Plague by Michael Grant

Published: April 2011

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (Harper Collins)

Pages: 497

Copy: Library

Summary: Goodreads

They've survived hunger. They've survived lies. But the stakes keep rising, and the dystopian horror keeps building. Yet despite the simmering unrest left behind by so many battles, power struggles, and angry divides, there is a momentary calm in Perdido Beach.


But enemies in the FAYZ don't just fade away, and in the quiet, deadly things are stirring, mutating, and finding their way free. The Darkness has found its way into the mind of its Nemesis at last and is controlling it through a haze of delirium and confusion. A highly contagious, fatal illness spreads at an alarming rate. Sinister, predatory insects terrorize Perdido Beach. And Sam, Astrid, Diana, and Caine are plagued by a growing doubt that they'll escape - or even survive - life in the FAYZ. With so much turmoil surrounding them, what desperate choices will they make when it comes to saving themselves and those they love?


Plague is the fourth installment in Michael Grant's Gone series. Is it as good as the others?  Absolutely!  Once again we meet Sam, Drake, Astrid, Dekka, Caine, Orc, Edillio, and all the many other fascinating characters that populate the world of the FAYZ. 

This time around things are even more gruesome than the last, if that is even possible.  Just when you think things can't get any worse ...... Well I can't tell you what happens, but you will be surprised at Grant's ingenuity.  One thing for sure, this story is not for the faint of heart.  It is gory, bloody and quite disgusting in some parts - at one point I had visions of the movie version of Starship Troopers in my head, what does that tell you?

But the thing that really amazes me about this book is the depth of human character. The way Grant illustrates the breakdown of society and character.  How he shows so clearly the true nature of human beings and how society, and people, break down under the weight of stress and hardship.

 '"So I guess the island's looking even better now, huh?" Sanjit asked. "You were right, it's one big open-air asylum."
Virtue nodded solemnly and glanced back at the church. "Yeah, but there's a couple of saints mixed in with the crazies." (p473)

Grant manages to cover the good, the bad, and the extremely ugly within his characters and yet in the end still manages to surprise.  The 'X-men' factor of the story adds yet another dimension to the horrors, and the whole package is just amazing. I am loving this series, partly because I have absolutely no idea what is going to happen next. As I mentioned, the content is quite gruesome and frightening, but there is little or no language, and only a hint of sexual content.  If you like your supernormal/paranatural with a twist of humanly horror, Plague is definitely for you.

I couldn't find any information on a 5th volume,  but I'm really hoping there will be one - ok, with this ending, there has to be one - and we probably won't see it until 2012.  Just let me know where I can pre-order please.

Revision - check out the comments below.  Straight from the horse's mouth so to speak, there will definitely be a fifth volume 'Fear' and a sixth 'Light', but it seems my pleas couldn't speed the process up at all.  Thank you so much Mr Grant for letting us know.

Virals by Kathy Reichs

Published: September 2010

Publisher: Razorbill

Pages: 448

Copy Obtained by: Library

Summary:  Goodreads

Summary:

Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage "sci-philes" who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever.


As the friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their newfound physical gifts to solve a cold-case murder that has suddenly become very hot if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer's scent.

Fortunately, they are now more than friends they're a pack. They are Virals.

Review:
Tory Brennan is the niece of Temperance Brennan, star of Kathy Reich's Bones series, also now a television series.  I have never watched Bones although I have always heard great things about it.  (Curlypow is a fan and would be happy to convert me I'm sure!)  To me, David Boreanez is and will always be Angel.  I'm not just not sure if I can see him as any other character.  Mind you, I was OK with Richard Dean Anderson shedding his MacGyver role (and his mullet) to do Stargate SG1 so maybe I am more open-minded than I think. 

So to be honest, I was a Kathy Reichs virgin when I first started reading.  The truth is, I really enjoyed this one.  It was clean and had a good pace.  I couldn't compare Tory to her aunt Temperance (not having read the adult series) but she is quite the smartypants for her age.  She was much more mature than I imagined and had these great leadership qualities.  Her best line was "Bring it on".  I was imagining the scene in my head and it was so triumphant...  the perfect kids vs adults clip.  Speaking of which, I would recommend this book to anyone who is in their pre-teens (both guys and gals) and up.  Virals was enjoyable and kept me interested so I wil probably continue reading the series.  I may even give the Bones series a try...once I catch up on my TBR pile (uh, when I'm 83).

I suggested a question recently on Crazy For Books Friday Blog Hop...What do you think about authors who normally write adult titles, now getting into the YA genre?  Personally, I am enjoying it.  They bring experience and diversity to the mix, plus, if you enjoy the writing style, you can always branch out and seek their other series while waiting for the next YA read.  Recently I have read quite a few of these authors - Kathy Reichs, Sherrilyn Kenyon, James Patterson, Sophie Jordan...do you have any others you'd recommend or like to add to the list?

Friday Book Blogger Hop

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!

Each week, participating blogs are asked questions to post and answer on their websites.

This week’s question –


Which blogger would you most like to meet in real life?

Augh!  This is such a tough question because there are so many blogs out there that I love to follow!!  Hmm...as per usual, I can't just stick to one answer so I'll have to do a shout out to multiple blogs.  It was hard to narrow it down but...I'd like to meet the bloggers from

Su Steph Reads

Kari from A Good Addiction

Everyone from Reading Teen

Everyone from Mundie Moms

Tynga from Tynga's Reviews

Susan from Wastepaper Prose

Everyone from YA Highway and last but certainly not least

Liz from Midnight Blooms (actually we already met at the Smart Chicks Tour but she's so freaking nice!!)

Welcome to the Paperback Princesses! Make yourself at home, take a look around our blog and let us know what you think in the comments section. We would love to hear what you have to say about our posts. We often try to comment on your comments as well so feel free to start a conversation! Since there are two of us running the show, we always have a variety of titles and event postings. Be sure to check out our own personal meme page. Check out Fantastic Fairytales, Let's Hear it for the Boys, In Case you Missed it and a few others. We try to not only focus on new YA books but also great titles from the past.

Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready

Published: May 3, 2011

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Pages: 384

e-copy: Courtesy of Simon and Schuster

Summary: Goodreads

Aura’s life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can’t deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she’s not sure that she wants to.



Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift.


As Aura’s search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets…and her heart.

OMG, I just finished reading this and I'm still crying.  When I started reading Shift, I had forgotten how much I enjoyed Shade.  I had forgotten how complex the story actually became, and this follow-up did not disappoint me at all.  When Christinabean and I met Ms Smith-Ready last year she mentioned how much she loves music and how it influences her writing.  That is so apparent in this book.  Her love for music shows in her writing and is definitely an integral part of the story.

We are re-introduced  to the characters from Shade, Aura (don't you just love that name?), Logan and Zachary. Logan, whom I wasn't very fond of in the first book, really grew on me this time around.  He seemed to really grow up and fill out as a character.  Zachary was, and still is, a really nice guy.  Although this time around he and Aura make some pretty strange decisions.  The two of them have a hard time avoiding trouble in their search to find out more about the circumstances of their births, and there are a couple of 'what the....' moments, with some interesting and exciting escapades.

What I loved about Shift was that I felt as if I was there, part of the action, hoping that things will work out for the three of them.  Does it? Were my tears happy or sad?  Well you'll have to read it yourself and find out, won't you? There's no cliffhanger ending, but I did like the possibilites for a follow-up. Unfortunately we have to wait until summer 2012 for # 3.  I personally can't wait.

Waiting on Wednesday - Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready (May 4)

Aura’s life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can’t deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she’s not sure that she wants to.


Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift.


As Aura’s search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets…and her heart.


Check in tomorrow for Curlypow's review of this one.

In Case You Missed It - Armageddon's Children by Terry Brooks

Published: August 2006

Publisher: Del Rey

Pages: 384

Copy: From Library

Summary: Goodreads

Logan Tom is doomed to remember the past and determined to rescue the future. Far behind him lies a boyhood cut violently short by his family's slaughter, when the forces of madness and hate swept our world after decadent excesses led to civilization's downfall. Somewhere ahead of him rests the only chance to beat back the minions of evil that are systematically killing and enslaving the last remnants of humanity. Navigating the scarred and poisoned landscape that once was America and guided by a powerful talisman, Logan has sworn an oath to seek out a remarkable being born of magic, possessed of untold abilities, and destined to lead the final fight against darkness."

Across the country, Angel Perez, herself a survivor of the malevolent death-dealing forces combing the land, has also been chosen for an uncanny mission in the name of her ruined world's salvation. From the devastated streets of Los Angeles, she will journey to find a place - and a people - shrouded in mystery, celebrated in legend, and vital to the cause of humankind...even as a relentless foe follows close behind, bent on her extermination. Meanwhile, in the nearly forsaken city of Seattle, a makeshift family of refugees has carved out a tenuous existence among the street gangs, mutants, and marauders fighting to stay alive against mounting odds - and something unspeakable that has come from the shadows in search of prey." In time, all their paths will cross. Their common purpose will draw them together. Their courage and convictions will be tested and their fates will be decided, as their singular crusade begins: to take back, or lose forever, the only world they have.

Even though this book was marketed for adults, I have always felt that there should have been a campaign to bring it to the attention of YA's.  Armageddon's Children was the first in a trilogy that finished off a series of novels started back in 1977 with The Sword of Shannara.  Armageddon's Children was very different because it bridged the gap between apocalyptic fiction and fantasy.  It tied two story lines together - that from The Word and the Void trilogy which is almost paranormal and the world of Shannara, which is pure fantasy. 

The wonderful thing about this trilogy is that it explained how our world could fall apart and yet produce the possibilities of a world with elves and dwarves and monsters.  Terry Brooks writes beautifully and lyrically and manages to give his characters an amazing depth and believability.  This particular book introduces a group of kids who have gone through amazing hardships and yet have bonded to become a family unit.  Their struggles are almost insurmountable, but they each have amazing strengths and willpower.  You can't help but fall in love with them all. Armageddon's Children was followed by The Elves of Cintra and The Gypsy Morph.

If you try this one out and like it, I'm sure you'll read the trilogy, which will in turn lead you to a about 22 books in the series. If you are interested in finding out more about the whole series, check out Terry Brooks website.

I've been reading these books since 1977, and I'm still lovin' them.  Try them out for size.  Oh, and don't let the blah cover fool you - they are well worth the effort!

Beastly giveaway - And the winner is ......

Thank you so much to everyone who entered our Beastly giveaway during the Fantastic Fairytales Fortnight.  We are delighted to announce that the winner is Alex W, chosen by Random.org  I have already emailed Alex the good news. She will be receiving a movie tie-in copy of the book, sent directly from The Book Depository.

Some of you may remember our giveaway last year that featured more than just a book - well we have another surprise for you - my knitting needles have been busy again.   So keep watching to find out what I've knitted up this time for you to enjoy.