FAIREST by Marissa Meyer

“‘Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?’ Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her “glamour” to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story – a story that has never been told . . . until now.”

What is the book about?

This short novella gives readers a glimpse into Levana's life before and as she gradually became the tyrant queen that we have grown to hate throughout the first 3 books of the Lunar Chronicles series. Levana was the youngest child, her older sister Channary was the one destined to be Queen of Luna. However, since she was old enough to understand what being queen meant she knew that she could and would be a much better queen than her sister, who couldn't care less about politics or their people. Not only that but she has always been confident that her sister didn't deserve the power and respect that would come with her new title as she is as cruel as she is beautiful. Ever since Levana could walk her sister tortured her and used her for her own enjoyment to the point that Levana has to use glamour constantly to cover the scars that her sister left on her after one traumatising day. Levana has her own story and it doesn't appear like she has always been as cruel and violent as we all thought. She may be the villain of Cinder's story, but she is the victim in her own story. 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

Initially I was a little annoyed that I had to read a novella before getting to the fourth and final novel in the Lunar Chronicles series, Winter. I was very keen to continue reading and find out how the story that just kept getting better would finally end, and I was so desperate that I considered leaving Fairest until after I read the final book in the main series. However, after reading the blurb of the book and finding out what the novella was actually about I was intrigued to read it. I didn't know what to expect but I knew I would enjoy it and I was very interested to find out the truth about Levana and what led her to become the cruel leader that will stop at nothing to get everything she wants. Soon my initial thoughts changed and I was no longer annoyed and much more excited to read it. Once I started reading I found it a little hard to get used to the novella as there were none of the characters that I had grown used to, however I soon got used to and found that I was enjoying it as much as the actual novels in the series. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

I don't think I could choose a favourite character in this novella without it being partly a lie. It feels so wrong to say that I liked Levana after all she did and it is also clearly a lie. Even though I feel so bad for her and I know she would be a much better person if she hadn't been treated so badly since she was a child she is still a monster. Most of what she did she thought she was justified in doing and she made some very questionable decisions but every time she claimed she was doing it for the good of her kingdom. I know deep down she felt like she was good but slowly she turned into a monster and I cannot honestly say that I liked her. Even the other 'good' characters weren't exactly good and treated Levana so badly when all she was was just a child who had never felt love. Evret who strung her along for 10 years without telling her that he would never love her, when it was clear she believed that they could be happy together. Winter who would never address her directly, even when all she did was try to give her a mother. Her sister who tortured her and called her ugly since she was little and made her live in her shadow. Her parents who clearly didn't do any good parenting. Everyone in this book thought themselves to be good and thought they were fighting against the villain but it was clear that the villain was herself just a victim. No one deserves the title as my favourite character. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

I honestly cannot pick a favourite part because this whole novella was just torture and threatened to tear me apart at any moment. In every single part of the book there was something so so sad that I could not keep out of my mind. The main theme throughout the whole book was that Levana just wanted to be happy and at every moment it was clear that she thought she was getting her happiness. When she married the love of her life without knowing he would never love her back, when her sister died and she realised she would finally get the chance to be queen, even if it was just for 12 years, when she killed her niece believing it was for the best and she would get to keep her role as leader of Luna, the thing that meant so much to her. She never even realised that she never actually had any of that. She spent years believing she had everything she could ever want and need and she didn't realise till the end that it was all a lie. I felt so bad for her and how she had been tortured and manipulated by everyone and had never had the protection and loved that she so craved. Every part was so tragic and I can't in good conscience choose a favourite part of such a sad book.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this short story and I soon found myself believing that maybe Levana was just misunderstood. One reason I really enjoyed the novella was because I got a glimpse into the past and some much needed information on the supposed villain of the Lunar Chronicles series. I always love when books have flashbacks and for some reason they are always my favourite parts. I love being able to see the characters that I have grown to really know as their younger selves and to see what made them who they are. However, I love novellas set in the past even more because it's a whole book dedicated to exactly what I said above. This book was exactly that but it was also so much more because it was a short story on the life of Queen Levana, the villain for all intents and purposes. This leads me on to another reason why I loved this book: it made me feel sorry for Levana. After everything she has done and everything that she is hoping to achieve I never thought anything, not even a whole story about her past, could change my mind on what a cruel and unfeeling woman she is. Although I still stand by these beliefs, I also know that she is also just a victim herself and one that has been mistreated by those who should have cared for her since she was young. Learning what her sister did to her broke my heart and how she continued to use the scars that she had against her and call her ugly when she is really just injured and broken was enough to leave me in tears. Although I won't condone her reactions and everything she did after that, she was just trying to protect herself and her people. She honestly thought that she was the best person to be Queen and if she let her young niece rule then she was sentencing her people to a terrible future. She did what she thought was right and, no matter how messed up it was, she sacrificed so much for Luna, including the one person she loved more than anything. The poor girl had never known love before and did everything she could to try to get someone to love her and when she realised that would never happen she gave everything up and threw herself into her role as queen and turned herself into a monster for what she thought was the good of her people. It was a great novella that left me feeling so much for this cruel Lunar Queen and I now don't know what to think. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I would definitely recommend that anyone who has enjoyed reading the Lunar Chronicles series or is interested in starting it should read this short story. It offers some great new information and is full of all the stuff that you would love in the main novels of the series. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A short story full of romance and heartbreak that will leave you thinking that maybe there is never a villain, only victims that react differently to their suffering. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

JARED'S QUEST by Chanda Hahn

“Mina Grime is a Grimm, bent on sending Jared, and his Fae kind back to their own world to end the curse on her family. Jared is her Fae protector, and all around pain in the neck. Then the wheels of fate turn on Jared, and he is given his own quest to complete against his will. Jared has his hands full as he tries to save a bunch of spellbound boys, capture a beautiful shape-changing Fae, all while keeping Mina in the dark about it. He'll need all the help he can get, and will have to recruit one of his old Fae friends to help.”

What is the book about?

Mina Grime is a Grimm, tasked with completing hundreds of quests based on the fairy tales we have grown up loving in order to send all the Fae back to their plane and keep them away from Earth. This is all because of a deal her ancestors made with a Fae and now she is cursed and must do everything she can to complete every story before she dies so her younger brother isn't left with the burden of the curse. Jared is a Fae who must protect Mina and help her with her goal of completing all the quests, which he already hates. However, in a twist of fate he ends up with his own quest to complete, one of which he must keep Mina in dark or she may ruin everything. He must stop a rogue Fae who if left unchecked will lead the other humans right to her and will get herself and every other Fae living in the human world caught. She has been trapping teenage boys with her powers in search of a prince to break her curse, but, when they don't turn out to be what they claimed, they disappeared, never to be found again. It's Jared's job to stop her but he will need the help of another Fae, and will need to keep Mina at bay until he needs the Grimoire. 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

After reading UnEnchanted, I had a lot of unanswered questions and, unsurprisingly, more than half revolved around Jared, the annoying, handsome Fae that appeared to help Mina when she found the Grimoire. So, because of this, I was very excited to read this short story as I knew I might get some more answers to my questions about this mysterious mythical boy. I had only gotten Mina's point of view so far and really wanted to see what someone else was thinking as I was desperate for more information and thought that maybe seeing something through another's eyes might give me a better understanding of the book and help me see more things. I was specifically interested in learning more about Jared who, after reading UnEnchanted, I could tell had some secrets he wasn't sharing with Mina and I knew he would let something slip in this story. After reading the blurb, I had even more questions, mainly because I didn't think anyone else could get a quest other than a Grimm. However, I also knew that Jared wasn't a normal Fae as no one else seemed to want to help and protect Mina, so I knew that there was probably a good reason for Jared getting a quest. I was pretty sure I was going to love the story; however I didn't know whether or not getting Jared's point of view would be enjoyable or not as he could be annoying and evasive. Once I started to read, I knew that I had made the right choice in reading the book as I was soon loving Jared's viewpoint and really enjoying the very short quest he was going to embark on. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

For this short story I would probably have to say that Jared is my favourite character, mainly because he was the main character but also because I got to see him in a whole new light through this book. In UnEnchanted he was kind of annoying and whenever he spoke it was kind of frustrating to know that he knew things that he wasn't telling Mina, and therefore wasn't telling me. I did also find him funny at times as he did have a rather interesting sense of humour and did know exactly how to tease Mina. However, after reading Jared's Quest, I got to learn so much more about him and the biggest thing was that he was keeping things from Mina in order to protect her and protect himself. I loved seeing the story through his eyes and getting a glimpse into his mind. One of the things that made me specifically think that I really liked Jared was learning about how he was in pain and that there were things that he felt like he couldn't talk about with anyone. I also really loved learning about his feelings for Mina and I do feel that it made me see his attitude towards her in a different way. After this I know I will definitely see Jared differently in the other books of the series.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

I found it really hard to answer this question because of how short the book was. For me, it was practically impossible to pick a favourite part out of the 5 short chapters there were. After much consideration and a lot of frustration I finally decided on a favourite part, which will have to be when Jared mentions that he doesn't actually want Mina to fail and die, but he doesn't want her to succeed either. The fact that he said the first bit in front of another Fae, who obviously disagreed, really showed me just how much he felt for Mina. He is in a lose-lose situation because, no matter what happens to Mina, he will lose her; either to death or to the curse that will send him and all other Fae far from her. These parts really made me realise how hard it must be for Jared and how conflicted he must be every time Mina asks for his help because he wants to help her so she doesn't die, but if he helps her then she gets one step closer to breaking the curse and sending him away. I really don't think it's fair that someone has to be put in that situation, especially when they are a teenager (though I know Jared is probably years older due to being Fae) and their emotions are getting the better of them (though, once again, Jared is Fae and he has less human emotions – but he still feels love). This part made me see Jared in a new light and I know that from now on I will feel for him in a different way. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, Jared's Quest was a really interesting and enjoyable short story. One reason I loved it was because it was a short story. I always really enjoy reading a short story that fits in with a book series that I have been enjoying because it's a surprise extra bit of information that you wouldn't get if it was just the series on its own. It makes me happy to know that there is more to a series and it usually gives you a glimpse into the world you have lived in throughout the series through a different character's eyes, who you may not have heard from before. In this case, Jared's Quest was exactly like that and it gave me the chance to not only read about another quest that wouldn't have been included in the series if it weren't for this short book but it also gave me the opportunity to see things through Jared's point of view and learn more about his thoughts and feelings, specifically about Mina. Another thing that I really enjoyed about the book was the fact that it was told from Jared's point of view. I don't mind when a book, or even a whole series, is told from the viewpoint of only one book character (unless this character is ridiculously annoying). However, I always prefer to have at least a couple chapters told from the view of at least one other character from the book. This is because some people see things differently and, if you get to see the events of a book through the eyes of multiple people, you get to understand what has happened a lot better and you get to better understand the characters. In this book I got to understand Jared a lot more and began to really see through the walls he built up to protect himself and Mina. This gave me the chance to get to know Jared better and made me change my view of him and now I can easily say he is one of my favourite characters. This made me really think about how I see people in the real world and how sometimes the way people act is just an act, so maybe you should give them another chance to show the real them and not the one they intend to portray. One other thing that I really liked about the story was everything knew I learnt about Jared, the Fae in general, the Grimoire and the secrets of the Grimm curse. I would never have learnt a lot of the secrets that I now kind of know without this book and, even though it did give me a lot more questions than answers, I did still get a few of my questions answered and I always appreciate that. Jared's Quest was a great novella and I am now even more excited to read the next book in the An Unfortunate Fairy Tale series. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I definitely recommend reading this short story (after you've read UnEnchanted though). It is the perfect addition to this series and gives you the perfect glimpse into Jared's mind. I particularly recommend it for those who like fantasy, adventure and fairy tale retellings.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A short story, full of magic and adventure, which will leave you thirsting for more after providing more questions than answers. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

KILL JOY by Holly Jackson

“Pippa Fitz-Amobi is not looking forward to her friend’s 1920s-themed murder mystery party. But when the game begins, Pip finds herself drawn into the make-believe world of intrigue, deception and murder. As Pip plays detective, teasing out the identity of the killer clue by clue, the murder of the fictional Reginald Remy isn’t the only case on her mind…”

What is the book about?

Pippa’s friend, Connor Reynolds is having a 1920s-themed murder mystery party, with costumes, role play and an inspector to lead the way. However, Pip is not really excited for it as she doesn’t like not having work to do and is still worried about not having chosen a topic for her EPQ. But, when she arrives at the party and the game finally begins, Pip realises that she is actually enjoying it and is finding herself really merging into her characters world of secrets and murder. As she works her way through the party and the investigation, looking at the clues and trying to put them together in a way that makes sense, this murder is not the only one on her mind and her friends constant reminders about the Andie Bell case have her thinking that maybe that case wasn’t as simple as the one she is pretending to be involved in. 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

When I first book this book with the rest of the series, I had initially thought I would read it before the first book in the main series as it was its prequel, but then I decided that it would be better to read it after so I could see where everything began and I wouldn’t be confused about the characters. Right before reading it, I was ecstatic and was so confident that it was going to be incredible, even though I knew that it was only a short story that probably wouldn’t be as good as the books from the main series. But, I knew I would still like it and I was prepared to love it all the same. Once I finally started reading, I loved how it jumped straight in with no explanations at the start or introductions, so it was a lot easier to fall back into the world of Pip and her investigations, even though this time it was a fictional one. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character in this book was also Pip. I think that the main reason for this was because I got to see how she thought about things and how she first came up with the idea for her EPQ project. I really loved seeing her work through the murder mystery game and how her mind worked in such an interesting and efficient way. It really shocked me when the truth came out, but her response to it made me like her even more. She didn’t get too angry and, although she was obviously annoyed for the rest of the story, she soon began to move on and used her frustration in a good way. I also loved the contrast between the innocent Pip in this book and the Pip that she grew into. She clearly isn’t the good girl she once was. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

This was a very difficult choice for me to make because the book was actually really short, too short, in fact, to really make a decision on a favourite part. However, if I really had to make a choice, I would have to say that my favourite part of the book was when Pip got the chance to explain her theory on what happened in the fake murder mystery. I loved reading this part because she just sounded so confident and the way that everything fit together and that she left no stone unturned or clue unexplained was so satisfying. It was so impressive how her mind worked and it also made me remember all the investigations she later goes on to solve using the same methods and confidence. Pip is just such an incredible main character and I just loved going with her through everything.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Kill Joy, though it wasn’t as good as the other books in the series. This is obviously because it was just a quick short story for context; however it is also because it wasn’t a real investigation, and it was actually just a game. Despite this, I still really liked the book and found that it was just as well written and fun to read as the main novels in the series. One thing that I really liked about the book was how it really brought me back to how it all started. I think I made the perfect decision when I chose to read the book after the whole series was finished because I really got to fully soak in everything that I experienced in the trilogy. When certain characters were mentioned, I thought about everything that at that point was not known about them but that I knew from reading the story and I think that this really helped me solidify my love for the books. I literally loved reading all three books in the trilogy (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, Good Girl, Bad Blood and As Good As Dead) and this stunning short prequel and I have just found out that they are planning on making a TV series on it, so I am beyond excited. This has become my favourite series of all time and I don’t think any other book will ever be able to top it. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I would definitely recommend reading this short story, but I think it is best to read it after at least the first book, so you have some understanding over the characters. It is great for over 13s, who love some drama, mystery and murder. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A thrilling prequel that gives a glimpse into how Pip ended up uncovering the truth about a solved murder case. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

BELIEVE ME by Tahereh Mafi

“‘To the world she is formidable. To me? She is the world.’ Juliette and Warner fought long and hard to take down The Reestablishment. Now faced with stabilising a chaotic world, life in the aftermath still isn’t easy. Warner, however, has his sights set on more than just politics. Since proposing to Juliette, he’s been eager to marry her, and at long last, Warner and Juliette’s future together seems within reach. But with so much uncertainty around them, and the world continuing to pull them apart, will they finally be happily, officially, together?”

What is the book about?

Everything has finally fallen into place. Juliette and Warner have taken down The Reestablishment and have begun to work towards a better future. And now they are finally able to do something they have wanted to do for a long time: get married. However, nothing is ever as easy as it seems and the aftermath of The Reestablishment is just as challenging as life when they were in power. They have all waited so long to be able to achieve happiness and yet, even when everything seems right within reach, the world seems to be conspiring to pull Juliette and Warner apart. All they want is to be united for the rest of their lives, but will they ever be able to be together, or will the world finally win?

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I had mixed feelings approaching Believe Me: I was so excited to finally be able to reach the end of the series and hopefully see all of my characters happy together, but I was also so sad to see it end. I was desperate to read the book because I wanted to see Juliette and Warner finally get married and get to live the rest of their lives together like they had been planning since Warner’s proposal in Defy Me. However, I was also torn because I knew that, once I finished Believe Me, that was it. I would never read anything else about Warner, Juliette, or Kenji, and I would never find out anything else new about them. I am always sad to see the characters go, but I knew this was going to be harder than ever before because this series was longer and more amazing than the others I have read. Once I finally got over my fears and worries, I picked up the book and began to read. It began just as I was expecting and it flowed to so perfectly, like all the other novels and novellas. However, I did struggle a little to truly get into it because I couldn’t help thinking about the fact that this was truly the last book. The first couple of chapters were also in the epilogue of Imagine Me, so they were a little difficult to read, however, once I got past those, I was fully absorbed into the book and soon I was reaching the ending, feeling a mix of happiness, excitement and dread. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

I think that my favourite character this time has got to be Juliette/Ella. Personally I think that the fact that the book was written from Warner’s perspective did influence my decision a lot because he sees Juliette as a completely perfect girl, with no flaws whatsoever, but I do believe that she deserves to get the recognition for all she has done. One reason why I really liked Juliette was because seeing her so happy and strong showed me how, despite everything, she never lost hope in humanity. She lived a life of torture and was constantly let down by everyone around her, betrayed by her biological and adoptive parents. Every time she seemed to settle down, something happened and she just ended up with injured and in pain. However, no matter how much life tried to put her down, she managed to get back up and never lose hope that maybe one day she would be able to have a better future. She really taught me to not look back and dwell on the past, and instead to live in the present and look to the future. She has really inspired me and I’m not at all surprised that she has also inspired so many characters from the book and that the entire world looks to her for guidance. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part is definitely, definitely the ending. I cannot even begin to describe what I felt reading it. This whole series has been following Juliette’s life and nearly everything has been horrible. She has gone through so much torture throughout the books, and even before that, and just reaching the end knowing that, finally, she gets to be happy made me burst with joy. I loved the ending so much because I knew that, for her, nothing that happened to her before that moment when she saw Warner waiting for her mattered anymore because she was happy. This ending made me feel so much happiness because it gave me hope that, no matter how much I go through, no matter how stressed or sad I am, there will one day be a time when I get what I have always wanted. It really showed me that everyone can be happy. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, Believe Me was an incredible book and I loved reading it. One thing that I loved about it was the fact that it took me further than I have ever gone with any other book series I have ever read.  Most series end quite quickly and I never get to see a couple get engaged or get married or anything at all and I'm always left wondering whether or not those things will actually happen. But, with the Shatter Me series, I got to experience so much of Warner and Juliette's relationship and it has been the most incredible experience I’ve ever had.  I love learning about the characters from the books I read and every time a book has an epilogue I burst with joy at the idea of getting even the slightest glimpse into a character’s future. Another thing that I really loved about the book was that it ended absolutely perfectly. Most books end a little bit too soon and I don't fully get to see what happens next, or they will go too far and won't give me any creative freedom to picture the characters life at I want to picture it. However, Believe Me ended at the exact moment where it should have ended because it was the exact moment where I had enough information to create my own picture of their lives in my mind. I now just can't wait to have a moment to myself when I can picture Warner and Juliette and Kenji and all the other characters in the place where I think they will be. One last thing that I would like to mention is the fact that, after reading so many books, this series has actually come to an end.  I just can't believe that this all started with a timid, little girl, curled up in a corner, locked up in a mental asylum and now she is one of the strongest, most fiery female characters that I have ever come across. I can’t believe that right now, she's not only free but also happy. Reading these books has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I don't think I will ever forget these books and these characters. I know that it is the end and I will not read any more about these characters, but I also know that these people will live in me for the rest of my life and what I've learnt I will never forget. I really loved reading the Shatter Me series and this has become one of my favourite book series of all time.

Would you recommend this book?  

I would definitely recommend that you all read Believe Me as it is the perfect ending to an even more perfect series. I think it is best for those over 15, though, and it’s perfect for lovers of romance, action and dystopian fiction. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A beautiful and romantic novella that perfectly concludes the Shatter Me series. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

THE SHORT SECOND LIFE OF BREE TANNER by Stephenie Meyer

“I turned off my brain. It was time to hunt. I took a deep breath, drawing in the scent of the blood inside the humans below. They weren’t the only humans around, but they were the closest. Who you were going to hunt was the kind of decision you had to make before you scented your prey. It was too late now to choose anything. Bree Tanner can barely remember life before she had uncannily powerful senses, superhuman reflexes and unstoppable physical strength. Life before she had a relentless thirst for blood…life before she became a vampire. All Bree knows is that living with her fellow newborns has few certainties and even fewer rules: watch your back, don’t draw attention to yourself and, above all, make it home by sunrise or die. What she doesn’t know: her time as an immortal is quickly running out.”

What is the book about?

This is a story based on the Eclipse novel written in the point of view of a young girl named Bree who was one of the newborn vampires sent by Victoria to attack the Cullens and the Quileute werewolves. 3 months before the fight Riley, Victoria’s head minion, found Bree, who was just a runaway 15 year old girl, on the streets and took her to be changed into a vampire. Now Bree can hardly remember life before she became this powerful creature and the life that she thought was so simple with only a few rules is changing. Everything she has been told seems to be lies when Bree meets a strange vampire called Diego. A new friendship forms as Diego shows Bree hope of a happy life in her new body and suggests things she never thought of. Bree things she will be able to escape the clutches of Riley and her creator but what she doesn’t know is her time as a vampire is nearly over.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

Once I finished Eclipse I was really looking forward to reading Breaking Dawn but I found that this shorter book was the next book in the series. I hadn’t really though that much about Bree but once I read the title of the book I began to think more about her and what it would have felt like to surrender but still get killed for it. Although the vampires in Eclipse were called newborns I didn’t actually think about how their age could affect them so I was really excited to read about their lives. When I read the blurb I realised that these vampires were not ‘vegetarians’ and that they were going to be very different to the Cullens and wouldn’t be as kind as them. I was really excited to start reading and wanted to see things from a fresh perspective.

Who was your favourite character and why?

It was really hard to pick a favourite character mainly because I liked a lot of people in the book but also because the book was shorter than the other 3 I have read so I didn’t have that long to get to know the characters and understand their personalities. I really liked Bree because she was very responsible and smart and was able to survive in a room full of newborn vampires with personalities completely opposite to hers. I also quite liked Diego because he was very curious and brave and had the courage to risk his life to find out the truth. Diego was also very smart as he was able to figure out the truth about all the lies they had been told because he was daring enough to challenge everything he had been taught. Fred was also another character that I liked because he was very nice and protected Bree from all the other vampires in their coven. I think together all of these characters made the book that much better.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part of the book was when Bella was introduced in the story. I liked this part because I liked looking at Bree’s thoughts and ideas when seeing Bella and what it was like for her. When I was reading this, I grabbed Eclipse and had it next to me so that I could compare what Bella thought of Bree to what Bree thought of Bella. I also liked his part of the book because I liked seeing what it was like for a newborn vampire to be near to a human and not be allowed to go near her. It was interesting to see how much suffering the vampires had to go through to be near Bella. Bree’s view on Bella and how hard it was to control herself around her made me think about the first book, Twilight, and how similar it must have been for Edward when he first sat near Bella and how much concentration it must have taken for him to not attack her.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall I really loved the book and found it really refreshing to see something from another viewpoint because I think that everything is a bit biased from Bella’s point of view. I thought it was really effective how we got to see what life was like for the newborn vampires and I especially loved learning more about the fight between them and the Cullens and Quileute werewolves. When I read Eclipse I hadn’t really thought about Bree that much but as I began to read more of this book I started to wish that Stephenie Meyer had chosen to give her a much happier ending.  I found that it was a bit harsh to have Bree feel like she had lost everything and then get killed for not even harming a hair on any of the Cullens, especially seeing as I had gotten so attached to her throughout the book. I really liked learning about what it felt like to be a newborn vampire and I found that some things were really different to what I first thought; I also thought that it was really strange that Bree had been deceived her whole life and hadn’t been told that the superstitions of vampires weren’t real. I had always expected that if vampires were real all the usual stories of them would be real too but once I read Twilight I realised that vampires could be really different. It was peculiar to discover that some vampires still believed all those myths and that life could be very different for the Cullens and Bella if they were all true.

Would you recommend this book?  

I would definitely recommend this book for everyone who has read Eclipse as it is a great way to see things from someone else’s view. I think that this book is best for 15 year olds or older but I’m sure that many other people will love it too.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict) 

A thrilling Eclipse novel with a new fresh perspective on vampires lives.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

HETTY FEATHER’S CHRISTMAS by Jacqueline Wilson

“It’s Christmas Day at the Foundling Hospital and Hetty Feather receives and unexpected present. But Hetty’s delight sparks jealousy, which soon turns to trouble, and the dreaded Matron Bottomly is thrilled to exclude Hetty from the Christmas festivities. Poor Hetty is distraught – but just when it seems that all is lost, a dear friend arrives to whisk her away for a Christmas like no other…”

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I thought the book was going to be as amazing as other Hetty Feather books. So far I have read every book involving Hetty and can’t wait to read more. By reading the blurb I couldn’t really tell what the book was about apart from that it happened in Christmas. Hetty looked happy in the front cover, but when I started reading the first pages -that weren’t part of the actual story- I found out a lot more about the life in Victorian England, and it looked like that Hetty was going to have a very different and unusual Christmas rather than just the usual breakfast, lunch and Christmas present- an orange and a penny. Reading those few pages made me want to read it even more than I already did.

Who was your favourite character and why?

In this book I have two favourite characters Hetty Feather and Rose Rivers. I like Hetty because she is adventurous and funny, I also like her because she doesn’t try and hide her feelings and she is very outgoing, she doesn’t care about what others think of her. She shows people that it doesn’t matter what your background is, you are just as good as anyone else! I like Rose for very different reasons, she is kind and caring to others no matter who they are, even if other people specifically tell her to not to talk to that person because they are a servant and she is more important than them. I also loved the descriptions of the Rivers great big home, it was lovely!

Would you recommend this book?  

I liked everything about this book; it would be very difficult for me to choose just one thing as it was all amazing. I would recommend it to anyone over the age of 10 and upwards who likes books about the Victorian times.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

An amazing story that brings you the spirit of Christmas in Victorian times.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego