Blood of Wonderland - Colleen Oakes

Began reading: 21.5.2017
Completed reading: 26.5.2017
Overall rating: 5 stars

The queen will rise.

Dinah has been exiled from Wonderland.

Her vicious father has framed her for the brutal murder of her brother, and turned the kingdom against her.

Now hiding in the mysterious Twisted Wood with only her war steed at her side, Dinah is faced with a choice. She could leave Wonderland behind forever or return and fight for her throne.

A chance encounter with one of her father's enemies brings Dinah more allies than she ever could have imagined. But before she can lead her people into war she must confront certain truths about her heart and her destiny - no matter how dark those truths may be.

Revolution is rising in Wonderland.

Dinah's battle has begun.

Blood of Wonderland by Colleen Oakes is the second book in the Queen of Hearts saga. It is a fictional young adult retelling of Alice in Wonderland, containing fantasy themes. I was so excited to get my hands on this book because I fell in love with Dinah in the first novel. I loved this book so much, and I don’t have a single negative to say about it!

Dinah, framed by her father for the murder of her brother, has been forced to flee from her home in Wonderland Palace into the Twisted Woods. The King of Hearts has turned the kingdom against Dinah and placed her half-sister Vittiore on Dinah’s throne. While hiding alone in the woods, she chances upon her father’s best tracker who decides to help her escape the wrath of her father. Together, they meet Mundoo, the Yurkei chief and the King of Hearts’ sworn enemy. After learning of Dinah’s situation, Mundoo welcomes her into the mysterious Yurkei tribe and allows her to decide her fate – to return to Wonderland and fight for her crown, or live a quiet nomadic life in the mountains. With this decision, Dinah will have to look within herself to figure out who she really is and what she wants. Things become increasingly complicated when one of the king’s most trusted servants appears and hits Dinah with a secret that makes Dinah question everything she thought she knew. While Dinah is discovering herself, she will plot against the king – but if she chooses to return to Wonderland, will she be the same queen as the one that abandoned her royal lifestyle months ago? Will Wonderlanders accept her over her father’s tyrannical rule and her beautiful half-sister’s reign?

The book was well-written, which is what I expected after reading the first novel. It was structured well, and the pace was steady. I loved the use of literary techniques throughout the text; some examples will be in the list of notable quotes below. Oakes utilised a variety of literary techniques to assist readers with comprehending the story. Some examples include the setting, conflict and foreshadowing. Aside from literary techniques, there were also some great quotes, including:

Her life was like nightfire – a place that once burned with bright hope, now nothing more than a flickering blackness, her suffering invisible to the naked eye (p. 96).

Pain cemented things in the brain the way reading did not (p. 97).

Dinah’s hands were gripping the tablecloth, her nails tearing through the thin fabric. Her world was collapsing, inside and outside. Her watery eyes made the stars look like they were falling (p. 194).

‘We become who we must to overcome pain and to make things right again’ (p. 213).

If she could not quench the fire within her, she would set Wonderland ablaze (p. 319).

As I have mentioned in previous reviews, I’m a sucker for a good plot. It needs to be dramatic, innovative and unique. I absolutely loved how this book followed on directly from the previous one, and that it still felt like a new tale at the same time. The overall message about finding and staying true to yourself was inspiring and sweet. The plot held some adventure and tantalising drama woven throughout the book, which kept me hooked. I believe that Oakes has definitely improved upon her first novel, and the fact that I didn’t want to put the book down demonstrated that.

Plot twists are a great way for authors to keep their stories interesting for readers. There needs to be a balance of predictability and unpredictability to the twist, and it also needs to leave readers wanting more. The plot twists in this book were amazing because they were full of feeling and left me reeling. The revelations were unpredictable (especially the final one) and refreshing, as I did not expect anything like that to happen. A day after finishing the book and I’m still in shock! I am dying to get my hands on the next book, and this is how writers should make readers feel.

                     

Secondary characters are so important for a story because they keep the protagonist focused on the main objective, provide plot twists that keep us interested, and help with expanding the narrative by supplying sub-plots and their own reactions to events in the novel. In the first book, Oakes introduced us to various secondary characters to help build the story and this continued in this book. We saw some of the characters from the previous book, but we were also introduced to new supporting characters that provided diverse personalities and fascinating back stories. Because they were only briefly mentioned in the last book, we weren’t able to gain a decent amount of insight into how they behaved with other supporting characters (I’m referring to knowing how the King of Hearts hated Mundoo but we weren’t able to see them interact); but I now know that they definitely won’t get along. We will see how they will react to each other in the next book, which shows just how important secondary characters are to the story.

Another significant aspect of a good narrative is the use of emotion to manipulate readers’ reactions to events. By including a decent amount of emotion to a plot, the author is increasing the likelihood of their tale being memorable. I find narratives much easier to remember when a story has made me feel some type of way. Oakes is very good at doing this because it happened in the first book, and it happened again in this one. The conclusion was just so emotional that I became teary, and sobbed when I finished the book. I don’t know about you guys, but any book that can pull on my heartstrings like this deserves a high star rating!

                                                   

While we’re talking about the conclusion, I thought that I’d add my reason for why I loved it so much (aside from the emotion). When I’m reading a story, I want the conclusion to consistently portray the protagonist the way they were introduced in the beginning of novel. Of course, there should be some character development throughout the narrative, but if a character is portrayed as ‘fearsome’ or ‘badass’ in the beginning, then they should be shown in the same way in the conclusion. Dinah’s character was consistent throughout the book, and the conclusion demonstrated that. At the end, she was just as intimidating and passionate as she was at the start of the tale. The conclusion was dramatic, and provided a foundation for the next book. It didn’t end on a cliff-hanger, but it did use foreshadowing to get readers excited about what’s to come.

My favourite character by far is Dinah. She is ambitious, compassionate, courageous and a downright badass. I loved being able to learn more about her in this book, especially learning about her feelings for Wardley and her thoughts on Vittiore. Sir Gorran is a notable character.

Although Wardley came into the story half-way through, I was so happy for Dinah. As she says in the book, her thoughts of him and knowing that they’ll see each other again is what kept her going in the Twisted Woods. I’m just so angry at Wardley for what he did – I know that it technically isn’t his fault, but he broke my heart! All I have to say to Wardley is: what the hell is wrong with you? Also, I have mixed feelings about Cheshire. Like Dinah, I’m very wary of him and I don’t trust him. We’ll see if he was telling the truth when we read the next book.

My favourite part of the book was chapter sixteen onwards. It was an amazing way to conclude the narrative, as it was full of emotion and drama. It’s got me SO EXCITED for the final book in the series! I need to see Dinah tear down Wonderland!

               

Recommendation time! If you like The White Rabbit Chronicles by Gena Showalter, The Looking Glass Wars series by Frank Beddor, and the Beautiful Madness series by Kellie Sheridan, you will love this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who likes Disney’s version of Alice in Wonderland, Tim Burton’s versions of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, Once Upon a Time and Once Upon a Time in Wonderland.

I will be reviewing the rest of the Queen of Hearts saga, including War of the Cards, when the book becomes available. Keep an eye out for that!

My review for Queen of Hearts can be found by clicking on the title.

Happy reading!

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The Hidden Twin - Adi Rule

Began reading: 18.5.2017
Completed reading: 21.5.2017
Overall rating: 4 stars

For eighteen years a girl with no name, a Redwing, has been hidden away in a small attic room within a city of hissing pipes and curving temples perched on the side of the great volcano, Mol, while her sister, Jey - identical except for her eyes - has lived her life in public as an only child. Their father had hoped the hidden girl would one day grow up to be a normal human girl and not the wicked creature mythology has promised, so he secretly spared her life as an infant.

But when she switches places with her sister, striking up a flirtation with the son of the Empress while working in the royal gardens, and is attacked by two suspicious priests on her journey home, she is forced to call forth fire to protect herself, unleashing her previously dormant powers and letting her secret out. She soon catches the attention of a cult with a one-thousand-year-old grudge, as well as a group of underground rebels, both seeking her for their own gain. When her sister goes missing and the Redwing uncovers a great plot to awaken Mol and bring fiery destruction upon them all, she is forced to embrace her powers.

The Hidden Twin by Adi Rule is a fictional young adult novel that contains elements of fantasy and the gothic (more steampunk than gothic). I spotted this book at the library and got so excited because it was a stand-alone. The blurb really cemented my interest in the novel, and I was dying to get into it! I was satisfied with it, but there were some things that I found to be disappointing.

An unnamed girl, known as a Redwing, and her twin sister Jey have lived together for eighteen years, but the twins’ appearance is the only thing they have in common – the mysterious sister has a secret power that could have her entire family placed in danger: she possesses the ability to start and control fires. She has been hidden for so long in the hope that she will not pose a threat to society once she has matured and learned to control her powers. One day, the Redwing is attacked by two priests and accidentally reveals her power. Her life begins to change when her sister Jey asks to visit the Empress’ palace and do her gardening for a day – the Redwing attracts the attention of the Empress’ son, and a rebel group that expects her to save everyone from the devastation that the nearby volcano brings. While the Redwing tries to find her place in society, she must also decide who she can trust – but that’s easier said than done when revealing her powers to the wrong person could mean death for her and her loved ones.

The book was well-written, especially in regard to detail. The novel was well-paced and well-structured, too. Rule’s use of literary techniques definitely assisted with adding detail to the plot, particularly through the utilisation of tone, similes and conflict. There were also some great quotes, including:

I don’t know which excites me more, being acknowledged as though I were a common person, or being ignored for the same reason (p. 39).

They see reality for what it is, not what they want it to be (p. 86).

It would be an interesting scientific exploration to study what it is people think about as they’re falling to their deaths. Some, I imagine, try a last-minute bargain with the gods. Some might spout expletives all the way down. And some might know relief for the first time in their miserable lives (p. 109).

The plot is obviously an extremely important aspect of any novel, and I believe that it should be unique and interesting. This was the case with the book, as I found that it stood out amongst the other texts that I have read. I hadn’t come across such creative world-building in a while, and I loved the steampunk elements (especially the artificial waterfall). Many fantasy novels that I have read recently seem very similar in relation to their plots and it was becoming repetitive. Another thing that I liked about the plot was how the priests were perceived to be omniscient (wise, all-knowing), when they were really just self-centred. This book did an awesome job with crafting an innovative and distinctive plot, which has contributed to its overall rating.

                              

Characters, just like the plot, are significant to the book, as they have the ability to challenge readers’ thinking and ignite curiosity, and create a relationship with the novel’s audience. When a novel has numerous characters, it makes it easier for readers to identify with them, and incorporates a sense of diversity. This book had a range of characters for me to learn more about, and I never grew bored of them. They were also unpredictable because the Redwing couldn’t trust anyone with her secret without risking her life. It added suspense, which was a good thing because it made everything all the more complex. I applaud Rule for her employment of various characters, allowing me to identify myself with some and having a love-to-hate relationship with others.

A good plot twist will leave a mark on readers, allowing them to reflect on the book and think, ‘Wow’. It should be memorable and satisfy readers. Sometimes, these twists aren’t done properly and they’ve left me feeling confused and frustrated. Of course, this was not an issue for this book, as I found the revelations to be unpredictable in a good way. I was left reeling by some of the characters because they revealed their true selves when the Redwing needed them the most. I love a good plot twist, which is another reason why I gave this book such a high rating.

Now, let’s discuss some elements of the book that left me disappointed. A well-planned climax is important, as it is what the plot has been leading up to. It needs to be surprising, suspenseful, and is inevitable. Unfortunately for this novel, the ‘final battle’ scene was confusing. I couldn’t really decipher if it had been thoroughly planned out or if it was a rush job – either way, I wasn’t a fan. I felt like it needed a bigger climax, like one massive shock for us readers. The one in the book was rather vague and predictable, so I was disappointed.

                     

Another disheartening point I need to make is lack of answered questions. A conclusion, or the led up to it, should provide readers with answers and closure – especially if the book is a stand-alone. I was left with so many unanswered questions, which was not a good thing. The questions revolved around romantic interests, the circumstances of characters, and relationships that weren’t fully explained. I wonder if Strange Sweet Song has a better developed conclusion… I hope so!

My favourite character is the Redwing, as she was loyal, protective, curious and sarcastic. There was something about her remaining unnamed – I think it kept her mysterious, but whatever it was I liked!

                     

On another note, I was incredibly disappointed with Jey. I thought she knew about the Redwing’s secret? Anyway, she was brainwashed by the priests but she knows that she shouldn’t fear her sister. I thought that her behaviour was un-sisterly and a sad betrayal. Jey shouldn’t have abandoned her sister, but I guess it made for a unique ending.

My favourite part of the book is when the Redwing covered/switched with Jey because she got to work at the Copper Palace. Readers were given insight into how things were on the other side of the jade bridge. I liked the idea of the Empress’ son disguising himself as a gardener because it was a cute way for him and the Redwing to meet. I also enjoyed the idea of the Empress being overprotective of her garden.

Recommendation time! If you like The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid, Daughters of Ruin by K.D. Castner, Dark Breaks the Dawn by Sara B. Larson, and Ruined by Amy Tintera, you will love this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who likes Frozen, Firestarter, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Beautiful Creatures, and I Am Number Four.

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As Dead As It Gets - Katie Alender

Began reading: 13.5.2017
Completed reading: 18.5.2017
Overall rating: 4 stars

It's been three months since Alexis helplessly witnessed Lydia Small's violent death, and all she wants is for her life to return to normal.

But normal people don't see decaying bodies haunting photographs. Normal people don't have to deal with regular intrusions from Lydia's angry ghost, sometimes escalating to terrifying attacks.

At first it seems that Lydia wants revenge on Alexis alone. But a girl from school disappears one night, and Alexis spots one of Lydia's signature yellow roses lying in the girl's dresser the next day. Soon it becomes clear that several of Alexis's friends are in danger, and that she's the only person who can save them. But as she tries to intervene, Alexis realises that her enemy is a much more powerful ghost than she's ever faced before... and that its fate is tied to hers in ways she couldn't possible imagine.

Not even in her worst nightmares.

As Dead As It Gets by Katie Alender is a young adult novel that contains paranormal, horror and fantasy elements. The only words I have for this book are: YES YES YES! I thought that things began to pick up after half-way through the novel, but I loved it when the excitement started to peak. Let’s break the book down, shall we?

Lydia’s untimely death three months ago still has consequences on Alexis – everyone sees her as Lydia’s murderer, and she can see ghosts. They appear in photographs and on tv, leaving Alexis to avoid taking photos and watching shows. Things become more chaotic when Lydia’s ghost continues to follow her around, and experiences frightening attacks that leave her bloodied and bruised. Alexis has every reason to believe that Lydia is responsible for these attacks on her, especially after she finds a yellow rose – the same ones that were used in Lydia’s funeral. However, girls from school begin to disappear and some are found murdered, leading Alexis to doubt she is Lydia’s sole victim. As Alexis continues to communicate with Lydia, Alexis realises that Lydia is innocent and that something bigger and extremely dangerous is behind the attacks, and she is the only one who can stop it. Alexis will be pushed to her limits, but will she be capable of the unthinkable if worst comes to worst?

As expected, the book was well-written. I found no errors, the plot was structured just right, and the pacing was steady. The use of literary techniques added a great deal of detail to the narrative, as well as emphasising the tension and emotions within a particular situation. There were also some great quotes, including:

Since I was twelve years old, photography has been like a part of me – the best part. When everything else in my life was going wrong, I could retreat into my own little universe and see the world as I wanted to see it.

And now I don’t even want to go near my camera. I don’t want to look at my photos.

Because they’re full of dead people (p. 3).

‘Do you know how hard it is to find someone who doesn’t want to be found?’ (p. 130).

Need seemed like a really powerful word – a powerful word containing a lot of powerlessness (p. 167).

‘You don’t have to ask your friends to worry about you. That’s just what they do. It’s why they’re your friends’ (p. 227).

‘Everyone has moments of weakness,’ I said. ‘But that doesn’t make you weak’ (p. 237).

‘At the end of the day, you have to do what’s best for you. You can’t live for someone else. You can’t let your guilt define your life’ (pp. 288-289).

More quotes from the book can be found here.

The plots of the previous two books were enjoyable because they were kind of isolated from each other – I mean, the first book’s plot affected the characters in the second book, but they had a new complication to overcome. The same went for this book, as everything was reaching its climax. There was a heightening of drama and suspense, which kept me intrigued. I had a lot of difficulty putting the book down because I was so in love with the storyline.

                                              

This series has been promising horror themes since the beginning, but I had only felt creeped out rather than scared, which has been a good thing (I don’t handle horror very well). I must say, this book definitely amped up its scare factor because imagining myself in Alexis’ position would have freaked me out. Moving ghosts in photographs, girls wandering the forest in a dress and holding yellow roses, and even a strangely behaving boyfriend had me thinking: nope! I admire Alexis’ courage because if most of us were in her situation, we would have gouged our eyes out. She handled everything so well that she deserves respect.

One thing I love about plot twists is that they have the power to leave us questioning everything we know – when they’re done correctly. In this case, the major plot twist was predictable and unpredictable at the same time. It left me shocked, even though I saw it coming, but I was still in awe. It led to the most dramatic scenes in the book, so I was even more pleased with the twist. Of course there was more than one shock, but the main one regarding Alexis’ relationship with Jared was the most surprising. I think that this twist was the reason why I loved this book so much!

As this text was the final one in the series, I was looking for answers to my questions. Unfortunately, some of the characters weren’t even addressed in the conclusion, which left me disappointed. From the previous book, what happened to Adrienne? If Alexis’ parents believe/know of her crime, why are they so accepting? What the heck happened to Lydia’s ghost? So you see, I have so many questions that will go unanswered.

                  

Despite my last argument, I enjoyed the conclusion and the small amount of closure that it provided. The issue that I had with it was how unrealistic it was. The series itself shouldn’t really be described as realistic, but the characters behaved in somewhat of a realistic way – until the conclusion of this story. I won’t say what Alexis did, but know that it was criminal. It was witnessed by 24 people, including her parents, and yet she’s welcomed back into the community like it never happened. Agent Hasan covered Alexis’ tracks by claiming it was self-defence, but if it was witnessed by so many people, how could she get away with it without any consequences? If it happened in the real world, she’d most likely be imprisoned – self-defence or not, right? Because the victim had a spotless record and was never violent, why would everyone just assume this person suddenly became violent?

My favourite character was Alexis because she was protective, courageous and smart. She remained loyal to her sister’s safety, as well as her other friends’ safety. Lydia was a notable character (I never thought I’d say that!).

                   

*WARNING: SPOILER* I could not believe that Jared had changed so much since we met him in the previous book. I was hoping that he and Alexis would be the perfect couple because they had so much in common. He was really sweet and considerate, so I wonder what changed within three months to turn him into the psychopath that we found in this book.

My favourite part of the book was from chapter 36 onwards because that was when the plot really began to pick up. Chapter 36 is a very brief one, but it was dramatic and brimming with tension. The tone of it reflected how Alexis would have felt – distant, numb and speechless. The chapters following this were gripping, as it gave us an insight into what happened after the crime was committed. Was Alexis going to be punished? If so, how? How did her parents react after witnessing it? It was just so dramatic and I was hooked!

Recommendation time! If you like Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe, the Ruined series by Paula Morris, The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington, and Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin, you will love this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who likes Annabelle, the Paranormal Activity series, All Cheerleaders Die, and the 2010 version of Mother’s Day.

My reviews for Bad Girls Don’t Die and From Bad to Cursed can be found by clicking on the titles.

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From Bad to Cursed - Katie Alender

Began reading: 8.5.2017
Completed reading: 13.5.2017
Overall rating: 4 stars

Alexis is the last girl you'd expect to sell her soul. She already has everything she needs - an adorable boyfriend, the perfect best friend, and a little sister who's finally recovering after being possessed by an evil spirit, then institutionalised.

Alexis is thrilled when her sister joins a club; new friends are just what Kasey needs. It's strange, though, to see how fast the girls in The Sunshine Club go from dorky and antisocial to gorgeous and popular. Soon Alexis learns that the girls have pledged an oath to a seemingly benevolent spirit named Aralt. Worried that Kasey's in over her head again, Alexis and her best friend Megan decide to investigate by joining the club themselves. At first, their connection with Aralt seems harmless. Alexis trades in her pink hair and punky clothes for a mainstream look, and quickly finds herself reveling in her newfound elegance and success.

Instead of fighting off the supernatural, Alexis can hardly remember why she joined in the first place. Surely it wasn't to destroy Aralt...why would she hurt someone who has given her so much, and asked for so little in return?

From Bad to Cursed by Katie Alender is a young adult novel that contains paranormal, horror and fantasy elements. I was so excited to get into this novel, so I rushed to the local library the day after finishing the previous book, and prayed that no one had taken the copies. I was satisfied with this book, but I’m not sure if I liked it more than the last. Let me explain why, after I describe the plot…

Following Kasey’s demonic possession and subsequent rehabilitation, she and her sister Alexis thought that they would be clear of spirits and ghosts from that moment on. But, when Kasey joins the unpredictable zoo that is Surrey High, she social standing is pitiful, as are those of other young students. Deciding to band together, they create the Sunshine Club – a place for girls to feel accepted and beautiful. Worried about what Kasey is getting involved in, Alexis decides to become a member of group, alongside Megan. They make a pact, one that seems harmless (even beneficial), which quickly spirals out of control. This time, it’s Kasey who must save Alexis and the other girls before they become obsessed and offer one of their own as a sacrifice to the spirit. With everyone suspecting Kasey of rejecting the club, will she be successful in taking down the evil before it’s too late?

As I expected, the book was well-written in regards to pace and structure; however, I did come across a few errors. The one that bothered me the most was that one moment, Alexis had a stain on the skirt she was wearing and the next, she was wearing jeans with the same stain (pp. 176-177). Moving on, Alender used various literary techniques to help convey what the characters were going through, but she mostly used similes. The way they were written was rather in-depth, and I just liked the way she wrote them. There were also a couple of great quotes, including:

‘[…] the real power of photography isn’t finding a new way to look at stuff, but like… showing other people how I see things’ (p. 162).

‘Describe your work in one word,’ she said.

The word slipped out of my mouth before I could stop myself: ‘Mine’ (p. 163).

If someone was holding out a lottery ticket to you, you’d take it, wouldn’t you? Not taking it would make you a fool, wouldn’t it? (p. 405).

More quotes from the book can be found here.

As I mentioned in my previous review, I get scared easily so I avoid everything related to horror. I was glad that this book was even less scary than the first. I was expecting Alender to ramp up the scare factor in this book, but I still liked it for how it was. It appeared to be a typical kind of supernatural plot – groups taking oaths and using Ouija boards, but it was good because there were other plot lines to add diversity to the story. I’ll explain some of the other sub-plots a little later.

A range of characters is important, as it allows readers to relate to someone. I was glad to see that Alender had included a variety of new characters to include aforementioned sub-plots, as well as an assortment of reactions to particular situations. Each character should have an individual ‘voice’ or personality which would set them apart from the others. I didn’t have much of a chance to see this as I read because Kasey and Alexis were the main focus of the book. Despite this, I thought a variety of characters was a fantastic move for Alender!

Now, in terms of plot lines, I enjoyed the use of the book as a centre plot and have other issues stem from it. For example, Carter’s behaviour (or lack thereof) added an interesting aspect to the story. I was wondering if Alexis and the other girls would take advantage of his pliability. Alexis’s involvement in the photography contest was a nice distraction from the dark themes that were slowly taking over her life. There were also a few betrayals thrown in, one even coming from someone I least expected. In my opinion, the author did an excellent job of weaving interesting plot lines into the main one. I mean, that last sub-plot I listed was one that shocked me the most.

                   

The conclusion of any book is important for answering questions and leaving the reader with a satisfied feeling. This book’s final chapters provided closure, but it didn’t give enough of it – I’m still left with questions about some of the characters. If I’m in the middle of a series and I’m left with unanswered questions, I tend to continue reading and hope that the next book would answer them for me. Of course, I don’t mind doing that, but it does irritate me nonetheless. Why? I like closure from every book, so the next book can start fresh with new mysteries and questions to answer. So this is one let-down that I came across with this novel.

Another disappointment which featured in the previous book was the redundant feeling of a character. Allow me to elaborate: I believe that each character in a book should have a specific role; if they appear and have no significant impact, then I’m left feeling frustrated. In the last book, it was Megan. She played a more important part in this story, but Adrienne seemed more useless than I expected. When her character was introduced in the beginning, I thought that she might be behind all the horror that was to come. After reading the book, she seemed to disappear a little after the middle of the book. She didn’t even appear when Alexis fought the evil. I was let down, to say the least.

                                       

My favourite character was Alexis because she was protective, courageous, fierce and smart. She remained loyal to her family’s safety, even after realising that she was possessed. Kasey is a notable character.

I liked Megan’s character in the last book, and I was super excited to learn more about her in this one. As the book progressed, I began to like her even more; but the end obviously made me lose all respect for her. I couldn’t believe that she was capable of being so evil. As for Carter, I thought that he had potential after the last book but now I have mixed feelings about him. I understand that he had been turned into a blank shell, but I was hoping that he would improve after the evil had been defeated. He seems to have the potential to forgive Alexis, and I hope that he does!

                     

Recommendation time! If you like Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe, the Ruined series by Paula Morris, The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington, and Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin, you will love this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who likes Annabelle, the Paranormal Activity series, All Cheerleaders Die, and the 2010 version of Mother’s Day.

I will also be reviewing the rest of the Bad Girls Don’t Die series, including: As Dead As It Gets.

My review for Bad Girls Don’t Die can be found by clicking on the title.

Happy reading!

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Bad Girls Don't Die - Katie Alender

Began reading: 2.5.2017
Completed reading: 7.5.2017
Overall rating: 4 stars

When Alexis's little sister, Kasey, becomes obsessed with an antique doll, Alexis thinks nothing of it. Kasey is a weird kid. Period. Alexis is considered weird, too, by the kids in her high school, by her parents, even by her own goth friends. Things get weirder, though, when the old house they live in starts changing. Doors open and close by themselves, water boils on the unlit stove, and an unplugged air conditioner turns the house cold enough for the girls to see their breath. Kasey is changing too. Her blue eyes go green, and she uses old-fashioned language, then forgets chunks of time.

Most disturbing of all is the dangerous new chip on Kasey's shoulder. The formerly gentle, doll-loving child is gone, and the new Kasey is angry. Alexis is the only one who can stop her sister - but what if that green-eyed girl isn't even Kasey anymore?

Trigger warning: this book contains suicide.

Bad Girls Don’t Die by Katie Alender is a young adult novel that contains paranormal, horror and fantasy elements. When I went to the library, I was looking for a book similar to The Beguiled by Thomas Cullinan because I CAN’T WAIT for the upcoming remake (23 June – I think)! I saw the cover of this book and knew that I should read it. I wasn’t disappointed, and I found myself thinking about it even when I was busy studying, haha! I’m so excited to read the rest of the series, but I’m not sure if I like the way the story is going…

Alexis is seen as the weird kid in high school – introverted, doesn’t fit in, and has a doll-obsessed younger sister, Kasey. When the sisters spend time together at home, Alexis notices that strange things occur, such as the unplugged air conditioner blasting cold air, doors slamming shut of their own accord, and switched off stoves boiling water. Things take a turn for the worse when Kasey begins acting more aggressively, speaking oddly, stealing other students’ reports, referring to a hit list, and her eyes change colours. When Alexis realises the reason behind Kasey’s bizarre behaviour, Alexis and her new friends have to stop Kasey before she is possessed to kill those on her list. Will they get to her in time, or will the blood-thirsty spirit finally get revenge after so many years?

For a debut novel, Alender did a fantastic job with her writing. The book was well-written, with only a few grammatical errors. The novel was well-paced and perfectly structured. Alender utilised literary techniques, such as tone, suspense and similes, to help the story flow. There were also a couple of great quotes, including:

That’s the pathetic thing about high school. Everyone tries so hard to be something they aren’t. It’s gotten so I don’t know who I am, so how can I even try to be who I am, much less someone I’m not? (p. 30).

A lot of people shoot digital pictures now, which is fine – it’s just not for me. To me, taking digital pictures is like finding something. But working with film is like making something” (p. 88).

Could evil seep through the walls of the house, plant a seed of obsession in someone’s heart? (p. 323).

More quotes from the book can be found here.

I get scared easily, so I avoid everything related to horror. I decided to take a chance with this book because my interest in the plot outweighed my fear. I thought that the storyline was interesting, but not necessarily unique – how many doll-possessed books, tv shows and movies can you think of? Anyway, I liked the obsession that Kasey had with her dolls. It played a significant role in the primary plot line, but seemed innocent in the beginning of the book. I have always been suspicious of dolls and other toys coming alive, so I definitely experienced some level of fear while I was reading. I also thought that the flashbacks or dreams that Alexis had of Sarah was interesting because I didn’t realise until later how important they were.

  

Speaking of scary, I was expecting something frightening. Luckily, this wasn’t the case – it was more along the lines of disturbing and creepy, rather than scary. I will admit, my mum likes porcelain dolls and she’s put some in my room, so I’m gonna have to keep an eye on them. Their blank stares are eerie and make me uncomfortable. Anyway, I think this element of horror was balanced seamlessly with other sub-plots. Alexis’s relationship with her family members, how she interacts with students and teachers, romance and learning about what happened in her neighbourhood are just some examples of this book’s sub-plots. Like I said, this combination of plot lines kept everything balanced, which was great!

I feel that having relatable characters in a book is very important, as it gives readers someone to associate with. This book definitely had a range of relatable characters, and I could see myself and my family in Alexis’s. Both of parents are workaholics, and I’m no longer as close to my dad as I used to be. I don’t have a possessed little sister, but my younger sister is crazy. I found myself relating to Alexis, and sympathised with her when her mother blamed her for hurting her sister (been there, done that). I liked that there were enough characters for readers to connect with, and I look forward to meeting more characters in the next book.

Another thing that I found beneficial was the lack of insta-love or straight up ‘happily ever after’. Of course, I didn’t even expect a love interest in this book, but it surprised me and I found that I liked it. The romance was slow, maybe even barely there. It was realistic and sweet – which is always a good thing. Even the conclusion of the book held little romance, with only a kiss. Obviously, I won’t reveal who the two characters are, but they are adorable! I am so excited to see how this relationship will progress in the sequel. I hope they last!

                     

In every book, I always observe each of the characters and consider their role in the plot. It irritates me when one of the main characters appears to be redundant – and unfortunately, this happened in this novel. Megan no doubt had a role to play in regards to the history of Alexis’s house, but that’s where her function in the plot ended. Alexis asked Megan for assistance with Kasey, and I assumed that Megan would do some kind of exorcism, as she said she had some kind of experience with demonic possession. She mentioned that she did some reading as a child on spirits and the like, but she didn’t do much at Alexis’s house. To be honest, aside from her mother’s death, her role in the story was unnecessary. I know that she will have a bigger role in the sequel, so I anticipate seeing her interact more with the spirits and helping Alexis.

My favourite character was Alexis because she was loyal, courageous, perceptive and relatable. Like I’ve mentioned, I saw myself in Alexis – quiet, shy, but protective of her loved ones. Carter and Megan are notable characters.

Alexis’s parents irritated me because of their disregard for their kids. I understand that they worked a lot, but would they believe Alexis if she told them how Kasey had been behaving towards her? I doubt it. They were aloof and distant, so I wonder how they came to believe Alexis’s story.

                     

My favourite parts of the book were Alexis’s photography scenes, as well as those with Megan. Reading about Alexis’s photography took me back to my high school days when I studied photography, and used the darkroom and chemicals. I liked the idea of Alexis hating Megan in the beginning of the narrative, then growing to be friends with her. It mimics similar friendships in reality, and I believe that their friendship will last through the next two books!

Recommendation time! If you like Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe, the Ruined series by Paula Morris, The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington, and Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin, you will love this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who likes Annabelle, the Paranormal Activity series, All Cheerleaders Die, and the 2010 version of Mother’s Day.

I will also be reviewing the rest of the Bad Girls Don’t Die series, including: From Bad to Cursed and As Dead As It Gets.

Happy reading!

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Dreaming of Antigone - Robin Bridges

Began reading: 30.4.2017
Completed reading: 1.5.2017
Overall rating: 4 stars

“I can’t ever be the blazing star that Iris was. I’m still just a cold, dark satellite orbiting a star that went super nova.”

Andria’s twin sister, Iris, had adoring friends, a cool boyfriend, a wicked car, and a shelf full of soccer trophies. She had everything, in fact – including a drug problem. Six months after Iris’s death, Andria is trying to keep her grades, her friends, and her family from falling apart. But stargazing and books aren’t enough to ward off her guilt that she – the freak with the scary illness and all-black wardrobe – is still here when Iris isn’t. And then there’s Alex Hammond. The boy Andria blames for Iris’s death. The boy she’s unwittingly started swapping lines of poetry and secrets with, even as she tries to keep hating him.

Trigger warning: this book contains suicide, substance abuse and sexual assault/paedophilia.

Dreaming of Antigone by Robin Bridges is a contemporary young adult novel that contains romance. Judging by the cover of the book, you would think that it would be a sweet read. You’d be wrong – it has some dark themes, which really surprised me (in a good way!). Overall, I found this book to be a really good read, especially because it accurately portrayed what it would be like to lose a twin. I don’t know how it feels personally, but the book did answer some questions about the loss of a twin.

Following Iris’s death, Andria and her family are unsure of what caused Iris to commit suicide. Iris had everything – popularity, beauty, love and talent. Andria, on the other hand, is the complete opposite – introverted, academic and lives with epilepsy. Looking for someone to blame for Iris’s death, Andria holds Iris’s boyfriend Alex responsible. Little does she know that the poetry she trades with a mysterious poem-loving student is Alex. When Andria is asked to work with Alex on cataloguing poetry books for extra credit, they get to know each other and discover that they have more in common than first thought. Andria shares her interest in stargazing with Alex, and together they try to understand and accept Iris’s death. The question is, will they be able to push past their grief and everyone’s opinions and stay together, or will their loss be too much for them to handle?

The novel was well-written, and flowed extremely well. I really liked how the story progressed – in a chronological order, but using a flashback to reveal what happened on the night that Iris died. I thought that was pretty creative. There were also some great quotes in the book, including:

I have to stop being so sensitive. People joke about death. Because people die every day. And I have to get used to that (p. 80).

It’s really not all about me. The world is going to go right on spinning, whether I want it to stop or not. Sisters die. Boys fall in love. Friends move on (p. 80).

I know I was dreaming about Iris, but I can’t remember what it was about. I’m tired of the dreams of her trying to tell me something when I can’t hear her, or understand her, or see her. It’s so frustrating, and maybe that’s what the dreams mean. I’m frustrated that I didn’t see or hear anything going on in her life until it was too late. I can’t hear her in my dreams because I never heard her crying out for help in real life (p. 132).

I take one last look up into the sky before carrying my stuff inside. The three stars of Orion’s Belt twinkle on, oblivious to what’s going on down here below. And I know fifteen hundred light-years away, stars are still being born and stars are still dying. The universe doesn’t give a damn about what I want. But dear God, Alex, all I want is you (p. 139).

What is the point of having hope if it keeps getting taken away from you? (p. 167).

Aside from the GORGEOUS cover, I was really drawn to the blurb – stargazing, romance and books? Sign me up! In all seriousness, I thought that the stargazing, poetry, and mystery surrounding Iris’s death were interesting. When I was in high school, I had an interest in the stars – not as in-depth as Andria, but I loved constellations and the stories behind them. I’m not a big fan of poetry, but the ones in the book were straightforward, so I found them enjoyable. The blurb promised multiple plot lines, so I knew that I had to read it.

                    

Speaking of multiple plot lines, a range of characters is essential to keep things interesting. I found it easy to follow each of the students that Andria associated with, as they each had their own ‘voice’. Not once did I become confused about who was who, because each character was unique. Each had a role to play in Andria’s life, making them a significant part of the book. For example, Trista was Iris’s best friend and she was a little bit of a b*tch to Andria. Her plot line was revealed a little later in the book, but it added substance to Iris’s character, even though she wasn’t actually there with the other characters. In my opinion, plot lines are important for adding detail to a story, and I believe that Bridges did an awesome job with it.

I don’t really come across many books that have a sweet message – or maybe I have, but I didn’t pick up on them. Having a message or moral to the story is important for shaping thinking and empowering the reader. Despite the dark themes in the book, I think that the messages were special: finding your place in the world, and if things don’t work out the first time, it’s ok to take your time and try again – in other words, be patient with yourself. How’s that for a feel-good read?

                    

Another component of the book that I liked was the accurate portrayal of grief. This has been something that I’ve been thinking about lately – how quickly people move on after someone dies. I don’t mean family, but friends and people who didn’t know the individual. I always wonder how quickly people movie on, and this was demonstrated in the novel. After Iris’s death, her friends tried to include Andria into their group, partly because she seemed like a decent replacement. Of course, this kind of thought process is wrong, but it highlights how some people try to cling to ‘normalcy’. Also, the way in which Andria and her mother grieved for Iris was authentic and emotional, so I have no doubt that this text was realistic when trying to portray grief and loss.

Romance was an interesting plot line, which had me feeling hopeful that Andria would be happy. I loved the way in which they began interacting – exchanging lines of poetry and not knowing who the other person was. It was cute and creative, but the relationship between these two also felt strange. I didn’t think that it was right for them to be together, especially after Andria had seen Iris and Alex together. Wouldn’t it be weird if you started dating your dead twin’s partner? I think so. But pushing that aside, I felt that they shouldn’t have ended up together. Yes, Alex made Andria happy, which is what I wanted for her but it felt unrealistic. I think that the story would’ve ended better if they had broken up and went their separate ways. It would have been an unexpected but somewhat necessary conclusion to the book.

My favourite character was Andria because she was relatable, loyal, courageous, patient, responsible and articulate. To be honest, I could go on for days describing all of her qualities! As I mentioned before, we share similar interests and share the same personalities. I think that she’s a very admirable role model, and I wouldn’t be surprised if many other readers found her to be their favourite too.

Andria’s mother bothered me, as did Trista. They were both grieving, but they seemed a little too harsh on Andria. I was shocked by some of the things Andria’s mum said to Iris before she died. One positive thing I can say about her is that she was fiercely protective of Andria after everything with Craig blew up. On a brighter note, why couldn’t I have had an awesome librarian like Verla while I was in high school? My school librarian was nowhere near as nice as Verla – she always had that resting b*tch face, hated when students needed her help, and would just be plain nasty. I wasn’t a fan.

                       

My favourite parts of the novel were Andria’s stargazing, poem exchanges and the flashback to the night of Iris’s death. As I’ve said, I loved seeing a character take an interest in the stars. The poem exchanges were adorable. The flashback was insightful, emotional and a little unexpected.

Recommendation time! If you like The Space Between by Michelle L. Teichman, A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner, The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson, you will love this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who likes Rabbit Hole, Big Little Lies, This is Where I Leave You, Monster’s Ball, and Ordinary People.

Happy reading!

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