'Fallout' by Sandra Glover

Reviewed by Mrs Hollingsworth

Hannah is a high school student and when her parents go away for the weekend, they agree that she can stay home alone and have a few friends over to watch DVD’s. The evening quickly turns into a disaster, Hannah’s friends have sent out texts resulting in more and more people turning up. The influx of uninvited guests results in Hannah’s home being trashed. Understandably her parents are furious when they return to find the foul, ruined and broken state their home has been left in.
It would seem that Hannah’s drink was spiked. Hannah’s memories of the disastrous evening begin to unfold and she recalls that she was raped. The boy involved emphatically denies that the incident was non consensual. Who is telling the truth? What will the police do and who will they believe?
What will happen in the fallout?

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'Feed' by Mira Grant

Reviewed by Mrs Hart

This novel is described on the cover as “gripping, thrilling and brutal” (Publishers weekly) and it is all that and so much more. I should start up front by saying this is another zombie novel (what is it about zombie novels recently - last year it was vampire and werewolf novels and this year zombies) and I have to say I don’t like zombie stories but this novel is different. Yes it’s scary and frightening but it has depth and intelligence and I found it fascinating – it gives a very realistic reason for the zombie virus and an interesting view into the future – a future that we have strong glimpses of now. Georgia, Shaun and Buffy live in a world that is post virus, where everyone takes huge precautions not to get infected and are tested to make sure they are virus free at every turn. They make their living writing and running a blog which contains news stories, video feeds and a fictional aspect. News blogs are read and watched much more than official news sites because they are perceived not to have a corporate agenda, they are more truthful than any media outlet sanctioned by the government. So Georgia and Shaun are thrilled when they get the biggest break of their career, to follow a US senator as he becomes a presidential candidate and makes his run for the white house. This news story is big but they have no idea how big it will get and just how many people will lose their lives in the course of the senator’s run. You must read it, you won’t be able to put it down.

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Title 'Lockdown'

Author Alexander Gordon Smith
Reviewed by Mrs Hanham

I found this novel to be violent which is to be expected as the series title says “Beneath Heaven Is Hell Beneath Hell Is Furnace”! It was fast moving and full of action.
Furnace is a prison, technically for delinquent boys but our main character, Alex has been set up for the murder of his best mate. He is convicted of his murder and sent to Furnace.
Furnace is a dark windowless building that no-one is freed from and no-one has escaped from.

It is a horrible cruel place to be, with the overseers showing no mercy and deformed large dogs roaming after lockdown, ready to devour anybody caught outside. Then there are the Wheezers who come for you at night. Then there are the gangs inside. Gripping, fearful story line. Will Alex survive?

Alex and his cell mate, Donovan devise a plan to escape……..

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'Title' EONA

'Author' Alison Goodman

Reviewed by Mrs Batley

In “Eona” Alison Goodman continues the saga of fantasy, murderous intrigues, power struggles, danger and in the midst of all this a love story.

The book is exciting and full of drama. At times I found the constant happenings a little too much as the reader is just busy with one form of action and then something else happens. The love story did surprise me and I kept wondering who would eventually win.

The book ends suddenly and I would have loved a short epilogue of Eona’s future and how her life with the man she loves ends. One needs to read the first book, Eon to enjoy the sequel, Eona.

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'Title" Cool Beans; Latte Daze; Double Shot by Erynn Mangum,
Reviewed by Mrs Hart

This series of books is a breath of fresh air. They are light and fluffy but rather gorgeous. They are all about Maya who is a coffee addict (no surprises there) and her life. Maya works in a coffee shop with her second best friend Jack and lives with her best friend Jen and her dog – Calvin. Over time, her relationship with Jack changes into something much deeper and her best friend Jen also starts a relationship with someone from Maya’s past. This series is very funny and the characters are really lifelike – you really feel you know them well. Erynn Mangum writes light hearted Christian fiction really well. If you like romances and chick lit, you will love this.

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'Title' Nanberry by Jackie French

Reviewed by Mrs Batley

Set in the new colony in Sydney Cove comes this delightful book by Jackie French. Nanberry, an Aboriginal boy is adopted by Surgeon John White. Together with his white brother, Andrew they grow up witnessing the struggles the colony has to endure and Nanberry continues to have memories of his past.

This is based on a true story and follows the lives of the two boys, who follow very different paths into the world. It is a story of love that seems to conquer all between a gentleman surgeon and a convict girl, saved from the death penalty.

A book that that I highly recommend giving one an insight into the beginnings of a great nation.

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“The name of the wind” and “The wise man’s fear” by Patrick Rothfuss.
Reviewed by Mrs Hart

The titles are the first two books in the Kingkiller Chonicles and they are both stunning. These would have to be the best fantasy titles I have read in years. They aren’t a particularly easy read, book one has 722 pages and book 2 is a huge 994 pages with fairly small font but they are well worth it. “The name of the wind” covers one day in the life of Kote, an innkeeper who is telling his amazing life story to a chronicler who is writing it all down. “The wise man’s fear” is day two of this story being recorded and what a life story it is! Kote (who’s real name is Kvothe) is an extraordinary person who has led an amazing life. He has attended the Wizard’s University – the youngest person to do so, he has had great personal tragedy in his life, poverty and homelessness, been persecuted by powerful people, developed his talent as an outstanding musician, worked as a mercenary, learnt many languages and developed fighting skills. Through all these events, there are hints of a major back-story underlying his life and also the question – with all these talents, what is he doing running an inn – so far neither of these have been answered. I absolutely love these books – if you like high fantasy – you must read them. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

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