Review: Book of Lies by Teri Terry

Title: Book of Lies

Author: Teri Terry

Published: 22 March 2016
Publisher: Orchard Imprint as part of Hachette Children's Books Australia
Source: Hachette Children's Books Australia via netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Reviewed: Sapphired Dragon
Rating: ****

My Review:

It's been a while since I first downloaded this ARC to review so I wasn't immediately able to recall what is was going to be about. I actually like doing this as i feel like I can then enjoy the story more fully with out any kind of misconceptions or ideas of how I expect the story to go. 

This worked out quite well for this book and Quinn's voice immediately drew me into the story and I wanted to know more of her background, why her mother and grandmother had told her there was a darkness inside her and why she  had been separated from her twin. 

I liked the pace at which this story unfolds. Ms Terry feeds us morsel by morsel the bits we need to know so we are neither ever overloaded with information nor left waiting to long and this kept me both engaged, on the edge of my seat and unable to put it down until the end.

I loved that we were kept guessing until the end.  Who is the 'good' twin? Who was is the 'evil' or 'dangerous' one? Who do we believe? Who is coming? And what do they have to do with the hunt? I liked also that though Piper and Quinn are twins, we really got to see two distinct different characters and the alternating of perspective each chapter between the twins gave us the chance to see both sides of the story and come to our own conclusions.

Overall, this story is a great mesh of magic, myth and suspense.  One that will keep you guessing until the end.

I enjoyed this story immensely and give it 4 stars

Sapphired Dragon xx

About The Book:

Book of Lies by Teri Terry

They are trapped, frozen. Waiting. Straining against the wood that holds them. The unwary catch a glimpse now and then - feel their desperate hunger, see a glint of red eyes - and scurry out of the shadows of the wood, back to the light.
She's coming; it will be soon.
They will run free on the moors again. The Hunt will return.
And the ground will run with blood.

An ancient curse placed on a family of witches foretells that twins will be born - one good, one evil; and one will destroy the other. But who can be trusted when no one is as they seem?

Purchase: Booktopia  | Book Depository | Hachette Children's Australia | Amazon

   

     

Review: This Raging Light by Estelle Laure

Title: This Raging Light

Author: Estelle Laure

Published: 12 January 2016
Publisher: Hachette Children's Books Australia
Source: Hachette Children's Books Australia via netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Reviewed: Sapphired Dragon
Rating: ****

My Review:

I fell in love with this book from the first page.  From the first line I knew I would not be able to put it down until the last line and even then I kept trying to scroll for more pages on my kindle in the hope that there was more.

I really loved the voice of this book.  Right from the beginning I felt connected so it was easy to relate and feel for Lucille as the story progressed, to understand her feeling of barely keeping her head above water as every thing around her changes and falls apart and I really wanted things to work out for her.

I loved the way the author really captured that awkward crush stage when overnight someone you may have know for ever, you suddenly see  in a different way where you can't actually be in the same room as them and actually be able to speak and you can seem to take that change back no matter what you do and I could feel the growing connection between Lucille and Digby even if I didn't always approve of the way it developed.

This book also caught be by surprise.  I was caught up in the read and the feels and the rhythm of the story when suddenly Ms Laure took the story up a notch and this change of rhythm really adds to the story and suddenly a really good story was a really great story and couldn't ait to see how  it would turn out.

I went through all sorts of emotions whilst reading this book and in dealing with the realness of it.  As a mother, I struggled to fathom how a mother could leave her children like that... but it happens and this breaks my heart. I marvelled at Lucille's bravery as she deals with life and having to be the main care giver for a younger sibling and holding it together while her whole world is falling apart .  Add in a cast of solid supporting characters and Ms Laure has created a story that feels real and fills you up in the way only a good book can.

I adored this book and give it 4 stars.

Sapphired Dragon xx

About The Book:

This Raging Light by Estelle Laure 

 

How is it that you suddenly notice a person? How is it that one day Digby was my best friend's admittedly cute twin brother, and then the next he stole air, gave jitters, twisted my insides up?

Lucille has bigger problems than falling for her best friend's unavailable brother. Her mom has gone, leaving her to look after her sister, Wren. With bills mounting up and appearances to keep, Lucille is raging against her life but holding it together - just.

A stunning debut to devour in one sitting, Laure captures completely the agony and ecstasy of first love.

 

Purchase: Booktopia  | Book Depository | Hachette Children's Australia | Amazon