Book Review: The Storm by Virginia Bergin

I missed the butterflies.

My name is Ruby Morris. I don't go when it rains.
Once you've survived an apocalypse, the old rules don't seem to matter so much.


Like today I drove a Ferrari that wasn't mine, but no one cared (there's no one left to care). 


If I want to eat only Nutella, then I can (there;s nothing else to eat).

And if I want to go to wild parties in mansions, I will (this only happened once).

Of course, there are bad things too. Like everyone you cared about being gone, having no one to trust and, worst of all, not being able to stop thinking about THAT KISS with Darius Spratt...

But I've survived this long and I'm not going to die now.


I think enjoyment of this novel does depend on reading the first one. If you haven't read the first book, why not check out my review of it instead of possibly spoiling yourself with this review.

The story starts back up months later and a disillusion Ruby. She still the same Ruby and does dumb stuff, but she makes a better effort not to do dumb stuff.

We get some answers in this book, and a satisfying ending to the series. The science continues to be a bit effy. I think this novel might be more horrifying than the last book. Though, I did feel like emotions didn't hit as strong as I felt they should have. Things that happen didn't impact much and felt more like getting rid of a character out of the way.

The character development was nice to see, Ruby has grown up a bit in this series and you see in this book. The relationships were good and some were interesting to see.

Overall, I gave this book four out of five stars for eating things out of a well. We get answers and the series leaves off with a satisfying ending.

Book Review: Love Hurts, edited by Malorie Blackman

 I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed.

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.

This is a book of is mix of short stories and extracts from YA books which is just really disappointing. There is actually seven short stories, next to the 17 extracts. Of course, only 5 of those stories are original to this book. Extracts are weird because I feel like there probably major spoilers for the books they're from. I look at the ones that I had already read and would say yes, that was a spoiler and if I had wanted to read a part of this book then I would have brought that book. (To be clear I never brought this book, it a review copy like it says at the bottom). I have not read all this book, there are book extracts in here from books that I plan to read and would rather read the whole book the first time all together. I have read all the short stories, the extracts from books I've already read and books that I don't think I'll ever read.

Introduction by Malorie Blackman: Should I really review a introduction? I guess I could have did it in a jokey way, but no.

Humming Through my Fingers by Malorie Blackman: This is story in which a blind girl trolls a boy (to be clear I mean the internet definition and not the idiotic media's that thinks a troll is someone who sends people death threats). I like this story, it was good idea to start with the possible start of romance. 3/5 stars for ties.

Extract from More Than This by Patrick Ness: Did not read as I own and plan to read this book.

Extract from The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle: Did not Read.

Extract from If I Stay by Gayle Forman: This extract was good choice, if we doing extracts. But this is such a short novel that works better as whole as most novels do.

Tumbling by Susie Day: This story shockingly involves tumblr. Also BBC Sherlock. It was cute story about two girls meeting for first time in the real life after being best friends online. I give this for 4/5 stars for profile picts. I will not be bribed with Sherlock fangirls.

Extract from Trouble by Non Pratt: Did not read as I own and plan to read this book.

Extract from Rani and Sukh by Bali Rai: Did not read.

Extract from You Against Me by Jenny Downham: Did Not Read.

Extract from 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson: Did not read as I own and plan to read this book.

Extract from Junk by Melvin Burgess: Did Not Read.

Extract from Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman: Did Not Read.

Gentlewoman by Laura Dockrill: I got a pretty good feel for this story within the first few sentences. This is about Transgirl about to start living as girl during high school. The relationships were family, romance and friendship. The relationships could have been better developed. But I enjoyed the style of this and the ending was good. 4/5 stars for shapeless clothing.

Extract from Heroic by Phil Earle: Did not Read.

Miss Lucy had a Steamboat by David Levithan:Whilst a short story, in a way this is also a extract because it was originally published in a collection short stories by him: How they met and other short stories. I like this story, I'll probably pick up the actual collection eventually since I like Levithan and didn't know about it's existence. This is gays in high school, a girl's lack of public relationship. That description sucks. 5/5 stars for childish innuendos.

Extract from I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak: Did not read

Extract from Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith: Did not read as I own and plan to read this book.

Extract from Echo Boy by Matt Haig: I actually have a review of this novel. The extract comes from a really random scene of the book, also I think it would spoiler the relationship dynamics/plot for you if you read this extract. I also it not very romantic or lovie. Echo Boy is probably meant to be a romance story but it's not what I would classify as such in the first place.

Extract from Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma: Did not read.

Endless Love: The Valentine of Daniel and Lucinda by Lauren Kate:Well, guys you never guess what but this isn't original story either. The best part is, I was instantly confused when I started reading it so I google it and what you know it was from book of short stories that's part of Fallen series. No one reads Novellas that are in middle of series except by mistake. I feel like I have to google every story to find out where it came from (I did it's just these two that have appeared in other books). This is basically the same as extract as the characters talk about things I have no idea about never having read the Fallen series which is why I won't be rating it as I feel it doesn't work as a short story by itself.

Extract from Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick: Hm...I get why this here, though I only skimmed read it as I didn't feel like reading any of the extracts this far into my journey into this book. It make sense but I still see the point of a scene from the middle of the book. I'm finding it hard to positive to be about this book as I'm reviewing each story/extract straight after I read them in the order in the books.

The Liar's Girl by Catherine Johnson: A historical story about love and revenge. 3/5 stars for smells.

The Unicorn by Juno Dawson: This feels like the most serious of the short story, but then is told from the POV of gay old man about his Youth in the Navy during war and when Homosexuality was crime in Britain. Fun Topic and not what I was expecting from a story titled "The Unicorn".  I also now have the song In the Navy stuck in my head. I should probably rewrite that opening sentence but I shan't. I give this 4/5 stars for tattoos.

Extract from Northern Lights by Philip Pullman: I once attempted to read this book, but it was so bloody boring so I quit, I mean there was murdering and sneaking going on so no I will never read this whole novel. So I glance at the extract and thought nah so I did not read this.

Extract from We Were Liars by E. Lockhart: This is one of the better extracts and some what works by itself. Except for the whole lie that you should go into that book knowing nothing about it.

Overall, I gave this book 3/5 stars for random scenes. Even if the short stories had all been brilliant five out of five stories, I still wouldn't been able to rate this book 5 stars because of the way this book is marketed is sort of wrong. It pissed me off to be frank and I didn't even pay anything for it. I mean I would never buy a book of extracts, which is what this is basically and not good ones. The short stories have been added to convince you to buy it. Except for Malorie Blackman, the authors specifically mentioned in this blurb don't actually attributable anything to the book. The worst part is that original stories are good, even with the suspicion that their aim was to throw in as much diversity as possible. I'm not saying it a bad thing especially since Malorie Blackman is all about trying to diverse YA books and an anthology about love should involve LGBT. However, I don't trust non-disabled writers writing about disability because I have been badly burned and live in a world where on a majority people think "The Curious Incident in the Nighttime" by Mark Hamot is a good book and that is a rant for another post. If this had been only short stories, with another standalone five more stories (or three depending on length) then I could get behind this book. But it's not, so it's added to the "what could have been" list in my head. I can only recommended this book if some of your favourite writers actually have a original short story in here or you want a taste of some of these writers and don't care about spoilers (and have cash to burn). Though, if you see this in your local library get it. The short stories are at least worth a read if not to own. The fact this still got 3/5 stars and not 1 after bouts of annoyance I kept getting as I got deeper into the book, is to their credit.

I got this off NetGalley and it published by Corgi Childrens.

Book Review: Follow Me Down by Tanya Byrne

Boarding schools are fun and tragic places in YA novels.

When 16-year-old Adamma Okomma, a Nigerian diplomat's daughter, arrives at exclusive Crofton College in Wiltshire, she is immediately drawn to beautiful, tempestuous, unpredictable Scarlett Chiltern. Adamma and Scarlett become inseparable - until a boy comes between them. Soon the battle lines are drawn and Adamma is shunned by Scarlett and her privileged peers. But then Scarlett goes missing and everything takes a darker turn.

This is a cool book with a cool writer. coolio.

The book is formatted into an interesting way with the book being a cycle. The story switches between the present, the day Scarlett disappears and from the day Adamma meets Scarlett. So if you want you could just read the past entries first and then go back and read the present part but probably won’t be as good of experience since the book wasn’t design to be read that way. Maybe do that if you decide to reread it. 

The plot had you guessing and doubting where Scarlett had gotten off to. The relationship between Adamma and Scarlett was really well done and believable. I felt really invested with the characters by the end of the book and heavy effected by what occurs between them all.

I really love the end scene and its kinda perfect for the book.

Overall, I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars for drinking in the woods. Whilst really liking this book, I did find it bit predictable near the end but it still amazingly written so read it.

Book Review: The Rain by Virginia Bergin

Because films just don't include the important detail of bathroom habits during the apocalypse.

One minute sixteen-year-old Ruby Morris is having her first proper snog with Caspar McCloud in a hot tub, and the next she’s being bundled inside the house, dripping wet, cold and in her underwear. Not cool. As she and Caspar shiver in the kitchen, it starts to rain. They turn on the radio to hear panicked voices – ‘It’s in the rain . . . it’s in the rain . . . ' That was two weeks ago, and now Ruby is totally alone. People weren’t prepared for the rain, got caught out in it, didn’t realize that you couldn’t drink water from the taps either. Even a drip of rain would infect your blood, and eat you from the inside out. Ruby knows she has to get to London to find her dad, but she just doesn’t know where to start . . . After rescuing all the neighbourhood dogs, Ruby sets off on a journey that will take her the length of the country – surviving in the only way she knows how.

The thing is about this book is that unusual in that the main character in no way or form should survive the apocalypse. Ruby has survive mostly from luck. She is not at all practical, she wastes drinkable water a lot. I guess it would be highly unlikely if she didn't have practical people around her. It interesting to have apocalypse from that point of view.

I feel like they run out of liquid too soon. I mean they run out of any form of water the next day after the run came. I guess it could just be greatly unfortunate that grocery day was tomorrow when it suck. I also don't think the science is quite all there. Certain things don't make sense, like why does it only effect the humans so explosively and there nothing at all to indicate that the water is infected at all. There's probably a science thing that could at least test it, but we don't really meet anyone with that skill set. This the start of series so hopefully we get those answers. Also who cut off all the phone lines.

Overall, I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars for murderous neighbours. This book had it funny moments with featured reference to that if this was Hollywood movie and of course mostly it was just tragic as everyone dies in the world and there no water to be had. The story could have ended where the book does but I am glad there is going to be a sequel and plan to read it.

I got this off Netgalley for Review. It is being published by Macmillan Children's Books on 17th July (tomorrow).

Book Review: Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky

Nothing sexier than a naked Ken doll.

Before this all happened, the closest I'd ever come to getting physical with a guy was playing the board game Operation. Okay, so maybe that sounds pathetic, but it's not like there were any guys at my high school who I cared to share more than three words with, let alone my body.

Then I met Wes, a track star senior from across town. Maybe it was his soulful blue eyes, or maybe my hormones just started raging. Either way, I was hooked. And after a while, he was too. I couldn't believe how intense my feelings became, or the fact that I was seeing—and touching—parts of the body I'd only read about in my Gray's Anatomy textbook. You could say Wes and I experienced a lot of firsts together that spring. It was scary. It was fun. It was love.

And then came the fall.

 I generally like this book, though they were few issues with it though that bugged me.

Domuqiue is a virgin with access to the internet yet she never looks up Sex tips or whatever. She relays on her Best Friend for her sex info mostly. I actually cringe at certain parts because even in my inexperince I know they're doing it wrong. Remember kids, if someone bleeding you're doing it wrong (even if it your first time). Dom is all about the safe sex, it just seems a bit weird that knowledge about that but not actual sex.

I don't percudilair like Dom, I don't perduliar like Wes. Maybe that makes them a perfect couple then. Probably not. Though, I do think they are very realistic teenagers, just the sort of teens I would roll my eyes at whist I passed them the hall at school. This book deals with Teenage sexuality realistic. They certain thing in here I could critised for being stupid but sadly certain things Dom does are what actual real woman do.

Overall, I give this book 3 out of 5 stars for buckets of fiction tears. I recommended it for anyone who likes Romance and wants a YA book that actually deals with sex. 

 Joins us next ( month probably, certainly not next) week where I shall be reviewing the sequel 'Anatomy of a Single Girl'.

Disclaimer: I was sent this book for Review by the Author, but you know me I'm highly critical of everything, even things I love, so I won't be swayed by free books. I just felt I should tell you that.

Book Review: All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

In all honesty, I requested this book purely because the title reminded me of the Fall Out Boy song which I love. *briefly wanders away to think about Patrick Stump's voice*


Em is locked in a bare, cold cell with no comforts. Finn is in the cell next door. The Doctor is keeping them there until they tell him what he wants to know. Trouble is, what he wants to know hasn’t happened yet.

Em and Finn have a shared past, but no future unless they can find a way out. The present is torture – being kept apart, overhearing each other’s anguish as the Doctor relentlessly seeks answers. There’s no way back from here, to what they used to be, the world they used to know. Then Em finds a note in her cell which changes everything. It’s from her future self and contains some simple but very clear instructions. Em must travel back in time to avert a tragedy that’s about to unfold. Worse, she has to pursue and kill the boy she loves to change the future . . .

 A plus for slightly misleading summary. How is it misleading? I can't say because you know spoilers.

So this about Time Travel (and also the characters, imagine that), I really liked the theory and the rules of the Time Travel. Though, no idea why anyone would agree to do it unless they were desperate, like Em and Finn, because there's no returning to your present and you eventually disappear Basically, it has the classic backward time travelling of what would life be like if someone had the power to mess with the past. Em and Finn basically travel back in time in attempt to stop the Time Machine ever being built as the present basically sucks.

There was a sort of error, it said that European Union had all the countries of European where it only has a random few (some who by the laws of the union shouldn't be in EU at all, but that's a rant for another day). I guess you could argue that in that Timeline Em comes from that EU had been the whole of Europe but did seem she referring to the original time line a.k.a our real one.

So as the proper story, writing and characters...PIZZA. Seriously, the book divided by the POV of Em and Marina whom is actually of the time period Em and Finn travel back into. So you have Em on her mission and just what's actually going on I guess (of course till they bump into each other which isn't really a spoiler because alternating POV always bump into each somehow eventually).

The characters are likable enough, Em has some self-image issues;Finn grows on you like fungus (you know the good kind that they make antibiotics from); Marina is like 16 and needs some life experience and James frankly just has issues. So many issues.

In summary, I give this book 4/5 stars for random, silent 'E's (you have to read it to find out what I mean by that'). I like this book fair enough, not sure whether I'll read the sequel or not as I honestly don't get why it getting one. However, who knows maybe Terrill is going somewhere with it or not. The whole every book is part of a series thing is getting a bit old in the world of YA.

Book Review: Paradise by Joanna Nadin

My secret is that I enjoy writing deaths of beloved characters.

Everybody has a secret.

When Billie inherits her grandmother's house, it's a fairytale come true. Maybe She can find the father she's never met. But moving back to her mum's childhood home dredges up secrets- and Billie soon discovers that people may die, but the past lives forever.

I have no strong feelings towards this book. It was aright. It is something I would call a light read (though does involves dark themes). Its a bit too heavy with the whole...

I really like layout of the book, the chapters switch between Billie's point of view of the present and the point of view of a family member of the past. While this book is about Billie, it more about how Billie came to be and the family dynamics that Billie's mum, Het grew up with and explains why she the way she is partly.

Billie's mum does annoy me sometimes. Just her actions, what she puts Billie and Finn through,  but that's probably intentional. She obviously surfing from some sort of mental illness, even if its straight up depression. She just really selfish like they no consideration for her kids, even though she is mentally ill they should have been some of glimpse of actually caring about her kids. Its all about her.

There three romances in this book, the only one I actually care for is the one that it would be too much of a spoiler to talk about. There others just seemed like replacements for actually liking ones family.

I do like the ending, its leaves with hope that Billie will gain something like what she wanted to from  moving there.

Overall, I gave this book 3/5 stars for the terrible post names.

Book Review: Acid by Emma Pass

The tagline for this book totally should have been "Acid, it'll make you trip".

2113. In Jenna Strong's world, ACID - the most brutal, controlling police force in history - rule supreme. No throwaway comment or muttered dissent goes unnoticed - or unpunished. And it was ACID agents who locked Jenna away for life, for a bloody crime she struggles to remember.
The only female inmate in a violent high-security prison, Jenna has learned to survive by any means necessary. And when a mysterious rebel group breaks her out, she must use her strength, speed and skill to stay one step ahead of ACID - and to uncover the truth about what really happened on that dark night two years ago.

I really liked this books but there is a few problems with it. Mainly that I never brought the premise. I just found the set up too unrealistic. It has Britain basically becoming police state in fifty years time due to the country going bankrupt and Europe kicking us out. That part that really undid the world for me. Britain would have to really piss off Europe (I'm presuming the whole of Europe have joined together at this point and not just the few in the EU) to get kicked out. I mean several country have went bankrupt (or close to it) and the EU help them (though that probably mainly to save the Euro).

I never brought people just being so very happy to let ACID take over in the first place. I know we only ever given the distorted view of this history but there would have been many a riot (even with the anti-ACID groups I just don't this is covered enough). Britain isn't bunch of push overs and we're very ford of alcohol (which banned in the world of ACID). I just don't believe it and unbelievable set up ruins the rest of the book for me in general which sort of did in ACID. I don't maybe if the book was set two hundred years in the future instead of one but with that said this book reminds me a lot of 'Slated' by Terri Terry (which I did a review on), they're not the same but have a few similarities with being British, new police stricture and altering of brains. 'Slated' only set forty years in the future but I bought it more. Pass just could have done a better job with making a more realistic world.

Another thing bug me is that its never explain why the books starts with Jenna being in a fully male prison. Surely there would be high Security prison for females as woman do commit violet crimes. I don't know its meant to be something they did to mess with her. We're just left to ponder where all the female murderers are.

Besides the bad world building, ACID is actually quite good. Jenna is really interesting character and kick arse character (though her actions in the last part of the book do annoy me somewhat, like what hell are you're doing. I suppose it would have been a boring end if she had just left to the others to finish). Also prepare to be confused as Jenna ends up using several different names during the book due to the whole hiding from ACID thing.

Another nice thing about this book is that its stand alone which is so rare in YA and Dystopia. Its all wrapped up nicely at the end of the book.

There is a bit of romance, which is cause the bit that annoyed me at Jenna, but other that I think it was buyable and nice. Yeah, I don't really care about romance parts in books.

Overall, I gave this book 4/5 stars, a few things could have been improved but it was still good book and nice addition to the Dystopia genre.

America Taking Over: Book Edition

On Tuesday Night, I realise I had only read 12 fictional books written by British Authors. 

61.36% of the books I've read this year so far were by Americans which is slightly depressing. Only 31.81% were by British Writer. Though, the non-fictional I read this read so far were 100% by British writers, all two of them.

The reason I realise this was because I'm doing the British Book Challenge this year. I counted the book reviews I had done and realise it was rather low number considering I've read 44 books this year so far.

I guess kinda weird how dominant another culture can be in your reading habits and guess TV as well. I mean I know in a lot of ways I come from a culture that often undermined with the fault that as part of the UK a lot of people forget that Scotland is a country on its own. I mean I have never read YA books that showcase that proudly states the Scottish School system. The closest is literally Harry Potter since Hogwarts has same titles for the year groups. Once upon of time I read about Harry's third year while I, myself was in my Third year too. To be honest as writer myself, I think it might be a risk.

In many ways, we're writing for a English reading market which includes competition from Australia, Canada and America will always be shadow. So as Scot I know the American school system and the English one, but neither an American or English person is likely to have any clue about the Scottish one. I know the school systems don't play a major role, it just one of those minor detains.

I remember finding an YA novel by an English writer and feeling instant annoyed when I found out it wasn't set in Britain because at that time it was rare  for me to find any books that shared any parts of my culture. I found some good YA books where it is mum, and not mom and the "u" isn't missing from words since then. Though, its also difficult to find when you like a certain Genre, even when you arguably come from the home of that Genre. I mean Fantasy. I guess its called Urban fantasy, but I don't really like that term. I prefer Hardcore Fantasy where you got characters in complete Fantasy world or Fantastical l where your character stumbles across a witch in the street.

I'm Scottish, but I share a hell lot culturally with English person or I guess Welsh (though I don't think I've ever had a proper conversation with Welsh person), that's why I also think of myself of as being British. Still its so lovely when I find decent tv or film where I hear a Scottish accent. Especially since I moved down to the Borders. While still in Scotland, it feels rather English. I guess it probably all those English people who moved here. I mean honestly, I'm not even sure what the native accent is down here. Generally, I miss Central Scotland so much.

With sharing a langagure with America, it often forgot how different Britain is from them. I personally think they are probably the most different than all the other English speaking countries. Sometimes I feel like we get America's culture forced on us. It not the same bond we share with say our other Commonwealth countries (not just the shared version of English spelling). I mean for example, Australia and Britain swap TV or you find joint projects. Its actually British viewers that kept some of the Australian soaps going.

Maybe I'm getting off track, my real point is that I never actually notice how most of what I read was American. It kinda obvious in reflection. I guess kinda realised why the British Book Challenge is actually exists.

P.S. If thinking I forgot about Ireland, New Zealand and others, I didn't they just didn't fit in my arguments. In fact I read two books by an Irish Author, though they were set in Britain.

Book Review: Horowitz Horror by Anthony Horowitz

So we meet again Horowitz Horror, you'll find that I'm even more horrifying now.


Welcome to a strange and twisted world where the spooky, the shocking, and the positively petrifying are lurking just out of sight.

A bus ride home ... turns into your worst nightmare.
A quaint country cottage ... has a grisly secret.
A man returns from holiday ... with bubbling skin and bloodshot eyes.

Horowitz Horror. It's all around you. Alive. Waiting.

Enter if you dare.

Horowitz Horror is collection of short stories, that I think was originally released as 3 stories per book but I originally read these stories as Horowitz Horror and More Horowitz Horror.  They have recently been released as just one book under Horowitz Horror (and now I have to make the hard decision over whether I will eventually ended up with double of the first stories). Seeing all the stories in the library (leaving my own copy of first part of the stories on the shelve at home), I thought I would give a reread and see how compares now that I'm no longer fourteen. I remembered like half of them properly.


I'm just going to go through each story:

1. Bath Night: It is a story of a haunted bath which is a bit genius. The whole vulnerable aspect of bathing and being naked. This is one of my favourite story first time I read it, it still good but it doesn't really touch me that much anymore. Isabel parents buy a bath that she just doesn't like and blood appears in the water but her parents don't see it. I think Isabell might have something wrong with her as apparently after three days without having a proper bath (while still washing), she notablely smells. I'm actually glad I re-read this as I missed the big twist the first time I read it. 3/5 stars as it just not as good as I remembered.
2. Killer Camera: The whole magic evil camera is a bit of cliché in the horror world as its been around since camera were invented. Everyone done it in some way. This one is slightly different as we get the background as to how the camera got that way. 4/5 stars.
3. Light Moves: Staying in the world of haunted technologies. This story features a computer haunted by the ghost of a sport journalist. Lets just say this computer gives the best horse racing tips this side of the afterlife, which cause the main character, Henry to do some underaged betting and get himself in trouble. 5/5 stars as it actually has good twist.
4. The Night Bus: Okay, here's a favourite featuring a tour of  Graveyards. It basically a twist on the ghost train idea, I think. Nick and his brother Jeremy find themselves stuck in the middle of London on Halloween (most of the story actually takes place after midnight). I just love this story. I gave this 5/5 stars because it awesome.
5. Harriet's Horrible Dream: This is the first story of terrible person/child getting what they deserved. Basically, Harriet is spoiled little brat, has a dream that her father goes bankrupt and since they have no room for her, he sends her away in a van to a restaurant called Sweeney Been. I never really liked this story, nor do I understand why use kids who ain't fully grown. Less meat. I grave it 2/5 stars as I just don't care for it.
6. Scared: Scared is surprisingly not that scary.  Its kinda like a Twilight Zone ep. The main character gets lost in the country, he's a dick and likes causing fear in his peers. It all ends happily for his mum. 3/5 stars because cause getting lost in a field means little to someone always lived surrounded by green background. Though, its get a whole star for good use of irony.
7. A Career in Computer Games: This is not the best story involving computer games, no that title goes to a  Midnight Library story. It aright, it another bad kid getting their comeuppance and teaches the lesson of not signing legal things without reading it first. It also the only story involving aliens, possibly. I gave it 3/5 stars for cone men on motorbikes.
8. The Man with the Yellow Face: A sexy young lad (this was originally written in 1999 btw) takes a photos of himself in mysterious photo booth in a train station. This is written first-person as reflection. With this reflectiveness you can feel what coming but its too much of a spoiler even to hint or joke about what happens. I gave 5/5 for a sexy train.
9. The Monkey's Ear: This is an amusing twist on the monkey fist story. You got dislikeable parents with their son Bart (not confuse with the one from Springfield) in a foreign market. Bart demands that his parents buy him a Monkey Ear which grants 4 wishes. As always these wishes goes astray and disaster is ensured. 5/5 stars for terrible parenting. This was where the first book ended and it was actually quite a strong ending, so good Editor choice there I guess.
10. The Hitchhiker: Okay, so now we're on to More Horror. I just want to say that I always thought the stories in More Horror were better. The Hitchhiker is clearly inspired by known stories but is meant to be a twist on them. Not sure how really talk about this without spoilering this story as it actually pretty simple plot.  4/5 stars for creative death method.
11. The Sound of Murder: This was my favourite story in More Horror. It actually pretty scary (in comparison) and comes in sort of chapters. I actually remember going to read it in Horowitz Horror (which I own) and realising that in it was in the other one (which I read from the school library). The main character Kate has been mostly deaf since birth and wears a hearing ad. Her hearing ad begins to play on up on the first day of term around her new teacher. She soon realises she can hear his thoughts. Kate only solution is to prove what he's thinking. I loved this story the first time and I still do. I gave it 5/5 stars for the Deaf hearing what others can't.
12.  Burnt: This is probably the most horror-frying (puns are so fun) of the stories. It involves no supernatural stuff and the main character is really just a witness to the horror. Its also in diary format and features Anthony Horrowitz's sons (seriously, I went WTF and checked). It another thing I miss when I read it the first time, it's not totally obvious, its just I happen to know something about Anthony Horowitz when these two kids said what their parents did, I went wait a second and confirmed my suspicion. Got to love me, solely on the fact I spent so much time on a single piece of Trivia. Tim has been sent on holiday with his Aunt Sara (blood relation) and Uncle Nigel. Uncle Nigel is a piece of work and obsessed with gaining a tan. Yes, the horror-frying thing happens to him with irony ensured. 5/5 stars for descriptive skin rebelling.
13.  Flight 715: If you've ever seen Final Destination, its that if death doesn't show up for revenge but not. Judith has a nightmare about her impending flight home and has to decide what to do about it.  Quite good. 5/5 stars for ending being twisty. Okay, its actually just because it's set in Canada.
14. Howard's End: This is awesome, because it kinda plays on what hell actually means and what it would be like. I won't say more. 5/5 stars for fluffy clouds.
15. The lift: This is quite a weird one, meaning that written from the sort of point of view of a retiring detective investigating his last case (You just couldn't stay away, could ya Horowitz?). I never brought into this story, just seems too unrealistic and it another one where the bad boy gets what he deserves for being an arse but with cannibals this time. Wait, we've had a bad kid and cannibals before. 3/5 stars for middle-age men.
16. The Phone Goes Dead: David's dad buys him a used mobile phone where the past owner died holding it causing some ghostly callers. Not much else to say, the ending does leave you thinking. I give it 4/5 for island streets.
17. Twist Cottage: Our last "Horowitz" story. This story involves a haunted cottage, sadly there wasn't really a twist to this story. What a waste of a title? Its also evil(ish) stepmother, sad father and unrealistic relationship. I never really understood why he married her or why she married him. Basically, it's hinted that she only went to uni, doing a course for a subject she didn't like to marry a professor. Most professors don't make that much money, I mean if I was gonna go digging, I wouldn't go there. I gave it 4/5 stars as it is actually quite good.
18. The Shortest Horror Story Ever Written: I'm not going to rate this as it not much of a story. I've just got to say, its either taking a while to get to me or they don't count library books as I've only ever read this story in lib books.

Overall, my only problem with this is that its a bit too middle class. Like it seems that the only non-middle class kids in this, are bad, which of course is sending a bad message. Though, if you've ever heard Anthony Horowitz talk, it petty obvious which class he is in so it probably just writing what he knows. I give this 5/5 stars for being as non-scary as I remember.

Book Review: Killing Rachel by Anne Cassidy

I'm kinda late with this book, as I got my hands on an Arc ebook, but I was distracted by Clockwork Prince. It was really weird reading this since my best friend is named Rose and I'm obviously called Rachel. Oh, and don't even start with the Killing Rachel jokes. My sib got there first.

Rose's mother and Joshua's father have disappeared. Police inquiries have gone nowhere and the case, it seems, is closed: Rose and Joshua have been told that the police believe their parents are dead. But Rose and Joshua still hold out hope that they are alive. Joshua is determined to follow up his own inquiries, which includes working out the meaning of the cryptic notebooks - the murder notebooks - they have discovered. Then Rose is distracted by odd, desperate messages she receives from Rachel, a former best friend from her school, followed by the terrible news that Rachel is dead. But perhaps Rachel's death will provide one more piece of the puzzle about what has happened to Rose and Joshua's parents . . .

 Okay, this the second in the Murder Notebooks series. Do you need to read the first. No, probably should.    

Basically, Rose once again struggles to solve a mystery single handed while her step bro Joshua focus on trying to find out what happened to their parents. That's the big overwhelming fault with Joshua, all he really cares about is finding his dad. All this over stuff is going on, he knows Rose dealing with issues from her past, possibly putting herself in danger (that more from the last book) but just stoves Rose's stuff out the way while he goes on wild goose chase.

To be honest, I don't buy he's that good. Joshua and his geeky friend Skeggsie always end up on the right path. They've never been wrong, they've never hit a dead end. Its a bit boring and unrealistic. Though, if you have have too many wrong roads you just want to hit someone.

The Mystery of Rachel, is slightly more satisfying. There is a proper twist and suspects. It could have gone several ways and still have been believable. The "Reveal" is probably the most interesting in terms of the book and goes with all the stuff Rose is feeling about Rachel.

There is tiny bit of Romance in this, which for the most part I ignored. In my head Rose has already declared her undying love for Skeggsie and I won't hear more on the matter. Mainly Romance bores me, no matter how complicated. I think the plot is good without it and the book really doesn't need it.

In terms of character, there isn't really much development. For some reason I really like Skeggsie, not sure why. I just do, he wasn't in this much.

 In the terms of the series, I don't much really happen the whole overall goal finding out what happen to the parents. More of confirming things.

Overall, I gave this 3 stars out of 5. It was aright, I wasn't thrilled by it.

Disclaimer: I got this book off NetGallary. So for free. Don't worry I'm honest and kinda of bitch. Just asked my Best Friend.

Review: Undone by Cat Clarke

I was incredibly excited for this book since I found out about it, being quite the big fan of Cat Clarke. I loved both her other novels.  Before I start to gush, lets have the straight up summary that's on the back of the book.

Jem Halliday is in love with her gay best friend. Not exactly ideal, but she's learning to live with it.

Then the unspeakable happens. Kai is outed online ... and he kills himself.

Jem knows nothing she can say or do will bring him back. But she wants to know who was responsible. And she wants to take them down.

As I take quite the interest in covers, I just want to start by saying I love this cover, but while matching the plot, its had annoying issues. Its looks like a blonde, little girl (it meant be a teen, but at first glance it looks like a kid) in a dress. This matches no one in the book. No one. Its shame really, as Clarke had the good luck with the other two books with covers that make sense. Okay, it might slightly match someone, but why put them on the cover is beyond me. But the font is petty.

Now for the actual important part.

 "Undone" is beautifully heartbreaking. I had tears in my eyes though most the last hundred pages or so. Basically, Jem gets her a letter with three names on it which she presumes is a list of who outed Kai. She then take upon herself to get revenge in her last year of life. Because Jem had decided to kill herself a month after Kai, but it is stopped by twelve letters (one for each month of the year) written by Kai. So now new plan is to get revenge and then kill herself on the anniversary of Kai's death.

The letters from Kai were a highlight (though very camp) and good look into Kai and Jem's friendship. Though, somethings he asks Jem to do are bit stupid. The whole blonde hair annoyed me, as soon as she does it I was hoping she dyed back to black or at least her natural colour before the book finished.

I also really dislike the mum (though I'm petty sure you're meant to), she so happy to ignore her daughter's problems because she now blonde and wearing "standard" make-up. I think those things are petty clear warning signs.

Jem to get her revenge becomes part of "Team Popular" so that she can find out their weaknesses. I think the first two revenges were fitting, but I never really understood the last one. She really seemed more at rick as well with that one. I also I think they could have been better spread out, as during the first and second one I got bit impatient, same with the third one, trying to figure what she was up to. I guess the last one was petty obvious, once things were in motion, but I just didn't understand how that was bad. There were bigger humiliations that she could have done, and it was bit half arsed.

That's basically all I can say without spoiling it. I gave it 5/5 stars but I don't think it was as brilliant as Clarke last two books. I still highly recommend it.