I’ve followed this author over from her adult romance series about a town called Broken Heart, under the pen name Michele Bardsley. She’s gone from making me cackle with her tales of vampirism and parenthood, to blowing me away with her first novel within the Young Adult framework.

Undeadly was on my ‘must have this book or I will raise hell’ list and I was so concerned it wasn’t going to be released in Australia, I made sure I had it on pre order from Book Depository as early as August. Since then I have seen it proudly gracing the shelves in Big W right along side all the other best sellers this year.

So if you haven’t already picked up this magnificent book yet, here’s the down low from good reads.

“ The day I turned 16, my boyfriend-to-be died. I brought him back to life. Then things got a little weird…

Molly Bartolucci wants to blend in, date hottie Rick and keep her zombie-raising abilities on the down-low. Then the god Anubis chooses her to become a reaper—and she accidentally undoes the work of another reaper, Rath. Within days, she’s shipped off to the Nekyia Academy, an elite boarding school that trains the best necromancers in the world. And her personal reaping tutor? Rath.

Life at Nekyia has its plusses. Molly has her own personal ghoul, for one. Rick follows her there out of the blue, for another…except, there’s something a little off about him. When students at the academy start to die and Rath disappears, Molly starts to wonder if anything is as it seems. Only one thing is certain—-Molly’s got an undeadly knack for finding trouble….”

The Reaper Diaries is completely standing on it’s own at the moment in the market as far as I am concerned. We have a few series where the main protagonist is involved with helping souls pass over, however what sets Vail’s book aside is her fresh angle of using Egyptian Mythology. I can’t help but think there are probably a few authors out there smacking their heads right now; after all the Egyptians are one of the earliest civilisations to believe in the afterlife and leave enough evidence to inspire and intrigue us to this day.

If that’s not enough to have to popping out of your chair to bug someone to take to the nearest Big W, let me give you a few of the other elements that have me bouncing for next year’s release of book two, Unchosen.

Language. Molly is what I consider to be a typical (not stereo typical) sixteen year old girl. She speaks like she’s sixteen, as in, she’s okay with her age… not like some of the novels this year where the leading lady has to go to boarding school and tries way too hard to fit in and ultimately ends up sounding like nails down a blackboard in my head. Also the signature draw card of the author, in my opinion, is the humour.

Settings and world building is generously rich, but not so much that you’re wanting the characters to hit the big landmarks. The characters hold the stage and they will not be outshone for anything.

This book really isn’t like anything else I’ve read this year. If you want a fun, summer romp, this is a good one to look out for. It would by far pass the tests of Ma’at. Just sayin’

http://www.michelevail.com/

Paperback, 272 pages

Published November 20th 2012 by Harlequin Teen

ISBN: 0373210469(ISBN13: 9780373210466)

Best books of 2012

Throne of Glass – Sarah J Mass

Falling to Ash – Karen Mahoney

God Save the Queen – Kate Locke

Besieged – Rowena Corey Daniels

Shine Light – Marianne de Pierres

Most Anticipated for 2013

Spirit – Brigid Kemmerer

Mystic – Alyson Noel

The Queen is Dead – Kate Locke

Hot Blooded – Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie

Last Blood – Kristen Painter

Books that were and are are to be released at the end of 2012 that I am itching to read but don’t fit into either of the other 2 lists

Undeadly – MicheleVail

Speed of Light – Amber Kizer

Darkness Hunts – Keri Arthur

Days of Blood and Starlight – Laini Taylor

Small Shen – Kylie Chan

By the end of book 3 of the House of Comarré series, Bad Blood, I was feeling a little concerned with how much more awesomeness could be written about the characters in this universe. There has to be a limit, and stupidly, I thought that limit had been reached.

Then I was handed Out for Blood, which is book 4, and I have now learned my lesson. Do Not Underestimate Kristen Painter and her wealth of plotty goodness. It even warns you on the front with a quote from Patricia Briggs… ‘It’s un-put-downable.‘

I have raved in past reviews of the beautiful cover art which is designed by Lauren Panepinto and the incredible illustrations are by Nekro. To round out this series with matching covers will be beyond cool. This time around Chrysabelle is wielding a pair of extremely dangerous looking daggers that practically glow with the brightness of the orange used to accent them. We still have the black, white, red and gold theme the books are known for, and it displays equal artistry with the others.

My life has been in a little crazy lately so I was forced to take my time to read Out for Blood, rather than blazing through it and being left breathless by the mix of drama, action and romance. I had to snatch any chance I had, and it didn’t diminish the depths to which you were immersed, even in 20 minute busts.

Mal is put into an awful position where he has to face his fears, Chrysabelle discovers the repercussions of the plot line from book 3 and so does Doc. I still want to hit Tatiana in the worst way and there are surprises along the way I don’t want to spoil for you.

Now I am going to be in agony waiting until some time next year when book 5, the final House of Comarré book, aptly entitled, Last Blood, is published. Judging by the picture on goodreads, we have some more glorious cover art and I am itching to find out how Painter plans to tie up everything, and if there really will be a happy ending.

http://kristenpainter.com/

http://www.houseofcomarre.com/

Mass Market Paperback, 480 pages

Published October 30th 2012 by Orbit

ISBN 0316200174 (ISBN13: 9780316200172

I’ve been waiting for this book since the very first review I did for Burn Bright back in July 2010.

If you don’t feel like flipping all the way back through the reviews, I’ll link you here…

Anyway, I was really intrigued by Karen’s story The Spirit Jar in that anthology. And was a little snippy there wasn’t a full length book out there about Moth. She was a character I wanted to get to know better and by golly the wait was worth it.

I obtained my copy from Book Depository simply because the cover art was better on the UK release than it was on the Australian release. The girl who represents Moth may be a little off from the description Karen gives us, but the way her hair is mixed in at the ends with images of moths in flight, as well as the gold filigree with moth accents just straight out did it for me.

Moth (Marie O’Niel) has been a vampire for a little over a year. She’s had her life turned around and flipped on its end by the actions of Theo, her maker. Giving up almost everything of her human life has taken its toll on both the relationship she has with Theo and the O’Niel family, but things were starting to get back to something almost like ‘normal’.

Two detectives turning up on her doorstep to enquire about the mauling of one of Moth’s classmates, strips away the façade of normalcy, and it’s up to Moth to save not only her own life, but also the lives of the people she loves most in this crazy-mixed-up world.

I could rave about this book all day and write pages of fan girl squee worthy highlights. However I’ll try to keep it to the strongest positives.

Characterisation is beautifully transcribed; I can almost hear each character as I’m reading, even the smallest part resonates with a unique tone. I am pleased to say Moth is well up there with the kick ass girls of 2012.

The tension is built up quickly and released in short bursts throughout the novel. The big fight scene has only one minor flaw and it isn’t really enough to yank you out of the flow of great choreography.

For the relationship fanatics out there, we also have an unlikely pairing and it will most likely unfold in future books.

My only regret is the story is so swiftly paced that it was over in less than 48 hours. I even deliberately stopped before the big fight scene so I could savour every last chapter. I just hope Karen will be able to give Moth more page time in future. She really is a beautifully crafted hero. I must have more Moth!

Paperback, 341 pages

Published September 27th 2012 by Corgi Childrens (first published January 1st 2012)

ISBN 0552565261 (ISBN13: 9780552565264)

The title got me going on this book. A killing in the hills evokes images of houses hidden away in remote places and some seriously not nice things happening to the occupants. It seems I’m not completely off target with this tale of how drugs can leave their mark on small back water communities.

“Bell Elkins left a broken teenager, savaged by a past she couldn’t forget. But, as prosecuting attorney for Raythune County, Bell is back and determined to help clean up the only home she has ever known.

As winter sets in and her daughter is witness to a shocking triple murder, Bell finds her family in danger. Can she uncover the truth before her world is destroyed again?”

Acker’s Gap, in my mind, is one of those picture postcard towns you pass through to get somewhere else. You promise to visit someday, but never do. I like to imagine what life would be like for people who live in places like these, because for at least 6 months I was one of them. Living in a sneeze-and-you’ll-miss-it town is generally pretty quiet, but in comparison to my peaceful experience, Acker’s Gap is on its way to hell, complete with a road paved with good intentions.

The setting really holds its own and adds its own brand of stumbling blocks, due to remoteness and socio-economics.

The relationship between Bell and her daughter, Carla, is at times excruciatingly awkward, and I seriously doubt (hope!) if any teenager would actually behave as Carla did. Mum is a workaholic and I find it incredulous that nobody tells her to take one darn minute and just listen to what Carla has to say.

I flew through this stand-alone book in less than 48 hours and though some sections were a tad slow, it mainly bounds along at a steady pace. The body count is getting up there and the gore is nicely shocking.

So if you’ve ever wondered like I have, about the people, who live in those small towns, give A Killing in the Hills a read. This book would be perfect for those long nights by the fire at the most remote Bed and Breakfast you can find.

Paperback, 272 pages

Published August 30th 2012 by Headline (first published August 21st 2012)

ISBN 0755392868 (ISBN13: 9780755392865)