Evermore: The Immortals series #1 by Alyson Noel

Evermore: The Immortals series by Alyson Noel




Description: Seventeen-year-old Ever is the sole survivor of a car crash that killed her entire family. Living with her aunt in Southern California, she's plagued by the ability to hear the thoughts of those around her, and haunted by the ghost of her little sister. She tries to tune everyone out, shunning her old lifestyle as the pretty, popular cheerleader, but somehow she can't hide from Damen, the new guy at school. Stunningly handsome, clever and not a little bit intimidating, there's something about him that doesn't quite add up. Ever realises he's hiding something, but nothing could prepare her for the truth - especially when the truth involves past lives, murderous enemies, everlasting love and the secret of eternal youth . . .

My review: I seem to have got myself into this ‘Young adult’ Vampire/supernatural romance genre, at the moment. I have to admit, being a 35 year old mum it does make you ‘relive’ a bit of your teenage years reading these and they are an easy read, which is probably why I enjoy them. So that being said, here’s my review.

The opening of this story is quite sad and heart rendering, especially when you have lost a loved one yourself, you can relate to what Ever, our heroine, is going through. I liked Ever, she’s a nice mixed up teen who is just looking to try to survive her guilt over the accident that claimed the rest of her family. She has the usual sort of hang ups that most teens have, but also has a lot of extra ‘baggage’ to deal with, like she sees peoples auras and can hear their thoughts, good and bad!

Her friends are the ‘misfits’ of the school, so they meld together well, although they are a fickle pair, Haven and Miles. Damen comes to town and instantly is the new hottie of the school and only, really, has eyes for Ever. In return, Ever seems to be admiring beneath her hoodie and iPod but not letting her emotions run their course. It’s a typical teen struggle story, really, with some good supernatural twists and turns. Riley, Ever’s dead sister who visits her in her spiritual form is a fun character and I sometimes forgot she was supposed to be 12, even spirit kids grow up quicker these day, haha.

I like this book, as long as you don’t take things too seriously and you can see the creative side of things I think it’s highly enjoyable. Would make an interesting film, if it happens.

Darke Academy (Books 1 and 2) by Gabriella Poole review

I have recently read both of these books, so I thought I'd put both of their reviews on one posting :)

Secret Lives (Darke Academy #1) By Gabriella Poole



Description: The Darke Academy is a school like no other. An elite establishment that moves to an exotic new city every term, its students are impossibly beautiful, sophisticated and rich. And the more new scholarship girl Cassie Bell learns about the Academy, the more curious she becomes. What sinister secrets are guarded by the Few -- the select group of students who keep outsiders away? Who is the dark stranger prowling the corridors at night? And what really happened a year earlier, when the last scholarship girl died in mysterious circumstances? One thing Cassie will discover is that a little knowledge may be a dangerous thing, but knowing too much can be deadly...

My review:I liked this book, firstly being English and reading a book by a British author was great, the slang was familiar and brought a smile to my face being used correctly. Nice to have an English based heroine and a good mixture of other nationalities represented in the Darke Academy. A school with a difference, very exclusive, very educated, in more than just 'the normal' too.

Cassie is an endearing heroine, her friends and enemies, along the way, are well rounded characters. The story was nicely paced, and the crescendo was very good too. The end was a good one, leading you to want to read about the next 'terms' events. Wondering how the story will evolve in it's new peak of interest, after Secret lives.

I would recommend it, it's not your 'conventional' vampire based novel, but it's still gripping enough to make you want to read to the end.



Blood Ties (Darke Academy #2) by Gabriella Poole



Description: The Darke Academy is a school like no other. An elite establishment that moves to an exotic new city every term, its students are impossibly beautiful, sophisticated and rich. This term the secretive Darke Academy has moved to New York, and Cassie Bell is no longer the innocent new girl. Now she is strong, determined, and hiding secrets of her own. For Cassie has been introduced to the world of the Few and is struggling to come to terms with her astonishing powers, a dangerous romance and the malevolent spirit inside her, demanding to be fed. When an old enemy returns, bent on revenge, Cassie is tested to the limit. Can she rescue her friends from a horrific fate, or will she end up destroying them to save herself? Wherever the Darke Academy goes, death is never far behind ...

My review:The second book in the Darke Academy following the story of scholarship girl, Cassie Bell. After her first term at the academy things have changed for her. She now has a 'budding' intense romance and has some strain on her friendships with Isabella and Jake.

Now a member of the elite 'Few' she has many personal struggles to deal with and still has to find her 'niche' within the Few. Her journey is not easy and is quite intense with obstacles she has to overcome and conquer.

The book is well written and a great second part to the series, I loved the pace and loved the little twists and introduction of certain scenes. Really enjoyed it and can't wait for the third book to come out in August!!

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (Twilight saga #4)

Description: When you loved the one who was killing you, it left you no options. How could you run, how could you fight, when doing so would hurt that beloved one? If your life was all you had to give, how could you not give it? If it was someone you truly loved?

To be irrevocably in love with a vampire is both fantasy and nightmare woven into a dangerously heightened reality for Bella Swan. Pulled in one direction by her intense passion for Edward Cullen, and in another by her profound connection to werewolf Jacob Black, a tumultuous year of temptation, loss, and strife have led her to the ultimate turning point. Her imminent choice to either join the dark but seductive world of immortals or to pursue a fully human life has become the thread from which the fates of two tribes hangs.

Now that Bella has made her decision, a startling chain of unprecedented events is about to unfold with potentially devastating, and unfathomable, consequences. Just when the frayed strands of Bella's life—first discovered in Twilight, then scattered and torn in New Moon and Eclipse—seem ready to heal and knit together, could they be destroyed... forever?

The astonishing, breathlessly anticipated conclusion to the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn illuminates the secrets and mysteries of this spellbinding romantic epic that has entranced millions.

My review: Ah, what can I say??!! The 'final' book in the Twilight saga - *sigh* oh Bella, oh Edward, oh Jacob and more. This was a good story, broken into 'three books' and continuing the story well. The emotions run high throughout and the turmoil evoked in it is well represented by Stephenie Meyers writing.

I found it hard not to route for the characters for a 'happy ending'. In their own way they got it, but there is scope for more stories from the Twilight 'families'. Maybe not from Bella's perspective, but definately more scope. The end was a little 'short', although after going back and re-reading it I realised Stephenie Meyer was 'invisiging' it to be like the ending of a movie, soft and romantic rather than 'book like' as in 'they lived happily ever after, the end'.

Well, written, be interested if Stephenie will return to Forks and the Cullens in the future, if so, then I'll be there reading more installments on them :) Would recommend this book, but you must read the others in the series too, you really MUST!!

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer (Twilight saga #3)

Description: Bella must choose between her friendship with Jacob, a werewolf, and her relationship with Edward, a vampire, but when Seattle is ravaged by a mysterious string of killings, the three of them need to decide whether their personal lives are more important than the well-being of an entire city

My review: Eclipse, the third in the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer has it all. Action, love, hate, jealousy (in abundance), trust, heartbreak and more. You cannot read this book without having read the first two books in the Twilight saga, each one sets up the story for the next.

I loved this, the rollercoaster of emotions I felt while reading it, was amazing. One minute I liked Edward, next I wasn't so sure, one minute routing for Jacob, then not. Bella, you are a REAL teenager!! LOL, wow, the emotions you have as a teenager are intense and this book definatly brings it all to the forefront.

What can I say, I love these books, I love the rivalries, I love the saga and would recommend anyone, young or old, to read them. It's escapism at its best.

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer (Twilight Saga #2)

Description: Legions of readers entranced by Twilight are hungry for more and they won't be disappointed. In New Moon, Stephenie Meyer delivers another irresistible combination of romance and suspense with a supernatural twist. The "star-crossed" lovers theme continues as Bella and Edward find themselves facing new obstacles, including a devastating separation, the mysterious appearance of dangerous wolves roaming the forest in Forks, a terrifying threat of revenge from a female vampire and a deliciously sinister encounter with Italy's reigning royal family of vampires, the Volturi. Passionate, riveting, and full of surprising twists and turns, this vampire love saga is well on its way to literary immortality.

My review: The second in the Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer, and I have to say, the characters and plot kept me drawn in, but I thought the end was a little weak. I'm now starting to understand the whole: Team Edward or Team Jacob 'thing'. At the moment, I don't know, I was 100% Edward after Twilight, then this book took me more to Jacob, quite looking forward to reading Eclipse.

All in all, I think you have to read the first to understand this one, I couldn't imagine trying to 'understand' this one without reading the first one. Again, a good 'light read' and not for those expecting lots of blood and guts and fangs. A 'gentle' Vampire/Human/Werewolf love triangle.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer: my review

Description: Isabella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Bella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife—between desire and danger. Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.

My review: I went into reading this book with an open mind, I'm not really into the whole vampire genre, but I was recommended to read this series of books by a fellow mum at the school. She said it's not as vampire and fangy as you might think and it'll make you feel like you're a teenager again. Just the sort of thing I wanted, some light reading, not too heavy and not too 'gory'.

Well, I think it may just be possible that I've fallen in love with a vampire called Edward Cullen! Yes, even a thirty, odd, year old married mum of three can fall for a seventeen year old (give or take a few centuries) vampire with gorgeous amber eyes. The story reeled me in with the attraction between the star crossed lovers, Bella Swan and Edward Cullen. A great light read with good twists and turns and I really was routing for the lovestruck teens all the way through. I really enjoyed it, I wouldn't say it's for the 'serious fang lovers' out there, it is light reading aimed at the teen/young adult reader, but if you're older and want a nice light read with a bit of teenage romance, rather than the 'full on' sort of thing you get in more 'adult' books, then I think you may well enjoy it. Well done Stephenie Meyer, look forward to reading the rest of the Twilight series!!

Stephenie Meyers website can be found here.