Red Blooded by Amanda Carlson

Title: Red Blooded

Author: Amanda Carlson

Publisher: Orbit

Rating: 3/5

Amanda Carlson returns with Red Blooded, the four novel in the Jessica McClain series. I have been away from reviewing for a while, due to university work and dissertation writing, so it was great to get back into the swing of things with another action packed read from Carlson.

We are dropped straight into the action with Jessica being transported straight to…Hell. In the literal sense. As fan’s will remember, Jessica’s brother, Tyler, was kidnapped by the Prince of Hell at the end of the last installment, Cold Blooded, and of course Jess is heading straight there to get him back. Things don’t got to plan and she winds up there alone, unarmed and unprepared. Jess’s reluctance is more than just not wanting to enter the Underworld, but she knows that her Fate is in some way linked to her presence in Hell. However, she must take the risk if she wants to see her brother again.

Ninety-percent of Red Blooded takes place in the Underworld, and luckily it is a very interesting setting, with no end of problems for our heroine. She meets some interesting characters along the way, some more mysterious than others, and there are plenty of plot twists to keep readers satisfied.

Carlson’s energetic writing is spot on as always, and as a result this can be a quick read. Once you get stuck into this series, you will be hard pressed not to finish this novel in only a few sittings, which was also the case with the first three books.

That’s not to say this book is perfect; I did have a few niggles it. Mainly, the absence of of the usual characters. Of course, this is due to the fact that because the entire novel takes place in the Underworld, there is no contact with Jess’s pack, or anyone back in her world. Secondly, there is little interaction between Jessica and Rourke. Although he does follow Jess into Hell, and is the only other character who features in the novel almost as much as Jess, I still felt there was a lack of dialogue between the two compared to the pervious instalments.

Having said that, there are some massive plot developments towards the end and the series takes an unexpected turn. Luckily, the next book is out in June, because there are plenty of cliffhangers to keep fans eager for book five.

Review of This House is Haunted by John Boyne

We all find it difficult loosing a loved-one, but when twenty-one year old Eliza Cane looses her father suddenly, she is left with no home, no other family and nowhere to go. Panicking, she makes the rash decision to take on the position of governess at Gaudlin Hall, Norfolk, after seeing an advertisement in a broadsheet.

On a dark and chilly night, Eliza arrives at the Hall, expecting to be met by her employer. Instead, she is greeted by two young children, Isabella and Eustace, and no one else is in the building; no parents, no adults, no one at all. When she questions the children about the whereabouts of their parents, she gets evasive answers, or half-truths but no explanations. Where are they? Why are the children alone?

Things start becoming more mystifying when it is apparent that something strange is happening at Gaudlin Hall; not only is Eliza almost pushed in front of a train as soon as she arrives at the Norfolk station – only to be saved by a passing doctor – but later that night, in her new room, a second terrifying experience convinces Eliza that something is very wrong.

Things take a turn for the worst when she discovers the fate of the previous governess’ to take up residence at Gaudlin Hall. Whatever malign presence resides in her new home, Eliza soon realises that her life, and that of the children’s, will not be safe until the secrets of Gaudlin Hall are excavated and put to rest for good.

The year is 1867, and the setting is a grand, dilapidated manor house. It all sounds a bit Jane Eyre, the very reason I was attracted to the book in the first place, but this is a ghost story; no more, no less.

Anything John Boyne ever writes is something I am more than excited to read, and as I have already mentioned, the plot is something that I was immediately interested in reading. The gothic elements of this story, mixed with the work of an excellent author, results in a book that will appeal to many readers. One of his most notable works to date, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, secured Boyne a place as one of the best authors of the decade, as well as being a personal favourite of mine. Where The Boy in the Striped Pajamas was written to perfection as the voice of an innocent, educated boy, This House is Haunted is in the viewpoint of educated, grieving but ever-loyal Eliza Cane. Boyne shows-off his skill in writing by having the ability to write convincingly in both male and female characters, and young and old voices, weaving a narrative true to the characters that live within its pages.

I can easily see This House is Haunted being adapted into a TV drama at some point in the future, and if his track record is anything to go by, John Boyne will no doubt have another bestseller out in no time. Something I am already anticipating. 

Summer in February by Jonathan Swift

 Britain seems to have been plunged into a Summer in February frenzy over the past few weeks, with the film hitting cinema screens all over the country and the book flying off the shelves, so I thought I’d join in and have a read of the novel to see what all the fuss is about.

Originally released by Jonathan Swift in 1996, this novel has come to frequent bookshelves again this year due after it was announced that it will be adapted for the big screen, directed by Christopher Menaul. The book begins with Sir Alfred Munnings, retiring President of the Royal Academy, launching ‘a savage attack’ on Modern Art. His old friend, Gilbert, hears this on the radio and it takes him down memory lane, to forty years earlier, a time when Munnings and his life was entwined due, in short, to one young woman, Florence Carter-Wood.

To get a feel of the novel without me giving too much of the plot away, I am going to pass onto you a quote from the Telegraph, which features on the book jacket. Having just finished the book, I feel it sums it up better than anything I could write here. “Engrossing and surprisingly dark.” Before reading the novel, I read this quote and it made me think that perhaps Summer in February isn’t simply the fluffy romance I was expecting. In short, it isn’t. In fact, the book has much more heart and a darker undercurrent of themes than I was anticipating, however this did not subtract anything from the novel overall, only added to the story.

It think it’s important to tell you before we go into too much detail, that Summer in February is in fact based on a true story, (something I was fascinated to learn!) and indeed many of the characters (artists) are real, and quite famous in the art world. I am ashamed that I am not familiar with their names and after reading this book; I have taken it upon myself to research the truth behind the novel. Some of the main characters have biographies written about their real counterparts, something that would make interesting additional reading for a fan of Summer in February.

It’s true to say, therefore, that Summer in February was not at all what I had anticipated, but there are more pros than cons to the book in question.

Firstly, the setting of this excellent love story is very close to my heart – the novel takes place in the south of Cornwall (where I have lived for all of my life), in particular, around Newlyn, Penzance and Lamorna Cove. 

Secondly, the plot is realistic (which of course it would be, being based on a true story!) It is primarily about a love triangle between three artists in Cornwall. Don’t worry; you don’t have to have any prior knowledge of –or love for - art to understand Summer in February, despite the opening chapter tricking you into thinking otherwise. The artists in question are Alfred Munnings and Gilbert Evans, with Florence Carter-Wood as the love interest of the two men. Right from the off-set, it’s clear that Munnings is a marmite character; the audience and the other characters in the book either take a shine to him, or find his loud manner and arrogance a turn-off. Gilbert, on the other hand, is easily likeable, if a bit boring.

The film adaption is a different story. It seems that, despite the popular casting of Brit’ favourite Dan Stevens as Gilbert, the film hasn’t lived up to the hype and has received largely mixed reviews. I urge you to pick up the book and go and see the film without judging it too harshly. Summer in February is a period drama for a rainy day, not an award-winning masterpiece, and I think it does perfectly well being just that – a good film. Just don’t build your expectations up too high. 

Hot Blooded by Amanda Carlson REVIEW

Jessica McClain’s story continues in Hot Blooded, the second installment in the Jessica McClain series.

I feel that a quick recap of the first book is needed for some context here; Jessica has just discovered that she is the only female werewolf in the world. However, this is no reason for celebration. It means she is now a target. She recently found her mate, Rourke, only for him to be kidnapped by a powerful goddess.

Hot Blooded picks up where Full Blooded left off, with Jessica eager to begin searching for her mate. But things are never as straight forward as they seem when you’re the only female werewolf around, and in Hot Blooded, Jessica comes to realise this more than ever when she is able to unimaginable things, things that no werewolf has ever been able to do, with powers that no other supernatural – or ‘supe’ as they are nicknamed in the series – can do. It’s clear that the sooner she can learn and understand her new powers, the better.

As with Full Blooded, I am surprised at how much I love this series. It could so easily become another – very forgettable – werewolf series ridden with plot holes and pointless characters; however, Amanda Carlson once again has exceeded my expectations and managed to pull off a second installment with just as much sass as the first. Jessica is a feisty; no nonsense woman who knows when enough is enough. She has close ties to her twin bother, Tyler, and her Pack mate, Danny, who help her on an adventure/quest to rescue her mate. They also enlist the help of two vampires, Naomi and Eamon, who bring some unexpected scenarios when Naomi is badly injured and only Jessica can save using a power she never knew she had.

It is in this book Carlson starts to slowly reveal just what an exception to the werewolf race Jessica really is. Her powers are unheard of, but is that a good thing or bad? There is the small matter of a prophecy claiming that ‘her birth will signify the end of their race’. How true is that?

The interaction between the characters is quick-witted and humorous, and despite Hot Blooded being such a fast paced novel, Carlson does an excellent job of making us the forget the wider threats and enjoy the small banter between the main characters. The best scenes are between Jessica and Ray, who seems to be in the series for the long haul judging by how things were left in this book…

There are also hints at relationships developing between some of the characters in this novel, and certain threats to be faced in the future novels, so nothing is wrapped up in this installment – and hopefully there will be many more Jessica McClain books to come. 

Review of Kelley Armstrong's Darkness Rising Trilogy

I am reviewing this series based on my faith in the author, and not on the plot or storyline this trilogy follows. In fact, reading the blurb on the first book, it does nothing to draw me in. I feel that all young adult books have become one and the same. If authors want to get their book noticed among the hundreds of thousands currently available to teenagers, they should really put more effort into wording the blurb on their novels. This is the deciding factor for most readers about whether they are willing to invest their time in your story or not, and I feel that some out there at the moment could do with a good rework, this series included.

But don’t let the vague blurb put you off, Armstrong’s writing could pull off the worst plotline in history, and do it well.

The world seemed to dip and darken and I smelled wet earth and thick musk and fresh blood. The wind whipped past, like I was running. Running so fast the ground whizzed beneath me and the wind cut across my skin . . .

I’ll start at the beginning, with the first book in the trilogy, The Gathering. We are introduced to Maya Delaney, a sixteen-year-old girl living a relatively secluded life in the tranquil town of Salmon Creek, which has a population of only two hundred. Maya has always felt a close bond with nature. She practically lives in the woods, and spends most of her time looking after the animals that get hurt in the area, and she feel like the paw-shaped birthmark she has on her tattoo is a sign that she belongs close to these wild creatures.

Things start of relatively normally, with Maya going to the local, and only, high school. It is described as being a state school with all the benefits of a private school; students have extra curricular activates that Maya suggests are a big part of her and her friends life, for example swimming, boxing, dancing, singing, climbing etcetera. When her life-long best friend, Daniel, the school boxing champion, is suspicious of the new student, Rafe, Maya takes notice. Daniel has a gut instinct for knowing what people are like from the off, and its never been wrong before. But he begins to feel these ‘bad vibes’ a whole lot more than usual.

But Daniel isn’t fully recovered from his girlfriend, and Maya’s best friend, Serena’s death a year ago. Are his instincts off? Maya is intrigued by Rafe; a guy who likes to make everyone believe he is a typical bad-boy, but Maya knows he doesn’t really smoke and drink, so what’s his game? Then there’s his sister, Annie, who Rafe claims had an accident, and is brain damaged. But when Mays notices the same paw shaped birthmark on Annie’s arm as Maya has on her hip, Maya realizes this may be more than just a coincidence. To top everything off, a journalist starts asking questions and hanging around the otherwise quiet town. Something that out of the ordinary is noticeable, so when she goes missing and later turns up dead, Maya knows something very strange is happening.

Is it a tragic accident that Selena, captain of the swim team, and the best swimmer in Salmon Creek, drowns? Or is it something more?

Maya and Daniel do some digging and begin to suspect that the St. Clouds, the owners of Salmon Creek, are involved in medical research that is less of the ‘research’ and much more experimentation, with a supernatural element.

The first book isn’t all that I felt The Summoning (the first in Armstrong’s previous YA trilogy, Darkest Powers) was; the plot was very predictable, and I found I really didn’t care much for the characters at first. Especially as the main characters are a large group of friends, it is hard to get to know the personality of each.

This is why the second book in the Darkness Rising trilogy was much better, in my opinion. By this time, the reader has already got to know which characters they prefer and why, and the predictability of the plot has past. The Calling begins where The Gathering left off; with the gang leaving Salmon Creek on a helicopter to escape a forest fire, which Maya suspects is man-made. Things take a turn for the worst and they find themselves stranded in a dense forest with no food or water, and the wildness of nature surrounding them – not to mention a cougar or two.  It is this book that Armstrong pulls the friends together and puts to use her best talent; writing amazing characters with witty dialogue.

The third and final book in the trilogy, The Rising, sees Armstrong doing something unexpected; she links this trilogy to her previous YA series (mentioned earlier) by a meeting between the two groups of teenagers. There were many references to them in the first books in the series, but to actually introduce the characters to each other gives fan of the other series, like myself, a chance to catch up with the other characters and see how they’ve coped since the end of the trilogy.

As this book is set in the same world as her previous Women of the Otherworld series, expect Armstrong to reference many of the more popular characters and names fans of the books – like myself – will be delighted to recognize.

Perhaps this series isn’t all I was hoping for, and I strongly suggest reading her first Young Adult trilogy, Darkest Powers, before starting this one. They are closely entwined but I far preferred the character building in Darkest Powers to Darkness Rising. However, if you are already familiar with the Darkest Powers trilogy, and became fond of the characters, then Darkness Rising is the series for you. Catching up with Derek, Chloe and Simon made me glad I read this new series, even if it fell short of the un-clichéd YA novels I had hoped for.

This review is not aimed at dissuading anyone from reading this series, and if you do, I have no doubt you will find it better than almost all the other YA urban fantasy novels currently on the market, but Kelley Armstrong has written much better, and will write a much better series in the future, I have no doubt. 

To buy The Gathering, click here.

To buy The Calling, click here. 

To buy The Rising, click here. 

To read more about Kelley Armstrong's previous YA trilogy, Darkest Powers, click here.