Book Review - The Blemished

Title: The Blemished
Author: Sarah Dalton
Series: The Blemished (book 1)
Publisher: Sarah Dalton
Release Date: 7 Aug 2012
ASIN: B008UP8C52 
ISBN-13: 978-1781766675

Synopsis
A beautiful world comes at a price...
In a world filled with stunning clones Mina Hart is Blemished. Her genes are worthless and that takes away her rights: her right to an Education, her right to a normal life and her right to have a child.
Mina keeps a dangerous secret which she never thought she could share until she meets Angela on her first day at St Jude's School. But their friendship is soon complicated by Angela’s adoptive brother Daniel. Mina finds herself drawn to his mysterious powers and impulsive nature. Then there is the gorgeous clone Sebastian who Mina is forbidden from even speaking to…
The Blemished is a frightening take on a fractured future where the Genetic Enhancement Ministry have taken control of Britain. It will take you on a ride filled with adventure, romance and rebellion.

My Review
I did a promotion post for this book last year and the author sent me an e-book copy of the book to read if I could. As my mountainous pile has been hanging over me for the past year I hadn't got round to it. But tonight it called to me and as my pile is getting down to a more manageable size I got stuck in.
This book is a dystopian/paranormal cross. Set in a world where beauty and perfection are cherished and strived for anyone deemed at fault is looked down on - they are called the 'Blemished'. The Blemished are children that have a family history of illness but were born the 'old way'. Most babies now are called 'GEMS' - they are genetically enhanced, almost like clones to be perfect - health, beauty, behaviour, it's all bred into them.
Mina is a Blemished but she has a special secret - she has a hidden power, but in a world where she should be hidden in the shadows and is looked upon as a waste, it's hard to stand up for what is right. 

I liked the world created by Dalton here, it's scary because it's something that probably could happen, it's been on the news about genetic experiments with babies already so this isn't too out there, and the result is not positive. This is so well written the world comes alive off the page and I could visualize it all.

Mina is a great heroin, confused and a bit lost but with a great inner strength and feistyness that shows you she is willing to fight no matter what. She is loyal and caring and will stand up for those that need help. 
Angela is Mina's new best friend, she's a bit of a gossip but seems generally quite nice, she has quite a hard time of it and handles everything as best she can, but I'm not sure how invested she really is in the friendship. 
Daniel is Angela's adopted brother and has a secret power too, he becomes utterly devoted to Mina and Angela, willing to sacrifice everything to keep them safe. I loved his loyalty and fearlessness, but he did get a bit self-pitying at times which I wanted to slap out of him. 
The whole controlling government set up was sufficiently terrifying and their teacher at the school made Miss Trunchball seem like a pussy cat!
There is a romance element to this book, some love triangles involved and it adds to the suspense, I'm not sure who I want to end up with who, but I was gripped to see how it would all unfold.  
 
This book will totally hook you in. I read it in one sitting and did not want to put it down. I have also downloaded book 2 straight away to get stuck into. I have to know what will happen to everyone. 

An excellent book and world, Dalton has some pure talent. 

My Rating

 

       

Book Review - One Hundred Names

Title: One Hundred Names
Author: Cecelia Ahern
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: 11 Oct 2012
ISBN-13: 978-0007350469

Synopsis
Journalist Kitty Logan's career is being destroyed by scandal - and now she faces losing the woman who guided and taught her everything she knew. At her terminally ill friend's bedside, Kitty asks - what is the one story she always wanted to write? The answer lies in a file buried in Constance's office: a list of one hundred names. There is no synopsis, nothing to explain what the story is or who these people are. The list is simply a mystery. But before Kitty can talk to her friend, it is too late. With everything to prove, Kitty is assigned the most important task of her life: to write the story her mentor never had the opportunity to. Kitty not only has to track down and meet the people on the list, but find out what connects them. And, in the process of hearing ordinary people's stories, she starts to understand her own.

My Review
I can't really remember how I got into Cecelia Ahern's books but I've read every one she's ever written. She's not my usual type of book, as you know I focus on YA edging toward paranormal and fantasy, but something about Ahern captures my heart from my mind. So when I heard another book was coming out I knew I had to request it. It took a while to come through the library as it had a waiting list on it. Then when I did get it i didn't have time to read it. Then this afternoon I decided to pick it up. It was nowhere near the top of my pile but it was calling to me. 
I liked the idea behind this book, it intrigued me and I wanted to see what the author would do with it. Kitty Logan has been involved in a scandal at work, she's been kicked off the TV news program she was working for and she's being plagued by abuse. But her mentor and lifelong friend Constance still has faith in her, she's the editor of the magazine Kitty works for and they start to talk about the stories they would love to write. Constance is terminally sick but tells Kitty of a file she has stored at home. Kitty goes to retrieve it, but before she can get back to ask what it's all about Constance has died. Kitty becomes obsessed with solving the 'list' and working out what Constance was trying to do.
The file contained a single list of 100 names, Kitty must find out who these people are and what connects them all in time to write an article as a tribute to Constance.
One of the reasons I thought this was intriguing was because 100 names is a rather big amount, especially for a 420 page book - that's a lot to get through in a fairly short space and I wanted to see how and why.
I will admit that the start of this book was quite slow for me, it sets up the situations and some of the characters which drags a bit, you are thrust into their lives and have to get to know them. As they are strangers to me at the beginning of the book I did wonder why I cared, but as the story developed I got to know each one better and it made it all worthwhile. 
The book doesn't speed through 100 names I am pleased to say, instead 6 names end up playing a dominant part and you get to know them better. Out of the six 'Birdie' was my favourite, a seemingly boring old lady that actually has an enchanting past. But they all had a unique angle and point of interest. And with Kitty linking them together anyway you feel like you are part of a great adventure. 
The intrigue of wondering how they are linked on this list is what keeps you hooked throughout, I tried to work out many different ways but couldn't come up with a conclusion, but I smiled when it is revealed. 
Very well written, the characters start to feel like old friends the further you get through the book. Although I did occasionally get confused with some of the names, it never lasted long, as if aware it could be a problem Ahern drops casual hints throughout linking to each of the character to help keep you on track.
This is not my favourite of her books but I did really enjoy it and I like the message behind it, it made me think a bit about how we see other people. Maybe we do all have a story waiting to be discovered. 
I still remain a fan and look forward to seeing what Cecelia Ahern will do next, her books are always original and unpredictable and I think that is what I love the most. 

My Rating

            
  

Book Review - Stealing Parker

Title: Stealing Parker
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Series: Hundred Oaks (book 2)
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: 25 Oct 2012
ISBN-13: 978-1402271878

Synopsis
Parker Shelton pretty much has the perfect life. She’s on her way to becoming valedictorian at Hundred Oaks High, she’s made the all-star softball team, and she has plenty of friends. Then her mother’s scandal rocks their small town and suddenly no one will talk to her.

Now Parker wants a new life.
So she quits softball. Drops twenty pounds. And she figures why kiss one guy when she can kiss three? Or four. Why limit herself to high school boys when the majorly cute new baseball coach seems especially flirty?
But how far is too far before she loses herself completely?

My Review
I didn't realise this was book 2 in a series, I never usually read series out of order, but to be fair with this book it read as a stand-alone. It's just set in the same school as the first book. 
I've heard a lot of good things about this author and wanted to give her a try, I basically ended up with this one because it was the only one by her that we had on our library system (something which I am trying to change now, I'm asking them to buy her other books for sure!)
Anyway, at approximately only 250 pages this looked like a quick read, and a fairly easy one too, perfect for a lazy Sunday morning so I got stuck in. 
When living in a small town everyone seems to know your business, so when Parker's mum is involved in a scandal, everyone is buzzing about it. And Parker ends up taking a lot of the flack, people she thought were her friends turn their back on her, she quickly decides she doesn't want to be their target and so decides to change her life completely. Quitting the sport she loves, losing weight and becoming someone new. But sometimes change isn't for the better. 
Parker comes across at first as quite self involved, worried about what others think, trying to make people see her a certain way, but when you start to find out more about her story you can see why she is like that and you can actually see she has an inner strength to her that has to be admired. Her family has fallen apart and she's lost her friends but she doesn't give up. OK, so maybe trying to completely reinvent yourself isn't the best idea but I can see why she did it. 
Drew is the only friend who stood by Parker and a real sweetheart, 'Corndog' aka Will seems to come across as a bit of a jerk but he has a spark to him and I like how he grows throughout the book. 
This book does contain scandal, and mentions of sex, quite a bit actually so definitely not suitable for younger readers. Some things are described in more detail than you would normally see in YA fiction, so be warned. 
It's good to see Parker come to terms with her past and look forward to the future, she really develops throughout the story and becomes a better person because of it. She sure makes mistakes on the way and sometimes hurts those around her, but we all do that and she learns from it in the end.
I will go back and read Catching Jordan (book 1) as I am intrigued how they link, but I don't think you need to read it to enjoy this book.

My Rating

         

Book Review - The Dregs

Title: The Dregs
Author: Piper Kelley
Series: The Gloom (book3)
Publisher: Piper Kelley
Release Date:  24th June 2012
ASIN: B008EGOFYY

Synopsis
What will happen when evil finds its way into the human world? In this exciting final installment of The Gloom Trilogy, Poppy finds herself in the Dregs, a run-down industrial park with danger lurking around every corner. Somewhere hidden in this wasteland of factories and warehouses is an old foe of Winsome, who has eluded her twice before. Here, Poppy must put an end to this terrible force for once and for all, before both Winsome and the human world fall victim to her enemy’s dreadful magic. 

My Review
This is the third and final part of the series, Just when everyone thinks the danger has passed an old enemy shows up with one final plot for revenge, but this time he takes his battle out of Winsome and into the human world. I really liked the flip on sides seeing the characters from the fairy land coming into our world and Poppy being the one at ease, it was an interesting change to the group dynamic and I enjoyed seeing how they adapted to it.
Once again we have Poppy, Brady, Gus and Peregrine involved and I liked seeing the growing relationship between Peregrine and Poppy, they are overcoming the past and starting to really get to know each other. 
I also liked to see Brady and Poppy grow closer, you just know they are meant to be together.
The world was very well built and described, the Dregs are in our world, an abandoned warehouse lot full of creepy homeless people, burnt out cars and empty buildings, really quite creepy and I could totally picture it all.  I kept expecting someone crazy to jump out at the characters, it builds the tension well. 
We see Poppy change the most over this book, both in the way she looks at her relationships with her mum, little sister, dad and even with Augusta and Brady. You see her grow up and come to think about things a bit more, she tries to cling onto some things, but ultimately she is prepared to do what is necessary.
I found this to be an exciting conclusion to the series, again it's short at about 140 pages and it only took me an hour to read but that hour like the one before it flew by. 

This is a great fantasy series for children, great fun and quirky characters will capture imaginations.

My Rating

    


      

Book Review - The Doldrums

Title: The Doldrums
Author: Piper Kelley
Series: The Gloom (book2)
Publisher: Piper Kelley
Release Date:  23rd June 2012

ASIN: B008E9OAGO 

 

Synopsis

Tragedy strikes a celebration at Winsome’s castle. One of Poppy’s closest friends is taken, and Queen Augusta’s trusted aide is gruesomely injured trying to prevent the kidnapping. Poppy’s resolve to rescue her friend leads her to the Doldrums, a mysterious network of goblin caves set in an enormous mountainside, where an old adversary lies waiting for his revenge. 

 

My Review

We're straight back into the world with this book, picking up right where book 1 left off. Poppy has come to visit her mother and friends in Winsome but whilst there one of her friends is kidnapped. Queen Augusta tells them to wait and plan a rescue, but Poppy wants to find her friend before it's too late, so she sneaks out with her friends Brady and Gus, determined to get her back.

This one seemed a little bit more exciting than the first, I think because I knew the characters better, it felt like there was more at stake. I liked Annie as a character and really wanted Poppy to find her and bring her home.

Brady is growing more as a character and I like his courage and quiet confidence and the easy friendship between him and Poppy. I liked Gus even more, his spirit and heroics are really endearing, although I'm still not sure what he is supposed to look like.

Sneaking through a world of goblins and trolls the characters have to face danger at every turn, but I liked how you weren't really sure of what was to come next.

Augusta is still very short tempered and straight laced but I actually really like her, I found myself waiting to see if that tough exterior would crack and on the rare occasions it does you see a whole other side of her. 

Again this book is quite short at approx 150 pages and I finished it within about an hour, the plot carries you through and I was actually surprised by how quickly it passed.

The series is certainly getting better.

 

My Rating