Review: BURN (Rephaim #4) by Paul Weston

BURN

Author: Paula Weston

Series: The Rephaim

Pages: 432

Publisher: Text Publishing

Release date: 24^th June 2015

Synopsis (Goodreads) The final book in The Rephaim series. Due out in June 2015 for Australia/New Zealand; August 2015 for UK; and June 2016 for US/Canada.

Gaby remembers everything. 
For a year she believed she was a backpacker chilling out in Pandanus Beach. Working at the library. Getting over the accident that killed her twin brother.
Then Rafa came to find her and Gaby discovered her true identity as Gabe: one of the Rephaim. Over a hundred years old. Half angel, half human, all demon-smiting badass—and hopelessly attracted to the infuriating Rafa.
Now she knows who faked her memories, and how—and why it’s all hurtling towards a massive showdown between the forces of heaven and hell. 
More importantly, she remembers why she’s spent the last ten years wanting to seriously hurt Rafa.

Review: 5 out of 5 stars

Have you ever read a series that you never wanted to end, for me its The Rephaim series by Aussie author Paula Weston. I honestly don’t enjoy angel/demon books – more the angel aspect but this series has been amazing and Burn is so far my number one favourite book for the year! I am completely and utterly satisfied with the ending but also so sad that it has all come to an end.

The last book ended on a huge cliff-hanger so the wait has been excruciating! I don’t want to give away any spoilers at all, this is a series you need to read from book one to fully grasp what has happened, to appreciate the wonderfully developed characters and to enjoy the fabulous world that Paula Weston has created.

Gaby/Gabe is a complete badass, the life she has lived for the past year has been completely fabricated and she is now beginning, along with her brother Jude to understand why. Her memories were planted and she remembered nothing of her old life until Rafa {swoon} re-appeared in her life.

It has been a huge mystery what had happened between Rafa and Gaby and I was completely shocked! I knew it would be something big but I could never guess and I was quietly devastated but also a little more smitten by the revelations (a little vague but if you read you’d understand why). Told in a series of flashbacks it was nice to get their ‘complete’ history.

The romance hasn’t played a huge role in this book but the chemistry and the attraction has been off the charts! I love the interactions between all of the characters and there are quite a few of them.

The world-building in the Rephaim series has been top notch and completely flawless - Burn takes us on a journey of the imminent attack on Pan Beach by demons and the preparations for the brewing violence. The mystery, intrigue and the politics have been a secret throughout and I never quite knew what was going to happen, the element of surprise has kept everything interesting. The fast-paced action packed plot is filled with a lot of destruction and with the appearance of Semyaza and the 200, it was great to see it all play out in their final battle.

Paula Weston’s writing is fantabulous! Burn is a book that I couldn’t put down; it was amazing – the revelations, angel politics, great characters; each with unique and likeable personalities and the romance kept me wanting more.

I can’t offer enough praise for Burn and the Rephaim series, it has been an amazing ride and I am devastated it has come to an end! I can’t wait to see what Paula Weston comes up with next, I’m certain it will be just as amazing.

About the author: 

I'm the author of the Rephaim series.

I'm also an avid reader and blogger, a huge fan of Australian literature and fantasy/paranormal stories, a closet comic reader and TV addict...and I'm borderline obsessed with the Foo Fighters.

All images/blurb/author details etc. have been copied from GoodReads

  

Review: Bird by Crystal Chan

Bird by Crystal Chan

Author: Crystal Chan

Series: -

Pages: 295

Publisher/Source: Text Publishing

Amazon

Release date: 29^th January 2014

Synopsis:

Nothing matters. Only Bird matters. And he flew away.

Jewel never knew her brother Bird, but all her life she has lived in his shadow. Her parents blame Grandpa for the tragedy of their family’s past; they say that Grandpa attracted a malevolent spirit—a duppy—into their home. Grandpa hasn’t spoken a word since. Now Jewel is twelve, and she lives in a house full of secrets.

Jewel is sure that no one will ever love her like they loved Bird, until the night that she meets a mysterious boy in a tree.

Grandpa is convinced that the boy is a duppy, but Jewel knows that he is something more. And that maybe the time has come to break through the stagnant silence of the past.

Entrenched secrets, mysterious spirits, and an astonishing friendship weave together in this extraordinary and haunting debut

Review: 4 ½ out of 5 stars

Bird was such a pleasant surprise, with beautiful poetic prose, elegant writing and intriguing characters it is a book which captured and held my attention.

Jewels five year-old brother John ‘Bird died the day she was born, a tragedy that broke a family – Grandpa stopped talking and her parents were grief stricken; it has been that way for twelve years.

On Jewels twelfth birthday she climbs a tree and meets John, an African American boy who soon becomes her closest friend; they made a wonderful pair with their ambitions and friendship, the way they played and interacted were reminiscent of what we’d do as children which I really appreciated.

Jewels life was filled with sorrow, her family dynamic was strained; she was extremely lonely, I found her story heart-breaking. I couldn’t help but hope that her parents would pay her the attention she craved and needed but they were seemingly lost in their own misery and oblivious whilst Jewel navigated her childhood more or less alone.

I enjoyed the way the author explored culture and spirituality and the small astronomy and geology tidbits and references; I also had no idea what a duppy was (an evil spirit) but I found this aspect to be fascinating and incorporated into the story well. The sublime setting of Iowa was vivid, the details and dialogue entertaining, I relished the depth in which the story was told.

Bird is a book filled with heart and hope and reflects on a family’s guilt, grief and loss; it was an emotionally poignant read that was written exquisitely and with compassion, told in first person narrative it gave us great insight into Jewels character which I feel was important to gain a sense of her true inner voice and to fully understand her emotions.

As an older reader, I don’t tend to read and enjoy MG but Bird was a book with a mature protagonist, storyline and the wisdom that I felt was perfect for not only the younger reader but the more mature reader as well, it was a captivating read.

Thank you to Text Publishing Australia for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

  

About the author: Crystal Chan grew up as a mixed-race kid in the middle of the Wisconsin cornfields and has been trying to find her place in the world ever since. Over time, she found that her heart lies in public speaking, performing, and ultimately, writing. She has published articles in several magazines; given talks and workshops across the country; facilitated discussion groups at national conferences; and been a professional storyteller for children and adults alike.

In Chicago, where Crystal now lives, you will find her biking along the city streets and talking to her pet turtle. Her debut middle-grade novel, Bird, is published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers. She is represented by Emily van Beek of Folio Literary Management.

Review: Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

Two Boys Kissing

Author: David Levithan

Series: -

Pages: 208

Publisher: Text Publishing

Genre: Young Adult - LGBT

Amazon

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

Seventeen-year-olds Craig and Harry are trying to set a new Guinness World Record for kissing.

Around them, Ryan and Avery are falling in love, Neil and Peter are falling out of love, and Cooper might be somewhere, but he is also, dangerously, nowhere.

Narrated, Greek-chorus style, by the generation of gay men lost to AIDS, this novel is a thematic companion to David Levithan’s groundbreakingBoy Meets Boy, which celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2013.

Two Boys Kissing is trademark Levithan: warm, sharp and real. It is also something new and completely extraordinary.

Review: 4 out of 5 stars

Two Boys Kissing is the first book I have read by David Levithan and it certainly won’t be my last as I found myself engrossed in his amazing story-telling and the poignant, inspiring tale being told.

I have to admit, this book is very different to what I normally read, it is based on a generation of gay men that have died from the Aids virus looking at a group of gay men in the present; comparing you could say what was to what now is.

It took me a little while to get used to the narration, I found it completely confusing at times but as the book progressed each voice became unique as the characters told their individual, distinctive stories. The plot and the pacing flowed well and I found myself becoming absorbed in each of the raw, emotional and heartfelt personal experiences.

With the chorus of gay men narrating and marvelling at the difference in acceptance now for the teens than what is was for them, it showed the social differences they faced which at times was terribly difficult to read about after knowing what they had to endure – loneliness, beatings, prejudice and being disowned by family and friends, it was an eye opener.

Craig, Harry, Ryan, Avery, Cooper, Neil and Peter are the characters we get to know throughout the story, each with different personalities but connected by their sexuality and their personal struggles. I enjoyed and admired each of the characters and the insight we are given into their lives.

Two Boys Kissing is a book filled with heart and hope, the subject matters are often taboo and not openly talked about so I commend David Levithan for writing such a exceptional and distinct book, it certainly sends an important message; it was informative and taught me a lot as we learn about the struggles and the need for acceptance constantly faced by teens primarily because of ignorance.

David Levithan’s writing is utterly brilliant, his story-telling exceeded my expectations and resonate with you as a reader and despite finding the narrative style complex initially it ended up being an important aspect in the overall story.

Overall, Two Boys Kissing is a beautiful, emotive book with stunning prose and wonderful characterization; a highly addictive, compelling read.

Thank-you kindly to Text Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Two Boys Kissing. 

 

About the author: David Levithan (born 1972) is an American children's book editor and award-winning author. He published his first YA book, Boy Meets Boy, in 2003. Levithan is also the founding editor of PUSH, a Young Adult imprint of Scholastic Press.

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Blog tour: Review + Aus/NZ Giveaway Zac & Mia by A.J. Betts

Hi everyone! I’m so pleased to be able to participate in the Zac & Mia by A.J. Betts blog tour through Text Publishing.

Zac & Mia was the winner of the 2012 Text Prize for Young Adult and Children’s writing.

Zac and Mia

Author: A.J. Betts

Pages: 272

Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: Text Publishing

Amazon
Release date: 24th July 2013

Synopsis.

The last person Zac expects in the room next door is a girl like Mia, angry and feisty with questionable taste in music. In the real world, he wouldn’t—couldn’t—be friends with her. In hospital different rules apply, and what begins as a knock on the wall leads to a note—then a friendship neither of them sees coming.

You need courage to be in hospital; different courage to be back in the real world. In one of these worlds Zac needs Mia. And in the other Mia needs Zac. Or maybe they both need each other, always.

Review: 4 out of 5 stars

I was quite hesitant about reading Zac & Mia, I recently found out a very close family member has cancer so I was a little wary about how the book would make me feel; although there is sadness, it also showed optimism and made me think about life and how we experience it.

Zac Meier and Mia Phillips are our main characters and meet during hospitalisation for cancer, both complete opposites in personality and the only thing really connecting them is their disease; Zac is more accepting of what he has and has researched it extensively so is aware of his odds but Mia is full of rage and is trying to hold on to what her life was.

At the beginning of the book (Part 1) we see how Zac copes with the isolation, the mundane repetitive routines and his feelings about his life and the chances he has of surviving, it was evenly paced and kept me interested; he was an easy character to like. The middle portion (Part 2) of the book showed Mia and Zac’s time together and how the illness united them and the bond they came to form, sickness is the overall subject matter but it certainly wasn't all gloom and the bulk of the story, the last portion (Part 3) of the book is more or less Mia and I feel this is where we see the most character growth for her but I still didn’t find her to have the most endearing personality. I admired both of these characters but more so Zac for his kindness, strength and understanding, he seemed to want to support and help Mia who was adamant she was broken and couldn't seem to lose the anger.

One thing I absolutely loved was Zac’s relationship with his mother who I thought was amazing! She was wonderful and so supportive, not only with him but also to Mia who didn’t have the same family life.

Zac & Mia touched very close to home, it is emotionally intense and confronting but the way in which the author wove in family, humour and a sweet friendship to romance which all began through a tap on the hospital walls gave the overall book a sense of balance. Ms. Betts writing is wonderfully engaging, she bought out the characters emotions, hopes and courage beautifully in a way which was realistic and we get both POV’s which I felt worked well in this story.

Overall, if you are after a book filled with hope and heart I recommend Zac & Mia, it doesn’t come without teary moments and sorrow but it does show that positivity and courage can get us through anything, as difficult as they may be.

Thank-you kindly to Text Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Zac & Mia.

About the author: A. J. Betts is an author, teacher, speaker and cyclist. Zac & Mia, the winner of the Text Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing, is her third novel for young adults. Her others are ShutterSpeed andWavelength. She lives in Perth, and writes when she’s not pedalling.

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Giveaway: Text Publishing is kindly offering one (1) copy of Zac & Mia to an Australian or New Zealand resident

• No responsibility will be taken for lost or stolen books
• The winner will have 48 hours to respond
• Not all rafflecopter options are mandatory
• Australian or New Zealand residents only.
• Ends 10th August 2013

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Text Prize Winner Blog Tour

Zac & Mia by A. J. Betts

Wednesday 24 (Pub date!)

Q&A with ALPHAReader

Thursday 25

Review at First Impressions

Friday 26

Guest Post on Kids’ Book Review

Saturday 27

Review at The Tales Compendium

Sunday 28

Review at Writing for Children

Monday 29

Review at YA Midnight Reads

Tuesday 30

Review at VeganYANerds

Wednesday 31

Review at Obsession with Books

Thursday 01 August

Reviewat inkcrush

Review: The Accident by Kate Hendrick

The Accident

Author: Kate Hendrick

Series: -

Pages: 272

Publisher: Text Publishing

Genre: Young Adult

Amazon – TBD

Synopsis (Goodreads)

A rainy night. 

A car crash.

After the accident Sarah moves to a new school. A new place where no one knows what happened to her or her brother—where she doesn't have to deal with the history that's pulling the rest of her family apart. 

Will is keeping his head down at home, just trying to get by. Then his sister Lauren comes back—as caustic as always but somehow changed. Will doesn't know what upheaval brought her home. But it's sparking some serious change in his life too.

Eliat's got no mother of her own, and she's way too young to be one. Looking after a two-year-old, trying to finish school—sometimes all that keeps her sane is partying as hard and fast as she can. Now the pressure's building and Eliat just wants to get away.

Just get into a car and drive.

In this impressive and beautifully written debut, Kate Hendrick sets the butterfly effect in motion. The moving stories of three teenagers going through crucial changes—before, after and around the accident—show how random actions acquire significance. How one pivotal moment could transform your life and you might never know; how what you do matters.

Review: 3 ½ out of 5 stars

The Accident is the story of Sarah Starke, Will McAlpine and Eliat Singleton whose lives are in some form connected. With the backdrop of Sydney, Australia it is an engaging and thought provoking read.

The characters: I enjoyed quiet, introverted Sarah the most, she has just started a new school and is trying to adapt to the recent changes in her family life as well as recover from the accident which happened a year prior; Will’s family life is difficult and I found his love of reading quite endearing but he came across as an unfeeling character and Eliat is in the foster system raising her two year-old daughter Tash but still living her wild lifestyle, she is the character I connected with the least because I didn’t feel she truly appreciated what she had and seemed oblivious to her own situation, as tough as it was.

The plot: Was interesting with three very different characters trying to decide the directions they will take with their lives, the changes they needed to make and their purpose; I was intrigued by each of their differing situations and struggles and felt each grew as the book progressed despite the problems they faced. It showed that all actions have some form of consequence and I liked the underlying message.

I felt the overall feel of The Accident was quite morose; I had to stop at one stage for a breather and a bit of light reading, the pacing of the first few chapters were quite slow and took me a while to get into but once I did, I was riveted. The characters show vulnerability and emotions true to their age which I appreciated, the story is told in time perspectives of Before, After and Later and it was all tied together in the end nicely.

My biggest gripe with this book was trying to work out whose point of view each chapter was coming from, Sarah, Will or Eliat’s, it was especially difficult in the initial stages where we were still working out who is who but I came to get accustomed to each characters unique voice as I read along.

The Accident was written extremely well, I enjoyed Ms. Hendrick’s style of writing and her characterisations. It is a book which evokes a lot of emotions and curiosity; it is a wonderful debut for Kate Hendrick and the Sydney setting I always find appealing.

Thank-you kindly to Text Publishing for providing me with a copy of The Accident to read and review.

About the author: Kate Hendrick is a high school teacher and creative jack-of-all trades, with interests in art, design, photography, writing and anything DIY, especially if it involved power tools. She and her husband live in Sydney with their young daughter. 

The Accident is her first novel.