Review: How to Save a Life

Title: How to Save a Life

Author: Sara Zarr
Publisher: Little, Brown

Your Age Recommendation: 16+

Publication Date: 10/2011

Available for Kindle?: Yes

Pages: 341

Copy: Hardcover

My Rating: 5/5

Reviewer: Angela

Synopsis:

Jill MacSweeney just wishes everything could go back to normal. But ever since her dad died, she’s been isolating herself from her boyfriend, her best friends—everyone who wants to support her. And when her mom decides to adopt a baby, it feels like she’s somehow trying to replace a lost family member with a new one.

Mandy Kalinowski understands what it’s like to grow up unwanted—to be raised by a mother who never intended to have a child. So when Mandy becomes pregnant, one thing she’s sure of is that she wants a better life for her baby. It’s harder to be sure of herself. Will she ever find someone to care for her, too?

As their worlds change around them, Jill and Mandy must learn to both let go and hold on, and that nothing is as easy—or as difficult—as it seems.

My Review:

Fact: I avoid pregnancy stories like the plague. The reason for this is that I don't generally find them to be a) well crafted or b) entertaining. This is except for the movie Juno. That, I loved. 

At any rate, How to Save a Life has garnered quite a buzz among the more bookish of my friends, and I snagged it from my library to see what all the fuss was about. And now, I absolutely know. 

Jill's father passed away less than a year ago, her mother has decided to adopt a baby in an open adoption, and Mandy is the mother of the child that is intended to be adopted. 

It's a simple enough idea, really, but Sara Zarr amazed me with her ability to quietly weave the history of the narrator as well as their exact emotions into her writing. Nothing was ever in your face; in fact, I think a key example of this is Mandy's history. A verbally and emotionally abusive mother paired with a man in her life who took advantage of Mandy in every other possible way could have come across as excessively dark and difficult to read; instead, it's simply a fact. An unfortunate fact, yes, but a fact, and something that Mandy is very clearly ready to move past. Also, Mandy operates under a sort of ... purposeful ignorance, and it's really an intriguing thing, in the context of the story. 

Jill is angry. It's an odd kind of angry, because she's fully aware that the anger she's feeling is making her into a jerk to most of the people she cares about, but she can't make herself stop. As part of the grieving process, this is something I feel most people can relate to. Again, this anger could have been irritatingly explained to death, but Zarr did it through short, derisive, internal commentary, and as a result, I really related to Jill (and Mandy) throughout the novel. 

Then there's the baby. And Jill's mom. And I'd even say that Mac, Jill's dad, is a key character in this novel. His absence draws attitude and emotion out of almost every character in How to Save A Life, regardless of whether they knew him personally or not. 

The thing is that the struggles here were believable. The burgeoning romance between Jill and a character that quickly became one of my favorite people in this world was told in halting but persistent chapters. The way that Mandy came to learn what life should really be like, and what it means to be truly valued as a human being was never trite. Over all of this, even when I didn't agree with their words or their intentions, I wanted this makeshift family to make it through. I rooted for them. 

It was lovely, and by the time Jill realizes where she is in the grieving process, and by the time the rift between Jill and her mother begins to heal, and by the time Mandy finally "gets" it, I was overcome with tears. 

Note: That doesn't happen often. 

How to Save a Life is a realistic depiction of a life that could belong to any three women in anyone's life. It was beautiful and intense and lovely. I absolutely recommend it.

Interview with Paige Harbison

I'm delighted to feature one of our favourite new young writers today, Paige Harbison. Her debut, Here Lies Bridget, was very well received and her second book New Girl was published 4th May 2012 by MIRA INK. You can read our last interview with her here, my review of Here Lies Bridget here and Kate's thoughts on New Girl here.

1) What's the best thing that has happened to you as a result of the publication of your books, Here Lies Bridget and New Girl?

Many things!! But one of the many is when Galgos Entertainment bought (and then renewed!) the film rights for Here Lies Bridget. If it all works out, the estimated release for it is in 2014.

2) Why did you decide to retell Rebecca and what drew you to this classic in particular?

Watching Hitchcock movies, remembering about Rebecca, and thinking: a girl is jealous of a girl and it’s fuelled by her interest in a guy? High school! I also wanted to delve into the obsessive compulsion teenagers have when it comes to tragedies involving their peers. If someone goes missing, dies, gets pregnant or anything at all, they obsess. It took me about a year from very start to very finish.

3) What's the biggest challenge you've faced while writing New Girl?

Writing the main character. She was based on, of course, the main character in Rebecca, who was unreasonably meek and spineless. I had to translate that quality to a modern day girl who you wouldn’t want to slap. And at times you still do want to shake my character and say, “stand up for yourself”! But she doesn’t, because she’s real. How many times have we all looked back and wished we’d done things differently or realized how much we let someone walk all over us? It’s the same for my characters.

4) If you could choose 5 songs as a mini playlist to accompany New Girl, what would they be?

1)     I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times—The Beach Boys

2)     He Can Only Hold Her—Amy Winehouse

3)     The Ice is Getting Thinner—Death Cab for Cutie

4)     Ain’t No Sunshine—Bill Withers

5)   Almost Lover—A Fine Frenzy

5) What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?

Write what you want to read.

Review: Dear Dylan

Title: Dear Dylan

Author: Siobhan Curham
Publisher: Electric Monkey
Your Age Recommendation: 12+
Publication Date: 2 April 2012
Available for Kindle?: Yes
Pages: 288
Copy: For Review
My Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Molly

Synopsis:
A first crush. An unexpected friendship. A dream come true.

Dear Dylan!

Thanks so much for your email and I'm sorry about my last one when I said I love you. I hope you don't think I'm a weirdo mentalist?!!! It's just that I was watching Oprah yesterday and she said we should all say we love each other a whole lot more. Not to everyone of course. There's no way I'd tell my scummy step-dad that I love him because that would be lying. But the thing is, sometimes when I watch you on TV, I feel as if you're talking just to me and it makes me feel less alone. I know you probably get loads and loads of fan mail but I wanted to ask you - could we be e-mates?
Yours hopefully,
Georgie xxx.

Molly’s Review:
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Dear Dylan, I was really curious about the story concept because I’ve never read a book that is told entirely through emails and I wasn’t very convinced that it would work. How can you tell a story just through letters? What about all the bits in-between? How can I really know a character when I’m not seeing everything? Will they be a reliable narrator? I was full of questions when I started reading, but those questions very quickly melted away as I was drawn into an amazing story.

Dear Dylan is incredibly heart-warming and explores how relationships are formed, broken and mended both in the real world and online. Georgie is a very lonely teenage girl and at first it appears to just be the usual teenage gripes of having annoying friends, worrying about your appearance and feeling overlooked by boys. But as Georgie’s online friendship develops through these emails we learn that she has so much more to deal with.

Georgie begins emailing Dylan, an actor from her favourite TV show, at the start of the summer holidays as a way to escape her unhappy home life. She isn’t going to have much of a holiday because she’s forced into babysitting her younger half-sister everyday while her mum works and her abusive step-dad sleeps through the day until he has to go out in his taxi. When it comes to light that Georgie isn’t really emailing Dylan but his mum instead she’s hurt, but continues to talk to the kind ex-actress and they become great friends. Dylan’s mum, Nancy, and Georgie form a strong friendship and Georgie gains a safe space where she can share her hopes, dreams, fears and the truth about her unhappy life.

I found both Georgie and Nancy to have really convincing voices. Nancy’s emails read like the sort of things my mum would write and Georgie sounded very much like a fourteen year old girl to me. I did find the text speak a little annoying at times, but I also appreciate why it was used and it did often lighten the mood which was great.

I adored Dear Dylan so much that I read it within a day in two sittings. When I did put it down, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. As I read it I was so worried that something awful might happen to Georgie and so I had to keep reading, I had to know that she would be okay. Dear Dylan explores the life of a teenage girl struggling to deal with her broken family, a mum who can’t cope and a step-dad who is incredibly cruel to her. Sadly it’s an all too real experience for many children, but that is what makes Dear Dylan so good. It’s real and it’s fantastic to read a novel that shows how you can escape such awful experiences and that you’re not alone.

There were a few flaws with Dear Dylan. A few times I found my mind drifting while reading some of Nancy’s responses and I felt that some areas could have been trimmed to keep the pace a bit tighter. I also found that although the ending was very satisfying, it seemed a little too easily wrapped up and a bit coincidental. Due to the story being told through emails there were a few moments where I found Georgie’s responses a little hard to believe, she has the best memory for details! But I also understand that without such details the story would be very flat. I also wish that we could have known more about Georgie’s friends, although this isn’t necessarily a bad thing as it shows just how well these characters were portrayed. I wanted to know more about her best-friend because she sounded like a very sad and insecure girl, and I wondered if she also has to deal with her own problems.

Dear Dylan is a brilliant book and if you’re in the mood for a great, heart-wrenching story then this is just the thing. While reading Dear Dylan I was often torn between feeling incredibly happy for Georgie but also dreading what might happen next. Siobhan Curham has done an amazing job and I cannot wait to see what she does next.

Review: Insurgent

Title: Insurgent (Divergent, #2)

Author: Veronica Roth

Publisher: Harper Teen

Your Age Recommendation: 16+

Publication Date: 1st May 2012

Available for Kindle?: Yes

Pages: 525

Copy: Hardcover

My Rating: 5/5

Reviewer: Angela

Synopsis:

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

My Review:

My, oh my. I’ll be honest: As is probably obvious from my review of Divergent, it was one of my favorite books of 2011. So, to say that I had high expectations for Insurgent would be a vast understatement. I am happy to report that Veronica Roth’s second offering made me a very happy reader, even if I wasn’t content with many of the events of the book itself. And that, my friends, is saying something.

I adore the world Roth has created, mostly because I think she played off of one of the aspects that is probably most readily accepted regarding humanity: we spend time with like-minded people. And that is, in essence, what a faction is.

Insurgent picks up mere minutes after the end of Divergent, and throughout the novel, we get a clearer picture of the extent to which the Erudite scheme has threatened the safety of everyone in every faction. Tris Prior is learning to deal with the loss of not one but both of her parents, as well as the confusion she has regarding her feelings for (my beloved) Four. She’s surrounded by uncertainty, and the world she lives in is falling apart at the seams.

All of the characters here – from Tris and Four to Christina and Caleb – showcase real growth, in both positive and negative ways. Without being terribly spoilery, the largest differences are probably seen in Caleb and Four, for reasons that are absolutely opposites. Here, we learn more about each character, their motivations, and – almost across the board – their histories. Most notably, we’re given more information regarding Four’s history, what he’s been hiding, and what he went through as a child, and it all plays into the overarching plot very easily.

And the scope of the plot in Insurgent is impressive in its span. Roth provides the beginnings of small revolutions, showcases the hive mentality in a way that is disturbingly clear, and does not shy away from violence in a world in which fighting is the norm, now.

If I’m honest, one of the coolest parts of this story was the way that Roth addressed the factionless; to see the way they really lived, as opposed to operating under the assumptions that always surrounded them, really makes for an awesome set up, and the way that the factionless are absolutely tied up in Four’s story is unexpected and ripe with intrigue.

The one complaint I have about INSURGENT is that, more often than not, I did not agree with the actions Tris took. She was constantly acting in ways that had the very high potential to hurt those she cares about, and at some point, for me, enough was enough. That said, I still rooted for her, and I still wanted her and the people she was surrounded by to succeed, despite my dislike for her attitude or actions, and that’s saying something with regard to Roth’s writing.

And when the end comes, after an action packed 500+ pages?

I’m dying for book three, and I can guarantee I’ll read the whole series over again for its release. Five stars. Absolutely.

Review: Divergent

Title:  Divergent

Author:  Veronica Roth
Publisher:  Katherine Tegen Books
Your Age Recommendation:  15+
Publication Date:  May 2011
Available for Kindle?: Yes
Pages:  487
Copy:  Hardcover
My Rating:  5/5
Reviewer: Angela

Synopsis:

In a future Chicago, 16-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.

Review:

I am not a rereader of books. I just... don't do it. But with Insurgent's impending publication, and my absolute adoration of this book, it was a no-brainer that I would re-read Divergent in preparation. 

On my second read through, I was able to read with less frenzied abandon; Knowing what was going to happen made it so that I could take my time and actually savor the story - and I loved every single second. 

I still love Tris. She's amazing and strong and absolutely flawed. There are times in which she's not really likeable, but her actions are justified. There are times where she's a normal girl, fluttery and smiling over a boy. And there are times in which she's an absolute bad ass. 

That balance is why I think - I haven't actually made this list in my head yet, but I know she'd be a part of it - that she's one of my favorite YA heroines. 

Which is nice, because Four - my sweet, strong, impossibly wonderful but imperfect Four! - is tied for Best YA Boy for me (with Sam Roth. Please see my reviews for The Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy if you'd like evidence of that love affair). Rereading Divergent knowing what was coming made me view many of his actions in a different light, and of course after reading Roth's short fiction told expressly in his point of view, my love was renewed. 

Love, love, love. 

In Divergent, Veronica Roth mixes a quiet love story, the dangerous beginnings of a war, a pretty fantastic heroine, and a fabulous cast of supporting characters, all with strong world building that never seems too obtuse or overwhelming in detail. 

I love this book. Favorites list for sure. 

BRING ON INSURGENT!

Review: The Witch of Turlingham Academy

Title: The Witch of Turlingham Academy

Author: Ellie Boswell

Publisher: Atom

Your Age Recommendation: 8+

Publication Date: 1st March 2012

Available for Kindle?: Yes

Pages: 272

Copy: For Review

My Rating: 5/5

Reviewer: Molly

Synopsis:

It's not easy being the only day girl at Turlingham Academy: Sophie misses out on all the midnight feasts and late night gossip. And when new girl Katy turns up it feels like she's bewitching all of Sophie's friends!

Katy's no witch, but there is a witch at Turlingham. Katy comes from a long line of witch hunters whose job is to stop evil magic. Sophie is going to help her - anything to get Katy out of her life and get things back to normal.

But what she discovers means nothing will ever be normal again!

Molly’s Review:

Described as ‘The Worst Witch meets The Chocolate Box Girls’, The Witch of Turlingham Academy is definitely an exciting new children’s book and a wonderful read. It didn’t take long for me to read The Witch of Turlingham Academy because not only is it a compact story it’s also well written and full of adventure. I didn’t want to put it down.

Sophie’s mum is a head teacher at Turlingham Academy, so Sophie has to stay with her in their own cottage on campus, meaning that she often misses out on having fun with her friends who live in the dormitories. Sophie has just turned thirteen, started a new school term, discovered unusual, hidden letters from a grandmother she didn’t know existed and a new girl has started moving in on her friends, so she already has a lot to deal with when she discovers that she’s a witch. There’s also more to this new girl and her family than Sophie first thought. Katy is a witch hunter! Sophie has to throw Katy off the trail but along the way she also realises that while Katy believes that all witches are evil and Sophie’s grandmother believes that all witch hunters are evil, maybe they’re both wrong. But that just makes things even more complicated.

The plot of The Witch of Turlingham Academy is fantastic and I really enjoyed reading about both Sophie and her adventures. It’s a book packed with secrets, chatter about boys, the importance of friendship and, of course, magic. Sophie is a great main character too. She’s funny, compassionate and feisty, plus she’s got a bit of a wild side too and has a knack for getting both in and out of trouble. Sophie is one of those girls that we would all love to be friends with because she’s just so charming. Her friends were also well rounded and I particularly liked her friendship with Callum, the other head teacher’s son, and her complicated friendship with Katy.

The Witch of Turlingham Academy is aimed at 8 to 12 year olds and although I’m way past that age I still loved this book and I am sure that those closer to the intended age will adore reading about Sophie. This book reminded me of just how fun, exciting and touching middle grade books can be and I would love to read the next in the series, Undercover Magic, to see what Sophie gets up to next!

Review: Hold Me Closer, Necromancer

Title: Hold Me Closer, Necromancer
Author: Lish McBride
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co
Your Age Recommendation: 16+
Publication Date: October 2010
Available for Kindle?: Yes
Pages: 343
Copy: Hardcover
My Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Angela

Synopsis:
Sam leads a pretty normal life. He may not have the most exciting job in the world, but he’s doing all right—until a fast food prank brings him to the attention of Douglas, a creepy guy with an intense violent streak. Turns out Douglas is a necromancer who raises the dead for cash and sees potential in Sam. Then Sam discovers he’s a necromancer too, but with strangely latent powers. And his worst nightmare wants to join forces . . . or else. With only a week to figure things out, Sam needs all the help he can get. Luckily he lives in Seattle, which has nearly as many paranormal types as it does coffee places. But even with newfound friends, will Sam be able to save his skin?

Angela's Review:
Best title ever?

Quite possibly.

HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER is the story of a boy with burgeoning necromancy skills and his best friends, one of whom is a decapitated head for a large portion of the book.

No, I’m not kidding, and yes, it is pretty awesome.

Sam, the protagonist, is a believable, teenage boy. He’s uncertain and witty, and his wit includes references to sex, bad fast food (which he serves for a living), and his general discontent regarding the happenings of the book.

Because, you see, a very powerful necromancer wants to sap him of his powers – which he wasn’t even aware he had until recently – and in order for that necromancer to take his powers, our dear friend Sam will have to die himself. And no one wants that.

Sam is thrown into a world that has been surrounding him his entire life, despite the fact that he never knew it existed. He’s advised that the nightmares he had as a child are really the spirits reaching out to him because of his inherent powers, and then he learns that there really are goblins and werewolves and dragons… basically, everything he assumed was fictional is not. He has to learn how to navigate this new version of his world and, in quick order, he’s imprisoned and forced to learn to channel his powers of necromancy, as a test to see how strong his abilities really are.

It’s crazy, a little crass and times, and always told with a razor sharp wit.

The only real complaint I have about HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER is that the narration flip-flopped between first and third person and, for me at least, it a) was a bit of a distraction and b) seemed to make the story move along a little slower than it should have. I also think it would have been interesting to see a bit more of the supernatural creatures McBride includes; however, the reason we don’t is really because of the aforementioned imprisonment, so I understand that.

McBride’s first offering to the masses provides narration that is witty and dry and just plain great, all wrapped up with an odd little story that I found incredibly entertaining and engaging. And, there is enough resolution in this book for it to stand alone, but a second novel (NECROMANCING THE STONE – another fantastic title) will be released this year, and I definitely intend to pick it up.

Q+A with Jillian Larkin

Today I have an interview with Jillian Larkin, author of VIXEN which Amy reviewed for the site back in February (see review). Thanks to Amy for the great questions and to Jillian for her wonderful responses. Vixen was published by Random House on 1st March 2012.

1) What made you choose to set Vixen in the 1920s? Is this an era you are especially passionate about?

Yes! I have always loved the 20’s, ever since I watched Thoroughly Modern Millie. I love the music of this time period, the clothes, and mostly I love that the fact that girls were truly starting to become independent and rebel against the image society had projected onto them. Exciting stuff!

2) The book is full of details. How did you go about researching the period?

I went through lots of pictures and watched lots of movies from that era. I read The Great Gatsby and The Beautiful and Damned and read up on the era. The Metropolitan Museum of Art had an exhibit on clothing from the 20’s that I attended, which was incredibly helpful.

3) Out of the three main characters - which one do you most associate with/or enjoyed writing the most?

I couldn’t pick just one! I love Gloria for her idealism and her passion for music, Clara for her inner ‘rebel’ and the idea that you can make a mistake and leave it behind you, and Lorraine for her sense of humor and love for boys.

4) Did you always intend the story to be the first part of a series when you first wrote it?

Yes. I wanted to take the girls on a journey and spend as much time with them as possible. Each has a big story to tell, and one book wasn't enough to show each girl bloom in her own way. 

5) Can you give us any teasers about what to expect next?

A fantastic girl who readers saw a glimpse of in Vixen—Jerome’s sister Vera—takes on a much larger role in Ingenue. Also, the girls find themselves in the heart of New York City … where the possibility of romance and danger lurk around every street corner.

6) The first two books have already been out in America for a while now. Is the process of being published in the UK very different?

It’s harder for me to get out and meet fans like I did here in the US, which was fun and helpful to hear about what readers responded to. So that’s different. But I am thrilled that UK readers will get to meet these girls, and I have lovely new covers that I adore.

7) Are there any plans for a new series in the future? Perhaps one set in a different era?

Even though I don’t think the girls’ stories are done yet, I have been working on something wildly different—set in the future! But like The Flappers, the story really lives in the hearts of teen girls discovering who they are, what they want to be when they grow up … and who they want to date!

8) If you could write about any period, other than the 1920s, which one would you choose?

I would choose the 60’s, when love was free and the music was great! Another great time when girls were making strides in becoming strong empowered women, but still had their eyes on romance with the right boys.

9) Do you listen to music while writing? 

Absolutely. While I wrote The Flappers I had a constant stream of Bessie Smith, Scott Joplin, Robert Johnson, Duke Ellington—basically all the artists you can find on the Pennies From Heaven soundtrack and the Cotton Club soundtrack.

10) Could you tell us 3 popular songs of the time that capture what it might have been like to walk into a speakeasy? 

Sure! My top three would be “China Boy” by Phil Boutelje and Dick Winfree, “Baby Won’t You Please Come Home,” performed by Bessie Smith, and another Bessie Smith standard, “Downhearted Blues.”

Review: Dearly Departed

Title: Dearly Departed

Author: Lia Habel
Publisher: Doubleday Childrens
Your Age Recommendation: 13+
Publication Date: 29 September 2011
Available for Kindle?: Yes
Pages: 464
Copy: For Review
My Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Molly

Synopsis:

It should be game over for Nora Dearly when she is ambushed and dragged off into the night by the living dead. But this crack unit of teen zombies are the good guys, sent to protect Nora from the real monsters roaming the country and zeroing in on cities to swell their ranks.

Can Nora find a way to kill off the evil undead once and for all?

Can she trust her protectors to resist their hunger for human flesh?

And can she stop herself falling for the noble, sweet, surprisingly attractive, definitely no longer breathing Bram?

Molly's Review:

After a catastrophic string of apocalyptic events, society has had to rebuild itself from scratch and the survivors decided to model their new society after Victorian England. Dearly Departed brings together zombies, dystopia, neo-Victorian and romance, creating a huge and incredibly interesting world.

Nora Dearly and her best friend Pamela Roe attend the esteemed St. Cyprian’s private school and have returned home for their winter break. But this isn’t going to be your average Christmas holiday. Nora’s parents died when she was a young girl and she’s now cared for by her spinster aunt, they’re heavily in debt and their future rests on Nora marrying a suitably wealthy husband. A concept that Nora is less than enthusiastic about. But while her aunt is at a party, the house is attacked by zombies. As the Grays, the bad zombies, attack her home Nora arms herself and heads for the roof in an attempt to escape, before she is kidnapped by Bram, one of the good zombies.

This is what makes Nora such a great character. She isn’t the sort of girl who whimpers and whines while waiting for a gorgeous young man to burst in and save the day. Nora finds her dad’s old shotgun, climbs out a window and up the side of the house so that she can escape. She’s not going down easily. Nora has her moments of weakness, she is human after all, but she is always thinking. Always trying to come up with a plan. Always prepared to fight for the things she loves. Nora never backs down, she never loses hope and she never gives up. She is a fantastic main character and a brilliant role model. There should be more main characters like her.

Pamela on the other hand bored me at first, but once Nora had been kidnapped she became much more interesting. At first Pamela seemed a little too typical Victorian girl for me, but once she was on her own and had her own chapters I got to know her more personally, as well as her family and background. Then once she stabbed a zombie in the eye with a parasol, I was hooked. Pamela went from being in Nora’s shadow to being a kick-ass heroine in her own right. I just wish there had been more of her.

The romance between Nora and Bram is also really well done. Both characters are allowed to develop independently at first, so you get to know them as individuals before any romantic feelings start to surface. Bram likes Nora right from the start. Nora however is faced with a zombie boy and although he isn’t as bad as the others, he’s still got all of his appendages and his skin is still firmly attached, he’s still dead. I loved Bram because he was intelligent, patient and courteous at all times, even when others were pushing him to retaliate against them. But, I do wish that he hadn’t been quite so pretty. Yes, he is dead and that’s pretty gross and I didn’t expect him to be like some of the other zombies; one has a missing eye, another has a metal jaw and another has no nose, but he was a little too attractive for a zombie. I did however, love that Bram is always aware that a small part of him would really like to eat Nora, because it added a great, unique dynamic to their relationship.

I loved Dearly Departed, but there were a few downsides for me. It took me a while to get into the world and get my head around the neo-Victorian elements. I think a big part of that is that the book is marketed as steam-punk, so when characters started talking about digital technology I got really confused. But after a while the world took on more shape and I wasn't so bothered about such things.

Another issue for me regarding the world was that I found it difficult to believe that after decades of fighting for women’s rights, women would then turn around and give them up, residing themselves to a Victorian life where you must marry a good husband, behave appropriately, wear incredibly modest clothing and be obedient to men. If the world fell apart I don’t think we would revert to such values, surely you would want everyone to pull their own weight? I suppose I just side more with the Punks.

Aside from the world building there were a few more small problems. I liked having different point of views, however I did not like having five of them. Two or three would have been enough. I would have been more than happy with just Nora, Bram and Pamela, but I felt that Victor’s chapters weren’t entirely necessary at some points and that Wolfe’s weren’t needed at all. I resented being torn away from the action to read about Victor or Wolfe. Especially Wolfe. Dearly Departed is also long, really long and the beginning dragged a little for me, but the middle was really exciting. However the end wasn’t long enough for me, things seemed to wrap up a little too quickly and it felt as if a lot was packed in to a very short epilogue. I can only hope that this is because the next book goes into more detail.

Overall, I really enjoyed Dearly Departed. The book has some problems but nothing that ruined it for me; I finished the book feeling thoroughly pleased and looking forward to the next instalment. I didn’t expect to like a zombie romance novel, I certainly didn’t expect to love it. The romance is sweet and realistic, they talk to each other, they accept that they and their relationship are not perfect and that things will be difficult, which is refreshing. The characters, both main and secondary, are wonderful and all have their own personalities, and the storyline is interesting and compelling. It’s not perfect but it’s certainly worth reading and I’m very curious to see what happens next in this strange neo-Victorian, zombie infested world.

Review: The Treachery of Beautiful Things

Title: The Treachery of Beautiful Things

Author: Ruth Frances Long

Publisher: Dial Books

Publication Date: 16th August 2012

Pages:384

Age Recommendation: 12+

Rating: 5/5

Reviewer: Catherine

Synopsis

A darkly compelling mix of romance, fairy tale, and suspense from a new voice in teen fiction

The trees swallowed her brother whole, and Jenny was there to see it. Now seventeen, she revisits the woods where Tom was taken, resolving to say good-bye at last. Instead, she's lured into the trees, where she finds strange and dangerous creatures who seem to consider her the threat. Among them is Jack, mercurial and magnetic, with secrets of his own. Determined to find her brother, with or without Jack's help, Jenny struggles to navigate a faerie world where stunning beauty masks some of the most treacherous evils, and she's faced with a choice between salvation or sacrifice--and not just her own.

Catherine's Review
This book is faultless. The plot weaves beautifully in and out, each mystery and exciting chapter leading into the next, just like the forest that it's set in. It's really gripping and the story grabs your attention from the very first page.

Jenny has lived an ordinary life, in the shadow of her older brother Tom. For many years she has worshipped him, until one night the trees swallow him whole, leaving Jenny with nothing but memories and memories only. Seven years on and Jenny still remembers her brother, remembers the night the forest claimed him. She now hears the trees whispering and she has always been wary of them and the Green Man that stole her brother away...

Soon enough, Jenny finds herself stuck in the same world as her brother- a land of the unimaginable, a land of fairy-tale dreams, a land of breath-taking beauty. However, Jenny must be cautious, as the beauty should not fool her, but warn her... as evil lurks inside. Jack, the boy of the forest, soon finds Jenny and along with his friend Puck the three set out to supposedly seek Jenny's brother. Jenny claims to hear his flute playing (as he was a musically talented boy), the song of his last evening with her drifting through the trees. From Jack and Puck's description, it seems to Jenny that Tom is the queen's piper, so to the palace they head.

However, Jack lets Jenny down many a time and she is determined to seek out Tom with or without his help. But in this faerie land where nothing is as it seems and evil lurks in the beauty, does Jenny need Jack after all?

The story weaves on and Jenny is still unsure of whose side Jack is really on. It seems he wishes to lead her to the edge, instead of to her brother, so Jenny goes off. Though Jack has warned her of dangers and she has not listened to his advice.. After finding herself trapped after being kissed by a Nix (One of Queen Titania's servants, using their astounding beauty to cause evil and much more), Jack saves her and consequently leaves Jenny puzzling more.

As it turns out, Jack is a servant... and much more. Jenny also knows that he has something to do with her brother's disappearance- the Green Man that Jenny is terrified of. If only more questions were to be answered by this mysterious character. Eventually, Jenny reaches the Queen, who is a very nasty piece of work as she has many other forms too. Astounded, Jenny finds that Tom still remembers her, however refuses to leave. She realises that he is now part faerie because if any humans consume the land's food, gradually they become human no more...

Jenny is torn between who to go for- Jack, who she has taken a shine to, or her own brother, Tom, The boy that she's missed for years. Oberon, grand, noble King and Jack's mighty owner wants Jenny, as she is known as the May Queen- Jenny Wren. It's her job to defeat Mab, an evil spirit trapped in the Queen, needing to be either defeated of the opposite. With challenges and secrets being unleashed Jenny is scared and is struggling to try and escape with her brother.

Will Jenny and Tom escape for good and be reunited once more? Does this mean that Jenny will win over stone-hearted Mab? And if Jenny does leave once and for all, will she ever see Jack 'o' the forest again? Find out in this epic novel!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, so much that I couldn't put it down! The storyline is unpredictable and interesting- fantasy mixed with romance, historical myths and legends thrown in too. You feel sympathy, despair, joy and many other emotions for Jenny in her struggle through the quest to find her brother and you are hooked onto every last word of her adventure.

If there was a sequel to this (which I certainly hope there is!), I'd be the first to read it- and would strongly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good fantastical mystery with romance, history and jam-packed with excitement. I can barely put into words how much I loved and enjoyed this amazing book but I can just say this- I loved it and you will too!