Chill Your Bones...: Virals

Some people may or may not have watched the forensic T.V series Bones. Well from the same author that inspired the Bones a new series has been released. Virals is about four friends and their dog. But Enid Blyton has some catching up to do when it comes to  this series. When 14 year old Tory Brennan (niece of the forensic scientist Temperance Brennan from the T.V series Bones) moved to a remote island community with her dad after her mother died in a car crash. Meeting three new friends Ben, Hi (Heslim) and Stephin the book starts six months after she moves there. When they rescue the adorable wolf-dog puppy Cooper from a lab on a deserted island who has been illegally experimented on, they would have no idea about the consequences of their actions. They get infected by a genetically altered version of the Parvo Virus and the group begin to change in ways they never expected. They will need all their new skills when they discover a body know one wants found...

This is a really wonderful book, although when I first got this I thought that this would be similar to a dozen other stories I read, this one really stood out from the cloud. Although it has teenagers, hormones and friendship and not to mention the changes happening to the characters, you got a real sense that this was a mystery and the author has managed to keep that in focus all through the book. I thought the main character Tory, was a bit like a young Sherlock Holmes as she and her friend dug deeper in cold-case murder that know one believes them about. I really enjoyed this and thought it was an excellent thriller that kept me turning every page.

'I can't help it. It's in my DNA'

Nell xxx

Suprisingly Good...: Dead Witch Walking

The Rachel Morgan Series (AKA the Hollows) is suprisingly good, although the covers are in most cases trashy, the books themselves have a suprising depth to them that is uncommon in some of the best authers. It's set in a alternate reality where after a disease that wiped out a large portion of humanity witches, vampires and weres were forced to reveal themselves to make sure humanity didn't become extinct. this is set many years later when witch Rachel morgan quits her job with the I.S to become a private investigator. One problem, nobody quits the I.S and lives. Struggling to pay the bills; dodge assassins and avoid her moody living vampire roomate Ivy. you really fell connected to her in a way you really don't expect to. When you hear the term 'don't judge a book by it's cover' you haven't found the meaning intil you have read this book. Kim Harrison has managed to turn a completly over done and  under achieving genre into a brilliant, funny, well written and at times poignant book.

 '"Look at this" I gestured to my take. "a tax evading Leprachaun. It's an insult"'

Nell xxx

A Classic Fanatsy...: The Hobbit

Out of all Tolkiens works, The Hobbit is definatly my favourite. The title was originaly 'there and back agian' but is better known as the 'The Hobbit'. As the prequal to the popular 'Lord of the Rings' it is much shorter at about 300 hundred pages. I find The Hobbit much more light hearted then Lord of the Rings. It's about Bilbo Baggins (Frodos uncle) being rather reluctently dragged on an adventure by his good friend Gandalf to reclaim the lost mountin and it's treasure which is jealously guarded by the dragon Smaug. All though 'The hobbit was published quite awhile ago I still think it is a brilliant book and engaging read. It smuch more fast paced then Lord of the Rings which I find drags on a bit and is full of laughs.

'There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something'

Nell xxx

One Of My Favourites...: The Name Of The Wind

The Name Of The Wind is one of my all time favorite books. Its the first book in the 'Kingkiller Chronicles' and comes in various different covers, this is my favorite as the some of them are slightly strange. It's approximately 660 pages long. The story is told from Kvothes veiw point and is set in two different time, Kvothe as he is now and Kvothe when he is younger. Despite this Patrick Rothefuss is such a brilliant author that the plot doesn't get confusing and instead leaves you hanging, desperate to learn more. It's set in a Fantasy period where the Kvothe of now own a back water inn under the guise of a young man named Kote, hiding after faking his death. Kvothe has been raised by his mother and father who work with a group of traveling performers. This is where Kvothe gets his evident love and skill with music. A man traveling with them is the slightly batty Abenthy who, surprised with the intelligence of the seven year old Kvothe teachers him the basics of the science and sympathy which you could say, started the whole story. One of the best books I have ever read, although the genre may not be to some peoples liking, I would definitely pick this book up and try it.

'Abenthy made me the man I am today, do not be harsh with him, he meant well'

Nell xxx

What Started It All...: Twilght

I'm sorry to all twilight haters and those who dislike romance, but no one can deny that twilight has been a major success since it was first published in 2005. 116 million copies were sold as of 2010 and it has inspired so many teens to stop playing the Xbox and pick up a book. I think what this book has accomplished is incredible. I think that the first book is the best. Bella has friends outside 'The Cullens' and other interests. I also like that at first things aren't to intense between them. In so many books the Boy and the Girl meet for about 2 minutes and suddenly there like 'OMG I have found my soul mate'. How ever as the series goes on I find that you lose the story line to the relationship between Edward and Bella. It is true that although Stephenie Meyer wrote a classic love triangle, she did manage to keep it interesting with some unforeseen twist. But Bella seems to forget about her home life and her friends. In the last book however you do see a dilemma besides team Edward versus team Jacob as Stephenie Meyer rounds of the series nicely with a dramatic finish.

As for the Novella 'The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner' I have yet to read that but will let you know when I do!

Nell xxx