The Body Finder #3

THE BODY FINDER:
The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting

"The Girlfriend Collector"

Working with the group at the Center was Violet's chance to make a difference, a chance to use her gifts to help others, and a chance to finally fit in. Despite not being welcomed by all members with open arms, the Center was the one place were Violet didn't have to hide what she could do, or who she truly was.

Violet's skill was finding the dead and those who had murdered. What she couldn't do was find a killer before he had killed, but there was a chance that others at the Center could. And for Violet's sake they would have too, for although working at the Center was dangerous, it could be more dangerous to stay away.

The Last Echo of a life may belong to Violet, an echo that would be carried for the rest of a life. This murder mystery introduces new characters and new challenges for Violet and her unique gift. A new story that continues where the last left off, and one that fans of the series will enjoy.

Kimberly Derting Webpage

Kimberly Derting @ Hachette

On sale: 01 June 2012
Price (AU): $14.99
ISBN: 9780755389155
Recommended age: 15+
In a word: The Centre
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: to those reading the series
Star rating: three out of five
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Shadowfell - Book 1

SHADOWFELL:
Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier

A Land In Trouble, A Girl On The Run,

Trust Is A Hard Lesson To Learn!

 

Alban is a land of great danger and sorrow. The people of Alban live in fear, fear of the raids that separate families, fear of the fires that destroy homes, and fear of the Enforcers who commit these acts in the name of the King. The old ways are being shunned, outlawed, anyone thought to be different is taken to serve the King, and any who refused or speak out against the injustices are quickly silenced for good.

At fifteen, Neryn has already been a victim of the King's rule having lost her grandmother in a raid and her village in a fire. But as one of the canny Neryn will never be safe from the Enforcers who hunt her. Left alone in the world with no family and no place that is safe for her; Neryn follows the only path she can to a place of safety that may not even exist, to Shadowfell.

Despite her connection to the Good Folk and the help they can provide, Neryn encounters many trials and hardships on her journey to find a safe haven. Even as the Enforcers track her every movement and the Good Folk follow her every step, she is challenged by her desire to find safety and a hope for the future. In a land where kindness and generosity are rare, Neryn discovers that the hardest lessons learnt are the most important.

Shadowfell is the only hope for a land in turmoil, the only safe place for a girl on the run. More then a story of one girls journey across a hostile land, this is a timeless tale of a life, love, friendships, hopes and fears. A beautiful and magical new series that introduces you to a world both cruel and kind, with characters as complex as they are intriguing. A story that will touch your heart.

Kingdom Of Alban - map

Juliet Marillier Webpage

Juliet Marillier @ Pan Macmillan

On sale: 01 July 2012
Price (AU): $16.99
ISBN: 9781742611341
Recommended age: 14+
In a word: Shadowfell
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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The Midnight Palace

The Midnight Palace by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

"The Best Place To Start A Story Is At The Beginning"

For the past few years the Midnight Palace has been home to the secret club of the Chowbar Society, a select group of people who live by two hard and fast rules. The first is to share all knowledge they possess, learn and come by. The second is to protect each member of the group with their lives. Now at sixteen years of age and legally adults, the members of this group are meeting up for the last time.

Growing up as orphans in 1930's Calcutta, the seven members of the Chowbar Society all believed themselves to be children with no past and therefore the future was free and open. However one of these members was about to discover not only a dark past filled with lies, murder and the family he never new existed, but there was still the threat of danger alive today from a man long dead out to kill again.

The Midnight Palace is a tale of friendship, family and demons from the past. While the ghost of those long dead return, restless and seeking out the living for their own haunted purposes, it is the living that will have to sacrifice one of their own for a chance at peace. A dark and tragic tale of friendship, loss and love written as only Carlos Ruiz Zafon can produce.

Carlos Ruiz Zafon Webpage

Carlos Ruiz Zafon @ Text Publishing

On sale: 30 May 2011
Price (AU): $22.95
ISBN: 9781921656941
Recommended age: 13+
In a word: Mystery
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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White Horse

White Horse by Alex Adams

"The Plague That Killed The World's Population"

The jar was the beginning; it appeared out of nowhere, delivered by no one to be found sitting in her living room. No one can say how it arrived, this ancient jar, or where it came from. But all that was secondary, the only thing to matter now was what the jars sudden presence in her home and in her life meant. The jar was a mystery, and the only thing she knew for curtain was that this mysterious jar frightened her.

It started with the weather, then it was the war. But it wasn't just one country against another, if it had been there might have been somewhere safe to run to, but it was the whole world and nowhere was safe. Now there were monsters lurking were before there were only people. With no where safe, she ran in the direction of the one person she loved, because at the end of the world where else would she want to be.

Having lost everyone she ever cared for, somehow she still manages to carry on. Because despite the disease, the death, and the monsters, despite the end of the world, life still goes on. Armed only with hope, she will walk halfway across the world to find a new beginning for the future, or she will die trying, for what else has she to live for.

White Horse is a gripping tale of the end of the world and those who are left behind to survive it. This is the story of one ordinary woman who makes a heroic journey across a wasted and broken earth in search of hope, love and life on the other side of the world. As the story unfolds the truth about the jar, the war and her love is uncovered. This is a survival story that tells of strength and humanity in a world that is no longer what it was. An intelligent, passionate and keenly written story that will hold you captive.

Alex Adams Webpage

Alex Adams @ Simon & Schuster

On sale: 01 May 2012
Price (AU): $29.99
ISBN: 9780857209962
Recommended age: 18+
In a word: White Horse
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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Faery Tales & Nightmares

Faery Tales & Nightmares by Melissa Marr

Wicked Faery Tales And Lovely Nightmares!

Between these pages lurk beings of harsh beauty and great terror. While one girl is born with Winter within her, another girl will dream the Summer into being. When one girl finds a new life in death another, girl will find a new identity in a woodland creature. And as one girl finds love can be both a blessing and a curse, another girl will learn that love can wait.

Entering a realm that has the potential to be a great nightmare or a fearful faery tale, there may be some familiar faces to guide you on your way. As some beings struggle to break the habits of a lifetime, they may instead find a stolen moment with the one they love. A struggling artist will find new purpose in life, a boy will find a new family and acceptance, and a couple will risk all for a chance at love.

Faery Tales & Nightmares are a mixture of short stories that are romantic, bloody and dreamy in their element. While some stories within are timeless in their faery tale quality, others stories are short tales that are apart of a wider series of books from the authors Wicked Lovely series. Despite having never read any of the Wicked Lovely books, these short stories are an enjoyably unique collection of love, magic and the darkness within.

Melissa Marr Webpage
Melissa Marr @ Harper Collins

On sale: 01 February 2012

Price (AU): $19.99
ISBN: 9780007456871
Recommended age: 13+
In a word: Faery Tales
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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Books of Faerie #1.2

BOOKS OF FAERIE:
The Hounds Of Ulster by Maggie Stiefvater

Always Wanting More!

It used to be enough for him, they used to be enough. Together they were punk Irish gods. Together their music was amazing. It was the one thing that kept them close, but now it seemed it was the one thing pulling them apart, that, and the girl. But it was no ordinary girl coming between them, she was one of them. But with the promise of something more then what he has, more then he could achieve on his own, a sacrifice must be made in return.

The Hounds Of Ulster tells the tale of music, friendship and the girl that came between them. But it is also the story of heartbreak and loss, for it seems that all those who achieve greatness always pass before their time. However it is those left behind who suffer all the more for their loss. A short but poignant prequel story to Balled about a friend, gone but not forgotten.

Maggie Stiefvater Webpage

Maggie Stiefvater @ Scholastic

On sale: n/a
Price (AU): free from authors webpage
ISBN: n/a
Recommended age: 14+
In a word: Loss
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: to those reading the series
Star rating: four out of five
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Books of Faerie #1.1

BOOKS OF FAERIE:
Yes Or No by Maggie Stiefvater

On Word Can Change Your Life!

There was so much meaning in words. Words to him we're like a promise, something to stand by and not to be taken lightly. Ordinarily he was nothing, nobody, but once a month when he did his readings he was transformed by his words in someone. Once a month he mattered. But he wanted more then that once a month could offer him, but to get it would cost him everything.

Yes Or No could change his life, would change his life. After meeting a girl who promises Steven the world and a chance to be a better poet, Steven is infatuated with being more, with having his words reach more people. But in order to have that he must answer one question. Is he willing to give up everything to get ? A short but intriguing prequel story to Ballad about a boy and his muse.

Maggie Stiefvater Webpage

Maggie Stiefvater @ Scholastic

On sale: n/a
Price (AU): free from authors webpage
ISBN: n/a
Recommended age: 14+
In a word: Deals
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: to those reading the series
Star rating: four out of five
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