The Dark Inside
Written by Rupert Wallis
Contemporary and Paranormal
Published July 2014
384 Pages
Thank you to Simon and Schuster
The House on the Hill has been abandoned for as long as James can remember. So when he discovers Webster, a drifter, hiding there, he's instantly curious about the story behind the homeless man. What is he running from?Afflicted by a dark curse, Webster is no longer who he used to be. But there is said to be a cure and it might just be that by helping Webster, James will find some solace of his own. Together they embark on a journey, not knowing that what they discover will impact them both in ways they never imagined...
A gripping and haunting story about loss and hope, perfect for fans of Patrick Ness and David Almond.
Written by Justine Larbalestier
Paranormal, Historical Fiction
Published June 25th 2014
365 Pages
Thanks to Allen and Unwin
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★★★☆
The setting: Razorhurst, 1932. The fragile peace between two competing mob bosses, Gloriana Nelson and Mr Davidson, is crumbling. Loyalties are shifting. Betrayals threaten.Kelpie lives on the mean streets of Surry Hills in Sydney, where the seedy underworld struggle to maintain a truce, where men slash each other with razors instead of guns, and how a young girl on the streets leaves her fate in the hands of the ghosts who guide her. She's hungry and can't remember the last time she ate, now that Snowie is in prison, the man she grew up with before her guardian died and her main source of finding her next meal. On the advice of a spirit, Kelpie finds an derelict house which promises apples in abundance. But what Kelpie finds is Dymphna, dressed immaculately and standing over a dead body.
Kelpie knows the dangers of the Sydney streets. Ghosts have kept her alive, steering her to food and safety, but they are also her torment. Dymphna is Gloriana Nelson’s 'best girl', experienced in surviving the criminal world, but she doesn’t know what this day has in store for her.
When Dymphna meets Kelpie over the corpse of Jimmy Palmer, Dymphna’s latest boyfriend, she pronounces herself Kelpie’s new protector. But Dymphna’s life is in danger too, and she needs an ally. And while Jimmy’s ghost wants to help, the dead cannot protect the living...
Dymphna is Glory's best girl, with only the toughest Razormen spending an evening in her company. Known on the streets as the Angel of Death, Dymphna is never long without a man for protection, until her latest boyfriend and conspirator Jimmy is killed violently, with only a note from Mr. Davidson as a warning. Glory and Mr. Davidson run Razorhurst, a truce called after the brutal killings a few years prior, but Davidson wants Dymphna and seems will stop at nothing to make her his. Both girls are in a panic as they sirens near, and both girls decide to run. Kelpie can see and hear Jimmy's spirit, pining away for Dymphna even in death. She knows her time may be coming to an end, as she's fears her plans with Jimmy to take over Razorhurst may have been what lead to his demise. But Dymphna holds a secret, not only can she see ghosts, but can hear Jimmy's warnings.
When the girls hide in the home of aspiring writer Neal Darcy, much to the annoyance of Jimmy's ghost. If Dymphna tries to flee, Glory's men will find her, her only option is to confront her before Davidson finds her first. Both their lives are about to become a dangerous game of cat and mouse through the streets of what is now known as Sorrow Hills. Will either make it out alive?
Razorhurst was sassy, sultry and a brilliant take on gangland warfare with a paranormal twist. Keplie, named after the likeness to being a wild pup, is a phenomenal young lady, her life has been little more than tragedy and destitution but yet she's tough, feisty and isn't afraid to go down swinging. She and Snowie were raised by a woman known as Old Ma, who would tell Kelpie the story of how her parents died before being able to name her. It wasn't long before Old Ma had passed as well, and Kelpie relied on her ghosts to keep her safe, leading her to food and away from trouble. But for the past few years Kelpie has been on her own. Her clothing is threadbare and disintegrating, her hair wild and knotted and not only can't she remember the last time she ate, she has no idea how old she is. Kelpie broke my heart, her short life thus far was incredibly sad and finding Jimmy's dead body only added to more trouble the young girl doesn't need.Kelly's Thoughts
Dymphna is a prostitute. Not only does she know that Kelpie can see and speak to the dead, but she holds the same gift. She knows to survive the streets of Surry Hills, she needs the protection of her man, but a succession of murdered boyfriends has now left Glory's 'best girl' alone and vulnerable. The two girls were essentially from two very different worlds, but brought together through circumstance and now share a bond.
I loved the glimpse of Sydney during the Razor Gangs era, where it's said that the surge in organised crime was caused by the prohibition of sale of cocaine by chemists, street prostitution and the local watering holes closing at 6:00pm each night. It paved the way for the Davidson and Glory's of the era to run racketeering and underground crime syndicates. The paranormal aspects of Razorhurst only seemed to serve the purpose of Dymphna and Kelpie meeting, and sharing Kelpie's memories of how she survived the streets. I would have enjoyed it more so without it, it took what could have been a very realistic scenario of that era and added a element that felt incredibly out of place.
Regardless of the gift both girls shared that let the storyline down, I really enjoyed it. It was slow to start, but the sorrowful story of Kelpie drew me in, and the seedy underworld of the Razor Gangs kept me enthralled. If you're a fan of mobsters, hired goons or the tough street life and hard living of the twenties and thirties, you'll love this one.
On The Fence
Written by Kasie West
Published July 1st 2014
320 Pages
Thank you to Harper Collins Australia for the ARC
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She's a tomboy. He's the boy next door…
Charlie Reynolds can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at a chic boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world. To cope with the stress of her new reality, Charlie takes to spending nights chatting with her neighbor Braden through the fence between their yards. As she grows to depend on their nightly Fence Chats, she realizes she's got a bigger problem than speeding tickets, she's falling for Braden. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.
Fun, original, and endearing, On the Fence is a romantic comedy about finding yourself and finding love where you least expect.
Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical stores or online bookshops, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course eBooks. Hosted by Tyngas Reviews.
News
● This week, the Aussie YA Bloggers group produced it's first newsletter. You've still got time to subscribe to our monthly newsletter here, but for those of you who missed our July edition, check it out here.
● Harper Collins Australia set our Twitter feeds alight when they announced that they would be publishing Isla and the Happily Ever After. A huge scoop for the brilliant publisher.
● I've been laughing all week at a new phrase I picked up from the brilliant Belle who shared this, leading to this. Lady boner indeed.
● And I loved Buzzfeed's Book Benches.
As much as I love a great read as much as the next book lover, occasionally I enjoy other wholesome pastimes as well. I love a well produced television or web series. Not only have some originally spawned from books, but are incredible in their own right. So don't fancy picking up a book this weekend? How about checking out a new watchable series to immerse yourself in.
Written by Skye Melki - Wegner
Published July 1st 2014
400 Pages
Thank you to Random House
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★★★★☆
What if you achieve everything you’ve dreamed of, and it turns into a nightmare?Danika and her crew of refugees finally reach the Magnetic Valley. Will it be the safe refuge and land of freedom they had imagined? When a runaway girl is shot down before their eyes, Danika and her friends realise that this new land is no paradise. They must try to fit in at all costs, even if revealing their secrets will mean a death sentence.The conclusion to the Chasing the Valley trilogy will reveal explosive surprises and terrifying new dangers.
Danika has endured the Alchemy Bombs that killed her family, her escape over the walls of Taladia, the kite among the stars, the fire, the railroad and the desolate landscape that still threatens to leave the crew stranded amongst the barren land. The Borderlands, the Smugglers deception and the Catacombs flooding, and now the group of refugees are on the brink of reaching the Magnetic Valley, needing now more than ever to escape the cruel tyrant King Morrigan and find freedom. The entire country seems to be a mix of blackened rock and ice, until the sky bursts into a terrifying reign of fire.
In the village of Vindurn, a proclivity determines where you reside, but those with temporal proclivities aren't welcome. Lord Farran is a messiah, a man who rarely makes an appearance and relegates himself to a workshop, high upon the Skyfire Peak. The lowly peasants scrounge for Firestones, which are traded for food. But it soon becomes apparent that the refugees are not welcome, especially for those with Proclivities that revolve around time, Daylight, Night and Dawn. But escape is futile, as each night at midnight, the earth cannot be trusted, the only safety is within the village that resides high in the treetops.
Lord Farran demands respect, his motives and authority are not to be questioned. But what is he hiding up in his mountain laboratory where he conducts experiments? Answers will be found in the death of a villager and the testament she leaves behind. But is their effort all in vain? As the conflict between the territories is brewing, is this one war that even Danika can't end?
Kelly's Thoughts
I absolutely adore the Chasing The Valley series, it's an incredible fantasy dystopian fusion series that is not only engaging, but simply magical. It follows the story of Danika, who lives confined within an oppressive reign of a tyrant, until her family is taken from her. Living life on the streets and seeing the poverty and destruction, has created a tough and passionate heroine. She has nothing to lose, and wants the freedom she so desperately deserves. Along with Lukas, Maisy, Teddy and Clementine, Danika has no choice but to forge forward, into an unknown land with nothing but an old Smugglers song to guide their way. The Magnetic Valley represents their chance to finally be free of oppression, but they are entering a world that offers no safety, especially to those from Taladia.
Skye Melki Wegner is a formidable storyteller, weaving a unique world that readers can immerse themselves in and I'm an enthusiastic advocate of her debut series. A brilliant Australian author, her words take on a unique enchantment that paint a vivid picture of the world that Danika attempts to endure. I not only fell in love with her world, but the characters that are unique and well developed. Each book in the series, Chasing The Valley, Borderlands and Skyfire are all among the best Australian young adult novels that I've read, not to mention internationally. I don't often completely and utterly fall in love with any book, not to mention an entire series, but Chasing The Valley is not only worthy, but it's simply phenomenal and I'm sad to have to say goodbye.
I can't recommend this series enough, I've even got my name on the back cover.
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Razorhurst is published by the incredible Allen and Unwin, and is out now at all good bookshops and online.
Razorhurst is published by the incredible Allen and Unwin, and is out now at all good bookshops and online.
The setting: Razorhurst, 1932. The fragile peace between two competing mob bosses, Gloriana Nelson and Mr Davidson, is crumbling. Loyalties are shifting. Betrayals threaten. Kelpie knows the dangers of the Sydney streets. Ghosts have kept her alive, steering her to food and safety, but they are also her torment.
Dymphna is Gloriana Nelson’s 'best girl', experienced in surviving the criminal world, but she doesn’t know what this day has in store for her. When Dymphna meets Kelpie over the corpse of Jimmy Palmer, Dymphna’s latest boyfriend, she pronounces herself Kelpie’s new protector. But Dymphna’s life is in danger too, and she needs an ally. And while Jimmy’s ghost wants to help, the dead cannot protect the living...
Searching For Sky
Written by Jillian Cantor
Published July 3rd 2014
288 Pages
Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia
River means everything to Sky. They have lived alone together on Island for as long as they can remember. The two of them hunt for food, wash in Falls and curl up together in Shelter. Their life is simple and safe. Until River sees a boat . . .Across Ocean is California, a place where nothing makes sense to Sky. She is separated from River and taken to live with a grandmother she doesn’t know. Lost and heartbroken, Sky searches for him so they can return to Island, only to find out that their paradise wasn’t as perfect as she thought, and everything she’s ever known and loved may have been a lie.A gripping and beautifully told story of love and survival in a hostile world... Ours.
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