Saturday 29 October 2016

Spooktober Review: Angels of Music



Angels of Music 
Rating: 4/5 
Buy or Borrow: Buy 
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

Deep in the shadows under the Paris Opera House resides Erik the Phantom, mysteriously enduring through the decades as the mastermind behind a strange and secret agency. A revolving door of female agents are charged by wealthy Parisians and the French Government to investigate crimes and misdemeanours they would prefer to keep out of the public eye. 

The toxic underbelly of Paris is exposed by Erik's tenacious women operatives as they confront horror and corruption throughout the city. But it is one dreadful murder during the 1910  Great Flood of Paris that brings Irene Adler, Kate Reed and others together for a final, deadly confrontation. 

I'm not going to lie to you guys, I completely love The Phantom of the Opera! I got to see it back when I was in school, in the West End with a brilliant cast, the same cast in actual fact, who are in the anniversary DVD! I loved it, the music, the costumes, the story, and I become completely obsessed with it for a while there. Like I knew all the songs by heart, and I watched the anniversary DVD on a loop near enough. Not the movie adaption. I don't like to mention the movie adaption. The book has been on my to read list for ages and I will get there eventually....my life motto right there folks, but if there's a book that's to do with Phantom then it's a safe bet I'm going to read it and add to my mental images of the Phantom and his story all ready to be destroyed when I read the actual book! 

What drew me about this book was the mention of Irene Adler, and an agency founded by Erik. You are all well aware that I love anything original and unique and so this caught my eye immediately and I really, really enjoyed this book. I loved the concept/premise for it and I completely and utterly loved the writing style and the language used and ugh. Perfect writing is perfect. Angels of Music is so beautifully and well written, and it's funny and there's action and adventure and mystery and plenty of literary/pop culture references to ferret out which was a lot of fun too! 

I loved the setting and getting to know/see Paris through the book. I loved the characters, each brought something different and they where all interesting to read about. I loved seeing Irene multiple times as she was the character I was most familiar with. I loved seeing Erik too, I kinda wish there was more of him but then the book was about the girls and solving things so it might not have worked with Erik all over the place. Plus he doesn't really leave the Opera much. 

I've only read Drearcliff by the author, Anno Dracula is on my shelf waiting for me to pick it up and I fully intend to get to it at some point, so I'm not as familiar with Newman's works as other readers might be. BUT I have been reliably informed that some of these stories are novellas and Newman has brought them together with some new stories to create this tale, and Newman really makes it work! We have different acts, and each act has three new Angels to meet and a new mystery/crime to solve. I thought the stories where, as previously stated, well written and clever. They all wrapped up nicely within the limit they had and kept you guessing until the end. I was intrigued the entire way through, I was entertained and the fast pace meant that I whizzed through this in two sittings. 

What I loved was how each act introduces the Angels, introduces the villain and then each act builds up to the final act. The final act brings together some old faces both Angels and villains for a final face off as it where, and I loved how Newman brought all of the stories together and linked them in. The ending though...poor old Erik. I could totally go for another book if Newman decides to do so, because I'd love to see the Angels sorting Erik out and seeing more of the stories with them. 

Angels of Music is a fast paced, entertaining and well written book that is entertaining throughout and full of pop culture references that have you getting all excited when you spot one. For instance, having just read Dorian Gray I definitely got way too excited to be able to get the Sybil Vane reference! Angels of Music will be a fun read whether you're a fan of Phantom of the Opera or not, whether you've even heard of it or not! 



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Friday 28 October 2016

Spooktober Recommends: Classics to YA


Here it is guys...the final recommends post for Spooktober! 
This was actually supposed to go up on Halloween but I've had a jam packed week and haven't had time to finish my last review book for the month so I'm switching blog posts around! 
So, I came across a couple of books when I was doing my recommends posts that I thought sounded like a YA version of certain classics, or that went with some of the classics or was similar in some way and I thought I'd do a blog post about them! I could only find four, I'm sure there are more although for the life of me I can't find a YA Dracula! 
SO. Here we go! 

1. Phantom of the Opera

In this modern day spin on Leroux’s gothic tale of unrequited love turned to madness, seventeen-year-old Rune Germain has a mysterious affliction linked to her operatic talent, and a horrifying mistake she’s trying to hide. Hoping creative direction will help her, Rune’s mother sends her to a French arts conservatory for her senior year, located in an opera house rumored to have ties to The Phantom of the Opera.

At RoseBlood, Rune secretly befriends the masked Thorn—an elusive violinist who not only guides her musical transformation through dreams that seem more real than reality itself, but somehow knows who she is behind her own masks. As the two discover an otherworldly connection and a soul-deep romance blossoms, Thorn’s dark agenda comes to light and he’s forced to make a deadly choice: lead Rune to her destruction, or face the wrath of the phantom who has haunted the opera house for a century, and is the only father he’s ever known.
 

Roseblood is, as the synopsis says, a modern day spin on Phantom of the Opera! Whether you've read the classic itself or seen the movie or the stage show...then this is for you! I feel like I need to read Phantom of the Opera before I read this, it's on my shelf, but I've not had the guts to dive in yet! 


2. Jekyll and Hyde

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one... except the "thing" inside her.

When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch...

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on even if it seems no one believes her.

The Girl in the Steel Corset is one of my favourite books, I'm not going to lie to you guys! I've included it because Finley reminds me a lot of Jekyll and Hyde, or rather a version of them, soooooo YA Jekyll and Hyde right there but with lots more going on! 


3. Frankenstein

Victor and Konrad are the twin brothers Frankenstein and inseparable until Konrad falls gravely ill. In the forbidden Dark Library, Victor finds an ancient formula, and seeks an alchemist to recreate the Elixir of Life. With friends Elizabeth and Henry, he scales highest trees in the Strumwald, dives deepest lake caves, and each sacrifices a body part.

This Dark Endeavour isn't so much a YA version of Frankenstein but it is a YA prequel to Frankenstein and I actually thought it was pretty damn good! If you're kind of intimidated about starting Frankenstein, then this prequel might be a good way to get yourself psyched up for it! 








4. The Fall of the House of Usher

Madeline Usher is doomed.

She has spent her life fighting fate, and she thought she was succeeding. Until she woke up in a coffin.

Ushers die young. Ushers are cursed. Ushers can never leave their house, a house that haunts and is haunted, a house that almost seems to have a mind of its own. Madeline’s life—revealed through short bursts of memory—has hinged around her desperate plan to escape, to save herself and her brother. Her only chance lies in destroying the house.

In the end, can Madeline keep her own sanity and bring the house down? The Fall is a literary psychological thriller, reimagining Edgar Allan Poe’s classic The Fall of the House of Usher.
 

The Fall is a YA version of The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe and it was SO good when I read it you guys! Perfectly creepy and Halloween-y! I haven't read much Poe to be honest, I was slowly working my way through one of those collected works books but this is one of the few I had read, and I loved this reimagining! 
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Thursday 27 October 2016

Spooktober Recommends: Murder


Hey guuyyys! 
So it's very nearly Halloween which means this is pretty much the last recommends post, I've got one left but it's different to these ones! I should also remind you guys that my giveaway ends tomorrow, so head to my Twitter and check out the pinned tweet before it's too late! 
SO. Today's recommends post. Murder....*evil laughter* 
Can't have Halloween without some blood and guts and murder! 

1. Nevernight

Destined to destroy empires, Mia Covere is only ten years old when she is given her first lesson in death.

Six years later, the child raised in shadows takes her first steps towards keeping the promise she made on the day that she lost everything.

But the chance to strike against such powerful enemies will be fleeting, so if she is to have her revenge, Mia must become a weapon without equal. She must prove herself against the deadliest of friends and enemies, and survive the tutelage of murderers, liars and demons at the heart of a murder cult.

The Red Church is no Hogwarts, but Mia is no ordinary student.

The shadows love her. And they drink her fear.


Okay so I had to include this because it's a completely brilliant, blood soaked read and I just feel like it's a great Halloween read because of all the blood and gore and murder and the atmosphere. Plus I really love this book and everyone needs to read it like NOW. 


2. The Diviners

Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."

When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.
 


Yet another of my favourite reads! This is perfect for Halloween, it's so creepy and like...I read it in one go because I kept reading and then it hit four am and I was like...well...I'm too freaked out to sleep so I'll just finish it off...and there we go! Genuinely such a good read you guys! 


3. Made For You

Eva Tilling wakes up in the hospital to discover an attempt has been made on her life. But who in her sleepy town could have hit her with their car? And why? Before she can consider the question, she finds that she's awoken with a strange new skill: the ability to foresee people's deaths when they touch her.

While she is recovering from the hit-and-run, Nate, an old friend, reappears, and the two must traverse their rocky past as they figure out how to use Eva's power to keep her friends - and themselves – alive. But the killer is obsessed and will stop at nothing to get to Eva…


This is the first book I read by Melissa Marr, and so far the only one, some of her others are on my list I just haven't gotten around to it yet! I loved this, it was so well done and really kept me guessing until the end! 



4. The Naturals

Cassie Hobbes is not like most teenagers. Most teenagers don’t lose their mother in a bloody, unsolved kidnapping. Most teenagers can’t tell who you are, where you’re from and how you’re likely to behave within moments of meeting you. And most teenagers don’t get chosen to join The Naturals.

Identified by the FBI as uniquely gifted, Cassie is recruited to an elite school where a small number of teens are trained to hone their exceptional abilites.

For Cassie, trying to make friends with the girls, and to figure out the two very different, very hot boys, is challenging enough. But when a serial killer begins recreating the details of her mother’s horrific crime scene, she realises just how dangerous life in The Naturals could be...


If you love Criminal Minds you're going to love this, it's like a YA version of Criminal Minds and it's so good! I breezed through this in one go, and the sequel, I've been waiting ages for the paperback of the third one to come out for ageeesssss now! 


5. Jackaby

Newly arrived in New Fiddleham, New England, 1892, and in need of a job, Abigail Rook meets R. F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary--including the ability to see supernatural beings. Abigail has a gift for noticing ordinary but important details, which makes her perfect for the position of Jackaby’s assistant. On her first day, Abigail finds herself in the midst of a thrilling case: A serial killer is on the loose. The police are convinced it’s an ordinary villain, but Jackaby is certain it’s a nonhuman creature, whose existence the police--with the exception of a handsome young detective named Charlie Cane--deny.

I'm about to start this one very soon, and I've heard nothing but good things about it! I do love a historical read, especially when it sounds as fun as this one does! And ya know....murder with a supernatural twist! 




6. Stalking Jack The Ripper

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world. 


This book was SO DAMN GOOD you guys! It was really, really creepy yet I found myself reading it at night mostly like an idiot! I loved the writing, I loved the plot and the research that went in to it and I loved Audrey Rose, she was a brilliant main character and her romance with Thomas was freaking adorable! 
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Wednesday 26 October 2016

Spooktober Review: Dark Tales


Dark Tales
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

The perfect read for Hallowe'en, this new hardback volume of Jackson's finest stories reveals the queen of American gothic at her unsettling, mesmerising best

There's something nasty in suburbia. In these deliciously dark tales, the daily commute turns into a nightmarish game of hide and seek, the loving wife hides homicidal thoughts and the concerned citizen might just be an infamous serial killer. In the haunting world of Shirley Jackson, nothing is as it seems and nowhere is safe, from the city streets to the country manor, and from the small-town apartment to the dark, dark woods...


I've been meaning to get around to reading Shirley Jackson for ages! We Have Always Lived at the Castle has been on my list for ages, so when I got offered Dark Tales to review, I jumped at it! 

I was intrigued to see what all the fuss was about with Shirley Jackson and I eagerly started to read. The stories where atmospheric, they where kinda creepy and in some cases eerie, others where a little bit chilling and they made you think. But I wouldn't agree with the quote on the front that says they're terrifying. I didn't find them all that scary. I found them dark...but just not all that terrifying. I enjoyed the twists the stories had, they always kept me guessing and had a shock twist. I enjoyed her writing for the most part, but I will admit I was expecting the stories to be more scary than they where! Although I am still intrigued by WHALATC! 


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Spooktober Review: The Hidden People


The Hidden People 
Rating: 3/5 
Buy or Borrow: Buy 
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

Pretty Lizzie Higgs is gone, burned to death on her own hearth - but was she really a changeling, as her husband insists? Albie Mirralls met his cousin only once, in 1851, within the grand glass arches of the Crystal Palace, but unable to countenance the rumours that surround her murder, he leaves his young wife in London and travels to Halfoak, a village steeped in superstition.
Albie begins to look into Lizzie's death, but in this place where the old tales hold sway and the 'Hidden People' supposedly roam, answers are slippery and further tragedy is just a step away . . .
I wasn't too sure what to expect from this book when I received it. I got sent it to review for Spooktober and I was intrigued by the synopsis, as I was reading I at one point wasn't sure where the book was going. I thought it might go one way but I was totally wrong and it went a different way, like full murder mystery, so I got a nice surprise! The book genuinely had me believing at one point too! 
My problem with this book was how long it felt. It was 300 and something pages, but it felt like longer because of the way it was written. I found myself skimming certain passages to get to the good stuff. Don't get me wrong, the way it was written fit authentically with the time period, and the detail was very good and historically interesting. However, it made the book drag a lot. I started to read it and I found my attention wandering, but I persevered because I wanted to know what happened to Lizzie and see what direction the book was going to take. But I'm going to be totally honest with you...the first half of the book was so slow. I know some of it was necessary to create the setting and get you familiar with the villagers and their way of life, but still. 
I spent the entire book split between being angry at how the villagers treated Lizzie, and then trying to work out if...maybe, just maybe...the villagers where right and fairies where a thing. I was convinced at one point that a fairy was going to pop up and that would be that, but then it kept twisting and turning and changing my thoughts! I was surprised by the book, it was a little bit chilling and creepy at points, and I liked the mystery to it and the way the author had you questioning who was really the crazy one, and then had you being angry at the ignorance the other half of the time. But there is a lot of filler in this book and for me, that made it a slog for over half of the book. 

Wishing For Wednesday #104

Hey guys!
Happy Wednesday! This week I've got two cool reads for you guys! 
The first is a book I stumbled across on GoodReads, I do a lot of that! I'm not sure if it's being published over here, but you'll be able to get it from BookDepository either way!
The Second is a book I've been waiting for, it sounds so awesome and right up my street! There's norse mythology, and you guys know how much I love Norse mythology! 

Of Fire and Stars

Betrothed since childhood to the prince of Mynaria, Princess Dennaleia has always known what her future holds. Her marriage will seal the alliance between Mynaria and her homeland, protecting her people from other hostile lands. But Denna has a secret. She possesses an Affinity for fire—a dangerous gift for the future queen of a kingdom where magic is forbidden.

Now, Denna must learn the ways of her new home while trying to hide her growing magic. To make matters worse, she must learn to ride Mynaria’s formidable warhorses before her coronation—and her teacher is the person who intimidates her most, the prickly and unconventional Princess Amaranthine (called Mare), sister of her betrothed.

When a shocking assassination leaves the kingdom reeling, Mare and Denna reluctantly join forces to search for the culprit. As the two work together, each discovers there’s more to the other than she thought. Mare is surprised by Denna’s intelligence and bravery, while Denna is drawn to Mare’s independent streak. Soon their friendship is threatening to blossom into something more.

But with dangerous conflict brewing that makes the alliance more important than ever, acting on their feelings could be deadly. Forced to choose between their duty and their hearts, Mare and Denna must find a way to save their kingdoms—and each other.


Of Fire and Stars is out November 22nd, pre-order your copy....here
Add it to your TBR...here


Runemarks

It's been five hundred years since the end of the world and society has rebuilt itself anew. The old Norse gods are no longer revered. Their tales have been banned. Magic is outlawed, and a new religion - the Order - has taken its place.
In a remote valley in the north, fourteen-year-old Maddy Smith is shunned for the ruinmark on her hand - a sign associated with the Bad Old Days. But what the villagers don't know is that Maddy has skills. According to One-Eye, the secretive Outlander who is Maddy's only real friend, her ruinmark - or runemark, as he calls it - is a sign of Chaos blood, magical powers and gods know what else...
Now, as the Order moves further north, threatening all the Worlds with conquest and Cleansing, Maddy must finally learn the truth to some unanswered questions about herself, her parentage, and her powers.
Runemarks is out November 24th, pre-order your copy....here
Add it to your TBR...here

Tuesday 25 October 2016

Spooktober Recommends: Ghosts & Ghouls


Okay so I've been trying to save this because it's probably my favourite but I figured it was time, because Halloween is drawing ever closer! Today's rec post is all about ghosts. Now, I don't know about you, but I can handle most scary/horror things....except for ghosts. Ghosts freak me out to another level, like I had to go watch Paranormal Activity and I didn't sleep properly for a week. I used to watch Most Haunted ALL the time, and it always creeped me out. I think it's the whole not knowing thing that creeps me out, whatever! 
Anyway, this category is my favourite because they're the only thing that can truly creep me out and there are a lot of great books in this post and a lot of my favourite series in particular! 


The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago. 

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

This is one of my favourite series, and one of my library finds! I really do need to take another trip there to see what gems I find this time! I've read all three books, eagerly awaiting each new book, and now I'm desperate for book four! I love how Maureen has written this, it's creepy and there's originality and it's just SO good! But like...really creepy! And from this book it just keeps getting better and better! 



One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.” Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.

Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart. 

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…

This is one of my all time favourite series, and honestly, I really feel like it's totally underrated. Like I don't see many people reading it or saying they've read it! This series is SO damn good, I can't even. There's all kinds of supernaturals/paranormals, there's fun and romance and this series is incredibly creepy because GHOSTS! Kylie can see ghosts and they're usually bugging her to solve their murder and it's just so creepy a lot of the time! 



There's a hot guy in Susannah Simon's bedroom. Too bad he's a ghost.

Suze is a mediator - a liaison between the living and the dead. In other words, she sees dead people. And they won't leave her alone until she helps them resolve their unfinished business with the living. But Jesse, the hot ghost haunting her bedroom, doesn't seem to need her help. Which is a relief, because Suze has just moved to sunny California and plans to start fresh, with trips to the mall instead of the cemetery, and surfing instead of spectral visitations.

But the very first day at her new school, Suze realizes it's not that easy. There's a ghost with revenge on her mind... and Suze happens to be in the way.

Okay so this isn't the same level of creepy as the previous two books, and it's actually the least creepy of all the books on this list, but I had to include it because it's one of my favourite series! I read it when I was in school and it's one of my re-read series! These books are a lot of fun and there's a lot of mystery and ghosts! 



Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose.

Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother's scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she's known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?

I only recently read this, and I actually read it for Spooktober! I read it in one sitting like I seem to find myself doing with all of Alyxandra's books, and I completely loved it! It was creepy, there was a totally cute romance and there was plenty of mystery to be solved! I loved the setting, and it really fit with the story, there's no way it would have worked in a modern setting! 



Micheline Helsing is a tetrachromat—a girl who sees the auras of the undead in a prismatic spectrum. As one of the last descendants of the Van Helsing lineage, she has trained since childhood to destroy monsters both corporeal and spiritual: the corporeal undead go down by the bullet, the spiritual undead by the lens. With an analog SLR camera as her best weapon, Micheline exorcises ghosts by capturing their spiritual energy on film. She's aided by her crew: Oliver, a techno-whiz and the boy who developed her camera's technology; Jude, who can predict death; and Ryder, the boy Micheline has known and loved forever.

When a routine ghost hunt goes awry, Micheline and the boys are infected with a curse known as a soulchain. As the ghostly chains spread through their bodies, Micheline learns that if she doesn't exorcise her entity in seven days or less, she and her friends will die. Now pursued as a renegade agent by her monster-hunting father, Leonard Helsing, she must track and destroy an entity more powerful than anything she's faced before . . . or die trying. 

Okay so I put this on the list because I started to read it not long after I got it, but then I got a build up of review books and had to put it on the back burner, which is where it's been ever since. Which is really bad of me but there you go! I'm hoping I'll have time to get to it this week because what I have read was really good, which is why I'm recommending it! 


I never believed in ghosts. Until one tried to kill me.

When Kennedy Waters finds her mother dead, her world begins to unravel. She doesn’t know that paranormal forces in a much darker world are the ones pulling the strings. Not until identical twins Jared and Lukas Lockhart break into Kennedy’s room and destroy a dangerous spirit sent to kill her. The brothers reveal that her mother was part of an ancient secret society responsible for protecting the world from a vengeful demon — a society whose five members were all murdered on the same night.

Now Kennedy has to take her mother’s place in the Legion if she wants to uncover the truth and stay alive. Along with new Legion members Priest and Alara, the teens race to find the only weapon that might be able to destroy the demon — battling the deadly spirits he controls every step of the way.

Okay Supernatural fans, this one's for you! As soon as I started to read this my brain screamed "Supernatural" at me, and I freaking love Supernatural! This book is so damn good, it's creepy, there's mystery and suspense and romance and I've been waiting for a third book for what feels like forever! I read both books in no time at all because I couldn't put them down. They're definitely Halloween material you guys! 
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Monday 24 October 2016

Spooktober Discussions: Dorian Gray


Hey guys! 
Today's discussion is all about The Picture of Dorian Gray!
I have to say, it's not my favourite so far, I definitely prefer Frankenstein and Jekyll and Hyde, and I found this one kind of hard to read. 
Dorian Gray is a tale of vanity and selfishness with some cruelty thrown in there too. I thought Wilde's writing was beautiful. I really did. I liked how it started out with the beautiful descriptions of flowers, and was quite funny and then as the book went on it turned quite Gothic Horror-y. 

My issue is, that while I was compelled to keep reading to see what happened next and what happened to Dorian, and surprised at some of the twists, I found a lot of the narrative hard to get through due to all the philosophy and everything. Sometimes it went on for pages and I found my attention wandering greatly and I had to fight the urge to skim read and keep reading properly. 

None of the characters are all that likeable and I really disliked Lord Henry. He's kind of an a-hole. I mean, Dorian was perfectly fine until he got his claws in to him and started influencing and my GOD could the man prattle on. He kept spouting off his views every five seconds as if everyone should agree with him and follow along behind him, which Dorian did and it was so damn infuriating because I could see what was happening. I mean, Dorian wasn't all that great but he was a good person until Henry came along and started influencing him. He waffled a lot to and it reached a point when I really didn't want to read through all of his opinions. I kinda wanted to punch him. Decoratively. Because that's what women are for according to him. *Eye roll* 

Dorian had very tragic beginnings, and he's easily influenced by Henry. I'd watched the Ben Barnes Dorian Gray film and the only thing that stuck with me was one scene when he was sitting in a chair, I think it was, and so I had no clue how he ended up becoming such a bad person. I didn't really he'd be influenced by someone else. The thing with Dorian is, that I said he was a good person...but at the same time...could he really have been that good of a person if he let someone like Henry influence him so much? Doesn't that make him weak? Which arguably makes him not that good of a person, or would have at the time I think! 

Speaking of the film, by the way, Ben Barnes was totally wrong, I read the description for Dorian and was like...oh. OH. You don't fit with my mental image! I mean, sure I knew about the painting and everything, but this classic wasn't as spoiled as the previous two because I knew next to nothing about it except for the dodgy painting, so that makes it better in that respect! 

I wasn't really sure how to feel Dorian, he was cruel and selfish and many, many other things, once you disappointed him that it was it. Boom. You're out. He systematically lead every person he came in to contact with, to ruin. But at the same time....I disliked Henry way more than I disliked Dorian, which I'm not sure was the point of the book? 

So yeah....I enjoyed the book but there was a lot of passages that I found myself slogging through to get to the interesting parts. The writing was beaut though, and I did find myself surprised more than once at the turns the plot took to get to the end! 

What did you guys think of Dorian Gray? 
Agree with me? Disagree? 
Let me know in the comments! 
Classics are a bit hit or miss for me, some of them go completely over my head and I have a feeling this is one of those! 

Favourite Quotes

“The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame.” 

 “You will always be fond of me. I represent to you all the sins you never had the courage to commit.” 

“Experience is merely the name men gave to their mistakes.” 

“Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault. Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope. They are the elect to whom beautiful things mean only Beauty. There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all.”  

“To define is to limit.”

“Behind every exquisite thing that existed, there was something tragic.”  
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