Review: Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Bookish Details:
Series: Vampire Academy #2
Pages: 327
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: April 10th 2008

Goodreads Synopsis:Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose...

It’s winter break at St. Vladimir’s, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy’s crawling with Guardians—including Rose’s hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn’t bad enough, Rose’s tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason’s got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa’s head while she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy’s not taking any risks... This year, St. Vlad’s annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price...

My Review:

So I’m doing a reread of the Vampire Academy series, and as I didn’t post reviews when I read them the first time around, I thought I’d take the time to review them now.

Frostbite follows on from where things left off in book one. Rose and Lissa are trying to get back to normal. But, of course, when is it ever that simple? Rose is still hung up on Dimitri, the man she can never have a romantic future with. Oh, and a massacre occurs.

Everyone is left shaken up after Strigoi murder a Royal family. In order to stay safe over the festive season, VA students end up at a ski resort so that they can be with family members. This is where Rose first meets Adrian, arrogant, flirty Royal.

Although the resort is supposed to provide safety for the students, after another attack, Mason and friends decide to go hunting after the Strigoi and Rose attempts to reach them before it’s too late.

I have to admit, I did not see the events at the end of this book coming a mile off. I knew there was going to be danger, that’s part of the deal, but I was sitting there wide eyed as I read the last few chapters. There is definitely more action in this book.

I loved getting to see a little more of Christian in this book. He teams up with Rose in the last few chapters and I loved how, even though they don’t get along, they’re willing to help each other.

I really enjoyed reading more about Rose’s mother when she turns up at the academy. It’s interesting to see the straining relationship between them and it makes you curious to find out how that may change in future books.

Frostbite is an awesome sequel and gets you excited for book three! 

Royal Rating:

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Two New 'City of Bones' Posters!

Hey everyone!

Two new character posters have been revealed for The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones! This time it's Izzy and Alec's turn:

What do you think of the new posters? Are you excited for the film? I know I am!

The film opens on August 21st in the US and August 23rd in the UK.

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The Queen of Teen Fiction is now on Facebook!

Hey everyone!

I've created a Facebook page for The Queen of Teen Fiction! Why not drop by and tell me what books you're currently reading? Click here to visit the page.

Happy Reading!

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Review: Geek Girl by Holly Smale

Bookish Details:
Series: Geek Girl #1
Pages: 378
Publisher: Harper Collins
Release Date: 28th February 2013

Synopsis:Harriet Manners knows a lot of things.

She knows that a cat has 32 muscles in each ear, a "jiffy" lasts 1/100th of a second, and the average person laughs 15 times per day. What she isn't quite so sure about is why nobody at school seems to like her very much. So when she's spotted by a top model agent, Harriet grabs the chance to reinvent herself. Even if it means stealing her Best Friend's dream, incurring the wrath of her arch enemy Alexa, and repeatedly humiliating herself in front of the impossibly handsome supermodel Nick. Even if it means lying to the people she loves.

As Harriet veers from one couture disaster to the next with the help of her overly enthusiastic father and her uber-geeky stalker, Toby, she begins to realise that the world of fashion doesn't seem to like her any more than the real world did.

And as her old life starts to fall apart, the question is: will Harriet be able to transform herself before she ruins everything?

My Review:

I’ve got to say, it’s been a while since I’ve read a chick lit comedy story! I’ve been so stuck in fantasy and paranormal novels that I’d forgotten my original love for a good, girly read!

Geek Girl tells the story of school ‘geek’, Harriet, who is accidentally discovered by a modelling agent during a school trip. The story follows her hilarious journey to transform herself by becoming the face of a famous fashion line.

I really liked Harriet. As someone who can relate to being a ‘geek’ in school, I could sympathise with her and understand why she wanted to try and change. I enjoyed the fact that she wasn’t a flawless character, she made mistakes and she learnt how to fix them.

I really loved Harriet’s dad! He was a great comedy element to the story. But I have to say, I think Wilbur is one of the funniest characters I’ve found in a long time. I loved his crazy sayings and his first meeting with Harriet’s dad and stepmother is such a hilarious scene!

“And if it isn’t Mr and Mrs Baby-baby Panda! Just right there in front of me, like two little matching pots of strawberry fromage frais! Ooh, I could just eat you both up. But I won’t because that would be terribly antisocial.”

The characters are really quirky and unique - you just can’t help but adore them. I liked getting an insight into the world of modelling and how harsh it can be sometimes. I also loved how Harriet eventually stood up for herself at the end of the story.

I think anyone who is a fan of Louise Rennison’s Georgia Nicholson books will adore Geek Girl! I can’t wait for the next installment in the series! 

Royal Rating:

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Review: Out of The Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Bookish Details:
Pages: 346
Publisher: Philomel Books
Release Date: 12th February 2013

Synopsis:It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer.

She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street. Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.
With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny

My Review:
Well, what can I say about Out of The Easy? There aren't words to describe how much I fell in love with this book.

I have a feeling that Ruta Sepetys is going to be one of those authors that every time she releases a book, I will buy it no matter what. She is fast becoming one of my favorite writers.

Out of The Easy is set in 1950s New Orleans. Now, it’s not often that I read historical fiction, but I made an exception for Ruta’s first novel (Between Shades of Gray) and it was a beautiful story, so reading this book was an easy decision for me.

The story follows 17 year old Josie and her life working in a bookstore and cleaning for well-known Madam, Willie, who she has known since she was a little girl. Josie is a fantastic heroine. She is strong and smart and you really feel the struggles that she faces. Her friendship with Patrick and the story between them is written so perfectly. I also love how she is determined not to follow in the footsteps of her mother, sticking to her own ways.

I also adored Willie! She’s definitely one of the most interesting characters I've came across in a while. I love how much she did genuinely care for Josie throughout the story. There were some really heart-warming moments between the two of them.

Each character in this story was captivating to read about. It’s not often I read a book in which all of the characters are so amazing. They are all so unique and they help create a story that will stay with you for a long time.

The pacing of the plot is perfect. Nothing feels rushed within the story and every chapter leaves you needing to read the next one.

What I also really love about this book is that it captures the setting and the time of New Orleans so perfectly, you feel as though you are actually there with the characters.  It has made me want to read more books set in New Orleans, that’s for sure!

I would seriously recommend this book to anyone, even if you don’t usually read historical novels because, trust me, you won’t regret it. It’s like no other book out there. 

Royal Rating:

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Review: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Bookish Details:
Pages: 332
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: August 16th 2007

Goodreads Synopsis:St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger...
Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

My Review:

No, I haven’t just read this book for the first time. I read it way before I had a book blog. But with a lot of new fans coming to the series because of the film adaptation, I thought I’d take a little time to post my review on book one of this awesome series.

I didn’t start off thinking it was too awesome, if I’m honest. When I read it the first time around, I was surrounded by so many vampire books that the thought of reading another one made me want bury my face in a pillow. So I don’t think I gave it a fair chance. I read half of it, only half paying attention, and then left it.

But when the last book in the series was about to come out and everyone was getting excited, I started to wonder if I’d misjudged that first book. So I went over to the book shelf, picked up book one and started again. And boy did I regret ever dismissing that book as just another, cliché vampire story.

This book is so much more than that.

Let’s start with Rose, shall we? Rose is not your typical YA book heroine, oh no. She’s feisty, tough and confident. Okay, she’s a little more than confident, sometimes, and that is exactly what I love about her. She is not the kind of girl who stays hiding in the shadows, spending hours analysing every interaction with a guy to work out whether he like her it or not. She’s hot and she knows it. Reading that, you might think that she’d be an annoying character, but she is so not. She is strong, determined, and extremely loyal. She will always stand up for herself.

The story follows Rose and her best friend, Lissa, who happens to be a Royal. The two are much more than friends, however, as they share a psychic bond.  Her and Lissa’s friendship is one of the key points in this story. It isn’t just a story about a romance. Friendship is a strong theme throughout.

But, of course, we do have Dimitri. Tall, gorgeous, Russian guy who is seen as a God. And you can really see why. His relationship with Rose is a difficult one, due to the small facts that he’s seven years older than her and is practically her teacher. Oh, and a relationship between the two of them also happens to be forbidden because they are both Lissa’s guardians.

There is so much action within this story, but there is also the typical high school element to things and I think that Richelle does a perfect job in including all of that into the book.

If you read the title Vampire Academy and, like me, assume that this is going to be just another vampire love story, you are so wrong. Seriously, let this book restore your faith in vampire novels. I promise you that you won’t be disappointed.

Royal Rating:

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Waiting on Wednesday: Awaken

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine. "Waiting on Wednesday" spotlights upcoming releases that i'm eagerly anticipating.

Awaken by Meg Cabot
Release Date: July 2nd 2013

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, the dark re imagining of the Persephone myth comes to a thrilling conclusion.
Death has her in his clutches. She doesn’t want him to let go.
Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera knew by accepting the love of John Hayden, she’d be forced to live forever in the one place she’s always dreaded most: the Underworld. The sacrifice seemed worth it, though, because it meant she could be with the boy she loves.
But now her happiness — and safety — are threatened, all because the Furies have discovered that John has broken one of their strictest rules: He revived a human soul.
If the balance between life and death isn’t fixed, both the Underworld and Pierce’s home back on earth will be wiped away. But there’s only one way to restore order. Someone has to die.

The final book in the Abandon trilogy by the fabulous Meg Cabot! I'm super excited to see how the story ends for Pierce and John.

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Review: Purity by Jackson Pearce

Bookish Details:
Pages: 218 (Hardcover)
Publisher: Little, Brown Books
Release Date: Aprils 24th 2012

Synopsis:A novel about love, loss, and sex -- but not necessarily in that order. Before her mother died, Shelby promised three things: to listen to her father, to love as much as possible, and to live without restraint. Those Promises become harder to keep when Shelby's father joins the planning committee for the Princess Ball, an annual dance that ends with a ceremonial vow to live pure lives -- in other words, no "bad behavior," no breaking the rules, and definitely no sex.
Torn between Promises One and Three, Shelby makes a decision -- to exploit a loophole and lose her virginity before taking the vow. But somewhere between failed hookup attempts and helping her dad plan the ball, Shelby starts to understand what her mother really meant, what her father really needs, and who really has the right to her purity.

My Review:

Sex is definitely a topic that many YA authors are keen to cover. Ever since Judy Blume’s Forever, there have been many attempts to deal with the issues of sex and virginity in books aimed at teenagers. Sometimes, they’re fantastic at getting messages across in a subtle and entertaining way. Others, not so much.

Purity is a book that I’m still on the fence about. The story follows Shelby, a teenager who is about to make a promise at a Princess Ball to keep her virginity until marriage. As she begins to doubt if this is something she really wants, but not wanting to lie to and hurt her father, she makes the decision to try and lose her virginity before making the promise.

I’m torn about the way the story deals with the issue of Shelby wanting to ‘get sex over with’ and I still can’t decide whether the story gives a positive or negative message to young girls. I like the fact that Shelby can make the decisions that she does, and she is a strong character throughout the story, but I’m not sure whether I agree with the way her story played out.

I loved the characters and I really enjoyed the humour that Pearce puts into the story, I’m just not sure if I like it as a whole. One of the best things about this story is the father/daughter relationship and I think the emotions between those two characters are one of the factors that make the story worth reading. Shelby’s friendships also made me want to keep turning the pages.

Overall, however, I’m not sure where this book fits in. It’s not there to provide factual knowledge to teenagers in the way that stories like Forever do, but it’s not completely hilarious enough to be classed as a comical take on the issues of teen sex.

I’ll give this book a three out of five, but only because there were certain moments in the books that I really loved. If those few moments hadn’t been there, I would have rated it less. 

Royal Rating: 

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The Catching Fire Trailer Has Dropped!

So the trailer for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire has finally been shared with the world. I'm super excited for the film and the trailer is looking awesome so far!



What are you looking forward to most in this film? Is there anything you wish had been shown in the trailer? Let me know!

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Blog Updates

Hi everyone!

Just letting you all know that I won't be posting much over the next month or so. This is because deadline dates and exams are approaching for my final university year (eeek!). I should be back to posting normally again at the end of May.

Thanks for reading! :)

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