tien

There are 2 sides of me which is like 2 sides of the same coin; completely opposite yet it’s the one coin (or person, in my case). There is the sensible side of me which thinks respect and love will grow later (how totally P&P!) and there is romantic side of me which just melts at the thought of soul mates.I had to admit that, at first, this soul mate biz kind of annoyed me because Lenah (as we see at the end of book 1) was with Justin and in this book we see a sort of love triangle. I would usually hate love triangles but surprisingly, I didn’t mind it too much here as Lenah wasn’t given much of a choice at all. She still struggles but what I didn’t mind was that there was a lot more restraints and disciplines from both sides. I totally approve this approach! The only bit that annoyed me about the soul mate bits were just that it was reiterated so many times but weren’t really explained til near the end… and the end… Oooh… I WANT MORE! I can NOT wait for the next book!Lenah is such a strong and beautiful character. To be a nearly helpless human teenage girl after being a Vampire Queen for so long requires a lot of courage to face life and an extra Big Dollop of Daring most especially to fight other creatures stronger than oneself. In addition to that, Lenah was loving, caring, and also, at the end, selfless. How more beautiful can you be?Quite a number of characters are killed but yet there are additional interesting characters. Most interesting of all is Vicken. I loved the dynamics between Vicken and Lenah. I also loved just how totally chillax Vicken is. They make a great bestie-duo.Overall, this book satisfies both sides of me. The romantic one with the idea of soul mates and what it means. The sensible one with the restraints shown by both sides and the ending which I thoroughly loved yet made me really anxious for the next installment of this series.Thank you St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the privilege to read & review galley.

[b:The Bronze Horseman|83144|The Bronze Horseman|Paullina Simons|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327921996s/83144.jpg|12615171] has been on my to-read list for a while now so I am familiar with the name Paullina Simons but I’ve not read any of her works just yet. When offered an advanced copy of this book, I jumped at the chance, and was especially happy to find out that it was a prequel to The Bronze Horseman. It’d be great to have the background story and it may lit the fire to get me going to read The Broze Horseman. Was it successful? Not at all! In fact, it’s a miserable failure.Spare me from stupendously idiotic selfish inconsiderate characters! Oh, this book made me so angry! If I wasn’t reading it for a challenge, I reckon it’d be a DNF. Finishing it probably made me angrier because the ending was totally not worth it.I disliked Gina right from the very beginning. She knows what she wants and she’s a go-getter no matter the consequences. It’s admirable that she would work very hard to get it but her deceitful insidious ways completely turned me off. She had the potential to grow to a character I could admire but that’s not what happened.To begin with, I actually really liked Ben and Harry. Harry also had the potential but instead both Gina and Harry were so selfish that in the end, they have destroyed all that is beautiful around them. That’s what really got me angry –utter inconsiderate fools! I am truly sorry that I could not for the life of me like these characters which in turn means that I did not enjoy the plot and I absolutely abhorred the ending.It was an easy to read book (in terms of language used), some minor characters were likeable, the descriptions of setting were lovely and of course, loved the beautiful cover. I’ve kept [b:The Bronze Horseman|83144|The Bronze Horseman|Paullina Simons|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327921996s/83144.jpg|12615171] on my TBR as it appears to have different characters plus I’ve read reviews which stated that they hated this book but loved The Bronze Horseman. I’m just not in any hurry to read it… maybe when I’ve forgotten how angry I am at this book…Thank you HarperCollins Australia & The Reading Room for the opportunity to read & review this book. Unfortunately, this one is not for me.

What is so fascinating about the circus? I think it dates back to childhood days where we are so impressionable that the pomp, the animals, and weird & wonderful truly grabbed our hearts and souls. It’s also a very special treat which makes it utterly precious as memories. My love for circus in literature also dates back to childhood –does anyone remember [b:Mr Galliano's Circus|1272176|Mr Galliano's Circus|Enid Blyton|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1182409849s/1272176.jpg|1461042] by [a:Enid Blyton|10657|Enid Blyton|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1298204474p2/10657.jpg]? One of my childhood’s favourite!Pantomime, whilst is set within a circus, is actually quite a dark sort of feel. It opened with Micah Gray, having been caught snooping in the circus and desperately seeking for a way in –a way to survive, having ran away from home. For the first half of the book, the story alternated between Iphigenia Laurus and Micah Grey to provide the background of these characters. At times, it felt quite slow as the secrets are unveiled bits by bits however there always seem to be a carrot dangled in front of you and you can’t help but chase after it all the time…The blurb does not do the book justice but I’m not about to give you any more than the blurb because that’s the fun of reading it for yourself! The unveiling of all the itty bitty mysteries the author has buried deep inside the story. There are quite a number of layers in this book and I can’t share one without telling you about the rest. Suffice to say that when I started to wonder what the title, Pantomime, has to do with the book, it came about and I really enjoyed the last few chapters. This is not a stand-alone book! It definitely has whetted my appetite and I am anxiously waiting for the sequel (2014! So far away!).A note to parents, this book is pretty clean (there are some kisses and a little touch here and there) however be prepared to face some GLBT type of questions. I would suggest you read it for yourself first.Thank you Strange Chemistry and NetGalley for the privilege to read & review galley

This book tells the lives of the Sales Assistants in Ladies’ Cocktail Frocks of the posh F.G. Goode department store. There are Patty, Fay, and Magda (a Continental in charge of Model Gowns –one of a kind gown available in one size only). Lisa (aka Lesley) had just done her Leaving Certificate (ie. HSC) and is looking to earn some pocket money during the Christmas / New Year’s period. These ladies are required to dress in the uniform black dress (cut in 1930s style).They are heart-warming stories that tickle with endings to melt your heart and make you smile in remembrance. From Patty’s cold & childless marriage, Fay’s failures for love, to Lisa’s yearning to be grown up, there are anecdotes there for readers to identify with and sympathise. The chapters are very short and made this book to be very quick read (only a couple of hours) but really enjoyable. If you’re looking for a relaxing beach read – I’d totes recommend this book.‘I’ll see,’ she said. ‘But Lisa! Lisa! How could you such a thing? To change your name like that, and not a word to me. It’s so sly.’‘Oh Mum,’ said Lisa. ‘I didn’t mean to be sly, I didn’t. I just wanted – I wanted a real girl’s name. Lesley is a boy’s name.’‘It’s a girl’s name too,’ said her mother. ‘It’s spelt differently for a boy.’‘But it sounds the same,’ said Lisa, ‘ that’s what counts. I wanted a proper girl’s name, for when I grew up. I’ve been a child for so long now; I want to be grown up.’‘Oh Lesley—‘ said her mother, ‘Lisa. If you only knew what being grown up can be like, you wouldn’t want to do it any faster than you have to.’

It looks like I’ve got a really good start, this year, in catching up with the Aussie lits. This is another classic which pretty much everybody has read but me! Seriously, looking at the cover, I thought it’d be something creepy (a quote at the back of the book reads, “It’s Beatie Bow – risen from the dead!”) but it’s not at all creepy! It’s a time travel tale which I adore and I love this book!Abigail Kirk is not perfect. She was hurt deeply years ago and has never let go. She felt that she should and she wanted to but she doesn’t know how. It took a trip in time for her to learn about love and what it means to love. The ending, whilst pretty predictable, also carried a twist which I didn’t expect.The story is set in Sydney’s Rocks area and I had in my head through the book the images of cobblestones paths, sandstone buildings, and the Sydney Harbour Bridge… One of the loveliest places around! This is one of the factor of my loving this book because I can see it clearly in my head as I know the place well 

This is actually my first read for 2013. We were going to the beach on New Year’s Day and I took the couple of days before to consider which book I’d like to start the year with. I still didn’t quite decide ‘til nearly the last minute. We went to Balmoral Beach and when I cracked this book open, by happy coincidence, it was set around that area (Balmoral Beach / Neutral Bay). I was stoked!I made a mistake by reading the Introduction though for it told me more of the story that I’d like to know and I continued reading with a hesitant spirit. I wanted to get it over it but I kinda already knew that will happen and I hated that feeling! I resolve from now on to skip Introductions (maybe to save it til after the reading).The Child and the Mother in me protest at calling a child PS (short for Postscript). Understandably, whilst it was the mother who began the nickname whilst bub is still peanut-size, I found it unbelievable that it would carry on for years! To read, in the Introduction, that “the painful struggles of PS…is based on his [the author’s] own experiences in childhood”, made this story especially painful knowing that it was partially, mostly true.PS had 4 aunties (his mother’s sisters): one whom he lived with & mothers him so, one who adores him but only when convenient, one who believes the end of the world is coming in a few months’ time, and one who lives half a world away but is on her way to take charge of him. I did not find any of these aunties to be endearing and hence, my not liking this book so much.Aunt Lila is basically the mother he knows but she is overly protective among other annoying habits. Spelling every inconvenient not-so-happy thing / someone or even disguising ‘unhappy’ bits to make them sound innocent and lovely was a bit much for me. Reading it was smothering and I can just imagine what effects it would have on a child who is now old enough to understand if some adult will take the time to explain things to him.Aunt Vanessa wants him for reasons she herself doesn’t quite realise. She’s determined to change him, to mould him to what she wants him to be. PS is fascinated by her and at the same time, frightened of her and is disliked her for the changes she’s wrought in his life. Being pulled in 2 directions with family politics and machinations of which he isn’t aware of the details of but could understand enough from the moods of his aunties, that things aren’t well, distressed him. Aunt Vanessa’s silent treatment and moodiness upset him.I’m not a perfect or the best mother around but the mothering in this book irks me so! It might have been typical of the time to assume that a child just will not understand many of the issues however it never does well to underestimate what a child will understand. In the end (as most of the book is told from PS’ perspective), it is PS who is empowered –who grasped the knowledge of self and grabbed hold of it, looking forward.

This review is in relation to the second book in the Archie Lean series. Whilst my review will not contain spoilers from the first book, I would recommend that you read the first book ([b:The Truth of All Things|9283465|The Truth of All Things|Kieran Shields|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1321475757s/9283465.jpg|14165774]) as it will provide much background to this book.Perceval Grey is the American Sherlock Holmes. Unlike Holmes, however, he needs also work in the face of Society’s prejudice to the colour of his skin (being of Mixed Indian heritage). When he is intrigued, he will commit his all to be able to present the solution, up to the point of it being an obsession. His focus in his work is admirable and yet, he is Not Sherlock Holmes. The presentation of his solutions just isn’t as brilliant as Holmes.Archie Lean is a dedicated Deputy of the Police. He is not only dedicated in his duty to the State but also to the people. He would pursue to the best of his abilities the mystery presented until such time that the culprit may be apprehended. I really like Archie, he’s an all-round nice guy type. He’s the ‘Watson’ sidekick to Grey and is mostly appreciated for his ‘brilliantly asinine’ comments.To begin with, the plot / mystery in this book didn’t appear to have any relation whatsoever to the first book (nor is it necessary to know the full extent the mystery of the first book) however, it really wasn’t til the end and just now, that the title clicked into place –A Study in Revenge! The book opens with a gruesome scene of a corpse having been dug up, burnt to crisps, and surrounded with occult markings. It was followed by a missing ‘artefact’ heirloom, alchemical legends, folklore and tragic romance. There are no coincidences in mysteries, of course, all things are related and will, ultimately, reveal the secret within.I have really enjoyed this historical mystery though you’d have to be patient as threads are being explored until they are woven to form an obvious tapestry in the last pages of the book. If you like Sherlock Holmes or Mistress of the Art of Death, you may enjoy this book / series.Thank you Crown and Edelweiss for the privilege to read & review eARC

I’ve enjoyed all that I’ve read from Angry Robot so far and this one, a little weird and caught me by surprise but was still worth the read. That’s what spec-fic is all about though, isn’t it!The story began when Cat was just a little girl and her parents brought a ‘special android’ to tutor her rather than sending her to school. Being the only child with no other playmate, Finn became not only her tutor but her best friend. As she grew, her relationship with Finn changed and yet, everything is grey. The opinion of the world does not coincide with what she thinks should be and so as Finn struggles with his identity, Cat struggles to understand him and how to relate to him.I was expecting some sort of YA tale and when it started with Cat’s childhood, I was surprised and was surprised further when it carried on til she was at least late 20s. Can’t really peg this down as YA at all. I have to admit that I don’t particularly like Cat. She seems to me as someone who ignores her inner voice and continued to struggle to do so to comply with the world’s general good opinion even though doing so feels like it denying who you are. She then was like a ghost for quite a long time ‘til the dam broke and she could not deny herself anymore.The story is told from Cat’s sole perspective and the author has done marvellously well in showing the readers just how like a ghost Cat was. Even though I don’t like Cat, I found myself sympathising with her throughout and it’s rare that I’d sympathise with a character I don’t like. That’s what I found most amazing about this book.Thank you Angry Robot and NetGalley for the privilege to read & review galley

Most Australians speak English like I speak Hindustani, which I don’t. In general, they use English words, but in a way that makes no sense to anyone else. And they don’t use our European vowel sounds, so that even if they do construct a normal sentence, it doesn’t sound like one. This made it necessary for me, until I become accustomed to it, to translate everything that was said to me twice, first into English and then into Italian. So my replies were always slow, and those long pauses prompted many belligerent remarks, such as ‘Well don’t stand there like a dill; d’yer wanta beer or dontcha?’ Now that I have had five years of practice, I find that I am able to think in English, and often in the Australian kind of English, so that when some character picks me for a dill, he is likely to be told quick smart to suck his scone in!Dunno what exactly I expected from this book… Mis-adventures of an immigrant with some humour involved at most. But, what I got was absolute hilarity –I was laughing so much and I just couldn’t put the book down. Most of the hilarity, of course, was due to misunderstanding the ‘Australian English’ and Australian ways.If you’re Australian, you may enjoy this look at yerself form another’s point of view. Even though it’s stereotypical of the Aussie working class in mid 20th century, I found it wildly entertaining and made time flew by very quickly. It’s a pretty short read too. However, I have to confess that whilst I can see traces of these type of Australian-ess around me, my Aussie friends (born & bred) don’t speak like this (I’m not referring to the accents but rather to the specific lingo).If you are not Australian, you may find this book a bit of a struggle as the writing takes into consideration the way the people speak (accents etc), for example ‘Owyagoin’ (How you going), Orrightmate (all right, mate), etc. In addition, of course, the Aussie slang gets more than a little confusing.In my own experience as a migrant, I didn’t find it as much of a problem –I don’t recall of having to struggle with English (nor ‘Australian English’) too much. I probably didn’t get many of the jokes and I still have a bit of a problem with some sayings now and then but other than that, if you actually hear my speak, I sound mostly Australian (excepting some little nuisance of words). At the end of the book, the author was encouraging migrants to mix into the Australian cultures and not to cling tenaciously stubbornly to one’s original cultures. Indeed, Australia provides that opportunity for a better life but to build a country which supports better life, we would all need to work together wherever you’re from.That episode of Friday night and yesterday illustrates the informality of the Australian way of life, and the Australian’s unquenchable energy and thirst. He works hard, with much cursing and swearing, and is most unhappy when he has no work to do. He loves beer and tobacco, and impassioned arguments. He is kind and generous and abusive. He will swear at you, and call you insulting names, and love you like a brother. He is without malice. He will fight you with skill and ferocity, and buy you a beer immediately afterwards. He is a man of many contradictions, but his confidence and self-sufficing are inspiring. If he is beaten in a fight or an argument, he laughs about it the next day, and tells his mates, ‘ The bastard was too good fer me.’ He doesn’t resent a defeat of ‘that bastard who done me over’. It takes a European a long time to begin to understand him.

I think I would have enjoyed this story a lot more if I read this at a much younger age. This is, of course, one of those classic books that everyone (or at least most Aussies) would have read in school that I have missed out on, being an immigrant. But I am catching up!It was an easy story to read and enjoy on a fine weekend. In between, we went to a birthday picnic where children were indulged in sugar-y goodness and lots of play in the sun. So, I had the same sort of image in my head when I was reading this book. But… I have to say that those children were pretty tame in comparison to what these “Seven Little Australians” get up to!The book was evenly spread out between all children; what they are like, why they are so, their own brand of mischiefs but all imbued with their own innate goodness. There were some shocking things that they do but as a reader, you can’t help but laugh –although, if my child did any of those things, I would’ve been so… angry and disappointed. The ending was really unexpected but I would love to continue and follow their stories.Not one of the seven is really good, for the very excellent reason that Australian children never are…. But in Australia a model child is – I say it not without thankfulness – an unknown quantity. It may be that the miasmas of naughtiness develop best in the sunny brilliancy of our atmosphere. It may be that the land and the people are young-hearted together,… There is a lurking sparkle of joyousness and rebellion and mischief in the nature here, and therefore in children.If you enjoyed children classics such as [b:What Katy Did|730501|What Katy Did (Carr Family, #1)|Susan Coolidge|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327538133s/730501.jpg|1401152] / [b:What Katy Did at School|730498|What Katy Did at School (Carr Family, #2)|Susan Coolidge|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348324752s/730498.jpg|3274035] or even [b:Little Women|1934|Little Women|Louisa May Alcott|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309282614s/1934.jpg|3244642], I believe you may enjoy this tale too.

The story is introduced with a mystery being dangled like a carrot in front of us rabbit readers by a mystery package alluding to past association to a birth family who means nary a thing to a man adopted at a very early age. Yet, unknowingly, he was being drawn to the sender of the package to discover his family’s dark past. Despite this character being a bit of an average guy, I actually like this beginning but it didn’t last very long as it is merely introductory.The main meat of the book is told from 2 perspectives. There are 2 sides to every story, they say, and so, we are privilege to hear from both warring sides. What was to be a silly action of a righteous young man carried a much higher consequence than he had ever known and carried on to be a lifetime of rivalry to outdo each other to sabotage, revenge, and a life of misery. I have to admit that I just didn’t like this story –it conflicted with my personality too much for me to appreciate the craft. The carrying of grudges, revenge via sabotages or outdoing each other and then somehow, avoiding face to face confrontation (and therefore, circumventing any sort of resolution) was a too highly strung sort of emotional novel.I couldn’t even appreciate the ending where the ‘original’ mystery was being somewhat resolved. Meh! Maybe I’ll just return that DVD without watching it….

My first thought was: hhmm, and interesting spin to Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD). And it really was fascinating. And then, as the story unfolds and characters were questioning the cruelty of the world against hybrids (ie. unsettled personalities), I thought… What a cruel & stingy Creator! 2 souls in one body? Just too miserly to create the extra bodies for these ‘extra’ souls? And I just couldn’t get this thought out of my head…Therefore, I couldn’t say that I enjoyed the book very much. I did find it a gripping sort of story but I was too conflicted with whether I agree with this world or not. What’s to agree when it all seems to be so cruel whether these souls settle or not, there are always pain for both souls. Not a one escape.The story is told from the perspective of Eva –the recessive soul who should have died but instead have hung on in bare existence. Of course, because of the sharing of body with Addie, the dominative soul, I sometimes found it a bit jarring and have to keep reminding myself they’re in 1 physical body and therefore, the actions are being done through 1 body whilst the one to actually activate / move the body may be Addie or Eva.I do love the characters and the plot but I don’t think I’ll be keeping up with this series. As I said above, it feels too conflicted and painful for me (maybe I’m overly sensitive?). If you know of a child reading this book, especially ones who know someone with MPD, I’d recommend parental guidance and stress that this is fiction (just in case).Thank you HarperCollins Australia and NetGalley for the opportunity to read & review

Arrgh!! Seriously, does it have to end like that?!?!? Waiting for the next book will absolutely kill me! I should have waited for the next book so I could read one after the other :(I read this book in one sitting as I just couldn’t bear to put it down. It’s a good follow up to the first book where things just keep happening one on top of the other and the excitement just keeps on going. For those looking for a lot more romance in this book though, I’m afraid you’d be disappointed as you’d read in the blurb Kerrick and Avry are separated. However, that doesn’t mean that we miss out on what one or the other does.The story is told from 2 alternate perspectives: Avry and Kerrick. I love alternating perspectives as it will give me views from both sides and also means that I’m really not missing out on any of the actions. Sometimes though, I found that it’s slightly in the way. Maybe the way it was broken off, at times, perhaps with the intention to heighten the tension but rather it just became annoying that I was tempted to skip sections to find out what happens next and come back later. I resisted, of course, in case it spoils the story.Overall, I am loving this trilogy. I’ve read all of Snyder’s works to date and none have disappointed me. She’s definitely one of my favourite authors and I am really truly looking forward to the next instalment of this trilogy!Thank you Harlequin Teen Australia and The Reading Room for providing me with a copy for review

The scene opens with a typical sort of day in a genteel rural family –a physician with a number of well-loved children. Children of all ages with their own strength and foibles –each and every one of them unique and yet traces of each parent are visible in each. I just started to settle down thinking of a leisurely read when disaster struck! The pillar on which their lives evolved around has been removed and all felt lost…This story is told from the perspective of Etheldred. She is not the oldest or the youngest. She is not the most intelligent or the dullest. She is, however, possibly the second most intelligent child and yet, the most intelligent of female child. Along with her intelligence, she also has inherited most of her father’s characters and they were thought to be unseemly in a girl child. I understand certain things like tidiness of oneself needed to be ingrained in oneself by habit and Etheldred needed to pay more attention to things like that however, it was most interesting that her mind is the analytical sort which needed a reason as to why things are a certain way prior to being able to apply herself to do things correctly! And yet, despite her intelligence and her analytical mind, because of her sex (and therefore, her position in the family), she had to give up her studies to serve her family.It certainly is a humbling experience to read of Ethel’s sacrifice. Whilst it was, at first, with a heavy heart that she gave up her time from studies to household & other duties, she loves her family in such a way that she was willing to do so. And at the end of the book, you do not see her only willing but to have been transformed to be a humble serving young woman (I don’t mean like a servant but one who serves others out of love) that even if it is not an ending I would have preferred, I do admire her for her character improving work to become who she is. Etheldred is a character to warm your heart.

Note:I wouldn't have classified this as historical fiction as the book was published in 1990s and is set 4000 years after [b:River God|429138|River God (Ancient Egypt, #1)|Wilbur A. Smith|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1311987489s/429138.jpg|434726] (as mentioned in the book that Taita was alive 4000 years ago) which means in late 1980s / early 1990s (seeing the Mengistu was President).I actually started reading this book for a challenge which requires a book set in Egypt which unfortunately, it doesn't qualify. Only about 5% of the book is in Egypt to date.will update my note when I finished reading, am only halfway

The descriptions on Goodreads and Netgalley are identical and practically told the story! Nevertheless, it was a hauntingly good read and I loved it.The story is told from the perspective of Alice Bennett (she is called Allie). She with her family have moved to Norfolk Island for a sea change. Her family, however, has had some historical presence in the island but as Allie found out, it wasn’t like she’s always been led to believe by her father.Allie is then determined to find out for herself the truth. As to how she’ll do this, she’s not quite sure until an encounter with the past brought her the exact perspective she needed to be convinced her of what the past was truly like…As always, any penal colony stories are just tragic and this one is not an exception. There were a couple of instances which niggles my belief that such a thing would happen but let’s just say that if I were to face the same sort of thing, I’d run away as far and as fast as possible. So, full points to both Alices for their strength, courage, and boldness. Bonus points for Noah and Cormac for being just lovely boys *sighs dreamily*One of my best reads in 2012 proven by the fact that I stayed up reading despite being so very tired and was kept up even after I’ve finished reading it. A rare story which haunted me for the night and the next few days, at the least.Thank you, HarperCollins Australian & NetGalley for the opportunity to read & review