Review: Deadly Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

THE DETAILS:
Pages: 404
Genre: Teenage Fiction, Fantasy
Release Date: July 2012
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
RRP: $16.99
Received from publisher.
Also known as 'Hemlock'

THE DESCRIPTION:
MacKenzie and Amy were best friends.
Until Amy was brutally murdered.
But Amy wasn't killed by a human...
she was killed by a werewolf.

Lupin Syndrome - the werewolf virus - is spreading and werewolf attacks are increasing as those infected struggle to control their bloodlust. Amy's death has turned Mac's life upset down: her dreams are haunted by Amy, and the Trackers, an extremist group determined to stop those with Lupine Syndrome, have come to her hometown of Hemlock to promote their cause by hunting down Amy's killer.

Unwilling to work with the brutal Trackers, but desperate to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate the murder herself. But the deeper she delves into the mystery of Amy's death, the more secrets she discovers lurking in the shadows of Hemlock. Secrets that should have been left untold. Secrets that will change her life forever.

THE REVIEW:
I don't know what it was about this book that made me like it so much, but I finished it wanting to go back to the beginning and read it all over again. I think as a reviewer I have failed, because I can't think of any faults. Actually..., I don't think I took too much notice of what was 'original' or 'well written' when I was reading the novel. Like the cover, the book was very enthralling. I guess I'll just have to back track and do the best I can to convince you why you should read it, because whoever you are, you should seriously read 'Deadly Hemlock'.

I think one of the best things about a well written book is believability. If I can believe what the author is writing then I'm not going to question the actual crafting of the book. If I think the story is "realistic" as far as the genre will allow I'm going to be more concerned about what is about to happen in the story. 'Deadly Hemlock' was a very believable read. Obviously, I don't believe that werewolves are just going to jump out of the bushes and attack me in real life, but in this story it was a real possibility and I didn't question their existence for a second.

Something else, that I think was very  realistic were the characters and their relationships. One of the main relationships in the story progresses quite slowly. Another relationship, wasn't going as well as everyone thought it was. All of the characters are prone to doing something that is their fault. No one is perfect in the story and everyone has got their own secrets. I like characters to have faults, because there is nothing worse than reading a book about someone who is "little miss perfect" and thinking that it's a lie, that this character has to be some sort of alien robot or have a secret underground drug career that nobody knows about...

I really liked the main character Mackenzie. She wanted the best for everyone, but she still stood her ground when they didn't treat her right or when she disagreed with them about something. She also had a bit of an issue with people leaving her and pushed them away when she was scared they were getting too close. This was interesting to see in a character, because I don't read a lot of books with characters that have this issue.

I really liked the way the town was set up before my eyes. The town was described in small bursts and even though small towns are quite common in fantasy books, this town was different. I felt that I could really picture the different aspects of the society in the town, but I wasn't bogged down in lengthy descriptions to learn about it.

One thing that this novel had -that a lot of fantasy novels lack - was a good surprise. The book was a bit of a mystery as well as a fantasy and there were a few revelations and twists along the way. While I did have a few suspects, I was completely clueless as to who it would be in the end.

Another, great thing about the novel, was that I felt every bit of it. I was angry at the werewolf trackers for being so cruel and stupid. I really wanted certain characters to get together. I felt sorry for the main character a number of times. And, most of all, I felt so, so, so betrayed by a certain someone  who was the secret villain.

Overall, I think this book was worth 5/5 stars and a favourite. Great writing, great characters, great setting and actual ability to feel. I just can't wait to read the sequel already!! And, don't forget the cover. If it wasn't for how good it is, I would want to purchase this novel based on shelf candy alone. How cool is that outline of the wolf made out of trees!

Your Favourite Blogger,
Natalie

Review: The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong (Darkest Bowers 1)

THE DETAILS:
Pages: 390
Genre: Teenage Fiction, Fantasy
Release Date: 2009
1st Published: 2008
Publisher: Harper Collins
Bought it from a store.

THE SYNOPSIS:
Chloe Saunders has a gift. And that makes her dangerous...

All Chloe ever wanted was to be normal. But when she starts seeing ghosts at school, she knows that life will never be normal again. When she finally breaks down, she’s admitted to Lyle House – a group home for disturbed teenagers.

As she gets to know the other students – charming Simon and his ominous, unsmiling brother Derek; obnoxious Tori; and Rae, who has a ‘thing’ for fire – Chloe begins to realise that something strange and sinister binds them all together.

THE REVIEW:
'The Summoning' by Kelley Armstrong was a book that I enjoyed despite my high and misleading expectations. This is the first book that I have read by Armstrong and I am very glad to report that she is quite the story teller. Yes, all the bloggers are correct! (I haven't heard anything bad about her yet).

I bought this book in a pack that was described to contain three of the best books in teenage vampire fiction. That would have to be a lie because Richelle Mead was not included in this pack. I found this to either be entirely misleading or highly revealing, because there were no vampires in this book. Therefore I have concluded that either the people making the box set packs did not know this, or there are to be vampires later on in the series (revealing).

Like many other books that start off a series 'The Summoning didn't really have a resolution. The novel consisted of introductions to characters, plot, more plot and a few shocking revelations (Did I mention Plot?). This didn't bother me though. Really, with most series I learn to expect this sort of thing. Despite the lack of structure the story was still quite exciting. The shape of the excitement however, is different. If you were to graph it there would be no turning point. And, quite obviously, a cliffhanger...

I really really liked the way the story was written! 'The Summoning' was written in first person, Chloe being the character to tell it to us. Chloe is a bit of a film fanatic who wishes to one day become a famous director or screenwriter. As far as I can tell she still hasn't decided yet. When given a difficult situation Chloe visualises a film set. For this the writing style changes to screenplay mode. Also, because the character lives such a sheltered life she finds ordinary chores and things exciting. She views it all as much needed life experience that she can put into use when she writes/directs her first big film. How original!

Another interesting thing about this story is the lack of insta-love. Thank goodness! There is a bit of a strange love triangle implied, but no one really jumps out and says it. There are two foster-brothers living at Lyle House. Derek tries to push his brother toward Chloe so that he will have a motivation of sorts. This is obvious. Chloe asks him about it. But, as for Chloe and Simon actually getting romantic? They seem more like friends. Chloe seems to actually be leaning more toward Derek, but nobody really says so. Including Chloe. I also thought that was interesting. Derek isn't your stereotypical supernatural boyfriend. He sure acts like one, he's strong enough to be one, but he doesn't have the most attractive face and he's more like the hulk in terms of muscle.

There were a few interesting topics brought up in this novel, too. It made me think a lot more about mental illness and how it affects how you are treated by your family. There was also this concept about the line between fantasy and reality, which I found to be really interesting. Really what is the difference between having supernatural powers and thinking that you have them? Are all the characters in fantasy novels magic or are they delusional? And, I also thought a lot more about who you can trust. If you were a mental patient how do you know that you can trust your doctors or family? 'The Summoning' brought up all these obvious things that I had never really thought about, despite my love for books about crazy people.

The one thing that I didn't appreciate about this book sometimes was the unnecessary detail. It wasn't that the author was overly descriptive, it was just that she included some things in the story line which were perhaps more suited to adult literature. There wasn't any sex or anything like that, but there was a bit about puberty and other bodily functions. I think it was lame because it wasn't really necessary to make the story work and it would probably gross out some people. It was realistic, but not required.

Overall, I'd have to say a great read. Apart from a few things. I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars. As tiring as it sounds I'm definitely keen to read the rest of the series.

Your Favourite Blogger,
Natalie

Review: 'City of Ashes' by Cassandra Clare (Mortal Instruments 2)

THE DETAILS:
Pages: 411
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy
Release Date: 2008
Publisher: Walker Books
Won book in a Giveaway

THE DESCRIPTION:

Haunted by her past, Clary is dragged deeper into New York City's terrifying underworld of demons and Shadowhunters - but can she control her feelings for a boy who can never be hers?

MY REVIEW:
As usual with a sequel, I had expected a 'new moon' type situation with this book. (For some reason many teen fantasy authors like their characters to change love interests during the second book just so they can make sure that the first guy really is the right guy. Also, the book  often tends to be kinda depressing and lame.) I was quite surprised! I thought that this book was definitely on a par with 'City of Bones' (which did get a 5 star rating, but wasn't favourited).

One thing I really appreciate about the characters in this series is that they can be realistically typical daft teenagers at times. I've read books before that I had trouble relating to because I thought that the characters were just way too cool. Like other great series (such as Vampire Academy) 'The Mortal Instruments' series allowed me to witness situations between characters that were realistically awkward; situations where characters try to be funny and fail, where they "butt in" in conversation, And, when they become too stubborn to listen.

I thought that the author brought something new to the relationship dynamics of teenage literature. It was a little bit demented, but even so I still felt for the characters and wanted them to be happy.

Again, like 'Vampire Academy' I never cease to be amazed by what happens. It's surprise after surprise and just as you think the book is ending in a dull little summary- like books tend to end- you discover something. Something has happened or a new truth has come to light.

The interesting thing about the two books I have read so far, is that even though they are really good and I really like them, I have to remind myself to pick up the novel. There isn't that magnetic pull to read like there is with other books I've favourited. I guess it didn't necessarily help matters that I went on a camping trip mid-book.

Overall, I think this was a pretty great read. I can't wait to read the next novel and find out what happens. If you enjoyed other great series like 'Vampire Academy' or 'Wicked Lovely' you should enjoy this one. 5/5 Stars again. How cool is Clary's hair in that picture? Just. Love. It.

My Review of City of Bones

Your Favourite Blogger,
Natalie

Review: 'Darkest Mercy' by Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely 5)

THE DETAILS:
Pages: 327
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy
Released: 2011
Publisher: Harper Collins
Bought in a store.
Book 5 (And Final) book in the 'Wicked Lovely' series.

THE BLURB:
Send the messengers for the Faery Courts. This is the end.

Aislinn took a steadying breath. “I need to find out where Keenan is. If he’s not home, I’m going to war without him...which is not ideal. Someone knows where he is.”

“I do not, my queen. I give you my word that I will find out, though.” Tavish’s restrained facade slipped, and she saw the faery-cruel expression as he asked, “Are there limits to the methods?”

The Summer King is missing; the Dark Court is bleeding; and a stranger walks the streets of Huntsdale, his presence signifying the deaths of powerful fey. Love, despair and betrayal ignite the Faery Courts, and in the final conflict some will win...and some will lose everything.

THE REVIEW:
In a series the book that I tend to have the highest expectations of is the final book; after all, it's the be all and end all of the characters' literary existence. While 'Darkest Mercy' definitely didn't disappoint it was not a story that I felt drawn to. When I was reading the novel I found it quite interesting and exciting, but I had to keep reminding myself to pick it up and actually read it.

'Darkest Mercy' is probably one of the most exciting books in the series. I really cared for these characters and felt that I wanted them all to get the endings they truly deserved. Melissa Marr wrote better endings than I could have imagined, but also left some loose ends to leave me wondering...

This novel had a lot more of the court politics mixed up in the story line, which may have contributed to the extra time it took me to read it. All the references to faerie laws and regents can be confusing and certainly tests how well you've been paying attention. While I found that the court dynamics did slow me down a bit, I thought it did make the book seem smarter than a lot of YA fiction I have read. The 'Wicked Lovely' world is a bit more involved is all...

I don't know that I can really say all that much more about this novel in my review without seeming repetitive or revealing spoilers. Overall, I'm giving the novel 5/5 stars, but not favouriting it. I suggest that If you haven't read this series you do give it a go. Just like the covers; the stories inside are beautiful, unusual and a little wicked.

WICKED LOVELY SERIES
1. Wicked Lovely
2. Ink Exchange
3. Fragile Eternity
4.Radiant Shadows
5. Darkest Mercy (This Review)

SERIES QUESTIONAIRE:
May Contain Spoilers...

I decided to try this out as a new "end of series" thing. I don't know if I'll do it again or not...

What was your favourite book in the series?
Radiant Shadows, because the characters actually have a sense of humour.

What was your least favourite book?
Fragile Eternity, because it got a little boring at times.

Who was your favourite male character in  the series?
Niall, because he is so loyal.

Who was your favourite female character in the series?
Ani, because... Why do I even need to explain?

Which Character do you Identify with most?
Donia, because of the whole personality thing. Sometimes she is a little wicked, but she can also be kind.

What is the most notable difference between this series and other series?
The villain. Bananach is one of the scariest villains. She's on a par with Voldemort. Actually, her and Voldemort could have been great lovers...

Favourite Cover?
Wicked Lovely

Your Favourite Blogger,
Natalie

Review: 'Radiant Shadows' by Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely Book 4)

THE DETAILS:
Pages: 340
Genre:Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy
Release Date: 2010
Publisher: Harper Collins
Bought in a Store.
Book 4 in a series.

THE DESCRIPTION:
He was sculpture-perfect but had a tangled feel. Shadow and radiance. He didn’t look much older than her, until she saw the arrogance in his posture. Then, he reminded her of the faeries who walked through the courts and crowds confident that they could slaughter everyone in the room. Like chaos in a glass cage.
“Come dance.”
Ani turned her back and let herself be swept into the crowd.

Alluring romance, heart-stopping danger and sinister intrigue combine in the penultimate volume of Melissa Marr’s best-selling Wicked Lovely series.

MY THOUGHTS:
If I could sum this review up into one sentence I would say "I had to make myself read it, but I'm glad I did." While this series is something that I adore, I have found that it was getting a little harder to get through and a little boring. That was until I read this book. It was only after reading the anthology 'Faery Tales and Nightmares' that I got back into Marr's writing style and decided to move this one up the TBR pile...

So yes, this book definitely didn't continue on the downward trend in quality that I had noticed from Books 1-3. I thought this book was just as good- maybe even better - than the first book 'Wicked Lovely'. All of the books were interesting and enjoyable, but this one had an actual love interest with chemistry; One thing that I think can make a book all the more appealing...

In 'Radiant Shadows' the reader gets to learn a little more about the Dark Court and High Court. I really enjoyed learning about some of the other characters in the Wicked Lovely world. It was enjoyable not only because I was learning about these characters, but because of the different relationship dynamics and court rules. For example, the brotherly relationship between Seth and Devlin.

Once again, I would like to note that Melissa Marr's creation of a faerie world and society in this series has been amazing. The different types of names, the different rules, the different creatures and the descriptions of these all indicate beautiful story telling. I always feel like I'm reading a grown up story book when I pick up one of her novels. One thing that makes this one even more enjoyable is the humour, which there doesn't seem to be a lot of in her other books.

Overall, I think this book is worth 5/5 stars. I'm not about to favourite it though, because I don't think I'd want to read it again in a hurry. If you are having a little difficulty with this series or are a little apprehensive about starting the fourth book, don't give up! I'm really pleased with myself for picking this one up and having another go. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I'm going to forget my reading plans for this month (just for a bit) and pick up the final book 'Darkest Mercy'. If you haven't read or started this series yet I strongly recommend it. Just a warning though: It's confusing if you don't pay close attention, It's not for the faint-hearted and it may just be too awesome for some people to handle...

WICKED LOVELY SERIES
1. Wicked Lovely
2. Ink Exchange
3. Fragile Eternity
4. (This Book)
5. Darkest Mercy: Next

Your Favourite Blogger,
Natalie

Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (Mortal Instruments #1)

THE DETAILS:
Pages: 442
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy
Release Date: 2007
Publisher: Walker Books
Won in a Competition

THE BLURB:
Clary Fray is seeing things: vampires in Brooklyn and werewolves in Manhattan. Irresistibly drawn towards a group of sexy demon hunters, Clary encounters the dark side of New York City - and the dangers of forbidden love.

THE REVIEW:
What a book! Another novel that I have judged by it's cover (Yes, the abs are stunning, but I'm normally drawn to covers with pretty dresses or something a bit more girly) and missed out on enjoying all those years ago. A great novel that combines bits and pieces from all different types of fantasy fiction.

My friend has been telling me to read this series for ages. Occasionally I would pick up a copy at a department store and think about it, but I'd always put it back. There was something about the cover that just screamed masculinity. Maybe I was too daft to realise that the tough guy on the front was probably supposed to be eyecandy... Then, sometime last year I came across a competition on a blog where you could win one of three series and I chose 'Mortal Instruments', because I had heard so much praise for the series that I just had to find out what the big deal was. I finally decided to open 'City of Bones' on Wednesday.

I got about 100 pages in and was already so mad at myself. This book was going to be awesome. Why did I wait all this time to finally read it?

One thing I really liked about this book was the action and the way it was described. This book was absolutely action packed. There were all these little adventures that took place during the novel that each had a bit of fighting or escaping of some sort. The imagery that the author created was pretty amazing. The descriptions reminded me of Japanese cartoons a little. Everything was picturesque and clear, but it was also kind of far-fetched.

One thing I was worried that I wouldn't like when I started this book was the number of creatures and myths involved. We are talking about a world here filled with shadow hunters, demons, fey, witches, vampires, werewolves and pixies. That is a lot of creatures. I think I was worried that the amounts of the fantasy elements in the story would effect the believability; That maybe, it would seem too far-fetched for me to be able to take it seriously. Somehow the author manages to write a reasonably enjoyable story even with all the fantasy stuff.

I did think that some of the book reminded me of other books I had already read. 'The Mortal Instruments' for example, reminded me of 'The Deathly Hallows' from 'Harry Potter'. Also, the fact that Valentine (Starting with 'V') was thought to be dead and apparently isn't also seemed a little Potterish. There were a few other bits that reminded me of the 'Wicked Lovely' series and even 'Twilight'. These things seemed less and less like they were copied as I progressed with reading the book. When certain things were revealed later on in the novel I thought "Nope. This isn't like Harry Potter at all...", but even so nothing is ever 100% original is it?

There was one bit towards the end - which I won't spoil for anyone ,but - will say that I know some people out there will find disturbing. It shocked me a little bit, but I found that I thought it quite possible in real life with all the split families and such. I also found it a little funny...

Overall, This was a great book. I give it 5/5 Stars, but I'm not marking it as a favourite. I don't think it was as great as some of the other books I've read, but it definitely was entertaining and belongs amongst some of the highly rated novels. I recommend it to those who enjoyed one of the following series: 'Harry Potter', 'Vampire Accademy' and 'Wicked Lovely'.

Your Favourite Blogger,
Natalie

Review: Faery Tales and Nightmares by Melissa Marr

THE DETAILS:
Pages: 418
Genre: Teenage Fiction, Fantasy, Short Stories
Release Date: 01/02/2012
Publisher: Harper Collins
Received from Publisher.

THE BLURB:
Dangerous promises and beguiling threats swirl together in a dozen stories of enchantments dark and light by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr. Uncanny and unexpected creatures appear from behind bushes, rise from beneath the seas, or manifest from seasonal storms to pursue the objects of their attention—with amorous or sinister intent—relentlessly.

From the gentle tones of a storyteller’s cadences to the terror of a blood sacrifice, tales of favorite characters from Marr’s Wicked Lovely novels mix with accounts of new characters for readers to fall in love with...or to fear.

Lush, seductive, and chilling, Melissa Marr’s stories revel in the unseen magic that infuses the world as we know it.

MY THOUGHTS:
Like Melissa Marr's novels, this anthology was very enthralling. 'Faery Tales and Nightmares' by Melissa Marr incorporates stories Marr has written for other anthologies as well as the novellas 'Old Habbits' and 'Stopping Time'. Some of the stories included are about 'Wicked Lovely' characters and some aren't. I really enjoyed this collection of stories. It was just what I needed to get me out of my reading slump! (And, the text isn't too small which also helped because the reason  I hadn't been reading was because of my sore eyes)

I'm a little unsure of how I feel about Marr's anthology and how it groups stories she had published in other anthologies. On one hand it's a great thing. Marr is simply releasing the stories in one volume so her fans can access all the stories without purchasing other anthologies filled with various other authors they mightn't want to read. On the other hand I know there will be some readers out there who have  already read the stories in other anthologies that will be a little peeved about purchasing this one only to find out that they are reading the same stories.

Some of the stories - as mentioned above- include characters from the 'Wicked Lovely' series. I have only read the first three books in the series, so there was definitely a bit of confusion there. I noticed a few spoilers, but to me I guess it didn't feel completely spoiled because I only knew where the characters were at and not how they got there. Just a word of warning to those who haven't finished the series, you might want to go ahead and do that before you read this anthology.

I thought that Marr's story telling was pretty grand, once again. Many authors -no matter how great- can have me completely lost on their short stories. I always find that short stories are more difficult to understand and some stories by other authors can seem to lack any sort of message or seem too basic. In this anthology I understood the majority of the stories. One of the stories was more of a prelude to the anthology and the other one was more of a fill-in between 'Wicked Lovely' books and didn't really conclude.

I think the title sits well with Marr's writing. Her highly descriptive, fanciful writing definitely reminds me of children's fairy tales. These tales though, were a bit more grown up than that and were more wicked. I really enjoy Marr's ability to create beautiful imagery and a unique "world" for her characters to live in. I think it's especially cool when an author can use one of their own "terms" as a descriptive word. E.g. "He was very Dark court".

Overall I think this Anthology is worth 4.5 out of 5 stars. I really enjoyed myself while reading this one and I think I will definitely revisit it from time to time. This is a must have for all Melissa Marr fans and is a great way for newcomers of  the Marr world to become acquainted with her writing(if you don't mind learning a few spoilers).

Also by Melissa Marr:

-The Wicked Lovely Series

-Graveminder

Your Favourite Blogger,

Natalie

Review: Nocturne by Christine Johnson (Claire De Lune #2)

THE DETAILS:
Pages:355
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy
Release Date: October 2011
RRP: $16.99
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Received from Publisher

THE BLURB:
 Claire couldn't be happier as it seems like her life is finally settling down. She's been fully initiated into her family's pack of female werewolves, her best friend Emily is back in town, and the gorgeous Matthew Engle is now her boyfriend.
But when a new girl comes to town and threatens to break up Claire's friendship and relationship, everything starts to unravel. Not only is the new girl trying to steal her best friend and boyfriend, but it seems that she may know more about Claire than she's letting on. Knowing Claire's secret breaks all the rules of the pack, and the consequences may be more than Claire can handle...

THE REVIEW:
This book completely proves me wrong with my theory about sequels. I think I enjoyed 'Nocturne' just as much as I enjoyed 'Claire De Lune'. There you go not all sequels are bad...

I learnt two major lessons with this book. 1. Not everyone is as confident as you think they are and 2. Don't jump to conclusions. Just because Claire has this ability to turn into a wolf doesn't mean that she has higher confidence. Her confidence is even lower because she is so paranoid about all the things that could go wrong. I think characters with low confidence are easier for most people to relate to.

I really enjoyed how the writer put Claire's actual thought/intended meaning in italics after the quote. This really showed off how paranoid she was. It also made everything more concise and it was easier to understand what she actually meant or thought it meant. I also thought all the sarcasm made for a very interesting read.

Claire has to juggle so many things in this book (boyfriend, werewolf meetings, friends) and I think this will ring true with a lot of girls (well, not the werewolf part). A lot of books I have read about girls who find out they have supernatural powers or girls who go out with guys with supernatural powers don't have characters that actually have lives before the supernatural discovery. They seem to have very simple boring lives with no/ hardly any friends, extra curricular activities (sport etc) or a boyfriend. So they don't really have to juggle things and they can just drop whatever they are doing because of the supernatural circumstances. I thought 'Nocturne' was much more realistic this way.

Claire also has to deal with a new girl at school. The girl wants to hang out with Claire and her friend Emily, but Claire gets a little suspicious and jealous. This is also a very real high school situation (apart from the suspicious part). Some people get really worried about how someone else coming into the group might affect their friendship. I haven't seen this one in too many books so I thought it was good that another author used it.

Overall, I gave this book 4.5 Stars. It was very creative and entertaining. This book was also a very quick read. I think that people who enjoyed Claire de Lune would enjoy this book. If you haven't read Claire de Lune and you like reading teenage fantasy (especially werewolf books) then you should give the series ago. I also recommend this series to girls who like contemporary fiction and are trying to branch over into fantasy. Claire de Lune isn't too violent and has plenty of normal girl stuff in it as well.



Your Favourite Blogger,

Natalie

Claire de lune by Christine Johnson (Review)

THE DETAILS:

Pages: 352

RRP: $16.99

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Recieved from Publisher

Release Date: July 2010

THE BLURB:

Hanover Falls hasn’t had a werewolf problem in over one hundred years. Seattle, Copenhagen, Osaka–they’ve had plenty of attacks. But when humans begin dying in Claire Benoit’s town, the panic spreads faster than a rumor at a pep rally. At Claire’s sixteenth birthday party, the gruesome killings are all anyone can talk about. But the big news in Claire’s mind is the fact that Matthew Engle–high-school soccer god and son of a world-renowned lycanthropy expert–notices her. And flirts with her. A lot.

That night, Claire learns that she is the latest in a long line of Benoit werewolves, and that contrary to popular belief, all werewolves are female. Killing humans is forbidden by the code of the pack, but a rogue werewolf has been breaking that law, threatening the existence of Claire’s new pack. As the pack struggles to find and fight the rogue werewolf and Claire struggles with her lupine identity, her heart and her loyalties are torn in two. Claire must keep her new life a secret from even her best friend–and especially from Matthew, whose father is leading the werewolf hunt…and with whom Claire is impossibly and undeniably falling head-over-paws in love.

THE REVIEW:

For me this book sits in the same boat as 'Evermore'. It was a brilliant paranormal romance and a quick fun read. It was like watching a teen movie. It wasn't as intelligent as some other YA stuff that i have read but for the time I spent reading it I think it was worth it.

The setting of this book is very interesting. The main character Claire lives in a town called Hanover Falls. So it's your typical Forks, Mystic Falls etc setting, but what gets interesting is that everyone knows about werewolves. In this town no one person doubts their existence. They even have a service called the FHPA that is in control of hunting the creatures and "curing" them. This was definitely different.

The characters in this novel were believable enough emotionally, but some of the relationships between them didn't feel like they were fully explained. Claire and Matthew's relationship for example seemed to be based on looks alone. It didn't seem like they had really known anything about each other otherwise, so that was a little bit superficial.

I think there were some great ideas and messages conveyed in 'Claire de lune'. A real monster isn't always what you expect it to be and I think the author showed that in more ways than one. Also sometimes secrets need to be kept. And you need to have proof before you accuse someone of being guilty. Among these ideologies, Johnson added a feminist edge to her story by creating strong female characters.

Overall, I think this book is worth 4 stars. It was really enjoyable and fun, but I think a little bit more expansion of detail and imagery would have done great things for this novel. If you are after a speedy entertaining read then this book is definitely for you.

NEXT IN THE SERIES:

2. Nocturne by Christine Johnson

Your Favourite Blogger,

Natalie