Teardrop by Lauren Kate

Series: Teardrop, Book One

Publisher: RandomHouse

Format: ARC

Published: 24^th October 2013

Number of Pages: 464

Book: For Review*

Genre: Dark Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal, Mythical, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, YA

Recommended Age: 13+

Contains: Swearing, Death, Alcohol and Suicide References

No Drug References

Author's Site: Lauren Kate

Never, ever cry…

Seventeen-year-old Eureka won’t let anyone close enough to feel her pain.

After her mother was killed in a freak accident, the things she used to love hold no meaning.  She wants to escape, but one thing holds her back: Ander, the boy who is everywhere she goes, whose turquoise eyes are like the ocean.

And then Eureka uncovers an ancient tale of romance and heartbreak, about a girl who cried an entire continent into the sea.  Suddenly her mother’s death and Ander’s appearance seem connected, and her life takes on dark undercurrents that don’t make sense.

Can everything you love be washed away?

                                                                   Review:

“Never, ever cry again…"

Ever since she was a little girl, Eureka Boudreaux's mother has been told that she can never, ever cry - no matter what.

But now Eureka’s mother Diana is gone, killed in a freak accident, and Eureka feels as dead as her mother.  She feels broken, empty, and secretly wishes she'd died alongside her mother.

And everywhere Eureka goes, there's Ander.  Ander, the mysterious boy who knows all kinds of things that he shouldn't know.  The boy who is the first person since the accident to worm his way past her defences, the boy who brings her closer to tears than she ever has been in her life.

And then, at the reading of her mother's will, Eureka is left an old book in a language no one she knows can read.  And Ander carries on following her, warning her, protecting her...

Behind the secrets and confusion lies an ancient story, one that ended in pain and death.  Can Eureka escape fate?  Or will everything she's ever loved just... wash away…?

I must say, I really did enjoy the Fallen series.  And therefore I just knew I needed Teardrop - ASAP.  I was even more intrigued once I read about the concept behind the book.  I've got to admit, I preferred Teardrop.  I just adored the uniqueness of the mythology and found myself one-hundred-percent hooked from the beginning.  

I also couldn't help seeing the similarities between Luce from the Fallen series and Eureka.  Both are pretty damaged, drawn to the mysterious types, have weird pasts/destinies...  For some reason, this kind of muddied my feelings towards Eureka for a while.  But I do prefer her to Luce, I think.  Even though Eureka is so very broken and distant, you can still feel her pain.  Anyone who's ever lost someone close to them will be able to relate to Eureka and what she feels for her dead mother.  So even though there were times when I could literally smack the back of Eureka's head, I still found her a compelling and thoroughly interesting character, albeit not always overly loveable.

Then there’s Ander...   I'm not entirely sure what to make of him.  I didn't love him or hate him.  He did the whole stalker thing, which I'm not a fan of (hello: felony?) but he was doing it for a reason, unlike certain other characters.  I just don't think he was really in it enough for me to get a proper read (no pun intended).  There was also the whole sorta insta-love – on Eureka's side, at least.  It was more understandable for Ander.  I'm really interested to see where the two of them are going...

As for the other characters, I absolutely loved her best friend Cat: she was brilliant!  And Eureka's younger siblings were too cute!

But I've got to admit, the whole best-friend-being-in-love-with-female-protagonist-causing-a-love-triangle is beginning to really bug me.  It's just so, so overused now.  I mean, why can't a boy and girl be friends without one being in love with the other or one being gay?  Seriously: people of opposite genders can really just be friends!  I know, I was shocked by this too….   Ok, sorry for the rant.  It’s not even overly justified here, because the before-mentioned love triangle wasn't what it first appeared to be...  

The plot: well, I found it damn near impossible to tell where the book was taking me.  I may have guessed a few twists, but I was just so drawn in by the story.  It may have started kind of slow following the prologue, but it added to the suspense, the mystery.  

And there's no denying that Kate's writing is amazing – both in Teardrop and in her other books.  I must say, I loved the kind of pained-angsty feel to the writing – it really fitted in with Eureka's personality.  However, perhaps due to the third person and Eureka's withdrawn emotions, I did find it a little hard to really connect with her...  The subtle(ish) religious undertones bugged me a bit, too.  As someone who isn't overly religious, I do get a little annoyed when religion is thrown in so often – although again, I guess it's to be expected given the mythology and setting...  But distance and religion aside, it's really hard to fault Kate's beautiful writing.

Especially any of the bits that referred to the Book of Love and the love story within.  I mean, the mythology in Kate's book is one of the most unique I've ever come across.  It's just so freaking cool!  Seriously cool!  Seriously!  And after that ending... well, I can't wait to see what happens next!

All in all, I loved Teardrop.  The story and mythology were both so utterly unique, the writing beautiful and the characters interesting.  Whilst certain aspects did bug me a little, I am desperately awaiting the second books – my mild annoyances were completely overshadowed by the bits I really like about this book.  

Star Rating:
3¾ Out of 5

Read this book if you liked:

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Revenants by Amy Plum

Happy Reading

Megan

* This book was received from RandomHouse in exchange for an honest review

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

After Eden by Helen Douglas

Series: After Eden, Book One

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Format: Paperback

Published: 7^th November 2013

Number of Pages: 288

Book: For Review*

Genre: Science-Fiction, Paranormal, Mystery, Romance, Thriller, Suspense, Action-Adventure, YA

Recommended Age: 12+

Contains: Swearing, Alcohol References

No Drug References

Author's Site: Helen Douglas

Author's Twitter: @helenmdouglas

Blurb from Goodreads:

Eden Anfield loves puzzles, so when mysterious new boy Ryan Westland shows up at her school she's hooked. On the face of it, he's a typical American teenager. So why doesn't he recognise pizza? And how come he hasn't heard of Hitler? What puzzles Eden the most, however, is the interest he's taking in her.

As Eden starts to fall in love with Ryan, she begins to unravel his secret. Her breakthrough comes one rainy afternoon when she stumbles across a book in Ryan's bedroom - a biography of her best friend - written over fifty years in the future. Confronting Ryan, she discovers that he is there with one unbelievably important purpose ... and she might just have destroyed his only chance of success.

                                                                   Review:

“Although it seemed impossible, the evidence was staring me in the face…

Ryan Westland was from the future.”    

Ryan Westland shows up at Eden Anfeild's school.  He's gorgeous and American, but seems like a normal teenage boy.

So why doesn't he know things everyone knows?  He doesn't recognise pizza or burgers – he’s never even heard of Hitler.  And, even though all the girls are hanging onto his every word, the only one he seems to pay any real attention to is Eden. 

As a puzzle-lover, Eden is determined to crack all of Ryan's secrets.

She starts to fall for him instead. 

Until she finds a book in his home – a book that was written decades after her time.  A book that is a biography about her best friend.  A book that is impossible.

As the pieces fall into place, Eden is forced to confront Ryan.  The truth... it's life-changing.  Maybe... maybe even world-changing...

After Eden landed on my doorstep in the morning, I began to read (sorry, I couldn’t resist the pun).  I finished it in one sitting – in a matter of hours.  It was seriously freaking addictive.  It was also really not what I was expecting!  It was sweet and exciting and so easy to read.  Younger teens will just love it and gobble it up!  Heck, even older ones will, given the speed I zoomed through it!  It may not have been stunningly unique, but it was good fun.

Ok, Eden...  She was seriously naive.  A bit like Clary - I mean, hello!  Could it be any more obvious that your best mate is into you?  And yet she didn't see it – even after Ryan pointed it out!  Le sigh.  But, other than that, I liked her.  She was sweet and clever and funny and took the news really well.  I liked her sense of humour and her strength.

I really liked Ryan – he was funny and mysterious and sweet.  But his mission dedication was a bit weird.  Yes, I'm here to save everything, but hey!  Cute girl.  Forget the world – let's get my flirt on!  And yet even as I say this...  He was really sweet and I really did like him.  What can I say – apparently, I like time travellers! 

The romance in this was really sweet and quite subtle.  It wasn't The Main Thing, if you know what I mean.  Despite Ryan's tenuous mission dedication, the main point of the book was World Saving.  And I liked that.  I also really liked Ryan and Eden's relationship – it was really sweet and kind of innocent.  It was just really cute!

I loved a whole bunch of the other characters in the book, even if they weren't in it all that much.  Especially Connor – I think I have a thing for surfers.

I liked Eden's voice – it was really quite simple and easy to read.  But the dialogue at times...  I've gotta say, sometimes it felt a bit... forced.  I don't know why...  But other than that I loved Eden's voice – she felt like a real teenager and, being the same age, I could relate to her.  But younger people will relate to her, too, because I've gotta say, I'm not quite as... naive as her, to put it nicely...  Which doesn't make any sense, but still.  Relatable and easy-to-read writing.  Win-win!

Moving on... To the plot, which was pretty much always awesome.  I did see a few of the twists coming but I was hooked nonetheless.  It was so fun and exciting and really quite fast-paced!  

And I loved that After Eden was set in England at the beach.  So few books I read are British – especially sci-fi/time-travel books like this!  I literally did a happy dance when I saw the setting!  But on the topic of time-travel, the book really did make all the sci-fi things seem real.  I like that.  Stupidly farfetched sci-fi books get on my nerves.

All in all, After Eden was a brilliant little book that I loved.  It was sweet and fun and a brilliant escape.  It also didn't end on a horrible cliff-hanger – yes, the ending was a little bit... conveniently predictable, but it was cute and I liked it, so there.  I'm excited for Chasing Stars – I'll be looking forward to my fun beach-y British book next summer!  And for those of you who want a cute, fun, Doctor-Who-ish, addictive, read-in-one-sitting book, you've gotta pick up After Eden.  You won't regret it!

Star Rating:
3¾ Out of 5

Read this book if you liked:

Timedance Series by Susan Waggoner

Unravelling by Elizabeth Norris

Repossession by Sam Hawksmoor

Challenges It's Taking Part In:

100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2012 (Hosted by Book Chick City)

2012 Debut Author Challenge (Hosted by The Story Siren)

British Books Challenge 2012 (Hosted by The Overflowing Library)

Happy Reading

Megan

* This book was received from Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review

The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K. Chesterton

Introduction By: Matthew Beaumont

Publisher: Penguin Classics

Format: Paperback

Published: 31^st March 2011

Number of Pages: 224

Book: For Review*

Genre: Classic, Mystery, Crime-Thriller, Fantasy, Spy-Thriller, Philosophical, Literature

Recommended Age: 12+

Contains: Alcohol References

No Drug References

“We dig deeper and we blow you higher.  We wish to deny all those arbitrary distinctions of vice and virtue, honour and treachery, upon which mere rebels base themselves.”

The Central Anarchist Council is a secret society sworn to destroy the world.  The council is governed by seven men, who hide their identities behind the names of the days of the week.  Yet one of their number – Thursday – is not the revolutionary he claims to be, but a Scotland Yard detective.  And, the question soon becomes, who and what are the others?  G.K. Chesterton unravels this unique fantasy in his own inventive and exuberant way, and uses this nightmare of paradox and surprise to probe the mysteries of human behaviour and belief.

Matthew Beaumont’s introduction examines the book’s themes of identity and confrontation, and explores its intriguing title.  This edition also contains a chronology, notes and suggested further reading.

                                                                   Review:

"I am a destroyer.  I would destroy the world if I could."

Our story begins with two poets.  Lucian Gregory argues that an artist is an anarchist and vice versa.  Gabriel Syme just as emphatically argues otherwise. 

Which do you believe? 

The New Anarchists are dedicated to changing the world.  To stay hidden, they are highly, highly secretive. 

But, pride can eclipse secrecy, as one undercover detective discovers. 

The detective becomes Thursday, one of the seven most powerful men in the group. 

Now, the detective knows who and what he is – definitely not an anarchist, that's for sure. 

But who are these six men who hide behind days of the week?

Who is the all-powerful and mysterious Sunday, the man in charge of them all?  And can the anti-anarchist detective shut down the New Anarchists - before they manage to end the world?

This book has such an unusual name.   The Man Who Was Thursday.  Weird, right?  I mean, how can a guy be a day of the week.  It's got to be a typo, doesn't it?  But it isn't.  And the story got more and more mad from there.  It was definitely a gripping read, one that kept me hooked.  But the plot gave me a wee bit of a headache: the language was very complex and Dickens-esque, very good for visualisation but with loads of references I'm pretty sure went over my head.  I think it's a book I need to read a few times before I get its full effect.  Nonetheless, I did enjoy it. 

Chesterton's characters were all so wonderfully written – so weird and varying and real. All of them could be mentioned and I'd love to ramble about them, but I can't, just in case I give anything away.  But I will say all are intriguing and not at all what you first expect them to be.  As for Thursday, he was a sneaky one, that's for sure.  He was so clever and analytical and intuitive.  He was just a very likeable sorta character.  He was also totally and utterly off his freaking rocker. 

On second thought, I will also mention the head of the anarchists.  I mention him why, you make ask.  Well, I mention him because he scared the heebie-jeebies outta me.  I think it was because he was constantly made out to appear as a godlike figure that got to me...  Or maybe just cause we had no idea who he was. 

As I said, the writing was very Dickensian – super detailed so you could see everything.  I liked how lyrical it was but sometimes it felt a little bit heavy.  I really liked the witty banter between the characters, even though much of it was very wordy.  But the visualisation was intense, amazing.  The plot was so complex and twisty.  Much of it was completely nonsensical - a dream: a really freaking weird dream.  It was also really fast paced and addictive, but parts made no real sense.  It seemed to get more bizarre as the plot went on – and more addictive too.  The end?  Well.  Weird.  Really, really odd actually...

And it's kind of shocking how relevant the events in this book are, even today.  Anarchists, religious fanatics doing horrible things in the name of someone holy, bombings, terrorists.  Admittedly, the New Anarchists were hard-core - no mind games or disruptions for them.  Oh no, blowing things up, killing, dynamite stuff.  Basically, anything violent.  They were driven by personal beliefs.  Much like today. 

I'm pretty sure much of the book's themes and messages went over my head.  There were loads of religious and mythical messages - like, loads of them.  It's the sorta book you can imagine being picked to pieces in A Level English Lit – the kind of book you pick and pick and pick at.  Because this isn't an easy book.  It's heavy - the kind of book you probably need to read a few times to really understand everything and let it sink in.  

The Man Who Was Thursday was a brilliant and bizarre book.  Almost as confusing as it was compelling, I sped through the book.  It was definitely surreal but was also exciting and addictive too.  I will read it again sometime soon – maybe when I'm not reading to find the answers to the plot I'll get a fuller experience of the book.  Maybe it will even be one of my favourite classics.  For now, I'll say a barmy but thrilling spy-ish book that had me guessing to the end. 

Star Rating:
3¾ Out of 5

Read this book if you liked:

Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut

The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad

Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Challenges It's Taking Part In:

100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2012 (Hosted by Book Chick City)

British Books Challenge 2012 (Hosted by The Overflowing Library)

Happy Reading

Megan

* This book was received from Spinebreakers in exchange for an honest review

Just In Case by Meg Rosoff

Publisher: Puffin

Format: Paperback

Published: 7^th June 2007

Number of Pages: 256

Book: Borrowed From The Library

Genre: Realistic-Fiction, Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy, YA

Recommended Age: 14+

Contains: Violence, Death, Sexual and Alchol References, Swearing

Author's Site: Meg Rosoff

Every minute of every day, a million things happen.

The day David Case saves his brother’s life, his whole word changes.  Suddenly every moment is fizzing with what ifs, and it’s up to David to outwit fate.  Or try to.

He changes his name and the way he looks.  He leaves home and finds himself caught up in a series of strange and extraordinary misadventures.  He even falls in love.

But is David really in control of himself?  And if he isn’t – who is?

Review:

“I can look down across the world and see everything. For instance, I can see you.”

David Case is obsessed with Fate, and trying to outwit him/it.  Everywhere he turns, he can’t help thinking of all the worst scenarios, all the what-ifs.  He’s certain Fate has it in for him.  Just so happens: he’s right.

Just In Case is another great book by one of my favourite authors.  I wish I had Meg Rosoff’s genius mind.  Like all her books, Just In Case was completely different from anything else I’ve read.  Who else would think of using Fate as a character?  I know this has received some bad reviews, and I admit it wasn’t the cheeriest book out there, but it was so full of Rosoff’s quirkiness and brilliance: how could I not love it?

David saves his brother, and that’s when he decides Fate’s out to get him.  He changes his name to Justin – Justin Case (get it?).  To stay hidden, he also has to look completely different.  Makes sense, doesn’t it?  Ok, no it doesn’t.  But Justin-David thinks it will work.  And I did love his whole tortured-thing.  And his imaginary greyhound, oh-so creatively named ‘Dog’:  he was cute!  Even though he was imaginary…  And I still can’t decide whether he’s just paranoid, or whether it’s the world (and Fate) that are the crazy ones…

As for Agnes, the older girl he meets and falls in love with, I liked her.  At first.  Then she did something – to tell would be to reveal – and I just… stopped.  She suddenly seemed cruel and teasing.  But she did get Justin out of his shell, helped him change…

The brother David saved, Charlie, was a little odd.  He tried to telepathically tell Justin things and at one point spelled out a warning sentence, which is a little unbelievable for a child who can barely stand and can’t even talk. 

Our final characters are Peter and Dorothea.  These two I liked a lot.  They were brother and sister, and befriended Justin.  They were also wonderful, and a little weird.  They could see Dog.  Yes, Dog, the imaginary greyhound.  Strange.  I never could figure out why they could see him…

And the strangeness continues with our second narrator, who only appears on a few pages and yet makes a huge impression.  Fate.  It was an absolutely new thing for me.  As I mentioned before, who thinks of using Fate as a narrator?  It was new and unusual, but it worked, really, really well.  Plus, Fate himself was brilliant!  Sure, he was twisted and, well, superior.  But, oddly enough, he was my favourite character.  It sounds strange, but there was something… bewitching about the god-complex-troubled Fate.  (Then again, can you have a god-complex if you’re Fate?)  And even though the question of whether he’s real or some figment of Justin’s imagination didn’t take away from the fact that he was amazing.  But, I asked myself, if Justin made him up, then why can’t Justin hear what Fate is saying…?

This wasn’t Rosoff’s best novel, that I will admit right now.  But it was still Meg Rosoff.  I’ve always loved her writing style: simple and powerful and beautiful, and I could clearly see it in Just In Case.  And the storyline was unlike anything I’d ever seen.  As I mentioned earlier, using Fate?  Pure genius!  My biggest fault was that there was no character development.  I kept hoping that Justin would grow into a bigger and stronger character, but… nothing.  Also, I was left with so, so many questions!  It’s annoying me a little – I want to know why Justin?  Why could Peter and Dorothea see Dog?  Who – well, what – is Fate?  Is he just made up?  Or is he something… more?  Questions, so many questions…

But, overall, I liked Just In Case.  It was new, quirky and had me in its grip.  I just loved how subtly Rosoff played the mental health side of things – made even more powerful by the fact that the sufferer was only a teenager.  She’s a master of difficult issues, and Meg Rosoff really pulled the paranoia issue off perfectly.  I can’t wait for my next book by her: I think it’s one about a teenage couple having a baby… only the baby is a moose…

Star Rating:
3¾ Out of 5

Read this book if you liked:

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff 

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Angel by Cliff McNish

Broken Soup by Jenny Valentine

Challenges It's Taking Part In:

100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2011 (Hosted by Book Chick City)

A-Z Reading Challenge (Hosted by Book Junky)

Megan

Happy Reading