Book Review- The Dead Kid Detective Agency by Evan Munday

Title: The Dead Kid Detective Agency

 Author: Even Munday

Series:  The Dead Kid Detective Agency #1

Published:  September 1 2011

Length: 320 pages

Warnings: Comical fantasy mild threat 9+

Source: Netgalley

Summary: Thirteen-year-old October Schwartz is new in town; short on friends and the child of a clinically depressed science teacher, she spends her free time in the Sticksville Cemetery and so when beloved French teacher dies in a suspicious car accident, it provides the agency with its first bona fide case, putting them in the midst of a murder plot thick with car chases, cafeteria fights, and sociopathic math teachers, and sending them on an adventure that might just uncover the truth about a bomb that exploded 40 years ago.

Review: October Scwartz has moved to Sticksville and knows absolutely nobody. The year is set to be a boring one for an outcast like her...and then her favourite French teacher, Mr O Shea, mysteriously dies. Is killed. Mulling over the mystery while in the local graveyard, somehow she summons up a group of child-ghosts. After a bit of conversation,  these dead children agree to, while they still walk on earth i.e. for the next month, have a go at helping October find the killer.

This is a typical mystery for the younger audience, with a few paranormal elements on the side. The plot isn’t the most complex of things, but is still fun to watch develop and go along with.

It’s often hard to believe that October is only thirteen. Sometimes she seems much more mature, and sometimes she seems so much younger. It’s actually quite hard to place her age, if you aren’t explicitly told. Or maybe it’s just me.

The pacing was alright. At the start, I couldn’t see where any of it was going. About a third of a way through though, we had a mystery built and the detectives had been introduced. From then on, it’s fun and a good ride. It didn’t keep me especially hooked though. I could put it down without feeling bad about it.

I’d like to say I enjoyed the writing, but I didn't. While there were the occasional comments aimed directly at you, something I quite like, especially when they’re witty, like they were in The Dead Kid Detective Agency, there were many chapters where my understanding was non-existant. Why? The switching perspective. Now, I’m all for multiple points of view. When you are clear on who is speaking. Switching perspectives halfway through a chapter, or once, a sentence? No, no no.

Despite this, I liked this, and the originality it brings to the younger readers’ market.

Overall:  Strength 3 tea to a fun paranormal mystery for the younger readers.

Links: | The Book Depository | Goodreads | Author website | 

Book Review- Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Title: Blood Red Road

 Author: Moira Young

Series:   Dust Lands #1

Published:  June 2011 by Marion Lloyd, Simon & Schuster

Length: 492 pages

Warnings: Violence, (fictional) drugs, slight romance 12+

Source: Library

Other info: This is Moira’s debut novel. The sequel, to be published later this year, is called Rebel Heart.

Summary : 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 outon an epic quest to rescue him. The story's searing pace, its spare style, the excitement of its fabulously damaged world, its unforgettably vivid characters, its violent action and glorious lovestory make this a truly sensational YA debut novel.

Review: Saba has lived in the Dustlands ever since she was born, and nothing out of the ordinary has ever happened. Until she is eighteen, when her brother is stolen away by men who appear out of a dustcloud and have been waiting for him ever since they were born. Saba is determined to get Lugh back and sets out on a quest with her sister Emmi, her crow Nero and a group of people she meets along the way. Nothing will stop her from getting him back.

I was initially put off this book by the writing style. There is a clear lack of conventional spelling and punctuation: the word “and” being replaced by “an”, an “ing” at the end of a word having its “g” lopped off, “says” being continually used with “I” and no speechmarks to be found throughout, initially made me think “I can not be bothered right now to put this into something I can understand”, but I got used to all of it surprisingly quickly. It gave Saba a really unique voice, and a personality of her own.

The plot starts out with something quite typical for an action story-giving a reason for  a quest, then going off and doing it. Some things were really predictable though. The variety of places she gets to is huge. My favourite, because I think it’s the best imagined, is the cage fights. All of them are quite well imagined, with the Dustlands becoming a real world to me.

I never really cared for Jack. Or any of the minor characters. While I did enjoy reading about them, all that really mattered to me was Saba and Emmi. Saba goes through a lot, so most of my care-for-characters-quote was used up on her.

The pacing meant something was always happening, no matter where you were in the novel. It also meant that there wasn’t really many convenient places to put it down. Well, there were. But you just didn’t want to put it down. You wanted to read on and on and see what happened.

Overall:  Strength 4 tea to a fast paced action filled novel. Can’t wait to see how the next one will turn out.

Links: Amazon | The Book Depository | Goodreads | Author website (on Simon&Schuster)  

Weekly Round-up #6

It’s been a fairly slow week in terms of getting stuff...but considering my TBR pile, I think that’s a good thing. I was quite well behaved in the library. Which had tonnes of stuff I quite wanted. So I didn’t get ANYTHING! And so the only thing I got this week was a pretty review copy of Forgiven by Jana Oliver, from the  publishers.

And in terms of things that have been happening....

•  It’s been announced that there will be a fourth in the Demon Trappers series! It's called Foretold, it will be here in August (not long!)  and it already has a pretty cover! 
• The giveaway's still open! Enter to win Witchblood by Emma Mills-it's a great book for anyone who likes romance and vampires-and let's face it, who doesn't in some form or another?
• Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (the film) has a trailer! I'm definitely excited about the film, and can't wait to see it. And I definitely need to get hold of the book sometime soon.You can see the trailer here.
• There's a Goodreads contest to win Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver (What is it with authors with the surname Oliver today?). It's US only, but to any of you out there, why not have a go?
• There's a whole group of kindle books (UK), such as Vamplayers by Rusty Fischer, a prequel to Halflings (review of Halflings coming soon)  by Heather Burch, Demon Girl by Penelope Fletcher,  that are FREE! 
• I had a go at updating the design. I think it looks a bit cleaner, and a little easier to read. Tell me what you think. 
• It's BIRTHDAY WEEK.  Well, not exactly. Raimy's blog  turned one a few weeks ago, (I forgot to mention it, but the giveaway's still open-find it here), Cait's will turn one on Tuesday and Death Books and Tea will turn on on Thursday! Keep checking back for birthday celebrations!  And spread the word! 

<a href="http://deathbooksandtea.blogspot.com" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxVglwoVmcY8e3gpPBB-sNDBqoFd_hresBnH4VpKdYfg0J4evJP7INfgxJVs2W5mUVJrCGFUMEWxys9879JnvB0WfVnT4TkCsmW3vq87okKPoKWrGuV-mEieSRXfypUetzwY8L__Mtfs/s320/5.jpg" width="320" /></a>

And I'm guessing there's a lot more that's been going on... Remember, drop me a line if you want something mentioned here.

Book Review- Katana by Cole Gibsen

Title: Katana

 Author: Cole Gibsen

Series:  None

To be Published: 8 March 2012 by Flux  

Length:  384 pages

Warnings: fantasy violence, mild realistic violence 13+

Source: Netgalley

Summary : Rileigh Martin would love to believe that adrenaline had given her the uncanny courage and strength to fend off three muggers. But it doesn't explain her dreams of 15th-century Japan, the incredible fighting skills she suddenly possesses, or the strange voice giving her battle tips and danger warnings.

Review: Rileigh Martin is your average seventeen year old skater girl. Who manages to fight off three muggers when they attack her one night. She doens't know where she got the strength from, or who the voice in her head that was guiding her through the fight was, or why she's so good with a sword, o why she gets strange dreams of Japan. But then she meets Kim, who explains that he, she, and a few others, are reincarnated samurai. Kim and Rileigh (aka Yoshido and Senshi) were killed the first time after being betrayed, and now their enemy is also in his new form, ready to come after them.

Being interested in Japan, this was defiinitely one that U wanted to read. History and modenr times clashing is always fun and something I'm upo for reading. the coer is well designed, with a woman in modern clothes holding a rather sharp looking blade, and being surrounded by traditional cherry blossom falling.

We first meet Rileigh with her best friend Quentin outside a shopping centre, and being totally normal. Strange things happen wuite quickly, and we soon learn of Rileigh's true nature.

I love the flashbacks to 15th century Japan. It's the only way to get Senshi's story, and while it may have been interesting to see it done another way, I can't actually imagine it being useful, approrpriate or done as well in another format. Contradictory. From said falshbacks, we get a good idea of period-Japan, as well as moving on the story, due to the flashbacks and the content being relavent to the modern-day events.

Character development-if you can't call finding out you're a reincarnated samurai and then having to deal with everything that comes with the soul awakening carachter development, then I;m not sue what you can.

 Rilieigh takes this all in belivable way, without being overly annoying, as you could have got wit this kind of hting.

I would have preferred to have a little more focus on Rileigh/Senshi's awakening, without the romance between Rileigh and Kim. But I suppose, if Senshi and Yoshida were together, then it amkes sense to include it. But it's fallen into the "Girl meets boy. Girl hates boy. Girl ends up with boy happily" trap, which I don't ever like.

I would like to know more about Michelle. Braden, Drew and their past lives too. I know they're not the focus, but I love knowing more about minor characters.

The other part of the main story (Zeami, Senshi's old enemy following her into her new life and wanting her dead here as well) was very good, and we get a big showdown with closure on all levels, and affirmation of Rileigh's powers.

Overall:  Strength 4 tea to a book that drew me in from the start and kept me there.

Links: The Book Depository | Goodreads | Author website | 

Cover to ...er, poster- Book to Film

So...yesterday, I went and saw the Woman in Black. Amazing film. Even if I did find the reactions of fellow cinema-goers slightly more interesting than the film itself. And the ending...it shouldn't have been that way! Arthur doesn't die in the book! And he wasn't married! *insert my normal rambling about how the filmmakers totally messed with the book*.

Anyway, here I'm doing cover to cover, with books that have been/will be made into films, and a poster produced. Because a poster is essentially the cover of the film. I did a similar one a while back, but this time, I'm not just looking for the ones that are worse after.
And onwards...Pre-film book cover on the left, poster for the film on the right. And because I'm actually awake for a change, I'm actually focusing on book-to-film adaptations of 2011/2012.

Please leave a comment on what you think of these, and don't forget-international giveaway of Emma Mill's Witchblood!

Book review- Empire State by Adam Christopher

Title: Empire State

 Author: Adam Christopher

Series:  N/A, for the time being

Published:  5 January 2012

Length: 445 pages

Warnings:  profanity, violence 14+

Source: Angry Robot Army

Other info: This is Adam Christopher’s debut novel. There is also a worldbuilder thing that you can find here, where you can play around with the characters, and have fun with.

Summary : The stunning superhero-noir fantasy thriller set in the other New York.  It was the last great science hero fight, but the energy blast ripped a hole in reality, and birthed the Empire State – a young, twisted parallel prohibition-era New York.  When the rift starts to close, both worlds are threatened, and both must fight for the right to exist. 

Review: it’s New York, and Rad Bradley is a private detective working to survive, as you do. Then he gets assigned a missing person case, and he is pulled into parallel worlds, the future, and many other places he’d rather not be. The aforementioned Parallel World is the Empire State, a very twisted Manhattan. Things will never be the same for Rad again...

It took me quite a bit of trying to get into this. Maybe it didn’t help that I started it while in the bar area of the Hammersmith Apollo while whoever was opening for Thin Lizzy was playing. But still, I should have been able to get into this. But it just left me quite confused. I didn’t really understand the whole thing concerning the superheroes, ie the Science Pirate and the Skyguard. This does get resolved alter with explanations, but it would have been nice to pick up quicker. The general world building, even of “normal” New York, wasn’t very good at all.

I also couldn’t really imagine Rad or Rex. Not good when these are the two major characters. This meant I couldn’t really visualise lots of things happening, and some things that I could, I just wasn’t sure if I was getting the right idea of those things.

Some things I did get though. The four worlds in this book are  20/30s New York (is writing a few days after reading and has forgotten fine details), 50s New York, the Empire State and the Space Beyond. All of these were well imagined and fit together neatly, even if it is very confusing to start with.

 And we never get any explanation of why the superheroes exist. That I understood. Don’t like that. I did like the time travel elements.

It’s a very slow start. The first third, I wasn’t sure why I was carrying on reading this, aside from just hoping that something would happen. Luckily, a mystery is built in time for me to stay hooked, developing further on in the book, and it definitely picks up further on in the novel.

Overall:  Strength 2 tea to a promising and actionfilled, but confusing book. If you really do enjoy sci-fi/reading about Manhattan, then you should read this. Otherwise, maybe give this a miss.

Links: Amazon | TheBook Depository | Goodreads | Author website | 

Book review + GIVEAWAY - Witchblood by Emma Mills

Title: Witchblood  

 Author:  Emma Mills

Series:  Witchblood #1

Published:   9 January 2011

Length: Recieved as e-book, so no idea. Less than 75000 words though. 

Warnings: Vampires, supernatural beings, drink and drug references, violence 13+

Source:  Author, as part of book tour

Other info: Emma lives in Manchester

Summary : When Jess steals a glance at a gorgeous guy in a Manchester nightclub, little does she realise how he is going to change her life…or should that be death? Yet, the vampire clan could never have predicted what they were taking on.
With Luke pronounced ‘off-limits’ and the blood of a vampire simmering in Jess’s body, can she forget the love of her life and move on? If not, she will risk exposing the entire Northern vampire clan to untold dangers, in order to live her life the way she wants.
Can Jess be sure that Luke is all he appears to be? Will she succumb to the attraction she desperately tries not to feel for Daniel? And why does she still crave a packet of crisps more than a tasty teenage boy’s blood?

Review: Jessica is violently attacked by a girl gang, and is then left for dead.  But somehow she is saved. Turns out she's become a vampire, under the care of Daniel and Eva. She has to learn how to deal with her new found status, her place in Vampire society, and of course the new diet. But as well as the powers that come with being a vampire, she has others. She's also a witch, somehow, with no way of formally learning to control these powers. And there may be more to this than she thinks...

This is a book set in England! Yay! Sorry, I just like books set in England, because I can relate a bit more, and understand a few more cultural references and so on. The concept was interesting, and could have gone either terribly, or well. Luckily, this one went the latter way.

From the start, I was hooked. I was promised it would be a quick read owing to the fact it's quite short. But it's not just that. Jessica's narration and the amount of stuff that actually happens mean you can easily speed through it, and still get a good idea of everything that's happening.

The characterisation was good. The older vampires seem to have adjusted well to modern life, and Jessica is adjusting to existance as a vampire as well as you'd expect.

The romance between Jessica and Daniel was inevitable, but quite nice to watch develop. And then there was the introduction of a kind of love triangle, which was also inevitable but I personally could have done without. Nothing against this book in particular, it's just I can do without love triangles in everything.

The final revelation about Luke was quite unexpected, and it made me wish we'd seen a little more of him throughout the bulk of the book  to properly get to know him.

I think that Eva was my favourite character. The way she handled things, and the fact that she survived the French Revolution just made me like her.

Of the supernaturals in this, I have to say that I like the vampires best. That is only because the other two races don't get enough coverage. But I'm sure that I'll love the witches once we get to know them.

Overall:  Strength 4 tea to a quick read which is setting the stage for some really amazing things to come. Can't wait for the sequel, Witchcraft.

Links: Amazon | Goodreads | Author website | 

And now for a giveaway.....

Emma Mills has very kindly said she'll give one lucky winner a free copy of Witchblood.

It'll be a PDF, .epub or kindle file, and is therefore open internationally.
Giveaway open to anyone over 13, or under 13 with parent's permission.
Giveaway closes 21 February 2011, 2359 GMT
Following DB&T is not required (but is nice), but follow Emma's blog for an extra entry (+1)
Spreading the word would also be nice.  Tweet for +2 entries, and leave link to tweet in comment.

To enter, leave a comment with your total amount of entries blog address, or some other way to comment, such as  broken email (like deathbooksandtea at gmail dot com).

Good luck xxx

Book Review- The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

Title: The Iron Witch

 Author: Karen Mahoney

Series:  The Iron Witch #1

Published:  February 2011 by Flux. January 2011 by Corgi

Length: 312 pages

Warnings: fantasy violence, 12+

Source: Library

Other info: The sequel,  The Wood Queen, came out recently. The Stone Demon should come next year.

Summary :  Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma.

When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend—even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect.

Review: Donna Underwood has iron tattoos over her hands and arms. Because of some magical thing has been performed, these give her supernatural strength. And now Wood Elves from the Land of Faerie are coming and Donna has to make a big, big choice.

We first find out that Donna’s father is dcead, and that Donna suffers from nightmares that may or may not shed light on how he died. It then switches perspective, to third person, and a party which her friend Navin forces Donna to. There she meets Xan, a mysterious boy with something not quite right about him. Then various things happen, involving alchemy, and faeries, and Donna has to choice between saving her best friend, or handing over something priceless.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I was given this to read. So I just read it with an open mind.

Donna was your typical outcast heroine, with the very untypical tattoos that mark her as different, make her inhumanely strong and have given her many many questions. Xan, well, he wasn’t the normal love interest, taking into account the fact that he is, er, not entirely human,  but he didn’t really capture my attention.

The plot developed at a nice pace, but the third person narrative didn’t work as well as it does in some books. I just didn’t connect at all with Donna, which would have been nice. It definitely picked up the more it went on, so if you can get past the first third, you’ll be alright.

The mix of paranormal things in this was great. Faeries and alchemists, well, they’re only the start of it.  It’s also an unusal mix, but I loved it, because it’s different and new. I can’t wait to see if there’ll be any more creatures cropping up in later books. I also wish that the alchemy had gotten a little bit more prominence.

I’m not sure if this is good or bad, but the thing I lilked most was the author’s note. Seeing where Karen Mahoney got her inspiration from was fascinating, and it made me think about different mythologies that I’ve not really read or heard of.  It’s added a lot to the list of things I should look up some day.

Overall: Strength 3 tea to a nice blend of magic and alchemy that you should read if you’re a fan of this kind of stuff.   

Links: | Goodreads | Author website |