Today we hear from Bookbabbler Luke….

Lies by Michael Grant

Suddenly it’s a world without adults and normal has crashed and burned. When life as you know it ends at 15, everything changes.

Tensions are growing in the FAYZ. The mutants are under attack. Food is scarce. Sam’s gone AWOL.

At night a solitary figure roams the streets – the ghost of a boy with a whip hand, haunting the dreams of those he has tormented.

Then the town is deliberately set on fire….And through the flames, Sam sees the figure he dreads most – Drake. But that’s impossible, Drake is dead.

This is the third book, the previous ones being Gone and Hunger in the series by Michael grant. As I have not read either of the previous two books my concern was I would not be able to understand the previous history of the characters and have the understanding of their personality and character depth. However, I briefly read summaries of the previous books and came up to speed with the story line.

Everyone over the age of 15 has vanished and all the children that are left behind are finding it hard trapped in the Fallout alley Youth Zone (FAYZ). The children are developing special powers and the animals around them are mutating too. There’s constant hunger in the FAYZ and even though the evil Drake has been killed hunger persists and the children with super powers are being sought out and killed. The children are learning fast and are no longer innocent children, but carry weapons and are more able to fend for themselves. They learn of a land in a dream by Orsay outside of FAYZ and led by Sam they attempt to leave the hunger and malnutrition behind. Along the way new characters are introduced and ones from previous books re introduced. This is probably where I missed out by not reading the previous books as I couldn’t visualise the horrors imposed by Drake and Caine on the children in FAYZ.

The book is very fast paced with lots of supernatural and scary parts. It’s the type of book once you start reading it’s difficult to put down as it totally absorbs you. I will certainly be reading the next book as I felt there were lots of the story lines to come together.

Thanks, Luke, and thanks to Egmont Books for sending us a copy to review. It’s out for you to buy now…

Today we hear from Bookbabbler Pamela…

Forbidden – Jana Oliver

Riley’s beginning to think being a demon trapper isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Her dad’s been stolen by a necromancer, her boyfriend’s gone all weird and she’s getting warm and fuzzy feelings for someone who’s seriously bad news. It’s tempting to give it all up and try to be normal, but that’s not an option.

Because the demons have plans for Riley.

And they’re not the only ones.

Forbidden is the kind of book that grabs you by the throat on the very first page and doesn’t ease its grip…even after the final page has been turned.

Full of action, suspense, jealousy, betrayal, scorching romance and all-out error, Forbidden takes you on an intense journey that you won’t forget in a long while.

The story starts as the Guild’s trappers are recovering from a demonic battle that left many of their own dead or wounded. Riley Blackthorne has a lot to deal with – an overbearing family friend who wants to protect her, or kill her, depends what day he’s asked; her recent deal with Heaven; her boyfriend who came to the brink of death; and finding the person responsible for reanimating her dead father.

First of all, I adored Riley. She had a spunky, no-holds bar of a personality and didn’t back down to anyone…not that that was always a good thing. I sympathised a lot with her whilst reading Forbidden, knowing that if I’d have been in her shoes, I’d have cracked a heck of a long time ago. But fortunately for Riley, she has more than a few friends on her side. Peter, the adorable tech geek, Ayden the street-wise witch, Mort, the charming necromancer…and don’t even get me started on Beck or Ori.

I was reminded a lot of Buffy while reading Forbidden – the weight of the world hanging over a teenage girl who likes getting distracted by good looking guys who may or may not have her best interests at heart. Suffice to say, it’s going to be long, long wait till book three.

Thanks, Pamela, and thanks to Macmillan Children’s Books. It’s available for you to buy here…

It’s October, and we have a new author in residence with us – welcome to Jessica Warman! We’ll soon be bringing you our Q&A with Jessica, a guest post and review of her new book, Between, and a giveaway! Watch this space…

In the meantime, Jessica shares with us her 5  favourite reads…

5. Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

This is probably my favorite Vonnegut novel – which is saying a lot, because they’re all incredible.  The writing style is unique and incredible; it’s casual and hilarious and profound all at once.  The book is an easy read on the surface, but there’s so much more going on: insights about everything from religion and spirituality, to human nature, to the question of whether or not evil actually exists… I could go on and on.  I loved every last word.

4. Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger

I’ve read this book probably two dozen times at least.  For years it was my all-time favorite.  While its place on my list has slipped a bit, I still think it’s a great example of masterful characterization and voice.  Holden Caulfield will always have a special place in my heart.

3. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

This is a magical, heartbreaking book that everyone should read at least once in their lives. If you don’t know what it’s about, I won’t ruin it for you, but I will say that it’s the kind of book that has the power to change the way a person looks at the world.

2. FRACTURE by Megan Miranda

I just read this a few weeks ago, thanks to an advance copy from my publisher; the book doesn’t come out until January 2012.  This is Megan Miranda’s first novel, and it is a gorgeous book.  The story is fascinating, the writing is beautiful, and the characters are incredibly well-drawn.  There were so many instances while reading this when I could easily picture the scenes unfolding in my mind.  Maybe my favorite YA of all time.

1. Everything that has ever been written by David Foster Wallace (His books include A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again, Consider the Lobster, Broom of the System, Girl with Curious Hair, Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, and Infinite Jest.)

David Foster Wallace’s books are thick and difficult and definitely intended for adults, but regardless of your age, it’s a name I think you should be familiar with.  Wallace, who died a few years ago, was the most gifted writer of the past hundred years.  I realize that’s only my opinion, but it’s also the opinion of plenty of other people who have  fallen (hopelessly, deeply) in love with the way he was able to arrange words into sentences into books in a way that I honestly didn’t think was possible prior to reading his work.  It’s simply magical.  Wallace had the ability to see into every part of the core of human nature and deconstruct it, making sense of humanity’s idiosyncrasies with such ease that his observations somehow seem like they should be obvious.  They’re not; I say this because no other writer (who I know of) exists who is able to interpret the essence of reality with the same agility.  His books are not easy reading by any means, but they’re worth every ounce of effort.

There’s just no possible way for me to choose only one of his books for the top position on this list.  Truth be told, if I were being completely honest, the entire list would have been comprised of Wallace books.  They are unflinchingly honest, tragic and hilarious all at once, and by far the most cerebrally engaging writing that I’ve ever read in my life.  He gave this world an incredible gift, and the idea that he’s no longer here to share his thoughts with the world makes me feel incredibly sad – not only for him, and for myself, but for all of humanity for the rest of time.  When I think of the phrase “literary genius,” his is the first and only name that comes to mind.  His work makes everything else that has ever been published seem like it was written by a group of monkeys in a room full of typewriters.  And the monkeys are wearing blindfolds, and they’ve been drinking margaritas all day long, and they’re typing using only their toes.

Read his books. They will enrich your life in more ways than you ever thought possible.

Thanks, Jessica! You can find out more about Jessica at her website here.

Today we share with you our Q&A with Aimee Carter, and then Pamela reviews her debut book, The Goddess Test..

Q&A with Aimee Carter

Tell us a little about yourself

Hi! I’m Aimée Carter, and I wrote a book called The Goddess Test. I live in Detroit, love books, movies, and Harry Potter, and I’m an Aquarius. That just about covers the basics.

Tell us about The Goddess Test

The Goddess Test is essentially a sequel of sorts to the myth of Hades and Persephone, and it’s about a girl, Kate, who takes a test to see if she’s fit to become a goddess. I’ll let the back of the book do the talking for me.

“Every girl who has taken the test has died.

Now it’s Kate’s turn.

When her mother’s dying wish is to return to her home town, Kate’s willing to do anything to make it come true. Even if it means starting at a new school with no friends—and no hope.

Then she meets Henry. Dark, tortured and mesmerising. Henry offers Kate a reprieve. She thinks he’s crazy. Yet when he brings a dead girl back to life right in front of Kate’s eyes she’s not so sure any more…

Claiming to be Hades, God of the Underworld, Henry’s prepared to make Kate a deal.

He’ll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

If she succeeds, she’ll become a goddess—and Henry’s bride. If she fails she’ll never see her mother again…

Though based on a mythological tale, how did you come up with your storyline?

It was a process that literally took most of my life. The ‘what if’ if the scenario – what if Persephone left Hades? – came to me when I was young, and that niggled in the back of my mind for a very long time. It wasn’t until I started to write original stories as a teenager that it came back to me, and it took a while for me to sort out how I wanted to explore that scenario. Eventually I figured that there was a test to see if a mortal was worthy of becoming a goddess, but the circumstances behind Kate’s situation didn’t occur to me until about a year before I started writing the book. That final piece – her mother dying from cancer, and Kate walking into this test in order to buy more time – was what really pushed me into the story properly.

What’s your favourite tale from Greek Mythology?

Probably the myth of Hades and Persephone, but I’m also partial to Orpheus and Eurydice, as well as Castor and Pollux. I love the idea of someone loving someone so much that they’d be willing to go to hell and back to save them.

What were your favourite books when you were younger?

I was really into a lot of series when I was younger, including The Babysitters Club and the Thoroughbred series, by Joanne Campbell. I also love The Giver, and I’ve been a fan of Harry Potter since I was in middle school. Mostly I read whatever I could get my hands on, even the backs of cereal boxes.

Thanks, Aimee! Aimee will be on Twitter this Sunday from 8.00pm-9.00pm doing a Book Club so you can join in and ask her any more questions you have about The Goddess Test! Follow her on @aimee_carter. And now onto Pamela’s review..

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter 

It’s always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate’s going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won’t live past the fall.Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he’ll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he’s crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she’ll become Henry’s future bride, and a goddess.

The Goddess Test, quite simply, was one of the best YA novels I have read this year. And trust me, I’ve read a lot.

The story follows eighteen year old Kate as she moves from New York City with her mother to quiet and rural Eden. Kate’s mother is dying and her days are numbered – and she wants to spend them where she grew up. At her new high school, Kate isn’t interested in making friends or fitting in. All she wants is to make her mother happy…and being in Eden does that.

Kate elicits unwanted attention at school and becomes the target of a cruel prank that has deadly consequences. Popular and beautiful Ava wanted to scare Kate and give her a warning – not lose her life. Ava’s death brings Henry into Kate’s life. Gorgeous and mysterious Henry who, if he is who he claims to be, has the power not only to bring Ava back, but prevent her mother’s death also.

But the question is – what price is Kate willing to pay?

For anyone, let alone a teenager, Kate is under a great deal of pressure. She struggles to come to terms with her mother’s illness and what it will take to save her. Kate was a likeable and sassy character and it was a pleasure to read her story.

The Goddess Test had plenty of twists and turns – a great mystery and also a heart-stopping romance. The Greek mythology throughout was well placed, informative without being overwhelming.

The author’s new and exciting twist on the Olympians was nothing short of fabulous. The great thing about myths is they are open for interpretation – and I loved Aimee Carter’s.

I’m recommending this book to anyone who will listen and I myself cannot wait to reread it. As for the next instalment…can it be 2012 right now?

There aren’t enough stars that will do justice to this sensational novel.

Wow, thanks, Pamela! Thanks to Mira Ink for sending us a copy. It’s available to buy here now..