Release Date: 14/02/13
SYNOPSIS:
This is a powerful, unique and compelling novel about twin sisters and their fight for survival in a world on the brink of chaos, "The Farm" by Emily McKay is as addictive as "The Hunger Games" and "The Passage". For Lily and her twin sister Mel there is only the Farm...It's a prison, a blood bank, a death camp - where fear and paranoia rule. But it's also home, of sorts. Because beyond the electric fence awaits a fate much, much worse. But Lily has a plan. She and Mel are going to escape - into the ravaged land outside, a place of freedom and chaos and horrors. Except Lily hasn't reckoned on two things: first, her sister's ability to control the horrors; and, secondly, on those out there who desperately want to find and control Mel. Mel's growing power might save the world, or utterly end it. But only Lily can protect Mel from what is to come..."The Farm" takes you into a terrifying future where civilization has ended, and leaves you there - fearful, gasping and begging to escape. "Equal parts "Resident Evil" and "Hunger Games" - and just as thrilling "The Farm" is a gripping dystopian tale that pits humans against humans in the race for survival in her remarkable and haunting world. I can't wait to sink my teeth into the next installment!" (Chloe Neill). Emily McKay loves to read, shop, and geek out about movies. When she's not writing, she reads online gossip and bakes luscious desserts. She pretends that her weekly yoga practice balances out both of those things. She lives in central Texas with her family and her crazy pets. She also co-writes young adult as Ivy Adams.
REVIEW:
When I originally heard about the premise for this book I placed it as one of my highlights for the first quarter of the year, so when it landed it was a title that I put to one side to savour when I was feeling down. Finally I cracked the cover and settled down to enjoy a story of horror, of feeding and of course characters trying their best to survive in a harsh world.
Yet for all that, a tale is only so good as the conflicts within be they personal, emotional or of danger but a book that faces way too many from inter-character arguments really struggles for me to not only keep me glued but also to keep the pace moving along with the story arc. Don’t get me wrong, the premise had a great concept behind it (as has been used in passing in titles like Stephen Hunt’s Court of the Air) but when the argument just keeps interfering I really want to take a break and have the vampires take a chunk of out them.
All round sadly lacking in the delivery for me but it is something that might work better for the Young Reader market rather than the adult with so many personal conflicts to be resolved but when I want something to raise the chills taking me on a high octane chill factor, this title was lacking.
Release Date: 11/10/12
SYNOPSIS:
Karen Chance continues her terrific urban fantasy series featuring the kick-ass daughter of a vampire in this sequel to Midnight's Daughter and Death's Mistress.
Karen Chance continues her terrific urban fantasy series featuring the kick-ass daughter of a vampire in this sequel to Midnight's Daughter and Death's Mistress.
Dorina Basarab is a dhampir - half-human, half-vampire. Subject to uncontrollable rages, most dhampirs live very short, very violent lives. But so far, Dory has managed to maintain her sanity by unleashing her anger on those demons and vampires who deserve killing . . .
Dory is used to fighting hard and nasty. So when she wakes up in a strange scientific lab with a strange man standing over her, her first instinct is to take his head off. Luckily, the man is actually the master vampire Louis-Cesare, so he's not an easy kill.
It turns out that Dory had been working with a Vampire Senate task force on the smuggling of magical items and weaponry out of Faerie when she was captured and brought to the lab. But when Louis-Cesare rescues her, she has no memory of what happened to her.
To find out what was done to her - and who is behind it - Dory will have to face off with fallen angels, the maddest of mad scientists, and a new breed of vampires that are far worse than undead . . .
REVIEW:
I love books that take me on an adventure and whilst I’m fairly new to Karen’s writing I know a fair few people who have told me that I had to give her a try. And boy was I pleased that I did. Within this title you get a great leading lady, she’s feisty, she has passion and when added to a storyline that’s exploratory as we get to learn what’s happened to her we know that its going to be a serious kickass tale.
Add to this solid prose, great dialogue and a heroine that you can’t wait to get back to which all in makes this a title that has had me demanding the previous two to savour. Magical.
Release Date: 26/04/12
SYNOPSIS:
Let the hunt begin ...When Simon Burns is fired from his job without warning, he takes on the role of stay-at-home dad for his three-year-old son. But his reluctance pushes his already strained marriage to the limit. In the nestled playgrounds of the Upper West Side, Simon harbors a simmering rage at his boss' betrayal. Things take a turn when he meets a tight-knit trio of dads at the playground. They are different from other men Simon has met, stronger and more confident, more at ease with the darker side of life - and soon Simon is lured into their mix. But after a guys' night out gets frighteningly out of hand, Simon feels himself sliding into a new nightmarish reality. As he experiences disturbing changes in his body and his perceptions, he starts to suspect that when the guys welcomed him to their "pack", they were talking about much more than male bonding...
REVIEW:
Jason Starr is a new author on my radar although I know that he’s written other books, something about the blurb for this one just grabbed me. Within this book is a story of self-discovery as the titles lead character Simon, learns to deal with the hardships that life throws at him when he loses his job. Its quirky, its amusing and what the author does really well for me, is bring the lead character to life in a personable way that made me want to spend time with him.
Add to this solid character interaction between the cast, some wonderful dialogue and personal relationship troubles that readers can relate to thrown in with a dash of the fantastical. All in a solid read and when you add good pace and decent prose into the mix, makes this a book that was a pure joy to read. Great stuff.
