These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly

Well, talk about the most satisfying of unsatisfying endings. It's just *sigh*  when you know two people are so right together and then cliffhangers and- ughhhh. I'm facing a mixture of emotions right now.

These Shallow Graves. Where to start?

I think I'll start with Eddie. EDDIE! I cannot express how much I wish a man like him truly existed. His character actually effected me in more ways than one. His strength and his rustic charm and... and I'm swooning right now. Literally.

On the topic of strong characters may I just express how much I loved our main heroine, Josephine Montfort? Jo's wit and courage in the face of all that opposes her just leaps off the pages of this novel and I even found myself in awe of everything Jo overcame. Oh boy, did I have an unhealthy attachment to these characters!

And the plot! Oh the plot! (ahem, calm down Kat) Everything moved at a pace that I loved to keep up with. Just when you think you know which way things are going to turn, BAM! Another plot twist or amazing revelation.

I should probably summarise, forgive me. Here we go.

So Jo's father dies tragically but things don't add up. Was it an accident? Suicide? Or, dare I say, murder?

With the help of the ruggedly sexy reporter Eddie, Jo finds herself on this fast-paced, action-adventure to find some answers. Along the way she picks up some bad habits, meets some courageous new friends and discovers the truth of not only her father's death but also the justice needed for those who deserved it. (Honestly that's how much I can give away at this time. I'm under great personal restraint here, you have no idea)

So yeah, incredibly strong characters and the fast-paced plot combined to create a real thriller of a story! And to be honest, I took one look at the whole "mystery-thriller" genre and groaned internally. I used to find books of this kind to be extremely dull. Well, from now on I think I might be a little more open-minded when it comes to this sort of thing. These Shallow Graves has definitely changed my opinion on YA crime/mystery and I'm thankful for it.

Interesting quote: "This is the best thing, Jo. The city stretched out before you, glittering like a sack of diamonds. Yours for the taking. A drink and a smoke and no one to please but yourself. Freedom."

4 out of 5 stars.

These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly

Well, talk about the most satisfying of unsatisfying endings. It's just *sigh*  when you know two people are so right together and then cliffhangers and- ughhhh. I'm facing a mixture of emotions right now.

These Shallow Graves. Where to start?

I think I'll start with Eddie. EDDIE! I cannot express how much I wish a man like him truly existed. His character actually effected me in more ways than one. His strength and his rustic charm and... and I'm swooning right now. Literally.

On the topic of strong characters may I just express how much I loved our main heroine, Josephine Montfort? Jo's wit and courage in the face of all that opposes her just leaps off the pages of this novel and I even found myself in awe of everything Jo overcame. Oh boy, did I have an unhealthy attachment to these characters!

And the plot! Oh the plot! (ahem, calm down Kat) Everything moved at a pace that I loved to keep up with. Just when you think you know which way things are going to turn, BAM! Another plot twist or amazing revelation.

I should probably summarise, forgive me. Here we go.

So Jo's father dies tragically but things don't add up. Was it an accident? Suicide? Or, dare I say, murder?

With the help of the ruggedly sexy reporter Eddie, Jo finds herself on this fast-paced, action-adventure to find some answers. Along the way she picks up some bad habits, meets some courageous new friends and discovers the truth of not only her father's death but also the justice needed for those who deserved it. (Honestly that's how much I can give away at this time. I'm under great personal restraint here, you have no idea)

So yeah, incredibly strong characters and the fast-paced plot combined to create a real thriller of a story! And to be honest, I took one look at the whole "mystery-thriller" genre and groaned internally. I used to find books of this kind to be extremely dull. Well, from now on I think I might be a little more open-minded when it comes to this sort of thing. These Shallow Graves has definitely changed my opinion on YA crime/mystery and I'm thankful for it.

Interesting quote: "This is the best thing, Jo. The city stretched out before you, glittering like a sack of diamonds. Yours for the taking. A drink and a smoke and no one to please but yourself. Freedom."

4 out of 5 stars.

Monsters by Emerald Fennell

More twisted than Birdy and more gruesome than Black Cairn Point... *maniacal cackling* this book was a treat to read!

Sometimes you just want something that is straight to the point and brutal in it's execution and that is exactly what Monsters supplied. Fennell's writing was as blunt as blunt can be and that provoked a strong emotional response in the reader. Because that's what we want right? Books that can make us feel something...

Every small description, even if it was about something minor, was so simplistic and blunt that I found myself feeling uneasy and almost uncomfortable in some places. You know... in the best way possible of course!

We centre in on one of those classic tortured souls, the ones that make these stories all the more interesting to read. As the story is from a first-person perspective, we never actually learn the main characters name but we learn that she's well... different. Her aunt and uncle, whilst being partially (if not so), neglectful of their niece aren't there emotionally which I think led this insanely interesting character into her twisted ways. But I'm here to review the story not profile the characters.

Now just because I can't put a fault on this novel doesn't mean that it is perfect. Like it's characters this novel has depths to which I couldn't even see and that made it an eye-opener. As previously mentioned the bluntness of the writing hit home in all the right places and was just the right amount of creepy to make your skin crawl.

All I can say, and this could be a contributor to the straight-forward nature of the story, but the plot events didn't necessarily connect in a flowing manner. To me the story seemed choppy and disconnected and, let me remind you, THIS IS NOT A BAD THING. This, like the creepy nature of the plot twists and character developments, was a much-needed addition to add to the overall sombre and sinister tone of the book.

Interesting quote: "I really like my school but, honestly, I think it would be better if someone just burned the place to the ground."

4 out of 5 stars.

Monsters by Emerald Fennell

More twisted than Birdy and more gruesome than Black Cairn Point... *maniacal cackling* this book was a treat to read!

Sometimes you just want something that is straight to the point and brutal in it's execution and that is exactly what Monsters supplied. Fennell's writing was as blunt as blunt can be and that provoked a strong emotional response in the reader. Because that's what we want right? Books that can make us feel something...

Every small description, even if it was about something minor, was so simplistic and blunt that I found myself feeling uneasy and almost uncomfortable in some places. You know... in the best way possible of course!

We centre in on one of those classic tortured souls, the ones that make these stories all the more interesting to read. As the story is from a first-person perspective, we never actually learn the main characters name but we learn that she's well... different. Her aunt and uncle, whilst being partially (if not so), neglectful of their niece aren't there emotionally which I think led this insanely interesting character into her twisted ways. But I'm here to review the story not profile the characters.

Now just because I can't put a fault on this novel doesn't mean that it is perfect. Like it's characters this novel has depths to which I couldn't even see and that made it an eye-opener. As previously mentioned the bluntness of the writing hit home in all the right places and was just the right amount of creepy to make your skin crawl.

All I can say, and this could be a contributor to the straight-forward nature of the story, but the plot events didn't necessarily connect in a flowing manner. To me the story seemed choppy and disconnected and, let me remind you, THIS IS NOT A BAD THING. This, like the creepy nature of the plot twists and character developments, was a much-needed addition to add to the overall sombre and sinister tone of the book.

Interesting quote: "I really like my school but, honestly, I think it would be better if someone just burned the place to the ground."

4 out of 5 stars.