2012 Challenges - The Results

2012 was not my best year reading wise as you can see below however I did still manage to complete the Aussie reading challenges which only goes to show there are some great Aussie authors out there.
Looking forward to more books next year...
 

100+ Books In A Year

67/100 books read. 67%done!

Aussie Author Challenge

16/12 books read. 133%done!

Australian Women Writters Challenge

16/10 books read. 160%done!

New Authors Reading Challenge

10/25 books read. 40%done!

Horror & Urban Fantasy Challenge

38/24 books read. 158%done!

Pandora English #3

PANDORA ENGLISH:
The Skeleton Key by Tara Moss

She Has Never Been In More Trouble, Nor Looked More Stylish!

Pandora has only been in Manhattan for only a few months but already she has faced sanguine, zombies, ghosts and a goddess. Now she is looking forward to doing something normal, she has a date, albeit with a ghost. Once a month with the full moon the ghost of Civil War soldier Lieutenant Luke Thomas becomes human, well as human as you can get after being dead for over a hundred years.

Pandora had been looking forward to this night all month; it was going to be perfect. But Pandora soon learns that nothing ever turns out as planned when her date is spoilt as event after event leads to an attack of a green eyed monster. Abandoned, attacked and alone, Pandora is finding life ever more dangerous and her love life ever more complicated.

Who knew one strange date would lead Pandora to meet her destiny. As many truths about her new home and her own powers are brought to light, Pandora must stand alone to fight an army of the dead that threats to ruin a perfectly pleasant, if not a little awkward, date, brings immanent danger to her Great-Aunt Celia, and overruns Manhattan, not to mention Spektor, with their rotting corpses.

The Skeleton Key opens the door to hell and brings with it all manner of trouble for our inquisitive yet naive heroine. It is not so easy to save the world when you are still unsure of your own powers. However Pandora faces her greatest challenge yet with courage, intuition and a stylish wardrobe. A gothic love triangle that is fun, fearful, fashionable and full of tea.

Tara Moss Webpage

Tara Moss @ Pan Macmillan
Pandora English

On sale: 01 December 2012
Price (AU): $22.99
ISBN: 9781742611631
Recommended age: 16+
In a word: Necromancy
Re-read it: probably
Recommend: yes
Star rating: three out of five
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Lharmell #2

LHARMELL:

Blood Storm by Rhiannon Hart

A Princess Will Do Anything For Her People!

Zeraphina is no ordinary princess. Infected as a baby she has spent her life resisting who she was, partly because she had no idea what she was, but now she knows the truth and has accepted she is different. But that doesn't mean she is happy about it, nor will it stop her from killing everyone of her kind, all but Rodden that is. He is the only other person in the world like her, the only person who understands her; however she still does not understand him.

As a princess Zeraphina has curtain responsibilities and expectations she must live up to, such as marrying a prince as her mother constantly reminds her. But as a harming she is dangerous. More then just her need to consume blood and her slaying of the Lharmell leader, Zeraphina is determined to see an end to this despicable race and to save as many innocents from facing a fate such as hers, or worse. However the only way to fight this enemy is to runaway.

While the rest of the world believes that a princess has runaway to be with her lover, there are a few who know or even believe the truth. That she has left on a mission of great importance that will culminate in the death of many, whether that be innocent lives or that of the enemy that is yet to be determined. The only thing she knows for sure is that this is her fight and even if it means her own death she must see it through to its end. On a life and death mission someone is not going to survive.

Blood Storm rains trouble from all sides as a Princess is caught up in courtly politics while a girl in love struggles to maintain her feeling in a dangerous mission that takes her across land, sea and sky with the man she loves, if only he felt the same for her. An exciting and eventful adventure that delves deeper into this strange world and its unique inhabitants. A story of love, blood and death that answers many questions but still leaves you wanting more.

Rhiannon Hart Webpage

Rhiannon Hart @ Random House

On sale: 01 August 2012
Price (AU): $18.95
ISBN: 9781742754789
Recommended age: 16+
In a word: Harmings
Re-read it: possibly
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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Pandora English #2

PANDORA ENGLISH:
The Spider Goddess by Tara Moss

She Is The Seventh, Whatever That Means!

Pandora is fast learning there is more to life then fashion; there are blood sucking models, a handsome dead ghost and now spiders. Lots and lots of spiders. Surviving the undead, inhuman and otherwise otherworldly was turning out to be hell, but surviving the New York fashion scene was not all that much better.

There is a mystery brewing as the number of fashion designers who are disappearing increases, however despite their popularity no one in the fashion industry seems to think much of this. Pandora, although curious, is unwittingly drawn into this mystery by forces beyond her control and she soon discovers just how deadly fashion can be.

Pride and envy are the biggest flaws in the fashion world and as Pandora finds out, in goddesses. But Pandora's troubles are only just beginning as she faces her nemesis Athanasia, battles millions of creepy spiders and discovers that there are more beings of darkness and death just waiting for their chance to battle the Seventh and step into the light of day.

The Spider Goddess brings Pandora face to face with mythological beings, artefacts from the past and the magic of the moon. As Pandora discovers more about her family history and her own future, more questions are raised as to what her destiny involves and her ability to do what must be done. This gothic tale is a web of mystery wrapped in an increasingly romantic and entertaining package.

Tara Moss Webpage

Tara Moss @ Pan Macmillan
Pandora English

On sale: 01 December 2011
Price (AU): $22.99
ISBN: 9781742610030
Recommended age: 16+
In a word: The Seventh
Re-read it: probably
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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Wool - Wool Omnibus

WOOL: 
Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey

Removing The Wool From People's Eyes!

The Silo, a hundred and forty levels where people work, shop, play and live. It is home to hundreds and the only world they have ever known and all of it is underground. There is nothing else, no one else, just the death of outside and the knowledge that they are alone. They are the last people in the world.

It is forbidden to speak of the outside world, forbidden to question the laws of the Silo and those who do are punished, sentenced to eviction from the Silo and shown a horrifying truth, a beautiful lie. Strapped into suits, pockets filled with scrubbing brushes, they are cast out of the safety of the Silo and sent forth into a poisonous world. No one who has been cast out has failed to clean the sensors of the silo, gifting its residents a clearer view of the outside world. No one has failed to die moments later, only meters away from a freshly scrubbed view.

No one has ever voluntarily asked to become a cleaner, to willingly accept the death sentence that accompanies the opportunity to venture outside the Silo, at least that anyone can remember. Then in three years two people had asked, insisted, to be let outside. Despite choosing to leave, they too clean as the others had, and die as the others had. But what drew them to this decision will start a chain of events that will lead to the impossible, a person cast out who refuses to clean and instead of dying just walks away, disappearing from view.

No one sent out to clean has ever made it beyond the horizon, no one ever should. The repercussions for the Silo are disastrous and the only outcome is war. The people have been lied to long enough, they want the truth, they want a different sort of leadership, a new and better world. But those in power are better prepared, know what is coming and death is the only justice they believe in. While outside, beyond the horizon one person is learning just how deep the lies run, just how dangerous the world can be.

Wool is the story of the future, of people not set adrift on an ark but kept in the dark and buried deep within the earth. The hope for a brighter future being lost amongst the dirt and layers of lies, as the years pass over generations with no sunlight, no warmth and no illumination. As humanity strives for truth, for light, they find they are chocking within the confines of the earth, longing for colour, life and wide open spaces. A story that speaks to the nature of humanity, drawing you into an unimaginably frightening world that seems all to real, a future that is all too possible. A riveting story that should not be missed.

Hugh Howey Webpage

Hugh Howey @ Random House
This Is Wool

On sale: 15 December 2012
Price (AU): $34.95
ISBN: 9781780891231
Recommended age: 18+
In a word: Future
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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Guest Post - Dance Of Shadows: Margaret Alder's Diary Entry

Blog Tour - Dance Of Shadows
 
Margaret Alder's Diary Entry
Guest Post by Yelena Black

Where is Margaret Alder?

  

Not too long ago, Vanessa was informed that her sister Margaret had run away from the New York Ballet Academy. The school said Margaret left NYBA because of all the pressure, but Vanessa knows that her sister wouldn't give up on her dreams like that.

After driving down to New York City to look for her, her parents found pages of Margaret's diary in her dorm room. Vanessa is convinced that if she can find more of these entries she will discover something about her sister's disappearance.

  

Margaret's Diary

  

Dear Diary,

Another day, another creepy exchange with Anna and Chloe. They pointedly were doing their warm-up stretches right behind me, talking loudly. (They are about as subtle as bricks, these two.)

Anna:         You know, I’d really love to have some light reading.

Chloe:        You mean like a novel?

Anna:         Maybe. Or, you know, a, like, reality book.

Chloe:        Oh, you mean like a journal!

Anna:         Right. Like a diary! The one I’m thinking of would be covered in, like, orangey leather, and have a tiny little locked clasp.

Chloe:        Locks like those, you just look at them funny and they pop open.

Anna:         Or you drop them on the ground, and oops! The clasp broke!

Chloe:        You may as well post your innermost thoughts on a blog.

Anna:         Or Facebook.

Chloe:        Because really? There’s no such thing as privacy.

There’s only one way they could know about you, Diary. I am going to kill Maddy.

xoxo

Margaret

Dance Of Shadows
  

     

To uncover the mystery behind Margaret's disappearance
and discover more diary entries visit the
Dance Of Shadows Facebook page.

To find out more about the book Dance Of Shadows
and its author Yelena Black visit the
Dance Of Shadows Bloomsbury Australia page.
  
 

Pandora English #1

PANDORA ENGLISH:
The Blood Countess by Tara Moss

She's Just A Writer Who Sees Things As They Truly Are!

Nineteen year old Pandora has big dreams, dreams that involve getting away from her stuffy small town and moving to New York, and luckily for her that's just what she is doing. Stepping of the plane, being met by a chauffeured driver, having an interview with her dream job lined up for the morning, Pandora couldn't be happier.

But then she discovers her new home to be a strange old building in a suburb that no one seems to know exists, she is awoken in the night by a spectre who is as surprised to be seen as Pandora is to see him, and her interview for Mia magazine that was to be her big break into fashion journalism turns out to be a disaster.

Despite the setbacks Pandora manages to find a job with another fashion magazine. She also exposes an age old secret to youthful beauty and in doing so manages to make some powerful enemies, inhumanly powerful enemies who have been a long time dead. Vampire is such a nasty term for these beings, but then some of these beings are particularly nasty.

The Blood Countess introduces Pandora to the world of fashion, journalism and the undead. The sanguine (vampires) are making a profit from the lives of the innocent and taking over the New York fashion scene. Pandora, like her name sake, is a girl with hidden gifts, gifts that she is only now starting to understand. A somewhat naive but very likeable female leads in this fun new gothic series.

Tara Moss Webpage

Tara Moss @ Pan Macmillan
Pandora English

On sale: 01 November 2010
Price (AU): $22.99
ISBN: 9781405040143
Recommended age: 16+
In a word: Pandore
Re-read it: probably
Recommend: yes
Star rating: three out of five
xx

Lharmell #1

LHARMELL:

Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart

A Mother Will Do Anything To Save Her Child!
  

As a child Zeraphina had suffered a grave illness, an illness that caused changes in her. However there was no illness she knew off that could change your very features; turn hair red gold to deepest black and eyes green to icy blue. There were also the changes people couldn't see, the ones she was careful to keep hidden, the blood lust and the voices only she could hear that travelled in song on the wind and called to her.

North. She was being called north, for what purpose she didn't know but she knew one thing, to unravel the mystery behind who or what she was she would have to follow the voices on the wind. There was only one problem, what reason would a princess have to leave her home to travel. And then the news came, her older sisters was to marry a prince from the north, and with that came her excuse to travel and her chance to find answers.

Upon arriving in the kingdom of Pergamia, Zeraphina finds more questions then answers. Who are the Lharmell's who occupy the mysterious country to the north? Why are they so feared that it is even forbidden to speak of them? What possible link is there between these foul creatures to herself? And who is the strange and hostile boy who seems to know more about what she is then she does?

Blood Song calls a princess far across the land, to a distant and feared kingdom, to a place that is home despite her never having set foot in there. A kingdom filled with fearful subjects, the skies filled with unknown creatures, and a boy as strange as he is dangerous who holds the answers she is searching for. An interestingly new tale of blood drinking beings and an unusual girl who is determined to discover the truth.

Rhiannon Hart Webpage

Rhiannon Hart @ Random House

On sale: 01 September 2011
Price (AU): $18.95
ISBN: 9781742750965
Recommended age: 16+
In a word: Lharmell
Re-read it: possibly
Recommend: yes
Star rating: three out of five
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