Audiobook Review: Gameboards of the Gods (Age of X #1) by Richelle Mead

Futuristic, bad ass and ambitious

Title: Gameboard of the Gods
Series: Age of X
Author: Richelle Mead
My ratings: 4 out of 5 stars
Released: 4th June, 2013
Anything that Richelle Mead writes has always been enjoyable to me. However, mixed reviews for this series made me hesitate. I shouldn't have, as she reinstilled my faith in her. Gameboard Of the Gods is Mead's new adult series which I think has been her most ambitious yet.

While I have enjoyed her YA Vampire Academy series, I have always preferred her adult series. Georgina Kincaid series was my introduction into the world of urban fantasy and I never looked back. That series will always hold a dear place in my heart.

Gameboard of the Gods has an elaborate plot, world building and quite convoluted relationships and I wouldn't expect anything else from her. Without going too much into plot, the story is set in a futuristic version of North America where our main protagonists are Mae, a implant enhanced future super soldier and Justin, an exiled officer with questionable morals.

I admit it took me a little while to really get into the story but once I did I was wholly invested in it. Mead has a talent for writing in small clues throughout the story which beautifully comes together towards the end. But the best thing about Gameboard of the Gods was Mae. and Justin's relationship and both their personalities. Both of them are not exactly what you call good people. Selfish, rude and with eschewed morals (especially Justin) they make for an interesting pair. Their chemistry was off the charts and the whole forbidden attraction was played really well, which I may add this author is an expert in.

I had one complaint and this is about the narration. Emily Shaffer, the narrator did a great job of encompassing each character's personality but I wish she did male voices a little more huskier. While she managed to make Justin sound suitably flippant and cocky, his voice didn't sound any different from the female voice of Mae.

Overall, I'll recommend this book to all fantasy fans but will ask them to go in with an open mind and let the story take you. I seem to be in the minority who loved this book but I have a feeling if you go in not expecting Richelle Mead's usual style, you'll most certainly enjoy it.

Audiobook Review: The Rose Society (The Young Elites #2) by Marie Lu

Dark, bold and a new chapter for YA fantasy

Title: The Rose Society
Series: The Young Elites
Author: Marie Lu
Publisher: Penguin, UK
My ratings: 5 out of 5 stars
Released: 15th October, 2015
Last year I absolutely loved The Young Elites and the wait for The Rose Society felt torturous. But I am pleased to say, the wait was worth it.

The Young Elites ended not exactly on a cliff hanger but on the precipice of a new chapter in Adelina’s life. With an explosive climax in The Young Elites, the Rose Society begins with a steady pace leading to an end which blew my mind away. I do apologise for this reviews in advance, as it is difficult to write a cohesive review.

I won’t be delving into the premise as I don’t think it is needed. This book was dark, so very dark and from what I can see, the next book is going to be darker and I love it. This series has always been about our heroine (antiheroine?) Adelina and her journey as she grows into her power. From the discovery which I am sure will lead to her destruction. I love how she is not your typical sweet, nice YA heroine. Her evil(?) thoughts is atypical and at times seem selfish but I believe that makes her real. She is slowly growing in a villainous making me question my feelings and has me toen on what to root for.

We also see a return of old favourite characters and a few new ones which made thing all the more interesting. My favourite character was Terren in The Young Elites but now as Adelina slowly descends into a darker place, I think her selfishness us slowly making me like her more.

I know, it doesn’t make sense to me either. But I can guarantee that The Rose Society will have you teetering on the edge of your seats with its intricate, vast setting, and lush world building with characters which raises questions and offer more than just a good time. I did feel that the story lost it’s fast pace in the middle but the action towards the end more than made up for it. True to the previous book, The Rose Society also ended with nail biting tension making me scream for the next book. Highly recommended for all YA Fantasy fans.

Audio Tour: The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich

I cannot say how excited I am about kick starting the blog tour of this amazing debut by Dawn Kurtagich’s called The Dead House. I’m not someone who reaches for a horror book as my usual genre and I started this book with some trepidation. However, I can assure you tis book was amazing. More of this will be coming later in the review but now I must proceed and squeal how delighted I am to host this blog stop. Plus I was got a surprise for you at the end. Yes a Giveaway too.

Before we go any further, let’s remind ourselves about what The Dead House is about.

Title: The Dead House
Author: Dawn Kurtagich
Publisher: Indigo Books, UK
Released: 1st August, 2015
Part-psychological thriller, part-urban legend, this is an unsettling narrative made up of diary entries, interview transcripts, film footage transcripts and medical notes. Twenty-five years ago, Elmbridge High burned down. Three people were killed and one pupil, Carly Johnson, disappeared. Now a diary has been found in the ruins of the school. The diary belongs to Kaitlyn Johnson, Carly’s identical twin sister. But Carly didn’t have a twin . . .

Re-opened police records, psychiatric reports, transcripts of video footage and fragments of diary reveal a web of deceit and intrigue, violence and murder, raising a whole lot more questions than it answers.

Who was Kaitlyn and why did she only appear at night? Did she really exist or was she a figment of a disturbed mind? What were the illicit rituals taking place at the school? And just what did happen at Elmbridge in the events leading up to ‘the Johnson Incident’?

Chilling, creepy and utterly compelling, THE DEAD HOUSE is one of those very special books that finds all the dark places in your imagination, and haunts you long after you've finished reading.
 
For, this audio blog tour, Dawn has prepared these fantastic audio teasers. I’ve been lucky enough to snag the teaser where the one of the main characters, Kaitlyn introduces herself. Listen on and I promise you will be screaming for more.


Creeped out yet? Believe me when I say I jumped a few times while reading this book and yes, it was in bright daylight. I loved the format of this book, which is written in a unique format which I’ve never come across before, It was fascinating and I was hooked. Apart for my min review above, I have a copy of the final copy of The Dean House to giveaway. It is UK/IRE only and I’m not responsible for any items lost in the post. All you have to do is enter via the rafflecoptor widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Audiobook Review: The Assassin's Blade (Throne of Glass #0.1-0.5) by Sarah J Maas

Majestic, beautiful and gut wrenching

Title: Assassin’s Blade
Series: Throne of Glass
Author: Sarah J Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury, UK and Audible Books
My ratings: 5 out of 5 stars
Released: 13th March, 2014
The Assassin’s Blade is a collection of novella set before the amazing series, Throne of Glass start. It consists of five stories which follows Celaena’s story on how she got to the salt mines in the first place.

If you are new to this series you don’t have to start this series from The Assassin’s Blade before reading Throne of Glass but it is a fabulous edition of the stories and it is a wonder to Celaena in all her glory before she is picked up my Chaol at Endovier.

I realise that when the early books were released some readers had some reservations about Celaena’s claim to be the calibre of assassin she was portrayed as. This book blows that into smithereens as we get to read about how Celaana’s life was as Arobynn’s prodigy.

Best of all it had Sam Cortland. I’ll fore-warn that the last novella The Assassin and The Empire would require a box of tissue. It took me through a roller-coaster of emotion from hope to devastation to anger. I was utterly furiously on Celaena’s behalf.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book with it various novellas and I have a feeling some of them will be coming back in the future books of Throne of Glass. I adore whatever S J Mass as she has talent to somehow her readers able to connect and root for her characters. Moreover after the events of Assassin’s Blade I’m afraid for Celaena and also for me as Mass is not afraid to take risks with her characters and I don’t think my heart will be able to take any more after Sam Cortland.

Mass knows how to write her male protagonists and time and time again she keeps churning out fabulous ones like Sam, Chaol, Dorian, Rowan, Tamlin, Lucien, Rhys. Sigh. I suppose you get my point.

I can whole heartedly recommend this book as it made me tear up in the train which hasn’t happened in a long time. The narrator Elizabeth Evans did a great job at bringing Celaena to life with the right mix of entitlement, arrogance and emotion.

This book and this series is majestic, fabulous, and non-stop action. If you haven’t read this series I’d ask you to drop everything and start this now. It just that good.

You can read my reviews of Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight and Heir of Fire by clicking on them.

Audiobook Review: the Dream Theives (The Raven Boys #2) by Maggie Stiefvator

Gut wrenchingly beautiful

Title: The Dream Thieves
Series: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvator
Publisher: Scholastic Audio
My ratings: 5 out of 5 stars
Released: 5th September, 2013
A fter the bombastic The Raven Boys, I could not wait to start The Dream Thieves. I have to say this series has become one of my favourites so far.

In Dream Thieves, the group is still dealing with the ramifications of the vents in The Raven Boys. The mystery of Cabeswater has to be solved but there are other things in motion which will take the story in a whole different direction.

What I most enjoy in this book is not the story or the plotting. In fact I think are the weaker points of these series. However it is the characters and the atmosphere which make this book as popular as they have been. A few new characters play major roles in this book and I can say I’m conflicted about them. The Grey Man and Kavinsky play pivotal roles in this edition of the story.

Where The Raven Boys was Noah’s book, The Dream thieves is Ronan’s book. Being in Ronan’s mind was excruciatingly painful and somehow it was exciting to see the world from his eyes. Then we have Adam had forever changed after the encounter in Cabeswater and he has his own demons to fight.

Blue and Gansey break my heart in this book and I firmly believe that I’m a little in love with him. YA books are choke-full of bad boys making many of us swoon but I love that Gansey is so different than all of them. He is refined, subtle, gentle and wonderful. A total boy scout and I love it. The author really knows her characters well that she is able to imbibe such subtle nuances within each dialogue and line. It breaks my heart that Gansey is probably going to die and I’ll be reduced to a mass to blubbering jelly.

I do believe the story progression is rather slow but with characters like The Raven Boys, I could watch them all day getting on with life as long as Maggie Stiefvator writes them.

On a side not, I think Will Patton does a bang up job of narrating this hauntingly beautiful story. His voice turns effortlessly dreamy to creepy in an instant. I recommend this book a 100%.

Audiobook Review: The Young Elites (The Young Elites #1) by Marie Lu

Dark, sexy and utterly unputdownable. I want MORE

Title: The Young Elites
Author:Marie Lu
Series: The Young Elites
Publisher:Listening Library
My ratings: 5 out of 5 stars
Released: 7th October, 2014
Once in a while you stumble across a book which hits all the right spots for you? You think, 'How did this book manage to slip under my radar?' The Young Elites was one such book for me. It slipped right under my radar until I stumbled on it, read the reviews and started it. Adelina is a malfetto, meaning she has scars left behind on her body when she contracted the blood fever which swept the country. The malfettos are blamed for all the ill that befalls the country of Kenetra and a are discriminated and badly treated. even being the daughter of a wealthy merchant does not spare Adelina of that fate. Mistreated and forced to live under the shadow her beautiful younger sister Adelina grows resentful with each passing day until she decided to run away. However she manages to kill her cruel father in the process. Turns out that Adelina is no ordinary malfetto, but an Young Elites. Malfettos who emerged from the fever with supernatural powers had banded together and had been speaking of rebellion and Adelina finds herself among them.

There are a host of other characters notably, Enzo who is the leader of the Young Elites and an exiled prince. Terren who is the leader of the Inquisitors who are working to eliminate all mafetto from the country and Rafaelle, best friend of Enzo and also a male consort. There is a hint of romance with Enzo but that is soon smothered by the dark and gritty story line.

Adelina is somewhat evil. I think, that was my favourite bit of her personality. When she taps into the darkness simmering in her, then only can she manifest her powers. The ill feelings that were born in the mind of a child has been twisted into an bad and dark side of Adelina, the extent of which even Adelina is unaware of. I really enjoyed how Marie Lu portrayed and described this in the story as this was a pivotal point of the story. It is difficult to find a heroine in YA who had shades of evil in her and not the usual immaturity due to being young. Adelina has the potential to be exponentially powerful but only Marie Lu will be able to tell us how she manages to harness the power and the evil smoldering inside her.

What I also loved about this book that it just the right amount to everything, action, friendship, politics, and even romance. The romance was really light but when set against so much that is going on, it packs a punch.

The narrator Carla Corvo did a good job at Adelina's voice but when it came to the male characters voices they were indiscernible from each other. Moreover as the foreign names seemed Latin, they were pronounced in the right way ( I mean in a Latin accent) but at times it felt jarring and interrupted the flow of words.

After my little nit picking, The Young Elites was a high fantasy, adventure novel, with fantastic characters, excellent story line, beautiful setting, exquisite writing and it is a fine example of what YA for older audience should be like. Not more sex but more gory action. I was dark, sexy and deliciously mouth watering. There should more books like this in the market. If you enjoyed Leigh Bardugo's Grisha series or The Winner's Crime, you will most definitely enjoy this.

Now I'm off to find more tittles by Marie Lu while I kick myself for not picking them up earlier.

Audiobook Review: Unhinged (Splintered #2) by A. G Howard

Dark, mysterious and failed to hit the mark

Title: Unhinged
Series: Splintered
Author: A. G Howard
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
My ratings: 3 out of 5 stars
Released: 8th January, 2014
It felt like I had been waiting for Unhinged for a long time. When Splintered first came out, I gave into the impulse of reading it as the quirky cover and the positive reviews drew me in. The wild ride and the all round craziness was addictive and I enjoyed the adventure Splintered took me on. I'll admit, my favourite character of them all was Morpheus, the Mad Hatter. Dark, mysterious with an agenda of his own, he was difficult to predict and impossible to slot in a spot. His intention were never clear and he always had a sinister edge about him.

So when I finally got a chance to read Unhinged, I wanted to read it with an unhurried pace as I wanted to savour the experience and the crazy world building. I picked up the audio book, narrated by Rebecca Gibel.

Unfortunately, Unhinged failed to hit the mark with me. First of all, the whole book was set up in the real world not the Netherland, which usually added another layer or many layers to the story and the experience. Of course, we have the creatures of Netherland creeping into this world both old and new, leaving Alyssa to deal with the consequences. We have Jebb, whom I have never taken to and a variety of other characters. The best thing about Unhinged was that it had a lot more Morpheus than Splintered but my enjoyment of reading about a bewildering character was cut short. I hated the voice, the narrator did for him. It was meant to be a cockney accent but it simply did not feel right for him. Every time Morpheus spoke, I cringed. In fact, I didn't like any of the characters voices.

Alyssa especially seemed bratty and selfish in this book, and her desperate attempts to be 'normal' annoyed me. I am not saying this because she was harsh on Morpheus but she held everyone to different standards which I found hard to accept. It was ok, if she duped, cheated and lied but if somebody else did the same to her, she became holier than thou.

It all seems really mean but it all comes to the fact, that I did not like Alyssa or the way she treated people. I found her self cantered and selfish. The voices in this audio book didn't help either. I don't know is all my venom is coming because I didn't like the narration as I had read the first book and perhaps I had assigned 'voices' to these characters in my mind or perhaps Splintered had blind sided me with its crazy Wonderland hijinks and the lack of which made her flaws glaring obvious.

I'd recommended it to all fans of the first book but would advice to at least try it before completely disregarding it.

Audiobook Review: The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

Compelling and all-consuming

Title: The Raven Boys
Series: The Raven Cycle
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic, UK
My ratings: 5 out of 5 stars
Released: 12th September, 2012
Having read mixed reviews about Maggie Stiefvater's The Wolves of Mercy Falls, this author had been on my TBR list for a while. But a couple for years ago I heard that her new book The Raven Boys is absolutely brilliant. Dismissing it as ramblings of die-hard fans, I ignored it. Now after listening to The Raven Boys I realise what a huge mistake I was about to do.

Blue is a psychic's daughter who lives with her her aunt's in a small town called Henrietta. In the same town is the private school for the privileged children of the rich and the famous called Aglionby. The students are called the Raven Boys due to the emblems on their sweaters. Blue wants to stay away from these boys but little does she know what is in store for her when one night on St. Mark's Day she sees an Aglionby Boy's spirit on the corpse Road which means that this boy is going to die in a year.

I had my reservations about listening to a male narrator and that too in third person but I think Will Patton's voice did justice to every character, which is so important in this story as it is so characters centered. He does the accents so well that I knew who was speaking by the voice alone.

The Raven Boys may not be liked by all as the main plot is slow moving and the characters play such an important role that the the mystery sometimes seems more like a subplot. If I'm ruthlessly honest, not much happens in most of the book until the very end. So if you are looking for an adventurous book with action and mayhem, this book is not for you. However this book is unmissable if you are looking for an intelligent, sweet, atmospheric, character-driven story which makes you invested in the world and forget that anything part from Henrietta exists.

I've never been a fan of bromance in fact it usually puts me off but Maggie Stiefvater makes the relationship between the four boys so utterly complicated and beautiful, that all I can do is just keep going.

The characters relationship with each other is complex and unique and Stiefvater knows them so well that I feel them to my bones. She is a master in show not tell that the subtle changes and progression is a sweet pain. At the beginning it seems like it's Blue's story but in fact it is all of theirs story, Blue, Adam, Noah, Ronan, and Gansey. They are perfectly imperfect with their flaws and shortcomings.

At first I liked Adam but as the story progress I got more and more intrigued by Gansey. Their are so many layers to him that unraveling him slowly keeps me fascinated just as Blue. I think that scene where he is sat in Blue's house with his glasses on sealed the deal for me.

I really should stop writing now as if I'm given the opportunity, I will keep going on as to how much I loved this deeply atmospheric, magical and extraordinarily unique book but I have to stop at some point.

If you are a fan of YA, I urge you to give this book a chance, if you don't like it, that's fine but if you appreciate great writing and a characters which will stay with you, this book is a blessing. I think this line will forever encompass this series for me.

“Is that all?" she whispered. 
Gansey closed his eyes. "That's all there is.”

Audio Book Review: The Chemical Garden Trilogy by Lauren Destefano

Brilliant, morbid, desolate and fascinating

Series: The Chemical Garden
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Publisher: HarperCollins /Recorded Books
My ratings: 4 out of 5 stars
Released: December 2013

This is a review of The Chemical Garden Trilogy by Lauren DeStefano.


The Chemical Garden Trilogy is the debut series written by Lauren DeStefano. To be honest, while I may have heard a lot about this series I had not picked it up as the reviews had been quite conflicting. I decided to pick up the audio book on a whim, as this series has been widely read and that is the reason why there has been so many opinions about it. My curiosity got the better of me and I gave in.

The series consists of three books called Wither, Fever and Sever and they have been aptly named. The premise goes like this. In the near future, with the developments in technology and medicine, diseases like cancer and the likes have been cured making human kind almost immortal. However their children were not so lucky as due to some side effects, their off spring contract a 'virus' and perish at the age of 20 of the girls and 25 for the boys. The older generations are called First Generation and the newer kids called New Generation. In a society like this, where human lifespan is so short, people tend to get married and have children as soon as possible. Basically try and live as much as possible before their expiry dates.

Rhine is kidnapped and sold to the rich House Master, Vaughn, where she is married off to his son along

with 2 other girls. Polygamous marriages are common for the wealthy and girls are kidnapped on a daily basis. She is held within an mansion with the constant fear of rape and torture, Rhine yearns to be free again and live in Manhattan with her twin brother, Rowan.

Rhine was an empathetic character. The story is being narrated by her and she is a strong, resilient and determined character. Even while she is trapped in this impossible situation, she does not lose hope and sits like a duck to await her fate. The mansion provides security and luxury bit Rhine knows she is a bird in an gilded cage. The audio book narrator, Angela Lin put a fair amount of work in order to bring the right emotion to the character. There was always this sense of hope and desolation in her voice which convinced me of the longing Rhine felt for her freedom.

Before I go any further, I have to hand it to Lauren DeStefano, the lady knows how to write.The plot is spread quite thinly across the three books and the dystopian world while being terrifying, hopeless and desolate was not quite convincing. There were many plot holes with the world building and I just wish that there was more depth and complexity to it. Regardless, I was mesmerised with Rhine's story. It wasn't complex or with lots of twists or turns or many surprises. Furthermore, the bigger picture was bleak and not very well explained but I was sucked into Rhine's world. The writing makes the reader almost blinded to everything except Rhine's emotions and her quest for freedom. Rhine at first felt a little whiny but over the course of the series we get to see how strong and determined she really is.

The side characters were really interesting, including Rhine's sister-wives Cecily and Jenna. The three girls forge a bond in this unusual circumstances which was beautiful to witness. The House Master Vaughn is the villain of the story, as he is the one holding the girls and trying his experiments on unwitting subjects, trying to find a cure for the virus. Then we have Linden, Rhine's oblivious husband and the love interest Gabriel who is an attendant. Gabriel was sweet and caring and looks after Rhine and becomes her friend when she needs

someone the most. While it's clear he is the love interest he felt flat for me. There was so much potential for him as it's clear the author knows how to write beautiful romantic relationship, Rhine and Gabriel failed to instill any excitement in me. There romance was boring and round the mill. Linden on the other hand was another story. There was so much wrong with Rhine and Linden's situation as the reader was supposed to hate him for having three wives but all I felt for him was pity. He was deeply in love with his first wife Rose and Rhine. He comes to love all his wives in his own way ( that statement in itself is so wrong) but I felt deep sympathy for him. He is timid and quiet but he cares about Rhine very much. Yes, he has marital relationship with a 13 year old girl, which is gross on so many levels but I still cannot hate him.

Rhine of course is conflicted about her feeling for him and at one point it is attributed to Stockholm Syndrome but I think it was more than that. I did not like how Lauren progressed his character over the course of the book, especially in the last book. Sever. It made me slightly angry to think that a shortcut was taken but , it did resolve the story well.

The story deals with polygamous marriages and possible rape and underage pregnancies which are serious taboo/serious topics to write YA dystopia on, but Lauren DeStefano does a splendid job of it. I loved how small Rhine's perspective is, as often dystopian books are usually about the bigger picture. While it may be criticised for it, I also enjoyed how Rhine's narrative was like a candle in the dark and the reader could only see and feel what this candle was illuminating.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Chemical Garden Series. The world building may leave something to desire but the writing, narrative, characters are brilliantly written and I was gripped by where the story will take me next. It was morbid, sad, unilateral sorrowful and yet utterly brilliant, evocative and fascinating. I think it is a must read of every YA fan as it has a dark, serious tone which will make you keep turning the pages until you can barely see.

Audiobook Review: Paradox Series (Fortune's Pawn and Honour's Knight) by Rachel Bach

Sci-Fi which reads like a UF and kicks ass

Series: Paradox
Author: Rachel Bach
Publisher: Orbit
My ratings: 5 out of 5 stars
Released: 5th February, 2014
My bookie friends have been raving about this series for a while urging me to read it as it would right down my street but I never got around to picking it up. However I got the audio book for this series on a whim and I'm sooo glad I did. With a kick ass no-nonsense heroine, non-stop action and a mystery unfolding all at the same time, The Paradox series was pushing just the right buttons for me.

This review is for the first two books Fortune’s Pawn and Honour’s Knight of the Paradox series by Rachel Bach.

The Paradox series is about a mercenary, Devi Morris, ambitious and stupidly brave who wants to be a Devastator, the highest ranking officer in her King's Army. But to prove herself she takes up a job as a security personal at spaceship, The Glorious Fool in famous by the sheer amount of trouble it keeps getting it. Reeled in my the prospect, Devi thinks the work will be a doddle but soon she realises he has bitten more than she can chew. The series features the mismatched crew in Captain Codswal's ship, the variety of planets they land in and the many curious creatures they encounter.

Of course there is romance in the form of the ever enigmatic Rupert (yes I know what you think of the name, I agree).

I really enjoyed the first book, Fortune's Pawn. It had non-stop action, thrilling mystery and extra ordinary world building to go along with it. The second book was slightly slow to begin with, but it soon picked up. This was a science fiction book but at no point was I confused by the setting or the world building. The action scenes were really well written and it was easy to imagine Devi brandishing there thermite blade, Elise or her anti-armour gun, Sasha.

Devi was hard core and fans of Urban Fantasy will like her personality as she is strong woman, who has seen her share of the world and knows exactly what she wants. Her single minded ambition to be a Devastator felt liberating and I loved how she knew herself so well. She was a mercenary through and through but she stuck to her principles.

The one thing that got criticism all around and bothered me only slightly was how hard and quickly she feel for Rupert, the mysterious, handsome cook, who was more than what meets the eyes. Devi kept on trying to uncover his secrets and I found myself doing the same. When I had heard the love interest's name was Rupert I had my doubts but the narrator did such a good job of narrating that somehow along the way Rupert's name, the way it rolled over the tongue became attractive. It took a little getting used to but slowly I got to appreciate what a great job Emily Durante did with Devi's voice and Rupert's accent and the voice of the various crew members. They were all distinct and suited each character perfectly. She managed to give each of them a different accent to accentuate their different planet of origin. While I really enjoyed the mystery of Fortune's Pawn, Honour's Knight felt a little lacking but it made up for the way the story panned out.

Over all this is fantastic series for Sci-fi fans and Urban Fantasy Fans alike. It reads like a Urban Fantasy and would be just right for any fantasy reader who wants to try something different. Ideal for Sirantha Jax fans.

I'd recommend it to fans of irritated birds, galaxy hippies and a story which keeps you on the edge.

Love You To Death (The Mediator #1) by Meg Cabot

Light, breezy and entertaining

Title: Love You To Death
Author: Meg Cabot
Series: The Mediator
Publisher: Clipper DL
My ratings: 4 out of 5 stars
Released: 17th May, 2007
I picked Love you to Death on whim. In fact I just picked it up because I have read Meg Cabot before and found her light style of writing just right to pass by a day. I was ill and plagued with debilitating migraines and I decided to shut the world and just listen to an audio book and this was what was available from my library.

This was my first experience of listening to an audio book and I can gladly say I made a wise choice. I have always had misgiving about Audio books and had never tried them before. I have to say the narrator, Johanna Parker, was really good. She has just the right type of voice, mature for a teenager but young for an adult. There were a host of other side characters and she managed to sound different with every one of them.

Moving on to the story line, Susannah has to move to California from New York due to her mother's new family. The change is a big deal for a New Yorker like Susannah, who is not used to the beach, the sun and the sand. She is new to the family and her Mom's new husband comes with a family of 3 boys to boot. But that is just the start of her problems. You see, she is a mediator. Souls/ghosts stuck in this world, who are able to cross over with her help. So when she is new in town, she concerned over how she is going to adjust with new ghosts hounding her. Her new school is strange and with it comes a bevy of other problems least of all is the ghost residing in her bedroom, who refuses to leave.

I found Susannah endearing and real. I understood her, felt her, and knew her. Even now I can predict how she will react to certain situations. I give it to Meg Cabot to writing a character who was not only unique but loveable, brave, funny, and a little naive. She is not memorable but she does not grate on my nerves nor did I feel I had to shake her awake. The plot was simple and not too convoluted but it was the setting which made an impression on me. It was the combination or the narrator and the writing which made me picture small beaches, palm trees, sun beating down on me and the smell of fresh sea air. I want to retire in a place like that.

My favourite character had to be Jesse. He added the extra oomph to a slightly predictable plot. I was more curious about him than I was about the evil ghost lurking at school. With his Spanish accent every time the narrator did his voice I swooned a little.

Overall, Love you to Death was light and breezy. It is amazing how a story can be made interesting in the right hands. In the end Meg Cabot made me love each character is the book including Susannah's brothers.

Recommended for fans of ghost busters, seaside and gorgeous ghosts inhabiting bedrooms.