Chicklish

REVIEW: Fury by Elizabeth Miles

Reviewed for Chicklish by Liz of Planet Print.

Fury by Elizabeth Miles was a compelling start to a new trilogy, with a unique premise that drew me in from the very beginning. I’m a big fan of Greek mythology in YA novels, so when I heard about Fury, I just knew I had to read it. I loved the concept, and I was impressed with the way the mythology was weaved into the story. The funny thing about this book was that our two main characters, Em and Chase, were not very likeable people at all. Em was a very naive and gullible girl who was pining for her best friend Gabby’s boyfriend, all the while expecting the situation to pan out perfectly. She thought that Gabby would somehow forgive her for stealing her boyfriend Zach, and didn’t seem to realise what she was actually doing until later on in the book when her friend, JD (a boy Em treated like a chauffeur), called her out on her behaviour. I felt really bad for JD, because the way Em treated him was horrible – she just used him whenever she needed to go somewhere.

Chase, however, was no better. All he was concerned with was maintaining his reputation and hooking up with as many girls as possible. He did some very stupid things, and was struggling to hide a very dark secret that threatened to ruin the image he had built for himself. To make things worse, he became almost obsessive when he met a beautiful but mysterious girl called Ty, and acted without thinking. Yet despite all of this, Miles somehow made it work. The characters were not likeable, it’s true, but the things that were happening to them seemed so outrageous that you couldn’t help but root for them anyway. As the book progressed, we started to see different sides to Em and Chase, who both begun to understand all the things they had done wrong and were trying to change, which I think improved my opinion of them as time went on. Chase especially seemed to become more thoughtful and concerned about other people’s feelings, and by the end I had actually started to quite like him.

One character I did really like was Drea – a somewhat eccentric girl who was an outcast in Ascension. She claimed her interest in Greek mythology and the Furies was only a hobby, but there was definitely something that she was keeping hidden, and she acted very strangely when talking about the topic. I was very curious about her – to me, she was more mysterious than the three girls after Em and Chase. I hope we see Drea in the next book, as she was a very interesting character and I think that there’s a lot more to be found out about her.

Another thing I liked about Fury was all the twists! This book was so sneaky – one minute I suspected one thing was going to happen, then a few pages later something crazy occurred and I had to completely re-evaluate all my predictions! I also liked the flow of novel - the first half of the book was quite slow-paced and was more about setting the scene and introducing the characters, but second half was full of suspense and I liked the build-up of tension towards the end, which was probably my favourite part of the book (especially the last two pages, which were almost a bit frightening).

The only problem I had with Fury was that some things were never fully explained – for example, why were the Furies exacting revenge on people like Chase and Em when there were such terrible things going on in the world elsewhere? They never seemed to have a reason for why these two people were plucked out of the population to be punished; it just seemed a little odd they were chosen when their crimes seemed almost petty in comparison to the horrible things you hear on the news.

Overall, Fury was a very intriguing book, which kept me guessing until the very end. I look forward to the sequel, Envy, and I would recommend this to any fans of paranormal or Greek mythology, looking for an engaging and suspenseful read. I’ll tell you one thing, though – I’m never going to look at red orchids in the same way. Beware red orchids: they’re worse than getting coal in your stocking at Christmas!

Review by Liz of Planet Print.

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Childrens Books (1 Sep 2011)
• ISBN-10: 0857071998
• ISBN-13: 978-0857071996

GIVEAWAY: Paradise by Joanna Nadin (now closed)

**This giveaway is now closed and the winner, S.W., has been contacted.**

Here's more about Paradise by Joanna Nadin:

"When sixteen year old Billie Paradise inherits her grandmother's house, it's a fairytale come true. She and her family move from their rented flat in London to start a new life by the sea. Maybe Billie can even find the father she's never met. But moving back to her mum's childhood home uncovers long-buried secrets and Billie soon discovers that people may die, but the past lives for ever."

Read our review here. 

With thanks to Walker Books, we have an extra copy of this book to give away to a Chicklish reader.

**This giveaway is now closed and the winner, S.W., has been contacted.**

REVIEW: Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

Review by Liz of Planet Print.

"Three angels are sent down to bring good to the world: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. But she is the most human, and when she is romantically drawn to a mortal boy, the angels fear she will not be strong enough to save anyone - especially herself - from the Dark Forces. Is love a great enough power against evil?"

Halo was a novel with a very interesting premise, and the potential to be brilliant, but sadly failed to keep me entertained and was just not the book for me.

The original idea was an intriguing one – the book centres around three angels come down from Heaven to do work on Earth to help humanity. Bethany is the youngest of the three – only seventeen years old – and is the least experienced, having never been to Earth before. I liked the idea that we got to read about angels trying to adjust to the chaotic world of humans and I actually really liked the fact that in this book, it was the protagonist who was the supernatural being, afraid of their secret being revealed, instead of the other way round, which made a change from a lot of other books. I also liked the way Bethany and her angel siblings, Gabriel and Ivy, got along together – it was obvious they were very close, and had a special bond that sort of transcended any similar kind of human relationship.

However, I had several issues with this book that prevented me from enjoying it. First was the fact that I found I personally couldn’t really connect with the main character, Bethany. She was very naive – at times painfully so – and I also found her to be quite childish and unruly for angel. She constantly made silly decisions when she couldn’t get her own way, and she never really listened to anyone, and was willing to forsake her family for her own wants and needs. I felt her relationship with Xavier was cliché, quite random (I couldn’t see what it was based on) and one that also progressed incredibly fast. Bethany, thinking only of herself, put her entire family and very existence in danger for this relationship, when she literally barely knew anything about Xavier – which is proved later on when a simple misunderstanding between the two almost separates them. I understand the idea behind this kind of romance – they were very sweet together, and it was all very cute and romantic – but it just didn’t seem believable to me, and was an aspect of the novel I struggled with.

Xavier, the love interest, was another character I couldn’t really empathise with. Why he seemed like a nice guy, I felt he was too controlling over Bethany, and treated her as if she were some fragile piece of glass. I found myself preferring the bad guy, Jake – he was probably the most interesting character in the book. He was obviously untrustworthy (though Bethany didn’t seem to notice), but was also mysterious, and added a lot of the much needed tension and suspense to the novel.  I actually enjoyed reading the scenes he was in, and he was a good antagonist.

Plot-wise, I didn’t really understand much of what was going on until the end. The mission the angels were given was very vague and I couldn’t really work out what they were supposed to be doing, or how they could be “so invested” in it that Bethany would be allowed a relationship with a human. However, the action towards the end sped up the pace of the book, and I quite liked how the book ended. I’m not entirely sure if I’ll read the sequel, but it does look quite promising.

Overall, Halo was a book with an interesting concept but ultimately failed to keep me interested. However, if you are a big fan of angel books, I would still say give this one a go.

Review by Liz of Planet Print.

• Publisher: ATOM (2 Jun 2011)
• ISBN-10: 1907410767
• ISBN-13: 978-1907410765

NEWS: introducing... Party Girl by Carmen Reid (St Jude's series Book 6)

The sixth book in Carmen Reid's boarding school series, Secrets at St Jude's, is out now. Here's more about the book:

"The pressure's on this term for the Upper Fifths . . . There are new boyfriends and new parents on the scene, as well as the dreaded summer exams. But will the girls still find time for fun, and for each other? You can bet on it!"

And here is Carmen herself to introduce Party Girl and read a small section...

 

Secrets at St Jude's
1. New Girl
2. Jealous Girl
3. Drama Girl
4. Rebel Girl
5. Sunshine Girl
6. Party Girl

REVIEW: Ashes by Ilsa J Bick

Review by Daria.

"Sixteen-year-old Alex is hiking through the wilderness when it happens: an earth-shattering electro-magnetic pulse that destroys everything. Survivors are divided between those who have developed a superhuman sense and those who have acquired a taste for human flesh. These flesh-hunters stalk the land: hungry, ruthless and increasingly clever...

Alex meets Tom, a young army veteran, and Ellie, a lost girl, and they will fight together and be torn apart. Alex must face the most difficult question of all: in such a vastly changed world, who can you trust?"

When I read the first page of Ashes I knew it was going to be amazing. It really was. Ashes is an incredible read that I just could not put down and had to tear away from my hands, so I could get some sleep! And in my dreams, I was transported to the broken world that the author formed. What Ilsa J.Bick created was like no other zombie book I have ever read, as the “zombies” actually creeped me out. Unlike most zombie books, Ashes was believable and Ilsa J.Bick created such a wonderful storyline. I liked how the end of the book was left on a cliff-hanger and I cannot wait for the next one!

Ashes is filled with lots of interesting characters, but my favourite ones were Alex, Ellie, Tom and Chris. Even though we don't meet Chris until near the end, I grow to like his character and hope to learn more about him in the next instalment. Alex has had her whole life take a turn for the worse because of “the Monster” and when she loses people she loves. So when the whole world completely changes, things just get worse for Alex. I feel sorry for her because of that, but I like how Ilsa J.Bick makes Alex strong and doesn't make her give up yet. Ellie also loses people she loves, so her and Alex are more similar than they might think.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves an amazing read about flesh-eating humans and a shattered world.

Review by Daria, aged 14

Publisher: Quercus, September 2011
ISBN-10: 0857382632
ISBN-13: 978-0857382634

REVIEW: The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson (Shades of London book 1)

Review by Mel.

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.
 
Soon Rippermania" takes hold of modern-day London , and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.
 
I’ve never read anything by Maureen Johnson, but if The Name of the Star is anything to go by, I'll be checking out her other books very soon. The story starts when Rory (Aurora) Deveaux, a native Louisianan enrols at a boarding school situated in the East End of London.  The trouble is that her arrival in the city also coincides with a series of Jack the Ripper-style murders, all of which are set around the same area and only Rory can see the killer. 
 
With its atmospheric setting and grisly backdrop, this is a perfect novel for autumn nights. There’s a sense of gloom throughout, which makes for a nail-bitingly tense read.  Maureen Johnson works the Ripper histories into a modern day setting really effectively, describing the media frenzy surrounding the case and drawing parallels with the original crimes.
 
The characters are believable, especially Rory who's pretty clueless, but also up for a challenge. I particularly like the way she deals with the rivalry between her two roommates – Jazza and Boo.  Rory's attitude towards Jerome, her on-off love interest, is refreshing too. There's a touch of romance, but it doesn't overshadow the main plot.
 
The only slight oddity about the novel is that it almost has two halves. The first half focuses on the Ripper aspect, the second revolves around the Shades of London - a mysterious squad of ghosthunters who patrol the city. This split works to a large degree, but I felt slightly derailed when the plot switched.  Luckily the author managed to bring them together successfully at the end so it’s well worth staying for the ride if you don’t mind a few detours along the way.

Review by Mel.

• Publisher: HarperCollinsChildren'sBooks (29 Sep 2011)
• ISBN-10: 0007398638
• ISBN-13: 978-0007398638

REVIEW: Legend by Marie Lu

Review by Hazel Holmes.

Another sensational addition to the ever growing dystopian list. Legend is set in what was once western United States and is now the Republic.  A nation at war with its neighbours and stricken with poverty. Though where there is poverty there is always riches, and we’re introduced to two characters that represent each end of the scale. June’s brother is killed in a suspected terrorist attack against the Republic, she’s a highly skilled prodigy and hired by the government to track down his killer. Day, an outlawed criminal is suspected of the crime. Yet, we as readers are with Day when this supposed killing takes place. We’re lead to question the truth right from the start. I had my suspicions and couldn’t read fast enough to discover what really happened. Why does the Republic hate Day so much? Why as he decided to rebel? When will June discover the truth?

Both characters are intricately written and I really liked them both. I love how each chapter alternated between the two voices. We get both very different sides of the same story. Day has been compared to Robin Hood, and I can see the resemblance. Nobody really knows who this legendary character was, and no one really knows who Day is. Like Robin, he’s fighting for what’s right, against a conspiring Republic and for those he loves.  Orphaned June is feisty, strong and defiant – a brilliant heroine.

As these two people’s lives collide terrible and sinister truths are uncovered. At first June is determined to destroy Day, but what she has been led to believe all her life is somewhat different to what she now faces. With clues left by her brother she realises that perhaps Day isn’t such the villain he has been portrayed as. With the film rights already sold and the producers of the Twilight Saga on board, I’m certain this new series is going to be a global success. Lu’s writing was a thrill to read, very fast paced, lots of action, anxiety,  and the all important traces of a powerful romance. 

Together June and Day are a force to be reckoned with. Their journey represents truth, their story will become legend.

Review by Hazel Holmes.

Legend will be published by Puffin in December 2011.

REVIEW: Sapphire Battersea by Jacqueline Wilson

Review by Hazel Holmes.

I was so pleased to receive a proof of the sequel to Hetty Feather, knowing there would be thousands of eager fans dying to get their hands on a copy. I immediately delved into this to conjure up ideas for the Jacqueline Wilson Festival happening in October, and I wasn’t disappointed. We join Hetty; or Sapphire as she likes to be called, back in the Foundling Hospital with the mother she finally found. Yet the feistiness that makes me love this character so much, was about to get her in to trouble once more. Soon enough she is separated from her mother again and sent to work as a scullery maid. After upsetting her employer she sets off to be reunited to with her mother. This time her adventures lead her to the seaside, as well as unexpected sadness.

Sapphire Battersea is full of wonderful things, descriptive scenes of a Victorian Britain, comical and fearsome characters, fabulous friendships and romantic suitors. Yet as with all Jacqueline’s books there’s an undercurrent of seriousness throughout. Hetty is a pleasure to read, she makes me laugh. I love her honesty and admire her bravery and ambition. The sad thing is; she really does have to be brave as the story takes a turn for the worst.  Some parts of this book are genuinely upsetting.

Though it seems nothing can keep our Hetty down for long, her determination shines through and we’re left waiting to see what will happen next to this extraordinary girl.

Review by Hazel Holmes.

GUEST POST: Keren David - Lia's Guide to Winning The Lottery

Keren David's latest novel, Lia's Guide to Winning the Lottery, is officially released today. We asked her... what would she have done if she'd won the lottery at the age of 16?

Guest post by Keren David.

My new book Lia’s Guide to Winning the Lottery is about a girl who hits the jackpot with her first ever lottery ticket. She’s got £8million burning a hole in her pocket, and she can’t wait to get spending.

She buys an iPhone, a designer handbag and a vintage leather jacket.  She gets her hair highlighted and discovers a taste for designer clothes. She takes her mates to the mall and lets them pick whatever they want. She looks at smart penthouses, plans exotic holidays and buys a motorcycle for her best friend.

I had a lot of fun imagining how Lia would spend her cash - and the problems it might have brought her. But what if I’d won the lottery when I was 16? What would I have done?

Thinking back all the way back to  (gulp) 1979 – there wasn’t so much to spend money on. No mobile phones or computers.  I’d have bought a stereo, definitely and lots of LPs, a colour telly for my room. I’d have bought the entire stock of Miss Selfridge and I might even have bought some Italian jeans from Fiorucci, the must-have designer label of the time. I’d have  bought tickets to see my favourite bands (hmm..1979…I was just getting into The Police and Elvis Costello.)

I definitely would have wanted to buy myself a flat in London. Because I grew up in a small town, 20 miles out of London, the big city was infinitely glamorous. I would have wanted to move there right away -  but would I have left my friends? And what about my family? I don’t think I’d have been brave enough to leave home at 16.

One of the things I remember about being a teenager was constantly being told how selfish I was. So I suspect I’d have bought big presents all round -  and made some high profile donations to charity -  just to prove how wrong my critics (aka parents) were.

One of the things that most annoyed me when I was a teenager was having to rely on my dad for lifts -  or wait for hours for unreliable buses. So a car - and a driver - would have been top of the list.

Freedom…independence…and a guaranteed lift home at the end of the night. Come to think of it, that’s what I’d want if I won the lottery now!

Huge thanks to Keren David.

Lia's Guide To Winning the Lottery is available in bookshops now.

REVIEW: Lia's Guide to Winning the Lottery by Keren David

Review by Luisa.

Sixteen-year-old Lia has just had a huge row with her mother when she hears the winning lottery numbers... and she's pretty sure they match the ones on her ticket. Suddenly Lia has more money than she can imagine - eight million pounds, to be precise. How will this change her life, and what will it do to her relationships with family and friends?

After loving When I Was Joe and Almost True, I was really looking forward to reading another book by Keren David. Lia's Guide to Winning the Lottery completely lived up to my expectations.

Lia is confident, outspoken, sarcastic and fun, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the world through her sharp, London-girl eyes. Her observations about the possibly-paranormal, broody Raf are very funny. I loved the way Lia's relationship with Raf developed. In fact, I found all of Lia's relationship and friendship issues fascinating. Her experiences with new-found riches are believable, and I very much enjoyed the scene where Lia is thrown together with other wealthy young people in a self-help session.

Lia's Guide to Winning the Lottery is witty, compelling and thoroughly entertaining from start to finish.