One Kick (Kick Lannigan #1) - Chelsea Cain

Disclaimer: I requested a copy of this novel to review from Simon & Schuster.

Plot:

Kick Lannigan was abducted as a child before being miraculously found and returned home. Ten years later and Kick has immersed herself in every self-defence and weaponry practice, vowing to be stronger than ever.

She's lived just fine on her own, but when Bishop - a mysterious man - comes to find her about the missing children's case, Kick is pulled back into a world she's tried hard to protect herself from.

Review:

One Kick is an easy read due to the fast pacing and intense plot development. Immediately, the prologue creates an impact, drawing me into a world that I did not expect to encounter in this story. I know Kick get's abducted, but there's more to it and it was definitely an eye-opener. The story has moments of flashback to introduce important parts, but they were done short and succinct so it left an impression. This also meant I wasn't jolted out of the present time whilst reading. It was a solid plot, straight forward and memorable. 

Chelsea Cain's writing was definitely a surprise, thrilling but also horrifying. There's quite a bit of gory moments, which I could stomach but still madee me cringe a bit. At first it was a little hard for me to get into the story, but then the novel started flowing and I quickly got hooked. It's pushed as a thriller, but does become quite emotional at some points. Cain does a great job in greying out the area between good and bad, especially in people, which I liked. 

I grew to like Kick, stubborn and hot-headed, but deeply scarred so you can't help but hold some sympathy towards her - even if she never asks for it. I admire her strength but can also relate to the vulnerability that is hidden underneath the front that she puts up. Her interactions with Bishop were amusing but also interesting. I'm not sure what direction they'll end up in, but it's definitely a relationship where they're both wary of each other yet, can still be open enough to develop a bond. As for Bishop, I'm intrigued about his role, but as a character he's still little too mysterious to really determine a conclusive judgement.

One Kick is the first in a series, but I found that it made for a good introduction to the characters and the setting. I'm not sure what the next book will touch upon, although it is hinted at the end. I do have a few questions but I'm hoping they'll be answered later on. The novel didn't end without some hiccups - I am confused at some parts as well - but they're not overly noticeable to detract from the entire story.

One thing I know for sure, One Kick has definitely pulled my interest into Cain's other works and the continuation of this series.

One Kick will be released on the 19th of August, 2014.

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The Legacy - Katherine Webb

 
Plot:

After the death of their grandmother, sisters Erica and Beth Calcott return to their childhood summer house - Storton Manor. Once a place full of happy memories, they are now haunted by their cousin Henry vanishing mysteriously one holiday. Erica cannot stop thinking back to that summer as she goes through her grandmother's belonging, but comes up with no answers.

There are too many family secrets, from generations before them, in which they must face in order to move past the events of the present. This is their legacy.

Review:

As much as the plot sounds overly dramatic, that is basically what The Legacy is about. It's a lengthy novel with twists and turns, and stories between stories before we get to the finale. I found though, that for all the complexity, Katherine Webb did a good job in unravelling all the mysterious ties to create an intriguing read.

I'm pretty much a sucker for family mysteries, which is probably why I decided to read this. I don't think I was disappointed with the whole web of secrets, but more the experience of reading it. Whilst Webb's writing was descriptive and engaging, I found myself zoning out in some moments. I think the problem was the pacing and tone of the writing. I could imagine the scenery and places mentioned while reading, but because Erica's voice is so sentimental and whimsical, it really set a slow and dull tone. At some points I had to work really hard to plod through what was happening. However, Webb also includes Erica and Beth's great grandmother's story, placed between present chapters. Caroline's voice is a lot different, and I was more fascinated with her story as opposed to what was actually occurring in the present. In fact, I actually looked forward to her chapters more and there was no problem in reading that perspective. It was great to see that Webb created two distinctive voices as well, so it was clear who's view I was reading from.

I'm not sure I loved all the characters, just because I felt like they were flat. Beth had scars and the story tried to unravel her fears, but even the revelation couldn't really rescue her character. Erica was more like a curious teenager than her actual age, of which I could not pinpoint. I think I preferred Caroline and the characters in her past because they were a lot more interesting to read about.

The plot wove such an intricate storyline though, that I kept wondering how Webb would unravel all the mysteries. She did eventually, and in a way that caught me by surprise. This definitely made up for most of my reading experience, as the writing caught up with the intensity and helped me power through till the end. It did take awhile to get there, but I think it was worth it. It made me feel as though the read was actually worth it, I really did not expect for the mystery to be resolved as so.

There were still some questions that I had and moments that didn't really make sense or wasn't really addressed, but I just overlooked it at the end. It was deep and sad at some moments, and a lesson that can be learnt but overall it just lacked a little impact. I do recommend though, if you like a good mystery, especially one that has complexities but fit together to perfect the puzzle.

Rating: 3.5/5

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City of Lost Souls (Mortal Instruments #5) - Cassandra Clare

Spoiler Alert: If you haven't read this series then this review may reveal plots of the previous books.



Plot:

Jace has disappeared, along with Sebastian, from the rootop. The search for him is met with little result. In desperation, Clary decides to take action herself. However, her joy dies when she realises Jace is bound to her brother, Sebastian, with the blood of Lilth. Along with her friends, Clary embarks on journey to save not only the boy she loves but also the Shadowhunter world.

Review:

Welcome back to the world of Shadowhunters and the constant obstacles that Jace and Clary face during their relationship. The latest instalment was met with anticipation after Cassandra Clare had left fans on a cliff in City of Fallen of Angels. City of Lost Souls certainly explains what happens to Jace and Sebastian after the rootop incident but seems to centre on the romance of the characters in the novel. It does come across as quite frustrating, the lack of the original plot of the series. What was once a battle between Valentine and Shadowhunters has now circulated to just the relationship between Jace and Clary, and also the other characters. Yes, they are important as well but I wanted a lot more badass fighting scenes and 'good vs. evil' moments. Not to say that there isn't, it's just limited. Clare tries to add those elements of the supernatural one but they seem more like snippets, that flitter in and out, and almost confuses the entire storyline.

However, because Clare is able to establish such strong bonds between her characters and readers, it is easy to fly through the entire story. I read it all at once. There are times when you get tired with the constant intimate moments between the couples (almost inappropriate for readers under the age of 15), but you are kept on the edge with wanting to know who is good or bad, and what will become of Jace. Clare can produce suspense and readers will go along with the ride.

It is only once you reach the end that it feels like the fifth instalment is quite unnecessary. What was once a promising trilogy, it seems as though The Mortal Instruments series is going with the hype, and has now extended to more of a romance series then anything. The series seems to have lost the original plot but overall, is still enough to keep diehard fans from continuing on the adventure. At least until the last book. I am a fan of the series, just not the last two additions.

City of Lost Souls is not the best of the series, it's just okay. There are some shocks and twists to it but it will mostly suit fans of Clary and Jace who will love the amount of time focused on their relationship.

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