END OF THE WORLD SPECIAL

Inspired by Channel 5's End of the World Weekend. If any other bloggers would like to take part and create an end of the world post of their own, send your links to me and I will feature your posts within this one. 

This List is made up of Goodreads Recomendations of some of my favourite Apocolyptic and Dystopian books so I have not read any myself and it is a kind of End Of The World TBR. All of these books are the first in their series. Happy Reading!

THE LEVELLER
Julia Durango

Nixy Bauer is a self-made Leveller. Her job? Dragging kids out of virtual reality and back to their parents in the real world. It’s normally easy cash, but Nixy’s latest mission is fraught with real danger, intrigue, and romance.
Nixy Bauer is used to her classmates being very, very unhappy to see her. After all, she’s a bounty hunter in a virtual reality gaming world. Kids in the MEEP, as they call it, play entirely with their minds, while their bodies languish in a sleeplike state on the couch. Irritated parents, looking to wrench their kids back to reality, hire Nixy to jump into the game and retrieve them.
But when the game’s billionaire developer loses track of his own son in the MEEP, Nixy is in for the biggest challenge of her bounty-hunting career. Wyn Salvador isn’t some lazy kid looking to escape his homework: Wyn does not want to be found. And he’s left behind a suicide note. Nixy takes the job but quickly discovers that Wyn’s not hiding—he’s being held inside the game against his will. But who is holding him captive, and why?
Nixy and Wyn attempt to fight their way out of a mind game unlike any they’ve encountered, and the battle brings them closer than either could have imagined. But when the whole world is virtual, how can Nixy possibly know if her feelings are real?
Gamers and action fans of all types will dive straight into the MEEP, thanks to Julia Durango’s cinematic storytelling. A touch of romance adds some heart to Nixy’s vivid, multidimensional journey through Wyn’s tricked-out virtual city, and constant twists keep readers flying through to the breathtaking end.

ROT AND RUIN
Johnathan Maberry

 

  

 

In the zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America where Benny Imura lives, every teenager must find a job by the time they turn fifteen or get their rations cut in half. Benny doesn't want to apprentice as a zombie hunter with his boring older brother Tom, but he has no choice. He expects a tedious job whacking zoms for cash, but what he gets is a vocation that will teach him what it means to be human.

 TUMBLE AND FALL
Alexandra Coutts

 

 

The world is living in the shadow of oncoming disaster. An asteroid is set to strike the earth in just one week’s time; catastrophe is unavoidable. The question isn’t how to save the world—the question is, what to do with the time that's left? Against this stark backdrop, three island teens wrestle with intertwining stories of love, friendship and family—all with the ultimate stakes at hand.

 
TWINMAKER
Sean Williams 

 

 

 

High-stakes action combines with issues of friendship and body image in this timely and thought-provoking exploration of the intersection of technology and identity. 

You can be Improved....

In a near-future world in which technology can transport you anywhere instantly, can a coded note enable you to change your body—to become taller, stronger, more beautiful? Clair is pretty sure the offer is too good to be true. But her best friend, Libby, is determined to give it a try, longing for a new, improved version of herself.

What starts as Libby’s dream turns into Clair’s nightmare when Libby falls foul of a deadly trap. With the help of Jesse, the school freak, and a mysterious—but powerful—stranger called Q, Clair’s attempt to protect Libby leads her to an unimagined world of conspiracies and cover-ups. Soon her own life is at risk, and Clair is chased across the world in a desperate race against time.

Action and danger fuel Sean Williams’ tale of technology, identity, and the lengths to which one girl will go to save her best friend.

BLACKOUT
Robison Wells

 

 

 

Laura and Alec are trained terrorists.
Jack and Aubrey are high school students.
There was no reason for them to ever meet.
But now, a mysterious virus is spreading throughout America, infecting teenagers with impossible powers. And these four are about to find their lives intertwined in a complex web of deception, loyalty, and catastrophic danger—where one wrong choice could trigger an explosion that ends it all

 

REPLICA
Jenna Black

  

Breathtaking new YA SF from the author of the Faeriewalker series
Sixteen-year-old Nadia Lake comes from a high-class Executive family in the Corporate States. Her marriage has been arranged with the most powerful family in her state, which means she lives a life of privilege but also of public scrutiny, followed everywhere by photographers, every detail of her private life tabloid fodder. But her future is assured, as long as she can maintain her flawless public image — no easy feat when your betrothed is a notorious playboy.
Nathan Hayes is the heir of Paxco — controller of the former state of New York, and creator of human replication technology, science that every state and every country in the world would kill to have. Though Nadia and Nate aren’t in love, they’ve grown up close, and they (and the world) are happy enough with their match.
Until Nate turns up dead, and as far as everyone knows, Nadia was the last person to see him alive.
When the new Nate wakes up in the replication tanks, he knows he must have died, but with a memory that only reaches to his last memory backup, he doesn’t know what killed him. Together, Nadia and Nate must discover what really happened without revealing the secrets that those who run their world would kill to protect.

  

STUNG
Bethany Wiggins

 

 

 

There is no cure for being stung.
Fiona doesn’t remember going to sleep. But when she awakens, her world no longer exists. Her house is abandoned and broken. Her neighborhood is barren and dead. And there is a tattoo on her right hand. A tattoo Fiona doesn’t remember getting…but somehow she must conceal at any cost. Because humanity has been divided.
Those bearing the tattoo have turned into mindless, violent beasts that roam the streets and sewers, preying upon the unbranded, while a select few live protected inside a fortresslike wall, their lives devoted to rebuilding society and killing all who bear the mark.
And Fiona has awoken branded, on the wrong side of the wall, and…normal.
From the author of Shifting comes this remarkable reimagining of Sleeping Beauty, where the sting of a bee, rather than the prick of a needle, can destroy the world.

 

THE DOLLHOUSE ASYLUM
Mary Gray

 

A virus that had once been contained has returned, and soon no place will be left untouched by its destruction. But when Cheyenne wakes up in Elysian Fields--a subdivision cut off from the world and its monster-creating virus--she is thrilled to have a chance at survival.
At first, Elysian Fields,with its beautiful houses and manicured lawns, is perfect. Teo Richardson, the older man who stole Cheyenne's heart, built it so they could be together. But when Teo tells Cheyenne there are tests that she and seven other couples must pass to be worthy of salvation, Cheyenne begins to question the perfection of his world.
The people they were before are gone. Cheyenne is now "Persephone," and each couple has been re-named to reflect the most tragic romances ever told. Everyone is fighting to pass the test, to remain in Elysian Fields. Teo dresses them up, tells them when to move and how to act, and in order to pass the test, they must play along.
If they play it right, then they'll be safe.
But if they play it wrong, they'll die. 

 

 

PAWN
Aimee Carter

 

 

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.
If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.
There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed …and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.
Previously titled Masked.

 

ABERRANT
Ruth Silver

 

 

 

In the future Dystopian society of Cabal, the government instills equality for all and offers its citizens the perfect system. There is food, shelter and jobs for everyone. The one requirement is to follow the rules without question, including the government's match in marriage and "The Day of the Chosen", a lottery that randomly selects families to conceive children as natural means hasn't existed in generations. Following her eighteenth birthday, Olivia Parker accepts her requirement to marry her childhood best friend, Joshua Warren, and is eager to start her work assignment and new life when it all comes abruptly to an end as she's arrested and thrown in prison. The only crime committed, her existence. Olivia is unlike the rest of the world born not from "The Day of the Chosen." The truth haunts the government and puts her life in grave danger as one simple fact would destroy the perfect system.
With Joshua's help, Olivia breaks free of prison and is forced on the run. Together they set out to find the promised rebel town in search of a new home and new life together. Their situation seems less than promising as they reach the town of Haven. New rules and customs must be adhered to in order to stay. Leaving would mean most certain death in the large expanse of the Gravelands. Time is running out as the government mounts an attack to destroy Olivia and bury her secret with her. Thrown into a world unlike their own, they must quickly adapt to survive.

 

THE DISSAPEARED
C. J. Harper

 

In a future where children are segregated into institutions that range from comfortable 'Learning Communities' to prison-like 'Local Academies', 17-year-old Jackson is an academic high flyer, living in a top Learning Community and destined for a position in the Leadership. But when he is sent with his best friend Wilson to deliver a package to a factory block, the two boys are attacked leaving Jackson badly beaten and Wilson dead. Confused and upset, Jackson returns to his Learning Community only to be dismissed by his teachers who claim not to know him. Sent to an Academy, Jackson finds himself immersed in a world that couldn't be further removed than the one he's used to. 

 

 

REVOLUTION 19 

Gregg Rosenblum

 

 

 

Twenty years ago, the robots designed to fight our wars abandoned the battlefields. Then they turned their weapons on us.
Only a few escaped the robot revolution of 2071. Kevin, Nick, and Cass are lucky —they live with their parents in a secret human community in the woods. Then their village is detected and wiped out. Hopeful that other survivors have been captured by bots, the teens risk everything to save the only people they have left in the world—by infiltrating a city controlled by their greatest enemies.
Revolution 19 is a cinematic thriller unlike anything else. With a dynamic cast of characters, this surefire blockbuster has everything teen readers want—action, drama, mystery, and romance. Written by debut novelist Gregg Rosenblum, this gripping story shouldn’t be missed.

 

Now For Something Different: Pixels

 

Movie Review

Title: Pixels

Release Date: 12th August 2015

Where Seen: Cinema

Genres: Comedy, Action, Sci-Fi

Buy Here 
 - Amazon Price: £9.99 (At the time of when I published the post)

Movie Poster:

 
IMDB Description: 

When aliens misinterpret video feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war, they attack the Earth in the form of the video games.

Starring:

Adam Sandler - Brenner
Kevin James - Cooper
Peter Dinklage - Eddie
Josh Gad - Ludlow

Director:

Chris Columbus
Production Company:

Columbia Pictures
 Review:

Awesome. Epic. Nerdy and just all round hilarious.
I can't emphasise how much I need to recomend this film to anyone who is a little nerdy and knows that some films are just not meant to be taken seriously.
I like the structure of the film, it flowed well from one scene to the next and never became boring once.
The whole idea of it was just fantastic. Based on facts about the NASA probe and classic video games ground this film in reality considering it was so outrageous.
It was really strange and different but it was always easy to understand and comprehend so therfore good for all ages.
The idea of the film is that Aliens have taken our probe and recordings of retro video games as a declararion of war. They then go and release the games on the world and the only people that can stop them are the Arcaders.

First you had Brenner played by Adam Sandler the lead character who was both nerdy and the dry humoured hero of the movie. He was the hero all nerds want to be and easily the best character in the film.

Next you have his love interest Violet played by Michelle Monaghan who was just so badass you instantly related to her and loved her. She is smart, refined, clever and funny and has epic fighting skills. The perfect companion for a more bumbling Brenner.

My second favourite character in the movie was Brenner's best friend and US president Cooper 'chewie' played by Kevin James. He wasn't a gamer but a hero in himself. Going from a average president with low ratings because of his inability to read and ability to look the fool. To a man who pulled everyone together as the heart of the group and even fighting the boss level as another arcader even though he was only good at the grabber as a child.

The next member of the arcaders is Ludlow played by Josh Gad he was the ultimate nerd who lives with his grandma and dreams of marrying the beautiful game character Lady Lisa. He is the brains of the operation and definable the most hilarious character.

Finally we have Eddie played by Peter Dinklage. He was arrogant, cocky and unintentionally funny. The anti-hero of the group. He wasn't the most likable guy being the rebellious inmate. But he added something to the group. What I am not sure of but definitely something.

I loved the challenges they were set defeating Pac Man, Donkey Kong and all the orher classic games. It was an innovative idea and it was pulled off really well.

I even love the trailer, the way it starts like a classic disater movie and then suddenly there's pac man. Nom nom nom.

Finally Qbert is just the cutest thing on the planet and I want one. 

 

Quotes:

"Have you been playing Space Invaders recently? Because you are invading my space."

[Credit to IMDB]
Professor Iwatani: Pac-Man is not bad. You'll see.
Sam Brenner: Professor Iwatani, what are you doing?
Professor Iwatani: I will talk to him, he's my son.
[to Pac-Man]
Professor Iwatani: Hello, my sweet, little boy. Look how big you've grown.
Ludlow Lamonsoff: That's so sweet, he's so sweet.
Professor Iwatani: I know, you're a good boy.
[Pac-Man bit his hand into pixels, then he and the genius scream]
Professor Iwatani: Somebody annihilate this stupid thing!

Overall Rating:

 

Have You Seen This Film?

How Did You Find It?

Why Don't You Leave Me A Comment, Or a Link To Your Own Blog?

I Would Love To Hear Your Views!

-The Reading Rose

Review Request: Rarity from the Hollow

Review Special: Review Request

Title: Rarity from the Hollow

Author: Robert Eggleton
Publisher: Dog Horn Publishing Genres: Horror & Sci-Fi
Release Date: March 16th 2012

Pages: 354

Where Acquired: I was given a copy of the book from Robert in exchange for an honest review.

Buy On Amazon Here 
- Kindle Price: £4.54 Book Price: £7.72 (as of when posted) 

About the Author:
Robert Eggleton is best known for his investigative reports about children’s programs. Today, he is a recently retired psychotherapist at the Mental Health Center in Charleston, West Virginia. Rarity from the Hollow is his debut novel and followed publication of three short Lacy Dawn adventures. Author proceeds are donated to a child abuse prevention program operated by Children’s Home Society of West Virginia.

Cover: 


Description:
Lacy Dawn is a true daughter of Appalachia, and then some. She lives in a hollow with her worn-out mom, her Iraq War disabled dad, and her mutt Brownie, a dog who's very skilled at laying fiber optic cable. Lacy Dawn's android boyfriend, DotCom, has come to the hollow with a mission. His equipment includes infomercial videos of Earth's earliest proto-humans from millennia ago. DotCom has been sent by the Manager of the Mall on planet Shptiludrp: he must recruit Lacy Dawn to save the Universe in exchange for the designation of Earth as a planet which is eligible for continued existence within a universal economic structure that exploits underdeveloped planets for their mineral content. Lacy Dawn’s magic enables her to save the universe, Earth, and, most importantly, her own family.

My Review: 
I didn't manage to finish this book. Mostly because I found it a little too disturbing for my tastes. I am a 19 year old who still enjoys Disney and can't watch a horror film because they are terrifying after all. But for fans of horror movies and Stephen King this book is perfect. It is psychologically disturbing at a different level to what I have seen before and this made it hard for me to read, especially the scene describing her friends death. The writing style is very good, you can actually imagine it is written by a child right from her thoughts as she struggles through her life of abuse. But the book just wasn't right for me, I would urge you to make your own opinions up about the book and if you are not easily scared or disturbed like I am, then I would urge you to give it a go for yourselves; It does have fantastic reviews from people who have read all of the book so I would urge you to goodreads to read the other reviews to help make your judgement on this book. I have heard from the author that the book becomes increasingly funny after the first few hard to read chapters so if you can get through the disturbing parts then make sure you give this book a go! Another thing to keep in mind is that this tale may be so disturbing to some as it is actually based on real problems children have shared with the author in group sessions over his years as a psychiatrist. The author gives all of his proceeds from the book to charity too so it is definatly worth reading if you are not faint of heart like me as I said earlier after the first three chapters it changes from Stephen King to more like Hitchhiker's guide to the Galaxy.

'Parent's Guide' to the Novel:

Piers Anthony found that my novel was “…not for the prudish.” Kevin Patrick Mahoney, editor of the once noteworthy site, Authortrek, found that it was, “…not for the faint hearted or easily offended….”   An early voice in the 1^st chapter speaks about things that no child should know. It is that of a traumatized child – a voice most of us never listen to, or want to hear, but in real life is screaming. This passage is mild in comparison to some of the stuff that kids have said during actual group therapy sessions that I facilitated over the years. By child developmental stage, it is similar to the infamous early adolescent insult in E.T: “penis breath.” It is tame in comparison to the content of the popular T.V. series, South Park, which was devoured by millions of teens.  

Except for a scene involving domestic violence in the 3^rd chapter, this early dialogue is the only mildly graphic content. There are no graphic sex scenes in the novel. The renewed romance between the protagonist’s parents does include sexual reference. The android coming of age during his pursuit of humanity is reality based. However, Lacy Dawn never lets the android get farther than to kiss her on the cheek. The android expresses no interest in sex – he falls in love, all consuming love by the middle of the story. The “F word” is used once, but there is no other profanity.

Rarity from the Hollow is A Children’s Story for Adults.

Rating: 

 It would be unfair to rate this book as I didn't finish it because it just wasn't my type of book, not because it was a bad book. I'll leave it to you to decide if the book is for you or not follow this link to give it a try:
Rarity From The Hollow Excerpt

Have You Read This Book? 

How Did You Find It? 

Why Don't You Leave Me A Comment, Or a Link To Your Own Blog? 

I Would Love To Hear Your Views! 

-The Reading Rose

Review: Across the Universe

Title: Across The Universe (Across the Universe #1)

Author: Beth Revis

Publisher: Razorbill
Genres: YA, Sci-Fi, Dystopia
Release Date: January 11th 2011

Pages: 398
Where Acquired: Amazon Kindle
Buy at Amazon Here 
- Best Book Price: £2.81 Kindle Price: £3.99 (as of when posted) 

UK Cover: 


A Cover From Elsewhere: 


Goodreads Description: 
Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone - one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship - tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

My Review: 
This book was so interesting. I absolutly loved the concept and the excitement of it. Not only was the romance sweet and gentle but the murder mystery that was thrown in was entertaining and fun to try and solve for the reader. I loved the way we got to see the book in two POVs one from someone born on the ship and one from someone disocvering it with new eyes. The corruption of the ship was reminicent of something from Game of Thrones it was that bad. I loved the voice of Elder and Amy, they were both very interesting characters. Elder was interesting for the fact that he couldn't see the blatent strangness of the ship and for his adoration of Eldest. Amy was interesting for her story. Cryrogenics are interesting enough but Amy remained consious for the 200+ years she was stuck frozen in ice and i can't imagine anything more terifying than that! I'm suprised when she woke that she was as normal as what she is. You also really felt for her when she realised she was stuck on the ship and never going to see her family again as you could tell how much she loves her parents. You also really felt for the characters thoughout the whole book, so much heart went into the writing. I especially felt bad for them when they realised they were not going to reach earth in their lifetime. Last point about this book is that the mating season was so creepy! Where did Revis come up with an Idea like that? The whole concept of the ship's society was my favourite part. I love a good Dystopian society and this is up there with the best. It is very different from anything I have read before.

Quotes: 

 “That's all you need to know about Godspeed," he says. "Although you should also know this. I am Eldest." Good for you, I think. Congrats on being old.” -Amy (Amy never lost her sarcasm and witt)

 “I never thought about how important the sky was until I didn't have one.” -Amy

“He sounds like a regular Hitler to me", Amy mutters.
I wonder what she means by that. Eldest has always taught me that Hitler was a wise, cultured leader for his people. Maybe that's what she means: Eldest is a strong leader, like Hitler was." -Eldest (shows you how different the society is from what Amy was used to, right?)

Rating: 

 3 Similar Books You May Enjoy (Goodreads): 

  

Have You Read This Book? How Did You Find It?

Why Don't You Leave Me A Comment, Or a Link To Your Own Blog?

I Would Love To Hear Your Views! 

-The Reading Rose

Review: What's Left Of Me

Title: What's Left Of Me (The Hybrid Chronicles #1)
Author: Kat Zhang
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genres: YA, Sci-Fi, Dystopia
Release Date: September 18th 2012
Pages: 343
Where Acquired: Amazon Kindle
Buy at Amazon Here 
- Best Book Price: £2.81 Kindle Price: £1.99 (as of when posted) 

UK Cover: 


A Cover From Elsewhere (Italy): 


Goodreads Description: 
I should not exist. But I do.

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . .

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

My Review: 
I do like the idea of two souls struggling to find a place in one body ever since I first read Meyer's The Host. However this book takes it to a whole different level. First of it could have done with a little more world building on the history. How did humans come to having two souls in one body? I mean, that doesn't just happen out of no-where but maybe they cover it in later books (does anyone know?)However it is a very interesting world that had me compelled from the start. I really like Eva but disliked Addie a little for her resentment of Eva. However you could never dislike her too much as it must have been an extremly hard situation to live in for the both of them. All of the characters in this book are so compelling and strong. Hallie and Lissa and her brother Devon and Ryan were very lovable and helped you understand the world a little bit better. This book is so original and the idea so fantastic you can't help but love it. I especially enjoyed the lack of resolution at the end. They managed to escape but  were still stuck in the same body with the complication of Eva getting stronger and her love for Ryan. I removed one star for the confusing origins and the slow start but it is still a fantastic book and worth reading.

Quotes: 

 “I was terrified. I was eleven years old, and though I'd been told my entire life that it was entirely natural for the recessive soul to fade away, I didn't want to go. I wanted twenty thousand more sunrises, three thousand more hot summer days at the pool. I wanted to know what it was like to have a first kiss. The other recessives were lucky to have disappeared at four or five. They knew less.”

Rating: 





3 Similar Books You May Enjoy (Goodreads): 

Have You Read This Book? How Did You Find It?

Why Don't You Leave Me A Comment, Or a Link To Your Own Blog?

I Would Love To Hear Your Views! 

-The Reading Rose

Review Request: Sacred Wind

Review Special: Review Request

Update 18/01/15: It turns out that I unkowingly read the full trilogy instead of just the first one! So the below review covers all three books in the series!

Because of this some facts may be incorrect. 

Title: Sacred Wind
Author: Andy Coffey

Website: http://www.sacredwind.co.uk/andycoffey.html

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SacredWindBand?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sacred-Wind/136135083263791?ref=br_rs

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8391556.Andy_Coffey

Publisher: Smashwords Genres: YA, Comedy, Sci-Fi.
Release Date: July 18th 2014

Pages: 125

Where Acquired: Free Ebook from the author via AuthorRamp in return for an honest review.

Buy at Amazon Here 
- Kindle Price: £0.77 (as of when posted) 

UK Cover: 


Goodreads Description: 
It’s safe to say that the last thing Aiden Peersey expected when he began his trip to Llangollen was to meet a bunch of Welsh Vikings who played in a rock band called Sacred Wind. It’s also safe to say that the technology geek and part-time sound engineer didn’t expect to be catapulted into a quest to win a music tournament, to save the faerie queen, to win freedom for their land, to be able to fart freely, and to win the right to their cheese. Nevertheless, that’s exactly what happened…


Transported into an alternative reality by the Navigation App on his quantum computer-powered Smart Phone, Aiden discovers a land ruled by the evil Baron Blacktie, who has banned rock music, outlawed unauthorised flatulence, and made cheese sniffing a crime. He is soon immersed in a world where sheep manage pubs and play in orchestras, cats are telepathic, cheese comes from mines, and curries have consciousness (Wrexham is a ‘Currydom’, ruled by King Beef Vindaloo-Boiled Rice III and his wife, Queen Tikka Masala-Coconut Rice…).


When the evil Baron discovers that Sacred Wind’s drummer, Agnar the Hammered, owns a cheese mine that contains a potentially magic cheese, he concocts a hideous plot to make the mine his own. He challenges Sacred Wind to take part in a prestigious music tournament, and he sends his two top spies, Hob and Nob, to capture the Faerie Queen, Ophelia, who is betrothed to Sacred Wind’s singer, Olaf the Berserker! And so, Aiden joins the Sacred Wind and the ‘Companionship of Wind’, as they embark on a perilous journey to reach the city in time for the great tournament…


So, if you want to delve into a world where curries will make you laugh, where sheep will make you cry, where no-one sniggers when your first name is 'Oldfart', where you'll cheer quite a lot at the bits that have obviously been written to incite cheering, where you'll think about faeries in ways you really shouldn't, where you'll be even more scared of Traffic Wardens than you ever thought possible, where vacuum cleaners get possessed, where Welsh Vikings can have platonic relationships with English sheep, where you finish reading the story with a smile on your face and warmth in your heart, and where you want to read more as soon as you've finished, then Sacred Wind is the book for you.

My Review: 
If you like Hitchhiker's guide to the galexy then this book is definatly for you! It is simultaniously the strangest, weirdest and most hilarious book I have read in a long while. Aiden Peersey is transported to an alternate reality where cheese is one of the most valuable items around. Farting tributes to the god Odin and have been banned. Demon traffic wardens. curries form armies and own states. sheep play in an orchestra and run bars. cats can talk and magic is around everyhwhere. Have I caught your interest yet?
The story is a stereotypical quest and supprisingly easy to understand considering the oddities listed above, however it has all the drama, humour, action and romance anyone needs in their life! some parts had me laughing so hard that I was getting some strange looks from the other University students in the common room.

Preview of Book 2:
 * You’ll gasp as Baron Blacktie’s dastardly scheme starts to fall into place…
* You’ll gasp again as a horrible kidnap is perpetrated…
* You’ll nod knowingly as the Prophecy is revealed…
* You’ll cheer and put out bunting as our heroes set sail for Chester…
* You’ll be terrified as we delve into the depths of the mine of Hairy Growler…
* You’ll hide behind the sofa as the Battle of the Pig’s Trotters begins…
* You’ll do some more gasping as the Baron reveals his secret…
* You’ll smile winsomely when an unexpected companion appears…
* You’ll have a great desire to learn Ancient Welsh Witchenese…
* And you’ll be very concerned about the Tan-Y-Lan Tuffies skill at charades…

And Guess what?..... They have a CD too!
Now available at all good download stores! Featuring all the Sacred Wind tracks from the book and more:
1.A Time of Magic
2.Sacred Wind
3.Metal and Curry
4.Hurricane Ass
5.Warriors of Asgard
6.Sail With Me
7.Rock, Rock, Rock, Rock Ragnarok
8.Frigg
9.Fart For Odin
10.Dragon Ships and Women’s Hips
11.My Sword is my Sword
12.The Sheep’s Lament (bonus track)
13.The Power of Cheese (bonus track)   

You can grab a copy on amazon HERE at £7.49 on MP3 

Quotes: 

"Hello, Jock, we're pleased to make your aquaintence' said Mr Yankit. Jock said nothing. He was a lawnmower."

[Dai is singing] "Ye can sing along! and ye Jock' Jock didn't join in. He was a lawnmower"

I had to put two in for that as that scene cracked me up! one of the funniest moments apart from...

"he heard the sound of breaking glass and a vicious garlic and butter Chapatti appeared on his head"

Rating: 

Have You Read This Book? 

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-The Reading Rose

Review: The Killables

Title: The Killables (The Killables #1)
Author: Gemma Malley
Publisher: Hodder & Stroughton
Genres: Sci-Fi, YA, Thriller, Fantasy, Dystopian.
Release Date: March 29th 2012
Pages: 372
Where Acquired: Amazon
Buy at Amazon Here 
- Book Price: £2.80 Kindle Price: £4.49 (as of when posted) 

Cover: 


Cover From Elsewhere (German):


Goodreads Description:  
Everyone accepted that people were different physically. But inside? Inside, they were different too. You just had to know how to tell, what to look for. Evil has been eradicated. The City has been established. And citizens may only enter after having the 'evil' part of their brain removed. They are labelled on the System according to how 'good' they are. If they show signs of the evil emerging, they are labelled a K ...But no one knows quite what that means. Only that they disappear, never to be seen again.

Review:
It had been a while since I have read a dystopian novel so I thought I would give this book a go. I'm glad I did as it was entracing from the start. The society is well structured and the plot line is extremly clever with the idea that people have had the evil part of their brain removed. The 'good' characters were all very likable except I was more team Lucas than Raffy (Hate love triangles grr...) I can't really tell you much about this book as the majority of it is filled with twists and turns that I want you to find out for yourself! all I can say is that you should go out buy it and read it for yourself!

Quotes: 

 “Imagination shows an ability to lie, to pretend the world is different than it is.”

Rating: 

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-The Reading Rose