Half Wild - Book Review

Half Wild - Book Review

Sally Green

YA Paranormal

Book #2 in the Half Bad Trilogy

UK Publisher: Penguin UK

Synopsis:

After finally meeting his elusive father, Marcus, and receiving the three gifts that confirm him as a full adult witch, Nathan is still on the run. He needs to find his friend Gabriel and rescue Annalise, now a prisoner of the powerful Black witch Mercury. Most of all he needs to learn to control his gift — a strange, wild new power that threatens to overwhelm him.

Meanwhile, Soul O’Brien has seized control of the Council of White Witches and is expanding his war against the Black witches into Europe. In response, an unprecedented alliance has formed between Black and White witches determined to resist him. Drawn into the rebellion by the enigmatic Black witch Van Dal, Nathan finds himself fighting alongside both old friends and old enemies. But can all the rebels be trusted, or is Nathan walking into a trap?

Review:

This is the second book in Sally Green’s Half Bad Trilogy and much like the first book, it took me several chapters to get into. However once I fell back into the rhythm of Nathan’s unique voice, I quickly found myself swept up in the story and enjoyed each and every page of it.

Nathan now has his magical gift, but before he can use it, he must learn to control it. Yet with the White witches now organising, and targeting all who stand in the way of their new “Kill all Black Witches” regime, Nathan does not have the luxury of time. Joining the alliance of rebels - a group of White witches, Black witches and half codes - whose objection is to bring down the Council of White Witches, Nathan finds himself fighting alongside new friends and to his surprise — old enemies. But as more witches flee to the rebel cause, the chance of betrayal rises, and Nathan has more than his own life at stake…

Sally Green has a fresh writing style that, while I don't think everyone will enjoy, I myself really like. Because despite the story being about witches, she paints a very realistic, very plausible world where secret wars could really be happening, and the battle between good and evil is not at all black and white. 

The story is told form Nathan’s POV and I love his simple way of viewing things. While his thoughts can sometime be a little disjointed, they are realistic for someone who has suffered through many years of both physical and mental abuse. However in this book, Nathan is a stronger and more confident character. Not only is he beginning to trust more and expand his circle of friends, but for the first time he has faith in his own abilities and is making the transition from boy to man. 

However what I love most about his character is his blatant refusal to be moulded into something he isn’t. For years, only a few people have insisted he is a good person, while many others say his blood makes him evil. Yet Nathan follows his own path and has started to realise that people have the ability to be both good and bad, and that in reality, everyone is just a shade of grey. Himself included.

Yet all the characters in this book are pretty special. There is not a single dull character among them and they all bring something extra to the story. I especially liked how characters from the previous book who we labeled as evil, were now fighting alongside Nathan, even though many of their beliefs and personalities conflicted, showing that opposing sides can indeed work together.

The romance was all a big thing in this book. Nathan I think is beginning to come to terms with his sexuality, and realise that maybe he isn't just straight, but potentially bi-sexual instead. Since I’m actually hoping he will end up with Gabriel, I think this is awesome - however for readers who are uncomfortable with gay romances - this book may not be your thing. However the romance only plays a small part of a much bigger story, so it would be a shame to not read this book for that reason alone as Half Wild has so much to offer.

In terms of plot, this book was much more action based than the last one. I admit the beginning was quite slow going, but that was mostly Nathan trying to understand his gift and I myself found that really interesting. However the plot really picks up about halfway through and you will find yourself flying through the pages.

Overall, Half Wild is an original and darkly intriguing read. However it is one of those special sort of books that you either love it or you hate it. Personally, I cannot get enough and am looking forward to the final instalment of the trilogy, Half Lost, which will release in March 2016. 

I give Half Wild 4 stars!

Wendy Darling: Stars - Book Review

Wendy Darling: Stars - Book Review

Colleen Oakes

YA Fantasy

Publisher: SparkPress

Synopsis:

Wendy Darling has a perfectly agreeable life with her parents and brothers in wealthy London, as well as a budding romance with Booth, the neighbourhood bookseller’s son. But while her parents are at a ball, the charmingly beautiful Peter Pan comes to the Darling  children’s nursery and—dazzled by this flying boy with God-like powers—they follow him out the window and straight on to morning, to Neverland, an intoxicating Island of feral freedom.

As time passes in Neverland, Wendy realises that this Lost Boy’s paradise of turquoise seas, mermaids and pirates, holds terrible secrets rooted in blood and greed. As Peter’s grasp on her heart tightens, she struggles to remember where she came from—and begins to suspect that this land of dreams, and the boy who desires her—have the potential to transform into an everlasting nightmare.

Review:

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. As a child I loved Peter Pan, and I was concerned this darker retelling would not appeal to me, but I really liked it. It is a story that begins very innocently, with the more shadowy elements not coming into play until nearer the end of the book. This made for a nice twist and created an intriguing storyline that ensured I will most definitely be reading the sequel.

When Wendy’s parents discover her affections for the booksellers son, Booth, they declare that Wendy may never see him again. That night, while her parents are at a party, a strange boy flies through the nursery window, and offers to take Wendy and her brothers away from their boring, London lives of rules and propriety. And so the Darling children arrive in Neverland, a place where there are no rules, no bedtimes, no parents, and no one to stop them doing what they want, except Peter.

But beneath Peter’s cheery exterior, lies a power hungry greed. He has plans to kill the Pirates, take over Neverland, and name Wendy his queen. But Wendy has already pledged her love to Booth, and even with her fading memories and Peter’s cajoling charm, she can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong. But Peter has never had a mother to teach him patience, and when Wendy continues to refuse him, she learns that Peter would rather break his toys, then see them taken from him…

The characters in this book were amazingly well written. Told from the view point of sixteen-year-old Wendy Darling, this story paints Peter as a fun, charming, yet unhinged teen who has gone too long without rules or proper company. It read very realistically, and I loved how the hints at Peter’s darker nature were revealed slowly as the the book progressed.

However keeping true to the original story, Wendy remained a good girl with her innocence and naivety. Yet she also found her courage and I loved the fierce protection she has toward her brothers, even when they don't always get along. I especially enjoyed the conflict between her and John, which showed the resentment and jealousy that can boil between siblings if left unchecked, especially when they are forced into such gender-specific roles. 

In terms of descriptions, this book created some amazing imagery and visuals, the tree house, the mermaids, and the island itself were all really well done. I was disappointed we didn't get to meet captain hook, but the details about his ship and the underground cavern were fabulous. But Tink, I thought the fairy was written in such a new and amazing way, a truly complicated character and one I hope will feature more in the next book.

Plot wise, the story was a little slow to start and it wasn't until well after the halfway mark, when the book started taking a darker turn that I thought things really got interesting. However the world building and set up for the story was intriguing enough that I wasn't bored, although it may put some readers off.

All in all though this book was really enjoyable and one fans of Peter Pan retellings should definitely pick up. I promise the cliff hanger of an ending will leave you thirsting for more. 4 stars!

Night Study - Book Review

Night Study - Book Review

Maria. V. Snyder

YA Fantasy

Soul Finders Book #2

UK Publisher: MIRA INK

Synopsis:

Ever Since being kidnapped from the Illinois Jungle as a child, Yelena Zaltana’s life has been fraught with peril. But the recent loss of her soul finding abilities has endangered her more than ever before. As she desperately searches for a way to reclaim her magic, her enemies are closing in, and neither Ixia nor Sitia are safe for her anymore…

Review:

I totally adored this book! Although I think being a big fan of Maria V. Snyder’s original Ixia series makes me a little biased. Especially as returning to the same world, with the same amazing characters felt just like catching up with old friends … albeit the kind who live rather thrilling/dangerous lives. And since the first Soul Finder book left us with such a cliffhanger, is it any wonder I was thirsting for more? And I am happy to report, this second book did not in anyway disappoint. 

Night Study picks straight up from where Shadow Study left off. As always, Yelena and Valek are in danger, but now, Yelena suspects she is pregnant. But with the commander acting strange in the North, and magicians mysteriously disappearing in the South, neither Ixia or Sitia are safe. Especially as the two countries prepare for war with each other. 

Also with Yelena’s powers gone, taking with it her ability to detect lies, she must learn once again to trust in herself to make the right choices. But with her loyalties between the two nations divided, and with the life of her and Valek’s unborn child at stake, this time, she cannot afford to make the wrong choice…

Words can’t do justice to how much I loved this book. Much like the first book of this new trilogy, Night Study follows the same pattern and reveals a more in-depth look at Valeks past. Only now, the past is catching up with his present - and it’s amazing! To be honest, I can’t say if some of the plot lines regarding Valek were predictable, because it might have just been my wishful thinking, but either way, they all led in the direction I wanted to see Valek go, so no complaints from me. It’s wonderful how much his character has developed and now he’s facing new challenges, and I can’t wait to see how much more he can grow.

Yelena is still the bad-ass heroine she’s always been. Although without her magic, she is closer to the girl she was in poison study, as in she is feeling her way and learning how to rely on just her normal five senses again. However despite being ‘ordinary’ again she is still the quick-thinking, resourceful character we know and love. 

Most of the original characters are also in the book too in some capacity or another - but what is nice about them all is that they are older, wiser and stronger for their experiences - yet at the core, they are still themselves. With this soul finder series set five years after the Ixia series finished, I truly think the author Maria. V Snyder has done a fantastic job of ageing her characters while keeping true to their personalities.

In terms of storytelling, the book is told from three POVs. Yelena, Valek and Leif’s, yet Yelena still holds the starring role. The plot itself moves at a fast pace, with serval storylines in play at all times,  and always plenty of action. It was a hard book to put down and the final instalment of this trilogy cannot come soon enough.

However as with the last book, I think if you haven't read the spin off glass series, featuring Opal’s story, there are a few references to the past that you might not get, and perhaps you might not make immediate connections to the bad guys and their agenda. However these instances are few and far between and ultimately would not spoil the story.

All in all, A truly delicious, soul searing read that fans of the series will devour whole. 4 stars!