HAUNTING VIOLET BY ALEXANDRA HARVEY

WOW! BRILLIANT! 


There are no other words to express my views regarding the recent YA horror cum mystery novel by Alexandra Harvey. This is my first Harvey novel and mark my words, I am clearly fascinated by the plot.


''She does not believe in ghosts. But they believe in her.''


Set in the 1870s, the story revolves around the young and pretty Violet whose mother blackmails relatives of the deceased by claiming that she has the noble ability to contact people from the afterworld. On her way to the country for a spiritualist show at the estate of a man of high society, Violet suddenly discovers that she really can see ghosts, among which one wants her to solve her murder. Violet should be careful when the murderer is still on loose. With the house full of guests and secrets, everyone turns into a suspect.


Since I was reading novels set in the 21st century for the last few months, I found this quite a refreshing read and reminded me of classics like Little Women, Oliver Twist...


I loved Violet's clumsy ways, how she hated wearing corsets which hinders her movement and breathing ability, how she found all proper ladies ways rather convoluted, how she hated the way her mother used her as a pawn in her endless quest for riches and prestige and how she was gradually falling in love....


Haunting Violet is clearly not a hardcore horror story which will give you nightmares but you can smell the pervading scent of danger throughout the book. Alyxandra Harvey did such an excellent job in her portrayal of the times that I almost felt as if I were transported to the late 1870’s. The description was interesting and at times, humorous-I was never bored. Many thanks to Dot Scribbles. It was through her blog this fantastic book came to my notice and I decided to read it.

SLEEPWALKERS BY J. GABRIEL GATES

''Something in the ruins waits''

No other words could have offered a better opening than these words for THE SLEEPWALKERS, a teen horror novel by J. Gabriel Gates. Its creepy right from the first line. It will drive your fingers to keep its pages turning even at the dead of night, will make you go numb and is also able to give you the worst nightmares of your lifetime.

As many book covers of the bestselling titles, the cover of The Sleepwalkers will also captivate you. It shows a blurry image of a bare footed girl. It will make you wonder whether its a ghost or something more sinister.

The 19 year old popular Caleb Mason is celebrating his high school graduation day and planning to travel to Africa to enhance his profile as a journalist, when he receives a mysterious letter from his long lost childhood friend, Christine. As the plot thickens, Caleb along with his funny friend Bean travel to the place only to discover that its no more the same old place as he has known. In fact, things have taken turn for the worse. Children are disappearing with each passing day and the asylum has reopened with Christine being locked inside. Caleb vows to get her out. Will they all be able to make out alive or die trying? Christine's mother, a witch, is consumed with madness, and Christine's long-dead twin sister whispers clues to Caleb through the static of an a.m. radio. The terrifying prophesies of the spirits are coming to pass. Sixteen clocks are ticking; sixty-six murdered souls will destroy the world. As Caleb  gradually unveils the mysteries, he uncovers a truth more horrible than anything he had imagined, a truth that could only be uttered by the lips of the dead.

From the author of the very popular Dark Territory Series, the story promises you to hold on your seat with its well developed characters and its rich and engaging writing. It’s humorous, scary, creepy, cleverly written, lots of twists, disturbing, unsettling all in a good way. It is very well written, I could actually read it and imagine it happening. It wasn’t too far-fetched at all. I can't wait to recommend this book to the teens who complain that there are no "scary" books and then dare them to go to bed with the lights off.  

Many thanks to HCI books for sending me an advance copy for review. ''The Sleepwalkers'' is slated to be released on 3rd October, 2011.

NIGHTSHADE BY ANDREA CREMER

''She can control her pack but not her heart." 


(MY RATINGS: 3.5/5)

I should preface this review with the fact that I was not a huge fan of werewolves YA paranormal novels until I read this book Nightshade. Nightshade introduces its readers to a new fantasy world of werewolves, who can transform at their will.

It tells the story of the strong Calla Tor, an young guardian or ''Alpha Female'' of her pack. In the world of Nightshade, the guardians are bound to serve the witches known as Keepers and in return they are provided with every comfort in life. The Keepers are in an eternal battle with Searchers, who used to be part of the Keepers until a schism centuries ago led them to split in two. Guardians are charged by Keepers with the duty of protecting sacred sites all over world, especially from Searchers but also from anyone who might stumble across them accidentally. These sacred sites are supposed to be kept secret and are forbidden.

Ren, the HOT young ''Alpha Male'' of another pack, the Banes is the mate chosen for Calla since birth by the keepers. Things are all right in Calla's world until a young human hiker Shay steps in and accidentally discovers Calla's true identity that she is a wolf. She’s known about the mating for a while and has prepared for it. But Shay’s arrival complicates that, because now here is something new, mysterious, and forbidden. It’s not just the third side of love triangle that Shay offers. Shay has a mysterious background. Despite being human, he’s also the nephew of a Keeper. He has a cross tattoo on the back of his neck that he cannot see. Even though his “uncle” is a Keeper, Shay knew nothing of the supernatural world — or his uncle’s true nature. Surrounded by secrets and forbidden knowledge, Shay and Calla set out to find the truth about the world around them. As a result, their lives, and the lives of their loved ones will never be the same.

The only thing that irritated me is the ending. Though the novel ends with a positive note, it is very abrubpt and at a few instances the plot was easily predictable. Otherwise Nightshade is totally unputdownable and addictive. If you are a fan of YA paranormal genre of novels with a touch of romance, its really worthy finding a place in your bookshelf.

BLOOD-BOOK 1 OF MERCIAN TRILOGY BY K.J. WIGNALL

''I do not remember being bitten. I wish I did, for then I would know the creature who did this to me and I would have a purpose, to track him down and repay him for the poisoned gift he gave me.''  

 (MY RATINGS: 3.8/5)

The story starts with a nearly 800 yr old vampire, physically 16, Will, waking up in his grave for the second time. Will, who was destined to be the Earl of Mercia, although he never lived to inherit the title. After he feeds upon a man Jex, he realises things are not the same as before. Something sinister is lurking behind the corners for him. On the verge of death Jex tells him about an evil person and mentions a girl who needs him and he in turn needs her. Will also discovers a diary whose contents rings a bell in his mind. As the story progresses both of them fall in love with each other and together set out to find the man who turned Will into a vampire, uncovering various deeply well hidden secrets. Was it the same evil man who Jex mentioned before his death?


From the first page, Blood puts you in the centre of a modern Gothic story, starting during the horror of the witching-burning era, the story travelling back centuries rather than mere decades. Each page of this paranormal fantasy gave me a warning of some terrible approaching danger.The story sent chills up my spine as I read further. K. J. Wignall has more to offer than the usual vampire-human love story. Its a darker fare right from the first page, full of richer suspense, horror, action, adventure and a little romance. I did really enjoy this book and I thought that the pace was great. Blood is a teen fiction but soon it will cross over adult readers.  


Many thanks to Eggmont (USA) for sending me a copy of the book to review. Blood- Book 1 of Mercian Trilogy will hit the stores on 27 September 2011.

MyWorldOfBooks: BLOODLINES CHAPTER 1 FOR YOU

MyWorldOfBooks: BLOODLINES CHAPTER 1 FOR YOU

BLOODLINES CHAPTER 1 FOR YOU

GOOD NEWS FOR ALL VA FANS!!! You all can now read and download the chapter 1 of BLOODLINES by Richelle Mead by just clicking the link below. She has made the first chapter available online.

Bloodlines is the first book in the spin-off series of the Vampire Academy series. It follows the story of narrator Sydney Sage, the alchemist who helped Rose in BLOOD PROMISE, SPIRIT BOUND and LAST SACRIFICE. The book is ready to hit the stores on August 23, 2011. So guys click on the link right now to read the first chapter.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/60088608/Bloodlines-by-Richelle-Mead-Chapter-1

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer is the first of the four books of the series. Its the story of 17 year old girl Bella who moves into Forks, thereby joining Forks High School and eventually falls irrevocably in love with a 104 year old vampire and physically seventeen, Edward Cullen though they initially resented each other. When Edward saves Bella's life with his supernatural powers, she begins unearthing the truth about him with the help of her childhood friend, Jacob Black, a werewolf known to be a lifelong enemies of the vampires. They fall in love with each other and this book follows the difficulties in their relationship and the obstacles that they have to overcome; the main one being that Edward has to resist himself from eating Bella.

Its not only a simple young adult paranormal romance novel as it has more in store for its reader. I was really suprised that I like the vampire family, the Cullens so well. Unlike most of their kind, animal blood constituted the main appetite of the Cullens. Things start getting pretty complex and scary when another vampire clan visits the town and pose a threat to Bella's life. Its the major twists and turns which makes Twilight so special. Meyer makes the character come alive with the detailed description of each and every movements and their surroundings. I simply loved this book. To be honest, I got addicted. After starting to read, I really had to face great difficulties to put my book down even for a second. Its amazing. At some point, I developed a crush on the mersmerising and dazzling vampire Edward.

Mammoth book of Haunted House Stories

(MY RATINGS: 4.8/5)


Mammoth book of Haunted House Stories by Peter Haining is a collection of real life and fictional of haunted house stories by writers around the world. 


I was really terror stricken while reading some of the hardcore horror stories in this book. That is what horror stories do to you. I read many horror stories till date but mammoth book is the ultimate book where you will get all the greatest horror stories of all times in one place. This book has a wide variety of horror to offer you, ranging from lighter fare as just ghost sightings to darker fare as psychic phenomena and avenging spirits. The book has over 40 stories of horror. I was pretty in shock after reading the first chapter THE HAUNTED AND THE HAUNTERS. It is so scary that it gave me goosebumps.


Expanded with great new stories, this is the biggest and best anthology of ghostly hauntings ever. Over 40 tales of visitation by the undead—from vengeful and violent spirits, set on causing harm to innocent people tucked up in their homes, to rarer and more kindly ghosts, returning from the grave to reach out across the other side. Yet others entertain desires of a more sinister bent. This new edition includes a selection of favorite haunted house tales chosen by famous screen stars such as Boris Karloff, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. In addition, a top ranking list of contributors includes Stephen King, Bram Stoker, Ruth Rendell, and James Herbert—all brought together by an anthologist who himself lives in a haunted house.

Frostbite (Vampire Academy 2) by Richelle Mead

Frostbite is the second installation of the Vampire Academy series. It continues the story of Rose Hathaway, the dhamphir assigned as a guardian to the royal moroi and her best friend Lissa Dragomir, a mortal vampire. Rose continues her training as a guardian with her mentor Demitri Belikov,  both fighting to keep away their budding feelings for each other.

Its the book which let us have a clear picture of the terror of strigoi attacks. In this book, Rose comes face to face with a group of strigois and fight them to save her beloved from their clutches. Richelle Mead's blow by blow account of every move of the fight sequences makes the situation come so alive and living that you will feel as if you are witnessing the fight.

Its a terribly wonderful book, where another spirit user Adrian makes an entry into Lissa's and Rose world. Rose will discover the real world of strigoi outside the iron gates of St. Vladimir Academy.... the vampire training school. Its the time when Rose has to give a test for her guardian skills. It focuses a lot more on Rose’s relationship with her mother, her feelings towards the guys in her life, the gorgeous Dimitri and the lovely Mason, and some issues with herself about whether she’s changed or not. It’s a brilliant insight into Rose, where as the first book was more focused on her wanting to protect Lissa. It was great to see more of this Rose, vulnerable Rose, and to see her grow.

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy is a book on forbidden paranormal romance by Richelle Mead. Well many thanks to Richelle Mead for gifting us such a wonderful book full of suprising twist and turns.


Vampire Academy introduces us to the school of vampires as the name mentions. Training as guardian, the narrator and dhamphir Rose Hathaway is brought back behind its iron gates after running away with with her best friend and Moroi Lissa Dragomir, also a royal, last in her line. As the story unfolds we get a better insight into Rose and Lissa, who is also later revealed to be a spirit user, which sometimes drives Lissa into insanity. Rose is in dilemma when she falls in love with her mentor the handsome Demitri Belikov, another assigned dhamphir guardian of Lissa Dragomir. In the world of vampire academy, two guardians cannot be in a relationship because then it will distract them from guarding their Moroi. I was really turned on by the dilemma Rose was facing---- Lissa or Demitri? Whom will she chose??? Will she go after her love interest or she will be guarding Lissa from the dead vampires, Strigoi - one of the fiercest and most dangerous vampires of all. 

Vampire Academy is a love story at the end of the day with a massive twist but it is the twist that makes the story so intense and the characters so complex. I am completely in love with this book, swayed by self control of both Rose and Demitri. I would recommend this book to all young adult readers.