Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Title:               Blood Red Road
Author:           Moira Young
ISBN:              9781407124254
Publisher:       Marion Lloyd Books
Published:      2011
Age Group:    Young Adult


Synopsis:

In a lawless future land, where life is cheap and survival is hard, Saba has been brought up in isolated Silverlake. She never sees the dangers of the destructive society outside. When her twin brother is snatched by mysterious black-robed riders, she sets out on an epic quest to rescue him. 


My Thoughts:

Blood Red Road is a fast paced, action packed adventure. Saba's world has been turned upside down and is falling apart and she is determined to do whatever it takes to make things right, no matter what the cost. 
This is a book that is more about the journey than the destination. It was a delight to watch the characters grow and change as they struggled to overcome the obstacles that stood in their way, particularly Saba and her little sister Emmi. At the beginning of the book they are constantly fighting, as siblings do, but as the story progresses they learn that without each other they would be lost.
The unusual writing style does take a bit to get used to but I found it only enhanced the experience and added depth to the characters and world in general.
The storyline left a lot of unanswered questions, which has paved the way for the sequel.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Title:             The Language of Flowers
Author:         Vanessa Diffenbaugh
ISBN:             9780345525543
Published:      2011

Synopsis:   

The Victorian language of flowers was used to express emotions: honeysuckle for devotion, azaleas for passion, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it has been more useful in communicating feelings like grief, mistrust and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings. Now eighteen, Victoria has nowhere to go, and sleeps in a public park, where she plants a small garden of her own. When her talent is discovered by a local florist, she discovers her gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But it takes meeting a mysterious vendor at the flower market for her to realise what's been missing in her own life, and as she starts to fall for him, she's forced to confront a painful secret from her past, and decide whether it's worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness. 

My Thoughts:

I want to start by saying this is not the type of book that I normally read, I picked it up on a recommendation. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.  It was interesting to discover the meanings behind the flowers and it made me wonder if people would chose their flowers differently if they knew the meanings. The novel is very well written, I really enjoyed the gradual insights into Victoria's past.
I found the pace to be a bit slow for my liking, therefore taking me longer to finish it than I would have liked, but it was definitely worth taking the time to finish.

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Title:               Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children
Author:           Ransom Riggs
ISBN:              978-1-5947-4476-1
Publisher:       Quirk Books
Published:      2011


Synopsis: 


A mysterious island.An abandoned orphanage.
A strange collection of very curious photographs.
It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow - impossible though it seems - they may still be alive.

My Thoughts:

The first thing that grabbed me about this book was the vintage photographs that have been used throughout the book, they really help bring the story to life. The characters were believable and well written. It is not a speedy read and is better to devour slowly in order to fully appreciate the peculiarities and twists along way.
A haunting read that will delight lovers of vintage photography, fairy tales and the unusual.

Dark Alchemy: Magical Tales from Masters of Modern Fantasy

Title:               Dark Alchemy
Edited by:      Jack Dann & Gardner Dozois
ISBN:              978-0-7475-8954-9
Publisher:       Bloomsbury
Published:      2007


Synopsis:  

Throughout the ages, the wizard has claimed a spot in human culture-from the shadowy spiritual leaders of early man to precocious characters in blockbuster films. Gone are the cartoon images of wizened gray-haired men in pointy caps creating magic with a wave of their wands. Today's wizards are more subtle in their powers, more discerning in their ways, and-in the hands of modern fantasists-more likely than ever to capture readers' imaginations. 

My Thoughts:

A fantastic collection of beautifully woven tales by a wonderful selection of authors. I thoroughly enjoyed all the stories in this book but my favourites would have to be Color Vision by Mary Rosenblum and Barrens Dance by Peter S Beagle. If you are a fan of wizards and magical fantasy you will find a story in this collection to suit your tastes.

Follow Fiday

Q. Talk about the book that most changed or influenced your life (was it a book that turned you from an average to avid reader, did it help you deal with a particularly difficult situation, does it bring you comfort every time you read it?). 

Checkers by John Marsden. 

I read this book in my early teen years and in a way it helped me to understand some of the issues that arose through my teenage years. It made me feel as though I was not alone during what were some particularly difficult times.

 Want to join in on the fun? Click the Follow Friday image then and join us! The more the merrier!

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Title:               Linger
Author:           Maggie Stiefvater
ISBN:              978-0-5451-2328-0
Publisher:       Scholastic
Published:      2010
Age Group:    Young Adult


Synopsis:

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other.  Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack.  And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

My Thoughts:

Linger picks up nicely where Shiver left off. Written in the same captivating style as the previous novel, it was everything I was expecting it to be and more. The addition of being able to see the events unfold in the eyes of Isabel and Cole and intriguing dimensions into the plot.
A very engaging story and despite some slow areas in the middle it ended fantastically and left me eager to find out what will happen in the next installment. 

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Title:               Delirium
Author:           Lauren Oliver
ISBN:              978-0-3409-8093-4
Publisher:       Harper Collins
Published:      2011
Age Group:    Young Adult


Synopsis:

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

  
My Thoughts:

This book has been injected with so much emotion it was hard to put down. It will make you appreciate the little things that you somehow always forget to notice. 
It is a beautifully written story that captivated me almost instantly and just continued to get better as the story progressed. Just when I thought I had the plot all figured out another twist took me for a spin only to end in a way that left me breathless and hungry for more.
Overall it was and enchanting and exciting read, highly recommended. I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel.