Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll

Publisher: Penguin Classics

Format: Paperback

Published: 1865

Number of Pages: 4oo

Book: Bought

Genre: Classic, Fantasy, Fiction, Nonsense, Children's Classic
Recommended Age: 9+
Contains: No: Violence, Sexual or Drug References Or Swearing
However, the language could be a little difficult, confusing or boring for some

“Contrariwise... if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be but as it isn’t, it ain’t.  That’s logic.”

‘I had sent my heroine straight down a rabbit hole... without the least idea what was to happen afterwards,’ wrote Lewis Carroll, describing how Alice was conjured up one ‘golden afternoon’ in 1862 to entertain his child-friend Alice Liddell.  His dream words of nonsensical Wonderland and back-to-front Looking-Glass kingdom depict order turned upside-down: a baby turns into a pig, time is abandoned at a disordered tea-party and a chaotic game of chess makes a seven-year-old girl a Queen.  But amongst the anarchic humour and sparkling word play, puzzles and riddles, are poignant moments of nostalgia for lost childhood.  Original and experimental, the Alice books give readers a window on both child and adult worlds.

Review:

The quote says it all: the entire book is completely and utterly insanely upside-down.  It is also, however, very funny and a good read for both children and adults.  I absolutely adored it! 

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was far more childlike and innocent compared to Through the Looking-Glass, which from the poem that comes before the actual book seems to be a far darker, more sinister story....  And, as it turns out, it was.

Wonderland is beautiful and bizarre, at times so completely daft that it makes you laugh out loud.  I love the character of Alice, the practical girl who finds herself speaking complete and utter nonsense after spending only a few minutes in the topsy-turvy world that is Wonderland.  The only downside to the story: its far, far too short, being only eighty-odd pages.  I could have gone on reading about the crazy talking animals and insane hatters and hares forever, and was actually sad and disappointed when I had finished it.

Through the Looking-Glass has more of a story line than the first book, being all about how Alice enters yet another magical world through a mirror in her home and how once there tries to become queen through a real life game of chess where she’s a pawn.  It has all the humour and madness of Wonderland, just with a slightly darker theme.  It’s also longer, which is a very, very good thing in my opinion, as I love the craziness that are the worlds created by Carroll.   However, I’d just like to mention that neither of the books are like the new Tim Burton film about Alice, although a mixture of the two are very similar to the orignal animated Disney film.

All in all, one of my favourite mainly children’s classic, and very high up on my fave classics list.  It was a fun read, and I felt right at home in the world Carroll created as I myself am completely bonkers.  I would recommend it to anyone and everyone who wants to be amused....

Star Rating:

4 Out of 5

Read This Book If You Liked:

The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Coraline by Neil Gaiman


Challenges It's Taking Part In:
100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2011 (Hosted by Book Chick City)
British Book Challenge (Hosted by The Bookette)
Off The Shelf Challenge (Hosted by BA Reading Challenges)
Dusty Volumes Reading Challenge (Hosted by Midnyte Reader

Out for Blood by Alyxandra Harvey

Series: The Drake Chronicles, Book Three

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Format: Paperback

Published: 2010

Number of Pages: 304
Book: For Review From Bloomsbury*

Genre: Dark Romance, Action, Fantasy, YA

“Tell me about the Drake brothers.  Are they as yummy as everyone says?”

“Totally.”  I didn’t even have to think about that one.  “It was like being in a room full of Johnny Depps.”

Hunter Wild, vampire hunter and star pupil at a top secret slayer academy, has a crush on a guy called Quinn.  He’s tall, dark and very handsome.  He’s also a vampire, and one of the infamous Drake brothers at that.

As if forbidden love wasn’t bad enough, something strange is happening at the Helios-Ra academy.  Vampire attacks are increasing, students are mysteriously falling ill and the teachers are completely clueless.  It’s up to Hunter and her friends to put things right... that is, if she can get a certain immortal out of her head long enough to think about anything else.

Review:

This book is told from two perspectives, like the previous two, and it worked perfectly once again.  Quinn is the Drake man of the story, and his love interest and main focus of the tale is Hunter Wild, a girl from a line of legendary Helios-Ra slayers.

I remember Quinn from previous snippets of previous books, and always wrote him off as a bit too much of a womaniser and a little... selfish, I guess is the word I’d use.  But from his first chapter I realised just how wrong I was: he was (like all his brothers) unbelievably protective of Solange, his baby sister, totally hot and so sweet it was untrue.  And I swear he had me laughing from his more or less his first line.  I actually had to hide my face in a pillow to keep from waking the house up (it was so addictive I couldn’t stop reading: I kept going past midnight).

But, amazing a character as he undeniably is, he’s overshadowed by Hunter.  She’s everything you want in a heroine: strong-willed, funny, totally independent and really compassionate.  And I love the fact that she’s so committed to her duty, yet absolutely thrilled at the treaty between the Drakes and the hunters.  I also love her name, it completely suits her.  But mostly I like how she’s smart enough and brave enough to deal with the difficult subjects, and how she doesn’t need saving, even though she’s a human.

I’m undecided who my favourite couple is – the previous two are in it, and there’s this scene with Lucy that had me crying with laughter – but these one is definitely another winner.  How Alyxandra manages to create such brilliant people and such a brilliant world still manages to entrance me: I just love all of them, and can’t wait to see who the next book’s about, and to know more about all the “yummy” Drake boys.

And even better about this book: although I saw a couple of the twists coming, there were ones I didn’t and a major one at the end which I definitely didn’t expect.  It kept me guessing, laughing, addicted and reading.  The only bad thing: it ended far too soon... and I have to wait a year until the next one.  I’m certain it will absolutely be worth the wait though, and will be all the better for it: good things come to those that wait, right?

Star Rating:

5 Out of 5

Read This Book If You Liked:

The Drake Chronicles: My Love Lies Bleeding and Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

House of Night by P. C. and Kristin Cast


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)
Horror and Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge 2011 (Hosted by Book Chick City)
The Vampire Challenge 2011 (Hosted by Parajunkee's View)
Off the Shelf Challenge (Hosted by BA Reading Challenges)

Happy Reading

Megan

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

Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey

Series: The Drake Chronicles, Book Two

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Format: Paperback

Published: 2010

Number of Pages: 272
Book: For Review From Bloomsbury
Genres: Dark Romance, Action, Fantasy, YA

“Conversation halted abruptly.  They all turned to stare at us as if we were poisonous mushrooms suddenly growing in a manicured garden.  They were pale and perfect, with gleaming teeth and hard eyes.”

It’s been centuries since Isabeau St. Croix survived the French Revolution.  Now she’s made her way back to the living, and must face the ultimate test by confronting the evil British lord who turned her into a vampire and left her buried for two hundred years.  That’s if she can control her affection for Logan Drake, a vampire whose bite is as sweet as the revenge she seeks.

Review:

This book really did not let the Drake Chronicles down.  Told from Logan Drake and Isabeau St. Croix’s points of views, Blood Feud was fast paced and funny from the word go.

Isabeau is a Hound: a vampire who has been left to go through the blood change without any help from outsiders, and because of this develop twin sets of fangs and an unusual way of living.  From the beginning, she makes it quite clear the reason she got through being underground for two centuries was her overwhelming desire for revenge on the monster who kept her there.  She is the reason this book is a huge success, in my opinion anyway.  She’s just so likeable, with her wild personality, huge dog and magical aura, and I just loved the way the story kept showing flashbacks of her life as a human during the French Revolution.  I was a little worried that these would ruin the pace of the story, but they most certainly did not: they provided a greater insight into Isabeau’s character, and made it even more impressive that she turned out as she did. 

Logan was also brilliant, with his over-the-top fashion sense, mad protectiveness of his baby sister and old-school view of the world.  I absolutely loved his sense of humour, and the insane way he dressed.  His charm and the fact he knew all too well that he was gorgeous only made him an even more likeable character.  He even (somehow) manages to pull off pirate shirts, frock coats and love at first sight.  And to top it all off, he’s such a sweetie under all his confidence!  Perfect.

Writing from each of the pair was a stroke of genius on Alyxandra Harvey’s part, and in my opinion worked better than the previous one.  And the fact my two favourite characters in this story (Lucy and Nicholas) were in it still was the icing on the cake!  I thought to begin with it might have been a mistake not to continue from their points of view, but this was even more exciting and electrifying than the previous book.  A must read: funny, full of action, romance and adrenaline, you will regret it if you don’t pick this series up!  In fact, I think I’ll just go get the next book...  Please keep them coming, Alyxandra!

Star Rating:

5 Out of 5

Read This Book If You Liked:

My Love Lies Bleeding by Alyxandra Harvey

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Never Bite a Boy on the First Date by Tamara Summers

Happy Reading

Megan

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

My Love Lies Bleeding by Alyxanra Harvey

Series: The Drake Chronicles, Book One

Publisher: Bloomsbury*

Format: Paperback

Published: 2010

Number of Pages: 256

Book: For Review From Bloomsbury
Genre: Dark Romance, Action, Fantasy, YA
Recommended Age: YA, 12+
Contains: Violence, Mild Swearing, Kissing Scenes, But No Sexual References

‘“They’re close,” she murmured.  “Watching.”

‘“Run?”  I suggested.  “Like right now?”

‘She shook her head.  “If we act like prey, they’ll act like predators.”’

Solange has always known she is a vampire.  And as the only female vampire ever born, not initiated, she is surrounded by danger on all sides – from other vampire tribes who want to take her blood into their linage, and from the bounty hunters who are set on destroying her and her family.

When she is kidnapped, it’s up to her elder brother, Nicholas, and best friend, Lucy, to save her.  But can Lucy save herself from Nicholas, who tempts her with every look – what will be her own fate if she surrenders her heart to a vampire?

Review:

The main story is the chaos caused by the changing of Solange Drake into a vampire, and all the action and fighting that brings.  However, there’s also a thick layer of romance; the attraction between Lucy and Nicholas and between Solange and the Helios Ra (vampire hunters) agent Keiran, this book is just... amazing!  Absolutely addictive, fast-paced from the very beginning, and laugh-out-loud funny in places, I found myself unable to put the book down.  I just loved the way Alyxandra Harvey went between Solange and Lucy, and both of them had such a unique way of speaking you knew who’s chapter it was without looking at the header.  This way of writing is one of my favourites ever, and Alyxandra has mastered the art to perfection.

Lucy, I admit, was my favourite, being strong, stubborn and completely insane, she’s the type of heroine that you just have to see succeed in their quests.  Solange was absolutely brilliant too, a sweet, selfless girl terrified of the thought of becoming a vampire and having to drink blood for the rest of her life.  Did I mention she had a blood-phobia?  And then there’s Nicholas, the annoying brother-next-door who turns out to be the sweetest boy ever, along with being totally gorgeous and mysterious. 

And the Drake family’s just incredible; I loved them with their warrior mother, calm father and a billion sons.  Ok, seven sons, but there seems to be a lot of them.  And the information Alyxandra manages to slip in paints a detailed portrait of their world, without providing so much you feel like you’re drowning in it.

There’s action, romance, killing, humour, and paranormal drama in one book: perfect!  Perfect enough to read in one go, even if it means staying up half the night to do so!  The one and only problem: I needed to know more of certain events at the end of the book than I found out and it’ll leave you wishing the story was way, way longer!  I’ve got the next one though, so I don’t have long to wait to get my fill of the Drake family!

Star Rating:

5 Out of 5

Read This Book If You Liked:

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

House of Night by P. C. and Kristin Cast

The Buffy the Vampire Slayer Bindups by Various

Happy Reading

Megan

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

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Publisher: Arrow books

Format: The Christmas Books Volume I, special edition, with an introduction by Peter Ackroyd

First Published: 1843

Number of Pages: 96

Book: Bought

Genre: Classic, Christmas, Ghost
Recommended Age: 9+
Contains: No: Violence, Sexual or Drug References Or Swearing
Could have some language that's hard to understand for some children

A Christmas classic for more than 150 years, A Christmas Carol tells the timeless story of the cantankerous Ebenezer Scrooge, his underpaid clerk Bob Cratchit, and Bob’s frail son Tiny Tim, one of Dickens’s most enduring and popular characters.

When Scrooge, a miserly money-changer, is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future one cold and snowy Christmas evening, all three of their lives change forever...

Review:

With that unique writing style that made Dickens one of the greatest British writers to this day, this is a brilliantly festive story, all about the spirit of Christmas and how to become a better person. Touching and funny in places, it’s the heart-warming tale of how the selfish Ebenezer Scrooge is changed through Christmas, with a few scares and laughs along the way.

Let’s face it, everybody knows the story: Scrooge is greedy, cruel and hates Christmas with a passion. One cold December night, he is visited by the ghost of his former partner, Jacob Marley, who has been cursed into roaming the world forevermore because of the unkind, ungenerous deeds he did when he was alive. Marley tells Scrooge that he will be haunted by three ghosts that night, to give him a chance of not ending up like him. And each ghost in turn show him Christmases past, present and yet to be.

Although I already knew the tale so well from all the various adaptations of it into films, reading the actual book is somehow... different. It makes it more powerful, more realistic. Almost as if, I think, you can actually feel the emotions Dickens’s put into it. And back in the 19th century, just after Dickens passed away, a young girl asked, when told of his death, “Mr Dickens dead? Then will Father Christmas too?” Shows just how much he was associated with Christmas when his books first came out, and I think this book is still absolutely incredible, and it really feels like he still is an absolute Christmas legend. This is by far my favourite book by Dickens, with its characters that feel so realistic that they almost just off of the page and a plot that has you laughing one minute, scared the next. It shows the consequences of selfishness and of generally being a bad person; you get an excellent read and a useful life skill in one go! Uplifting and full to the seams of Christmas magic, anyone who doesn’t enjoy this story is... well... a Scrooge!

Christmas Star Rating:

5 Out of 5: for good old Christmas cheer!

Read This Book If You Liked:

Most if you like Dickens’ other books, mainly Oliver Twist

If you want a good Christmas book!