Wednesday 18 December 2013

Book Blast: Interview with Sophia Sharp, Author of Forsaken

I'm delighted to be taking part in the book blast for Forsaken by Sophia Sharp today! The book is the first in The Forsaken Saga and was released on December 15th.



Nora Colburn was perfectly content in life. A junior in high school, she had good friends, a great family, and did well in school.  Nothing particularly exciting ever happened where she lived, and everything was stable.

But that all drastically changes when a new student arrives at Nora’s school. Wild rumors swirl about his past, and Nora becomes determined to find out the truth.

As she gets to know the mysterious student, he shares with her an ancient secret... one that may yet put both of them in grave danger.

And for the first time in her life, Nora is exposed to a completely unfamiliar world. She is swept away on an exhilarating journey that takes her to a place where romance and great destiny may yet await... and where supernatural powers run wild.

Sounds exciting, doesn't it? I had the chance to ask Sophia a few questions about her new novel!

Hi, Sophia! Can you tell us a little bit about your novel, Forsaken?
Forsaken is a story that takes place in a magical, supernatural girl.  It's a book for YA readers who like a large dose of action and a sprinkling of romance.  

What inspired you to write Forsaken?
I grew up reading fantasy/YA books, so writing in this genre is something that always appealed to me. The idea of Forsaken came to me in a dream... and once you've read the book, you'll know *exactly* what that means ;)

Did you relate to any of your characters at all whilst writing the book?
Funny enough, the character I related to most was Hunter, the male lead and our protagonist's love interest.  I grew up with two younger brothers, so sometimes it seems like it's easier for me to understand the male mind than my own!  Hunter's story is only just revealed in Forsaken, and will take a much more central role in the following books.

What was it that made you want to write for a YA audience?
Why young adult?  Because it's what I love to read.  And why paranormal/fantasy?  Because that genre gives me the greatest opportunity to create a quixotic, magical world that I can fall in love with.

I know that Forsaken is book one in a series. Have you started work on book two? 
Yes!  In fact, it's already ready!  I'm releasing it in early January.   There are going to be four books in total, and I'm already 90% done with the third.  So readers will NOT have to wait a long time to read the entire series :D

Thanks for your time, Sophia!

About Sophia:
I've been writing stories for as long as I can remember. Actually, that's a bit of a lie. I've been writing since the third grade, when a wonderful teacher asked everyone in class to write a fairy tale, and ended up picking mine as his favorite. He didn't tell the other kids, of course - but confided it in my parents. He said I have a natural knack for writing (his exact words! and I remember them to this day), and should never stop. So, I've kept going..

I've mostly been keeping it to myself, though. I've never really thought about becoming an "author," or a "writer" (quotations because those goals are still so far away!), so never had the need to share with anyone or publicize my stories. But, I'm just finishing up my second year in college, and have really started to think about careers and life goals and such other mysterious things. And while my friends were all busy trying to get internships for the summer this year, I just kept to myself with my writing hobby. I don't have an interest in going out and working professionally in the "real world" -- I want to keep writing forever, and I want to have time to do it. The only way I see myself having that time, though, is by becoming a published author.

So there you have it. That's the abbreviated history of one Sophia Sharp. I've been working on a few young adult paranormal/fantasy novels for the past few months, and I'm putting them all up as soon as they're done! Why young adult? Because it's what I love to read. And why paranormal/fantasy? Because that genre gives the greatest opportunities for creating a magical, romantic, quixotic world that I can fall in love with.


You can buy a copy of the book in the following places:
http://www.amazon.com/Forsaken-The-Saga-1-ebook/dp/B00HAZKECM
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Forsaken-The-Saga-1-ebook/dp/B00HAZKECM
http://www.amazon.ca/Forsaken-The-Saga-1-ebook/dp/B00HAZKECM
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forsaken-sophia-sharp/1117692743

Tuesday 17 December 2013

Four Festive Reads

Christmas is the time of year to curl up in front of the fire and read a good book. Feeling festive, I always want to read a Christmas related story in December. Here are a few stories that I love to read during the holidays.


4. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

You can't beat a classic. The snow, the constant winter and even an appearance by Father Christmas himself, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is the perfect winter read.




3. Clara Claus by Alexandra Lanc

If you haven't read this one, you really need to. It's not often you come across a Christmas fantasy novel for Young Adults, but this one fits the bill. Set on the north pole, the story follows Clara Claus and Jack Frost.


2. Ex-mas by Kate Brian

I love this one, it's a really cute Christmas read. The story follows Lila and her ex-boyfriend Beau as they go in search of their younger brothers who have ran off in an attempt to save Santa. Quirky characters and a perfect story line, you need to give this one a read.




1. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

I have to admit, this one is my favourite. I found the idea so unique and creative. If you have to pick just one to read before Christmas, pick this one.

“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

I hope you all have a fabulous Christmas!







Sunday 1 December 2013

Blog Tour: Freaks by Lisa M. Forester


So today is my stop on the Freaks tour! Freaks is the debut novel by Lisa M. Forester and I've been super excited about this book for a long time. I'm so excited to post my review of the book for the blog tour!

Bookish Details:
Pages: 228
Release Date: 28th November 2013
Source: eARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis:
Nobody's perfect... or are they?

Abigail always knew that she was different, but what she didn't know was just how different.

That was until her 16th birthday, when her parent's revealed a devastating secret that confirmed her worst fears and changed her life forever.

Abigail is an Allelobrid: one of five children born as a result of their parents illegal science experiment in genetic engineering. The aim: to create a perfect human.

Yet perfection comes at a price.

Forced into a life on the run, Abigail finds love, danger and an organisation that will stop at nothing to get what they want.

When lives are at risk and freedom is threatened - could being perfect be enough to survive?

My Review:
I love it when a book jumps out and throws action, adventure, drama and romance, oh and science at me all at once. And that’s certainly what Freaks did. Combined with a unique plot and a fantastic array of characters, Freaks is definitely a book to get excited about.

The story follows Abbie as she discovers a secret that her parents have kept from her throughout her whole life. She is and Allelobrid. A human created, in a science experiment, to be prefect.   

Now, I’m going to keep this review as spoiler free as possible, because I want all you to go and read this fabulous book. So, I’m going to tell you why I loved it and why you should, too.

First of all, Abbie is an amazing protagonist. I’m fussy with lead female characters because I like them a little feisty. I like them a little brave and able to stand up for themselves, and Abbie is all of that and more. She’s an extremely realistic character and she’s also entertaining in her narration of the story, which makes reading from her perspective all the more enjoyable.

The other Allelobrids are equally as great characters as she is. I don’t want to sit here and gush over how much I love Max, but you know I’m going to. I would like a 6 foot Australian Allelobrid of my own please. I loved him from the moment he sent his first cryptic message to Abbie. I loved how they bonded during the course of the story and found myself looking forward to the dialogue between them because it was so great.

The science side of the story is perfectly written. The way it’s explained sucks you into believing that this could actually happen, that Allelobrids could easily be out there. The plot is exciting from start to finish, with plenty of little twists to keep you from wanting to put the book down. 

The plot twist near to the end of the story was what drove me to give the book five stars, because I honestly didn’t expect it. When I think back now, I can see the hinting of it appear in the story but I was clueless until it was revealed. 

Then there’s the ending. Oh my God, why would you do this to me, Lisa? How can you end it like that? I’m going to be tearing my hair out until I get book two!
 
It’s hard to believe that this is a debut novel. The writing is fabulous and it’s definitely got me excited for more. If you like a story that has a bit of everything to offer, this is one for you to read. Just go read it, okay? And then come back here and get excited with me about it. 

Royal Rating:

 









About Lisa:

Lisa M Forester is the author of ‘Freaks’ – a Young Adult fiction novel that is due to be released on the 28th November 2013.

She has lived on a diet of books since she was six (when she was handed an Enid Blyton story for the very first time) and she constantly lives in hope that reading will become an Olympic sport. After being inspired to write by the plethora of amazing YA writers that exist across the globe, she put pen to paper and produced ‘Freaks’ – which I am sure she would very much love you to read.

Contact Lisa:
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7265813.Lisa_M_Forester
Twitter: @lisamforester
 


Thursday 28 November 2013

Advertise on The Queen of Teen Fiction!

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to let you all know that I can now offer advertising on this site thanks to Blogads!



The Queen of Teen Fiction has hundreds of wonderful readers that all have a common interest: the love of young adult novels. Readers often comes here for new book recommendations, making it the perfect place for authors to spread the word of their books.

If you'd like to find out more about advertising on The Queen of Teen Fiction, you can visit my Blogads page. Alternatively, you can click on one of the allocated ad spaces found on the sidebars.

As always, thanks for reading!



Monday 25 November 2013

Trailer Talk: Vampire Academy Trailer #2

Hey guys,

So the second trailer for Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters was released the other day and I want to know your thoughts!



Like I said with the first trailer, I'm really happy with the direction this film is taking. I've heard a lot of fans saying they're disappointed by how the film looks very comedic. But that, for me, is one of the most redeeming qualities of the trailer. It makes Vampire Academy stand out from all of the other YA adaptations and for once, it doesn't appear to focus on a big, dramatic romance.

I think the team behind this film have the right idea with the way they're going. I definitely think Vampire Academy stands more of a chance at being successful if it proves itself to have more to offer than other YA books that have been turned into movies.

What do you think? Was the trailer a hit or miss for you? Let me know!



Thursday 21 November 2013

The Queen of Teen Fiction gets a makeover!

Hey everyone!

So, as you may have noticed, The Queen of Teen Fiction has had a bit of a makeover! Nothing too dramatic, just some small design changes to make everything look more polished. I've been working on this design for a little while now and I'm so happy with how it looks!

Another little piece of exciting news is that I might soon be able to offer advertising on the site! This is something I've wanted to do for some time now, and I'm finally getting a chance to sort it out. I love spreading the word about new books, so I can't wait to put some pretty little ads on the blog.

I've been working hard on planning some new and exciting ventures for The Queen of Teen Fiction in 2014 that I can't wait to share with you. For now though, I hope you like the new look!




Friday 15 November 2013

Review: Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

Bookish Details:
Series: Vampire Academy Book #3
Pages: 443
Publisher: Razorbill

Synopsis: 
It's springtime at St. Vladimir's Academy, and Rose Hathaway is this close to graduation. Since making her first Strigoi kills, Rose hasn't been feeling quite right. She's having dark thoughts, behaving erratically, and worst of all... might be seeing ghosts.

As Rose questions her sanity, new complications arise. Lissa has begun experimenting with her magic once more, their enemy Victor Dashkov might be set free, and Rose's forbidden relationship with Dimitri is starting to heat up again. But when a deadly threat no one saw coming changes their entire world, Rose must put her own life on the line - and choose between the two people she loves most.



My Review:
I really enjoyed the first to books in the Vampire Academy series, but this one definitely stepped up the game. Just when more action and drama needed injecting into the series, this book delivered all that and more.

In Shadow Kiss, we see Rose learning to cope with the events at the end of Frostbite. Not only is she still grieving, but she’s also dealing with something that is completely new to her: seeing ghosts. As Rose starts to learn more about what it might mean for her to be Shadow Kissed, she begins to worry about where it might land her in the future.

Of course, her friendship with Lissa is once again on of the main focuses in this book, as it is with the series on a whole. I like how Mead is finally testing their friendship in a way we haven’t seen before at the end of the story.

I loved the progression of Rose’s relationship with Dimitri in this story. We get to see them out in situations that they haven’t faced before and I liked seeing how Rose dealt with it. I also like the developing friendship between Rose and Christian. This is something that I was suspecting would happen from the start and I enjoyed reading them finally start to become friends.

I try to keep my reviews as spoiler free as possible, so I’m not going to talk about what happens at the end, but prepare for one of the most amazing twists that I honestly didn’t see coming. Normally, I am quite good at predicting future plots, but this one is quite the shocker.

Make sure that you already own the fourth book before you start reading this one because, believe me, you’re going to want to read on straight away. I am definitely excited to see how the rest of the series develops from here. 

Royal Rating:



Thursday 14 November 2013

Trailer Talk: Divergent

Hey everyone!

So in case you didn't know, the new trailer for Divergent dropped yesterday and I want to hear your thoughts!



I'm going to be completely honest, I expected more. It just didn't give me then excitement and the adrenaline rush that trailers usually do. I also think it seems quite confusing for someone who has never read the book. I showed it to my sister, who hasn't read it, and she didn't have the slightest idea what was going on. I know I can't judge before seeing the film, but isn't the trailer supposed to draw in non-readers as well?

I do, however, love Shailene Woodley as Tris. I think she's going to rock this role. But, I'm still not finding Theo James very believable as Four. Again, I try not to judge before seeing the film, but at the moment, I'm doubtful.

I'm going to put my disappointment down to the editing of the trailer for the moment. Maybe when I get to see more from the film, it'll look more exciting. But for now, my expectations are quite low. After the string of YA film adaptations that haven't performed well at the box office lately, I'm still holding out hope that Divergent can break out of that trend.



Thursday 7 November 2013

NaNoWriMo 2013

Hey everyone!

You may have noticed the lack of posts this past week. This may or may not be due to the fact that I am once again attempting the insanity known as National Novel Writing Month. I love taking part in the month long craziness that comes with writing a 50,000 word novel in a month.

If you are also doing NaNoWriMo this year, then good luck! Have a great time and don't be too hard on yourself!





Thursday 31 October 2013

The Ultimately Creepy Villain: Your Winner!



So you guys have chosen your favorite villain! And your winner is...

*DRUMROOL*


Jonathan Morgenstern AKA Sebastian

The perfectly creepy and sinister villain from The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. I'll admit, he's definitely one of my top villains! Chilling from the moment he enters the series, I can't wait to see how his story ends in City of Heavenly Fire, due out in May next year.

Thanks to everyone who voted - it's been fun!

Happy Halloween!

Tuesday 29 October 2013

An Evening With L.A. Weatherly

Hi, everyone! L.A. Weatherly, author of the Angel series, is currently on a book tour of the UK to celebrate the release Angel Fever, the final installment of the series! I was delighted to find out she'd be coming to Liverpool, my nearest city. It isn't often I get to signings of authors I adore!

So yesterday evening I got the train over to the bookstore where the event was taking place. I went solo since none of my friends have read the series! It was L.A.'s first book talk since the release of Angel Fever, so she was mega excited to finally get to talk about it with fans for the first time. Luckily, all of us in attendance had already finished the book, so we could talk spoilers. 

The Q&A lasted for over an hour! The conversation just kept flowing and it was a wonderful atmosphere. I asked if she'd already known the ending for the characters when she first started the series, and she told me she'd had an idea, but then other characters popped into mind and changed things up a bit.

She also told us that the film right to the series had been optioned, and that there was talk of producers looking at possibly adapting the books for a TV mini-series, which is super exciting! I'll be keeping my finger crossed to see Willow onscreen in the future.

After the talk, we had the opportunity to get our books signed and have a chat. I had such a great time, even going alone, because there were plenty of other readers to meet and talk to. Thank you to L.A. Weatherly for an awesome event!



Monday 28 October 2013

The Ultimately Creepy Villain: Final Round!



So, we have the final five villains!

Valentine Morgenstern from The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare
Valentine is the main villain for the first three Mortal Instruments books. His chilling charm is part of what makes him so scarily awesome.

Sebastian/Jonathan Morgenstern from The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare
It's fitting that Jonathan also be in the top five, considering he is the son of Valentine! He enters the Mortal Instruments series during City of Glass and has been causing mayhem ever since.

Lord Voldermort from the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
Now here's a seriously creepy villain! An amazingly scary character created by J. K. Rowling and made even creepier by Ralph Fiennes.

Paul Slater from The Mediator series by Meg Cabot
Ah, Paul. Not as well known as the other villains, but extremely popular with those who do know of him. He proves to be quite that bad guy from book four on-wards in The Mediator Series.

President Snow from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
This guy is definitely truly terrifying. The fact that he is the person in power means that he is capable of almost anything. And he certainly gets away with it until Katniss decides to take a stand.

You have until Wednesday evening to vote for the ultimate villain and I'll reveal your winner on Halloween! Happy voting!

[POLL NOW CLOSED]

Monday 21 October 2013

The Ultimately Creepy Villain Round 3!


Hello everyone!

It's time to get the voting down from ten to your top five in round three of The Ultimately Creepy Villain! You have until Thursday 24th October to vote, then I'll reveal the last remaining five villains. 

Happy voting!

[POLL NOW CLOSED]

Saturday 12 October 2013

The Ultimately Creepy Villain: Round 2!

Hello everyone!



You voted and now we have your best twenty villains for the second round of The Ultimately Creepy Villain! You have until Thursday 17th October to vote for your fave. Round 3, with the top ten villains, will open on the 18th.

You can only vote for one villain this time, so choose wisely. You can also vote every day. Happy voting!

[POLL NOW CLOSED]


Thursday 3 October 2013

The Ultimately Creepy Villain Launch!



So it's the 3rd of October, which means the first round in The Ultimately Creepy Villain tournament! It you don't have a clue what I'm talking about, the tournament is to find who you guys think is the best villain in YA fiction. You can find out all the details here.

I have a list of 30 villains for you to choose from for this round. I've tried to include as many villains as possible but if your fave baddie isn't listed, then please leave a comment with their name and if the same name is commented enough, I can add them to the next round! You can vote for as many as you like in this round. I'll reveal the narrowed down list of 20 villains on October 11th.

Show your support for you favorite villain by voting and sharing online! Hope you enjoy the tournament!

[POLL NOW CLOSED]

Tuesday 1 October 2013

Cover Reveal: Freaks by Lisa M. Forester

Hey guys!

I'm so excited to be a part of the cover reveal for Freaks, the debut novel by Lisa M. Forester! 

*drumroll* 


Nobody's perfect... or are they?
Abigail always knew that she was different, but what she didn't know was just how different.
That was until her 16th birthday, when her parent's revealed a devastating secret that confirmed her worst fears and changed her life forever.
Abigail is an Allelobrid: one of five children born as a result of their parents illegal science experiment in genetic engineering. The aim: to create a perfect human.
Yet perfection comes at a price.
Forced into a life on the run, Abigail finds love, danger and an organisation that will stop at nothing to get what they want.
When lives are at risk and freedom is threatened - could being perfect be enough to survive?

*throws confetti*

Isn't it fabulous? The book sounds super awesome and I can't wait to read it! Freaks is due out on the 26th November. You can find more about Freaks and connect with Lisa here:


AUTHOR BIO:

Lisa M. Forester is a Young Adult fiction author living in the North West of England and her debut novel ‘Freaks’ is due for release on the 26th of November 2013. 

She has lived on a diet of books since she was six (when she was handed an Enid Blyton story for the very first time) and she constantly lives in hope that reading will become an Olympic sport. After being inspired to write by the plethora of amazing YA writers that exist across the globe, she put pen to paper and produced ‘Freaks’ – which I am sure she would very much love you to read!





Monday 23 September 2013

Feature: But What About The Cover? #9


'But What About The Cover?' is a weekly feature hosted by The Queen of Teen Fiction. I will be pitching two book covers from various countries up against each other to decide which one is best.

This week, the cover spotlight is on Legend by Marie Lu and I will be looking at the UK and US versions of the cover. 


This is a hands down easy one for me. I am obsessed with the UK cover. Normally, if a US copy comes out first, I prefer that cover because it's the one I'm used to (like with Divergent, I didn't like the UK cover) but with this one, I love the UK version.

I just feel it represents the story more. Having the image of June looking all badass just makes it look more exciting. I also like how the UK cover keeps the symbol from the US version on therr as well. I just like it better overall. I actually own both covers because I just had to buy the UK cover when it came out.

So, what do you think? Do you prefer the US cover? Vote in the poll below!

[POLL NOW CLOSED]

Tuesday 10 September 2013

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Would Love To See As A Movie/TV Show


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish


This weeks topic is Top Ten Books I Would Love To See As A Movie/TV Show. And believe me, I have a lot of them, but here are my top ten:

1. The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot: Everyone needs to know how much I love this series. How awesome would it be to see Suze being her usual badass self in movie form?

2. This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen: Oh how I need to see Dexter and Remy come to life on the big screen! I could totally see this book being turned into a really great indie movie, just like The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

3. The Gallagher Girls Series by Ally Carter: I’ve always thought that this series would make amazing movies, or even television. The series has recently been optioned for film, so fingers crossed!

4. Legend by Marie Lu: The epic action in this book would look fantastic on the big screen! I hear that this, too, has been optioned for film.   

5. The Flappers Series by Jillian Larkin: 1920s Chicago flapper scene on the big screen? Yes please! This series would stand out so much from all the other YA film adaptations. It would even make an amazing TV series.

6. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys: This is such an important, yet ignored part of history that I think should definitely be adapted to film.

7. The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler: Okay, if this was to be turned into a movie, I would be thrilled! This book is so unique and I think a movie adaption would be really successful!

8. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins: This is one of the best contemporary romance books I’ve read in a long time and I think that it would be a really good movie if done well.

9. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith: Again, this is another great contemporary romance that I think would be a cute and quirky film.

10. Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan: How often do we see a YA Christmas book adapted to film? Yeah, never. This is a fantastic seasonal story that would make an amazing Christmas movie!

So, they’re my picks. If there are any books in that list that you haven’t yet read, go do it because they’re all fabulous! 



Monday 9 September 2013

Feature: But What About The Cover? #8


'But What About The Cover?' is a weekly feature hosted by The Queen of Teen Fiction. I will be pitching two book covers from various countries up against each other to decide which one is best.

This week, the cover spotlight is on Vixen by Jillian Larkin and I will be looking at the UK and US versions of the cover. 


I can understand the UK design of the cover. This series is about Flapper girls and I think that the image on the UK version gets that point across more than the US versions. That being said, I absolutely adore the US cover. Personally, it draws me in more than the UK cover. 

So overall, I really like the model for the cover of the UK book, but as a whole, I prefer the style of the US cover.

What do you think? Which is best? Vote in the poll below and tell me your thoughts in the comments!


Vixen by Jillian Larkin: Which Cover is Better?
UK
US
make a poll


Sunday 8 September 2013

A Spooky Month!

Hey everyone!

I'd like to tell you all about a feature that I'm planning to post in the run up to Halloween.



The Ultimately Creepy Villain is a tournament that will run throughout October to select the best baddie in YA fiction.

On Thursday 3rd October, I will post a list of 30 villains, with a poll for you to vote. Every Thursday during October from that point, the list will narrow down from the poll results. By the 24th, there will be just 5 villains left. During that last week of October, I’ll do a write up of each of the 5 villains and I’ll reopen the voting for the final time so that I can announce your winner on Halloween! Here’s a rundown of how the month will go:

Round One: 3rd – 9th October (30 villains)
Quarter Final: 10th – 16th October (20 villains)
Semi Final: 17th – 23rd October (10 villains)
Final: 24th – 30th October (5 villains)
Winner Announced: 31st October

If you’re a blogger and would like to get involved, just save the banner for the feature and ask your readers to vote for your favorite villain! I want to be able to include as many as possible in the first round, so if you have any suggestions, please let me know in the comments so that I can include them! 



Thursday 5 September 2013

Review: United We Spy by Ally Carter

Bookish Details:
Series: Gallagher Girls Book #6
Pages: 303 (Paperback)
Publisher: Orchard Books
Release Date: September 5th 2013
Source: Copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
Buy It From: Amazon


Goodreads Synopsis:
 
Cammie Morgan has lost her father and her memory, but in the heart-pounding conclusion to the best-selling Gallagher Girls series, she finds her greatest mission yet. Cammie and her friends finally know why the terrorist organization called the Circle of Cavan has been hunting her. Now the spy girls and Zach must track down the Circle’s elite members to stop them before they implement a master plan that will change Cammie—and her country—forever.

My Review:
And here we are. After five awesome books, countless amazing scenes, several badass teen spies and just a few unforgettable romances, we are at the sixth and final book in the emotional rollercoaster that is the Gallagher Girls series. 

United We Spy picks up near the start of the Cammie’s final semester at the Gallagher academy. But of course, it’s not simply a case of being able to have a normal semester, because the Circle of Cavan is still up to no good.

The story follows Cammie, Zach and the girls as they make the hard decision to go on alone in the mission to stop Catherine, Zach’s mother, from continuing her own mission of killing the former Circle leaders.

Cammie and the gang end up in some of their toughest situations yet and I was on edge a lot of the time, knowing that things could (and probably would) go wrong at any minute. I literally spent the other night telling myself that I’d go to sleep at the end of that chapter, and then I found myself staring at the clock at 2am, wondering where the time went.

I cannot express how much I love the characters in this series. I am going to miss all of them. Cammie and Zach are definitely one of the best couples in a book series I have read, because they’re so different to the other young adult couples! Nothing in their lives are certain and they know that the lives they have are dangerous, meaning that when they say goodbye to each other, they don’t know whether it’s for a day, week or even a lifetime. There are some moments between the two of them that make you want to bury your face in a pillow and squeal for a bit before you carry on reading.

I could talk about this book all day, but that would lead to spoilers, and I’m not going to spoil a thing for you. I always find it pretty hard to keep a review of a final book in a series spoiler free.

So what else can I tell you without spoiling you? There is plenty of that awesome, kickass action that the Gallagher Girls never fail to bring. Each girl has her own battle to deal with throughout the story but they are there for each other, as always. I am really going to miss the awesome foursome that is Cammie, Bex, Macey and Liz.  

As such a huge fan of this series, I cannot even begin to describe my love for this final book. Carter has closed the series in such a perfect way and even though I’m sad there’ll be no more books to look forward to, I’m left completely satisfied with the ending.

Thank you Ally Carter for your fabulous series! 

Royal Rating:


Wednesday 4 September 2013

Blog Tour: United We Spy by Ally Carter

Hey everyone!

I’m so pleased to be part of the blog tour for United We Spy, the last book in Ally Carter’s fabulous Gallagher Girls series!

Series: Gallagher Girls Book #6
Publisher: Orchard Books
Release Date: 5th September 2013

Cammie Morgan has lost her father and her memory, but in the heart-pounding conclusion to the best-selling Gallagher Girls series, she finds her greatest mission yet. Cammie and her friends finally know why the terrorist organization called the Circle of Cavan has been hunting her. Now the spy girls and Zach must track down the Circle’s elite members to stop them before they implement a master plan that will change Cammie—and her country—forever.

Do you have a moment to talk about Macey McHenry? Because I would like to talk about Macey McHenry.

When I first picked up book one of the Gallagher Girls series a few years ago, I was sick of reading paranormal and dystopian stories. I’d been surrounded by books about vampires and creatures and futuristic worlds and I was begging for something different. And different is exactly what I got with the Gallagher Girls series.

Not only was this series full of awesome action and badass teens, this series also had that one character that is vital in making a story even more awesome. The confident, rebel chick who was here to spice things up.

Just when you get used to the friendship circle that is Cammie, Bex and Liz, Macey bursts into the picture with her jet black hair and combat boots. As a reader, you know that she is there to cause a bit of trouble, but a part of you also gets the feeling that the friendship circle in the story is probably going to end up a friendship square.

Macey ends up the fourth and final girl in Cammie’s dorm room and over the course of I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have To Kill You, we begin to see that Macey isn’t the bitch she makes out to be. I love how her friendship with the girls’ develops, especially when she doesn’t start off being too fond of Bex at all.

She is so much more than simply a rich, high society, politician’s daughter. I feel like Macey really stands out the most in the third book of the series, Don’t Judge a Girl by her Cover. This is when we first learn a lot more about Macey’s life. And, of course, we meet Preston. 

Over the course of the whole series, I’ve grown to love her character and she fast became one of my favourites. So I love Macey McHenry, and you should love her too. Here’s why.


  • Her short temper makes for great comedy. I adore her first introduction into the school whilst Cammie and Bex are showing her around. At one point, Bex grabs her by the arm and she responds with a classy: “Don’t touch me, b****.” That’s when I knew she was going to be an awesome character.
  • She has private jets on demand. Being the daughter of a political figure is a hard job, but someone’s got to do it.
  • Her advice on boys: “If he’s shorter than you, slouch.”
  • She’s that awesome, she even got her own little spinoff story with Hale, from Ally’s other fantastic series, Heist Society.
  • Her perfect reactions to situations. Like the time Cammie and Zach fell right at her feet in book three: One moment I was lying in the arms of one of the most complex (and gorgeous) boy spies ever, and the next I was landing like a ton of bricks on the hard, cold floor of a moving train while one of my best friends stared down at me. And the boy on top of me. And said, "Well, this wasn't on my agenda."
  • Basically, her general awesomeness: An eighth grade boy had cornered Macey by the punch bowl and was trying to act all mature, saying, "So, do you want to go somewhere more private?" 
         "That depends, do you want to keep that hand?" Macey replied.

So, I’m sure you’ll all agree that Macey McHenry is a fabulous character. If I was a super-secret teenage spy, I would want her by my side for sure. Who is your favorite character from the Gallagher Girls series? Let me know!

Also, don't forget to head over to Readaraptor tomorrow for the next blog tour stop!



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