Beauty Queens - Libba Bray

Author: Libba Bray

Length: 390 pages

Release Date: May 24 2011

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Blurb

The fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream Pageant thought this was going to be a fun trip to the beach, where they could parade in their state appropriate costumes and compete in front of the cameras. But sadly, their airplane had another idea, crashing on a desert island and leaving the survivors stranded with little food, little water and practically no eyeliner.

What’s a beauty queen to do? Continue to practice for the talent portion of the program – or wrestle snakes to the ground? Get a perfect tan – or learn to run wild? And what should happen when the sexy pirates show up?

Review

It is an understatement to say that, on release, Beauty Queens sent shockwaves through Libba Bray’s massive fan base. All of those devout Bray fans hooked on the Gemma Doyle trilogy and Going Bovine fractured right down the middle; one side poured over Beauty Queens like it was the new Bible, others cast it aside with disgust. Me? Beauty Queens kicked off 2012 in spectacular style in a book of ditzy and dangerous pageant contestants fighting for survival, littered with wild hilarity, highly sexual romance and hidden messages and seriousness which kept me hooked all the way though and beyond.

Beauty Queens is one of those books you never think is going to hit the shelves; who’d right a book about beauty queens getting stranded on a deserted island? Then someone like the marvellous Libba Bray comes along and fills in the gaps, enthralling us with her wild and witty plot, enchanting characters (Oh Tiara, you complete babe) and lyrical writing style that makes all of her novels extremely hard to put down. Bray’s talent for the written word is obvious within the pages of Beauty Queens, as intelligent written acumen is combined with a warped sense of humour, a balance that is hard to strike. Scattered throughout the fool proof narrative include quirky extras that make this book all the more delightful, including info sheets and commercial ads!

Characters in this book truly make it fantastic; the slow and sensuous Tiara was easily my favourite; she simply said the things everyone was thinking, but was so childlike I had to love her. The partnership between Nicole and Shanti provided a fantastic comedy duo whilst the deluded Taylor was a surprising source of reality and hilarity. Agent Jones was another fantastic character, the worn and overworked secret agent and his struggles with obnoxious rich boy Harris were understated and subtle, but provided another layer for the rich and engaging novel.

Finales are often hard bits of a novel to nail, whether it should be cliff-hanger or it provides answers, happy or sad, but Libba Bray nails the end of Beauty Queens and nails it hard with a fiery showdown with the fierce antagonists of this novel. The end of this book was extremely satisfying, tinged with a little sadness that makes for a good denouement. It’s hard not to be pleased with the end of Beauty Queens as this story reaches its conclusion; I was certainly sad on closing the final page.

Overall, though controversial, Beauty Queens was a fantastic book that absorbed me so completely I could fee the sun on my face as I read. Charisma, danger and wit ooze from the pages in true Libba Bray fashion, with laughs that will double you over, action that will leave you gasping for breath (not really!!) and a twisting, turning plot which will envelope you in it’s brilliance. Beauty Queens is a tour de force; I want a stuffed lemur called General Good Times now too!

Dusty :]   

Silence - Becca Fitzpatrick

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

Length: 438 pages

Release Date: October 4 2011

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Blurb

The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They’ve overcome the secrets riddled in Patch’s dark past, bridged two irreconcilable worlds and faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust – all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in each other, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they’ve worked for – and their love – forever.

Review

It’s been really hard denying myself this book; it’s been sitting on the shelves of my local bookstore, at one point it was on sale, and I couldn’t let myself buy it. It took a massive chunk of my soul to list this one down on my Christmas list for my parents, because it meant I wouldn’t be able to read it until after Christmas. I love the Hush, Hush sequence, and after a few minor problems with Crescendo, I was hoping to Silence would be amazing to reconcile them and it was, it truly was. Silence was an addictive, read until four in the morning book I’m so glad I waited for, because the interlude between the books release and now has made me appreciate it for all that it was.

Nora returned to the way she was in Hush, Hush (Yay!) a brassy and independent heroine with a mind and motives of her own. In Silence, we are given the Nora I loved and admired through the first book, with Fitzpatrick showing a far more vulnerable side to this character that truly fleshed out the flaws in Nora’s personality; her insecurities and issues, whilst remaining a little kick-ass and vengeful as the book went on. I was so glad to have the Nora I like back; the clingy protagonist of Crescendo is no more!

The story in Silence is vastly different from Hush, Hush and Crescendo in that the plot did not revolve around Nora and Patch’s relationship so much but more on Nora’s Nephilim bloodline and the brewing battle between the Nephilim and the fallen angels, something that I found refreshing. But don’t worry those of you who love romance in these books; there’s plenty of spice and lust to keep the original fan base hooked as new ground is covered in the dark chemistry between Patch and Nora, another great improvement on the bickering pair we received in Crescendo.

Writing in this book is up to Fitzpatrick’s remarkably high standard, her crystal clear prose and beautifully descriptive scenes keeping this volume planted firmly in a readers lap, absorbing a story not easy to part from. Pace is never a problem is these books as we are torn from one startling revelation to the next fiery action sequence, with characters we know and love blossoming and altering as the events of Fitzpatrick’s wonderful books takes their toll. Nora truly is a far cry from the naïve young girl we were introduced to in Hush, Hush, far more able to defend herself, Patch forever an engaging character with the likes of Marcie Millar and Blythe Grey transforming into completely new creatures from what we were led to believe.

Overall, Silence is a fantastic book that truly crowns the series. Fitzpatrick rolled out every punch to make this book amazing and she has overachieved in doing so. Although Silence was meant to be the final book in the series, we now have a fourth book to look forward to, though the acknowledgements page was drafted before this was announced. Silence is everything I wanted it to be, thrilling me with every twist and turn until I couldn’t bear to put it down, like every book should be. Simply reading these books proves why Hush, Hush is my favourite dark romance series of the moment. They’re far from Shakespeare, but they are fantastic romances to sit and enjoy time and again.

Dusty :]   

Divergent - Veronica Roth

Author: Veronica Roth

Length: 487 pages

Release Date: May 3 2011

Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books

Blurb

One choice decides your friends, defines your beliefs and determines your loyalties…forever.

When sixteen year old Tris makes her choice, she cannot foresee how drastically her life will change. Or that the perfect society in which she lives is about to unfold into a dystopian world of electrifying decisions, stunning consequences, heartbreaking betrayals and unexpected romance…

Review

I really wanted to love Divergent; I’ve heard so many fantastic reviews of Veronica Roth’s debut novel, love the cover art, listened to people gush about how fantastic the story, the characters and the romance is. When I picked up Divergent, I was expecting it to knock competition out of the way and reach the top five of my 2011 reads; after all, I love dystopian novels and I enjoy the odd romance book. After star recommendations and it being set in my favourite genres, how could I expect less? Sadly, what I expected was not what I found in Divergent, leaving me sorely disappointed.

Veronica Roth seems like a fantastic writer; her prose conveys obvious talent but sadly she wasted that talent on a tried and predictable book that left much to be desired. The plot was easily guessed, every twist was transparent and I found myself guessing events chapters before they occurred. Revelations and secrets I found dull and common to other books; secrets surrounding the protagonists’ family, the love interest, and the corrupt governments in which the main characters lead their lives; all seem to have been done before. The whole ordinary girl, goes for routine activity in her world and producing odd results rang true of Matched, an element that caught my attention from the off. Roth aimed for this book to be nail-biting, it is obvious from a good execution of revelations and shocking events, but I felt like I was reading a lot of other books, not just Divergent.

Another problem which I had with this book was the main character; Tris. Again, she seemed a clone, an amalgamation of so many other timid but strong within heroines I found it easy to guess which steps she would take, that she would strike against the oppressors of her world. Four, the main love interest in this book, was also a rather predictable character, the withdrawn and aloof love interest hiding inner pain and a dark secret, a stereotype that has been occurring since the release of Twilight more and more. But there are signs, subtle signs in secondary characters, that suggest great potential and gift; the likes of Al and Christina; varied, powerful characters that make you think and feel, show Roth has the obvious ability to pen characters with great depth; it is just such a shame Tris was presented as such as wallflower, or this book would have improved tenfold.

The last major factor that made Divergent a disappointment was how long the induction process seemed to take through this book. A process that seemed like it should have taken around half the book at least ran for the nearly the duration of Divergent, taking odd meanders into strange and almost inexplicable directions such as the game of capture the flag, it hinted at purposes to serve but I was simply left baffled at the reason behind it.

Fast forward around three hundred pages and this where Divergent really began for me. The plot became a thrill ride bolstered by amazing descriptive action sequences, beautiful character development and a plot that had me on the edge of my seat. Once of the initiation story stand was completed I was riveted to the point of almost tearing the pages with frenzied anticipation. The pacing was fantastic; no scene was wasted and the writing was fantastic, as it was throughout. Why the transformation? I have no idea; I only wish Divergent had been like this from the start.

Overall, a disappointment right up to the final stretch, when what appeared to be a washout came back full force and toppled the decisions I had made about Divergent. All I can hope for is that the sequel, Insurgent, will continue on the fantastic steps made in the final chapters of its predecessor. Has this review been harsh? Perhaps, probably, but only because I expected so much from this book, but the obvious skill Roth shows sets a spark of hope blazing that Insurgent will far surpass Divergent.

Dusty :]

The Pigeon Hole Twelve Days of Christmas - Part 3

Hello everyone, Dusty here for the third day in our Twelve Days of Christmas book haul event. I hope you are enjoying the run up to New Year’s and this event, as I have three more excellent books to tell you about. I hope you have a pen at the ready; these books seem to be must reads!

John Belushi is dead – Kathy Charles

I first saw this book with the amazing Melina Pendulum and the positive review she gave it made me really want to give it a try. After all, it’s small, the cover art is awesome and Melina Pendulum liked it; what more could I ask for in a recommendation.

John Belushi is dead is a novel about a girl and her best friend who comb the streets of Hollywood in search of the sights of famous celebrity deaths and memorabilia, neglecting other areas of their lives to feed their habit.

This sounds amazing as Kathy Charles’ debut novel, and I really love the cover art for this book; it’s truly what attracted me to it. Is John Belushi is dead going to be a fantastic read? I hope so; I cannot wait to sink my teeth into this little number, it looks awesome.

The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Prince – Cassandra Clare

YAY! YES! I have Clockwork Prince! Yes! Ever since I read Clockwork Angel, the first instalment in the Infernal Devices trilogy, I have been dying for this book to land in my more than eager lap. I cannot wait to open this book and sink into the sensual story!

Clockwork Prince carries on from where Clockwork Angel left off, as the mysteries surrounding the Magister, his motives behind wanting Tessa, and his clockwork army grow deeper whilst the love triangle between Tessa, Will and Jem becomes more complicated.

I want to crack this bad boy open and read late into the night; sadly that cannot happen as I have other books scheduled first, but it won’t be too long, be sure of that!

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist – Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

A book collaboration including David Levithan? How exactly could I resist? Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist is a tiny book, but it sounds fantastic, a really could love story that doesn’t include paranormal elements, which is kind of rare nowadays, not that I’m complaining.

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist is about a boy and a girl, Nick and Norah as the title may suggest and a night they spend together, as well as the aftermath and the results it had on a subsequent relationship.

Believe me, this books sounds way better than how I can describe it in four lines and I’m really looking forward to giving it a go. It may be a small read but who’s to say that it won’t be just as satisfying as an eight hundred page tome?

Okay that’s it for tonight everyone; I’m sorry this one comes to you a little late, but I’ve had an extremely busy day, the details of which I shall not bore you with. Expect my review of Divergent by Veronica Roth up in the next two days, as well as tomorrows Twelve Days of Christmas haul that includes a pack of werewolves, a world of nightmares and romance, and a book that sees the past and present collide. Until tomorrow, have a fantastically bookish time!

Dusty :]

The Pigeon Hole Twelve Days of Christmas - Part 2

Hey everyone; Dusty is back again to bring you the second instalment in our Twelve Days of Christmas Book Haul. I know, I know; it’s Boxing Day and the gloom may have started to set, but that doesn’t stop me from revelling in the books that I received yesterday. I hope you all had a great day yesterday and that you enjoy your Boxing Day, but let’s get down to the books, shall we?

Beauty Queens – Libba Bray

Everyone knows the fantastic Libba Bray and her wonderful books, and whist her latest release Beauty Queens has been less popular than her previous books, I cannot wait to read a novel that has divided a fan base so drastically.

Beauty Queens has been billed as Lost meets Next Top Model as a group of beauty pageant contestants become stranded on a deserted island after their plane crash lands and how they cope with their sudden and disturbing situation.

LeanneJaseyRae hated it, Danny Marks loved it; Beauty Queens sent shockwaves through Libba Bray’s collection of fans and I do love a bit of controversy. Beauty Queens sounds like a book I will really enjoy, and the cover is beautiful, so I think it will look rather good on my bookshelf. I love Libba Bray so I hope to God that I love Beauty Queens.

Gemma Doyle: Rebel Angels – Libba Bray

Rebel Angels is the second book in Libba Bray’s Gemma Doyle trilogy, the story of a girl in the late nineteenth century with clairvoyant abilities, continuing on from the first book A Great and Terrible Beauty.

Rebel Angels takes place two months after the events of Bray’s first novel, with Gemma and her friends on winter break and their continuing battle with the shadowy forces that lie around them.

This sounds like another fantastic read by the amazing Libba Bray and whilst I have several other books taking priority on my To Be Read list at the moment, the Gemma Doyle trilogy is shooting up through the ranks as my next big read. These are slightly older books; what does everyone think of them?

Gemma Doyle: The Sweet Far Thing – Libba Bray

 To round off our Libba Bray, Boxing Day entry of the Twelve Days of Christmas is the final instalment of the Gemma Doyle trilogy; The Sweet Far Thing. This sounds like a fantastic series and one that I might really enjoy. Libba Bray is a fantastic author and I’m looking forward to reading her books.

The Sweet Far Thing continues the story from where Rebel Angels left off as Gemma destiny threatens to unleash chaos as she grapples for control of the Realms with the Order, whilst both defying and conforming to the rigid ideals of Victorian society.

Sounds great? You bet it does; the final book in the trilogy is sure to be the best one yet and the climax of the series tipped to be red hot with excitement. Libba Bray keeps me captivated with her enchanting writing style, even when I’m simply flicking through the first few pages of the book!

That’s it for today everyone. I hope you all have a good Boxing Day and that you had a brilliantly bookish Christmas; I know I thoroughly enjoyed mine. Tomorrow’s instalment, the big day three, includes a book about memorabilia hunters of the celebrity deceased, demons and magic under the reign of Queen Victoria and a tiny tale of love from two fantastic authors. Until next time, keep those jackets dusty and keep a book in your lap. Bye!

Dusty :]

The Pigeon Hole Twelve Days of Christmas - Part 1

Hey everyone; it’s Dusty here kicking off our Twelve Days of Christmas book haul event and wishing you a very Merry Christmas. I hope you’re having a good day for all of you who are celebrating today and that you have had a very bookish Christmas. Over the next few days I’ll be showing you all of the books I received for Christmas and believe me; there are a lot of them, a whopping thirty-six! So I hope you like what I have been given; here we go!

Feed – M.T Anderson

 This book was hard to get…I mean really hard to get. But my father is a wizard at finding difficult to get books and so here we are; Feed is in my midst. It sounds like a fantastic book, not one I hear about often on the blogs and YouTube.

Feed depicts a modern day Earth in which nearly all humans have had a chip implanted in their brains, and the protagonists’, Titus’, life in America, as the country is on the brink of war with a collaboration of other countries.

It sounds good, huh? Feed may not be number one in my to be read pile, but I know this is a book I certainly want to sink my teeth into. This is a novel that is fantastic for kicking off my Twelve Days of Christmas haul as, although it is far from festive, it sounds like an amazing novel with a thrilling and absorbing plot; I cannot wait.

Darkest Powers: The Awakening – Kelley Armstrong

The Darkest Powers series is quite popular around the blogosphere and the YouTube book channels, and I’m extremely excited to receive the second instalment in the trilogy. I have the first book in the series, The Summoning, but I am yet to read it, but this gift makes it a priority.

The Awakening commences from where the Summoning left off, with our protagonist Chloe having been captured by those responsible for the exacerbation of her psychic powers, where dark secrets lay in wait…

This sounds fantastic, and I definitely need to pick up the Summoning and dive head first into what sounds like an enchanting plot of sinister mysteries and supernatural powers. There’s a third book to get too, but I’ll have to put that off for a while until I catch up on the series.

The Curse Workers: White Cat – Holly Black

When you get into the world of blogging and YA books, you can fall back on three of the biggest authors in the business: Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare and the queen on the chequered board Holly Black and that’s what I have here; a great book from a great author.

White Cat is the story of Cassel, a boy with powers in necromancy whose abilities are kept under wraps as they are illegal. However, Cassel begins to sleepwalk whilst the figment on a white cat appears to him, apparently with the desperate need to tell him something, against a backdrop of other disturbing events that have begun to pan out in Cassel’s walking hours.

Wow; this book sounds absolutely amazing, I can’t wait. A great way to end today’s post, I think!

So, I think we can call it a day from there. I’ll be back tomorrow with another three books of awesome that were under my Christmas tree this morning. I hope you enjoy the rest of your Christmas all of you partying the night away. Until tomorrow, keep that jacket dusty for a Libba Bray centric day tomorrow!

Dusty :]  

Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances - Anthology

Author: Anthology – John Green, Maureen Johnson, Lauren Myracle

Length: 352 pages

Release Date: September 11 2008

Publisher: Puffin Books

Blurb

A trio of today’s nest selling authors – John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle – brings all the magic of the holidays to life in three hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance and kisses that will take your breath away.

Review

With the big day just hours away, Let It Snow is a rather apt book for the time of year. What could be better than settling down in the warmth of your favourite reading chair, diving head first into beautifully written, enchanting stories written by three of our favourite authors? Nothing of course; Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances is an amazing book that makes you feel all warm inside even though it is cold outside. With three stories weaved together through a wonderfully crafted collaboration, Let It Snow is sure to brighten up your holidays!

Out first story, the Jubilee Express by Maureen Johnson was a fantastic beginning to the anthology, with a touching story of surprise romance when a girl is trapped in a strange town on Christmas Eve after her train becomes trapped in a snow drift. This storm and the town in which Johnson’s story is set ties the three stories together and at first the mind’s eye built a picture of a desolate strip of buildings throughout this first story of beautiful romance and Christmas spirit. The protagonist, Jubilee, is a great character, whilst a secondary cast make this story a fantastic read that really settles you in for the rest of the anthology. Maureen Johnson made a story that really ignites the spirit of Christmas in a reader, making this story a wonderfully worthwhile read.

John Green’s contribution, A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle, is as exceptional as its predecessor, depicting Christmas traditions and the importance of seeing what is in front of you. Green’s story is about a group of friends making their way through the snow storm to a restaurant filled with cheerleaders in an interesting and compelling read that makes you want to get out there and tell the person you have a crush on that you love them. This story emits a sense of togetherness and friendship that makes the holidays and this book that little bit more magical, all packaged within a well paced, gorgeously descriptive story. Plus, it also makes you glad to be in the warm, as the phantom sting of the cold rushed right off of the page in Green’s trademark style.

The final story of the anthology, Lauren Myracle’s The Patron Saint of Pigs, is the perfect way to conclude a fantastic set of stories with wonderful prose that teach us about selflessness around the holidays. This finishing run is about a girl who has been dumped at Christmastime and the lessons she learns from various people about her self-absorption, with Myracle adding the tiniest touch of the supernatural in with possible inclusion of angels. Myracle completes this anthology in spectacular style, in a story that, although a little slowly paced at times, showed the true spirit of Christmas; giving to and thinking of others.

Overall, Let It Snow was a fun, light holiday read that filled me with the spirit of Christmas, making me excited for the big day to arrive. Whilst this anthology is good for the run up to Christmas, I’d advise against reading it at least until a month afterward; it may just depress you. If not, Let It Snow is definitely worth a look if you want some light fluff to fill your day; Let It Snow is nothing new or ground-breaking but it is certainly fun to read there in the moment.

Dusty :]