Friday 25 October 2013

Sharp Objects- Gillian Flynn

Publisher: Shaye Areheart Books
Published: Sep 26, 2006
272 pages
Goodreads page

WICKED above her hipbone, GIRL across her heart 
Words are like a road map to reporter Camille Preaker’s troubled past. Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, Camille’s first assignment from the second-rate daily paper where she works brings her reluctantly back to her hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls.

NASTY on her kneecap, BABYDOLL on her leg 
Since she left town eight years ago, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed again in her family’s Victorian mansion, Camille is haunted by the childhood tragedy she has spent her whole life trying to cut from her memory.

HARMFUL on her wrist, WHORE on her ankle 
As Camille works to uncover the truth about these violent crimes, she finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Clues keep leading to dead ends, forcing Camille to unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past to get at the story. Dogged by her own demons, Camille will have to confront what happened to her years before if she wants to survive this homecoming.

This book was incredibly dark and somewhat messed up in parts but that is what was so great about it.
The mystery and darkness is so captivating i was hooked throughout.
Camille's character is so messed up and reading about her and her incredibly messed up family was just so intriguing.
Gillian isn't afraid to go to dark places to keep us reading and i really love that about her writing style, i haven't read many books that were as captivating in such a messy way.
I definitely would not recommend this book for anyone under the age of 18, its very up front and there is quite a bit of adult content.
I have to say i did not pick the ending. Up until the very end i was kept guessing at who done it and was quite surprised.

This is a great read for those who like a dark and twisted story. I enjoyed it and will be picking up more of Gillian's work.

****
Four stars

Monday 14 October 2013

The Immortal Rules- Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Published: April 24, 2012
485 pages
Goodreads page

To survive in a ruined world, she must embrace the darkness…

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a walled-in city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten. Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them—the vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself dies and becomes one of the monsters.

Forced to flee her city, Allie must pass for human as she joins a ragged group of pilgrims seeking a legend—a place that might have a cure for the disease that killed off most of civilization and created the rabids, the bloodthirsty creatures who threaten human and vampire alike. And soon Allie will have to decide what and who is worth dying for… again.


I was quite hesitant going into this book, because as we all know the vampire genre is somewhat tainted. I however had heard nothing but good things about it so i decided to give it a go.
I really love the world and how its kind of opposite to a normal vampire story where vampires rule rather than humans.
Its great to go through Allie's transformation with her and see how she deals with becoming a monster.
I also like how vampires are actually the way they should be (not sparkling), they cant go in sunlight and they have to feed on humans.
I found this book did take me a long time to get through. It wasn't necessarily because i didn't enjoy it i think maybe i just had a lot going on the last few weeks.

Overall its a great take on vampires and i thought it was very enjoyable.

****
Four stars