THE ROSIE BLACK CHRONICLES: BK 3 DARK STAR

by Lara Morgan   (Australian author)

[Blurb: Five hundred years into the future, the world is a different place. The Melt has sunk most of the coastal cities and Newperth is divided into the haves, the 'Centrals'; the have-nots, the 'Bankers'; and the fringe dwellers, the 'Ferals'. Rosie thought exposing the evil Helios corporation would be the end of all her problems. But it was just the beginning.
Bent on revenge, Rosie is still working in sceret to try to take down Helios. but her dad is locked away, Pip has abandoned her, and Riley isn't telling her the full story. Where can she turn for help? And how many more sacrifices is she prepared to make to destroy Helios?]

This was the third book in the series and as usual it was very fast paced, right to the end, I couldn't put it down. Rosie is caught, escapes, gets caught again and so the drama continues. Although this wasn't quite as exciting as the first book I still loved this series and would recommend it to everyone.

UGLIES

by Scott Westerfeld

Wow! This story was a great concept and left you thinking how shallow we have become. This is the first book in a trilogy and I'm looking forward to reading the next 'Pretties'.

Set in the future, where your whole world changes when you become 16, Tally is waiting for the day that she will no longer be an 'Ugly' but will have an operation to become 'pretty'. This involves becoming symmetrical, being sculptured, skin sanded, implants and basically cloned to be like a Barbie Doll. Once this operation has been done you then get to live in New Pretty Town where life involves having constant parties and fun, and this is what Tally is waiting for, where she will be united with her good friend Peris.

Tally has a rebellious nature and is always doing 'tricks' on her hoverboard to annoy authorities however when she meets Shay her life goes in a new direction. Shay does not want to become 'pretty' and wants Tally to come with her and escape to the 'Smoke' where you don't have to worry about being perfect and living in a perfect world.

Circumstances arise and Tally has to choose if she will spy on her new friends to save her life and fulfill her dream of becoming 'pretty' or stay an 'ugly' for the rest of her life. The author has created such a wonderful futuristic world which I felt I was living in and I felt close to each of the characters. Clever concepts and great imagination.

THE ROSIE BLACK CHRONICLES

EQUINOX  -  BOOK 2   by Lara Morgan

It's a pity I hadn't read Book 1 first as it would have given me the overview of what was happening, but it didn't take long to get my head around the Sci Fi jargon and characters, so I could be emersed into this trilogy.

It is action packed from the very first chapter. Rosie is a brave teenager living in a futuristic world. After losing her mother and friend in book 1 to a terrible disease, her father is now in hospital with the same disease, along with many others, and this sequel tells of her plan to find a cure and for revenge to bring down the Helios.

Reilly, who is in charge of operations, goes missing,  but before he does he places an implant in her brain to give her the clues to find him if he ever has to flee. The implant however malfunctions and causes Rosie to be in terrible pain and she's only getting distorted messages. As Rosie is once again on the run from the Helios, the implant becomes life threatening, but she must persevere with the help of her friends Pip, Dalton and Cassie to find Reilly and find out what the Helios are building that will effect millions of people.

Along with this fast paced action Rosie has to deal with her feelings between her and Pip, and her new relationship with Dalton. Can Dalton be trusted and will they be able to find a cure for this fatal disease? All will be revealed.

Look forward to book 3.

I AM NUMBER FOUR

I AM NUMBER FOUR   by Pittacus Lore        (YA fiction)


I was anxious to read the sequel to this book, as I'd read reviews from friends who enjoyed the sequel 'The Power of Six' (one review can be read by clicking HERE), but knew I needed to read 'I am number four' first, however when my daughter offered to hire the movie for me I thought that I'd take her up on it. With Michael Bay and Stephen Spielberg bringing it to our screen I didn't think I'd be disappointed... and I wasn't... I did enjoy the movie. Having not read the book it may not as been as good, which is often the case, but now I know the underlying story I will be able to jump into the sequel.  Here is a movie trailer to wet your appetite...

GONE - SERIES

GONE  by Michael Grant    (YA fiction)

The story transpires in a small town of Perdido Beach (Southern California). In a twinkling of an eye everyone over the age of 15 vanishes – poof! Teachers in mid-sentence, drivers in cars, parents… all gone, but where? It is an intriguing start to the novel and at first the children at school seem thrilled as they ransack the school of food and drink, until panic sets in, interestingly thought it’s not until they realize their cell phones and the internet no longer work that they truly become FREAKED! There is at least electricity.

They soon discover the whole town and its environs have been isolated from the world by an egg-shaped force-field. Our reluctant hero, Sam Templeton (an ordinary unassuming guy), and his friends Astrid, Quinn and Edilio assume responsibility for holding anarchy at bay. The smaller children in the community must be sought out and looked after and fed with no parents around and as panic has totally set it by now.  Mary takes charge of the pre-school nursery, Albert  reopens McDonald's, aware that the availability of burgers and fries will keep the 200 odd children fed for the time being. As hunger eventually threatens, new problems arise as bullies rule, a sinister creature lurks and animals are mutating.