world away in the city of Edo, the eight-year-old son of Sano Ichiro, the samurai detective who has risen to power and influence in the shogun’s court, vanishes during a moon-watching party. When Sano’s political rival, Lord Matsudaira, hints that the boy may be in Ezogashima, Sano’s wife, Reiko, insists on accompanying him on the desperate journey. After an eleven-day voyage through cold and treacherous waters, they arrive at Ezogashima, only to find that Lord Matsumae, distraught at the murder of his mistress, is holding the whole province hostage until someone confesses to the crime. No one is allowed in or out of Ezogashima, and although Matsumae tells Sano his son is there, he refuses to release him. Sano strikes a deal: He will solve the murder of Matsumae’s mistress if Lord Matsumae will free the hostages and return their son. Soon, however, he and Reiko find themselves caught up in a dangerous scheme that includes clan warfare, jealous husbands, and murderous betrayal.

Musing Mondays Are you currently collecting any authors? Why? Do you have all of their books? If not, why not? Did you buy all the books in the collection at the same time, or did you buy a book here, a book there? Have you actually read all of the collection? If not, why not? There are certain authors I collect in my permanent collection and I try to get all their books in hardback (just because they’re more hard-wearing and often look prettier, and if I’m keeping a book, I want it to look as lovely as possible!). I tend to pick them up as they’re published after reading the first few which may have been published prior to my finding them. I read all of them (at least ,those within the series I collect), often more than once and I like to read them as soon as possible after publication as I can manage (sometimes I wait till a birthday or Christmas after publication as people are always asking for gift ideas for me!). The authors who make up the bulk of my permanent collection are: Kelley Armstrong – Women of the Otherworld series Brom – all his illustrated novels Christopher Brookmyre – all his novels Philippa Gregory – Tudor novels and Cousins’ War series Stuart MacBride – Logan McRae series and additional novels Terry Pratchett – Discworld Series Simon Scarrow – Romans series and Revolutions series Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell – The Edge Chronicles

I was at the library with my son, Xander, this very afternoon. He picked out 10 books for himself (the maximum they allow) and I picked up 5 for myself too. We visit every couple of weeks at least - we love it!

Went to the library with Xander this afternoon. He picked out a bunch of books for himself (he took the maximum of 10!) and I picked up the following for myself: Sarwat Chadda - Devil's Kiss (Devil's Kiss 1) Melissa Marr - Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely 1) Chris Riddell - Ottoline and the Yellow Cat (Ottoline 1) Chris Riddell - Ottoline Goes to School (Ottoline 2) Maria V Snyder - Fire Study (Study 3)

LOL - When I read this one, all I heard was Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.. "He's just a poor boy from a poor family - gets a new life from a man, chocolatey!" (Sorry, I couldn't resist!)

I'm a bit suspicious too - as it's an e-book it wouldn't be "shipped". And to have been able to read enough of it to make such a favourable impression by the time you made the post here about it, you would have had to have it pretty much immediately on publication. I smell a rat. Or a sock puppet. Or perhaps a sock puppet rat...

I hope it's not dying out because I plan to read at least one western next year and if I enjoy it, you can bet I'll want to read more! (Part of my 2012 Genre Challenge)

What great books did you hear about / discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS! By following links to blogs taking part in various memes, I’ve heard about so many great books it would be impossible to list them all. I’m also a regular visitor to our local library and am always eagerly awaiting newly published books by my favourite authors. However, here are the ones that really stood out for me this week and for which I’ll be looking out on future book acquisition expeditions: Laura Joh Rowland – The Snow Empress Becca Fitzpatric – Hush Hush Gillian Bagwell – The September Queen Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl – Beautiful Creatures Jonathan Pinnock – Mrs Darcy Versus the Aliens Maggie Stiefvater – The Scorpio Races Joss Stirling – Stealing Phoenix Brenna Yovanoff – The Replacement They’ve all gone onto my wish list!

They are nothing short of brilliant. I've read all but the most recent one and plan to rectify that ASAP. The Romans series by Simon Scarrow is particularly good: 1. Under the Eagle (2000) 2. The Eagle's Conquest (2001) 3. When the Eagle Hunts (2002) 4. The Eagle and the Wolves (2003) 5. The Eagle's Prey (2004) 6. The Eagle's Prophecy (2005) 7. The Eagle in the Sand (2006) 8. Centurion (2007) 9. The Gladiator (2009) 10. The Legion (2010) 11. Praetorian (2011) Others I've read that you might also like to try: Douglas Jackson - Caligula Michelle Moran – Cleopatra’s Daughter Robert Graves – I, Claudius Books I have on Mount TBR (but haven't yet read): Robert Harris - Pompeii Valerio Massimo Manfredi – The Last Legion Robert Silverberg - Roma Eterna (which is an alternative history where Rome never fell) Lew Wallace – Ben Hur (which is actually set in Jerusalem, but at the beginning of the 1st century, during Roman Rule)

BOOKING THROUGH THURSDAY E-volution E-readers like the Kindle and iPad are sweeping the nation … do you have one? Do you like it? Do you find it changes your reading/buying habits? If you don’t have one, do you plan to? I don’t have an e-reader – yet! When it comes to reading large swathes of text on a computer screen, I have major problems, so reading e-books has been pretty much impossible for me to date. However, I really like the idea of a screen which isn’t backlit that you can read like a page. The handiness of an e-reader really appeals to me as it would mean I would never again suffer the horror of running our of book – you know, when you think you still have another couple of chapters and it turns out it’s the first bit of the next book in the series along with a load of adverts for other books? I hate that. And it always seems to happen when I’m out of the house and still have 20 minutes to kill – and no more book to read! With an e-reader I would have hundreds, if not thousands, of books in my bag all the time without the bulk and weight of physical books. I also review books for authors and publishers, but more and more of these are being offered as e-books only and I feel I’m missing out on some gems by not having an e-reader. I really hope Santa reads this and brings me one for Xmas – the new Kindle would be nice and it’s not too expensive! Will an e-reader ever replace real books for me? No. I love the feel and smell of a book in my hands, and the experience of turning the pages. I will always have my real books, but an e-reader would make reading on the go that little bit simpler.

I watched the pilot episode but found it so bady made I couldn't watch any more of the series. I mean, seriously, when they're on the speedboat, it's very obviously shot on a sound stage with the background flying past them on a screen and then bumping themselves up and down - such terrible production values! I later caught part of another episode late one night and it did nothing but confirm I'd made the right decision when I ditched it. The writing and acting were awful too. And far too many twin references with reflections and two of everything all the time. Awful, awful, awful! I loved SMG in Buffy and also in films like Cruel Intentions, but I think she must surely be feeling a bit embarrassed at this show. I'm also a HUGE fan of Ioan Gruffud and he was pretty much the best thing about it from what I could see, but even his presence couldn't rescue this stinker. I can't see it getting a second season based on what I've seen of it.

Beth Revis is hosting a most wonderful book give away with a prize of a stack of signed books, a box of delicious Turkish delight, and a mountain of book goodies – her generosity is boundless! In order to be in with a chance of winning this book bounty (which is open internationally!) is post about the giveaway and a book for which you are grateful. Books for which I’m grateful: The Chronicles of Narnia by C S Lewis I adore this series of books and spent many an hour in my childhood completely absorbed in the magical world of Narnia. My favourite is actually The Silver Chair, closely followed by The Magician’s Nephew, both of which seem to be oft overlooked when people name their favourite in the series, but I love the darkness of The Silver Chair and the revelation of the very creation of Narnia in The Magician’s Nephew. Macbeth by William Shakespeare This is my absolute favourite of all the Bard’s plays. I love the complexity of the relationships overpowered by raw ambition. I also adore that Shakespeare showcased such a feisty, strong female character in Lady Macbeth, even if, ultimately, she was a tragic figure. We studied this play in Higher English and although I already enjoyed Shakespeare, the class really brought it to life for me. I eventually auditioned for a place on a college drama course (and was accepted unconditionally!) using a piece that cobbled together Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking scene (but without the interjections from the other characters). The Plucker by Brom This is the book that awakened in me a love of graphic and illustrated novels. The sheer dark beauty of the story combined with the stunning artwork made my heart sing! Since then I’ve enjoyed many others (including Brom’s other works, The Devil’s Rose and The Child Thief – I recommend them all!), but The Plucker will always have a special place on my bookcase as the one that made me realise that illustrated novels aren’t always just for kids. Indeed, if a child stumbled upon Brom’s work he or she may well have bad dreams for a while afterwards, but the exquisite nightmarish quality of the work is truly a wonder that ever adult ready should enjoy! So, which are the books tha make you grateful? I’d love to know. And if you share and link back to Beth Revis, you’ll be in with a chance of winning too!

W... W... W... Wednesdays * What are you currently reading? * What did you recently finish reading? * What do you think you’ll read next? What are you currently reading? Erin Morgenstern – The Night Circus I’m only a few chapters into this and it’s all very intriguing. There’s been a small smattering of magic and a little mystery, and I’m looking forward to delving deeper into this unusual story. Sarah Singleton – Century I’ve only just started reading this young adult novel, but so far it’s pretty decent. It’s very cryptic and the mystery is rather compelling. I feel I’m being slowly reeled in like a fish and at some point I’m going to realise I can’t escape the pull… What did you recently finish reading? Stephen Cole – Resurrection (Wereling Trilogy 3) - 3/5 This is the conclusion of the trilogy, and although it was pretty good, the ending was just slightly disappointing – a bit of a damp squib. I wanted the conclusion to resolve everything but it felt like it had been left just a little open in case the author had an idea for a further installment. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t bad – not by a long shot – it just didn’t quite deliver in the way I had hoped it would. Still, over all, the trilogy is a decent enough read and a fun way to fill a few hours if you like young adult paranormal books. What do you think you’ll read next? Julia Golding – Cat’s Cradle (Cat Royal 6) This is the last of the books I got out from the library on my most recent visit, and the last full-length novel in this series (there is an e-book novella that comes after it). This series has been pretty good and has touched on some fairly important themes, so I expect a good read from this one too.

TEASER TUESDAYS 1. Grab your current read 2. Open to a random page 3. Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 4. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 5. Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! My teaser: Synopsis: Mercy and her sister Charity have never questioned their daily routine, each day unfolding exactly as the next. They live at night, sleep during the day and see their widowed father only rarely – their house shrouded in perpetual winter. Then one day, Mercy is woken to find a snowdrop on her pillow. A sign of spring, a subtle hint at a possible different future. A chance meeting with the mysterious Claudius sets her to questioning everything she has ever known – not least the truth behind her mother’s death. Bit by bit Mercy traces her parents’ story through the past, travelling back to see herself as a young child, silent witness to the dramatic events Claudius himself plays an enormous part in – only when she has pieced together the truth can her world begin to move on. What I think of it so far: I’ve only just started reading this young adult novel, but so far it’s pretty decent. It’s very cryptic and the mystery is rather compelling. I feel I’m being slowly reeled in like a fish and at some point I’m going to realise I can’t escape the pull…

Musing Mondays Other than for school, do you read books to learn how to do something? What was/were the topic(s)? I’m long out of school and college, but I do have a bunch of books on various aspects of Paganism (not just Wicca) and one or two on gardening (more specifically on gardening by moon phase and planting by star sign) which I’ve found very interesting. I also have several books on nutrition and other filled with recipes, which I flick through from time to time to learn something new in the kitchen. I no longer study per se, but I do occasionally pick up a book to learn something specific. ~***~ Cover Crazy What I Love: What’s not to love? The starkness of the black and white with just a touch of red; the whimsical stars and swirls; the silhouetted figures in white; the mystery of the black and white circus tent; and the birds – white against black, and black against white. It’s all so elegant and when I first saw this cover I knew I had to have this book, even before I knew anything about it – somehow I just knew the story within would appeal to me. I’ve only just started this novel and so far it’s living up to the promise of the splendid cover! Synopsis: The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway – a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love – a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands. True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead. Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

Paranormal Activity and Paranormal Activity 2. Watched them both last night and thought they were both pretty awesome (in particular, the first one blew me away, especially as it only cost $15,000 to make and raked in well over $100 million in return!).

They should totally build a bridge over it and leave it where it is, just so people can experience the sheer size of it in a different way.

I'm mildly asthamtic and so eligable for one ,but haven't had one in years because I found tat eery time I DID get the jab, I got sick immediately afterwards with flu and then got it a second time as well, whereas if I don't have the jab, I get it once in the winter. yes, I' get pretty ill and end up in bed for a few days and taking a little time off work, but it's once instead of twice, so I figure I'm better off without it at the moment. I'm otherwise in pretty good health - I eat healthily and am always running around after Xan for exercise, so for now, this is what works best for me...

I can't find anything either. Seems odd that they would keep quiet about it.

What great books did you hear about / discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS! By following links to blogs taking part in various memes, I’ve heard about so many great books it would be impossible to list them all. I’m also a regular visitor to our local library and am always eagerly awaiting newly published books by my favourite authors. However, here are the ones that really stood out for me this week and for which I’ll be looking out on future book acquisition expeditions: - Caragh O’Brien – Birthmarked Series - Marissa Meyer – Cinder - Bettie Sharp – Ember - Maggie Stiefvater – Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy They’ve all gone onto my wish list!

BOOKING THROUGH THURSDAY Harder All other thing being equal, would you rather read a book that’s hard/challenging/rewarding or light/enjoyable/easy? Just a very short answer this time – It really depends on my mood. Sometimes I like something that will really make me think and give my little grey cells a good workout, but most of the time, as I tend to read in bed before sleeping, I like something that is just pure entertainment. On occasion, I find I’m getting both together – I love it when that happens!

W... W... W... Wednesdays * What are you currently reading? * What did you recently finish reading? * What do you think you’ll read next? What are you currently reading? Stephen Cole – Resurrection (Wereling Trilogy 3) This is the conclusion of the trilogy – I’m about half way through and you know what? It’s pretty good! I’ve rather enjoyed these books and it looks like the last book will be just as good as the others. Various – Dates From Hell (Compilation) I’m thinking of ditching this one for now and perhaps coming back to it at a later date. Contains the following novellas: Kim Harrison – Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil - 1/5 Absolutely dire. Reading this novella reminded me why I never got past the second book in the Rachel Morgan series. This novella includes the most unsexy and unexciting blood/sex scene I have ever had the misfortune to encounter and the story is both dull and predictable. I will be happy if I never read anything by this author again as long as I live. The Claire Switch Project (CURRENTLY READING) So far it’s pretty decent and a damned sight better than the previous story, so I’m hopeful the others will be better too… Kelley Armstrong – Chaotic Haven’t got this far yet, but I love Kelley Armstrong and am looking forward to it. Lori Handeland – Dead Man Dating This will be my first experience of Lori Handeland’s writing… What did you recently finish reading? Philippa Gregory – The Lady of the Rivers (Cousins’ War 3) - 3/5 The third installment in the wonderful Cousins’ War series. I love historical fiction and although I usually go for Roman or Tudor, this isn’t too far out of my usual era as it’s the history of what happened right before the Tudor dynasty attained the throne – it’s how they got there really. I love this sort of historical faction. It took me a while to get through it, simply because I didn’t have much reading time and although I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as the previous novel, it was very good and I found the characters of Jacquetta and Richard to be quite enchanting. Stephen Cole – Wounded (Wereling Trilogy 1) - 3/5 At last, a young adult horror/paranormal trilogy that’s NOT about vampires! (Especially of the sparkly variety.) This is werewolves all the way and is a lot of fun with some decent thrills and spills along the way, and a fairly original premise to boot. On top of all this, it’s fairly short. All three of the books could have been put together in a single volume split into three parts, but it would have been a little chunky and perhaps intimidated the youth audience, so this bite-sized morsel (forgive me - I couldn’t resist punning!) is just the ticket and ends on an open note, ready for the second book to pick up where it leaves off. Stephen Cole – Prey (Wereling Trilogy 2) - 3/5 This second installment of the Wereling Trilogy is pretty exciting stuff! This is far more original than some other young adult paranormal novels and occasionally strays into some very adult themes (although there has been no sex so far, there has been the threat that Kate may be taken by force if her mother gets her hands on her and into the very situation Kate is trying to avoid). It’s quite gritty in places and there have been some real thrills so far. What do you think you’ll read next? My own books: * Erin Morgenstern – The Night Circus From the library: * Julia Golding – Cat’s Cradle (Cat Royal 6) * Sarah Singleton – Century

Is anyone else watching American Horror Story? We've caught all four episodes shown so far (and they were all played again last night as an omnibus for Hallowe'en). It's showing on FX. And last night it was announced that it's been commissioned for a 2nd season of 13 episodes - yay! It's rather creepy and extremely good. If any True Blood fans are looking for a horror-based show to fill the gap till season 5 starts, this could be the one to keep you occupied!

TEASER TUESDAYS 1. Grab your current read 2. Open to a random page 3. Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 4. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 5. Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! My teaser: Synopsis: Kate Folan comes from a family of werewolves. She’ll only become fully ‘wolf herself when she mates with a male werewolf. But she vows that will never happen. The last thing she wants is to give in to her evil heritage. Then she meets Tom Anderson. Tom is a wereling – a werewolf who retains his humanity even in his wolf form. He was “turned” by Kate’s mother, who chose wisely. Tom and Kate can’t help falling for each other. But if they give in to their feelings, Kate will become the thing she hates most. Unless they can find a cure… What I think of it so far: I can’t say because I’m just about to start it, but having enjoyed the previous two books in the trilogy, I hope this one will finish things off well. Judging by the quote above (which I chose by just opening the book at random) there’s a little humour injected into the horror, which has been the case with the other two as well – not laugh-out-loud humour, but a natural humour that comes from being in a tight situation with friends…