Friday 25 October 2013

The Girls of YA Presents: All Hallows Halloween!



Hi everyone! Emma and me have been getting into the Halloween spirit lately, reading loads of paranormal books and obsessing over paranormal shows and, of course, paranormal guys. And so we decided to launch our blog The Girls of YA in the biggest and most awesomely Halloween-y way. Everyone, get ready for All Hallows' Halloween!

We're going to kick the event off with:
  • The Girls' Paranormal Guys!
  • The Girls’ Favourite Spooky Legends
  • She Says She Says – Joint Review of The Coldest Girl In Coldtown by Holly Black
  • She Says She Says Halloween Edition – Our Favourite Paranormal Movies, Shows and More!
  • From Girl to Girl Halloween Edition - Our Best Shows recommended to each other.
Well, we’re definitely getting into the mood of the spookiest holiday out there! We hope you’ll all stop by and celebrate All Hallows Halloween with us!! :D

Wednesday 23 October 2013

Silly Gif-Review of Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout's Ending...

Ok, here is my silly gif post of what Origin, the fourth Lux book, did to me - well, what that ending did to me.  Cause yeah.  There was yet another evil twist at the end.  Jennifer is the master of cliffhangers.  Seriously...  
This series is still one of my favourites and I've read all the books at least four times each.  But Origin...  Well.  Let me try and get my feels down...

Ok, so I was nearing the end of Origin.  And at first I was happy, this this:


And then.... then The Twist came.  Then I finished the book.  And at first I was like:


and finally I was like: 


Because it's just like..


I didn't know what to do.  Jennifer had done it again.  Totally shocked me.  Possibly scarred me.

And now I'm just like:


Because it is so freaking long until Opposition comes out - too too TOO long, ok?!


Ok?  Especially when all I want to do is this:


An Armentrout cliffhanger that left me like this:


Well...

Monday 21 October 2013

Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series: Lux, Book Three
Publisher: Entangled
Format: Paperback
Published: 11th September 2012
Number of Pages: 542
Book: Bought
Genre: Science-Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Thriller, Suspense, Action-Adventure, YA
Recommended Age: 14+
Contains: Violence, Swearing, Death, Alcohol and Sexual Reference
No Drug References
Author's Blog: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Warning: This review will be an excited rambling of a fangirl who is totally in love with a certain boy from this book.  You could read it and laugh, or, the recommended option, you could go and buy the book and then ramble yourself.

No one is like Daemon Black.
When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around.  Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well…  There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.
But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.
After everything, I’m not longer the same Katy.  I’m different… And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end.  When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of.  The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back.  Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.
Together we’re stronger… and they know it.

                                                                   Review:
'Now it was do or die time.  All these months had led up to this…'
What do you do when someone you thought was dead suddenly reappears and comes home?  Only, they aren't the person you lost – not anymore.  Not after all they've gone through...
And they want to go back.  They were forced to leave behind the person they love more than anything, and not even family will stop them from going to rescue their love.
But Katy needs to try – for Daemon.  He's struggling to get by, and all the Luxen are waiting for the Department of Defence to strike back, to take them all down.
Meanwhile, they all just need to get by and act normal.
Which isn't easy when your boyfriend and his family are aliens and you aren't really human anymore either.  And when everyone is trying to deal with the terrible loss they've been hit by, and all the devastating outcomes.  And when people you hoped were long gone reappear and start causing complete chaos. 
Still, Katy's boyfriend is Daemon Black, the hottest person ever to walk the earth.  
Yeah.  The situation may be totally unstable and likely to blow up any minute and they are trying to pull off the biggest prison break since Mission Impossible was invented, but it has its perks... 
But seriously:  "You really shouldn't trust a soul in this game.  Not when everyone has something to gain or lose…"  Just a warning, guys…
My God, just when I was thinking the Lux series could not possibly get better: BAM!  It goes and increases the awesomeness by infinity.  And yes, just like all my reviews of this series, my review of Opal will be the pure rambling of an obsessed and infatuated fan girl.  Sorry, but what else can a girl do when she's head-over-heels in love?  Because that's what I am: totally in love with the Lux series – and, of course, the pure hotness-incarnate that is Daemon Black.  *swoon*
Alright, I'm back.  Back with my one and only criticism of Opal.  And what is that, you may ask?  Well, the fact that Jennifer is now officially THE QUEEN OF ALL EVIL, HORRIBLE, DREADFUL CLIFFHANGERS!!!  I mean, REALLY?  HOW CAN YOU LEAVE IT LIKE THAT?!?!  Do you WANT me to go COMPLETELY CRAZY?!  Cause if you do: YOU HAVE BEEN FREAKING SUCCESSFUL!!!!  Plus, YOU MADE MY HEART LITERALLY STOP!!!!  HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!?!?!!!!
Ok.  I am so sorry about that.  I just can't get over that ending - check out my gif post and you'll understand.  I am officially in total and utter shock – think of the worst cliffhanger ever (the end of Shadow Kissed, The Golden Lily, all the Supernatural season finales, plus the Buffy Season Five finale all rolled into one) and then multiply it.  By like a squillion.  Add in a major heart attack, hyperventilating and an almost comatose state of shock.  Cause, you know, I'm pretty sure that cliffhanger is meant to give you a heart attack and then break it into a squillion pieces all at once.  Cause that's where my heart's at: seizing and broken beyond repair.  Imagine all of this and then you'll be where I am right now.  Good luck getting over it.  God knows I can't...  Like, ever.  I'm pretty sure – no, I am certain – that I have now been scarred for life.  Jeez, my heart hurts...
Onto better and brighter things though.  Namely: Daemon Black.  My newest, bested, favouritest book boyfriend.  Sure, he's prickly and obsessively protective and a bit macho-patriarchal-boy like, but man do I love him.  He's so sweet and cheeky and charming and gorgeous and loving and caring.  And all he has on his shoulders – all I wanted to do was wrap him up and take him home and never, ever let him leave.  That sounded really creepy, but that's not how I meant it.  I wanted to protect him like he protects everyone else, because everything he had to deal with... I just wanted to give him a break, y'know?  Keep him safe for a little while.  Plus, he really is perfect. And amazing.  And I love him.  Something Katy says about him amuses me:
"Who needed a flashlight when you had Daemon?"
My reaction amuses me more: Who needed freaking anything if they have Daemon?! 
As for Kat, may I say I love the new her.  She's strong and kickass and brave.  She had these moments where she was the strongest ever and willing to do absolutely anything to keep the people she cared about safe – these scared her, but I thought it just proved how much she loved Daemon.  Plus, again gotta mention her love of books: I love it when she goes squee-ey over books! 
Dee – god, poor Dee!  She wasn't in it much, which I don't blame her for, and we saw this whole new, kinda scary side of her.  But in the end, she's Dee and I'll always love her, strange, hyper alien she is.
And, 'cause I don't wanna give anything away, we'll just say that someone we thought was dead is really alive – and back.  We will call said someone X, for no real reason other than to be all mysterious.  And X was so, so damaged – I wanted to protect them too, bless X.  Sure, X was kinda weird and damaged and a little scary at times, but I loved X none the less.  Plus the conversation X had with Kat about zombies and surviving the zombie apocalypse was freaking hilarious!
As for Blake... I just can't make up my mind about that guy.  One minute, I'm feeling sorry for him.  The next minute?  Well, he's creepin' the heck outta me.  I seriously don't know what to do with the guy...
Have I mentioned yet that I adore all of these characters?  Like, seriously and totally love them all to pieces?  I have?  Oops.  Well, I'll tell y'all again.  I love them THIS MUCH!!!  By the way, I just held my arms out as wide as I can.  It's not enough.  I think I need to multiply it by a zillion to show how much I love Daemon – I mean, them: all of them...  Maybe a million zillion squillion...  
But most of all, I love the relationship between Katy and Daemon.  FINALLY they are together – which leads to many yummy kissing sessions.  HOT yummy kissing sessions.   And their love is so sweet and real and emotional and hot.  They are my new favourite book couple in the history of ever.
Opal was shaping out to be my fave yet.  I mean, we – I mean, Katy – was kissing Daemon more, there was more of everything I love about this series.  And then... well, it ended. Horribly.  As my afore-mentioned yelling revealed.  I had this feeling like halfway through that it wasn't going to end well.  That coupled with the fact that the next in the series doesn't come out til way too long meant I slowed right down in my reading, savouring every word and rereading my favourite passages over and over.  But this going slow did not work for long.  Oh no, Jennifer's writing is far too magic and funny and her plotlines are way too exciting and addictive and freaking awesome for that.  So I raced for the end... And, well, you know how that went down...
Still, this is my favourite in the series which is now, I think, my favourite series ever.  It has more action, more romance, more suspense, more humour and more Daemon than ever before and it has left me absolutely, deliriously, desperately desperate for more.  Like, right now.  I am going to literally go crazy waiting for the fourth – Origin.  *sniffles and goes to have a mental breakdown*
But seriously guys: if you haven't read the Lux series, you just have to.  Right now.  It is the most amazing series you'll ever read – there is literally nothing I can complain about, cliffhanger aside.  It's just so much fun, but is also more than just fun at the same time.  It's just more than I ever thought it would be when I bought Obsidian and more than I ever could have hoped for.  And I am now so in love I don't think I'll ever get over it, not that I want to.
So yes.  Please.  Read it.  Love it.  Ramble about it.  Scream at Opal's cliffhanger.  Just enjoy the ride – love every moment.  Series like this don't come along often and you should all be a part of this one. And even with all this rambling, I still haven't done it justice. 

P.S. Oh, and Obsidian, the first in this series, has been optioned for a film!!  A freaking FILM, people!!  FINALLY!!!  I am sooooo excited!!  
Hey, maybe I should do a new gif post about it...  Ok, I'm off to look for excited Supernatural gifs now... ;)

Star Rating:
5 Out of 5
It loses a star for the cliffhanger, and yet it's still on five whole stars - well, really it's about 5 billion.  That shows the amazingness, people.






Read this book if you liked:
Covenant by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Vampire Academy and Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare
Grisha by Leigh Bardugo
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas


Challenges It's Taking Part In:
Happy Reading

Megan

Thursday 17 October 2013

Shadows by Paula Weston

Series: Rephaim, Book One
Publisher: Indigo
Format: ARC
Published3rd January 2013
Number of Pages: 400
Book: For Review*
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal, Romance, Gritty Realism, Thriller, Suspense, Action-Adventure, NA, YA
Recommended Age: 14+
Contains: Swearing, Violence, Alcohol References
No Drug References
Author's Site: Paula Weston
Author's Twitter: @PaulaWeston

Warning: This review will be an excited rambling of a fangirl.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you…

Every night in her dreams Gaby Winters kills demons.
It’s been almost a year since Gaby was in the car crash that killed her twin brother, Jude.  Her body has healed, but her grief is still raw and constant. 
Across a crowded bar Gaby sees the man of her dreams, literally.  Rafa not only looks exactly like the guy who’s been appearing in Gaby’s dreams, he claims a history with her brother that makes no sense.
Now Gaby is forced to accept that what she thought she knew about herself and her life is only a shadow of the truth – and that the truth is more likely to be found in the shadows of her nightmares.
Combining the sexy supernatural appeal of Lauren Kate’s Fallen series, the kick-ass action of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the edgy cool of True Blood.
This is angels and demons as you’ve never seen them before.

                                                                   Review:
"You're supposed to be dead...”
Gaby's life fell apart when her twin brother Jude died.  That was a year ago.  She's moved away, to Pandanus Beach, started over.  But she still hasn't healed.  Not really, not inside.
It doesn't help that she keeps on dreaming the most disturbing things.  Each night in her dreams, Gaby kills demons in a bar.  By her side, a guy with green eyes who smells like sandalwood. 
And then one day, her dream guy walks into the bar.  She's never met Rafa before and yet he claims to have been best friends with her brother, even though that makes no sense to her.  In fact, nothing Rafa says makes any sense.
But with more and more people like Rafa coming, claiming she should be dead – maybe even should have stayed dead – Gaby is forced to face the facts.
Her life – everything she thought she knew and was – is a lie.
With no idea what she is, what the entire world is anymore, what's real and what's not, who can Gaby trust?  And can she stay alive in this world that makes no sense…?
I picked Shadows up, just wanting to have a quick flick through it to see what it was about.  And I couldn't stop reading.  I don't know what it is about this book, but it’s freaking addictive.  Before I even realised what I was doing, I was a hundred pages in and absolutely hooked.  I'm not sure what it was that made Shadows really stand out.  Maybe it's the angel mythology.  Maybe it's the action.  Maybe it's Gaby's voice – so real, so rich, so sad.  Maybe it's that this is my first New Adult experience.  Maybe it's the gorgeous and utterly irresistible Rafa.  Who knows!  Who cares!  All that matters is that Shadows is a breath-taking book – an amazing, amazing book, that I'm sure will be one of my favourites of 2013.  Hell, it's my favourite angel book of all time, ever.  Period.  
I really loved Gaby – she was such a strong character, so broken and loveable and strong.  I could feel her pain – feel how much it was destroying her, tearing her to pieces, making her empty.  And you not only felt for her, you felt her.  I loved watching her grow and discover herself, watching her fight back and come into her own.  She was just a brilliant lead, damaged but tough as nails.  My fave kind of protagonist: strong but with a hidden vulnerability to make them accessible and loveable.
Speaking of love... I just instantly was drawn to Rafa.  I don't know what it is about him that makes him so darn irresistible.  Perhaps it's that bad boy thing – I have a real weakness for the bad boys.  Or maybe 'cause underneath, he's really, really sweet.  He's warm, protective, and sweet, complex, mysterious and so, so gorgeous.  Oh, I just love him.
Daisy was another favourite, as were Ez and Zak.   Rephaim I wasn't so keen on?  Daniel, Taya and Melchezedick – sorry, Malachi.  I did not like them.  Which was ironic, 'cause they were the so-called ‘good guys’... 
I also really loved Gaby's friend Maggie – she was the best friend in the history of ever.   Jason was cool too.  Clever, brave, loyal.  I liked him.
And even though we didn't actually meet him, I adored Jude.  He was such an amazing brother – I loved him to bits and mourned him right along with Gaby.  And I loved their bond.  Felt their bond…
As for the connection between Rafa and Gaby... Whoa.  It wasn't like your usual teen romance.  It was deep.  Half the time, they were just annoying each other.  But it was just so hot – so full of chemistry.  I absolutely loved their banter and the way they had one another's back.
Weston's writing was so amazing – and utterly compelling.  The writing style was insanely addictive and so strong.  I felt them all – all the characters and emotions.  Especially Gaby.  Her voice was so very real, so genuine.  I could feel every bit of her pain.  But there are loads of damaged narrators out there, aren't they?  So what makes Gaby so different?  Well for one, there's the whole no-memories – or at least, no real memories – thing.  But more than that, there was the way she handled her pain.  She hurt – so much I hurt too – but she didn't let herself do that wallowing, selfish, infuriating thing teen leads are so very good at.  No, Gaby handled it all like the adult she was: she dealt.  And I loved that.  It added a whole brilliant layer to the voice: made it so real to me.  So addictive and beautiful.
As for the plot, man was it awesome!  So full of twists and mysteries and so much action!   I loved how everything was revealed so slowly, so teasingly, so addictively.  It was just like: here's one clue.  Oh, and another.  And another.  Just one little secret at a time.  It was freaking addictive!   And the action – don't even get me started on the action!  It was so cool, so exciting.  So awesome.  Sigh...  I will admit that I saw this one bit coming – it felt kinda obvious to me.  But while I guessed the initial twist, I didn't see the twists that followed that first twist...  If that makes sense.  But, God, I just adored this plot!!
And ohmigod, I loved all the mythology!  It's so new and cool – so unlike all the other angel books out there.  I just loved the spin Weston put on all the biblical angelic myths.  And what I loved even more than the kickass angel mythology of this world?  That it was set in Australia!  I loved the Aussie feel!   It just added to the awesomeness that already was the kickass angel stuff.  So, yes, I adored this setting.  Yum yum, more please?
Ok, so, angel stories.  Loads of them are so samey, y'know?  Shadows was so totally different.  For one, these angels weren't afraid to kick butt.  And when I say kick butt, I mean serious, hardcore, butt-kicking awesomeness.  These angels weren't your usual pacifists and they weren't really religious.  It was just so much fun to read an angel book that's so hardcore and edgy and original.   I just loved it.  Shadows stands heads, shoulders, chests and legs above all the other angel books out there.
As you can all tell from this rambling review, I absolutely adored Shadows.  It was one of those books you're going to want to clear a whole day for, because you aren't going to be able to put it down.   Even if you don't like paranormals or angel books, read Shadows, because it's special.  It's an angel book, but it has heart.   Soul.  And, God, it's just so freaking good!  As much as I wanted to read the book in one sitting (which I did anyway – couldn't help myself!), I also wanted it to last forever.  I'm thanking Paula Weston for making it as long as it was – and for the fact Haze is out in June, which while being far enough away to make me crazy, isn't as bad as most sequel waits.  And I'm thanking her also for the ending, which wasn't infuriatingly cliffhanger-y, but was also enough to leave me desperate for more, more, more.
So Shadows.  Read it.  It's so much more than an angel book – so much more than a YA paranormal romance.  Just so much more than I could've ever expected and hoped for it to be.  
And I need Haze.  I need more of Rafa.  And I take it back: June!  Why is it so far away?!  *breaks down crying

Star Rating:
5 Out of 5




Read this book if you liked:
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare
 Lux and Covenant Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Challenges It's Taking Part In:
Happy Reading
Megan
* This book was received from Orion/Indigo in exchange for an honest review

** Quotes used are from a proof copy and may have been changed in the finished book

Tuesday 15 October 2013

The Book Addicted Gossip Girl



Ok, I have a whole load of bookish stuff and news to ramble about now, that you all probably know anyway, but oh well!


Teardrop necklaceTeardrop by Lauren Kate is being published in just one week, people!!!  I don't know about, but I'm super excited for this!  It's such an amazing book!!  And to get the hype up, RandomHouse are having an awesome competion!  You need to watch this video, and then tweet about the last thing that made you cry, using #Teardrop, for your chance to win a personalised signed copy of Teardrop and a gorgeous teardrop necklace!!!  The comp ends 10th November 2013 and terms and conditions apply.  See more: here.  And watch this video!! :D




I don't know about you guys but I love Sarah Crossan's Breathe.  Listen to her talk about the inspiration behind her books by watching this clip!! :D




Check out all these gorgeous Strange Chemistry covers!  I don't know which one I love best - maybe The Almost Girl or Under Nameless Skies or Feather Bound or... ok, I just love them all!!  Click on the cover to find out more about the book!! :D



Oh, and I'm FINALLY on Tumblr!  Check it out: I've joined the 21st century, people!! :D  My Tumblr!  *bows*
Oh, and keep an eye on Fierce Fiction... something exciting will be going down soon... :D

All right, that's all for now!  Happy Teardrop Tuesday! :D 

Well, until next time, The Book Addicted Gossip Girl, out! ;)

Monday 14 October 2013

Unravelling by Elizabeth Norris

Series: Unravelling, Book One
Publisher: HarperCollinsChildren'sBooks
Format: Paperback
Published: 7th June 2012
Number of Pages: 416
Book: Bought
Genre: Psychological Suspense, Thriller Suspense, Contemporary, Realistic-Fiction, Science-Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Horror, YA
Recommended Age: 14+
Contains: Lots of Swearing, Alcohol, Drug and Sexual Assault References
Author's Site: Elizabeth Norris
Author's Blog: Elizabeth Norris

Leaving the beach, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit head on by a pickup truck.
And killed.
Then, someone is leaning over her, healing her stopped heart.  But if she was brought back to life, it must be for a very good reason.
That reason?
Unless Janelle can stop it happening, the world is going to end in twenty three days.
The countdown has begun.
23:57:06
       05
04…

                                                                   Review:
I wonder how long I was dead.  Because I know with absolute certainty that I was.  Dead.
And I also know with absolute certainty that somehow - even though it defies any logical explanation - Ben Michaels brought me back.”
Janelle's life is far from perfect.  Her mother is bipolar and barely manages to get out of bed.  Her father is a full-time FBI agent who is hardly ever there.  Janelle is responsible for her brother, trying to play the mother while also trying to be a normal teen.
She doesn't realise how dead she feels until she is actually, physically dead.
Hit by a car.  Very definitely dead.  And then... brought back.  Healed.  Alive.  Someone restarting her silent, broken heart, leaning over her with worried brown-black eyes.
This person – the one who heals her – loves her.  Very, very much.  But surely, surely, they have a better reason for bringing her back.  There has to be something bigger going on.  Right? 
Possibly something that is linked to the series of mysterious and bizarre cases Janelle's dad is investigating.  
Like her own.  The car – the one that killed her - is unregistered, created by a car company no one has ever heard of.  As if the car just... appeared.  Out of nowhere.  The driver, a John Doe, who died after hitting her.  He died in his car.  Only, he seems to have died from extensive radiation burns - injuries that could never have happened to him inside the car.
But all of that's impossible, right?
Unfortunately, no.  Something far bigger than her is going on.  Something the whole world is going to find out about in, oh, about twenty three days.
Well.  Not really going to find out about, per say.  More... not discover.  Cause the world will be over.
Unless Janelle, her best friend and saviour can stop it - unless they can keep everything from unravelling.
'So far all attempts to stop the countdown have been unsuccessful...'
So, let the countdown begin and pray that Janelle can stop it...
Unravelling is the kind of book you pick up, start to read and then just can't stop.  It is totally addictive.  I could barely do anything else – even the so-called 'important' stuff, like eating and sleeping and breathing...  Who came up with these stupid bodily rules?  They totally get in the way of my reading.  It is extremely annoying.  But back on topic, Unravelling was completely hooking.  I literally could not put it down at all, no matter how hard I tried – not that I tried all that hard, really, given that the book is freaking amazing.
I absolutely adored Janelle.  She was so normal and yet so not.  She was clever, stubborn, strong and snarky.  She never let anyone walk over her or stop her from doing what she wanted – namely investigating FBI cases.  I do admit, the fact that the only thing that seemed to work for her when she was grieving was just throwing herself into snoop mode was a bit odd to me (personally, I'm the curl-up-and-cry-and-eat-chocolate-and-watch-trashy-TV kind of girl) but, hey!  People grieve in their own way and if that's what works...  And no.  I'm not telling you why she's grieving.  You're just gonna have to read the book and find out.
As for Ben...  Yum.  Right from the word go, he made me fall in love.  Damn me and my weak spot for the tortured ones!  But seriously, he was so so amazing.
And Alex... Oh, I want an Alex.  He was so sweet and amazing and just always always there for Janelle, no matter what.  And I loved that they were just friends – no love triangle including new mysterious boy and boy-next-door.  Yay!
The whole daughter-keeping-family-together, absent-workaholic-father and/or emotionally-absent-disturbed-mother thing has been done numerous times.  But I think what made this family and the family angle so special is that even though it seemed like it was almost on the verge of falling apart, the family was still normal.  Janelle, her dad and her little brother fire off X-Files quotes, eat Chinese and joke around.  There's Strutz, the basically-uncle, who's there and makes them laugh.  Alex, to whom Janelle's dad is basically a second father.  The beautiful, perfect and touching relationship between Janelle and her little brother Jared.  Even the nickname they gave Janelle: "J-baby" just screamed normality.  The mother might be the only abnormal thing, always holed up in bed with the occasional episode, but also the occasional normal, sunny period.  And then there came The Event, which proved that even if you're normal and even though you love each other and are hanging on firmly, a single act or event can still devastate...  
Oh, I have to mention the plot!  Mainly 'cause I loved all the twists and turns.  And, of course, because I'm a sucker for a good murder mystery!  But my God, Miss Norris!  Why do you seem to be set upon breaking my goddamn heart?!  I mean, what's with that?!  Because yes, this book that I wasn't expecting to be emotional, this book that I expected to be all sci-fi, was absolutely heartbreaking.  The way Norris wrote... she made the sci-fi, far-fetched as it was, seem actually real and so emotional it was untrue.  I fell in love, laughed, hated and then cried my eyes out at three in the morning.  Oh, why did you do it, Miss Norris?  Why why why...? 
But back to the writing: it was brilliant.  I think Janelle and her voice had a big part to play in that: J felt real and human and I felt everything she felt.  Which, obviously, meant I mourned as she mourned.  And now I'm pretty sure half my heart has been taken...  But on top of the emotions there was the whole mystery.  I loved that part of it - mainly 'cause generally speaking it didn't destroy me.  I just had fun trying to figure everything out and loved racing through the book to the end, gobbling it all up.  But seriously: that blend of emotions and pure sci-fi?  Brilliant.  Genius.  Awesome.  Yay!
So, yes.  Unravelling was... incredible.  I adored it.  I have been left broken by it and yet absolutely deliriously desperate for Unbreakable.  My heart may be broken but the torn muscle still aches for more of this story, of this world (or should I say worlds?) and of these characters.  This is a book that will suck you in, capture your heart and mind and leave you breathless, broken and longing for more more more as soon as humanely possible.  Just an absolutely stunning debut I can’t recommend enough.

Star Rating:
4¼ Out of 5





Read this book if you liked:
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
Lorien Legacies by Pittacus Lore
Partials by Dan Wells
Fated by Sarah Alderson
Slide by Jill Hathaway
Insignia by S.J. Kincaid
Sister Assassin by Kiersten White


Challenges It's Taking Part In:

Happy Reading

Megan