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What I'm Reading Wednesday

21/3/2018

Grimsdon by Deborah Abela

Synopsis: ‘Grimsdon is in ruins. Three years ago a massive wave broke its barriers and the sea flooded this grand city. Most were saved, some were lost and some were left behind. Isabella Charm and her best friend, Griffin, live with three other children in the top of an opulent mansion. They've survived with the help of Griffin's brilliant inventions, Isabella's fighting skills and their vow to look after each other. But what will happen when a newcomer arrives in his flying machine? Grimsdon is full of hidden perils, from bounty hunters to sneaker waves. Could Xavier's daredevil risks put all their lives in danger?’

I attended a writers festival and was lucky enough to hear the author Deborah Abela speak. After listening to her describe this book, I just had to read it. You may be surprised to realise this was a stand alone book, but Ms Abela received so many messages about a sequel and what happens next that she decided to write ‘New City’, sequel to ‘Grimsdon’.
This novel is a fantastic adventure, with great characters and an exciting plot. I read the book in one sitting and enjoyed every second. It is well paced, well written and very enjoyable.
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Trailer Tuesday

21/3/2018

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Synopsis: A dark, gripping and witty thriller in which the only thing humanity has control over is death. In a world where disease, war and crime have been eliminated, the only way to die is to be randomly killed ("gleaned") by professional scythes.
Citra and Rowan are teenagers who have been selected to be scythes' apprentices, and despite wanting nothing to do with the vocation, they must learn the art of killing and understand the necessity of what they do.
Only one of them will be chosen as a scythe's apprentice and as Citra and Rowan come up against a terrifyingly corrupt Scythedom, it becomes clear that the winning apprentice's first task will be to glean the loser.

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Trailer Tuesday

6/2/2018

Replica by Lauren Oliver

Synopsis: 'Replica is a flip book that contains two narratives in one. Turn it one way and read Lyras story; turn it over and read Gemmas. The stories can be read separately, one after the other, or in alternating chapters. The two distinct parts of this astonishing novel combine to produce an unforgettable journey.'

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Trailer Tuesday

7/11/2017

Show Stopper by Hayley Barker.

Synopsis: 'Our country has turned its back on inclusion: the descendants of immigrants have been denied status and security and must sell their children to a travelling circus to perform at the mercy of ravenous lions, sabotaged high wires and a demonic ringmaster.
The ruling class the Pures visit the circus as an escape from their structured, safe, high-achieving lives to experience pure entertainment with a brutal, bloodthirsty edge.
Ben, the teenage son of a draconian government minister, attends on opening night and falls under the spell of Hoshiko, a tightrope walker and the star attraction.
But as he steps beyond the sparkle and spectacle of the circus, to reveal the horrors that lurk beneath, can he find the courage to resist, to rebel, to help end the cruelty and the carnage?'

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What I'm Reading Wednesday

25/10/2017

The Road to Winter by Mark Smith

Synopsis: ‘Since a deadly virus and the violence that followed wiped out his parents and most of his community, Finn has lived alone on the rugged coast with only his loyal dog Rowdy for company.
He has stayed alive for two winters—hunting and fishing and trading food, and keeping out of sight of the Wilders, an armed and dangerous gang that controls the north, led by a ruthless man named Ramage.
But Finn’s isolation is shattered when a girl runs onto the beach. Rose is a Siley—an asylum seeker—and she has escaped from Ramage, who had enslaved her and her younger sister, Kas. Rose is desperate, sick, and needs Finn’s help. Kas is still missing somewhere out in the bush.
And Ramage wants the girls back—at any cost.’

You know you must be enjoying a book when you are getting close to the end and you realise that the amount of pages left does not match up with how much left of the story there is to resolve and you feel devastated. Now you have to wait until the next book comes out to finish the story AND you do not want to.
This is a quick read, exciting and full of twists and turns. Thanks to a virus wiping out most of the population, the scenario for the rest is not an easy one. The author, Mark Smith, does not pretty this up with happy endings and stays true to the story line of loneliness, refugees, survival and gang warfare. I cannot wait to read the next instalment.
This is a terrific start for a new author and series.

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What I'm Reading Wednesday

23/8/2017

Lifers by M.A. Griffin

Synopsis: ‘Fear haunts the streets of Manchester: a schoolgirl has disappeared. Preston is drawn to investigate, exploring the city in the hunt for his missing friend. Deep in the bowels of a secret scientific institute, he discovers a sinister machine. Captured and condemned to a cavernous space filled with problematic teens, Preston is determined to escape - but this is no ordinary jail. Friendships are forged and lives lost in a reckless battle for freedom, revenge - and revolution.’

On the back of the book (blurb) is the description ‘This book in three words - edgy, dark & thriller’. While I agree this book was all three it wasn’t those three words that captured my attention and bade me to read this story. It was three other words in the blurb - ‘Freedom, revenge and revolution’ Especially revolution. And that is what the main characters lead by the end of this story, a revolution.
Government ministers lose jobs as the prisoners battle for freedom, change and an end to secrecy.
The prison itself is wonderfully imagined and a terrifying idea in itself. Sometimes you read books and wonder how many people get ideas from these books and put them into practice. In this case I hope this prison never sees the light of day.
This is an imaginative story, scary, thrilling and fast paced.

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What I'm Reading Wednesday

16/8/2017

'The Last Girl' by Michael Adams

Synopsis: ‘The end of the world happened quickly. The sun still shone, there was no explosion - just a tsunami-sized wave of human thought drowning the world in telepathic noise as everyone's inner-most secrets became audible. Everyone's thoughts, that is, except sixteen-year-old Danby.
Everyone looked like bad actors in a poorly dubbed movie. Their expressions didn't match their emotions and their lips didn't sync with what they were saying. But they were all so loud.
God-he-looks-hot-Can't-she's-my-best-friend-How'd-she-lose-that-weight-No-don't-you-dare-Oh-no-please-
The end of the world happens in the blink of an eye.
When The Snap sweeps the globe, everyone can instantly hear everything that everyone else is thinking. As secrets and lies are laid bare, suburbs and cities explode into insanity and violence. What might have been an evolutionary leap instead initiates the apocalypse.
Sixteen-year-old Danby Armstrong's telepathy works very differently. She can tune into other people but they can't tune into her. With only this slender defence, Danby must protect her little brother and reach the safety of her mother's mountain retreat. But it's 100 kilometres away and the highways are blocked by thousands of cars and surrounded by millions of people coming apart at the psychic seams.
Danby's escape is made even more dangerous by another cataclysm that threatens humanity's extinction. And her ability to survive this new world will be tested by a charismatic young man whose power to save lives may be worse than death itself.’

The novel is set in Sydney and like everyone else, I enjoy reading books that have familiar settings. Even if you have never visited, the names and places will seem very familiar. Except of course it is the end of the world and that is not at all familiar. The current pop culture references also make this novel relevant and interesting.
What also makes this novel interesting is the actual story. It is exciting, scary, gruesome and terrifying. The writing is fast paced and well crafted. The book is a page turner and hard to put down. You have been warned, you will lose sleep.
Luckily all three books in the series have been published so I can move from to the other without having to wait.

Reserve your copy today.

Trailer Tuesday

14/2/2017

'Grimsdon' by Deborah Abela.

Synopsis: 'Grimsdon is in ruins. Three years ago a massive wave broke its barriers and the sea flooded this grand city. Most were saved, some were lost and some were left behind. Isabella Charm and her best friend, Griffin, live with three other children in the top of an opulent mansion. They've survived with the help of Griffin's brilliant inventions, Isabella's fighting skills and their vow to look after each other. But what will happen when a newcomer arrives in his flying machine? Grimsdon is full of hidden perils, from bounty hunters to sneaker waves. Could Xavier's daredevil risks put all their lives in danger?'

Reserve Your Copy Today.

What I'm Reading Wednesday

25/5/2016

'Carousel' by Brendan Ritchie

Synopsis: 'Nox is an arts graduate wondering what to do with his life. Taylor and Lizzy are famous indie musicians, and Rocky works the checkouts at Target.
When they find themselves trapped in a giant shopping centre, they eat fast food, watch bad TV and wait for the mess to be sorted. But when days turn to weeks, a sense of menace grows.'

This was an interesting book. It is set in a shopping centre where four people have been left stranded as something awful has happened outside. The four, two girls and two boys, are locked in the shopping centre and cannot escape. The electricity and water are still running, but the crew are unable to unlock any doors.

This is a story of survival, but unlike other Dystopian novels, where finding food sources and trying not to be killed by other survivors is the norm, this novel is about mental survival. These young adults are separated from the rest of humanity and while they have enough food, the story is all about their mental state.
This is not your action packed, adventure loving novel. It is a compelling read though.The characters are well fleshed out and interesting. They eat, sleep and wander around the shopping centre. Yet I could not help but keep reading. A sign that it is well written and despite how I have described it above, an interesting read.
As a reader you keep hoping that the next page will start answering the millions of questions that keep arising as you read on. How come there are only four of them in the shopping centre? What happened to the world outside? Why? So many questions and so few answers. Actually no answers to tell the truth. But do not let that put you off. I could not put this novel down and read it all in one day and while I wanted answers I was surprisingly okay not to have all of my questions resolved.

What I'm Reading Wednesday

18/5/2016

'Breakdown' by Sarah Mussi
Synopsis: 'It is 2084. Nuclear radiation has poisoned the country. Society has fallen apart. Starvation is rampant, and power shortages have resulted in piles of obsolete gadgetry. Necessity has driven those who've survived to complete self-reliance, if they have the means to do so. For Melissa and her Nan, survival is just about possible, so long as they can guard the tiny crop of potatoes in their back garden and find enough fuel to cook on - and as long as they are safely barricaded inside their home by curfew.
For after dark, feral dogs hunt, and violent gangs from the old Olympic Stadium (now a miserable ghetto) roam to loot and plunder. If they catch you, they are not merciful; so when Melissa falls into the hands of Careem's gang, her prospects look bleak. But Careem soon realises that she might just be more valuable alive, as a ransom victim. However, he hasn't reckoned with Melissa's resourcefulness. Soon part of his young gang are completely beguiled by Melissa and her story of a hidden valley in Scotland - a place that sounds like a comparative paradise, if they can get there. But apparently only Melissa knows the way, and only she can lead them there. But Melissa is hiding a secret. She has never been to Scotland in her life, let alone a mythically Elysian valley there. Can Melissa's stories keep her alive long enough to escape - or will they get her killed?'

This is another dystopian novel set in a world where an apocalyptic event has destroyed the fabric of society on earth. Some form of nuclear war has left the world reeling, with most of the population killed and food sources destroyed. This is a rather disturbing novel at times as Sarah Mussi does not shy away from describing the horrors of survival one might expect to witness during such hard times.
Melissa finds herself rescued by two boys when she falls into the hands of a gang leader. Melissa regales the boys of stories told to her by her grandmother of a safe time and a safe place in Scotland. These stories unite the trio as they try to escape their captors and travel to Scotland in the hope of safety, security and survival.
This novel is very realistic and at times very cruel as human behaviour is highlighted in the quest for survival after a catastrophic event. It is action packed with some unexpected twists as the group try to make their way to Scotland. While the novel can be confronting it is a good read and one I would recommend.

Reserve your copy today.
Call No: FAN MUS

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