Taboo by Casey Hill

The Blurb On The Back:

Prepare to be chilled to the bone.

San Francisco forensics investigator Reilly Steel leaves her bustling home for Dublin, where she’s been tasked with dragging the Garda forensics team into the 21st-century. At the same time, she must keep tabs on her Irish-born father, who’s increasingly seeking solace in the bottle after a past tragedy involving Reilly’s younger sister, Jess. The relative peace of Dublin quickly works its magic, and Reilly begins to settle into her new home.

But a brutal serial killer soon puts paid to that. A young man and woman are found dead in a hotel room, the gunshot wounds suggesting a suicide pact. But as Reilly and the team dig deeper, and more bodies are discovered, they soon realise that a twisted murderer is at work. One who seeks to upset society’s norms in the most sickening way imaginable …

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Casey Hill’s debut thriller is a limping, dull affair filled with clichéd characters and hampered by a plodding plot that struggles to hang together. It’s the first in a series but based on this effort, I won’t be reading on.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster for the free copy of this book.

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

The Blurb On The Back:

This is the story of Paul, a sophomore at a high school like no other: the cheerleaders ride Harleys, the homecoming queen used to be a guy called Daryl (she now prefers Infinite Darlene) and the gay-straight alliance was formed to help the straight kids learn how to dance.

When Paul meets Noah, he thinks he’s found the one his heart is made for. Until he blows it. The school bookie says the odds are 12 to 1 against getting Noah back, but Paul’s not giving up without playing his love really loud. His best friend Joni might be drifting away, his other best friend Tony might be dealing with ultra-religious parents, and his ex-boyfriend Kyle might not be going away anytime soon … but sometimes everything needs to fall apart before it can really fit together right.

In this celebration of love in all forms, David Leviathan has crafted a world full of engaging and enduring characters that readers will want to visit again and again.

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The Verdict:

David Levithan’s YA novel is a sweet LGBT romance but while I liked the fact that it’s set in a LGBT utopia, the plot is paper thin, key plot lines don’t get resolved and the re-wooing of Noah is sadly skipped over given that it’s supposed to be a main strand of the book. All in all, it’s not a bad book and while I did feel it was a wasted opportunity, I’d be interested in reading Levithan’s other work.

Thanks to Random House for the free copy of this book.

Skulduggery Pleasant: Kingdom Of The Wicked by Derek Landy

The Blurb On The Back:

”I know you all think you’re so cool with your secret societies and whatever,” said Kitana, “but we’re the new breed of sorcerers. And we’re stronger than you.”

Magic is a disease

Across the land, normal people are suddenly developing wild and unstable powers. Infected by a rare strain of magic, they are unwittingly endangering their own lives and the lives of the people around them. Terrified and confused, their only hope lies with the Sanctuary. Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain are needed now more than ever.

And then there’s the small matter of Kitana. A normal teenage girl who, along with her normal teenage friends, becomes infected. Becomes powerful. Becomes corrupted. Wielding the magic of the gods, they’ve set to tear the city apart unless someone sands up against them.

Looks like it’s going to be another one of those days …

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

The seventh in Derek Landy’s SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT SERIES is a return to inventive form in another dark and gory middle grade book with a non-stop, pacey plot filled with originality that successfully builds on the overriding arc and ends with a jaw-dropping ending that really sets up book 8 in the series.

A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge

The Blurb On The Back:

In the underground city of Caverna, the world’s most skilled craftsmen create delicacies beyond compare: cheeses that can show you the future and perfumes that convince you to trust the wearer, even as they slit your throat. The people here are unlike any other: they have faces as blank as untouched snow. Expressions must be learned, and the famous Facesmiths will teach a person to display joy, despair or fear – at a price.

Into this dark and distrustful world tumbles Neverfell, a girl with no memory and a face so incredible to those around her that she must wear a mask at all times. For Neverfell has a face that shows her emotions. A face incapable of lying. A face that is a dangerous threat and an irresistible treasure – a face that some would kill for …

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Frances Hardinge’s middle grade novel is an inventive, intelligent and satisfying fantasy tale of innocence, deception, loyalty and standing up for what’s right. It’s cheesepunk for a modern age that any child aged 9+ will enjoy.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the free copy of this book.