Dystopia - What Next?!

Wizards and vamps are out.


Dystopian fiction is in.


With the recent success of The Hunger Games, many people have been coming to me asking...what next? Fantasy and dystopia novels are my absolute favourite though it's hard to come by good ones. But I've found the best that I like so, here I am to give you my favourite things to read that are similar to Hunger Games

Scott Westerfeld - Uglies Series

This series is good for the younger readers. It's about a world where children are said to be ugly until they have undergone a massive surgery to enhance their features at the age of 16. Until this happens you're an Ugly. Afterwards you're a Pretty. However there's something a bit weird about the Pretties in how they act and the main character, Tally wonders what else can be out in the world so she doesn't have to be a Pretty.

It's a great book series to teach young girls about inner beauty as well as strength and personality. As an older reader it's not one of my faves because it's too much easy reading for me that doesn't get my brain thinking hard enough but for a quick and easy read this could be the one for you.

James Dashner - Maze Runner Series


This I think is the series most like the Hunger Games in that there is an arena type setting and it's based around children in the aftermath of the apocalypse. It still has many differences though and although this was hard to get into (it took me until page 100ish and the introduction of a different character-Minho) come the end I was really enjoying it. It was annoying at first because Dashner gave away so little information for such a long time. So many times I was ready to give up and not bother with the rest but I just had to find out! I haven't read the second or third books yet, but I don't feel like I need to rush out and grab them like I did with THG. I still enjoyed it though!

Terry Brooks - Genesis of Shannara
You have not read fantasy until you have read a Terry Brooks novel. He's a great author who has been writing for years and years and there's not one books of his that I haven't loved. This series is a mix of post apocalypse, dark fiction and ultimate survival. I was engaged very early on and is one of those series that I just had to run down to the bookstore to grab the second and third books after being in a trance reading the fist. It's a hard story to try to explain without giving away the good parts but if you're really into the dark side of fiction then this one is perfect.

Michael Grant - Gone Series


The Gone series is very popular particularly amongst teen boys. It's centred around a town in California which is encased in a big bubble and everyone over the age of 15 disappears and everything living thing left inside the bubble starts developing supernatural powers. Book 6, Light isn't out yet but I'm very much looking forward to it. It's a great series, dark, violent and deliciously horrific. Though it has received a lot of criticism from older and more advanced readers, for the likes of teenagers (aka its intended demographic!) It got a lot of praise.




One of these series should sate your thirst for something dystopia or fantasy. They're just a few of the best that popped into my head first but there's tonnes more out there if you look hard enough. Happy reading!

The Hunger Games Movie Review

CAUTION!

May contain spoilers!

If you haven't yet heard of the Hunger Games, then you must be living under a rock, as I've been seeing it EVERYWHERE for about a month. (if you really haven't heard of it click HERE for a short description-you will need to scroll down a bit)

It came out in cinemas on Friday and I have been so excited to see it since first reading the trilogy in 2009!

My love of the Hunger Games is equal (if not greater) to my love of Harry Potter. I get emotional at the bloody trailer!!

When they first started making the Harry Potter movies, I was not quite old enough to fully understand how massive it was.
But I got excited for 'The Golden Compass" to be released in cinemas, which left me disappointed...as did the movie version of Darren Shan's Cirque Du Freak, Twilight and The Chronicles of Narnia. (Not too bad in comparison to the rest but I left the cinema without that excited buzz).
And I am Number Four was good but I wasn't really that excited for it.

Basically every book to movie adaptation I've seen since Harry Potter has left me feeling BLAH. Finally I think something has gotten me excited again!

This time around, I'm old enough to understand the Hugeness of it all and the suspense has been killing me! I've been walking around doing Rue's four-note whistle without even realising!

I bought my tickets a week ago and I've been guarding them with my life.
I finally went to see it last night!

Whenever I go see a film adaptation of one of my favourite books, the first thing I look for is holes in the storyline that an audience who hasn't read the book might not understand. The Hunger Games was fairly hole free, however I think they could have emphasised some points a bit better. Such as, Haymitch sending Katniss parachutes of goodies if she did what he was hinting at. It only happened once in the film and come the end, I think if i hadn't read the books I wouldn't quite understand Katniss' feelings towards Peeta.

There are so many good points though, I don't think I'll be able to fit them all in!
Firstly, the cast and their costumes were well done. I actually quite liked a lot of the fashion they put them in! I think Jennifer Lawrence (or JLaw as I am now calling her) pulled off Katniss really well. And despite the fact that Peeta isn't as good looking as i'd of hoped, I did still like the character. My favourite scene of him, was when Katniss looks for him in the arena, his camouflage is amazing!

 I wasn't expecting for a teeny weeny tear to appear at the chariot scene, because it was Peeta being all lovely and protecting Katniss and I just love Peeta in the books. (Gale is hotter in the movie though!!)
Although I would of preferred more fire surrounding them...after all...you could tell it was fake fire, so a little bit more coming off them would have been better!

One bit I really liked was the fact that they have put in a point of view from the Gamemakers, which is not in the book. It was really interesting to see how they add things into the arena to make the tributes lives hell. I particularly liked when they added the muttations at the end (the half breed animals), at one point I think the entire cinema papped their pants!!

On the whole, my only real complaint is that it can't be four hours long or had the other two book movies with it!
It was as true to the book as it could have been, and I will be watching it again next weekend!

Num83r5 - Rachel Ward

Numbers is a teen fiction novel by Rachel Ward, which came out in 2009. Numbers books explore the gift of being able to see death dates. If you looked in somebody's eyes and saw the date of their death, would it change the way you felt about people? Would it change the way you lived your life?
Jem is able to see other people's numbers, the date of their death. She befriends a boy named Spider and takes a trip to London where Jem forsees a chain of events. 


I found Jem to be the usual very depressing, sultry, woe-is-me teen girl who just can't seem to catch a break since her mother died when she was younger. She hates being in foster care, she hates other kids and just wants to spend her days alone trying not to look in anyone else's eyes for fear of seeing their number.
Spider is a bit of a doofus but much easier to like. He quite obviously has a thing for Jem but, he doesn't exactly have much longer left anyway. Both characters did annoy me ever so slightly though just for the fact they acted so gangsta chav saying "Safe" and "respect". Everytime they said one of those words i'd cringe slightly, but maybe i'm just getting old!


On the whole though I quite enjoyed the book. In the beginning it was difficult to read as I have Thanatophobia (a fear of death). And while yes, I realise probably everyone has this fear, in my case it's panic attack kind of fear. So it was hard for me to read it and try not to freak out! It occasionally made me laugh and it was very thought provoking. But I think the best part about Numbers is anyone can connect with it. Every person has their own opinion on whether or not they'd like to know the date of the death beforehand and everyone is afraid of the inevitable. Whether you're 14 or 40, this book will hit home. Rachel Ward is certainly one to watch. But I'd avoid eye contact if I were you...

Darren Shan Event

I have been reading Darren Shan books since I was about 12 or 13 years old. They're dark but funny books written for teens. Which is why I felt like a right loser going to his event at a bookstore...surrounded by 199 kids in school uniforms!

According to @Darrenshan there was 200 people and everyone had to queue at the end for the signing and I got stuck at the end! I was waiting for 1hour 45minutes.Worth it though.

Shan was promoting his 3rd book in The Saga Of Larten Crepsley. The saga makes much more sense if you read The Saga Of Darren Shan first. 

The first book in The Saga Of Darren Shan(TSODS) is Cirque Du Freak, which was turned into a movie in 2009. The movie I think was okay, but Shan had no say in the movie so It didn't turn out quite how I would have wanted it to. The books are much more interesting to read and there is 11 more books to the story!!

I have a bit more of an explanation on the books in one of my previous reviews (Click Here )

So, the event was good anyways. He talked of his previous book The Thin Executioner which does sound quite good and is probably now on my list of books I have to buy! (I have no more room on my Waterstones Wish List!!-I have to WRITE them down now! sad-Oh)

He also read out an extract from Palace of the Damned, the newest book in The Saga Of Larten Crepsley. I am trying my very best not to read it until i've read the first one!! Crepsley was my favourite character in the TSODS, he's a very old vampire who's moody, stroppy but quite funny and you definitely learn to love his as the books progress. So I'm really quite looking forward to reading this new saga!

Shan also did a question time, the only questions I actually wanted to ask, some kids asked! I wanted to ask him what he thought of the film. He said he liked it okay and only a few bits and bobs he didn't quite like but he didn't want to get too involved in the movie and still come away feeling disappointed, so he let them have full control. So it's not too bad considering. 

I also wanted to ask him what he thought of other fiction vampire books/movies. Well technically somebody asked what he thought of Twilight, which was close enough! He said he'd not read the books, but had watched the first movie...yeah, only the first! Shan prefers things more gruesome!!

So, when I FINALLY went up to get my book signed I had no questions to ask! So I just said 'Hello, are you as knackered as I am!?' but the lucky bugger had been given a coffee. But he did write something nice in my book in response :)

It says "To Amy, if you fancy a kip, there's a spare coffin or two lying empty in the Palace of the Damned!!! :) "

Me being strangled to death by Darren Shan!!!

Trudi Canavan-The Priestess of the White

Age of the Five series
Trudi Canavan

Trudi Canavan is an Australian fantasy writer most commonly known for her Black Magician Series. I had read The Black Magician books not too long ago and thought they were fairly good. Although they are aimed at teen girls, the storyline was fun and adventurous and the characters were very likable.  In fact I think I have that particular series mentioned somewhere in this here blog.
So I thought, hell why not. Lets try the next series!
Baaaaad mistake.
Yes, I know. Me? say something bad about a book?
I could barely even finish the first book because it just hurt my head to read. The story moves far too quickly and jumps about between places, and jumps far too forward in the future with no warning! One minute I assume the main character is a teen girl, apparently the next she's in her early 20s and is a fully fledged magician type lady. I had absolutely no connection to any of the characters and was actually thinking what fun it might be for the bad sorcerer guy to just wipe them all out.
It also draws on a lot of things about religion, which I don't mind too much as I am a religious person, but it's very hard to write about in fiction books and I've seen many authors fail at it.  Which Canavan has. It's a real shame though because I did enjoy her other series and really very much wanted to like this series. I just couldn't get into it! She could have taken more time and care over the story and could probably have dragged it out a bit more so that the reader can get the chance to really know the main character. Perhaps then I may have enjoyed the love story, but it was too predictable!
Anyway, I think i've slammed Trudi C too much. I do hope she continues writing and that she takes more time over it.
I can advise at least to go and read the Black Magician series!!

1st book in the Age of Five Series

photos courtesy of google images. innit.
I recieve no financial gain for my blogs. they're purely for my own entertainment. And yours should you be bothered to read it.

Review, Books for mummies and daddies(and teens!)

Okay, I've reviewed a few books for children, but while they're reading their books, YOU need something to read during these long winter nights we're going to start having probably fairly soon. (Here I go about winter and christmas again!) 
You can do two things on a long winter night 
1- Have sex
2- Read a good book.
I can't help with the first one, however I can lead you in the right direction for the latter! So, these are my favourite books that come in a series. (In no particular order)


Patrick Rothfuss - Kingkiller Chronicle
This is a fantasy trilogy about a boy named Kvothe ("Quothe", but with a 'V'). The books as divided into two different times of his life, the present, where he is telling his story in three days to 'The Chronicler), and the past, where most of the action happens! It's mainly based in the past though, of Kvothe's childhood and his university life and adventures. His childhood was with the Edema Ruh, who were wandering entertainers and were often despised. After a tragedy happens to this family he eventually ends up at the University studying a kind of magic called Sympathy and to find out more about his past. 
Although the books are not packed with action, they're extremely addictive to read, you become engrossed with Kvothe's story. There's a beautiful underlying love story that's full of drama and of course there's the evil villain you want to smack in the face.The first two books have been released:
The Name of the Wind - (Day one of Kvothe telling his story)
The Wise Mans Fear - (Day two)
and the third, The Doors of Stone,  is yet to have a release date though i'm waiting on tenterhooks! 


JK Rowling - Harry Potter series.
We all knew I was going to say it. So lets just get it out of the way! Books are always better than their movies, read these even if you've seen the movies! 


Jean M Auel - Earth's Children Series
There are pro's and con's to this series. It's set in a pre-historic time, before neanderthal's died out and begins with a five year old cro-magnon girl named Ayla. She loses her family in an earthquake, is nearly killed by a cave lion and is on the verge of death when a neanderthal clan happen across her and accept her into their family, although never fully as she looks so 'ugly' to them.  Eventually she's turned away from the clan, left to leave her son behind and find her own people again. In time she makes friends with animals and then with another cro-magnon male called Jondalar. The rest of the story is their journey back to his home and the different type of people/clans then encounter along the way. Although the story is quite entertaining, creative and very well researched, I think the series could have been cut down by about 300 pages+. So many times the author decided to tell me some facts about how the world was then and how it's changed and how it will become etc. Occasionally it's interesting, but most of the time it felt like it was besides the point. Apart from that flaw I found it a very interesting read. The books come in six parts:
The Clan of the Cave Bear
The Valley of Horses
The Mammoth Hunters
The Plains of Passage
The Shelters of Stone
The Land of Painted Caves


Trudi Canavan - Black magician/Traitor spy trilogy
Sonea, a young slum girl, discovers that she has magical abilities during the city's annual Purge, in which slum-dwellers are forced out of the outer-circle of the city and back into the slums. She tries to evade the capture of the Guild Magicians with the help of her friend Cery. However she doesn't know she's a danger to herself and the people around her and catch her they do. The story then follows her through her learning, her troubles as the only slum girl at the school and eventually a very scary invasion. There is a love story in there too, falling for the one we least expect. The book is easy reading and quite un-put-downable! 
The Second trilogy is the story of Sonea's son, Lorkin as he travels with Lord Dannyl (one of my favourite characters!) in their search for answers on the past, mind reading, gems and baron wastelands. Sonea and Cery still make many appearances in these books as they are searching for a new rogue in the new city. It's not quite the same as the first series but still extremely interesting and i'm looking forward to the next book coming out! 
In The Black Magician Trilogy:
The Magicians Guild
The Novice
The Highlord


In the Traitor Spy Trilogy:
The Ambassadors Mission
The Rogue
The Traitor Queen (comes out in 2012)


Suzanne Collins -The Hunger Games Trilogy 
If you haven't yet heard of this trilogy then you're mental and go read it! One of my favourite ever book series! 
These books are set in a post-apolcalyptic North America which has been divided into 12 different districts, with each area having a different job. Ie, Coal mining for district 12, which is where our main character comes from. With Capital being the materialistic, money mad, fashon crazy city who created an annual event to remind the districts they should not uprise against them again! Every year, a girls name and a boys name is picked from a draw, and they are sent into an arena to battle it out to the death. Katniss Everdeen, volunteers to replace her sister who's name was drawn, along with Peeta Mellark, a cute, friendly and lovable boy who's loved Katniss since he laid eyes on her. Then, all hell breaks lose!!! I don't really want to ruin it for you so i'll stop there and just say, It's amazing. And read it :)
A movie is set to be released sometime next year I think. With actors/actress' such as; Jennifer Lawrence, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Wes Bentley, Lenny Kravitz and Jack Quaid. (Yes, Dennis Ruddy Quaid's son!)
The books in Order are:
The Hunger Games
Catching Fire
Mockingjay


Phillip Pullman-His Dark Materials
You may have seen the movie for the first book from Phillip Pullman called The Golden Compass. Needless to say, the books are much better, go into a lot more depth and is much more creative and fun to read than it is to watch the movie. 
So, it's a fantasy trilogy consisting of 
The Northern Lights
The Subtle Knife
The Amber Spyglass
The books are mainly about a wild young girl, called Lyra Belaqua, as she wanders through parallel universes. There are talking animals, armored bears and a lot of sciencey stuff made simple, Thank goodness. It's a little too complicated to write a brief description while trying not to give it all away. But read these books and you will not be disappointed.


And finally!


Darren Shan Series
The Darren Shan series is now in manga form as it's so popular with younger boys, but I very much enjoyed these books when I was a bit younger (haven't read them in a while) I found them in the Teen Fiction area of my local Waterstones and found I actually quite liked it. The story is about a teenage boy called Darren Shan, him and his friends visit a Cirque du Freak (freak show) one night against his parents wishes. There, they see a man perform with a giant spider, who is revealed to actually be a Vampire. Darren gets himself into a sticky situation and ends up bargaining with the vampire. Think teen wolf for vampires. Although it seems like a very childish book, at times it can be quite gruesome, bloody and scary. I absoloutely loved the ending to this book too. Such a simple twist but I put the last book down with a smile on my face :) It's funny, realistic(kind of) and terrifying! 


So that's it! my favourite series'. Yes, I noticed i missed a few you probably love.
Christopher Paolini books
Twilight series
CS Lewis Narnia books
Game of Thrones books
Suki Stackhouse
etc etc.
But they're not my absolute favourites.


I really hope you get these books and that you enjoy them as they've certainly kept me company when i'm not 'getting any'. Enjoy!




Have I included your favourite book series? Or is there one I'm missing out on out there?
Comment below to let me know.


Books And Babies