I'll be back in the new year!

Not that I expect many (if any) of you have missed me, you'll notice that I haven't posted here since the start of September due to various reasons which include school, masses of procrastination and just not having the time or desire to sit down and read a load of books. I've started two books since September and I haven't finished either of them yet.

So in January I'm hoping to be back to my old reading ways with regular updates and reviews posted, although saying that I've got exams in January so I don't expect I'll be around much then, but by January 17th I'll be free so who knows what will happen. I've got so many books to catch up on with so many new ones coming out soon (I haven't even bought Allegiant yet!)

I hope that you all have a lovely Christmas and a great new year, I'll see you all in 2014!

Insurgent - Veronica Roth

Synopsis: "Tris has survived a brutal attack on her former home and family. But she has paid a terrible price. Wracked by grief and guilt, she becomes ever more reckless as she struggles to accept her new future. Yet if Tris wants to uncover the truth about her world, she must be stronger than ever because more shocking choices and sacrifices lie ahead."

Following the disastrous events that unfolded at the climax of Divergent, sixteen-year-old Tris finds herself taking refuge in the Amity (the peaceful) compound after the residents of the Dauntless (the brave) compound were hijacked by the Erudite (the intelligent) via a chip that was inserted into their brains, in order to take control of the government controlling the world they live in. But things are far from over as Tris, a Divergent individual, finds herself in more danger than ever in a world that isn't what she thought it was and doesn't celebrate difference.

The story of Insurgent as a whole is fast-paced and action packed to read and even the slowest of chapters leave you on the edge of your seat, begging you to find out what happens next. The plot is addictive, adventurous and unrestrained and creates a truly remarkable sequel to Divergent.

Roth's telling of this riveting and complex world is so enjoyable to read as she begins to unravel the web she so tightly formed in this superb work of fiction. The themes of control, rebellion and capitalism become more poignant, the politics and power struggles are more fierce and the development of key characters and the world as a whole are simply fascinating and oh so very shocking to read.

However it goes without saying that the exploration of each of the five factions - Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Dauntless and Erudite - is what stands out most about this novel. Divergent saw a lot of exploration of Abnegation and Dauntless which lead to the remaining three factions to feel almost insignificant to the world Roth has so admirably created. However Insurgent spends a lot of time exploring the remaining three as well as The Factionless, creating a greater story for this futuristic Chicago. The exploration of these other factions also allowed Roth to explore and highlight a lot about Tobias'/Four's past and his family, which was something I felt the first book was missing.

Although a feisty character in Divergent, Tris becomes a lot stronger and determined to protect the few people she loves most in the world and isn't afraid to put her neck on the line and participate in scenes of brutal violence, becoming an all-round superb heroin. Saying that however I did find myself disliking her greatly at various points in the book as she just kept shutting Tobias/Four out and I don't understand characters that blatantly don't know what they're doing or can't handle the stress of keeping it all in, yet choose to do so.

Again, although on the rocks at times, the romance of Tris and Tobias/Four remains very much a pleasant side to the story, only coming to light now and again and when it's needed, as opposed to popping up in every possible moment. The novel is in no way defined by the romance and remains very much a background conflict.

Finally, the climax of the novel was truly fantastic. What is revealed is explosive and gives Roth so much to work with in the third and final book of the trilogy, Convergent, and gives me high hopes for it, especially as it suggests that we'll learn a lot about the world outside of the focal location, which promises to be a refreshing read as novels rarely do this.

I give Veronica Roth and Insurgent ★★★★★

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling

Synopsis: "It is Harry Potter's sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy. As Voldemort's sinister forces amass and a spirit of gloom and fear sweeps the land, it becomes more and more clear to Harry that he will soon have to confront his destiny. But is he up to the challenges ahead of him?"

Although Rowling's writing in the previous books of the series is skilful in telling the story of Harry Potter, it is within Half-Blood Prince that she begins to unravel the complex web she has created. The story as a whole becomes far more darker to read as it steps on the line between children and adult literature, yet continuing to make it just as enjoyable, suitable and magical to read for all ages.

The start of the novel has a much fresher start than those before it as it doesn't begin with Harry broadcasting his teenage angst over having to stay with the Dursley's over the summer. Instead Rowling uses the start of the book to branch out to other parts of the wizarding and muggle world, enlightening the reader of terrible events and frightening truths that do not relate to Harry. The first chapter is followed by an explosive second as we learn where Snape truly resides within the war on Voldemort and why Dumbledore had always turned him down for the sought after Defence Against the Dark Arts post. Together this highlights to the reader that there is more to the world of Harry Potter than just Harry himself.

Yet again Rowling manages to bring a great deal of character development to the story as we learn a lot about Salazar Slytherin's family tree, which ultimately branches out to Voldemort and his closest relatives in particular. The knowledge of who Voldemort's parents were, where he spent his childhood and how there was always an essence of darkness in him is very insightful and important to the story and it's fantastic to finally, after all this time, learn more about him.

Furthermore, there is finally knowledge of how Voldemort had survived all those years after being defeated by love, the one thing more powerful than any spell, hex or curse. This adds a lot of suspense to the story, as does the secret mission of which Draco Malfoy has been set by Voldemort, creating a gripping read despite the lack of action that occurs for the most part. There are clues and plot twists trailed throughout the story that creates a truly chilling read.

Ultimately the story becomes even more of a gripping and fast paced read at the explosive and emotional climax of the story, which is far more powerful than that of Goblet of Fire. Truths are revealed, disaster strikes and the wizarding world unites as one as they finally realise what they are up against once again.

Overall this novel is an exciting, dark and gripping story that begins to give answers to the questions we've all been dying to hear and creates a fantastic lead into the final book of the series.

I give J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter and the Half Blood-Prince ★★★★★

Divergent - Veronica Roth

She turns to face the future in a world that's falling apart. For sixteen-year-old Tris, the world changes in a heartbeat when she is forced to make a terrible choice. Turning her back on her family, Tris ventures out, alone, determined to find out where she truly belongs. Shocked by the brutality of her new life, Tris can trust no one. And yet she is drawn to a boy who seems to both threaten and protect her. The hardest choices may yet lie ahead..

Divergent is set in a futuristic Chicago where society is split into five factions, each of which uphold a particular virtue of humanity: Abnegation (the selfless), Amity (the peaceful), Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave) and Erudite (the intelligent). At sixteen years old, Tris Prior is faced with a choice that will either transform her or lead her to feel trapped in a part of society she believe she doesn't belong. However Tris soon finds out that discovering where she belongs is the least of her problems. She's Divergent, which means she doesn't fit into one particular faction and is therefore considered dangerous. So Tris, along with the mysterious and gorgeous Tobias (Four) Eaton, must do all she can to hide her true self in a world that doesn't celebrate difference.

Overall, the pacing of this novel is brilliant, the suspense and action is never tedious, the chapters are of a great and enjoyable length and you find yourself sucked in from the get go as Veronica Roth's portrayal of this world is so realistic and thought provoking.

On a large scale, Divergent is very much a reflection of how difficult it is for any person to feel like they belong and fit in. The protagonist, Tris Prior, feels as if she doesn't quite live up to anyone's expectations, least of all her selfless family. She's a very conflicted character who struggles to decipher where she belongs when she doesn't even fit into an area of society that she has remained in for the last sixteen years. As a result of this she's a very likeable character, particularly to teenagers, as it's easy to connect with and understand her struggles and the expectations she faces. Saying that however, she is also a very focused and relentless character who will fight for everything she believes in when challenged to do so, making her yet another excellent YA heroin.

The story is an enormous eye opener to the world we live in and how easily capitalism can take anything and everything away from us in the blink of an eye. The political struggle present in this story is easy to read and understand and presents the idea that a uniform mass can be controlled if they aren't allowed the freedom to think outside the box in which they have been contained, theoretically and literally as Chicago has been separated from the rest of the world for an unknown reason, creating a lot of suspense throughout the story.

Unsurprisingly to this dystopian, there is a romance. However the story is not once defined by said romance, nor is it in any way whatsoever part of a love triangle, which is what makes it so enjoyable to read alongside the other and much darker themes present in the story. Tris and Four's relationship is based on equality, mutual admiration and respect for the other's strengths and weaknesses, which are so admirably heightened when in the presence of each other.

The only aspect of this story that I found a little bit disappointing was the last chapter of the book. Although the build up to the climax is exceptionally tense and action packed, I felt as if the last chapter was too 'lived happily ever after as they rode into the sunset' for my liking. Of course, it isn't at all like that and leaves a fantastic lead into the next book, Insurgent, it's just how I felt when reading it because of what was happening in the chapters before; the story seemed to halt so suddenly.

Ultimately, this is a debut novel that leaves you breathless and begging for more from a world so different from any before it.

I give Veronica Roth and Divergent ★★★★★

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling

Synopsis: "Harry's furious that he has been abandoned at the Dursley's house for the summer, for he suspects that Voldemort is gathering an army, that he himself could be attacked, and that his so-called friends are keeping him in the dark. Finally rescued by the wizard bodyguards, he discovers that Dumbledore is regrouping the Order of the Phoenix - a secret society first formed years ago to fight Voldemort. But the Ministry of Magic is against the Order, lies are being spread by the wizards' tabloid the Daily Prophet, and Harry feels that he may have to take on this epic battle against evil alone."

It's fair to say that within the first three quarters of this book nothing all that exciting happens, other than the arrival of the Dementors at the start of the novel which at that point suggests the first sign of Voldemort's return to power. The general pace of the story is rather slow with the odd bit of humour here and there, unsurprisingly provided by the Weasley twins, and an insight into what Voldemort is planning and what he's after, which Harry sees through his dreams when his brain is most relaxed and unprotected.

So once again the story of Harry Potter kicks off during yet another lonely and depressing stay with the Dursley's for the summer holidays. Following the return of Lord Voldemort at the end of Goblet of Fire, Harry becomes more wary of his surroundings and agitated by the fact that he has heard nothing from anyone within the wizarding world, including his two best friends Hermoine and Ron. As a result of this I found myself become rather agitated myself by Harry as all he seems to do at first is whine and complain and not consider the possibility that maybe people are trying their best to protect him by keeping him in the dark until the right moment.

As a matter of fact Harry becomes rather unlikeable through the entire course of the story. He develops into an arrogant character full of so much teenage angst because of the things he's achieved since entering the wizarding world. He doesn't shy away from reminding himself, and more surprisingly others, of what he's achieved and how he should be rewarded by simple things such as becoming prefect and knowing more than he should about the Order and their educated guesses at what Voldemort's planning. Saying that however, when others remind him of what he's achieved, as Hermoine and Ron do when persuading him to set up a secretive Defence Against the Dark Arts club, he finds himself being brought back down to reality as he states the things he's achieved were mainly down to sheer dumb luck or assistance from others. As a reader you can sympathise with his frustration through all of this but at the same time grow tired of him acting so hard done by.

It's clear however that the strongest part of this novel is Rowling's continuation of using a blend of dark and light themes to create a story that continues to portray the beauty of the wizarding world but also the dangers of it. Furthermore, she concentrates a lot on developing characters that have remained prominent throughout the series so far but haven't had much in the way of their own story. Professor McGonagall for example becomes one of my all time favourite literary characters in this book because she becomes so enjoyable to read. You get a real sense of her protective and loving side for Potter but also a hilarious and incredibly sassy side when dealing with Dolores Umbridge.

And, finally, there's the matter of the conclusion of the story. There's no denying that the lead up to the appearance of Voldemort in the Ministry of Magic is fast paced and action packed, but when Voldemort actually made an appearance I found myself rather let down. I just felt as if that part of the conclusion was rather anti-climatic and too short. A lot of the story focuses on people believing that Voldemort has returned and then when they finally realise he has nothing much happens. Saying that however it was thrilling to read about the prophecy of Voldemort and Harry and finally learning why he tried to kill him as a baby.

There's no denying that this is my least favourite book of the series, but overall the story is just as magical and thought provoking as the latter with a strong storyline that, unfortunately, doesn't have a lot going on with just a few little surprises here and there.

I give J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ★★★

Reading an unfamiliar genre

In the post today I received my prize from youngwriters.co.uk after I won July's book review competition, having submitted a review of Undone by Cat Clarke. I wasn't aware of what book or even what genre I would be receiving so I was really looking forward to seeing what arrived. Upon opening the parcel I discovered a copy of The Cabinet of Curiosities by Paul Doswell, a novel that, up until that moment, I had not heard of.

According to the blurb, the novel follows the story of of a boy called Lukas who has been summoned to Prague (in the year 1598) and apprenticed to work for the reclusive Emperor Rudolph II. The emperor collects wonders from around the world which he keeps in four incredible rooms, his Cabinet of Curiosities. But not everyone appreciates his eccentricity, and when a group of diplomats arrive, sent by the King of Spain, Lukas senses danger. If he is to protect the great Bohemian city from tyranny, Lukas must quickly learn the true meaning of trust, honour and friendship.

So in case you hadn't guessed, the novel is of historical fiction - a genre I am very unfamiliar with as I am yet to recall ever picking up a book of the sort. This is due to the fact that the genre in no way interests me. I wish I could give you a valid reason for that but I can't, it's just not my cup of tea. However when I found this book in my parcel I was rather excited by the prospect of reading something that 1) I had never heard of and 2) was of a genre I had very much avoided.

I mean it's something different isn't it and the point I'm trying to make is that I think it's important for us to try something different now and again to shake things up a bit. Yes, okay, reading a book of a different genre is nothing exciting to most but if I find myself liking this novel then it could open up a whole new genre for me to enjoy and fall all too in love with. And if I dislike it then at least I can say I've tried something different.

There's just so many books of the same nature around nowadays that I think branching out of a reading genre that you're comfortable with such as fantasy, crime or even something like YA literature as a whole, is important. There's no point in avoiding something because you assume you won't like it without having even tried it. It's like my mother always says, don't knock it until you've tried it.

The Host - Stephenie Meyer

Synopsis: "The Earth has been invaded by a species that takes over the minds of their human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed. Wanderer, the invading 'Soul' who has been given Melanie's body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the too-vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind. Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of the man Melanie loves - Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer yearns for a man she's never met. As outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off to search for the man they both love."

The Host follows the story of Wanderer as she tries to adapt to and survive in a world far different than the worlds she's previously inhabited as a Soul. With the initial expectant to spend more time on this world than her previous ones, Wanderer's hopes are soon dashed as she discovers she's been placed into a Host, Melanie, who is reluctant to let go. Scared of how things will turn out Wanderer tries to find a way to relinquish Melanie but soon finds herself being emotionally blackmailed by Melanie's memories which feel all too real to Wanderer. With her memories in tow and her ambition to fight against Wanderer, Melanie soon finds herself having to work with and befriend Wanderer to get what they both truly want - freedom and love.

I found the start of this novel very confusing to read and difficult to understand as the story jumps straight to the moment in which 'Wanderer' in her Soul form is inserted in to Melanie's body. As a result of this I was completely unfamiliar to the words and processes used, again adding to the level of confusion, which lead me to having to reread the first two chapters twice over. As the novel dives straight into the story, the events leading up to Melanie's capture and the implantation of Wanderer are told through flashbacks that Melanie shows her.

Due to the confusing and somewhat uneventful first few chapters, I feel as if the story should have been told in chronological order. It is the flashbacks which Melanie forces Wanderer to see throughout the story, which might I add are a nice way to build on Melanie's character development and create a greater understanding of what the world was like as the Soul invasion began, that are why I felt as if the lead-up to her capture should have been told in chronological order.

Overall the events of the story are enjoyable to read but there is an up and down movement of action packed scenes to a bleak few chapters inbetween. Saying that however, what I particularly enjoy about this novel is the uniqueness of it. It's very much something someone hasn't done before and that makes it all that more appealing. Not to the mention that the second half of the novel is far more fast paced and eventful than the latter.

As another romance novel from Meyer it's inevitable for it to draw comparisons with that of the Twilight Saga. Fortunately for this story the romance is far more bearable to read despite being a love square between Melanie, her boyfriend Jared, Wanderer's love for Jared and her romantic interest in another man named Ian. There's no love at first sight or the incapability to survive without their loves, thus making the female characters of this story far stronger than that of Bella. There's plenty more going on that doesn't involve passionate kissing, the urge to have sex every five minutes and sparkly vampires.

Overall this novel is an up and down journey of enjoyment and displeasure for the reader with a love story that redeems Meyer as a writer and provides a satisfying ending that gives way to a much needed sequel.

I give Stephenie Meyer and The Host ★★★

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling

Synopsis: "When the Quidditch World Cup is disrupted by Voldemort's rampaging supporters and the resurrection of the terrifying Dark Mark, it is obvious to Harry that, far from weakening, Voldemort is getting stronger. The ultimate signal to the magic world of the Dark Lord's return would be the defeat of his one and only survivor, Harry Potter. So when Harry is entered for the prestigious yet dangerous Triwizard Tournament he knows that rather than win it, he must get through the tasks alive."

There isn't a single dull page from Harry, Ron and Hermoine's fourth year at Hogwarts, with a captivating and action packed start and explosive and heart-stopping climax, this book has a truly frazzling plot with a pace more impressive than ever.

The Goblet of Fire really showcases Rowling at the height of her writing talent and her ability to captivate even the most abstruse of minds. It is in this book that Rowling takes a firm grip of her voice as she delves into a story far darker than the previous three books in the series, but in a way that can still be enjoyed by even her youngest of readers and that is why it is my favourite book of the series.

The darker themes present in this story such as death and hatred become representative of the darker times ahead for Harry and the remainder of the wizarding world, giving the reader a feel of what the final three books of the series will endow. Rowling's idea of creating the Triwizard Tournament to add something new to the already magical and wonderful world she has created is something I truly relished. It gave a broader aspect of the wizarding world, particularly of wizards and other supernatural beings outside of Britain and something refreshing to read as the events that unfold aren't primarily focused within or around Hogwarts.

Unsurprisingly the friendship of the golden trio continues to flourish in this story but without a few bumps along the way. Up until this point Harry, Ron and Hermoine's friendship has been almost unbreakable but Rowling shows in The Goblet of Fire that even the strongest of bonds can sometimes be broken even if it is for a little while and that is what brings such a strong sense of realism to the book.

Finally, it goes without saying that the attention to detail in this story is fantastic. It is obvious that Rowling really concentrated on adding a lot of background information to new characters and the plot in general, leaving next to nothing unanswered. Even the littlest of details that are considered insignificant at the start of the book become vital to the story thus bringing everything in the focus.

Conclusively this novel is far more darker, exciting and thought provoking than the previous three books and stands as a good lead to the final three in the series.

I give J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ★★★★★

The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky

Synopsis: "Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it, Charlie is attempting to navigate through the uncharted territory of high school. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and music - when all one requires to feel infinite is that perfect song on that perfect drive. Standing on the fringes of life Charlie has a unique perspective of the world around him, but there comes a time to stop being a wallflower and see what it looks like from the dance floor."

The Perks of Being a Wallflower follows the story of a timid, reclusive yet intelligent 15-year-old boy called Charlie who is about to start his freshman year at high school. Following the suicide of his best friend, Charlie goes into his freshman year friendless and alone, that is until he finds an unexpected friendship with his English teacher, Mr Anderson, and two seniors, Sam and Patrick. His connection with Sam and Patrick in particular leads to a roller coaster ride of friendship, drugs, sexual experimentation and the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Despite this however Charlie has a dark past that he repressed following the death of his aunt and soon finds the memories catching up with him.

It's great to find a story that breaks the boundaries of teenagers today, particularly of the female population, who are often stereotypically perceived to face issues such as mental instability, sexual harassment and the desire to inflict harm upon one's self, whereas males aren't. However the protagonist of this novel is a teenage boy named Charlie who faces those exact problems and it's simply refreshing to come across an author who understands the importance of scrutinising stigmas and educating people on the 'less common' obstacles that anyone can face.

The novel is written in the style of a series of letters from Charlie to an anonymous receiver and works well with the story as it brings a great sense emotion and intimacy, allowing the reader to feel as if Charlie is personally addressing them throughout the story. Charlie's letters range from deeply affectionate to hilarious to saddening and as a result the novel becomes a unique and alternative read that flows through a manner of emotions.

Despite being written in first person there is a fantastic development of both important and minor characters thus allowing the reader to build a connection with all of them and the story as a whole. Each character faces their own obstacles, displaying a different aspect of growing up, making this a modern classic that appeals to readers of all ages despite being a coming-of-age story.

Chbosky's portrayal of Charlie, Sam and Patrick's friendship in particular is so heartwarming to read. All three characters are perceived as misfits by their school peers yet they don't allow the views of others to effect their friendship, what they enjoy and most importantly themselves. The three teens become an inseparable trio who stick by and support each other in times of bullying, arguments, indecisive futures and emotional and mental breakdowns.

Furthermore, the way in which Chbosky deals with the themes present in this story is rather fascinating and awe-inspiring as a mixture of dark and light themes such as drugs, alcohol, love, passivity, friendship and abuse are used throughout, but in a manner that is mature yet easily understood and appreciated by younger readers; Chbosky doesn't glorify any of the themes used, he simply gives an accurate portrayal of them all and that is very rare to find in a story.

Overall this is an incredibly eye opening, fun, wistful, hilarious and joyous read that addresses a realistic coming-of-age story.

I give Stephen Chbosky and The Perks of Being a Wallflower ★★★★★

Weekend Reads #6

By now you will have all noticed that I'm very much into my Harry Potter reread. When I first started I expected to get through a book a week seeing as I've reread the series so many times, but surprisingly enough I've found myself whizzing through it and loving it as much as the first time I read it. So my original plan to take a little reread break and read something different has changed because I'm enjoying myself so much.

So to kick-start the weekend I'm going to be finishing off my read of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It's my favourite of the series and I'm already half way through, so I should have it completed by Saturday night (he says optimistically).

Then once I've finished with that I'll be moving onto Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix. Unfortunately this is my least favourite of the series so it'll probably take me a good few days to get through it but I'm determined to get it done.

Be sure to let me know in the comments section what you'll be reading this weekend!

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling

Synopsis: "Harry Potter is lucky to reach the age of thirteen, since he has already survived the murderous attacks of the feared Dark Lord on more than one occasion. But his hopes for a quiet term concentrating on Quidditch are dashed when a maniacal mass-murderer escapes from Azkaban, pursued by the soul-sucking Dementors who guard the prison. It's assumed that Hogwarts is the safest place for Harry to be. But is it a coincidence that he can feel eyes watching him in the dark, and should he be taking Professor Trelawney's ghoulish predictions seriously?"

It's very rare for an author to spawn books in a series that continue to outshine the latter books, but in a positive light. Rowling however manages to accomplish that successfully and is therefore understandable why The Prisoner of Azkaban is considered by many the favourite book of the series.

Overall the story is so well and cleverly constructed constructed on Rowling's behalf. The events that unfold are incredibly thought provoking, allowing this story to be far more advanced than that of The Philosopher's Stone and The Chamber of Secrets. Despite this however, Rowling's writing style doesn't alter and is therefore just as descriptive, hilarious and momentous to read.

What particularly stands out about this novel is the pacing. Everything from the Quidditch matches, to sightings of Sirius Black, to Harry and Hermoine's race to save innocent lives, are all so gripping that you become rather anxious when reading. You're constantly left on the edge of your seat with the need to keep turning the pages and not put the book down until you've completed it, leaving you with a massive sense of accomplishment once you have done so.

It's clear that this novel is also the most touching read of the series so far. Although at times incredibly emotional and therefore difficult to read, I found Rowling's addition of Harry hearing his parents' final moments before their death, when coming in to contact with Dementors, vital to the development of his character. As Harry has gone so long without his parents it's easy for him to almost forget where he came from and the sacrifice his parents made, so reminding him of their final moments gives him the strength he needs to soldier on and be the best that he can possibly be in all that he does - this is beautifully expressed by Rowling's increased use of emotive language throughout the novel.

Fortunately Rowling also brings a greater sense of realism to the story that is apparent in the latter two books but not as strong as it is in this one. This is particularly highlighted via Harry, Ron and Hermione as they step into their teenage years and come face to face with real teenage problems such as time management, stress, crushes, test of friendship and loyalty. This allows young readers in particular to grow a greater connection with the characters as they understand first hand what they are going through.

And, finally, Rowling does another fantastic job in regards to character development, particularly of Professor Snape, James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. As Lupin and Black are particularly important to the story it's great that Rowling found the opportunity to enlighten the reader of their past and find answers to questions that linger throughout the novel without having to wait until the next installment(s) to find the answers.

Ultimately, this novel is incredibly gripping and thought provoking and is a fresh and more advanced addition to the world of Harry Potter, and presents a much darker side to the world of magic we all know and love.

I give J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ★★★★★

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling

Synopsis: "Harry Potter is a wizard. He is in his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Little does he know that this year will be just as eventful as the last, even getting there is an adventure in itself! The three firm friends, Harry, Ron and Hermoine, are soon immersed in the daily round of Potions, Herbology, Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts and Quidditch. But then horrible and mysterious things begin to happen. Harry keeps hearing strange voices, sinister and dark messages appear on the wall, and then Ron's sister Ginny disappears.."

I love The Chamber of Secrets as much as The Philosopher's Stone, if not more. It's common for an author to write an astonishing first book in a series and then start to slip as the series progresses - that however isn't the case with Rowling as her writing and her stories continue to become far more enjoyable and magical.

Regardless of how much you love a story, if there is a massive wait between the book you just put down and it's sequel it is easy to forget parts of the story and therefore the sequel can at times become difficult to understand. Rowling however successfully manages to retell the events of The Philosopher's Stone in a manner that is just as exciting to read as the first time round at key points throughout this novel, in order to refresh your memory and remind you of important occurrences to assist you in understanding the world of Harry Potter on a much larger scale.

Thankfully Rowling continues to tell the story of Harry Potter, his friends and Hogwarts in a manner that continues to be humorous, imaginative and momentous. She carries out great development of the protagonist, Harry, and his friends Ron and Hermoine as well as new characters to the story, such as Gilderoy Lockhart, in a way that makes you either fall irrevocably in love or unctrollably loathsome of a character. What I particularly loved about this was the development of Harry, Ron and Hermoine's friendship. At the conclusion of their first year they had been through so much together that a tightly knit bond was created between the three of them that was so heart warming to read - they would all either stand together or not at all, and that wasn't absent in this novel.

I also found the story in this book far more thought provoking than The Philosopher's Stone. There was so much more happening in The Chamber of Secrets that you were always left on the edge of your seat wondering what on earth could possibly happen next and each time you're taken aback by Rowling's creativity and originality. Yet again the conclusion of this book comes down to Voldemort, but as a 16-year-old memory, and that's quite possibly my favourite part of the book. Rowling could have easily taken a more predictable route, yet she opted for a plot twist that I did not see coming the first time I read it.

The only negatives I have about this story is not the lack of action but the lack of duration. Although the action sequences leave you wanting more and are fast paced, I feel as if they are over and done with far too quickly. Rowling has a wonderful descriptive technique which I feel she could have taken advantage of, which is why I prefer the action sequences in the film far more than the book.

Nevertheless, this novel is just as magical, courageous, mysterious and wonderful as the latter.

I give J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ★★★★★

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Synopsis: "The Great Gatsby lives in a luxurious Long Island mansion, playing lavish host to hundreds of people, and yet no-one seems to know him or how he became so rich. He is rumoured to be everything from a German spy to a war hero. Jay Gatsby doesn't need them. He cares for one person alone - Daisy Buchanan, the woman he was waited for all his life. Little does he know how his infatuation will end.."

I think it's safe to say that The Great Gatbsy was a classic that was doomed from the start for me as I was forced to read it as part of my AS English Literature course. Although I'm an avid reader, I'm genuinely not fond of being forced to read. I much prefer to read a book of my own choice, and in my own time as opposed to having one thrust upon me with the expectancy to read it as quickly as possible without much thought or thoroughness.

What particularly bugged me about this novel is the fact that it was narrated by Nick Carraway, who is Daisy's cousin. While it was at times interesting to get an outsider's perspective on life in the 1920s, I found it annoying when trying to connect with the other characters because I felt as if Fitzgerald concentrated on developing Nick over the others, suggesting he is the protagonist of the story when in reality it's actually Gatsby.

Although I understand that it is a short book and therefore there isn't necessarily enough room for detail, I thought so many aspects of this story lacked depth and emotion, such as the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy. There was so much opportunity for Fitzgerald to do something wonderful and loving with it but instead I found myself reading a relationship that appeared nothing more than a page-filler.

Furthermore, I just found the characters of the novel as a whole tiresome and pathetic to read. Never have I loathed a character more than Daisy Buchanan. I found her shallow, dim witted and down right oblivious to the world around her. Daisy initially left Gatsby because he didn't have any money whereas her fiance, Tom Buchanan, did. Then when Gatsby returned with his lavish parties, stunning manor house and expensive clothes she went running back to him, only to then return to Tom again once she lost Gatsby for the final time. I despised her for that and wanted nothing more than for her character to meet a painful ending, that however didn't happen. Also, in some aspects, Gatsby bothered as I perceived him as a somewhat childish character. In the lead up to reuniting with Daisy and trying to get her attention I felt as if I was reading a romance between two 7-year-old's in a school playground where they had to get their friends running back and forth between the two to see how they felt about each other.

Conclusively, I found the overall story lacked empathy and thought and found myself struggling to connect with it. I did however enjoy Fitzgerald's descriptive techniques and ability to make you imagine a scene as clear as a picture.

I give F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Great Gatsby ★★

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J.K. Rowling

Synopsis: When a letter arrives for unhappy but ordinary Harry Potter, a decade-old secret is revealed to him. His parents were wizards, killed by a Dark Lord's curse when Harry was just a baby, and which he somehow survived. Escaping from his unbearable Muggle guardians to Hogwarts, a wizarding school brimming with ghosts and enchantments, Harry stumbles into a sinister adventure when he finds a three-headed dog guarding a room on the third floor. Then he hears of a missing stone with astonishing powers which can be valuable, dangerous, or both."

Although coming across a book you've never read can be a wonderful experience, I think there's nothing more important than rereading some of your favourite books, particularly if they are ones that you have grown up with, such as the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.

Despite having read The Philosopher's Stone many times already I was still captivated and amazed by the magical world of Hogwarts. Rowling's writing style is so alluring as she uses classic narrative devices with flair and originality. She also displays a great level of descriptiion of everything and everyone, but in a way that doesn't become tiresome to read. The character development in this novel is fantastic and even the smaller characters have a description and a back story to them. This brought a great sense of realism to the story as it allowed me to grow a connection with them as well as the protagonists.

I was particularly fond of how Harry grew as a character throughout this novel. He had a very lonely and unhappy decade with the Dursley's which caused him to be a very secluded character and although it gave me a great sense of sympathy for him, I was happy that that was the upbringing he had as opposed to the one he would have had if he stayed in the wizarding world - being famous before he could walk and talk would have resulted in him growing a lot like Malfoy. Despite his upbringing however he was humble but quickly became used to being hated and alone, but once he arrived at Hogwarts he had a greater sense of home. This allowed him to grow into a stronger character who would do anything to protect the people he loved and stand up for what he believed in, even if some of the choices he made were rather foolish.

One of the best things about this story is the pacing. Although the novel has a somewhat slow start, it was really intriguing to read. Not much in terms of excitement happens until Hagrid turns up in the novel but up until that point it was still an enjoyable read, despite being rather slow paced. I loved how Rowling threw in a bit of adventure and action here and there throughout the novel to add excitement and to build up to the conclusion of Harry, Ron and Hermoine going after the Philosopher's Stone. Everything from the moment they came across Fluffy for the second time is fast paced and keeps you on the edge of your seat and I believe the way in which Voldermort's character was brought into the story at the conclusion was impressive on Rowling's behalf.

Overall this novel takes you on a magical and wonderful journey of self discovery, friendship, courage, the supernatural and binary opposition.

I give J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone ★★★★★

Reliving Harry Potter

It's safe to say that Harry Potter was a massive part of many people's childhood, including mine. Just the excitement of picking up the next book in the series and locking myself in my room for two days to finish it is something I'll never forget and I hope it continues to play a massive part in the live's of generations to come as well.

However, despite being loved worldwide, I feel as if not enough people talk about and celebrate Harry Potter any more (whether it be through the books or the movies) and it's a real shame because if it wasn't for Rowling, Harry and his friends and Hogwarts I probably wouldn't be as invested in reading as I am today.

So, as a result of this, I've decided to set myself the challenge of rereading all seven Harry Potter books over the remainder of the summer holidays and post reviews on them. Although I know enough from my memory to review them without having to read them again, I sort of feel as if I'm obliged to because they've been such a massive part of my life and it's kind of exciting to get back into the series and fall in love with it all over again.

Be sure to let me know in the comments section what your favourite Harry Potter book is and how many times you've read the series!

Dare You To - Katie McGarry

Synopsis: Beth is the bad girl that no one wanted, not even her parents. Ryan is the high school hero that everyone wants a piece of, even if no one knows the real him. If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's mum they'd send her mother to jail, so seventeen year-old Beth protects her at all costs. Ryan Stone is gorgeous, a popular jock and the town golden boy with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even his friends. Their paths should never have crossed but now they're each other's only life line.

Dare You To is the heart-warming novel by Katie McGarry about two teens, Beth Risk and Ryan Stone, from two very different lives. Beth has spent her life floating from home to home, unwanted and unloved by those she thought she could trust and Ryan has struggled to live up to his parent's expectations and their demands to have him live his life the way they see fit. The two find themselves unexpectedly thrown together by Beth's uncle and soon discover that there's more to each other than they initially thought.

Much like her previous work, Pushing the Limits, this novel is beautiful, mysterious and heartbreaking to read. McGarry has such a compelling and delicate writing style that holds so much emotion and she has a way of making you feel so strongly about each of her characters that there is no in between about them; you either love them or you hate them.

You can't help but sympathise with and admire Beth. Despite everything she's been through with everyone she thought she could trust running out on her and having to deal with an alcoholic mother with an abusive boyfriend, she remains such a determined and strong character. At times you want to hit her for being so judgmental and always seeing the bad in people, but then you just want to comfort her for keeping it together and always fighting for what she believes in regardless of how many times she get hurts.

Ryan on the other hand is a little more difficult to sympathise with because despite a few things he's not sure about in regards to his future and where he stands with his relationship with his family, he more or less has everything together. Fortunately McGarry uses his character to break the boundaries and show what a terrible judge of character we can all be and how easy it is to wrongly stereotype someone because of past experiences or your general thoughts about them without actually knowing anything of the person or what they've faced.

The way in which Beth and Ryan's relationship builds is really tantalising to read despite being a little cliché. When they first meet they got off to a particularly defective start but after Beth's uncle reintroduces them to each other they begin to notice an attraction and connection with each other, both of which initially believe the opposite person doesn't feel, so they avert their feelings for a while. But even when they do begin to express their feelings there's always something that gets in their way, thus causing emotional confusion for both characters and a slightly frustrating relationship.

Despite being dual narrated by Beth and Ryan, a lot of the novel refers back to Beth's past and the strong narrative enigma that flows throughout the story; what happened to Beth's father and what is her mother hiding from everyone in her bedroom? McGarry does an admirable job of building up the tension of the story throughout the novel to the penultimate revealing of both questions and keeps you guessing about what could possibly be going on. Although not as terrifying and astonishing to discover as Echo's story in Pushing the Limits, Beth's life is really interesting to learn more about and highlights the fact that just because you don't have it as bad as another person does not mean you shouldn't be any less dejected by the matter.

Admirably, Dare You To is a novel about love, loss, trust and betrayal between two teenagers and their relationship which began with a dare and became an attraction they can't resist.

I give Katie McGarry and Dare You To ★★★★★

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner - Stephenie Meyer

Synopsis: "Bree Tanner can barely remember life before she had uncannily powerful sense, superhuman reflexes and unstoppable physical strength; life before she had a relentless thirst for blood.. life before she became a vampire. All Bree knows is that living with her fellow newborns has few certainties and even fewer rules: watch your back, don't draw attention to yourself and, above all, make it home by sunrise or die. What she doesn't know is her time is running out."

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer follows the 'short second life' of Bree Tanner as she tries to come to terms with her transition from ordinary girl to a being of the supernatural world as a vampire. Her life as a vampire starts to look up from her old life, which was full of disappointment and despair, until a battle with a coven called The Cullens changes everything.

I'm not going to be one of those people that says the Twilight Saga is awful because at the time of reading it I thoroughly enjoyed it and it empowered me to read more books, but at the same time I don't love it. However when you compare this novella to the remainder of the Saga its clear which comes out on top, and that's this novella.

Like most novellas this one isn't crucial to the story it originates from, the Twilight Saga, and therefore isn't one that has to be read in order to understand the events of any of the books. It is however a story that provides a lot of insight to the supernatural world outside the town of Forks.

I fell in love with Bree's character instantly in this novella. She was just an ordinary girl from a difficult and troubled background who was thrust into a world of the supernatural, lies, heartbreak and eventually death. What was really compelling about her is that she just seemed so natural and real to read and wasn't at all superficial, unlike many of the characters from the remainder of the Saga.

Thankfully Meyer's writing style becomes more mature and pleasurable to read in this story and I think that's because it's more of a survival story as opposed to a love story. Although Bree does find love, Meyer focuses on Bree's struggles in understanding her new world and surviving for as long as she can.

Obviously the relationship between Bree, and her love interest Diego, is going to draw comparisons to that of Bella and Edward and fortunately for this story Bree and Diego come out on top. When Bree loses Diego she's heartbroken, of course, but her world doesn't fall apart around her, unlike Bella's. In fact Bella's world does more than fall apart, she falls apart too. She becomes weak, pathetic even, in the fact that she can't live without the man she loves. Bree however doesn't allow herself to be defined by a man or her relationships and that's why she's such a strong and lovable character - despite everything she's been through she doesn't stop in her attempts to break free of Riley's power and become the independent vampire she knows she can be.

It's a shame really that the novella was so short because the story had so much more potential and I just wish Meyer had allowed her to become a part of the Cullen clan.

I give Stephenie Meyer and The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner ★★★★

Crossing the Line - Katie McGarry

Synopsis: "Lila McCormick first met Lincoln Turner when tragedy struck both their lives.

But she never expected their surprise encounter would lead to two years of exchanging letters - or that she'd fall for the boy she's only seen once. Their relationship is a secret, but Lila feels closer to Lincoln than anyone else. Until she finds out that he lied to her about the one thing she depended on him for the most."

Crossing the Line by Katie McGarry follows the story of Lila McCormick, best friend of Echo Emerson from Pushing the Limits, and her relationship with Lincoln Turner whom she met at the funeral of Echo's brother. The two have an unexpected connection and grow closer as they regularly write to each other in an attempt to forget that they live 12 hours from each other. But their relationship soon takes a sharp turn as Lila questions whether she can trust the boy she thought she knew.

This novella is a short and sweet read but isn't really much more than that, which really disappointed me as I'm such a massive fan of McGarry as she has the ability to make you feel so engrossed by a character and has a beautiful and unique writing style.

Saying that however I was immensely irritated by Lila in this novella, which is a shame because she was a really likable character in Pushing the Limits. I feel as if she was portrayed rather pathetic and childish manner - I was reading about a grown girl who couldn't hack a night by herself and gets angry and hurt over the most ridiculous of things. It was understandable that she was hurt by Lincoln lying to her but I was expecting something really explosive and gripping, instead it turned out to be nothing more than a silly teenage drama.

I was also frustrated by how short this novella was. Yes, novellas are meant to short, but I feel as if McGarry could have stretched to at least 100 pages so I could get more insight into what happens with their long distant relationship and whether Lincoln succeeded in Summer school to join Lila at the University of Florida.

Fortunately though McGarry seems to have mastered a style that many authors have failed at by introducing new characters and minor characters from Pushing the Limits in a way that refreshes your mind about who is who. I went into this novella having forgotten who Lila was but the way in which McGarry explained the first time she met Lincoln is just one example of how she cleverly refreshed my mind on who was who from the previous book, allowing me to understand any references made.

It was also nice to see how this novella links with the previous story, and future stories, with some references to Echo and Noah.

I give Katie McGarry and Crossing the Lines ★★★

Weekend Reads #5

The book I set to start reading last weekend was Undone by Cat Clarke and it was a truly phenomenal read. I can't even begin to describe just how much I loved it. I'm in the position where I wish I could unread it and forget about everything that happens just so I can enjoy it all over again.

So this weekend I've decided that I'm finally going to continue with Katie McGarry's novels (all of which are part of a YA romance series) and kick-start the weekend with her novella, Crossing the Line, which comes after her debut novel, Pushing the Limits.

I adored Pushing the Limits because it's such a raw, beautiful and real novel, not to mention it finally gave me hope for the romance genre, so I have high hopes for all of her novels. Fortunately Crossing the Line is only available in ebook format and as a result it's available for free on the Amazon store.

As it is most likely to be a really short read, I also plan to read Dare You To which is also by Katie McGarry. I was so excited for this book to come out but I held off for a while because it was so expensive, that is until last week when it was available for just 99p for the day - it's hard to believe that I used to despise Kindles because without one I'd be pretty lost.

Be sure to let me know what you plan to read this weekend in the comments section below!

Undone - Cat Clarke

Synopsis: Jem Halliday is in love with her gay best friend. Not exactly ideal, but she's learning to live with it. Then the unspeakable happens. Kai is outed online, and he kills himself. Jem knows nothing she can say or do will bring him back. But she wants to know who was responsible. And she wants to take them down.."

Before I go into this review I just want to apologise for how excessively long it's going to be, I just have so much (spoiler free) stuff to say.

Undone by Cat Clarke follows the story of Jem Halliday as she tries to come to terms with the sudden death of her best friend, Kai. Sadly, following a video published online outing Kai as gay, he commits suicide. As Jem's only and best friend she is distraught and contemplates joining Kai, until she discovers how vital it is for her to find out who is responsible for outing him so she can take them down.

At the start of this novel Kai is already dead and as a result we get to know him through Jem's telling of the past from the moment they met to the very last time she sees him. What I particularly loved about this approach is that even in the present day it didn't feel like Kai was dead because he remained such a massive part and key character of the story. I was able to remain connected with him and grow a greater understanding of why he committed suicide and the things he wanted in life for both himself and Jem, through letters he wrote for her before committing suicide. I found it such a refreshing element of the book as other novels I've read with a deceased primary character, such as Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, I've found it difficult to relate to and connect with the character. Typically the fact that the character is dead remains conscious in your mind, this however isn't the case with Kai.

I had mixed feelings about Jem. At one point I had so much sympathy for her and imagined how awful and depressed I would be if I was in her shoes, then at other points I found myself disliking her for becoming the very embodiment of the kind of people she despised and forgetting where she came from and what she set out to do. That however was okay because she wasn't the kind of protagonist that you have to develop a strong liking for because there is so much going on with the other characters that they all feel just as important.

Clarke really captured what school life is like for teenagers in the UK without taking a superficial and somewhat stereotypical approach, much like you see in American novels and TV shows. It's simply a case of unpopular kids, the inbetweens and the popular ones. But what was really interesting about the popular kids is that Jem comes to notice that people outside of their bubble don't really pay much attention to them, other than her, which is kind of funny because it raises the argument of are 'popular' kids in schools actually popular and considered so by their peers or is it simply a case of them making everyone assume, or assuming themselves, that they are?

In light of their popularity Clarke presents them as these shallow, perfect and attractive characters on the outside and then these fragile, caring and shelled characters on the inside and I loved that because at the end of the day they're human like everybody else - just because someone appears to have a near perfect life doesn't necessarily mean they do. They all have their insecurities, their flaws and things they're not proud of just like everybody else and it's great that Clarke captured that because you often find that YA characters are too perfect to be real and that can make it extremely difficult to connect with them - how are you supposed to love or hate a character that you don't consider possible in the real world?

I'd say that the only element this novel was slightly lacking was greater discussion of sexuality. Although it's discussed occasionally in Kai's letters and mentioned a couple of times by Jem, I felt that as the story is dominated by Jem's grief and her progression to getting revenge because Kai killed himself after being outed, that there should have been more about sexual orientation present in the book.

Finally, I want to talk about how gripping and insane the ending was; I just didn't see any of it coming. It was just so intense and tragic from the party in the woods onward. Everything that happened was such a massive surprise, there was no predictability to any of it and I found it so thought provoking and beautifully written and that's when I came to realise just how much I adore Clarke's writing style. There's a part of me that wishes there was a second book, even if it was simply a short novella, that picks up from the ending of this book and told from the point of view of a different character so I can find out what happens to all of the other characters. But at the same time I'm also so pleased that it's a stand alone book.

Ultimately, this is a passionate and gripping YA novel about love, betrayal and revenge and is guaranteed to keep you hooked from start to finish.

I give Cat Clarke and Undone ★★★★★

Looking for Alaska - John Green

Synopsis: Alaska Young. Gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, screwed up and utterly fascinating. Miles Halter could not be more in love with her. But when tragedy strikes, Miles discovers the value and the pain of living and loving unconditionally.

Looking for Alaska by John Green follows the life of Miles Halter who leaves his family and old life behind as he embarks on a new one at Culver Creek Prepatory High School in Alabama. At Culver Creek Miles discovers true friendship, something he's never experienced before, with his roommate, Chip 'The Colonel' Martin, and the mysterious but gorgeous Alaska Young. The three continually grow as friends, particularly Alaska and Miles, as they make their way through Junior Year, experiencing typical teenage drama, pranks, hurt, love and loss along the way.

There's only one word to describe John Green's writing style: beautiful. I don't know how he does it but Green has a way of making you fall so in love and become so engrossed by a character that they feel so real to you, it's almost as if the characters he creates are people you know from down the street or your friends at school. It doesn't feel like you're reading a book, which might I add is an awe-inspiring piece of fiction, it feels as if you're reliving endless precious memories and that's something I've only ever experienced with Green.

The story of Miles 'Pudge' Halter, Chip 'The Colonel' Martin and Alaska Young is so thought provoking and enticing to read. I love how Green built a friendship that portrayed a real sense of realism. There isn't an instant friendship between the three from the get go and there are arguments here and there and not knowing everything there is to know about each other, despite being so close, it's how a true friendship is. It was also refreshing to read a novel that portrayed some of the struggles teenagers face on a daily basis, contrary to many adult's belief that "we have it easy".

I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Pudge and Colonel because it was just so enjoyable and mirthful to read. One minute they'd be the best of friends and then the next they'd be pissing each other off over the most ridiculous things and that's just what best friends do, and it's a shame that there aren't many novels that have a strong 'bromance' relationship.

Although the book becomes heartbreaking to read it also remains lighthearted and relaxed. When tragedy strikes the key characters really come together to deal with their pain and pay tribute to their loss in the most hilarious and respectful manner possible. It became nostalgic to read because it made me think of the things I've gotten up to with my friends in the past, allowing me to connect further with the story.

Ultimately, this novel is a heartbreaking yet hilariously funny read that captivates you from the word go and takes you on a journey of true friendship, highlighting the best and worst of your own teenage years.

I give John Green and Looking for Alaska ★★★★★

Weekend Reads #4

So my original plan to start Looking for Alaska by John Green last weekend went down the drain as I wasn't willing to start it until I completed The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, a feat which I didn't achieve until Tuesday.

With the completion of that book out of the way I was able to make a start on Looking for Alaska last night. I only got 39 pages into it but I'm already in love with it. Hopefully I'll get about half way through by the end of the tonight and then I'll be able to complete it by tomorrow night - in fact I will get it completed by tomorrow night because the BookTube-A-Thon starts Monday.

As a result of the BookTube-A-Thon kicking off on Monday I've decided to cheat a little and start Sunday night as I'm going to lose a lot of reading hours from Monday through to Friday due to school.

I've decided that I'm going to kick-off with Undone by Cat Clarke. I've had this book on my shelf since February and I've been dying to read it but I just haven't gotten round to it and I've also been quite skeptical about it as it's unlike anything I've ever read. That skepticism however has vanished since Claire Weller gave it an awesome review the other day, so now I'm really excited about starting it.

Be sure to follow my new twitter dedicated to my blog for regular updates on my progression of the BookTube read-a-thon when it starts Monday by clicking here or searching @insideofthebook

Top 5 Favourite Authors

I feel like I haven't read nearly enough books to have an all-time favourite author. However over my years of reading I've definitely come across some fantastic author's from all manners of genres, five of which really stand out for me as my top five favourite authors. I find these authors just generally amazing and thank them so much for the stories they have created; please note that this list is in no particular order.

Stephen Chbosky: What I love most about Chbosky is his ability to make a character feel so real to you. Whilst reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower, which might I add is one of my all-time favourite books, I felt a great connection to the character's. Chbosky acknowledges that no person is perfect and therefore in order for a reader to connect to a character they have to see that that character also isn't perfect, a feat that is rarely seen within the YA genre.

Lemony Snicket/Daniel Handler: Snicket/Handler is without a doubt one of my favourite childhood authors. The books from A Series of Unfortunate Events hold so much of my childhood and are consequently very nostalgic to me. I was so engrossed by the world he had created for the Baudelaire children and found his stories humorous and just generally enjoyable to read; hopefully I'll move onto some of Handler's adult novels in the near future.

Suzanne Collins: Let's be honest here, you were all expecting to see her here. What really stands out about Collins is her ability to make a book that is categorised to a certain age group appeal to anyone of any age and her triumph of dealing with a manner of complicated and difficult themes in a way that is easy to process and understand. It also wasn't until recently that I realised Collins is actually the author of Gregor the Overlander from The Underland Chronicles and that was easily one of my favourite childhood books, reckon I'm too old to carry on with the series now?

J.K. Rowling: It still shocks me that so many people have yet to lay hands on the Harry Potter series, it just baffles me because Rowling is such an inspiring author. I praise her use of imagination and her beautiful writing style as well as being an all round amazing and fluent storyteller. If it wasn't for Rowling then I probably wouldn't be the avid reader that I am today because she is the author that really got me into reading, I mean imagine a world without Harry Potter.

Katy McGarry: If you've yet to pick up a McGarry book then I pity you because you truly are missing out on such raw writing talent. I find McGarry's novels, such as Pushing the Limits, so captivating because they're so poetically and beautifully written. Her stories build an emotional connection with me that I've had little experience with with other authors. I cannot wait for whatever she writes next.

There are plenty of other authors I adore but at this moment these are the five authors that really stand out for me. Be sure to let me know who your favourite authors are in the comments section.

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones - Cassandra Clare

Synopsis: "Sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is an ordinary teenager, who likes hanging out in Brooklyn with her friends. But everything changes the night she witnesses a murder, committed by a group of teens armed with medieval weaponry. The murderous group are Shadowhunters, secret warriors dedicated to driving demons out of this dimension and back into their own. Drawn inexorably into a terrifying world, Clary slowly begins to learn the truth about her family - and the battle for the fate of the world."

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare book follows the life of sixteen-year-old Clarissa Fray whom witnesses a murder committed by three mysterious teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the murdered body disappears into thin air and it's hard for her to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing, not even a smear of blood, to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy? That question ultimately leads to Clary's journey of learning who she really is and the history of her family after she discovers a connection between the sudden disappearance of her mother, the three mysterious teenagers and an attack she receives from an alleged demon working for a mysterious figure of Clary's mother's past.

I was rather skeptical about starting this series as so many people love it and have hyped about it and I tend to find that when something is overly hyped, much like The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey, I over anticipate the read and find myself quite disappointed. This however wasn't so much the case with City of Bones, but saying that I didn't love it either.

To begin with I struggled to get into the story and the world Clare has created. However, once I became used to and found myself enjoying her writing style I found it easy to get lost within the story. I felt that Clare had managed to reinvent the fantasy genre of demons, werewolves, vampires and other creatures in a modern light (minus the sparkly skin) as well as pay homage to the classic traits of such beings that were portrayed by the likes of Bram Stoker in Dracula and other great authors.

Although the overall pacing of the book was a bit slow, I did enjoy the various action sequences portrayed as they were fast paced and I found myself easily visualising the events that were unfolding. The sequences were laid out in various points throughout the book so it was never a case of too much happening or not enough happening; it was just the right balance. I also found some of the twists that were thrown in so gripping to read as they completely threw me off guard and I love that in a book!

Saying that mind there were times when I really wasn't sure if I wanted to slap the main characters or if I wanted to slap Clare. I don't know what it is about these characters but I found them so hard to connect with and ended up hating the majority of them with the exclusion of Simon, Alec and Luke, all three of which aren't in the book all too much. If the reader can't build some sort of connection with the main characters then said reader is more or less done for. Yes, it's good to hate characters, but to hate the majority of them just takes the biscuit.

I also had a bittersweet experience with the ending. I just felt it was so rushed and I couldn't process what the hell was happening as I felt as if it was all leading up to this explosive finish when in fact it was incredibly slow paced with nothing exciting happening. Some of the things the characters did were ridiculous and I struggled to understand some of the things that were occurring which is weird because they were pretty simple happenings, the issue is just the way they were written. I also never found myself completely drawn into the book, there were times when I was captivated for a chapter or two but after that I grew bored and put the book down for the rest of the day which is why it took me so long to complete.

Overall City of Bones is a novel that brings back the traits of creatures such as vampires and demons that we all know and love and is gripping at times but boring at others. I won't be rushing out to purchase the sequel, City of Ashes, but I'll get round to it eventually.

I give Cassandra Clare and The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones ★★★

Pushing The Limits - Katie McGarry

Synopsis: "I can't remember the night that changed my life. The night I went from popular to loner freak, and my family are determined to keep it that way. They said the therapy was supposed to help. They didn't expect Noah. Noah is the dangerous boy my parents warned me about. But the only one who'll listen. They only one who'll help me find the truth. I know every kiss, every promise, every touch is forbidden. But what if finding your destiny means breaking all the rules?

Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry is a heart-wrenching novel about two broken teens, Echo Emerson and Noah Hutchins, who are struggling to put the shattered pieces of their lives back together and unexpectedly find love along the way. The two are thrown together at the lowest point of their lives; Noah is on the brink of losing all contact with his younger brothers, the only family he has left, to their foster parents following the death of his biological parent, and Echo is battling with the memories of the most horrific night of her life. But the two quickly learn that the best way for them to get what they want is to work together.

Any book that gets you out of a reading slump is a pretty damn good book. Following my completion of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green I slipped into a reading slump, that is until I found Pushing The Limits. Everything about this debut novel from McGarry is beautiful, mysterious and heart breaking. McGarry's writing style is so effortless and enjoyable to read and as a result I was captivated by this book from the very first line.

The novel alternates between the POVs of both Echo and Noah and I absolutely loved that. Generally when it comes down to romance you tend to find that it's told from just the one point of view, so as a reader you struggle to understand how the other person is feeling and have to read 'I love you' a hundred times over throughout the book to be reminded that the other person probably feels the same way. The differing POVs also highlight just how different Noah and Echo's worlds are and showcase some pretty intense issues which include neglect, lies, self-loathing and abuse.

It was so refreshing to come across a novel where it wasn't love at first sight. Watching Noah and Echo learn to trust and open up to each other was really sweet and believable to read, but despite this the romance isn't the core to the story. Instead the story focuses on the personal journeys and struggles of both Echo and Noah. It's not a story about typical teenage dramas like girls fighting over boys and boys getting into fights for the sake of getting into fights, it deals with real issues that damage so many people on a daily basis. As a result you quickly sympathise with both characters and want to do nothing more than comfort them and hear their stories so you can help.

Both Echo and Noah are miserable in their lives, having faced a wad of bad luck, and it was so hard to process which of the two made my heart break more. As previously mentioned McGarry's writing style is so beautiful and well written that you understand the character's frustrations and anger at the systems and rules which are screwing up their lives as though they were your own. Within her style, McGarry successfully keeps the reader guessing throughout, you have the gradual understanding and development of Noah's past and how he came to losing his brothers and then you have the confusion and anticipation of what happened to Echo that resulted in her mind blocking out the night that changed her life for the worst.

Pushing The Limits is a captivating story that showcases the beauty of real love and the extremes a person will go to to protect the ones they love and overcome the demons that are fighting them from within.

I give Katie McGarry and Pushing The Limits ★★★★★

Weekend Reads #3

Last week I challenged myself with The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, and I'm exactly 100 pages away from completing it, a feat I can easily achieve in one sitting tonight. As I've mentioned in previous posts I've found it an alright read, nothing has really stood out for me but it's been enjoyable to read nevertheless. Things are starting to pick up in terms of pace and action now so I'm really looking forward to finishing it, but saying that I feel like there just aren't enough pages left for all of the things that need to happen.

Following the completion of City of Bones I'll be moving onto Looking For Alaska by John Green. I originally planned to read this at the end of July but I'm literally too excited to wait. So far I've only read The Fault in Our Stars (click here to read my review) and I adored it, it's such an amazing novel. Green has such a beautiful writing style and he has the ability to captivate you from the very first page and I love that in an author.

Looking For Alaska follows the story of Alaska Young, a clever, gorgeous, funny and utterly fascinating girl and a boy called Miles Halter who could not be more in love with her. But when tragedy strikes, Miles discovers the value and the pain of living and loving unconditionally.

Now I'm not a particularly massive fan of romance novels but there's just something about John Green's work with it (and Katie McGarry's, might I add) that makes it so effortless, enjoyable and heartbreaking to read. I just can't wait to get City of Bones done and dusted so I can move straight onto this!

July To Be Read

For the month of July I plan to read a total of eight books, five of which I hope to complete between July 15th - July 21st for the read-a-thon that is being hosted via YouTube (click here for details on that). The most books I've ever completed in a week is three and that's simply because they were all part of series, thus making it easier to put one book down and pick the next up straight away. Therefore managing to complete five totally different books one after the other and reading over 2,300 pages in the space of seven days is going to be a challenge I'll most likely fail, but it's worth a shot.

Every person taking part in the read-a-thon is given the option to take part in the following challenges: read a book that is at least 500 pages, reread a book, finish a series, read a book that has been on your shelf the longest, listen to an audiobook and read a classic. For the first challenge I'll be reading Undone by Cat Clarke and for the second challenge I'll be rereading The Hunger Games: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins simply because I've read the first two books multiple times whereas I've only read Mockingjay twice. Night World: Volume 3 by L. J. Smith is what I'll be reading for the third challenge which is technically cheating as the final book hasn't be released yet, but it's been in the works for around 10 years now. The book I'll be tackling for the fourth challenge is Pure by Julianna Baggott. I won't be listening to an audiobook however simply because I can't stand them, and for the final challenge I'll be reading 1984 by George Orwell, a classic I was supposed to read for my AS English Literature coursework but in typical Cameron fashion I couldn't be bothered.

After that I'll also be reading Cherl: My Story by Cheryl Cole as I've never been one to read autobiographies so I figured her's would be a good place to start as I've heard good things about it. And finally, if I somehow find the time and effort, I hope to start Looking for Alaska by John Green. I love Green's writing style and his ability to make a reader become so engrossed by a book and it's characters. I've been wanting to start this book for ages but for some reason I haven't, but if I don't get round to it in July, which I hope won't be the case, then it'll definitely be at the top of my August list.

However before that I'll be completing The Mortal Instruements: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. I'm about three quarters of the way through and so far I've found it an alright book. This is most likely because I've long lost interest in the fantasy genre. Every book of the genre seems to be the same old human girl meets supernatural boy and they fall in love even though it's forbidden, I mean where's the enjoyment in that? Nevertheless the film adaption comes out in August so I figured I may as well give the series a shot.

Weekend Reads #2

I had a pretty successful read last weekend and completed The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey. Overall I found it an alright book, it just wasn't what I expected it to be, it was too character driven with a lack of action for me to really enjoy it: to view my full review click here. I also started and completed Before I Die by Jenny Downham and I loved it so much, it's such a beautiful read and it's definitely a book I'll read time and time again: to view my full review click here. However my hopes to continue with The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath went down the drain as I'm still on chapter 2 but I figure I'll get round to picking it back up.. eventually.

This weekend I've only tasked myself with one book and that is The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. The book follows the life of a teenage girl called Clary Fray who witnesses a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the murdered body disappears into thin air and it's hard for her to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing, not even a smear of blood, to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy? That question ultimately leads to Clary's journey of learning who she really is and the history of her family after she discovers a connection between the sudden disappearance of her mother, the three mysterious teenagers, called Shadowhunters, and an attack she receives from an alleged demon.

In all honesty I thought I had been done with the fantasy world of vampires and werewolves but this book (which is the first in a 6 part series) has received so much hype and critical acclaim that I figured I may as well give it a shot, not to mention that the trailer for the film adaption looks pretty good.

Even though I'm only tackling this book this weekend chances are I won't finish it by Sunday as it's quite a hefty read and I'm currently only on chapter 2, but I guess we'll see how it goes. Be sure to let me know what book(s) you're tackling this weekend in the comment section!

Before I Die - Jenny Downham

Synopsis: "Sixteen-year-old Tessa is going to die and she has made a list of ten things she wants to do in the time she has left. But getting what you want isn't easy and getting what you want doesn't always give you what you need, and sometimes the most unexpected things become important."

Before I Die by Jenny Downham follows the story of sixteen-year-old Tessa who has been diagnosed with leukemia. Despite four grueling years of chemotherapy she discovers that her cancer is terminal, thus not giving her very long to live. She ultimately decides that she wants to spend the rest of the time she has left living life to the full and composes a list of 10 things she wants to do before she dies, most of which are illegal. However as Tessa grows closer to her final days she realises that what you want isn't always what you need and that the small and intimate pleasures of life are what truly mean the most to her.

To begin with I found it difficult to connect and sympathise with Tessa as I felt she was too busy being reckless to appreciate the help and support she has from everyone, particularly her father. He gave up everything for her including his job, his friends and all the things he generally enjoyed in life when Tessa was diagnosed yet here she was throwing it all back in his face because she couldn't see that he was suffering too; she failed to understand that although her father's days weren't limited like her's, he'd have to deal with outliving his daughter and not seeing her grow up like she should.

I loved the juxtaposition Downham created between Tessa's father and her best friend, Zoey, who despite Tessa's condition constantly reminds her that although she may have cancer it's no excuse for her to feel sorry for herself and mope about all the time. She argues that everyone is dying every day and that Tessa should just take it with a pinch of salt because eventually we all die and although that may sound morbid to many Tessa appreciates Zoey's honesty, especially because it means she doesn't act differently and tread on thin ice around her, unlike everybody else.

The way the relationship between Tessa and Adam is expressed by Downham is so beautiful. There are so many novels out there where romance becomes superficial and unrealistic, creating a false sense of hope and belief that love actually does exist, Downham however doesn't do that. She acknowledges that love has ups and downs and that it's never plain sailing. Yes, ok, the whole 'boy next door' thing may be a little cliché but there was no nauseating Romeo and Juliet love at first sight nonsense, there was just pure, unexpected love between two people; it was so engaging to read.

However it was the gradual progression of Tessa's cancer which lead to her appreciation of the smaller things in life that really gripped me in this book. She starts out thinking that sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll are the most important things to her but when she learns that she has a matter of weeks left she comes to realise that what she has really wanted to experience to the full has been right in front of her the entire time - her friends and family, and that was heartbreaking to read, more-so in her last few of days where she couldn't move or talk, only listen and sleep. Her dreams became so vivid, thought provoking and stunning to read. She dreams of the things she didn't get to experience and it all becomes so enticing and touching to read.

Before I Die is a beautiful novel that made me happy, sad, laugh and cry (or should I say hysterically sob). It's such a shame that people compare it to The Fault In Our Stars so often because this truly is a unique and enticing novel that is like no other.

I give Jenny Downham and Before I Die ★★★★★

The 5th Wave - Rick Yancey

Synopsis: "On a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs. Runs from the beings that only look human, who have scattered Earth's last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan may be her only hope. Now Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death."

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey follows the story of a teenage girl called Cassie as she tries to survive in a world that has been invaded by an alien species. The invasion however wasn't like the Hollywood film view the world expected and instead happened over the course of four waves. The first wave was an EMP which wiped out everything running on electricity, batteries and engines, killing half a million people. The second put that number to shame as a tsunami hit the world's coast, predominantly effecting America's West and East coast. The third was a deadly disease which took out 97% of the world's remaining population, and the fourth brought the Silencers who were set to take out the last few pockets of civilisation. But that's not it, there's a fifth wave coming but no one knows what it is.

It's a shame that so many people raved about how 'amazing' this book is before I picked it up as it gave me high expectations, unfortunately I found myself somewhat disappointed after the completion of this book and I dominantly put that down to me expecting far more from it because of the awesome reviews I had heard.

Although the world Yancey has created is innovative and thought provoking, I found that the plot didn't have much to it to keep me hooked and interested. I initially wasn't too bothered about the slow pace of the book as I was expecting it to all build up to an epic conclusion, but I was left incredibly disappointed by the lack of action the last few chapters provided; everything seemed to be too clean-cut for me.

However saying that I thoroughly enjoyed how Yancey provided a variation on character point of views throughout the book in order to further enlighten pre and post invasion. The story dominantly follows the point of view of Cassie, despite being primarily dual narrated by another character who's name I shall not mention because of spoilers. As a result of this the book is very character driven and provides a lot of character development.

The lack of action within this story is really disappointing, as previously mentioned. Yancey provides so much opportunity for action but there just isn't very much of it and whenever there is action I didn't find myself anxious or on the edge of my seat as I turned each page, it was all just very average to read and some of the events that unfolded seemed too simple and easily achieved when they shouldn't have been. I was also a little disappointed with the fifth wave as I had a lot of suspicion over what was happening at Camp Haven so when it was ultimately revealed I didn't find myself too surprised or gripped by it.

Ultimately The 5th Wave is a survival story and an examination of the state of the human race in world where it is all about kill or be killed and because of that I expected far more from this read. I just hope that the next book in the series, which is due out Summer 2014, delivers more.

I give Rick Yancey and The 5th Wave ★★★

Weekend Reads #1

I'm generally the type of person that will only ever take on one book at a time, simply because I easily become so engrossed in the world of the book I'm reading that there just isn't enough room for another book. That however isn't the case this weekend as I'll be battling three, well, rather attempting to battle three as I've just started watching Teen Wolf and I can't get enough of it.

My first task for this weekend is to finish The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey. So far I'm really enjoying the story and the characters, however I'm yet to understand why so many people have raved about it because although it's a unique story that challenges some really interesting themes, there hasn't been much going on action wise. The lack of action however is made up by the guessing game I'm having with this book, each time I think I've figured the plot out it takes a different direction and I really enjoy that in a book. I'm currently on page 362 of 457 so I should have it finished by tomorrow night.

I'm also hoping to start Before I Die (previously known as Now Is Good) by Jenny Downham. I've been eager to start this book for ages as the plot sounds fantastic. The story follows a sixteen-year-old girl called Tessa who has cancer and is soon to die. Tessa however doesn't dwell on the coming of her death and instead makes a list of ten things she wants to do in the time she has left. But Tessa soon finds that getting what you want isn't easy, nor is it what you always need.

Chances are I'll have my heart ripped out and trampled on and will most likely sob like an uncontrollable baby, nevertheless I'm looking forward to this read. Clearly I haven't learnt my lesson from The Fault in Our Stars.

And finally, simply because I have to for my A2 English literature course, I'll be carrying on with The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. So far I'm only two chapters in and I'm already uninterested in the novel, most likely because it's a book I'm being forced to read and forcing me to read something never goes down well.

Be sure to let me know what books you're tackling this weekend in the comment section!

The Kill Order - James Dashner

Sun flares have unleashed devastation on the Earth. Mark and Trina were then when it happened, and against the odds they survived. But now a violent and highly contagious disease is spreading like wildfire. Worse still, it's mutating, and people are going crazy. Mark and Trina will do anything to save their friends - if only they can avoid madness and stay alive.

The Kill Order by James Dashner is the prequel to The Maze Runner trilogy and takes place 13 years before the day Thomas goes into the Glade. It follows the story of Mark and his friends as they try to survive in a world which is now flawed by despair, starvation and disease. For those of you that are yet to read the trilogy I strongly advise making your way through those books first as this book contains a lot of spoilers to events that take place in the latter three books.

To be perfectly honest I was rather skeptical about picking this prequel, although I am a massive fan of The Maze Runner trilogy it left me with a lot of unanswered questions and I was therefore dubious about whether or not this book would answer those questions and overall I'd say it did a pretty good job of doing so.

Although a lot of my questions were answered, such as where the Flare originated from and what happened to the Earth the day the sun flares struck, I was still left confused about how the flares came to hit the Earth as well as some outstanding questions about Thomas and the other Gladers. For those of you that know me you'll know that I'm a massive fan of Dashner when it comes to his use of epilogues as they're always so cleverly written and leave you wanting more. The epilogue to this book introduces Thomas in the moment WICKED come to collect him from his mother and although it was a sad few pages, I was left disappointed as I still didn't understand, or rather know, how WICKED came to selecting the brightest children and how they knew of their intelligence.

What I loved most about this book is the character development. From the synopsis I had the idea that Mark and Trina (who is Mark's love interest) would be the main characters and I wasn't sure if I wanted to delve into a soppy teenage romance, however I soon found that the main characters were actually Alec, a man who found Mark and Trina soon after the flares hit the Earth and took them under his wing, and Mark. This shone a new light on character relationships for me as I haven't read many novels which contain a strong father and son figure relationship. The character development between them both was fantastic and I loved how Dashner connected them in a way where they always knew what the other was thinking and strove to protect the same thing; their friends, despite none of them actually being blood related.

The general premise to this novel was also rather enjoyable. It dominantly follows the present tense but also uses flashbacks to the day the flares hit and the weeks that followed, during Mark's dreams. I thought the way Dashner blended the past and present together in that way was great to read and there was never a dull moment, I always found myself on the edge of my seat and my heart racing. The last few chapters were definitely the highlight of the book. I found myself shaking more and more as I turned each page as there was just so much suspense. The very last chapter was heartbreaking and found myself stunned by the realisation of who a certain female character is and sobbing over the last few moments between other characters.

Overall I really enjoyed this prequel, although maybe not as much as the trilogy itself, nevertheless it's a good read that answers a lot of questions. I just wish the book was a bit longer so I could have the answers to all of my questions! If you wish to read my review on The Maze Runner trilogy then click here to do so.

I give James Dashner and The Kill Order ★★★★