Lord Loss

Lord Loss - Darren Shan

Rating: 8.5/10

Grubbs Grady has stiff red hair and is a little big for his age, he hates history and loves bacon, rats, and playing tricks on his squeamish older sister. When he opts out of a family trip, he never guesses that he is about to take a terrifying journey into darkness. Hungry demons and howling werewolves haunt his waking nightmares... and threaten his life.


With some awesomely gory imagery, this book brings to life characters of nightmarish qualities and imaginative concepts. I found that the book had just the right 'scare-factor,' if it were targeted at older audiences then the novel would have been beyond my comfort zone, not one to normally jump straight into horror stories, on the other hand due to being aimed at slightly younger readers than myself I found the book lacked a certain finesse and quality of writing that I have recently grown accustomed to. All in all an enjoyable story that definitely makes me want to read on in the series.
Good Points:

• Suitable for a range of readers from 10+
• Imaginative plot lines and characters 
• Great thriller/gore scenes 

Bad Points:

• Found myself wanting the book to have contained more blood and gore than it did. 
• Slightly alienates older readers.

Buy/Borrow/Avoid:

Buy - I got it super cheap from Waterstones - £1 

Hurry while offers last ;] 

Memoirs of a Geisha

Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
Rating:8/10

Readers experience the entire life of a geisha, from her origins as an orphaned fishing-village girl in 1929 to her triumphant auction of her mizuage (virginity) for a record price as a teenager to her reminiscent old age as the distinguished mistress of the powerful patron of her dreams. Golden puts us right in the tearoom with the geisha; we are there as she gracefully fights for her life in a social situation where careers are made or destroyed by a witticism, a too-revealing (or not revealing enough) glimpse of flesh under the kimono, or a vicious rumor spread by a rival "as cruel as a spider."


summary by Goodreads.com


Having a personal interest in Japanese culture I found this book a fascinating insight into the world of the geisha, the author is clearly very familiar with the subject, providing as close to an accurate novel as fiction gets, this only serves to better bring Sayuri and Gion to life. The exotic characters are inspirational and the plot succeeds in keeping the interests of the reader completely. I would recommend to those who are interested in japanese culture and/or geisha.


Good Points:

• Intriguing exotic characters and environment 
• Insight into a "now vanished world" 

Bad Points:

• The romantic love story woven into the novel is unfulfilling 
• Not universally appealing

Buy/Borrow/Avoid:

Borrow - Its a good book in my opinion but not for everyone

The Painted Man

The Painted Man - Peter V. Brett

Rating:9/10

As darkness falls each night, the corelings rise–demons who well up from the ground like hellish steam, taking on fearsome form and substance. Sand demons. Wood demons. Wind demons. Flame demons. And gigantic rock demons, the deadliest of all. They possess supernatural strength and powers and burn with a consuming hatred of humanity. For hundreds of years the demons have terrorized the night, slowly culling the human herd that shelters behind magical wards–symbols of power whose origins are lost in myth and mystery, and whose protection is terrifyingly fragile.


summary from goodreads.com


At first I couldn't get into this book, it was a whole new genre and I certainly had my reservations, it started slowly with increasing amounts of gore. However, after pressing through a few chapters and growing accustomed to a more adult style of literature I found myself pretty much hooked, devouring the story in a mere two days. I admired the morals and strength of the characters through personal trials but above all the skill in which the tale was told. I would recommend to those who enjoy dark fantasy type novels and are not adversed to certain amounts of blood and gore.


Good Points:

• Engaging and page turning after initial chapters.
• Gritty, no sugar coated reassurances 
• Has a sequel! :P 

Bad Points:

• Slow to start.
• For older teens and adults, not suited for younger readers.
• Not universally appealing.

Buy/Borrow/avoid:

Buy/borrow