Sister assassin by Kiersten White

Would you do something you hated, something that made you feel like dying inside if it would save the life of your sister? Would you give up your own life, your own freedom, so she can spend the rest of her life in a gilded cage to keep her safe from you?  This is the choice Fia has made, as long as she does what Keane and his son James want, Annie will live a long life safe in the school, where they will provide everything she needs.  It seems like a simple trade, Annie is blind and will never live a truly normal life, and until recently she has been relatively happy at the school, but with each day it seems as though Fia is slipping further and further away from her.

When Fia is sent on a mission to assassinate Adam, things become incredibly complicated very quickly - because she can't kill him, even though she knows that failure means her death and Annie's.  Keeping the thoughts hidden inside her mind, Fia has to figure out how she is going to save them both when the Seers and Readers know how she is feeling and what she is going to do before she even knows it herself.  Her complicated relationship with James makes it even worse, she should hate him for what he has done, for the part he plays in her enforced servitude - but it is not that simple.

Time is running out for Fia and Annie, and as the net closes around them Fia may have to make the ultimate choice - her life, or Annie's.

If you like this book then you may also like Every other day by Jennifer Lynne Barnes, Revived by Cat Patrick, and Adaptation by Melinda Lo.

~ Reviewed by Elspeth Sweetman

The dogs of winter by Bobbie Pyron

When five year old Mishka finds himself lost and alone in the streets of Moscow it seems as though all hope is lost - especially when he can't find the beautiful read coat his mother always wore - but he seems to be safe in the care of the street children who call one of the train stations home.  But it is just an illusion as they are all interested in protecting themselves, in staying alive, they have no real interest in a small child who is too young to be living on the streets by himself.  It seems as though death is only a short time away, until Mishka discovers the dogs that roam the streets begging and stealing just like the street children.

When Mishka strikes up a friendship with a dog he calls Lucky, he has no idea that he is making the connection that will help him survive his first winter on the streets.  Lucky is part of a pack of street dogs, a pack with a strong leader that accepts Mishka grudgingly into the pack.  Working together, Mishka and the dogs may just find enough food for them all to make it through a harsh Moscow winter - even if they have to steal food to make ends meet.  As the world around them changes, Mishka and the dogs must adapt to survive, and they must always stay one step ahead of the people who believe that all street children should be rounded up and shipped off to an orphanage for their own protection.

A powerful and gripping novel based on the true story of a child from Russia, one that will have you laughing, longing, and grieving along with Mishka and his pack.  An unforgettable story.

~ Reviewed by Elspeth Sweetman

The interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina

Welcome to the future, a world devastated and reformed to be very different from the world we know now.  It is a world where the Balance is the most important thing, where laws have been created to protect the Earth and people from another disaster - one that could spell the end of man for all time.  In this world Ashala and the people of her Tribe live off the grid, hiding in the forest to avoid detection and Detention.  But now Ashala has been captured, and the whole Tribe could be at risk because Neville Rose from Detention Centre 3 is determined to learn the secrets Ashala holds - secrets that he can reach with the Machine.

The interrogation of Ashala Wolf is a gripping read with little twists and turns that keep you guessing about what is coming next, and the tension and pace keeps up through the entire novel.  If you can make the time this is definitely a book to read in one session, but if you don't have the time for that then snatch whatever you can whenever you can until you reach the amazing conclusion.  This is one of my favourite reads for 2012 and I am looking forward to the next book in the series to see if the story of Ashala and her Tribe remains so addictive and gripping.

If you enjoyed this book then you may also like Revived by Cat Patrick, Origin by Jessica Khoury, Arrival by Chris Morphew and Enclave by Ann Aguirre

~ Reviewed by Elspeth Sweetman

Red Rocks by Rachael King

Jake is staying at his father's around the coast of Wellington, exploring alone. He runs into a strange old guy around the rocks. He tries to avoid the local bullies... What he does do, is take a seal-skin from a cave and therefore attracts the attention of the local selkies.

The modern world and the world of Celtic mythology combine in this low-key action novel - it's not action-packed like, say, James Patterson or Chris Ryan - but there is some action there.

There are also some interesting relationships. Watching Jake and his dad negotiate their time together is interesting, as Jake's dad is used to living alone and becomes totally focussed in his work (hence Jake's solo explorations).

The writing is wonderfully descriptive, giving a real and vivid sense of place and time.

Something to try out for 10+ year olds who like thinking a bit about what they're reading.

~ Reviewed by Aud Selene.

Private Oz by James Patterson and Michael White

Private Oz is one of the latest installments in the dynamic and multinational Private series from James Patterson and co-authors.  Set in Australia (hence the Oz part of the title), this is the first book that has been set relatively close to home for New Zealand readers, a little icing on the cake for an already interesting and addictive series.

The main storyline is high impact, and keeps up the tension throughout the novel, and while some of the subplots are a little distracting at times, it does make for a well rounded read and a firm introduction to the team working at Private - from the forensic expert through to the receptionist.  The cast are interesting and well developed, bringing their own skills and history to the cases they are working on - which makes for a better read than some of the other books in the series.  At times the stories seem a little jumbled, like they tried to fit too much into the book, but it evens out across the novel and comes to a rather satisfying conclusion.

There is one little bug bear however - this book was set in Australia, and the edition I read was published in Australia so it would have been nice if the measurements had been in "Australian".  At this end of the world we ....

Use kilograms as a measurement of weight (not pounds)
Use degrees Celsius as a temperament measurement (not degrees Fahrenheit)

Use kilometres an hour as a speed measurement (not miles per hour)

And we enter a building on the ground floor (not the first floor)

Apart from these little bug bears this was a thoroughly good read devoured in an afternoon.  James Patterson is a very (very) active author who produces copious amounts of books each year, usually with co-authors, but what a lot of people don't know is that he is also involved with literacy programmes and writes books for teenagers and children to encourage them to develop a love of reading from a young age.  A great author who will hopefully be writing for many years to come.

If you enjoyed Private Oz you may also enjoy the rest of the series and pretty much anything else by James Patterson including: Private by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro, Zoo by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge, Kill me if you can by James Patterson and Marshall Karp, and Step on a crack by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge.

~ Reviewed by Elspeth Sweetman

The Attolia books by Megan Whalen Turner

A couple of years ago, there was an online poll on which literary character you'd dump your life for and run away with... Ok, there were a few Darcy fans, some Gilbert Blythe...

But, there was a groundswell of support for Eugenides, star of the Attolia books by Megan Whalen Turner, beginning with the eponymous The Thief.

I'll be upfront here - I'm one of them. Well, actually, I am deeply in literary-love with Eugenides, but will also admit he would be an utter pain to live with!

It's so difficult to say why I love this series - and Eugenides - without giving the plot away.

What I can say is, each book has its own character. As you read through the series (in chronological order: The Thief, The Queen of Attolia, The King of Attolia, The Conspiracy of Kings), the story is shown through different eyes.

Book three, in particular, is interesting in this regard. We, his loyal and loving fans, know what Eugenides is like... but the book's mouthpiece, doesn't. And, you spend a fair amount of the book just waiting for the real Eugenides to show up.

There is action, romance, politics, religion, intrigue... Oh, these books have everything!

A hint of the type of man Eugenides is... when his Gods talk to him, they say things like 'stop whining' and 'go to bed'.

And, I am not the only fan who has struggled to share how ABSO-BLOOMING-LUTELY marvellous these books are, without sharing spoilers. Check out this Booksmugglers review.


Check out the book trailer and see if this book sounds like you...

To recommend books like this is very nearly impossible. There's the fantasy and world-building that comes with great fantasy. And court-politics. And romance. And... just so many things! But, it's the characters that make this one.

So - giving it my best shot! Crown duel and Court duel by Sherwood Smith. Maria V. Snyder: Poison study, Magic study, Fire study and the related series Storm glass, Sea glass and Spy glass. The Elantra series by Michelle Sagara.

~ Reviewed by Aud Selene.