Book Review: Fire by Kate Cann

That's right continuing and finishing series in two weeks.

The evil is growing stronger...

 Rayne's countryside escape has proven to be anything but - the remote mansion house where she lives and works holds terrible secrets. 

Even the ghosts at Morton's Keep seem to be warning her that something is wrong. And then something happens - something so shocking Rayne knows she was right to be afraid...

This is the sequel to Possessed (which I reviewed last week), also has the alternative title of Consumed. This book takes a week after the events of the last book (;)). While I was excited and enjoyed read this book, it really add that much.

In terms of plot, it was more just an escalation of the first book's. At the root of things it the same with different cast of characters. I also saw the ending coming, though that was more due to the page count left. There was a bit more lore which was interesting.

Rayne's character develop in this book is good and realistic. Addressing the trust issues that she developed from what happened in the first book was nice to see. The relationships are well done.



Overall, I give this book 4/5 stars for pigeons. I liked this Duology a lot and would recommend to YA horror lovers. This is interesting settings with its folktales and traditions. Also this book technically takes place during Halloween so the right season for people who only read horror in October (I detest you, horror is all year genre). These covers being so pretty, I sort of wished I had brought the series instead of getting them from the library as I won't ever be able to justify buying them now.

Book Review: Possessed by Kate Cann

People who ride motorbikes in the country are insane, so don't.

Escape...
or Trap?

When she finds a job at a secluded country manor, Rayne jumps at the chance to get away from the stifling city, her mother and her controlling boyfriend. 

But the ancient house is suffocating, filled with spooky relics and a strange energy. And the longer she stays, the more she can feel something evil at work...something that wants to keep her there for ever.

By the way, 'forever' is one word and I copied the blurb exactly the way it was on the back of the edition I read. Obvious spelling/grammar mistakes in (or on) books are a thing that I will point out. I got this book from the library, mainly because the cover was cool and I don't read enough horror.

In terms of horror, horrifying things are discussed and terrible things are done. However, this book is not scary. I could understand Rayne's fear and panic, it just didn't transfer to me as I was reading it. I could have read this book during a powerout, by candle light in an empty house and it would have been comfort, rather a than a encouragement for me to go fleeing to find people and light.

I had a power out right before I starting this book. It played on my mine during this because if Rayne had lost power at night then she be by herself with only log fire for light. Just one of the ways your real life can play with the way you read books.

The plot is interesting and well done for the age group. I'm really intrigued by the going on's of Morton's Keep and eager to learn more about what's going. This book has the perfect balance of satisfying ending, but there still questions to be answer.

Rayne is a likable and understandable character. The other characters are okay. I don't feel attachment to any of them really. The mystery side of the character could have done better but it didn't effect the book majorly.

I give this book three stars out of five for ghost pigs. I'm interested to read the next book as I want to know more, in fact I even reserved it  at the library which cost me 75p. Back in the day I could have brought used copy of it for that price but room is full books and you know supporting libraries. The next book is called "Fire" in the UK and Consumed in America but both books in this series have had other names in the past. Renaming books is a confusing, but understandable practice.

Book Review: How to Build a Girl: A Novel by Caitlin Moran

I relate to this book on a spiritual level.


What do you do in your teenage years when you realize what your parents taught you wasn't enough? You must go out and find books and poetry and pop songs and bad heroes—and build yourself.

It's 1990. Johanna Morrigan, fourteen, has shamed herself so badly on local TV that she decides that there's no point in being Johanna anymore and reinvents herself as Dolly Wilde—fast-talking, hard-drinking gothic hero and full-time Lady Sex Adventurer. She will save her poverty-stricken Bohemian family by becoming a writer—like Jo in Little Women, or the Brontës—but without the dying-young bit.

By sixteen, she's smoking cigarettes, getting drunk, and working for a music paper. She's writing pornographic letters to rock stars, having all the kinds of sex with all the kinds of men, and eviscerating bands in reviews of 600 words or less.

But what happens when Johanna realizes she's built Dolly with a fatal flaw? Is a box full of records, a wall full of posters, and a head full of paperbacks enough to build a girl after all?

So I have taken up walking as a form of exercise. It gets boring quickly so I thought I would try audio books. It was a success, it made me walk longer but then it got dark outside and I keep listening to it so it was too success in the entertainment side. I listened to the audio book narrated by Louise Brealey, who was really good and brought the character to life.

I could really related to Johanne, I got to say it weird how in Twenty years Britain has went full circle. High Streets empty and dogs being great friends. Wait, that last thing has always been true.

I'm finding it hard to explain to this book with spoiling because I think a lot of it great parts you should come across yourself whilst reading. The relationship within the families are done well 

Overall, I gave this book 5 for 5 stars for entertaining bad decisions. This book dealt with a lot of issues really well whilst still being hilarious. I would highly recommend it to everyone.

P.S. Happy New Year.

Book Review: A Love Like Blood by Marcus Sedgwick

*coughs, begins to sing* "Blood. Blood. I gave you gallons of the stuff and it has never been enough." *bows*



'I've chased him for over twenty years, and across countless miles, and though often I was running, there have been many times when I could do nothing but sit and wait. Now I am only desperate for it to be finished.'

In 1944, just days after the liberation of Paris, Charles Jackson sees something horrific: a man, apparently drinking the blood of a murdered woman. Terrified, he does nothing, telling himself afterwards that worse things happen in wars.

Seven years later he returns to the city - and sees the same man dining in the company of a fascinating young woman. When they leave the restaurant, Charles decides to follow...

I have read a few of Sedgwick books, of course they are YA books but frankly that shouldn’t make a difference. Also Midwinterblood seems more like adult book than YA to me (it’s actually my favourite of his books I’ve read).  In terms of writing style, it’s the same. Sedgwick’s style has always been good and is that likability writer that doesn’t dumb down for kids/teens (there is some writer's where the writing just turns flat). That being said this novel; I did have to look up certain words to be sure of their meanings. He also leaves French unexplained sometimes, so either just guess or look up what it says if you’re like me who doesn’t understand French.

This book is kinda like a stroll. The pace is quite slow and steady even when more action like things are going on. The story is alright; unsurprisingly blood is featured a lot: actual blood, the idea of blood and most of the main characters are obsessed with blood one way or another. I like it. There is a bit of Europe trotting, end up in different and interesting parts of Europe such as Paris which people love for some reason.

The characters are okay. To be honest I don’t read Sedgwick for his characters (which I think I said in my last review of one his books), I think it is his weak point. There is interesting character development though. I just didn’t feel connected to any of them; they are all there for a purpose that they fulfil. 

Got to say that I really the cover. It's eye catching and has something to do with the actual book. 

Overall, I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars for hemoglobin. It's a sound book. If you like Marcus Sedgwick other books then you probably like this. There is sex and swearing though (that's the adult part) so my 12 year old self would have found this tame.

I got this off Netgalley for a review. It’s being published by Mulholland Books on 27^th March 2014.

Book Review: The Last Werewolf Glen Duncan

If I ever become a werewolf, I would target people who talk before they think as my victims. Its been one of those days.

YOU'RE THE LAST. I'M SORRY. THE END IS COMING.

For two centuries Jacob Marlowe has wandered the world, enslaved by his lunatic appetites and tormented by the memory of his first and most monstrous crime. Now, the last of his kind, he knows he can't go on. But as Jake counts down to demise, a violent murder and an extraordinary meeting plunge him straight back into the desperate pursuit of life.


This book was alright. It’s the start of trilogy that recently has finished, it didn't leave me running out to find the next one (I did check if the library had it, they did not).

It features of an old werewolf who have become endangered and then a organisation decides to just fuck it and killed them all because eradicate a whole sub-race (most would say species but don't like that the biology of that. It is more Hybrid than actual species- I could go on but won't. It's topic for another post) of humanity is going to be positive. Jacob doesn't care if he dies. I didn't care if he died.

The characters are generally unlikable. Not because they kill people, just because most are defined by what they are/do so are boring. Except Harley, poor idiotic Harley who in old age gave up reading which is stupid. Any sympathy for Jacob I had just slowly disappeared. The characters aren't very distinctive from each. Also this is tiny bit of a spoiler so still want to read this and be spoiler free do not high-light the following. [ There is a case of instanter love, it could be played off as a supernatural thing. I mean doesn't play well for were/vamp books to have such things since that other certain book. Yes, Duncan if you reading this (which I doubt but who knows) I just compared your book to Twilight. I mean its not my biggest issue though. I just sigh and read on now. ]

It meant to be journal but it just reads as first-personal narration of life as it happens mostly. It also has parts and chapters. It has a few memorable scenes. It’s sort of poemy. This also random reference to a Robert Browning poem I think. I mean it exact same line; expect the Pronouns are different. But frankly it is a line that I found myself repeating out loud. You almost can't help yourself. And no I won't tell which one. Read all his poems and then this book to find out (or you could just search through my BookTube channel till you find the one that involves the same Robert Browning poem. My first suggestion is funner).

The actual mythology was interesting. Based off common werewolf myth, but with a slight spin. It typical lack of females (another thing I could discuss about werewolves; I have theories,) and full-moon transformations. 

Overall, I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars for smelly c*nts (you could make a drinking game out of how many times that word was used. I think 3 specifically to do with smelling them). It was alright book, definitely not the worst werewolf book I've ever read. I would continue the series if they fell into my lap one day; with my whole TBR guilt that's probably only the only way I will finish the trilogy. I would recommend this book to werewolf lovers, who prefer high action plot than developed characters (I could see the effort for both but characters just fell flat for me).

Book Review: The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

I wish I had a twin, though mainly cause I want to confuse people.
 
Angelfield House stands abandoned and forgotten. It was once the imposing home of the March family--fascinating, manipulative Isabelle, Charlie her brutal and dangerous brother, and the wild, untamed twins, Emmeline and Adeline. But Angelfield House conceals a chilling secret whose impact still resonates...

Now Margaret Lea is investigating Angelfield's past--and the mystery of the March family starts to unravel. What has Angelfield been hiding? What is its connection with the enigmatic author Vida Winter? And what is it in Margaret's own troubled past that causes her to fall so powerfully under Angelfilds spell?

This was a everyone was raving about a few years ago (and the BBC recently made adaption of it that wasn't that great). It wasn't quite what I was expecting. I thought it was meant to be a scary book but it not really. There is a haunting of sorts and creepy twins.

There is a few sort of themes going on in the books. It deals with child abandonment of the emotional and physical kind. There is whole thing with twins with two sets in the book. There are different sort of sibling relationships none of them healthy which is really the certain of the novel. The main characters are all sort of tragic and comparisons to each other going on. Some of their actions are rather questionable so you not sure if you like them or not.

It written with a slow pace and it not really a book you're rush through. For some reason I get sort of lost when reading Setterfield. I read her new book (and reviewed it) and found myself doing the same thing with it. What I mean by lost is that I'll miss chunks of writing and have to reread the page. That could be my Dyslexic nature showing but I haven't done it with another writer in along time.

There's a lot of book love going on. Margaret grew up and works in old book shop and Vida Winter is a writer with a library. So you enjoy books that feature books then this could be for you.

Overall, I gave it 5 out of stars for scars. Whilst it wasn't what I was expecting, I still enjoyed it. There a small creep factor. It well written books and there are some lovely (perhaps not the right word) scenes going on.