Requiem - Lauren Oliver
Hodder - Available now
As promised the last installment in the Delirium trilogy is here!
With a first for this series the storyline is split between two main characters, our on-going heroine Lena and a re-surfaced character from book one Hana Tate, Lena's old best friend. Having not heard from Hana in such a long time I was quite surprised when she popped up heading up chapter two and alternates with Lena from here on in, but the story works brilliantly shared between the two girls giving you the perspective of both Lena's Delirium diseased mind and Hana's 'cured' one post procedure. It also cleverly exposes the beauty and horror of both world views - portraying the truth of the situation at large - a country at war and its people divided, the cureds of zombieland who feel next to nothing and care even less protected as they are from passion and choice, against the rabble of invalids who are forced to live like the animals they are portrayed as purely because they want the right to feel and be free or the many unfortunate displaced souls that simply have no where else to turn, caught in the grip of the war nonetheless.
Lauren has a beautifully lyrical style of writing and pushes her characters to their limits which I can't help but respect. I would have loved more resolution in the ending as I find myself wondering 'what next' for many of the characters and the not knowing kills me! There is also a special treat for those who purchase in the first print run... a small Alex back story, highlighting some of his childhood in the wilds and his time captive in the crypts.
I would also suggest that you dip into the little novella Hana (available in e-book or bound in Delirium Stories: Hana, Annabel, Raven) as it gives you an introduction to Hana as a voice and catches up her story to Lena's in the Requiem present, besides what's not to love about reading more Lauren Oliver??
Pandemonium - Lauren Oliver
Requiem, the eagerly awaited conclusion to Delirium and Pandemonium will be here in a matter of days! (the 13th to be exact, excitement much?) that being said I thought it the opportune moment to give you my delayed review for Pandemonium as often when I love a series I will wait as long as I can before reading to save on the disappointment I feel when faced with the lengthy wait for the next book, albeit not the best plan but it's all I've got! Naturally Pandemonium was well worth the wait and just as I feared it emulated the first book with a massive jaw-dropping cliff hanger (don't worry I wont spoil it for you). For those of you who likewise hate the wait and for some reason haven't picked up this series yet then this is your chance to discover a fab new author and a captivating new world to escape into.
The story picks up a little ways after the end of Book 1 and Lena has had to make some hard choices on where to place her trust while living with a group of rebels where life is tough and still mourning the loss of Alex, the man she braved the outlawed disease of 'Delirium' for. As Lena spends more time with her saviours she is swept up in to the rebel cause but even as she goes along with their plans she has the sense that they aren't giving her all their trust either.
Then there comes Julian who she feels such a connection with but can she really go there so soon after Alex?? Lena's story is full of bravery, heartbreak and suspense and I have a feeling that the series finale will be more of the same and shocking to say the least - let the count down begin!
Between the Lives - Jessica Shirvington
Harper Collins - Available May 2013
Extraordinarily uniqe, genuine and clever, Jessica weaves an interesting tale turning 'what if's' into reality… what if you were living to lives? What if those two lives existed side by side, doubling your days living one day here only to repeat it there, and what if something big changed? Like what physically happened to you in one life suddenly stopped occurring in the other, what would you do??
Our heroine Sabine is written beautifully, you feel her despair and resignation, her spirit and strength as she bravely straddles her two worlds knowing her abnormality and doing her best to keep it hidden from her friends and family to keep them happy and herself safe but all the while loosing a little piece of herself in the bargain.
Just after turning 18 Sabine finds that a broken arm in one world has not transpired to the next as it would have done in the past which leads her to discover that her two lives can now be separated like they never were before, but with this new discovery comes a choice - Two lives or one? Would you take one complete life or two extraordinary ones? And what is really at stake? Sabine thinks she knows which life she would prefer however we all know life can change in an instant…so what (or who) is around the corner for Sabine?
Put this one on your must have list! you won't be able to put it down, promise ;)
Walking Disaster - Jamie McGuire
S&S - Available April 2013
As you may recall I super enjoyed book 1 Beautiful Disaster and could hardly contain my enthusiasm for the coming of book 2 luckily I know someone important so I got in early and I certainly haven't been disappointed!
This time the same tale is told by Travis Maddox, bonafied bad boy and womaniser though you know the story and vaguely remember what's coming next it's still just as compelling and had me turning pages faster and faster as I remembered it all over again. Thankfully Jamie doesn't go easy on us giving a genuine and at times, rather unfortunate view into the male mind (seriously dudes can be gross). I've always been a fan of a story told from a guy's POV, I feel like I've been let in on a secret society where all of my suspicions can be confirmed and faith in the male species restored, Travis has a confidence and anger that is rarely felt by a female character and the brilliant one liners where he and his cousin take the piss out of each other are gold!
Cleverly this time round an epilogue has been added telling 'what came next' for Travis and Abby which freshens the story and rounds it out beautifully giving a sense of closure for the characters and a real happy ever after, without this I feel it could have drifted into the realm of 'more of the same'.
This story proves that the one is worth fighting for and tamed bad boys really are every bit as awesome as we imagined they might be so keep trying ladies cause who wouldn't want their very own Travis Maddox??
P.S I already found mine :)
