Title: The Selection (The Selection #1)
Author: Kiera Cass
Published: by
Pages: 327
Rating:  
Purchase: The Book Depository

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself- and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Final Thoughts: Initially, I had trouble getting into this one – and I mean A LOT of trouble. Right up until America gets into the palace, this book was dry and hollow. It was almost enough to make me want to put the book down then and there. However, I perservered, and while The Selection isn’t going to win any awards in my imaginary-personal-reading-competition, I was able to finish it and find myself wondering what was going to happen in Book Two.

UK Title: The Gathering Dark (The Grisha Trilogy #1)
US Title: Shadow & Bone (The Grisha Trilogy #1)
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Published: June, 2012 by Indigo
Thanks: Hachette AU
Pages: 442
Rating:  
Purchase: The Book Depository

The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness, crawling with monsters that feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka.

Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the lavish world of the kingdom’s magical elite—the Grisha. Could she be the key to unravelling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting Ravka free?

The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and terrifying power, leader of the Grisha. If Alina is to fulfil her destiny, she must discover how to unlock her gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him.

But what of Mal, Alina’s childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can’t she ever quite forget him?

Final Thoughts: It’s hard to put into words just how enthralled by The Gathering Dark I was. Let’s just say that I haven’t been able to read a book of this size in one sitting for over six months, and that was when I was floored by Veronica Rossi’s debut in January. Leigh Bardugo astounds me with her craft for storytelling! I am so very glad I stumbled into the world of the Grisha!

Title: The Masque of the Red Death (#1)
Author: Bethany Griffin
Published: August, 2012 by Orion
Thanks: Hachette AU
Pages: 336
Rating:  
Purchase: The Book Depository

Everything is in ruins. A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them. So what does Araby Worth have to live for? Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair — Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

Final Thoughts: Although well-written (Bethany Griffin knows her stuff!), her YA debut, The Masque of the Red Death never managed to pull me in completely. Despite 300+ pages, I wasn’t able to connect with Araby, Will or Elliot and their story. Still, Bethany Griffin should get a round of applause for injecting new life into the original Edgar Allan Poe short story.

US Title: Hemlock (Hemlock #1)
UK Title: Deadly Hemlock (Hemlock #1)
Author: Kathleen Peacock
Published: July, 2012 by Simon & Schuster AU
Thanks: Simon & Schuster, AU
Pages: 416
Rating:  
Purchase: The Book Depository

Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome–also known as the werewolf virus–is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boy-friend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Final Thoughts: Kathleen Peacock has managed to rejuvenate the werewolf YA genre with her debut, Hemlock! A fast-paced and interesting story that had me turning pages well into the night.

Title: Fever (The Chemical Garden Trilogy #2)
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Published: February, 2012 by Simon & Schuster
Pages: 341
Rating:  
Purchase: The Book Depository

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago – surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous – and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion… by any means necessary.

Final Thoughts: Last year’s debut, Wither, absolutely blew me away, so when I went into Fever I was expecting greatness. Unfortunately, the second novel in The Chemical Garden series does not live up to the first. It wasn’t until the last third of the book that I really started to embrace it. Still, it’s a worthwhile read if you enjoyed the first installment.

Title: Wrecked
Author: Anna Davies
Published: May, 2012 by Simon & Schuster
Pages: 321
Rating:  
Purchase: The Book Depository

Ever since the death of her parents, Miranda has lived on Whym Island, taking comfort in the local folklore, which claims a mysterious sea witch controls the fate of all on the island and in its surrounding waters. Sometimes it’s just easier to believe things are out of your control.

But then a terrible boating accident takes the lives of several of her friends, and Miranda is rescued by a mysterious boy who haunts her dreams. Consumed by guilt from the accident, she finds refuge in late-night swims—and meets Christian, a boy who seems eerily familiar, but who is full of mystery: He won’t tell her where he is from, or why they can only meet at the beach. But Miranda falls for him anyway…and discovers that Christian’s secrets, though meant to protect her, may bring her nothing but harm.

Final Thoughts: My main problem with Wrecked was that I didn’t connect to any of its characters. The romance was rushed, the focus was not on the fantasy aspect of the book (which I wanted) and the main character was just someone I could not sympathize with. It’s a shame, because Wrecked seemed to have it all from the amazing cover and synopsis.