“A rainy night.

A car crash.

After the accident Sarah moves to a new school. A new place where no one knows what happened to her or her brother—where she doesn’t have to deal with the history that’s pulling the rest of her family apart.

Will is keeping his head down at home, just trying to get by. Then his sister Lauren comes back—as caustic as always but somehow changed. Will doesn’t know what upheaval brought her home. But it’s sparking some serious change in his life too.

Eliat’s got no mother of her own, and she’s way too young to be one. Looking after a two-year-old, trying to finish school—sometimes all that keeps her sane is partying as hard and fast as she can. Now the pressure’s building and Eliat just wants to get away.

Just get into a car and drive.”

If you have no patience for long winded stories, I will say straight up, this is not the book for you.

The characters are well thought out and lead multi-faceted lives. I’d have to say the character I most identify with is Eliat. Being a young Mum is its own kind of hell. I can’t imagine how it would be to still be trying to finish school, and having the desire to act irresponsibly, on top of being orphaned. Gritty and real.

The butterfly effect isn’t linear in The Accident, and you never quite know how your actions can play a part in the lives of others. Other than the title and chapter headings of before or after the accident, you are left wondering about about the point of the book. However, eventually a point is made and it is deadly, sharp and stabs deep.

In no way is this a story wearing a mass market bow, neatly tying the ragged, frayed and blood stained strands together for an ending. It is a granny knot, ready to be pulled apart with just the right amount of pressure. If you want to try something off beat and indulgent, give this debut novel for Kate Hendrick a go.

Paperback, 272 pages

Published June 26th 2013 by The Text Publishing Company

ISBN: 9781921922855

 “Hunter Garrity just wants to be left alone. He has learned the hard way that his unusual abilities come at a price. And he can’t seem to afford any allies.

He’s up to his neck in hostiles. His grandfather, spoiling for a fight. The Merrick brothers, who think he ratted them out. Calla, the scheming psycho who wants to use him as bait.

Then there’s Kate Sullivan, the new girl at school. She’s not hostile. She’s bold. Funny. Hot. But she’s got an agenda, too.

With supposedly secret powers rippling to the surface everywhere around him, Hunter knows something ugly is about to go down – which means he’ll have to find someone he can trust.

POWER. ENEMIES. EVERYWHERE.”

Hunter was the star of the ebook, Fearless, and it was nice to see him get a whole full length novel of his own.

The poor guy just can not catch a break until the eldest Merrick brother, Michael, gives him the chance to get his feet under himself. I haven’t read a whole lot of books where guys are nice to one another for the sake of being nice. There is usually strings attached or some awful ulterior motive. Makes me wonder which is more believable. I honestly hope guys would help each other.

I enjoy reading the interactions between the Merrick brothers, and adding Hunter into the three ring circus gave me more than one occasion to snort giggle. I even read one bit out to my husband and even he laughed (which hardly ever happens). 

As with the other books it wouldn’t be complete without a little romance to add a little sweetness. Kate and Hunter have an awkward thing going on, but it’s giggle worthy and made me sigh.

If you haven’t read this one yet, you might want to track it down for the September school holidays. (along with the other books and ebooks) and consume them, or re consume them as the case may be from the very beginning.

Brigid’s books lift my mood and can turn around even the worst day. Love me some Merrick brothers.

The next book is due out in January, and will be called Secret. Can not wait!

http://www.brigidkemmerer.com/

Paperback, Australian, 294 pages

Published June 1st 2013 by Allen & Unwin (first published May 28th 2013)

ISBN: 1743310765 (ISBN13: 9781743310762)

*Recommended for mature teens and adults

Eleanor “Elle” Chance, that is—a high-flying dirigible pilot with a taste for adventure and the heroine of this edgy new series that transforms elements of urban fantasy, steampunk, and paranormal romance into pure storytelling gold.

It is 1903, and the world is divided between light and shadow. On the side of light is a wondrous science that has transformed everyday life by harnessing magical energies to ingenious new technologies. But each advance of science has come at the expense of shadow—the traditional realm of the supernatural.

Now two ancient powers are preparing to strike back. Blood-sucking immortal Nightwalkers and their spellcasting Alchemist allies have a plan to cover the whole world in shadow. All they require is the sacrifice of a certain young woman whose past conceals a dangerous secret.

But when they come after Elle, they get more than they bargained for. This enterprising young woman, the daughter of a scientific genius, has reserves of bravery and determination that even she scarcely suspects. Now she is about to meet her match in more ways than one: a handsome yet infuriating Warlock named Hugh Marsh, whose agenda is as suspect as his charms are annoyingly irresistible.

Hardcover, 336 pages

Published March 5th 2013 by Del Rey (first published January 29th 2013)

Elle, an airship pilot, thinks that she is doing her friend Patrice a favor. But her trip to Paris goes horribly wrong. She loses her package before making it back to the ship and then finds out that her father has been kidnapped by the Alchemists.  A lost parcel, a broken ship, and a man who has decided he must protect her and help her find her father; Elle is in for a shock as her life is about to change.

This was the first time in a long time that I felt the author got Steampunk aspect completely right. The gadgets, airships, automatons were fascinating and leave such an impression that the story would not be the same without them. My absolute favourite character was the absinthe fairy who takes an interest in Elle and even narrates parts of the story.

Elle is a pretty spunky character. She is used to an independent life flying her airship, carrying weapons, and the comfort of her home life with her inventor father and predictable long-time house keeper.

When Mr Marsh comes into her life and now tells her that he knew her mother, and can help her get her father back, she reluctantly agrees to his patronage and accompanies him across Europe, by air and by train putting together the mysteries of the Alchemists and their connection to the scientist.

The world-building  is very imaginative and entertaining. The reader will get their fill of warlocks, nightwalkers, alchemists, magic, oracles and science. With an absinthe fairy who narrates between chapters, sky pirates and the fight for the  balance of Light and Shadow, this story was fun, exciting and at times romantic. 

From Goodreads…

“In Forsaken: Riley has always wanted to be a Demon Trapper like her father, and she’s already following in his footsteps as one of the best. But it’s tough being the only girl in an all-guy world, especially when three of those guys start making her life more complicated: Simon, the angelic apprentice who has heaven on his side; Beck, the tough trapper who thinks he’s God’s gift, and Ori, the strikingly sexy stranger who keeps turning up to save her ass. One thing’s for sure — if she doesn’t keep her wits about her there’ll be hell to pay …

In Forbidden: Riley’s beginning to think being a Demon Trapper isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Her dad’s been stolen by a necromancer, her boyfriend’s gone all weird and she’s getting warm and fuzzy feelings for someone who’s seriously bad news. It’s tempting to give it all up and try to be normal, but that’s not an option. Because the demons have plans for Riley. And they’re not the only ones.”

There has been so much going on in my life lately that I’ve been finding the reading zone to be a little more difficult to settle into. The size of this omnibus had me quaking in my boots and I thought it would take weeks for me to get through. This is NOT the case!

I was grumpy most mornings when I had to leave the book at home, and not take it to read on the bus, because of the weight it would add to my already loaded bag. I was able to get into the zone, stay there and even dream about what I thought would be happening in the next chapter. To be honest I don’t know how I managed to not have pasta sauce stains all through the book, because I was picking it up every chance I had.

We’ve had an influx of angel stories in the last 2 years or so. This is another one, but it holds it’s own. The blurred lines between good and evil are still driving us all mad and the characters are swept up in the rip tide of action and adventure, in turn so are you as a reader. Which is just what I needed.

I think I want a Magpie demon for my own personal needs! Ever tried to find the back of your earring when you’re running late for the walk to the bus stop? It’s such a pain in the butt.

I need to go exploring to see if book 3 and 4 are in omnibus format as well, because there is just something special about not having to close the cover to get to the next instalment of awesome in a separate book.

Jana had me confused as to whether I wanted to cry or throw the book, and I have been craving hot chocolate like nobody’s business, thanks to our main character Riley.

Romance, action, kick ass girls and strong stoic guy friends round out the impressive set list you can expect from these two glorious novels.

Start reading this in the morning of a day when you have nothing urgent to be done. You will be hooked.

http://www.janaoliver.com/

Paperback, 864 pages

Published July 4th 2013 by Macmillan Children’s Books

ISBN: 9781447241744

Sam is over-tired, having been kept awake by recurring and steadily worsening nightmares. His science teacher, Mr Cole, who always seems to push Sam harder than anyone else, is disappointed in him. And annoyingly perfect Xavier Dark is all too happy to answer the questions that Sam can’t quite get. It seems like any ordinary day at school.

All of that changes when a helicopter lands on school grounds and armed men storm the building, looking for Sam in a matter of national security. Whisked away from his home and everything he has ever known, Sam finds himself caught up with two other people his age. A boy named Alex and, Eva, a girl who mysteriously knows more about their situation than either of the others.

If Sam is going to survive, he is going to have to work out who his friends are, and come to terms with the fact that his family may not be who they appear to be.

Thus begins the first novel in The Last Thirteen series. It’s fast-paced and action-packed with a premise that I’m sure we’ve all wished that we lived. What if our dreams could reveal our future? What if they could change it? Sam is used to nightmares, having battled them every night since his best friend died. Now he is told that there is more to his dreams than he could have imagined. Saved from the frightening Enterprise, an organisation devoted to exploiting Dreamers for financial gain, Sam is told that not only is he a Dreamer with the ability to see the future, he may be one of the Thirteen. One Dreamer, of the legendary thirteen, who will be strong enough to take a stand against the powerful Solaris in the final battle for earth.

While this is touted at being a young adult novel, I’d recommend it for a slightly younger age group. With the fascinating premise and likeable mix of characters, it’s a fantastic book for reluctant readers. The writing is simple but serves its purpose and the description is pared back to allow the action to flow along more quickly.

For avid readers who are older, this slim volume may not suffice, especially given the cliff-hanger ending that arrived far too quickly for my liking.

Book one of The Last Thirteen is a bit of a roller-coaster ride. Over too quickly and leaving you wanting more. I’d recommend it to anyone who had enjoyed the Conspiracy 365 series, and any 10-15 year old reluctant reader.

The Last Thirteen – James Phelan

 Scholastic (September 1, 2013)

 ISBN: 9781742831848