Avalon by Mindee Arnett has been all over the blogosphere; everyone has read it, is reading it, or is about to start reading it. Because of all this hype, I couldn’t say no when Amber asked me to review it! Space? Spaceships? Teenage mercenaries? How could I resist?

If you don’t know (though I don’t know why you wouldn’t), Avalon revolves around Jeth and his crew of teenage thieves who work for a very powerful man named Hammer. At the outset of this story, Jeth and his friends are on their most recent mission: going into Belgrave to find a ship that contains a secret weapon that Hammer desperately wants.

But Jeth is a bit worried about going into Belgrave; ships break down and people go crazy there. Besides that, he has a special connection to the place. While his parents were working and doing research, they travelled safely through it all the time. That was until they were caught deleting files and keeping information, and were executed as punishment.

Finding the ship doesn’t take as long as Jeth and his crew thought, but they can’t believe it when the monitors say that there are three people on the other ship. It’s been out for over a month, and its energy and supplies should have run out a long time ago. Three people being on the ship alive seems impossible!

But from that moment things only get crazier! Avalon, Jeth’s spaceship, is stolen, his sister is kidnapped, the secret weapon isn’t a weapon at all, and two of the most powerful men in space are tracking Jeth and his friends down!

After almost two weeks of trying my best to read, finish, and enjoy Avalon, I just had such a hard time getting through it. It wasn’t slow or boring in any way. It was actually quite the opposite. Avalon had so much going on that it was hard to keep up with. The story passed by so quickly. I felt like there was just no struggle and that the most important scenes were sometimes just glossed over.

The main characters were sent into this weird part of space where crazy and unexpected things happen, yet it only takes them a few days to find the ship and they didn’t even find it as such. They just happen to realize it was on top of them one day.

When the ship broke down, or parts were missing, I felt that Lizzie or Flynn always fixed it too easily, even when they first claimed it to be almost impossible. I guess that, in a way, I wanted to see a struggle; I didn’t want everything to be easy or ‘work out’ right away.

Overall, I loved the idea of the future and space, and this gang of teenagers doing these odd and difficult missions! I enjoyed the characters too; Celeste was awesome for not being one of those jealous ex-girlfriends who try to steal the show, I liked that Jeth kept his focus (most of the time) and that Flynn and Shady added some humor, and I even liked Milton, who reminded me of Jeth’s parents, and how his parents tied into the story.

The ending was my favourite part of this book by far! Again, with all this stuff going on, I had no idea how Avalon was going to end. The story had twists and turns around every corner, and there was absolutely no telling what was going to happen next.

My final verdict for Avalon would have to be that I liked it. I was frustrated with how quickly situations flew by, and with how much was going on, but I did like it. Avalon is a two-part series, the second and last book being Polaris, and while I don’t have any idea what Mindee Arnett would include in this second installment, I am considering picking it up. I don’t think I’ll be in line the day it comes out, but I will consider it.

Sorry this was such a negative review, but I had some things to get off my chest!

As I’ll assume everyone knows, Bel and I are off to Sydney in September for an amazing night of Hachette-induced fun. We have been promised YA, Laini Taylor, and fellow bloggers, so obviously we are nearly delirious with happiness.

Bel is already wonderfully organised and prepared and she will do the Burn Bright team proud. Me – not so much!

My preparations thus far have extended to taking Bel’s travel itinerary for my own. Time-management, people, I have it! I’m frantically ordering Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone series because I may be late on the band-wagon, but I’m not going to miss it completely; and checking Hachette’s latest YA offerings–you may call it procrastination, but I call it research.

A YA event with Hachette is probably about the most exciting thing in the world right now, and not only because it gives me a chance to gush about books without people backing away slowly, it’s also because one of Hachette’s imprints, Little, Brown, will be releasing books from some of my favourite authors in the next few months.

Lair of Dreams, the second book in Libba Bray’s Diviners series will be out mid-next year. The third book in Gail Carriger’s Finishing School series will be released in November. And Holly Black’s Darkest Part of the Forest has an early January release date.

With these amazing titles set to be released so soon I can’t wait to find out what else Hachette has coming out for Christmas. Hopefully we’ll be able to get all the goss early September, so we can pass it on! Until then I’ll be reading Laini Taylor.

A novel about the end of days full of surprising beginnings
 
The world is living in the shadow of oncoming disaster. An asteroid is set to strike the earth in just one week’s time; catastrophe is unavoidable. The question isn’t how to save the world—the question is, what to do with the time that’s left? Against this stark backdrop, three island teens wrestle with intertwining stories of love, friendship and family—all with the ultimate stakes at hand. 
 
Alexandra Coutts’s TUMBLE & FALL is a powerful story of courage, love, and hope at the end of the world. 

Hardcover, 384 pages

Published September 17th 2013 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

In a market already saturated with post-apocalyptic books, Tumble and Fall is a take on the more contemporary side of life before the world comes to an end. It focuses on the daily life of three unrelated characters as they live what is left of their lives, waiting for an asteroid to hit. The importance of relationships, friends and family, and humanity in general, is a strong theme in the book.

Have you ever considered whether what you would want to do with the last days of your life may conflict with that of your loved ones? There are a lot of different ideas that are brought up in this story that bring about questions that most people wouldn’t consider. The writing is flows easily and it is a clean read, at times almost calming in a melancholy way.

It is character-driven; Sienna, Caden, and Zan, all have things they are trying to accomplish or deal with in their last days, and each of their stories are completely different. You will enjoy each character as much as the last as they journey to find contentment. It is mostly a story of coming to terms with the reality of your own life when you are given a deadline. The three characters go through many emotions and realisations during this short amount of time. Romance is not a big factor, but you do see a little.

I would recommend this book to readers of contemporary romance. It did make me think about how I would choose to spend my last day,s and it hits home with the importance of friends and family.

From Newbery Medalist Susan Cooper, a story of adventure and friendship between a young Native American and a colonial New England settler.

On the winter day Little Hawk is sent into the woods alone, he can take only a bow and arrows, his handcrafted tomahawk, and the amazing metal knife his father traded for with the new white settlers. If Little Hawk survives three moons by himself, he will be a man.

John Wakely is only ten when his father dies, but he has already experienced the warmth and friendship of the nearby tribes. Yet his fellow colonists aren’t as accepting of the native people. When he is apprenticed to a barrel-maker, John sees how quickly the relationships between settlers and natives are deteriorating. His friendship with Little Hawk will put both boys in grave danger.

The intertwining stories of Little Hawk and John Wakely are a fascinating tale of friendship and an eye-opening look at the history of our nation. Newbery Medalist Susan Cooper also includes a timeline and an author’s note that discusses the historical context of this important and moving novel.

Hardcover, 336 pages  Published August 27th 2013 by Margaret K. McElderry Books (first published August 1st 2013)

ISBN  1442481412 (ISBN13: 9781442481411)

This story was a good representation of the arrival of the first Europeans into, what is now, the U.S. We are first introduced to a small Native American tribe, and we follow Little Hawk on his solo adventures through the woods: a quest that all boys must make to challenge themselves and grow into stronger men. He thinks a lot about his family and the training he has received so far to survive the trek, and we come to know his family through this, as well as some of the stories he has heard about the ‘white man.’ He returns to a very different home than the one he left, and his further travels eventually lead him to a young white boy named John Wakely. They become friends, and this friendship will shape their views of colonization forever.

As we follow their stories, we get an idea of some of the interactions between the tribes and the new settlers, and these culture clashes and business dealings set the grounds for future trading. As not all interactions were the same between areas, this story focuses on the northern colony areas. A lot of time passes from their initial meeting to the end of the story, so we see John travelling and becoming older, witnessing different interactions in different areas.

The story is written for younger readers and does cover a lot of information in a small book. I was impressed by how many different ideas were explored while still having a smooth and interesting story. The author was able to show both the Native American and the white men’s views in each situation throughout the book. It really made me think and was represented in a very easy to understand way.

What I loved most about the book was the honesty and trust of children. The power of being raised in a social setting, rather than coming into it as an outsider, gave them a better understanding and ability to see both sides and think for themselves.

I recommend this story, firstly, to those who enjoy reading about Native Americans and the history of the first U.S. colonies, but also for those who enjoy the culture clashes brought on by immigration.

Bel:

Cover

The title draws the eye with grungy bright wording. Pink sneakers standing on a stage door pass covered in blood, hinting at the storyline. All in all, it is highly effective!

Characters

All standard issue boy band types can be found here.

Favourite

Genevieve. Awesome best friend.

Least Favourite

Alan Knightley. Just grrr!

Beginning

Lorna starts at a state high school while her brother’s band, Turmoil, spends some time back on Aussie soil.

Storyline

While doing homework in a dressing room, Lorna overhears a plot to kill the band. Can she figure out who wants to endanger her brother and the rest of the boys before they put the plan into action?

Ending

Guess ya gotta read it to find this one out.

Thoughts

This was a fun, quick romp. I enjoyed the banter between the band members. Nansi Kunze has a knack with creating tension and writing likeable characters. This would be perfect for those in the Northern Hemisphere to take on a summer vacation, or just read in a warm sunny spot.

Quote

“Apparently I’m a disruptive influence,” I said, “Or do you think it’s something else? Jealousy maybe? Perhaps he had a band once, and they never made it big because he was too damned ugly…” ~ Lorna talking about her home-room teacher.

Krista:

Cover

Punk Rock! Gritty background of purple and black with bright lettering, cute shoes and bloody pass! Very appealing, attention grabbing, and cute.

Characters

Variety of characters in this one; Lorna the MC who is the sister of a band member of Turmoil, her friend Gen, and the members of the band.  The characters have great chemistry together, and it shows through the writing.

Favourite

Marius–he is a joker, ladies man, member of the band, and hilarious.  And Flint, he is a really great, caring brother.

Least Favourite

I really didn’t have a least favourite (besides the villain who I will not name). Every character had a place and fitted into the story perfectly.

Beginning

Lorna’s guardian is her older brother who also happens to be in a very popular international band. She has been travelling with them but finally has a chance at a more settled life and a normal school. Bad thing is that everybody knows her brother, and she’s bombarded with questions from classmates until she finds a friend in Gen. Then she overhears a possible plot to kill the band members by somebody inside the entourage. Since she’s on the inside, the Constable asks her to help figure out which person it could be.

Storyline

Lorna agrees to take on the job of being “undercover” to help figure out who is plotting to kill the band.

Ending

Heart pounding and very climatic. A lot of things happen at once and big secrets revealed.

Thoughts

What I loved most about the book was the travelling. Lorna travels anywhere the band goes, so the whole book is not just set at the school with all the love-struck girls. I also loved the friendship that Lorna and Flint (her brother) have. There is constant movement in the story which keeps everything fast-paced and entertaining. It’s a very humorous and cute read.

Quote

I watched in alarm as Marius undid the belt of his yukata and let it slip from his shoulders, so that only his underwear remained. Clearly I had to stop him before he went any further. The problem was, all my instincts went against it-after all, I was naked in here. And though I’d seen Marius in very little clothing plenty of times, there’s a big difference between seeing someone in a pair of Speedos and revealing that you’ve been spying on them while they stripped off.

Marius’s hands reached for his undies. It was now or never.

“You do realise this is the woman’s bath, right?”

Lisa:

Cover

I didn’t get to see the cover, so I can’t comment.

Characters

Sadly, I didn’t really relate to any of the characters. We don’t get to know much about Lorna except that her brother is in a band named Turmoil and that she travels and spends a lot of time with them. I expected more from her, considering she’s the little sister of such a huge star.

Favorite

I didn’t really have one other than Gen, simply because she was such a good friend. But no one in particular really stuck out.

Least Favorite

I don’t really have a least favorite either, but there was one scene that really bothered me. Lorna was at school and a lot of people wanted to ask her questions, so she decided to answer a few. When one student asked her if Marius really cheated on his ex-girlfriend, Lorna responded by saying, she isn’t sure and can’t really release information like that anyway…

But then later she turns around to Gen, and basically tells her all the rumours she’s heard about the situation; that Marius let the fame get to his head, and that he was caught with another girl, making out.

Later Lorna finds out that the rumour wasn’t true, and she feels like crap about it.

It irked me so much, that at first Lorna defends the band, but then completely throws one of its members under the bus, when she, herself, doesn’t even know what’s true. I hate it when people gossip, so this definitely bothered me.

Beginning

The beginning was pretty fast paced. We learned about the band, and that Lorna was going back to a normal high school. We also witnessed Lorna make a new best friend and avoid a creepy guy. It was only a few pages in when Lorna over hears someone plotting to kill her brother and his friends.

Middle

Lorna learns the truth about Marius. We, the readers, get to discover what happened to Lorna, Flint, and Marius’s parents.

Ending

I’ll have to admit that the ending was pretty intense! It did keep my attention and had me sitting on the edge of my seat. The entire story, I was back and forth between who it could be trying to bomb up the band, but I never did I guess who it actually was. The ending of Kill the Music was my favourite part.

Overall Thoughts

I think I didn’t enjoy it as much as Bel and Krista because I simply couldn’t connect with any of the characters.