13 Bullets - David Wellington

Yet another book so good it reads like a movie. Forget the romantic smushy Edward Cullen type vampires, this book re-paints them as the violent monsters they are.

Some of the scenes in this book are just creepy... Cue the abandoned lunatic asylum and the midnight high-speed getaway chased by rampaging undead. Wellington throws these little terrifying moments into scenes that at first appear ordinary, thus managing to catch the reader off guard and perhaps to remind us of the monsters they are?

I found one of the main characters increasingly frustrating. I had read reviews that said Caxton, the lesbian state trooper roped into vampire hunting, was 2D and unlikeable - but it wasn't her I couldn't get on with. It was Arkeley the seasoned vampire killer. His character is never really fleshed out enough in this book, and perhaps this is intentional and mirrors Caxton's frustrations with his aloof personality, but for me it was the one flaw to this book.

If you're looking a for fast-paced, action-packed zombie/vampire tale then you will probably devour this as quickly as I did. The characters may be a little lacking, but to be honest with so many undead appearing from the shadows you hardly have time to notice.

The Hunt - Andrew Fukuda

I picked this book up for a £1 so I really wasn't expecting much. Plus I had checked out some reviews on Good Reads and most people had scored it 1 - 2 stars at most.

The story is basically Hunger Games with vampires: but there is a whole lot more besides. Gene is a human living alongside vampires by pretending to be one. It sounds daft I know, but it really adds to the story. I found my self on tenterhooks each time Gene is nearly found out! 

One of the great things about this book is that there is no mushy love story ruining the plot. Of course there's a girl, there always is in YA fiction now, but she is very much a sideline in this book - and glad I am about that!

The final chapters of the book in which 'The Hunt' takes place are described perfectly. Although, as with all trilogy books, it leaves you on a massive cliffhanger.... So naturally I have ordered the next two books :)

A Gathering Light - Jennifer Donnelly

When I was little I had a copy of The Little House on the Prairie which I read until the cover started to fall off. It now has pride of place on my bookshelf and reminds me of why I love to read; losing yourself in another world where the simplest things are those you treasure. This book reminds me of Little House.

Firstly the writing is beautiful. Donnelly has hints of Margaret Atwood in her writing style, and uses this to cleverly lead us on a tale of a young woman breaking the rules that back in 1905 her gender and age were bound to obey.

The murder in the book is by-the-by and it wasn't until I finished the book that I was told the murder is a true story. Donnelly used the mlocal murder of a young girl to put Mattie's actions into perspective; life can be so suddenly cut short, so chase your dreams.

I picked this book up at a charity shop on a whim, but have found a true treasure of a book that I'll sit perfectly alongside Little House on my bookshelf.

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief - Ricky Riordan

First things first, don't be fooled by the 'For ages 9 and over' note on the cover of this book. It's a book any age will enjoy!

Being a history geek I was intrigued by the book's take on Greek mythology, and this is what initially lured me in. 

In a similar vein to the tv show 'Once Upon A Time, Riordan takes myths and makes the characters into modern day equivalents in a very clever way. You end up playing a game with yourself whereby you try and guess which mythilogical creature they are... Medusa stumped me and I am incredibly mad at myself for not working it out sooner!

So long as you remember it is a children's book, and therefore don't expect any prize-winning literary feats, you will enjoy this book for the tale itself. It is a simple yet effective 'fairy-tale' and an easy read to get caught up in.

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones - Cassandra Clare

Ok so I bought the first two in this series on a whim, and then borrowed the other 4 books. So before I'm even one chapter in I'm already invested in the series. I was hoping for a good return... One chapter later and I can relax - I'm already hooked!

The characters are far more enthralling than Edward and Bella, and despite the paranormal they are far more realistic. I'm glad Simon didn't just become a whingey side-line character. He is fast becoming one of my favourites...even more so than Jace! 

This may be targeted at young adults, but the writing style is suited to anyone. I read the last 2 chapters in one sitting...finishing way past bed-time! I just had to find out what happened. I was well-rewarded with an action-packed finale in which your perspective changes somewhat...

Book two is already in progress :)

The Husband's Secret - Liane Moriarty

Wow...and just, wow.

This beautiful tale starts slow, as characters are steadily thrown into the mix, but the once the pace starts building it feels like a merry-go-round ride to the finish.

I started this book expecting a trashy romance, but instead this was a tale intricately combining lust, grief, love and betrayal.

Moriarty has a casual writing style which made reading this book effortless. It took me two days to finish, and I closed the final page with a smile on my face.

The First Days - Rhiannon Frater

Walking dead fans will love this book, and indeed the trilogy. The Zombie-apocolypse is upon us and this book starts literally as society falls.

Fans of the Walking dead will recognise the gory zombie decapitations against various backdrops; houses, service stations, the speedy race from the city to the space and 'safety' of the Texas countryside - and the final sanctuary of a fortified town not unlike 'Woodbury'....

Frater focuses her story on two female leads: one a kick-ass lesbian (her sexuality we are reminded of again and again...) and the other an abused wife and mother. I wish Frater made me care more about the main characters. I cared more about the supporting characters, especially the elderly Israeli female sniper holed up in a gun store - which is exactly where I would want to be too if the world ended!

A great start to the trilogy, with more than enough action to keep girls and boys entertained. Stick at it cos I have a feeling Frater is building up to something gorily good in part 2...