Review of Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

In this retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood tale, two sisters, Scarlett and Rosie March are Fenris (werewolf) hunters, forced to raise themselves after their grandmother was attacked and killed by a fenris when the girls were very young.


Scarlett, the elder daughter, put her life on the line during that attack to save her sister and in doing so suffered great mutilations to her body, and soul. Now as 18 & 16 year olds, an old family friend, Silas, comes back into their lives to help them fight the increasing fenris population. 


Scarlett's whole world is the hunt, it's what drives her, but Rosie has begun to question what else there is to life, with thanks to Silas. The two quickly succumb to their mutual attraction but must keep their feelings a secret from Scarlett. Rosie also begins to get involved in other activities besides hunting, more secrets from Scarlett. 


The fenris situation is escalating, the trio must find the potential new fenris before the main wolf pack - the Arrow do, but with Rosie unfocused and Scarlett too focused will the girls be able to work together again in time to save the potential? will they even be able to find the potential?


This book was ok. You can probably tell from my lack lustre review style that I am not a big fan. But I must explain, I don't think it is particularly the book that had the issue, I think it is me!


The story was good enough, the characters ok, a bit boring and dormant and the ending was predictable. The writing style is good, Jackson Pearce is a great writer, but I have this issue i've realised that my personal life really affects my reading and it sucks!


Having some issues at home, falling in love, my mind was unable to really get into the book as I was often wandering off to another place, so I took forever to read the book and couldnt concentrate properly. I hate when i do this, but im such a bloody dreamer I can never control my brain!


Anyway, If you like werewolves and modern retelling of fairy tales then I think you will really like it, but for me a 2/5

Review of Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Sophie Mercer has just been shipped off to a reform school for freaks like herself. That is witches, faeries & shapeshifters. She gets off to a rocky start getting on the wrong side of not only teachers but the popular girls too. Thankfully she befriends Jenna, the only vampire in Hex Hall and also begins a complicated friendship with Archer, a warlock, a sexy one, who just happens to be the boyfriend of It-Girl and number 1 enemy Elodie. 

Students begin to get injured, nearly dying, and the number one suspect is vampire Jenna, but Sophie knows it couldn't possibly be her friend. 

As the story unfolds we learn more about Sophie and her past and the School. As well as the truth to the attacks. It is really well written, one of those 'it-doesn't-feel-like-reading-it-feels-real' type books! Loved it. The characters are good, especially lead-girl Sophie. She is really funny and you can't help but fall in love with her. 

The storyline is great, and the ending really leads well into book 2, which I am trying to withhold from buying on account of my dwindled bank balance/massive tbr pile. But i don't think I will last too long. 

Hex Hall is a good fake world to be in. I give it 4.5/5

Review of Inside Out by Maria V Snyder

Trella is a scrub. Along with thousands of others. The scrubs are the bottom of the food chain, so to speak, Inside. They work and sleep and that is basically it. They are controlled by the Travas and envy the Uppers. Trella is known as the Queen of the Pipes. She knows the inner workings of Inside like the back of her hand. She has been plodding along not questioning her life until her friend, Cog, introduces her to Broken Man, the latest in Prophets. Soon, ideas of 'Gateway' the almost-myth exit from Inside begin to take over Trella's mind. Before she knows it she is the face of a rebellion. The scrubs are looking to her to make changes. And she is determined to to prove Broken Man wrong about Gateway. What she doesn't count on is believing him.

It was a slow start for me, I must admit. But about 2/3 the way in I was very hooked. It has a wonderful ending and a good lead into Book 2. I Liked Trella as a character. She is a little selfish and thats sometimes good in books, you may know from previous posts I dont like the goody-goodies.

The book is well written and I think it could be quite an enjoyable read for even younger young-adults. 

The plot is good and what I would expect from teen-girl-dystopia. There is a particular twist at the end which really made the book for me.

I give it a 3.5/5

So much for buying ban...

I figured if the Rapture is today may as well go out reading!

Review of The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

It's been ten months since Grace Divine risked her life to save her were-boyfriend Daniel. Ten months since Jude Divine succumbed to the wolf, bit Grace and disappeared. During that time Daniel and Grace had been training to try and keep a balance of the newly acquired wolf powers growing inside Grace. Things get interesting when April and Grace get some clues as to the possible whereabouts of Jude and they meet Talbot, a sexy, hero-type cowboy figure. 


Grace and Talbot begin a friendship, a secret one. Daniel decides that training Grace is too much of a risk and refuses, but Talbot believes it is a good idea. Grace goes behind Daniel's back and becomes drawn to Talbot. Daniel is keeping secrets of his own and Grace begins to question who can she really trust.


This sequel to The Dark Divine was brilliant. I was ho-hum about the first book, but this one made me a fan of the series. It was more action-packed and the introduction of Talbot, and Katie Summers (a girl who Grace thinks is interested in Daniel) ensured an interesting love-square situation.


I also enjoyed that there was more than just the werewolves in this book, and it had some 'Buffy-esque' moments which, to me, is always WIN. I learned to like Grace in this book, where in the first I found her somewhat tedious. The cliffhanger at the end of the book was great and I can't wait to see where the Daniel & Grace story heads in the next, as yet untitled, book. 


I would recommend to people who havent read either book, to still read The Dark Divine first as i think as a stand-alone The Lost Saint would be a bit confusing for a new reader.


All in all I give this book a 3.5/5