The Mara Dyer Trilogy

By Michelle Hodkin

5/5

If you have not read this trilogy you need to read it now. Filled to the brim with suspense, action, passion, and a beautiful boy named Noah Shaw, these books are perfect for any Young Adult fan who is looking for something a little bit different. I am writing this review after re-reading these books and I found that I picked up on so many little clues and understood the books a lot more the second time round; that is one of my main issues with these books, it can get very confusing. Also, if you have an incredibly weak stomach like I do, you may find some of the chapters a bit disturbing as I found myself having to skim read a couple of pages because I was feeling a little nauseous. But that isn’t to say the books are filled with violence. Whilst there is a little of that, as Mara says at the end of the novel, this story is primarily a love story. And Noah Shaw has definitely made his way into my top 5 book boyfriends. I adore the family dynamic of these novels and Daniel (Mara’s brother) is my favourite character and everything I would want in an older brother if I had one.

If you love books that keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you thinking about them for days and weeks later, this trilogy is the one for you.  As Cassandra Clare says, these books are “haunting and dreamlike” and I cannot agree more!

Lady Midnight

By Cassandra Clare

5/5

I was so excited to hear that there would be a sequel to The Mortal Instruments as it is one of my favourite series of books. I adore the world that Cassandra Clare has created and it will always be one that I continue to go back to. I was very happy that the characters of The Mortal Instruments made an appearance in Lady Midnight (and will hopefully appear the rest of The Dark Artifices series) yet did not take away from the new characters and their story. I instantly fell in love with Emma and Julian and the rest of the Blackthorn family and I cannot wait to fall in love with them even more throughout the series. Whilst reading I was constantly guessing who The Guardian was and was pleased that I never guessed correctly as I hate knowing who the “villain” is before they have been revealed and it is a sign of a good book when you are left guessing until the end. My favourite character is Ty; I love how vulnerable and uncertain he is and I am looking forward to seeing his progression throughout the series. My only issue with this book is that it took me a few chapters to really get into it but that may just be down to it being the first book in the new series so a background needed to be given before the plot could really begin.

I would recommend this book to all fans of Cassandra Clare and to anyone who wants to immerse themselves into a world of fantasy. I would also recommend reading The Mortal Instruments before reading Lady Midnight if you are unfamiliar with the Shadowhunter novels as there are some spoilers both for The Mortal Instruments, and the prequel series The Infernal Devices.

Soulmates

By Holly Bourne

5/5

This book will make you cry. A lot. And by a lot I mean it will leave your heart hurting, your nose running and you will most likely be thinking back on it days later and crying again. This is Holly Bourne’s debut novel and for a debut novel I think it is outstanding. Unfortunately I have not yet read any of her more recent books so I cannot comment on whether her writing style has changed or improved but I can tell you from experience of reading some rather poor debut novels that this is fantastic. It’s a love story, as you probably guessed by the title but it’s also a story about friendship, family and loss. I’m not going to give too much away because the element of surprise is what makes this book so special. This is the second time I have read it and I found it just as enjoyable but also just as heartbreaking as the first time. Holly creates the voice of 17 year old Poppy so perfectly that sometimes I feel as if I am reading a book about myself because she shares the same insecurities that we all do. The character of Noah makes me want to give up on love because I am never going to find anyone as perfect as him; he is arrogant and charming yet vulnerable and caring, and the relationship between him and Poppy is utterly beautiful. The ending to this novel is what makes the book so special and I almost wish there was a sequel because it is a story that I never wanted to end.

I would highly recommend this book to hopeless romantics and for those of you who love a good cry (or if you just need a bit of Noah in your life).