Monday 30 April 2012

Review: My Boyfriend Merlin by Priya Ardis

Bookish Details:
Series: My Merlin #1
Pages: 305 Kindle Edition
Publisher: Ink Lion Books
Source: Review Copy
Release Date: November 21st 2011
Buy It From: Amazon US - Amazon UK

Goodreads Summary:
If you can't trust your boyfriend, who can you trust?

In this modern Arthurian, 17-year-old nice girl Arriane, aka Ryan, DuLac just found out her badass biker boyfriend, Matt, is a little older than he was letting on. By a few eons.

In fact, he is really Merlin--the Merlin, King Arthur's Merlin, the greatest wizard who ever lived. But Ryan's not impressed. Tired of being a relationship loser, she'd rather kick his legendary behind.

Sure, the world has been crazy ever since the sword and the stone fell out of the sky like a meteor. But despite gruesome gargoyles, a new world of magic, and the guy driving her crazy, Ryan knows that family is everything. Will Merlin sacrifice hers to save the world? Will she be able to stop him?

My Review:

Action and romance are both to be found in this epic modern twist on the story of Merlin.

Now, I love anything to do with Merlin (I’m a sucker for the TV show =P) so I was really excited to read this and it didn’t disappoint. I was completely hooked from the first chapter.

My Boyfriend Merlin follows Arriane, better known as Ryan, as her life changes dramatically when a stone hits the middle of Trafalgar Square. A stone that holds the legendary Excalibur. Ryan then discovers that her ex-boyfriend, Matt, isn’t quite who she thought he was.

Ryan is a fabulously cool character. She's really strong headed which makes her easy to like. I loved seeing her adjust to the situation and gaining courage throughout the book.

Matt/Merlin is really sweet and I loved his character but I’ve got to say, I seriously ADORE Vane! I wanted so much to dislike him but it’s actually impossible. I certainly don't know how Ryan can choose between them!

Being from England, I loved that the book was set here. And I just wish our Queen was as awesome as Priya made her in the book - read it and you'll know why!

I can't wait to read what happens in the next instalment, My Merlin Awakening.

Royal Rating:



Monday 23 April 2012

Exam Season!

Hey everyone!

Just a quick post to let you all know that exam season is upon me which means that i'll be posting a little less than normal. I'll be updating as normal from the 18th of May but until then i'll just be posting when I can fit in some time.

Thanks :)



Saturday 21 April 2012

Review: Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter

Bookish Details:
Series: Gallagher Girls #5
Pages: 336 Paperback
Publisher: Orchard (UK) Hyperion (US)
Release Date: April 5th 2012 (UK) March 13th 2012 (US)

Goodreads Summary:

The last thing Cammie Morgan remembers is leaving the Gallagher Academy to protect her friends and family from the Circle of Cavan--an ancient terrorist organization that has been hunting her for over a year. But when Cammie wakes up in an alpine convent and discovers months have passed, she must face the fact that her memory is now a black hole. The only traces left of Cammie’s summer vacation are the bruises on her body and the dirt under her nails, and all she wants is to go home.

Once she returns to school, however, Cammie realizes that even the Gallagher Academy now holds more questions than answers. Cammie, her friends, and mysterious spy-guy Zach must face their most difficult challenge yet as they travel to the other side of the world, hoping to piece together the clues that Cammie left behind. It’s a race against time. The Circle is hot on their trail and willing stop at nothing to prevent Cammie from remembering what she did last summer.

My Review:

There is never a dull moment in the Gallagher Academy. This latest instalment is filled with those ultra-awesome twists and turns which keep you guessing till the very end.

Book five picks up a few months after Cammie left the academy on her own to try and find answers about the Circle of Cavan. Cammie is discovered unconscious in the middle of nowhere and wakes up with no memories of the past few months. After calling her mother, she returns back to the Gallagher Academy but her life is far from back to normal.

Cammie and the rest of the gang begin trying to uncover just what happened to Cammie over the summer.

This book is totally action packed throughout. There's a perfect balance of action, adventure, mystery and romance during this story and, of course, the characters are as fabulous as ever.

I love Zach! I think him being in the school is just awesome and him and Cammie are just so adorable! I think Cammie became such a stronger character in this book, you see how far she's come since the start of the series.

Gallagher Girls has definitely become one of my favourite book series and I adore Ally's writing style. I was literally devastated when I finished reading this because I know I have to wait a WHOLE YEAR for book six!!! This one definitely a roller-coaster read with moments that will make you laugh and then a few moments that’ll make you teary eyed.

I recommend this series to everyone , if you haven’t read Gallagher Girls yet – you need to!

Royal Rating:


Wednesday 18 April 2012

"Waiting On" Wednesday

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine. "Waiting on Wednesday" spotlights upcoming releases that i'm eagerly anticipating.

City of Lost Souls
By Cassandra Clare
Publication Date: May 8th 2012

Goodreads Summary:
The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?

Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

Okay, okay - Fan Girl moments here! I am so pathetically excited for the book! Can I just point out how gorgeous the cover is?? Also, if you haven't already for some crazy reason, check out the City of Lost Souls book trailer:

http://shelf-life.ew.com/2012/04/18/cassandra-clare-city-of-lost-souls-trailer/


May 8th cannot come soon enough...



Tuesday 17 April 2012

In My Mailbox #1

Hey There!

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren in which bloggers share their books which they have recently received.

This is actually my first 'In My Mailbox' post! Here are the books that I have received or bought recently:

Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter (Bought)
Angel Fire by L. A. Weatherly (Bought)
Underworld by Meg Cabot (ARC)

eBooks:
My Boyfriend Merlin by Priya Ardis (Review Copy)
My Merlin Awakening by Priya Ardis (eARC)
Talisman of El by Alecia Stone (eARC)
Blackwood by Gwenda Bond (Recieved via NetGalley)


Wednesday 11 April 2012

Review: Prom Dates from Hell by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Bookish Details:
Series: Maggie Quinn: Girl Vs Evil Book #1
Pages: 320
Publisher: Delacorte Books
Release Date: April 22nd 2008

Goodreads Summary:
Maggie Quinn, Girl reporter. Honors student, newspaper staffer, yearbook photographer. Six weeks from graduation and all she wants to do is get out of Avalon High in one piece. Fate seems to have different plans for her.

High school may be a natural breeding ground for evil, but the scent of fire and brimstone is still a little out of the ordinary. It's the distinct smell of sulfur that makes Maggie suspect that something's a bit off. And when realTwilight Zone stuff starts happening to the school's ruling clique—the athletic elite and the head cheerleader and her minions, all of whom happen to be named Jessica—Maggie realizes it's up to her to get in touch with her inner Nancy Drew and ferret out who unleashed the ancient evil before all hell breaks loose.

Maggie has always suspected that prom is the work of the devil, but it looks like her attendance will be mandatory. Sometimes a girl's got to do some pretty undesirable things if she wants to save her town from soul-crushing demons from hell and the cheerleading squad.

My Review:
I can’t even begin to express my love for Prom Dates from Hell. This book is brilliant. That’s all there is to it. I love a book that manages to have the perfect mixture of action, humour and a bit of romance and this one defiantly ticks all those boxes.

Prom Dates from Hell follows senior, Maggie Quinn, as she battles a Demon that begins taking down the popular crowd at her school.

I love Maggie Quinn. She is amazingly hilarious with her sarcastic humour. She very much reminded me of Suze Simon from my The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot (which, if you don’t know, happens to be my most treasured book series of all time).

There are some seriously funny moments in this book. There were many times I laughed out loud whilst reading this one. I also adored Maggie’s dad, he’s such a sweetheart!

This is a really funny and enjoyable read. I’d recommend this to anyone who loves a good mystery YA novel.

Royal Rating:

Wednesday 4 April 2012

'Waiting On' Wednesday

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine. "Waiting on Wednesday" spotlights upcoming releases that i'm eagerly anticipating.

Underworld (Abandon Trilogy, Book 2)
By Meg Cabot
Publication Date: 8th May 2012

Goodreads Summary:
Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera isn’t dead.

Not this time.

But she is being held against her will in the dim, twilit world between heaven and hell, where the spirits of the deceased wait before embarking upon their final journey.

Her captor, John Hayden, claims it’s for her own safety. Because not all the departed are dear. Some are so unhappy with where they ended up after leaving the Underworld, they’ve come back as Furies, intent on vengeance…on the one who sent them there and on the one whom he loves.

But while Pierce might be safe from the Furies in the Underworld, far worse dangers could be lurking for her there…and they might have more to do with its ruler than with his enemies.

And unless Pierce is careful, this time there’ll be no escape.

I am so super excited for Underworld! I was lucky enough to win an ARC of this so I'm eagerly awaiting the day it arrives in the mail!

Monday 2 April 2012

Review: Legend by Marie Lu

Bookish Details:
Series: Book 1
Pages: 295 (Paperback)
Release Date: November 29th 2011 (US) February 2nd 2012 (UK)
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (US) Puffin (UK)
Source: Bought
Buy It From: Amazon UK - Amazon US

Goodreads Summary:
The United States is gone, along with its flooded coasts. North America's two warring nations, the western Republic and the eastern Colonies, have reached a breaking point. In the midst of this broken continent and dark new world are two teenagers who will go down in history....

Born into the slums of Los Angeles, fifteen-year old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. A mysterious boy with no recorded image or fingerprints. A boy who should no longer exist. A boy who watches over his family until one evening, when the plague patrols mark his family's door with an X--the sign of plague infection. A death sentence for any family too poor to afford the antidote. Desperate, Day has no choice; he must steal it.

Born to an elite family in Los Angeles' wealthy Ruby sector, fifteen-year old June is the Republic's most promising prodigy. A superintelligent girl destined for great things in the country's highest military circles. Obedient, passionate, and committed to her country--until the day her brother Metias is murdered while on patrol during a break-in at the plague hospital.

Only one person could be responsible.

Day.

And now it's June's mission to hunt him down.

The truth they'll uncover will become legend.

My Review:

I don’t think I could describe in actual words how much I love this book. Let’s just say this was me when I finished it at 2am.

This one kept me up reading into all hours of the night – I physically could not put it down. Legend is an epic, action packed tale that will have you hooked from the very first page.

Legend is set in the dystopian future of a war-torn nation. When children reach the age of ten, they have to take the Trial. June gets the highest score possible and ends up the Republic’s prodigy, Day fails and ends up the country’s biggest criminal.

I ADORED Day – like seriously, can I clone him? He is such an amazing character! I’m not always the biggest fan of dual-narratives but I loved hearing both his and June’s point-of-view throughout the story.

June are Day are completely Kick-Ass. I love that they are tough, strong and determined characters. It’s great to read a story where the female and male protagonist are both as bad-ass as each other!

For people who love dystopian novels, you HAVE to read this one. In fact – EVERYONE has to read this one! You won’t be able to put it down. I’m excited to see what the sequel to Legend will bring.


Royal Rating:

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