Book Review: Blood ARC

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Egmontusa (27 Sep 2011)
• Language English
• ISBN-10: 160684220X
• ISBN-13: 978-1606842201

From the first page, Blood puts you in the centre of a modern gothic story, starting during the horror of the witching-burning era, the story travelling back centuries rather than mere decades.

The character of Will – short for William, Earl of Mercia, leads us through the book, from his time as a human during the witch trials, leading up to his agonising plight in the present day. Will is a classical vampire character, and refreshingly so. With immense powers but also the usual vulnerabilities, he is more akin to Bram Stoker’s Dracula than modern day vampires.

When Will wakes in a brand new millennia, he finds more than the world changed. With nothing but loneliness and bitter self hatred to keep his thoughts occupied in the past, he is more than surprised when events are set in motion that will change his path forever.

Certain twists of fate lead him to equally lonely and troubled Eloise, a pretty girl living rough. Together, Will and Eloise try to unravel the complicated details of Will’s destiny, which is irrevocably linked with Eloise.

The mystery of the book was complex, though not so much that it distracted from the story. Action and suspense hitched with every page, the budding and sweet romance between Will and Eloise a perfect breather from the tension. Uncertainty and fear play a large role in the book, with a malevolent force stalking Will’s steps, making him unsure who to trust.

At times Blood felt like a gothic horror, at others a modern paranormal romance. It is a perfect blend of the two, creating one, sure to be popular, YA book.   

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Book Review: A Long, Long, Sleep ARC

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Gollancz (18 Aug 2011)
• ISBN-10: 0575104724
• ISBN-13: 978-0575104723

As soon as I heard of it, I knew I had to read A Long, Long Sleep. Described as a dystopian fairytale, the excitement built before I even read the synopsis. I was fortunate enough to receive an early copy before publication, and I couldn’t wait to devour it.

Stass isn’t unusual for Rose. All her life, she has been in and out of her own personal stass machine, taking twice the usual time to age normally. But during her last stint in the machine, something goes wrong. And Rose doesn’t wake up for more than seventy years…waking to a kiss from a handsome boy.

Waking from her stass-induced sleep is hard on Rose. She has lost muscle mass, is skeletal thin and extremely weak. But that isn’t the worst part. She has outlived everyone she ever knew. Including her beloved Xavier.

So now Rose has to learn to live again in a world that is so different from the one she last saw. As her insecurities and raw feelings grow, she craves the serenity her stass machine brings. Only when it is clear to those she has bonded with that she uses the stass sleep as a coping mechanism, does Rose realise how bizarre and unnatural, bordering on cruel, her last life was.

And if that wasn’t bad enough, an assassin has her in his sights – and this assassin doesn’t stop until his objective is complete.

A Long, Long Sleep was wonderful in so many ways, and surprising in others. It wasn’t the light, romantic and dreamy book I half expected it to be. It was a book about self discovery and finding that inner strength to face your fears head on. I felt like I was taking a journey with Rose, one that led me to terrifying places, to new and unusual friendships and the bitter realisation that sometimes the ones closest to us have the power to hurt us the most.

I sincerely hope there is more to come after A Long, Long Sleep, as I am not ready to let Rose and her friends (especially Otto) go just yet.  All in all, a perfect read for anyone who loves YA, sci fi, romance and dystopian. 

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Book Review: POD ARC

ISBN 9781848773899  |  paperback  |  £8.99
304pp  |  216 x 135mm

I was fortunate enough to receive an arc of POD from Templar publishing. 

POD was an intense, roller-coaster ride of emotions and action.

The story splits between twelve-year-old Megs "Pirate" in Los Angeles and fifteen-year-old Josh in Washington. We follow the lives of the two as they cope with the sudden invasion of 'Pods' that take over their country. The morning of their arrival, anyone unlucky enough to be outside on the street disappears. Josh was inside his house with his father and dog, Dutch. Megs was alone in a parked car in a hotel parking garage.

The tension rises with every chapter, reaching new, unbearable heights. There were few chances to catch your breath with this book; and I savoured them when they did appear. Humanity is tested during the invasion, bringing people to their absolute worst and their absolute best. There is something for everyone in this book – younger readers can relate to Megs or to Josh and adults can equally enjoy this thrilling story.

I thought the book was very well written and easy to read - relaxed language from the pair leading us through the story at odds with the horror they were witnessing and how they try to find a little patch of normal in their topsy-turvy world.

As their situations worsen, Megs and Josh will bring many a tear to your eye. Your heart will be in your mouth at the danger, experience a rush of pride as they overcome unbelievable challenges and the small comforts that calm them as the fear closes in.

Heroes are found in the strangest of places, and this could not be truer than in POD. Some are the big, grand sort – others are the unsung sacrifices made because of the simple reason that you love someone.

POD makes it all too apparent how much we take for granted. Water, medicine…kindness.

And the question really does beg to be asked - what would YOU do to survive?

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