Title: Wolfborn
Author: Sue Bursztynski
Age Group: Teen / Young Adult
Release Date: 1st December 2010
Publishers: Random House

Book Summary: Etienne, son of a lord in the kingdom of Armorique, goes to train as a knight with Geraint of Lucanne. Geraint is brave and kind, a good teacher and master – but he has a secret that he has kept from his family. He is bisclavret, a born werewolf. When Geraint is betrayed, Etienne must ally with the local wise-woman and her daughter, themselves bisclavret, to save his lord. But time is running out. If Geraint’s enemies have their way, Geraint will soon be trapped in his wolf form.

And Etienne has his own secret. The decisions he makes will change his life forever . . .

Inspired by a medieval romance, this engaging novel forces us to question everything we thought we knew about werewolves.

My Thoughts: Wolfborn is not the type of book I would normally read, but I’m so glad I got the opportunity to. I have read paranormal books, read young adult books, read books about werewolves and fairies but I have never before read a medieval paranormal book.

This book has it all, werewolves, fairies and Celtic gods, all tied up in a medieval love story.

Bursztynski’s inspiration came from a twelfth century collection of stories by Marie de France called Breton Lais. Her story is based loosely on one of these short pieces called Lai Le Bisclavret about a happily married knight known as Bisclavret who keeps the secret of his werewolf curse from his wife until she eventually finds out then leaves him. Sue however took the story to a new level with the addition of some very prominent characters, who have a story to tell of their own.

Once I got past my difficulty with the pronunciation of names and places, the story flowed easily and I found myself wanted to find out more and more and more.

I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in paranormal romances who want to read something a little bit different.

My Rating: (out of 5)

About the Author: Sue Bursztynski grew up in Melbourne’s beachside suburbs, where she still lives. As a child, she used to sit on the beach to write, but later learned to write anywhere she could sit down with a pen and paper. She was thrilled to get her first computer, which meant she could make changes without having to re-write or re-type the whole story. She was even more thrilled when the Internet came along and made research much easier. Sue sold her first book, MONSTERS AND CREATURES OF THE NIGHT, in 1993 and has sold many more books, short stories and articles since then. Her book POTIONS TO PULSARS: WOMEN DOING SCIENCE was a CBCA Notable Book. Sue works in a school in Melbourne’s western suburbs, where she tests out her writing on the students. She reviews children’s and young adult books for JANUARY MAGAZINE and reads story submissions for ANDROMEDA SPACEWAYS INFLIGHT MAGAZINE. When not writing, Sue enjoys reading, music, blogging, great movies and handcraft. She also loves history, but has no problem fiddling with it for her fantasy fiction.

Find out more about Sue and her writing on her blog here!

You can get a paperback copy as well as an ePub version from The Book Depository!

Title: Afterlife (Book #4)
Author: Claudia Gray
Series: The Evernight Series
Age Group: Teen / Young Adult
Release Date: 8th March 2011
Publishers: HarperTeen

Book Summary: Bianca and Lucas have always believed they could endure anything to be together. When a twist of fate not only transforms Bianca into a ghostly wraith, but also turns Lucas into a vampire—the very creature he spent his life hunting—they are left reeling.

A battle between wraiths and vampires looms, and Bianca and Lucas face a terrifying new reality. They’ve overcome every obstacle life has thrown at them, but is their love strong enough to survive the challenges after life? 

My Thoughts: I have really enjoyed reading the Evernight series but I have to say that I found this book a little depressing. It was quite difficult for me to read at times and I had to keep putting it down and coming back to it at another time.

Having said that, I did enjoy the story line and enjoyed reconnecting with each of the characters. The storyline was good and was quite exciting but I would have liked to have more light moments in amongst the dark just to balance the emotions a little more.

My Rating: (out of 5)

Other Books in the Series:

1. Evernight
2. Stargazer
3. Hourglass

About the Author: Claudia Gray is not my real name. I didn’t choose a pseudonym because my real name is unpleasant (it isn’t), because I’d always dreamed of calling myself this (I haven’t) or even because I’m hiding from the remnants of that international diamond-smuggling cartel I smashed in 2003 (Interpol has taken care of them). In short, I took a pseudonym for no real reason whatsoever. Sometimes this is actually the best reason to do things.

I live in New York City. So far, in life, I’ve been a disc jockey, a lawyer, a journalist and an extremely bad waitress, just to name a few. I especially like to spend time traveling, hiking, reading, and listening to music. More than anything else, I enjoy writing.

Find out more about Claudia and her writing on her website here!
Befriend her on Facebook!
And follow her on Twitter!

You can preorder your copy already from The Book Depository!

This review copy was supplied by Netgalley.

Title: Paranormalcy
Author: Kiersten White
Series: The Paranormalcy Series
Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction
Age Group: Teen / Young Adult
Release Date: 31st August 2010
Publishers: HarperCollins (Aus)

Book Summary: All Evie wants is to be normal … instead, she?s stuck at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising death and destruction to the paranormal world.
 
Evie?s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, despite the fact that she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency (IPCA), she can see through paranormals? glamours, her best friend is a mermaid, and her ex-boyfriend is a lunatic-and a faerie.

In a world where paranormals are monitored and controlled, Evie has at least been able to take comfort in the fact that she?s human…Until she finds out she?s not. With everything she believes called into question, Evie?s drawn to the newest IPCA prisoner, a shapeshifter named Lend. Unfortunately their friendship and flirting is complicated by the information he carries: a faerie prophecy of death and destruction that seems to revolve around Evie herself.

So much for normal.

My Thoughts: Paranormalcy is a fun, quirky, teen fantasy novel by debut author Kiersten White.

I loved Evie, the snarky, squeeing and often naive main character. Evie just wanted a bit of normalcy in her life but instead her world starts falling apart and she finds that she is anything but normal. The only shining light for Evie is her new friendship with Lend, a teenage (watery) boy that IPCA are holding as a prisoner.

Kiersten’s take on mythology was refreshing and entertaining and I found it to be a very easy read. I liked that the story took some unpredictable turns and kept me guessing until the end.

I’m looking forward to Supernaturally the next book in the series which is due out in 2011.

My Rating: (out of 5)

More Books in the Series:

2. Supernaturally – coming in 2011
Evie, Lend, Reth, Arianna, Raquel, David . . . And Jack. Life’s never fair when faeries are involved.
3. Coming in 2012

About the Author: Kiersten White is the NYT Bestselling author of Paranormalcy. She has one tall husband and two small children and lives near the ocean, where her life is perfectly normal. This abundance of normal led her to a fascination with all things paranormal, including but not limited to vampires, faeries, and pop culture.

Find out more about Kristen and her writing on her website and blog here!
Befriend her on Facebook!
And follow her on Twitter!

Have you read this book yet? 

If not, go here right now and purchase a copy! You won’t be disappointed :)


If you have read it, leave a comment below telling us what you thought :)

If you liked this book you may like to read more books for teenage girls like Winter’s Shadow M.J. Hearle, Sirensong by Jenna Black and Bloodlines by Richelle Mead!

Title: Burnt Snow
Author: Van Badham
Series: The Book of the Witch (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy
Age Group: Young Adult
Release Date:  1st September 2010 (Aus)

Author’s Website

Book Summary: These were the facts:

I’d been in Yarrindi for six days.
In that time, I’d met a boy.
I didn’t know who he was, or why a shadow hung over him, but everywhere he went, there was trouble.

When I ignored him, everything was fine.
When I smiled at him, a girl had a violent seizure.
That girl had tried to warn me – she had tried to frighten me into listening, but I had let him breathe on my neck and brush against my hand and glass had shattered.

Sophie Morgan is the new girl at school. Brody Meine is the local loner with a dangerous reputation. The connection between them is intense – explosive. As darkness engulfs Sophie’s world, a fire is being lit within her. And when she and Brody are together, there’s no predicting who will be burned.

This is definitely worth reading a chapter or two before you decide to put it down.
Several reasons I enjoyed is it is set in Australia, before Twilight I was typically a realistic contemporary fiction reader and found it hard to find books that were depicted in Australia.

I find it easier to relate to characters if they come from my own country, and these characters are easy to relate to.
It’s Twilight type romance between Sophie and Brody is certainly what attracted me to the story line, but then found it hard to put down because it never gives you much detail to go on. Eg. What Sophie is??? What is Brody???

Altogether a good read although the school scenario got to me a bit but it is for young adult audience.

I will certainly be reading the next instalment. Definitely left me hanging.

Get your copy from:

The Book Depository (free international shipping)
QBD
Dymocks 

Title: Nightshade
Author: Andrea Cremer
Series: The Nightshade Series
Age Group: Young Adult
Release Date: 1st November 2010 (Aus)
Publishers: Atom Australia

Author’s Website

Book Summary: She can control her pack, but not her heart . . .While other teenage girls daydream about boys, Calla Tor imagines ripping out her enemies throats. And she wouldn’t have it any other way. Calla was born a warrior and on her eighteenth-birthday she ll become the alpha female of the next generation of Guardian wolves. But Calla s predestined path veers off course the moment she saves the life of a wayward hiker, a boy her own age. This human boy s secret will turn the young pack’s world upside down and forever alter the outcome of the centuries-old Witches’ War that surrounds them all. . .

This story is mainly about a choice between destiny and love. It revolves around Calla a female Alpha wolf or Guardian who is destined to be mated with Alpha Male Ren, this has been destined since they were 5 years old and now at 17 it is only months away. Calla has accepted this as it is the way of her pack. That is until she saves the life of a human, Shay, who turns her life and destiny upside down.

Calla has to choose between her loyalty and love for her pack (and Ren) and her forbidden love for Shay. Although Calla cannot resist Ren’s affection she is inexplicably drawn to Shay, who turns out to have a greater destiny than anyone knew and proves to be very important to the future of her pack and her life.

This book draws you in from the very beginning, it is well written and I for one could not put it down. The story delves into the background of this fascinating world of Keepers (witches/wizards), Guardians (wolves) and Searchers (opposing wizards). I read the first 15 chapters the first day I picked it up. It definitely appeals to fantasy love story readers of all ages. I have 13 year old and 17 year old daughters and they also loved this book.

I wait with great anticipation for the second book in the series “Wolfsbane”.

You can also read my review here!

Get your copy from:

Fishpond
QBD
The Book Depository (free international shipping)

Title: Nightshade
Author: Andrea Cremer
Series: The Nightshade Series
Age Group: Young Adult
Release Date: 1st November 2010 (Aus)
Publishers: Atom Australia

Author’s Website

Book Summary: She can control her pack, but not her heart . . .While other teenage girls daydream about boys, Calla Tor imagines ripping out her enemies throats. And she wouldn’t have it any other way. Calla was born a warrior and on her eighteenth-birthday she ll become the alpha female of the next generation of Guardian wolves. But Calla s predestined path veers off course the moment she saves the life of a wayward hiker, a boy her own age. This human boy s secret will turn the young pack’s world upside down and forever alter the outcome of the centuries-old Witches’ War that surrounds them all. . .

My Thoughts – Here is yet another YA book that I just could not put down! Andrea’s world of werewolves and witches was enthralling. The story is quite fast paced and always had me wondering what was coming next.

I loved the lead character Calla, a strong, intelligent girl who is thrust in to a very mature role and has to decide whether to follow tradition or follow her head and her heart.

I enjoyed Calla’s relationship with both Ren, the alpha male and Shay, the human boy. Andrea could have made Ren out to be the bad guy, and in parts of the book he is portrayed as just that, but there is just something about him that makes me feel compassion for him. And Shay, well Shay is just a sweetie :)

All up Nightshade was a great read and I am eagerly anticipating the next book in the series Wolfsbane!

My Rating: (out of 5)

Get your copy from:

Fishpond
QBD
The Book Depository (free international shipping)

More Books in the Series:

2. Wolfsbane (2011) – Betrayal, loss, pain, fear. How many trials can love endure and still survive?

3. Bloodrose (2012) – Is true love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

4. Untitled (2012) – Nightshade Companion Novel

About the Author: Andrea Cremer spent her childhood daydreaming while roaming the forests and lakeshores of Northern Wisconsin. She went to school until there wasn’t any more school to go to, ending up with a Ph.D. in early modern history – a reflection of her fascination with witchcraft and warfare. She currently lives in Minnesota with her husband, two dogs, and a parakeet.

Have you read this book? What did you think? Leave your review or a comment below telling us what you thought :)

Author’s Website

Book Summary: New name, new town, new life. Nastasya has done it too often to count. And there’s no end in sight. Nothing ever really ends… when you’re immortal. But this time is different: Nastasya knows that this new town must hold her salvation—or her death.

Nastasya was born into darkness, and has embraced it her whole life. Four hundred years ago, a tragedy robbed her of her birthright, and she’s been living a lie ever since. Now, four centuries of exploring the depths and limits of dark power has left Nastasya feeling sickened unto death. If she continues down this road, she will end up as a very dark, twisted, evil thing—with unthinkable power. Or she can begin the long, painful road toward light, and reclaim the destiny that others tried to destroy.

They’re rare. You may have never met one, never sat next to one on a plane, never eaten in the same restaurant at the same time. But the Immortals are there. Have always been there. Will always be there. Moving among humans, playing out their own cursed fate. Sometimes subtly, sometimes with huge, sweeping implications for mankind. But no one will ever know. Except you.

Nas and her friends Incy, Cicely,Boz and Katy are all immortals who have been drifting through life having fun with no responsibility, that is until one night after a disagreement with a cab driver Incy breaks his spine using magick and then goes on ‘niteclubbing’ without a second thought leaving the cabbie in the gutter in pain. Nas starts to question her life and the actions of her friends, remembering an incident in the 1920′s where after a hair-raising car ride/accident in which a girl is killed and another injured (both who weren’t immortal), she meets a women- River, who is immortal and who offers her a place to stay if she ever finds a need to find purpose in her life away from her friends. It is to this place that Nas flees the next day leaving her friends behind, using a false passport and ID that not even her friends know about. She arrives at Rivers farm which turns out to be a rehab facility of sorts for immortals, meeting one guy Reyn who she immediately feels a connection to and who seems vaguely familiar but she can’t place where she knows him. She leaves the next day as Reyn points out that she doesn’t belong, only to return as the further she gets from the farm the more uneasy she feels. She realises the farm and the people there give her the first sense of peace she has felt in all her 459 years of life, at least since she was ten when her family were all killed by a raiding party. She meets people who she begins to care about in her own way as for centuries she has never formed any attachments to anyone, preferring to just ‘party’ her way through life without a thought or care.

Whilst she is at the farm she participates in magick circles which cause her to remember different times in her life and the losses she has suffered. It is during one of the rituals that she remembers who Reyn is and the role he played in the death of her family, which she finds hard as she is still attracted to him leading to an episode in the barn where they both admit their feelings for each other. Whilst at the farm River tells her that Incy is trying to find her using magick but they have ‘spelled’ guards around her so that she will remain invisible to him until she is ready to talk to him, which she agrees having “seen” in one of the circle ceremonies an incident where Incy and friends seemingly deliberately caused the death of two young men through their reckless behaviour and another episode where Incy after ‘trashing’ his hotel room admits to the others that he needs to be with Nes so he can take advantage of her power, a power that whilst Nas was with them she was unaware of the full potential of. River and the other teachers help Nas acccept her heritage and develop her powers as the last descendant of the House of Ulfur, which is one of eight magickal ‘houses’ that have just about been destroyed by raiding parties intent on gaining the power for themselves.”

I found this an easy read and an easy story to follow with just the right amount of suspense/romance and magic to satisfy me!. It is part of a trilogy with the next one coming out in 2011. Do yourself a favour and start reading!

Get your copy from:

Fishpond
QBD
The Book Depository (free international shipping)
Amazon

Have you read this book? What did you think? Leave your review or a comment below telling us what you thought :)

Title: Embrace
Author: Jessica Shirvington
Age Group: Young Adult
Release Date: 14th October 2010 (Aus)
Publishers: Hatchette

Embrace Official Website

Book Summary: Violet Eden is dreading her seventeenth birthday dinner. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. The one bright spot is that Lincoln will be there. Sexy, mature and aloof, he is Violet’s idea of perfection. But why does he seem so reluctant to be anything more than a friend?

After he gives her the world’s most incredible kiss – and then abandons her on her front doorstep – Violet is determined to get some answers. But nothing could have prepared her for Lincoln’s explanation: he is Grigori – part angel and part human – and Violet is his eternal partner.

Without warning, Violet’s world is turned upside down. She never believed in God, let alone angels. But there’s no denying the strange changes in her body … and her feelings for Lincoln. Suddenly, she can’t stand to be around him. Luckily, Phoenix, an exiled angel, has come into her life. He’s intense and enigmatic, but at least he never lied to her.

As Violet gets caught up in an ancient battle between dark and light, she must choose her path. The wrong choice could cost not only her life, but her eternity…

My Thoughts: For me, Embrace has it all. Unrequited and forbidden love, a good guy / bad guy love triangle, action, betrayal, secrets, life changing decisions and bad ass super powers! What more could you want from a book right?

On Violet Eden’s seventeenth birthday her Father gives her a present from her mother, who passed away during Violet’s birth. This gift starts a string of events that change Violet’s life forever.

She discovers that Lincoln, her friend who she has a major crush on, is not who she thinks he is and while dealing with his betrayal she meets Phoenix, the irresistible bad guy.

Violet is forced to make a decision, one that she is not comfortable with, and one that will alter every aspect of her life and once that decision is made she needs to come to turns with her new life.

Jessica combines angel mythology with a modern day story to create an action packed, enticing love story that will have you turning the pages well into the early morning.

If you loved Twilight, Vampire Academy and Fallen then this book is for you!

My Rating: (out of 5)

Read an excerpt of the book here!

Get your copy from:

The Book Depository (free international shipping)
Dymocks

Books in the Series: 

1. Embrace
2. Enticed (2011)

About the Author

Jessica Shirvington lives in Sydney with her husband of nine years, FOXTEL presenter and former Olympic sprinter Matt Shirvington, and their two daughters. She has previously founded and run a coffee distribution company, Stella Imports, in London, and been involved in managing the restaurants Fuel Bistro, Tow Bar and MG Garage in Sydney.

She is currently a full-time mum and co-director in the company MPS Investments Pty Ltd.

Have you read this book? What did you think? Leave your review or a comment below telling us what you thought :)

This week I received three books in my mailbox. The first was:

Before We Say Good Bye by Gabriella Ambrosio

It is seven a.m. on a spring morning in Jerusalem. Eighteen-year-old Dima trudges through the mud to college and reflects on many things, including her forthcoming marriage to her cousin Faris. Seventeen-year-old Myriam skips school to sit on the tree-lined hill overlooking the city and think about her friend Michael, whose death she still mourns. And Dima’s and Myriam’s families – one Palestinian, one Israeli – go about their ordinary, separate lives; for today is like every other day. Yet in seven hours’ time, everything will have changed. For ever.
This book is written in the style of the TV drama 24, each chapter covers an hour in the day leading up to a Palestinian suicide bombing. It is written in filmic, dramatic language, this is both pacy and thought-provoking and will appeal to young adults and adults alike and is endorsed by Amnesty International UK as contributing to a better understanding of human rights and the values that underpin them. (Walker Books Australia and New Zealand)

The second book I received was:

The Project by Brian Falkner

It all started with a book. The most boring book in the world! So boring that nobody would ever read it. The perfect place to hide a terrible secret. But now the book has emerged from its hiding place and the world may never be the same.
This book is an action-packed adventure which will have readers on the edge of their seat. (Walker Books Australia and New Zealand)

And the other book I received was:

Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

Violet Eden is dreading her seventeenth birthday dinner. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. The one bright spot is that Lincoln will be there. Sexy, mature and aloof, he is Violet’s idea of perfection. But why does he seem so reluctant to be anything more than a friend?
After he gives her the world’s most incredible kiss – and then abandons her on her front doorstep – Violet is determined to get some answers. But nothing could have prepared her for Lincoln’s explanation: he is Grigori – part angel and part human – and Violet is his eternal partner.
Without warning, Violet’s world is turned upside down. She never believed in God, let alone angels. But there’s no denying the strange changes in her body … and her feelings for Lincoln. Suddenly, she can’t stand to be around him. Luckily, Phoenix, an exiled angel, has come into her life. He’s intense and enigmatic, but at least he never lied to her.
As Violet gets caught up in an ancient battle between dark and light, she must choose her path. The wrong choice could cost not only her life, but her eternity…(Embrace the Book)


The Story Siren runs a meme called In My Mailbox where Book Bloggers can interact and talk about the books they have received in their mailbox. Go and check it out!

Come back on Tuesday for a new meme here at Fictional Fantasy – On My Radar: The idea is to showcase a few books that have sparked our interest in the last week. You can read more here!

Author’s Website

Book Summary: How many lives do you need to live before you find someone worth dying for?
In the aftermath of what happened at Sword & Cross, Luce has been hidden away by her cursed angelic boyfriend, Daniel, in a new school filled with Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans. Daniel promises she will be safe here, protected from those who would kill her. At the school Luce discovers what the Shadows that have followed her all her life mean – and how to manipulate them to see into her other lives. Yet the more Luce learns about herself, the more she realizes that the past is her only key to unlocking her future … and that Daniel hasn’t told her everything. What if his version of the past isn’t actually the way things happened … what if Luce was really meant to be with someone else?

My Thoughts – Please don’t continue reading if you haven’t read Fallen yet, there may be some spoiler!

I just finished reading Torment and I loved it! I could not put it down!

Torment is the second book in Lauren Kate’s fallen angel series and it picks up right where Fallen left off.
Now that Luce knows about the existence of fallen angels and of her past lives with Daniel, she and Daniel should finally be able to have that chance to be together but Daniel is still as illusive and mysterious as ever, insisting on secrecy for her own protection. He sends her off to another school which will ‘shield’ her from others that have learnt of her mortality. This is where we are introduced to Shelby and Miles. Shelby is Luce’s new roommate, she’s sarcastic, and a little rough at times but her and Luce become friends anyway and then there is Miles. Miles is cute and sweet and thoughtful and the guy that makes Luce consider the possibility that Daniel and Luce are not destined to be together after all.

I was glad to see that some of the old characters (from Fallen) were carried forward in this book, they helped to cement the two books together and also helped to answer some of the questions from the previous book.

Lauren gives us more details of Luce’s past lives as well as delving into angel mythology a little more in this book and many of the questions I had after reading fallen have been answered.

I loved the way Lauren ending Torment, such a cliffhanger and I am quite impatient for the next book now. If you liked Fallen, you are going to love Torment!

My Rating: (out of 5)

Get your copy from:

Fishpond
QBD
The Book Depository (free international shipping)
Amazon

More Books in the Series:

1. Fallen
3. Passion (2011)

Trailer:

About the Author: The author of several pseudonymous novels for Alloy’s Inside Girl series, as well as the forthcoming The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove, Lauren Kate grew up in Dallas, Texas. She received her Bachelor’s degree in the deep South at Emory University, then went to New York for a brief stint in publishing, before enrolling in the University of California, Davis’s Master of Arts Creative Writing program. She is finishing up her degree at UC Davis, where she also teaches. She lives and writes from an old farm house in Winters, California.

Have you read this book? What did you think? Leave your review or a comment below telling us what you thought :)