Review: Phobia by C.A Shives

Title: Phobia
Author: C.A Shives
Publisher: Firestorm Editions
Release Date: April 25th 2012
Pages: 238
Read it in: 4 days
Source: Book Tour/ For Review

You can buy it on amazon.

Synopsis: Goodreads:

Panic invades a quiet town at the discovery of a woman's dead body, bound and covered with poisonous snakes. The grisly homicide ignites the instincts of police consultant Artemis Herne, who must confront his own haunted past to uncover the frightening pattern of the killer. Every victim suffers from a phobia. And every murder transforms the victim’s worst fear into reality.

As Herne plunges into darkness and hunts for the truth behind the gruesome killings, he soon realizes that everyone has a fear to face.


My Review:

So, I started reading this and remembered a movie I watched that was scarily similar to it... Dread... So I got really worried... I was terrified of that movie! And this book was no different! The Healer as the murderer calls himself goes around turning peoples phobia's into a reality.. their death. 

Honestly, Phobia has had me gripped and I've loved reading every minute of it. The novel was very well written and addictive. I found myself talking out loud trying, just as the police consultant, Herne was, trying to figure out who was going to die next... who the murderer was... 

If you like crime books, that aren't boring.. .that are funny and clever and very addictive, then Phobia is definitely for you! Honestly after being a crime fan, recent crime books have let me down... Maybe Phobia has reignited my love for them. 

I was really impressed with the twists that made me 'oh my' out loud on a regular basis. I really did enjoy Phobia and thought it was well written. 

Wonderful book, wonderful plot, wonderful. No other words to describe it!

Rating: 5/5

Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Just me! I'm still away!... 

Title: The Fault In Our Stars
Author: John Green
Publisher: Dutton
Release Date: January 12th 2012
Pages: 310
Read it in: 1 Day 
Source: Amazon


You can buy it on amazon.

Synopsis:

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now. 

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault. 

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.


Note: The above synopsis is slightly wrong, she was diagnosed with Stage IV Thyroid Cancer aged 13. 

Now onto the review:

Holy crap! I waited so long for this book! I pre-ordered it during John Green's live show when he announced it was available for pre-order. I was waiting so bloody long! Then my boyfriend got his copy before me and I was not impressed, however he waited for me to get mine before starting to read it! In one day I read the entire novel and was laughing and very nearly crying (in MANY parts) over and over again! Seriously, John Green didn't stick to one emotion for long in TFIOS!


Hazel is a character I seriously admire, to go through three years of that cancer and to still be as strong as she was is amazing - I know she's fictional and all, but that's not the point. I think Hazel was a very mature and down to earth character, even for someone with cancer and probably had to grow up way too soon - what with all the cancer meetings and crap at the hospital! Anyway. 

The relationship Hazel has with Augustus/Gus (nickname) was lovely. Truly lovely. To have someone there for you during a terminal illness, who won't leave you when things start to get bad, must be amazing - again, I am aware they are fictional characters! Gus and Isaac also are amazing, great characters and easily likeable - totally got a crush on Augustus!!! Isaac was pretty damn cool too *wink*

There wasn't really a character I disliked, though Peter was a douche - can't explain who he is or why! No spoilers! 

The novel was long awaited for and loved. I'm happy I pre-ordered my copy (orange sharpie signature!) and I can't wait to read John Green's other work!

Like I said to Andy, this book easily deserves the following star rating. It's got everything, and doesn't necessarily have a happy ever after ending, and so it's not a very cliché book - suprisingly. 

Just have to say: This Star Won't Go Out! The novel was dedicated to Esther Earl and I think she'd have truly enjoyed it!

Review: 5/5

Honestly would recommend this book to anyone, even if it doesn't seem like your cup of tea!

Review: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

A little note, awful quick I promise! I'm away from now until the 8th of August... Working at a Summer Camp with kids... Wish me luck! Anyway, it'll be book reviews for the next two or three Saturdays... SORRY! :)


Title: Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Walker Books
Release Date: September 6th 2010
Pages: 482
Read it in: 5 days
Source: Georgie


You can buy it on amazon.


Synopsis: Goodreads:


Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still. 

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos. 

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own. 

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. 

As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

My Review:

After borrowing 'Clockwork Angel' from one of my friends, Gee, I finally got round to reading and finishing it! Took me five days to read, and likely would have been read quicker if it wasn't due to the masses of college work I received! But no biggie! I read it, and loved it.

I found myself caught up in this Team Will vs Team Jem thing that I've seen circulating the internet so often since I became a blogger. I'm still not sure which Team I am on, though I know for a fact I love Jem and genuinely feel sorry for him. I love his character, though the same could be said for Will - so basically, I can't win either way!

Our main character, Tessa is an interesting one... By the end of the novel we still don't know her full story and it's painfully antagonizing not knowing! I like her story line though, though some of her opinions I don't agree with (but she is a female from the Victorian era... soooo...). Tessa's 'gift' is interesting, on the other hand I can't say I'd like to have it.

Shadowhunters were a new concept to me, but one that I found kind of confusing at first. But as soon as Nephilim were mentioned it quickly became a concept I was fully aware of! So yay! It got less confusing very quickly!

I really enjoying Clockwork Angel and I can't wait to get my hands on Clockwork Prince (I might even buy my own versions to have on my shelves once I have money...) So yeah! Excited!

Rating: 5/5