The Dead-Tossed Waves is the first sequel – or companion – to The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Ryan’s super successful zombie novel. I have to confess, I didn’t like The Forest of Hands and Teeth. In fact, it was one of my least favourite reads last year. I found it stilted, hard-going. So why did I bother with its companion? Well, late last year I reviewed a brilliant collection of short stories: ‘Zombies vs Unicorns’ right here at Burn Bright. One of the featured stories was ‘Bougainvillea’ by Carrie Ryan. It was set in the same world as TFoHaT, but with a different protagonist. I loved it. Bougainvillea made me want to know about Ryan’s dark world.

While TFoHaT is the story of Mary, The Dead-Tossed Waves is told from her daughter Gabry’s point of view, and set twenty (maybe more?) years in the future. Gabry is a far more likable character, not as tightly wound as her mother was (although Mary seems to have loosened up somewhat over the years).

Gabry and a group of teenage friends decide to risk all and escape for a night beyond the barrier, the wall that keeps them safe from the hoards of Mudo, also known as the Unconsecrated, or, as we would call them: Zombies. Unlike her mother, Gabry is scared. Scared of disobeying the rules, scared of dying – and scared of living. Of course, their adventure in an abandoned amusement park ends badly and that’s where the fun begins. Some of her friends are turned by a ‘Breaker’, or fast moving Mudo, some are killed and some are missing. Gabry escapes back to her lighthouse home, pretending she was never there that night while her surviving friends are left to accept the consequences of actions that could have endangered the survival of the human race. From our vantage point inside Gabry’s head, we learn how she copes with the guilt of betraying everyone she loves, and in turn, how she goes about setting that right. It is a fast-moving tale that sets you on edge; one minute you relax into a scene, thinking the characters are safe, the next something diabolical happens – no one is safe in a world full of Mudo.

The Dead-Tossed Waves is a beautiful story of how one young woman can change everything. Gabry has real depth, it’s easy to empathise with her even while we cringe at her mistakes. Ryan has also managed to create a love triangle in a world full of stinking, rotting body parts that actually works. In fact, it’s kinda hard to decide which team you’re on – Gabry and Catcher’s or Gabry and Elias’. Ryan makes the reader question themselves – what matters more, lust or love? The evil you know, or the one you don’t? Is it really worth giving up all you know and love to ‘do the right thing?’

Unlike the first book, this one delves deeper into the character rather than the world around her, though somewhere along the way, we learn far more about this dystopian world than we did before. The Dead-Tossed Waves not only stands alone as an excellent read, but makes much more sense of The Forest of Hands and Teeth.

Just goes to show… it’s always worth giving an author or a series a second chance.

The Dead-Tossed Waves – Carrie Ryan

Published 08/02/11 by Random House

Paperback, 432 Pages

ISBN: 9780575090927

It’s no secret I’m an uber-fan of Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series. In my humble opinion, it’s one of the most well-written YA series doing the rounds at the moment. So, it’s no surprise I was chomping at the bit to get my hands on the latest instalment – City of Fallen Angels.

Cassie Clare had forewarned her faithful followers that this new book would be mainly from Simon’s point of view, where in the past, it’s been Clary, Clary, Clary. The book does, indeed kick off from the world according to Simon, but we still get to hang out in Clary’s head a fair bit, as well as the kick-arse Shadowhunter Isabelle. I was more than pleased about this – Izzy is by far one of my favourite characters, and in the past has come off a little too aloof. This time round, we get a much better idea of where she’s coming from.

City of Fallen Angels begins a new story arc in the life of Clary and the Shadowhunters, after number three (City of Glass) was tied up. This works against the plot in some ways, but unfortunately, there’s no real way around it for Clare. What she has managed to do, however, is set us up (BIG TIME) for books five and six, which will finish off the series. This book is all about the ending; a heart-thudding, sweaty-handed cliff-hanger that left me gobsmacked and begging for more.

Highlights were: The banter back and forth between Jace and Simon. Freaking hilarious in what were actually dire situations. Magnus Bane, the warlock. I’m happy to say that Magnus also appears in Clare’s prequel series, The Infernal Devices. Magnus is getting more and more intriguing with each instalment, his relationship and its possible consequences with Alec a winning storyline. Experimental half-breed demon babies. So gross, it’s brilliant. And while we’re talking grossness (a favourite topic of mine), you can’t go past very dead evil guys in glass coffins. Floating. In goop. The dead Shadowhunter who Clary still manages to get information from? More awesome in the form of extreme grossness. Simon’s new powers. Sorry, but I can’t go into detail on that one without spoilers, except to say that as a by-product, he’s suddenly loads more alluring to the ladies, and goes from the geek to the band stud with two girlfriends. Passionate scenes where Clary and Jace finally get it on. Sort of. And finally, the Ending. Yes, I said it earlier, I know -but whoooah!

Lowlights were: Well, I wouldn’t actually call them lowlights, just things I would have liked to have seen. I would love to see Clary display a bit more of her arse-kicking, Shadowhunter heritage. Sure, she hasn’t been in training all that long, but it would be awesome to see the chick slice and dice some demon flesh and save the guy for a change. Grief for a dead family member. Yeah, not going to go into who bit the dust at the end of City of Glass, but it was a shocker. City of Fallen Angels takes place just two months after those events, and although it’s mentioned numerous times, I felt it was a lost opportunity for some good old grief-stricken lunacy. Maybe we’ll see that in the next book. Finally, I have to admit I didn’t love the way Clary and Jace’s relationship has turned all angsty-like. You know, the whole ‘I’m bad. I’m dangerous. You shouldn’t be with me. I love you too much to be with you because I’ll hurt you’ kind of thing. Admittedly, when you make your characters happy and in love, it kills the fun. Characters in pain are way more interesting. And Cassandra Clare is a master of causing her characters pain. But then again, no one wants to read a six book series where they live happily ever after at book four.

Lastly, a reminder. The Mortal Instruments is one of those series that should be read in order. If you haven’t discovered this rich, beautifully sculpted world yet… what are you waiting for?

Cassandra Clare — City of Fallen Angels

Published 5th April, 2011, by Walker Books Ltd

Paperback, 448 pages

ISBN: 9781406328660

I picked up Immortal Beloved as one of those rare gems – a book I’d heard nothing about on the interwebs. I had no clue which age group it was aimed at, had not previously read the author, and since I was holidays, no access to Goodreads to check it out before I handed over the cash. I didn’t really have high expectations… but wow, I was in for a treat.

The first thing that struck me was the voice of the main character, Nastasya, also known as Nasty. She’s sarcastic, funny and very, very dry. She’s an immortal, living it up, partying her long life away in seedy clubs in London with her friends – all immortal of course. But after one of them uses his magic to seriously and permanently wound a human, Nasty starts to question herself, her so-called friends and the pointlessness of her life. She realises she’s been doing the same thing for centuries – having a fabulous, yet self-centred time, and hurting (or even killing) far too many people in the process. Filthy, forlorn and at absolute rock-bottom, Nastasya decides to flee London for the only place she can think of escaping to, a place a kindly immortal once invited her to and offered help over eighty years ago. And there the fun really begins. Nasty ends up in a kind of rehab centre for immortals who’ve hit the wall.

Even though Nastasya looks 16, she’s rarely met an immortal older than herself. After blocking out the deaths of her family (yep, it is possible to kill an immortal. Off with their heads!) she also blocks out the use of her incredibly powerful magic. At River’s End, she begins to learn how to use that magic properly, as well as feed the chooks, much out the stables, and work in the local drug store. It all seems to be too easy – until someone begins trying to kill her. Who is it? And why would they want her dead? Just what is it with the scar on the back of her neck and her mother’s amulet? Nasty starts to question her own worth, the darkness that compels her and the memories of the things she’s done.

And then there’s the biggest question of all. Just who is the ridiculously hunky Reyne (gulp), and why does he hate her so much? Why is he so open about wanting her gone from River’s End? And why does Nastasya feel that she knows him from somewhere?

Immortal Beloved is far from perfect, but it’s certainly compelling. A week after finishing it, I just can’t get this book out of my mind. My biggest complaint is that the ending was pretty much a no-brainer, and lots of loose ends went untied. But this is the first book in a trilogy, with the next due out in September this year, and I’m sure those ends will begin to be tied up. The character of Nastasya makes up for any imperfections – she’s just that cool, and so easy to relate to.

Despite my initial reservations, I soon learnt that Immortal Beloved was a fantastic story, aimed at Young Adults. There are some pretty violent and gross scenes, so it’s probably more for readers at the slightly older end of the YA scale – say 15 and up. I also learnt that it’s not even close to being Cate Tiernan’s first book; I definitely intend on checking out her other two series: Balefire (5 books in the series) and Wicca, which has 15 books in the series – how I’ve managed to miss that one, I have no idea!

Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan

Paperback 407 pages

Published by Hodder & Stoughton UK

ISBN: 9781444707052

Some of you may recall that I listed EONA as one of my top 5 most anticipated releases for 2011. I can tell you now; it was sooo worth the wait.

*SPOILER ALERT FOR EON*

If you haven’t yet read EON – also known as The Two Pearls of Wisdom, EON: Dragoneye Reborn and EON: Rise of the Dragoneye… go and read EON first. Seriously – right now!

EONA is the sequel to the multi-award winning EON, and wraps up the story of the Dragoneyes. Both EON and EONA are set in a kind of ancient-magical-alternate-mash-up of China and Japan. Eona is the Dragoneye to the beautiful Mirror Dragon who suddenly reappeared after going missing 500 years ago. The Emperor is dead, replaced on the throne by the evil Lord Sethon while the true Emperor, Kygo, is missing. Only Eona and the power-hungry Lord Ido (Dragoneye to the Rat Dragon) survive… and only just.

Eona is on the run in search of Kygo with her supporters, Dela and Ryko, while Ido is a tortured captive of Sethon. Eona must learn to harness her own power to save the land, as well as put the rightful emperor on the throne and defeat Sethon. Just to confuse things a little more (a LOT more, actually) she needs to save her enemy, Ido, to do this. As the only other surviving Dragoneye, he is the one person who can teach Eona to use her power and call the Mirror Dragon safely. Lord Ido seems to have changed when Eona healed him – has he finally learned to feel compassion? Is his twisted thirst for total power of the land, the elements and the dragons finally quenched? Is he really the ally Eona hopes him to be? Is the chemistry between them real, or another of Ido’s tricks? These are just some of the questions that kept me holding my breath, furiously turning page after page… and then… and there was Kygo… *sigh*.

Kygo is the son of the slain emperor, the rightful heir. He even wears the Pearl at his throat – an enormous stone stitched painfully in place, a procedure that must be done within twelve breaths of the last emperor’s death. But Kygo’s uncle, Sethon made a bloody and successful grab for the throne throwing the land into turmoil. Will they succeed in their quest to put Kygo back on the throne? Can Kygo trust Eona? Can they trust their growing feelings for one another? Or will Ido and the connection he shares with the only female Dragoneye win her heart?

EONA, like EON, is told from a first person point of view. We’re there with Eona every step of the way as she battles her own feelings for these powerful men. We understand as she keeps deadly secrets from those she loves, knowing it will hurt them. We share her pain intimately as she learns the secrets of her ancestors and the Dragons and grows from a young girl into a strong, capable woman. Eona is far from perfect. She makes mistakes, she acts rashly and without thought, sometimes with terrible consequences. But throughout, as a reader we also understand she has no other choice.

EON is one of my all-time favourite books, and although I expected EONA to be just as amazing, I honestly didn’t expect Alison Goodman to create a sequel that was even better than the original. The world is richer, the action harder and faster. I cared more about the supporting cast of friends and allies this time around; I loved being there, inside Eona’s head as she grew and matured.  The confusion she felt with her feelings between Kygo and Ido was palpable (as were some of the, um… kissing scenes!) and my stomach lurched with the violence in the numerous battle scenes. The Dragons themselves are intriguing and sad and it’s not far into this book you realise no character is guaranteed to make it out alive. Goodman has an incredible gift of evoking emotion with her words. I cried and I laughed out loud, and then I cried some more.

EONA is violent, furious and exquisitely tender and beautiful. You won’t put it down except to catch your breath.

Note: There has been a little confusion with the titles from this duology. For marketing reasons, they have numerous titles. EON is also known as: The Two Pearls of Wisdom, EON: Dragoneye Reborn and EON: Rise of the Dragoneye.

EONA will also be released in different parts of the world as: The Necklace of the Gods and EONA: Return of the Dragoneye.

EONA — Alison Goodman

Published by Angus&Robertson, an imprint of Harper Collins, Australia.

Paperback, 469 pages.

ISBN – 978 0 7322 8494 7

‘It is impossible to know who you really are until you spend time alone in a cemetery.’

Pretty cool, huh? That’s the deliciously dark first line we hear from Silla, one of the three main character viewpoints in Blood Magic. The darkness grips you from that first line – and doesn’t let go for a second.

Silla is sitting alone by the graves of her beloved parents, dead from an apparent murder-suicide the summer before. And she’s reading a book – a book that has mysteriously turned up, addressed to her and written in her father’s handwriting. But for Silla, the weirdest part is that it’s a book of magic. Yep, you guessed it – Blood Magic.

The second viewpoint is that of Nick, or Nicholas. Nick has just moved to the sleepy town of Yaleylah, Missouri, where he spent his early childhood with a crazy mother. A city boy, he’s angry with the world, especially his Dad’s new wife – the dreaded Lilith – a famous author. Nick has inherited his grandfather’s property and it just happens to overlook the cemetery.

It doesn’t take long for the troubled twosome to hook up and in a nice change, there’s no angsty does he? / doesn’t she? drama to get in the way of a good story. Silla and Nick are made for each other, in more ways than one. It’s a believable love affair that’s not too naff or vomit-inducing– well, unless blood makes you queasy that is. And there’s plenty of that.

Together Silla and Nick find themselves thrust into the world of Blood Magic when a hundred-year-old witch comes hunting for the bones of Silla’s parents and the Spell Book. This gal is one of the best and totally psycho antagonists I’ve read in ages. As a reader, we get a chance to get in her head as her story is told in snippets peppered between Silla and Nick’s. To fight her and save themselves, they have to accept who they really are – for Nick, this means facing the reality of what sent his mother off the rails, and for Silla, it means accepting she may never have really known her father. I found it interesting how they both coped with being outcasts at school and in their small town community; Silla finds reprieve in her mask collection, and often imagines herself wearing one of them to hide how she really feels in difficult situations – something many of us do in one way or another.

Just one of the things that kept me turning pages (and up very late at night) was the whodunit. Or, more specifically… Who Is It? Tessa Gratton has written an amazing first novel filled with clues and red-herrings that kept me guessing, along with Silla and Nick who the bad guy or girl really was. Just when I thought I had it figured out, that nasty ol’ witch would go and possess someone else, throwing my theory out the window. The Blood Magic itself is beautiful and gross all bound up together. Yep, there’s A LOT of blood. Heaps of it, actually. And setting most of the story in a cemetery might sound clichéd, but this story is anything but. Although there are a number of viewpoints, we’re never lost and it’s easy to keep track, even when the story jumps constantly within a chapter. In fact, it works really well. There were a lot of loose ends that were left untied by the end, but since this is marked as the first book in a trilogy, it’s an easy thing to forgive. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for number two, which, according to internet rumour will be called ‘The Blood Keeper.’

So if you’re not easily grossed out, but love a good scare, Blood Magic is for you. But beware – you’ll never look at of a murder of crows in quite the same way again…

Published by Doubleday for release 1^st June, 2011 (in Australia)

ISBN: 978 0 857 53020 2

Paperback, 408 pages.