Book Review: Dead Silent by Sharon Jones

Imagined if Bob the Builder became a Psychic Crime Investigator? Now that’s a show I would watch.

When Poppy Sinclair and her boyfriend visit snowy Cambridge, she doesn't expect to discover the body of a student - arms outstretched in the act of smearing bloody angel wings on the chapel's floor.

Suddenly, Poppy is faced with the possibility that the one closest to her heart might be the one committing the most malicious of crimes.

Dodging porters and police, dreading what she might find, Poppy follows the clues left by a murderer bent on revenge...

Long-hidden secrets are chillingly revealed, an avenging angel seeks forgiveness and red-hot vengeance must be quelled in the amazing new Poppy Sinclair thriller.

Dead Silent is the second book in The Poppy Sinclair Thriller series, if you have not read the first one then I suggest checking out my review on Dead Jealous. Though, I wouldn’t say you have had to read the first one to understand what going on but you should read the first one purely on the fact that it is awesome.

The characters are very realistic. Poppy and Michael feel like real teenage. Poppy has this complicated relationship with her dad and I think that was dealt with well. This also YA book with a proper plot that doesn't just stick to a school vocabulary a.k.a there is sexy talk and swearing in it. I love YA novels with swearing in it. It my biggest issue with YA is that no one ever swears, not even when they run into walls and demons. In real life you most certainly swear in those situations. Back to my point, it's another reason I love this book.

This is a very entertaining book to read. It quite witty at times and there is some awesome lines in it. My favourite being “You're not flaming Bob the Builder, Poppy. There are some things is you can't fix.” I shall now quote this to everyone at random times. It won't make any sense, especially since I don't know any one named Poppy.

The actual mystery part of the book involves a secret society and religious imagery so what not to love. The solution once again was everything it should be: logical and not obvious. I thought I knew who it was; I kept seconded guessing myself but it did turn out I was right. You never actually sure  of the solution until the big reveal. 

The supernatural side of the series is growing with Poppy having Psychic incidents. It didn’t really have much to do with the crime solving but does seem to be building up to that in the next book (Well, I really hope there’s next book anyway). So far there has also been a Physicist reference in every book. I'm really hoping for Richard Feynman in the next one. Though, maybe Jones is only sticking to British ones.

I give Dead Silent 5 out of 5 stars for bloody wings. The content is more mature than the first book, there is swearing, sexier times and the crimes are sort of gruesome (which I awkwardly love). It has a good mystery, well written and the characters are awesome. It just a very good and enjoyable novel/series to read; which I shall be pushing on to everyone from now on. 

P.S. I had to rewrite the whole review so I’m not very all pleased with blogger/google at all. I shall now forever to be paranoia to have backups of everything. Frankly, not as happy with this as the first one which is the way when things are lost.

Book Review: Dead Jealous by Sharon Jones

I bet Brian Cox was thrilled to be referenced in this book.

Last Summer, in a boating accident, Poppy Sinclair survived a brush with death.

But the girl she finds face down in a lake wasn't so lucky.

As Poppy fights to discover the truth behind what she believes is murder, she also discovers that people are not always as they seem. 

Slipping into a deep web of lies, jealousy and heart-stopping danger. Poppy comes to realise that the one thing that can save her has been right there, all the time.

I like this book, it was enjoyable and is probably one of the best YA thrillers I've ever read. 

It's set in a Pagan festival so definitely wins for unique setting. I actually had moment of horror that with the Wickerman that it was set near where I live (yeah, I don't like where I live); its not, it is actually set in the Lake District. It lovely whilst going through it on train but no desire to visit it. I love the idea of a book being set in a  festival of any kind. I mean having to sleep in tent whilst a killer is on a the loose is sort of genius and I can't believe I never thought of it.

There is a romance triangle thing sort of going on. Poppy is in love with her best friend Micheal and but she also meets the buff Tariq at the festival *vomits in the lake*. Okay, it's no where near cheesy as I just made it sound. I mean she also has a brief lesbian moment. The characters are actually all well thought and are as layered as onion (the main ones anyway). Jones does a really good job of make you like a character with only a few pages.

The solution wasn't obvious, it made sense and does manage to go down the wrong path. Gives you sum false ideas about the outcome. There were times where you question Poppy's survive instances (I don't know how these sort of books/any media would work without some those lapses). The ending was the typical high action. There is a small paranormal side to this book, it is set in a Pagan festival, you could explain in science if you really want. I personally just want to live it there sitting petty.

I give it 5 out of 5 stars for poodles named after atheists. I really enjoy this book, never left you bored or impatient. I think it would work as a stand alone but the sequel is in fact out tomorrow and I have a written a review of it now.

Flordia, Life and Book Related Plans.

I have some exciting news that Flordia is booked for October 2014. It definitely happening I will be leaving Scotland in October to experince a American Halloween and returning in Noveber to experince a Scottish winter. One of those is a lot funner than other. This course means that I will have to stop spending so much money on books which is something I should be doing anyway. But I'll need dollars to survile the states and there will be things I will want to buy over there.

Obviously, I will be going to Disney World and Wizarding World of Harry Potter expansion which expansion is going to be opened by the time we get there. Also I can get excited over Universal Halloween Horror Nights.  We going to for three weeks so does mean I'm going to have some stuff pre-written/filmed in case I don't have easy access to the internet. Just because I'm going on Holiday doesn't mean I can abandon my online duties. I'm petty sure no one would really notice but that's totally not the point. I got to stick of my goals and who knows I might even be head before that.

I've decided February is going to be active month of reviews. Every Wednesday will be having two review this month. I read two of the books that I planed to review; I've wrote one review and hoping to finish the other one tonight. I've started reading another ones. I was initially planning force myself to read the force myself to read the next two but I'm thinking of reading the next Vampire Academy series as I'm sort of in the mood for it and I have to eventually return the series to the library. I mean I don't want to kill myself over the reviews. If I do this I'll have reviewed all my review copy things that already out or coming out this month. There is one other book that I thought was going out this year but it was actually last year but doesn't really count as I got after I had came up with my review plan for this month. I also be one book ahead of my British Book Challenge goal of reading 50 British books and I have two weeks of leg room anyway.

I think I'm going to start doing Review Plans every month. I think it good idea cause then it won't be panicked that I'm not on top of netgalley or my book challenges. I would just like to be more organised this year in general.

My new bed came on Tuesday and my room is still not ready. There also talk of wallpapering the Wall of Damp that would be near impossible to do with the new bed built. I got to move the chest thing out of there. I've been told to just dump in my brother's room. I'm hoping to do it tomorrow, well not hoping as I really have to do.

I started a hospitality course thing that will hopefully lead to a job. I'm not really liking the course so far and it doesn't help that some of the people on it seem to think it possible to get lunch in half a hour. The more I think about it, the more I realise that I really wouldn't like a full-time job due to how much it would limit some of my plans. It would be good to have a full time job during the summer (a.k.a seasonal work). However, I'm meant to be building up a film portfolio so will I have enough time for life this summer. I'm going to be a proper student again soon (hopefully) so I won't be able to have a full time job anyway. I just feel sort of anxious of the idea going off my carer's allowance. I might not even get job so no point of thinking about it at the moment.

I guess I just like to panic myself for no real reason. That all I've got to say this week so see you in the next.

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.

Book Review: My Swordhand is Singing by Marcus Sedgwick

It has way old school vampires and passed the graveyard test so that all you really need to know.

In a bitter winter, Tomas and his son, Peter, settle in a small village as woodcutters. Tomas digs a channel of fast-flowing waters around their hut so that they have their own little island kingdom. Peter doesn't understand why his father has done this, or why his father carries a long, battered box, whose mysterious contents he is forbidden to know. 

But Tomas is a man with a past--a past that is tracking him with deadly intent. As surely as the snow falls softly in the forest of a hundred thousand silver birch trees, father and son must face a soulless enemy and a terrifying destiny.

 This book features old folktale vampires. You know 'your loved one coming from the grave to drink your blood' type of vampire, the ones that actually resemble zombies more than a modern interpretation. There is other mythology as well, like the Shadow Queen. It creepy and tensed. There is this big complex plot building up, it seems more for the benefit of the next book. There is actions scenes and madden runs whilst as having a good plot for all the action to take place in.

Characters are alright, Peter is lonely youth with his only friend
being a horse that's older than him. Him and his dad moved around a lot and the local villagers don't like strangers because you always blame the people you barely know for the blood sucking monsters attacking people. There some sort of romance. I've got to say that I don't really read Marcus Sedgwick for his characters, they do tend to be a bit bland. It the actual story I come for. I think my favourite character was the horse.

Overall, I give 4 out of 5 stars for singing hands. I definitely read next (and I think final) book in the series. Though, I don't feel the rushing need to go out and find it (especially since my library doesn't have the next one). It worth if you like vampires, that are scary, and have interested to read something based on the old mythology.

Janurary Ramblings

Heló peops, so there nothing perpendicular I want to talk about in this week. I've read 16 books so far this month (this year would be accurate too). I've brought so many books that I don't want to think about it. It's not my fault it WhSmith who sell damaged books at full price but had buy one get one half price on their graphic novels yesterday. Brought Kick-Ass and Batman so fun times a head.

Stuff that I didn't say in last week post because of having a post that actually had a point. I'm finally getting a new bed which should come Monday. My room is still not quite ready for it to be built.  I found mould on some of my books the horror, attempting to sort it out. I've been buying things I shouldn't (Here's a hint it starts with a 'B' and ends with a 'K'. I finally moved that bookcase last week, now to move the chest and then the TV. I'll have to move the camp bed out of my room.

I have to finish my room this weekend. Last night I kept knocking this bag of clothing next my bed over. I'm also sitting a top of a pile of books next to be review. The next three weeks of reviews are planned, only one week written or read but that will change soon. It nice to have a plan that falls in with my British Book Challenge.

I really need to stop buying so many books, I have like over hundred books waiting to be read and yes I've read 16 books this year but 11 of them were library or Netgalley a.k.a books that I don't actually own. Yes, some were me catching up to series I've already started and therefore saving me from actually buying them. I  just buying too many. I need to stop for a while. Maybe not stop buying books altogether more sticking to ones that I've wanted for a while.

I kinda only want to buy books by British authors or books that are being relased this year. Maybe I buy one or two books a month (I guess more if its a boxset I decided to buy but then only the boxset). Not like a number I'm allowed to spend, yes I need to save but the number of books I own unread is a issue I would like to reduce.

I plan to not get as many books from the library once I'm done with the Vampire Academy series, there's a few I want to take out as to finish a series or to try a series out that I've heard a lot about. The library does save me some money and its a good source for British books.

I'm starting this Hospiaty course on Monday which will hopefully lead to job so I have more money to save for this holiday. I hope it goes well.

My sleeping pattren as been rather weird lately. I've been trying to turn it so I'm awake during the daylight hours not much success. For instance, last night I fell asleep a 10pm and woke at 1.11am. I got back to sleep at 4 something and woke at noon from probling. It'll probably woke itself out.

I hoping to join this coleb channel but I need to film audition. I've done the main filming but need to extra bits tomorrow (realistic it will happened then) and then edit it. There's a lot of people interested.

I finished reading The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield in the early hours of this morning (a review will eventually appear here) so I watched the BBC Adaption. I'm not sure if I like it or not. I think a good adaption should capture the spirit of the book and I don't know if it did. There are certain changing that I really don't like. 
I guess all for this week so I'll see you in the next.

Book Review: Just One Year by Gayle Forman

Dutch boys never seem interested in me, mainly because I've never met any.

Funfact: Willem is Blonde.

Twenty-four hours can change your life . . . 

Allyson and Willem share one magical day together in Paris, before chance rips them apart. 

The romantic, emotional companion to Just One Day, this is a story of the choices we make and the accidents life throws at us.

But is one day enough to find your fate?

Basically, this fills out the missing parts of the Just One Day by being in Willem's point of view. Also elaborate on things hinted on in the first book about Willem's past.

 The book is separated into two parts with the same titles as the last one and we join Willem's point of view. We find out about Willem childhood and what he was getting up before Allyson finds him.It answer at lot of questions that left unanswered in the first book and it definitely worth it to read it if you're enjoy the book. I don't think the book would much sense if you haven't read the first book at points.

Some character development going, this is like an instant love book but it the realistic kind where they doubt which I love. Meeting each other causes them both to question their lives and relations with other people. Allyson in the first book and Willem in this one. Willem has lovely friends, but he is sort of arsehole to girls. Though, I actually like Willem a lot better after reading this.

Overall, I give it four out of five stars for clueless girlfriends. It was enjoyable read and a good addition to the story. It leaves you wondering but I think the end is promising enough. If you like the first one then you should definitely read this one.

Book Review: Butterfly Grave by Anne Cassidy

What a beautifully title...There's a reason this blog has weirdness in the title.

Death is circling ever closer round Rose and Joshua...

It almost christmas time when Joshua's uncle, Stu, has a near fatal accident, leaving him in hospital with head injuries. Determined to help, Rose and Joshua head to Newcastle to visit.

But even Joshua's uncle has a dark past touched by murder and it looks as though his injuries are anything but accidental. As Rose becomes increasingly preoccupied with the deaths she has witnessed, and Joshua more and more paranoid about who might be watching them, a brutal killing occurs. Somebody really does not want Rose and Joshua to find their parents. But who? And why?

Okay, to start with this the third in the Murder Notebook series so I'm assuming if reading this that you've read the other two books ( if not I did do a review on the second one Killing Rachel). So let start the actual review.

In the last book we had issues from Rose's past and now it Joshua turn. So we in New Castle where Josh lived with his uncle till the whole going down to London for uni.

It follows the format of the other books with two crimes having happened with Rose and Joshua trying to find out what actually happened. In terms of the Murder Notebooks, there was development but I feel like we don't learn anything new. Though, there is a reveal in this book and I think it meant to a bigger deal than it is to me. You already knew it and book seems slightly filler on that front.

I'm not emotionally happy with this book because of spoilery things. It probably intended to show how things have got more serious and how life is not fair. It just seem unnecessary to me. There is romantic developments for those who care.

Overall, I give this book  4 out of 5 stars for Angels of the North. It was slightly better than the last one for me. I'm three books in already, so even if this had been terrible I would have still read the next one but I'm looking forward to reading it.