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‘Blood Of My Blood (Jasper Dent Trilogy 3)’ – Barry Lyga

The final part of the trilogy picks up where book two left off. We get to see what happens to our trio…although, at times, we might wish we didn’t.

I’ve read some reviews that criticise Lyga for just giving us more of the same here. I would have to disagree with those comments. Yes, there are some unpleasant details – and elements of the activity go beyond sadistic – but there didn’t seem to be quite the level of detail given simply to shock us. Here, if we’re being given graphic detail, it makes sense. This book focuses far more on the psychological elements again and I found this very difficult to put down.

Some readers criticise Lyga for boring us with Jasper’s fears that he’ll become his father’s son. With the revelations we get in this book I’d be more concerned if Jasper weren’t questioning his upbringing, mental state and ability to make socially acceptable decisions!

There are some great moments in this novel. Howie and Connie get to play pivotal roles, and though they are less involved than in previous books, they’ve got Jasper’s back and provide a semblance of much-needed normality for him.

I do think that, in reality, a lot of what transpires during the hunt would never happen. However, Lyga creates truly creepy characters and this was a chilling read.

I might discourage younger readers from picking this series up, for reasons that become obvious as we work our way through this. Overall, though the subject matter is deeply unpleasant it is a fascinating story, well-handled and resolved in such a way that we can sleep at night (albeit with the light on).

‘The Last Star’ – Rick Yancey

Described by publishers as the final thrilling instalment in The 5th Wave series, but I was left feeling unsatisfied and found it quite a frustrating experience.

I’m so pleased that I had only recently read The Infinite Sea or it would have made even less sense to me.

In this novel, we are told that this is the final push to stop the Others ending humankind. While there were passages that I thought were really well written, and moments of real beauty, there was just so much that seemed to conflict with what had come before or that was simply confusing.

The survivors seemed to spend the novel playing a cat and mouse game that nobody really seemed to know the rules to. Random characters appeared, simply to develop the story, and this was so frustrating.

From some way off I had a feeling about what might happen. Full credit to Rick Yancey for not taking that option – which is where it is clearly signposted as heading – but the actual ending just didn’t work for me. Maybe it’s designed to offer a comment on humanity and our need to trust…but it just was not satisfying.

‘Wrecked’ – Maria Padian

It is so frustrating that this isn’t out until October 2016, as I want to tell so many people I know to read this. A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for granting me access to an ARC.

‘Wrecked’ tells a common enough story. This is a timely novel that explores attitudes to sexuality on American college campuses.

While the story itself might seem to follow a definite publishing theme of the moment – it is skilfully narrated. We are told the story of what happened to Jenny through the eyes of her roommate, Hayley, and Richard, a friend of the boy who raped her.

I found this an absorbing story, which I think should appeal to so many readers. There are one or two stereotypical characters, but the writer plays with these and this means they serve a definite role.

A fuller review to follow closer to publication.

‘How Hard Can Love Be?’ – Holly Bourne

Another hard-hitting novel by Holly Bourne that comes disguised as fluffy fun.

This time around we focus on Amber, starting as she heads off to America to see her mother for the first time in two years. Amber is excited at the prospect of working at a summer camp and spending time with her mother, but she also worries that her mother is not interested in her.

The voice is distinctive. From the moment we see Amber boarding the plane with a hangover to the very dramatic journey she makes out of camp, this is crammed full of conundrums, advice and humour.

Personally I would have liked more Lottie and Evie, but there’s plenty here to keep readers interested.

‘The Infinite Sea’ – Rick Yancey

The second book of The 5th Wave trilogy, and I have to say that I was expecting to see more of Cassie’s story. I was thrown a little by how much to the fore other characters were. The varying perspectives meant, at times, I felt it difficult to keep track of exactly what was happening and how everything linked. However, this doesn’t stop it from being a great read.

In spite of my personal desire to have certain elements given more importance, there was plenty of action to keep me reading.

Ringer was a character that I never felt we knew enough about in the first instalment, though I don’t think she was interesting enough to focus on her to the extent that we are forced to. Perhaps it’s part of a bigger plan, but I must admit to feeling somewhat uncertain about how certain characters fit into the grand scheme. The hints of what is to come do, however, make it sound like we’re in for an explosive finale. Now I just need to wait for my eldest son to finish the book before I can find out what will happen!

‘When We Collided’ – Emery Lord

If it weren’t for my involvement with the YA Buddy Readers’ Corner group on GoodReads, I might not have stumbled across this book.

The love story of Jonah and Vivi on one hand, but it was so much more than that.

Jonah and his older siblings have virtually taken over the care of their younger siblings as their mother is experiencing depression after the sudden death of her husband. Understandably, this is a challenging situation. It allowed the writer to explore a range of relationships, but it seemed to weaken the story for me ever so slightly. I completely understand that grief will impact in many different ways, but I didn’t get enough to explain how the Daniels family have allowed this situation to develop.

Anyway, when Jonah and Vivi meet it really is a collision. They are both fragile and needy in their own ways, but they find each other at the time they’re needed.

There were so many lovely moments described in this book. While I thought Jonah and Vivi were really cute together, I couldn’t help but feel the story could have been more powerful without the romantic bond between them.

I enjoyed the split narrative, and felt the portrayal of how Vivi lives with bipolar disorder was searingly honest. A funny but unflinching story exploring how people can hurt but also save each other.

‘The Perfect Girl’ – Gilly Macmillan

I wanted to read this, in spite of the comments likening it to ‘Girl on a Train’ etc. Setting up such an expectation can sometimes backfire; thankfully, this time it didn’t.

The novel focuses on Zoe Maisey, a talented young musician with a genius intellect, and how actions from earlier in her life continue to haunt her.

Zoe and her mother have started a new life, far away from her past. Zoe has served her time for causing the deaths of three of her peers, but some things never go away. Knowing this about Zoe, and never being completely certain about the reliability of her evidence, means there’s an element of suspicion as we later see Zoe caught up in truly horrific events.

The story is told from constantly shifting viewpoints, and this makes it difficult to ever get a clear picture of what is happening until the author chooses to make her big reveal. There’s a lot to dislike about a number of characters, and although I understood why certain people acted as they did – and even felt some sympathy for them – the moral ambiguity is hard to take.

‘The Modern Faerie Tales Trilogy’ – Holly Black

As a fan of Holly Black I was keen to read these, though reviews are definitely mixed.

Tithe, the first book in the series, was not off to a good start if I’m being truthful. Kaye didn’t seem to be very well-drawn at first, and I can’t believe that nobody seemed to find it weird that this girl spent her early years claiming to see fairies. Of course, when, at sixteen, she discovers she is actually a pixie things start to make a little more sense – but not much! The whole thing felt quite disjointed for me as a reader, and I don’t think I really got my head around who played what role/how the world was set up.

‘Valiant’, the second book in the series, is the one that most reviews seem to be quite negative about. I’m not sure what it says about me that this novel was, in my view, a more appealing read. Though it was a little off-putting initially to have a new cast of characters, I found Val and her friends much better developed. The way in which they band together to try and puzzle out the plotting taking place in the faerie world was engaging. There was a clear sense of things being drawn together for the final part of the trilogy.

In ‘Ironside’ it is time for Roibin’s coronation, and Kaye risks telling him how she feels. When she is sent on a seemingly impossible quest to find a faerie who will lie, Kaye tells her mother the truth about who she is. I loved Corny and Luis in this, and this was a fitting end to the trilogy. Some parts were really creepy, but this was a definite hint of the great writing to come.

‘April Raintree’ – Beatrice Culleton Mosionier

A revised version of the novel In Search of April Raintree, written specifically for students in grades 9 through 12. Through her characterization of two young sisters who are removed from their family, the author poignantly illustrates the difficulties that many Aboriginal people face in maintaining a positive self-identity.

I knew nothing of this story before I received a digital copy from NetGalley.

This is a fictionalised exploration of some of the issues faced by the writer, her family and other Aboriginal people.

Perhaps this will have more resonance with readers who are aware of the Métis people, but I was fascinated by this story. We see the two sisters taken into foster care and, in their own way, dealing with prejudice and fear. April gets married and spends a lot of her life avoiding her cultural background. Her sister, who spent her younger years proudly announcing her heritage, becomes trapped by a lot of her own prejudices and fears.

Certain scenes within this novel were unflinching in their honesty and violence, yet they are vital for readers to gain any sense of understanding. This novel raises so many points for discussion and was an absorbing read. I think I will have to try and track down the original version.

‘Lily and the Octopus’ – Steven Rowley

Due for publication in early June 2016, this has all the makings of a genuine word-of-mouth hit. I wasn’t sure what to expect of this book, but I really have to offer huge thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC.

Not having a pet I felt a little detached from this initially. Reading about Ted and his dog, Lily, was interesting but I wasn’t that emotionally invested in what was happening. When Ted first becomes aware of the octopus that’s invaded Lily I really did start to question whether I’d finish the book as it just felt a little odd.

However, as we follow Ted through this journey I am so pleased that I did not give in to my initial confusion. This is a novel about love and loss, coming to accept what is happening and making the most of the time you have. Let’s just say it struck a chord, and I think there is a message in these pages for everyone.

I felt Ted’s reactions to events were honestly portrayed. There’s an element of craziness to this, and the humour shown throughout kept this from bordering into cloying sentimentality.

An unusual book that I will certainly be recommending to others. I’m keen to see what certain friends make of this one.