Cyberspace thriller

The Eye of Minds - James Dashner
Available this month

The Mortality Doctrine series is a cyber thriller that would easily appeal to guys and girls alike.

Set in a reality that could easily be our not too distant future where gaming has been taken to a whole new level. The "Virtnet" is entered via a virtual simulation pod know affectionately as coffins, once hooked up and synced in everything you experience inside the virtnet is unbelievably real, even pain receptors can be programed to make it feel as realistically painful as you can handle, given the many horrific and imaginative ways one can get hurt or killed in games this is a pretty scary prospect!

Our protagonist Michael stumbles across a sinister plot that threatens to destroy his entire way of life, given very little option but to see out what he unwittingly started Michael and his two closest friends find themselves thrust into a world within the virtnet beyond comprehension - even for high level hackers like themselves. Epic online adventure ensues with an ending that will blow your mind and leave you thinking "Whaaa?"

There are quite a few loose ends leftover and some pieces of the puzzle that just didn't quite add up for me so I'm very interested to see how James will bring it all together in the remainder of the series.

Wild About You - Series Review

A Werewolf in Manhattan/A Werewolf in the North Woods 
Vicki Lewis Thompson
Books 1-5 Available now.

Recently I was looking for a little literary escapism, you know the type... something you would usually read laying on a beach while on holiday, where nothing really terrible happens, they are  fun and light with just the right amount of drama? Well boy oh boy have I found it - and best of all? there's a whole series of these juicy morsels to feast on!

Each book is based on a male and female character who always have opposing views and chemistry that could start a fire making for a delicious mix of naughty and nice. One of my fave aspects of these novels is the constant yet seamless alterations of perspective between our two main characters, giving a detailed view of the emotional 'stirrings' of both male and female counterparts as it adds a whole new dimension to the mix, besides, who wouldn't want to be inside the head of a hunky wolf, especially when he's thinking all the things you secretly dream that men think *cheeky grin and knowing head nod*





 While they are fun to read sequentially they are always about different characters in the same 'world' so really you can pick up whichever, whenever you like. Vicki weaves together relatable characters, witty repartee, humour and sticky situations often climaxing in steamy liaisons. In fact while we are on the subject of climaxes, these happen to be some of the best sex scenes I have had the pleasure to read, thank you Vicki!

Grab a copy, a comfy chair and a beverage of your choice and enjoy - You can thank me later.

The Destiny of Men and Beasts

Tiger's Destiny - Colleen Houck
Available Now - This is the final in an epic 4 part series so jump on board now!!

This is a series that has had it all! Princes who turn into tigers, Goddesses that come to life and a whole horde of magical beings - a Kraken, dragons, mermaids, fairies, phoenix and even a mega shark (? strange I know). Throughout it all and at the stories core has been a tremulous love triangle and 3 characters that have become very close to my heart.

Kelsey Hayes started the quest to save her beloved tigers what feels like a long time ago but in the series spans roughly 2 years - two brother Princes that in the distant past were cursed to live as tigers. Together they face unnatural dangers and challenges that push them to their limits, forming an unbreakable bond between them. As all the pieces of this tapestry are woven together and ancient secrets are finally revealed they discover that their shared destiny is to fight far greater war than they ever bargained for...more than just their lives as men hangs in the balance.

Colleen's writing style still feels a little raw but her characters more than make up for it and the poem that she crafted as the novel opening inspires you to see the amazing writer she is becoming, here's a little taste for you :)

"Does rising Phoenix thank his sire

For embers black that gave him birth?

Does he too know his fate is fire?

Can he enjoy his time on Earth?"

Interested in this series? want to know more? here is my review for books 1 & 2

Get ready for a revolution!

Viral Nation - Shaunta Grimes
Available Now!

Whatever I expected when I picked this up, being yet another post apocalyptic/angsty teen romance/revolutionary dystopian thriller etc etc it certainly wasn't what I got - what I did find was an enjoyably layered story with interesting yet flawed characters, each with their own terrible back stories and strengths to suit.

The opening prologue packs a massive punch and sets the scene perfectly - showing us a lovely young family on the brink of tragedy. After all of the worlds problems have come to a head the straw that breaks the camels back is a virus and it hits Reno the same week that our little family are welcoming a new addition. Chapter 1 and we have fast tracked 16 years into the future and to a society of survivors indebted to a daily suppressant inoculation and the company of Waverly and Stead who brought it to them. The population of America has been at least halved and each city has been walled in (for its own protection..) its enclosed inhabitants focused purely on getting by, shell shocked from loosing so many and so much.

An aspect I love about this book is the heroine - not your cookie cut out strong and silent type that doesn't care that she isn't the most gorgeous of them all yet turns out to be... no, Clover Donovan is a high functioning Autistic. To Clover this means she has trouble reading people or empathising with them, large crowds and noisy areas provide large levels of anxiety and when anxious (which is a lot of the time) she will rock, flutter her arms or in severe cases smack herself in the head. To help her focus she has a bulldog named Mango - a service dog who senses her tension and will lean on her, applying pressure to her legs that she needs to get her out of her head.

I found reading from Clover's perspective fascinating and her character unique. Her Autism plays a very particular role in the story and it makes me wonder if down the track a link between the 'suppressant' and Autism will be explored…there is so much going on throughout this novel, most of which I haven't even touched on for you and I'm very much looking forward to uncovering some mysteries in book 2!

Twins, but not as you know them...

Linked - Imogen Howson 
Available - NOW (in stores this week)

Sci-fi is just one of those genres that I would never choose to read of my own violation yet oddly enough whenever I do give one a go I vastly enjoy it – as it was with this space set YA debut…

Humans have colonised into the deep reaches of space and this tale is set on a relatively new terraformed planet named Sekoia – a society that looks picture perfect on the surface but harbors a treacherous secret. Enter our protagonist Lissa who has been suffering for years with attacks of phantom pain, not her own but her twins. Separated at birth, Lissa has no idea that the echo of pain she feels is coming from the real experiences of her twin.

As you can imagine the story really heats up when Lissa finds the truth, and her sister but while on the run from everything she knows and loves Lissa finds a newer stronger version of herself, re-assessing her life and the people in it, who she can trust and who it turns out she cant.

This is a fast-paced and exciting debut with a solid and interesting storyline, I really enjoyed the world/technology and the main characters with their different moral struggles and growth from beginning to end which I feel is rarely portrayed well in YA novels of late. I especially loved the way Imogen ended the story with good resolution yet a compelling set up for book two – which I definitely plan to pick up!

Epic Fantasy

Shadowfell Series, Books 1&2 - Juliet Marillier
Available - Now

I have to say Juliet Marillier is one of the Greats of the fantasy realm!
Her intelligent and whimsical writing never fails to fascinate and sweeps me away to another time and place all her own making. Her poignant stories are always chock full of strong characters, deep mystery and old magic...

This is traditional fantasy at its best as we follow Neryn on her quest to become a Caller strong enough to stand against the tyranny of their unjust King Keldec. Her journey is filled with tests and hardship, she makes many friends along the way but also encounters fearsome enemies.

This story is so beautiful in ways I had completely forgotten, for example the love story is slowly realised and the feelings portrayed between the characters are deep and true - the lust is there but expressed through a caress or dear word and so honest that a warm glow emanates from the pages. The natural growth of trust through friendship and understanding that turns into a love so strong and undeniable - reminding me of all Juliet's stories I have read and loved over the years showing me what love truly is and how to recognise it, in fact, I am positive that Juliet's writing has made me a better, stronger version of myself and lead me to the love I have today with my amazing fiancee.

While this is technically a YA novel I have found it just as deep and riveting as any of her adult offerings and I would have no hesitation to recommend to all audiences from the age of 14 and above. Book 2 Raven Flight has just hit the shelves this week, so if like me you are new to this series you get two books to dive right into before our torturous wait for book 3 The Caller.