Charm's Choices ~ 2010

[Weave]

Linger ~by~ Maggie Stiefvater

 

Synopsis courtesy of Waterstone's:

In "Shiver", Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in "Linger", they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping dangerous secrets. For Sam, it means grappling with his werewolf past ...and figuring out a way to survive the future. But just when they manage to find happiness, Grace finds herself changing in ways she could never have expected...

 

It took me a while to get into the prequel of this, 'Shiver', but once I did I loved it and was really looking forward to 'Linger'. Needless to say it didn't disappoint. The story picked up straight where it left off in 'Shiver' and the plot this time concentrated more on Grace and the changes she was going through. There were several new characters introduced and we were able to get to know some of the more secondary characters from the previous book (I'm really liking Isobel now!) . The main characters of Sam and Grace developed even more and I enjoyed how their relationship maturing.

 

A great read both for young adults and older ones alike. I am so looking forward to 'Forever'!

 

9/10

 

 

I am so pleased you enjoyed 'Linger', like your good self, I am looking forward to 'Forever'

[Charm]

I am so pleased you enjoyed 'Linger', like your good self, I am looking forward to 'Forever'

 

We have to wait until next year too, bummer Guess we'll just have to keep on reading til then! I'm sure we'll manage

[Weave]

We have to wait until next year too, bummer Guess we'll just have to keep on reading til then! I'm sure we'll manage

 

Yes indeed hen, its on amazon to pre~order, it just taunts you more :lol:

[Charm]

The Book Of Lost Things ~by~ John Connolly

 

Synopsis Courtesy Of Waterstone's:

'Once upon a time, there was a boy who lost his mother ...' As twelve-year-old David takes refuge from his grief in the myths and fairytales so beloved of his dead mother, he finds the real world and the fantasy world begin to blend. That is when bad things start to happen. That is when the Crooked Man comes. And David is violently propelled into a land populated by heroes, wolves and monsters, his quest to find the legendary Book of Lost Things.

 

This is a great read and the author obviously has an incredible imagination. It is well written and I came to adore the main character of David. The story progresses through a fantasy world of fairytales, but not the nice, fluffy and light fairytales we were taught as a child. These fairytales are the ones we know and love, with dark and sometimes gruesome twists, which are handled by David admirably, moulding him into a loveable character who grows up so fast. I really enjoyed this book and loved the twists the stories were given, the ending of the book was beautiful and finished off the story wonderfully. 8/10

 

 

[Charm]

Mortal Instruments Series ~by~ Cassandra Clare

 

Synopsis Courtesy of Waterstone's

 

City of Bones - Book 1

Sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is an ordinary teenager, who likes hanging out in Brooklyn with her friends. But everything changes the night she witnesses a murder, committed by a group of teens armed with medieval weaponry. The murderous group are Shadowhunters, secret warriors dedicated to driving demons out of this dimension and back into their own. Drawn inexorably into a terrifying world, Clary slowly begins to learn the truth about her family - and the battle for the fate of the world.

 

City of Ashes - Book 2

With her mother in a coma and her father hell-bent on destroying the world, Clary is dragged deeper into New York's terrifying underworld of werewolves, demons and the mysterious Shadowhunters. Discovering the truth about her past was only the beginning, now Clary must save the world from her own father - the rogue Shadowhunter Valentine. With two of the Mortal Instruments at his command, Valentine is assembling an army of demons to wage war on the council of Shadowhunters and destroy them once and for all. As the battle begins, Clary must face her darkest fears - and come to terms with her feelings for a boy she wishes wasn't her brother.

 

City Of Glass - Book 3

With two of the Mortal Instruments now in Valentine's hands, the world of the Shadowhunters teeters on the brink of civil war. Jace and the Lightwoods are recalled to Idris, the Shadowhunters' remote and hidden home country, where a search has begun for the last of the Instruments, the Mortal Glass. Clary finds herself caught up in the chaos as the delicate social order of the Nephilim begins to shatter, pitting Downworlder against Downworlder and Shadowhunters against each other. When the City of Glass falls under attack, can Downworlders and Nephilim fight together to defeat Valentine, or will their longstanding hatred destroy them all? And when Clary discovers the unbelievable truth about her own past, can she find Jace before it's too late?

 

I found this trilogy in a charity shop, all 3 books in pristine condition and all for £6. One of the best buys I've made in a charity shop! What an amazing series! I was not expecting it to be half as good but I have to say, I thought it was brilliant! Well written, fantastic characters and a storyline which just reels you in and keeps you hooked. I'm just sorry there's only 3 in this series! If you're a fan of Kelley Armstrong, I think you'll like this, even though it's young adult. Very entertaining and highly recommended! 10/10

[chesilbeach]

Hi Charm - you'll be pleased to know there is a fourth book in the Mortal Instruments series on the way next year, and there's also a sort of prequel set in Victorian London called The Clockwork Angel which I actually enjoyed more than these three.

[Charm]

Excellent news Chesil! Thanks for letting me know, I'll definitely be getting it when it comes out. I'm going to get my hands on a copy of Clockwork Angel in the near future too

[chesilbeach]

Also, meant to ask just now ... have you read Storm Born by Richelle Mead? I read it this weekend, and I think it's just the sort of thing you'd like. It's the first in a series (yay! we both know how much we like finding new series ) with the second one out already and the third one due out next year.

[Charm]

Rachel Mead, did she do Vampire Academy or something? I have the first 3 in the Morganville Vamp books to read, was that her? I know I've heard the name before ....

[chesilbeach]

There's too many similar names, aren't there? Yes, Richelle Mead wrote the Vampire Academy YA series, and also the adult series Georgina Kincaid Succubus series. This is a another adult series. Rachel Caine wrote the Morganville Vampire series (I've read all of those too )

[Charm]

Thanks! I'll look her up, it has definitely been a supe year for me too

 

 

[Charm]

Wow .. I can't believe it has been so long since I posted on this thread. It's funny how no mojo affect things!

 

Since posting I have read,

 

Through A Glass, Darkly by Bill Hussey

 

Synopsis Courtesy of Waterstone's:

"Through a Glass, Darkly" is a modern horror novel that deals with secrets long buried, festering guilt and haunting loneliness. Jack Trent, the most effective CID officer in the history of the department, is having bad dreams. He has seen the murder of a child in a forest at the hands of something indescribable. But these are more than dreams. They are visions of the future that Jack has tried for years to suppress. Something happened to Jack in his childhood; something that means he cannot touch another living person; something that killed his mother, and that has returned to inspire his visions.In a final race against time, events reach a dramatic climax as Jack attempts to save a boy's life in the clearing of Redgrave Forest. Can he face the long-dead Dr Mendicant and the ancient Darkness of Crowman? Can he face the evil living inside himself? And what will he make of the Doctor's final, devastating revelation?

 

I ended up really enjoying this book. It is very dark in places and quite gory but it preys on all the darkest nightmares you've had about skeletal bogey men. I liked the main characters and apart from my waning mojo probably would have finished it in a couple of days. I would definitely read another Bill Hussey book. 7/10

 

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

 

Synopsis Courtesy of Waterstone's:

Tessa is soon caught in a dangerous love triangle where a wrong decision could prove fatal. She will need all her strength to save her brother and stay alive as she learns the chilling truth of what really lurks on London's streets after dark. Discover more about the mysterious and sexy Shadowhunters in this thrilling prequel trilogy to the bestselling "Mortal Instruments" sequence.

 

I love this series. I love the writing, the characters and the way the story develops keeping you hooked. Although it took me a month to read, that was nothing to do with the book. My mojo had totally gone. I will definitely be getting the new books in this series and can highly recommend it to all you YA readers as a thoroughly entertaining read. 9/10

[Charm]

Well that's it.

 

I managed to read 68 out of my target of 70, which I'm confident I would have read if my mojo hadn't have disappeared at the end of October. I ended up buying a total of 101 books which explains why I still have a TBR pile of over 70!

 

thank you to everyone who posted and commented on my book thoughts, and many thanks to everyone who has recommended some fantastic reads to me. Happy Reading in 2011 to you all, and may your mojos stay alive and vibrant throughout the whole year!