I barely brushed over the blurb on the back of the book when I picked this one up, and the cover art of the Aussie paperback isn’t something I would call remarkable, a pretty face and the title. *shrug* But I’d heard good things and wanted to see what all the fuss was about.  Boy was I surprised.

“In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city’s most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.’s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she’s to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight–at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.”

The concepts in this novel were outlandish to me; WHO BANS CHOCOLATE?! I had at least 2 chocolate bars in commiseration for Anya and the rest of the people in this reality. (That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.) In our current reality where binge drinking and premixed concoctions are killing people, the thought that minors could consume alcohol legally, but a mars bar was forbidden just blew my mind.

I don’t think you can really class this book as post-apocalyptic, because the world hasn’t technically been taken over by war, or famine, but with no chocolate it completely fits into the dystopian category. SERIOUSLY, WHO BANS CHOCOLATE?!

Everything old is new again in this modern Manhattan and New York City back drop. Vintage clothes are common, because making new clothes takes water, and there’s not a whole lot of water left. Society is definitely divided by class, and it seems almost circa 1920’s in the concepts of organized crime.

Gabrielle is a champion at giving her leading females a substantial dose of chutzpa (self-confidence) and her guys hold their own. Even the weakest character earns your respect with his ability to bend the rules, and yet he sits on the periphery like a bank of clouds. One false move and he’ll be a storm I don’t think even the Balanchines could weather.

The second book Because it’s my Blood should be on our shelves now; if not, it won’t be too far into the future.  I must admit I haven’t been this excited to read a sequel novel in a series since Brigid Kemmerer’s Storm came out earlier this year.

I kept trying to concoct a list of comparative books to give you an idea of the writing style, but as with quite a few of the YA books this year, there really isn’t much out there like this intelligent offering by Gabrielle Zevin.

If you’ve read it and loved it, what have you read that’s along the same lines? Help a girl out here.

Disclaimer – If you don’t like horror, blood, guts and war these books are NOT FOR YOU.

I will admit right here, right now I am not someone who has ever enjoyed this style of book, because I find I have a habit of putting myself into that character’s position and I have an attack of the wiggins.

Ashes follows 17 year old Alex through her survival of an electromagnetic pulse. Along the way we meet Ellie and Tom, and they work together to try and find other survivors. The question is, when they find other survivors, can they be trusted? Also, the story asks the question – who are the real monsters?.

Ashes really surprised me. I thought once the first set of eyeballs were consumed I wouldn’t be able to move forward, or even finish the book. I thought the gore would far outweigh the benefit of continuing. But then I was wrapped up in wanting Alex to make it; to find a safe place. And I really wanted her to have a happy ending.

Bick has a surprise waiting for us in the way the storyline pushes you along. It’s a little like that scene in the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie where they’re in the boat, in the tunnel with all the gory images flashing before their eyes. It’s enough to creep you out and more than enough to make you want to look away, but you know there’s a point to being on the boat so you hold on and grit your teeth.

Besides the eww factor, I really feel I enjoyed reading Ashes. The constant finger on the trigger approach to the suspense meant it was a very quick read. I had it read within 24 hours. The characters evolved into people you could cheer for and though the imagery was, at times, enough to make me groan in queasiness, it was extremely vivid and it had a purpose.

Now onto Shadows.

As the sequel to Ashes, perhaps Ilsa was feeling the pressure to up the ante, and make even the most jaded horror buff flinch. I was only able to get 300 pages into the 500 and something this book has to offer before I called it quits.

In Ashes we mostly stuck to Alex’s point of view, whereas in Shadows, we head hop between many different characters, and I feel perhaps the storyline suffered a little for this.  I lost that connection I felt with Alex, and though I can see the sense in broadening the reach of the storytelling, it made for far too much horror for my brain to contend with, and still feel comfortable.

The general gist is Alex surviving amongst a tribe of the changed. Tom is trying to find Alex. Peter has been abducted by a band of crazy militia and Chris is escaping judgment from the council of Rule.  These aren’t the only points of view we visit, but they’re the main plot points.

While I wasn’t able to finish this book at this time in my life, I think I will go back at some stage and continue. I still have a strong desire to see what becomes of Alex. I want to see if Tom will find her. I want things to turn out nicely for Ellie too. I want my pink fluffy bunnies damn it!

I think I’ve been bitten by the horror bug, and though I don’t have anything to compare Ilsa’s style of writing too; it certainly scared the you-know-what out of me. If you’re a fan of horror, that is what you’re looking for, right?

Now excuse me while I find a shaft of sunlight to go sit in while I immerse myself in something to chase away the scary images.

I’ve never really thought of puberty for guys as anything more than some awkward moments in public and changing the sheets a little more often than before. In comparison to periods, boobs and the removal of body hair for girls, I think guys generally cop it sweet.

Can’t say I’d really want the concerns of the protagonist in the last e-book I read; Parallel by Christopher Kneipp. I somehow think Mark would beg for a little ‘normal’ public embarrassment and not the great whopping pile of responsibility he’s been dealt. Paranormal abilities and the title of ‘World’s Hope‘ is just the tip of the slippery slope.

“Mark will be 16 soon but his birthday is the least of his worries. He has just found out a secret. His mother is not his mother, his father is not his father and the Earth is not his home.

In the shadow of an unseen enemy Mark is taunted by dreams and the harrying of his enemies growing army.

With the help of his best friend Matthew and new ally, the half-elven girl Angelie, he must escape this world. He must fight to get back home to the parallel world, Quell, where new dangers await and the hopes and expectations of all Worlds rests on his shoulders.

But on Quell he will find that a world away is not far enough to escape the reach of his own Parallel, Tyrren.”

I had the pleasure of reading this fantastic jaunt through the imagination of Christopher Kneipp. His character depictions are strong and the world building is quality stuff.

Mark evolves throughout the story from a teen with a bit of a chip on his shoulder to a somewhat more level headed young man. I guess having not one, but two worlds, relying on your latent skills would do that to anyone. Step up or get out of the way.

As for the evil nemesis, Tyrren is up there with Ghost Face for frustration factor. He’s bad, he’s demented, he’s obsessive and single minded in his desire to become immortal. His actions are hateful and Mark needs to question his morals to be able to put a stop to Tyrren’s horrid tirade.

Though I haven’t been to the Blue Mountains or any of the landmarks mentioned in Parallel, through all five senses we are grounded both in this reality and that of Quell. I can just about smell the air, and feel the ambience by the detailed descriptions as Angelie, and Mark make their way through the story.

This is book one of a trilogy and there are likely to be many more long nights and bags of jelly babies to come for Mark and his friends. I look forward to reading more.

Published December 15th 2011 by Christopher Kneipp on Smashwords

You all have no idea how excited I was when I saw online that Spark had an early release date… (As long as I didn’t want to wait for the matching cover art) I swear I did a happy dag dance as I plucked the parcel out of my mail box 10 days later. Maybe I could be a little bit of a fan girl when it comes to this series.

Anyways, here’s the goodreads blurb:

“Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally.

Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can’t. Like the fire that killed his parents.

Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he’s not doing it.

More than Gabriel’s pride is at stake — this could cost him his family, maybe his life. And no one seems to hear him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Layne understands family problems, and she understands secrets. She has a few of her own.

Gabriel can’t let her guess about his brothers, about his abilities, about the danger that’s right at his heels. But there are some risks he can’t help taking.

The fuse is lit…”

The pacing is break-neck fast, but as with Storm, Brigid doesn’t pull any punches. Her guys are complex and the girls they like are generally the smart ones, the ones who have way more depth than the shallowness of the ‘popular girls’. Layne is such a different character from Becca, and yet similar in the way she can stand up to Gabriel, and calls him out on his behavior issues. She’s got baggage, but carries on with grace and a stiff upper lip.

The elements sure get a work out this time, especially when tempers flare in the Merrick home. I missed the less stressed banter from Storm, but the tension kept everything on edge and it worked beautifully to keep the pace fast, and the stakes high.

Spark is a superb book for the school holidays, and if you haven’t picked up Storm, grab it at the same time, because you’ll want to get the back story. There are novellas in e-book format as well, for those who want a little more of the Merrick boys.

You’ll love these books if you like Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Chronicles of Nick, and Crave by Melissa Darnell.

Here’s the trailer!

http://www.brigidkemmerer.com/

Paperback, AUS Edition, 350 pages

Expected publication: October 1st 2012 by Allen & Unwin

“The Reckoning destroyed civilisation. Rising from the ashes, some people have developed unique abilities, and society is scared of them. Guided by the ancient spirits of the land, Ashala Wolf will do anything to keep them safe. When Ashala is captured, she realises she has been betrayed by someone she trusted. When her interrogator starts digging in her memories for information, she doubts she can protect her people forever. Will the Tribe survive the interrogation of Ashala Wolf?”

I’d gone against my own personal norm for this delightful book and watched at least one review on youtube before settling in to read it for myself. I don’t normally do that as I like to go into the book with little or no expectations and let the book speak for itself. However in this instance, I really wanted to see how a guy came at the book with a female main character. Braiden loved it and this gave me a big burst of hope for what was to come.

What I found was a heartfelt, gritty, story of survival, love and integrity with a dream-time aboriginal folk law adding another dimension. Ambelin’s characters are true to life insofar as their ambition and genuine struggle to belong.

Ashala is fierce in her loyalty and her desire to help others. Connor finds himself at the mercy of his heart when his mission makes unexpected detours. The other Tribe members are like a filigree masterpiece. They may be spun so intricately through the tale, but they all come together to balance out the final product.

Along with a couple of power-hungry mad scientists, there are reptiles and arachnids who guide the story along its winding path of discovery. They themselves are just as important to the flow as the main characters, as they aid Ashala and her Tribe to where they need to be, if not physically, then emotionally.

I loved the way the dystopian themes took a back seat to the adventure and the intrigue. Things are never as they seem in the First Wood and Ashala’s connection to the land made me want to stop and just listen.

If I were you, I’d give the vivid imagery Kwaymullina conjures up in this evocative tale a try. I promise, you won’t have read anything quite like this before.

http://www.facebook.com/AmbelinKwaymullina

http://www.thefirstwood.com.au/

Paperback, 397 pages

Published July 2012 by Walker Books Australia

ISBN139781921720086