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South African books to add to your reading list this festive season - part 1

Hiya book lovers With Christmas being just around the corner, I thought I’d highlight some South African reads that should go on your TBR pile. We have so many phenomenal SA authors that deserve to be celebrated , and because this list will be an extensive one, I am splitting this post and making it a series. I know it won’t be possible to include every single South African author, but I am going to try to  highlight books from every genre and make it as diverse as possible (so, with respect, please don’t ask me why so and so isn’t on the list – there’s more to come).  First up:  1. Sing Down the Stars by Nerine Dorman A book I recently received for review ( thanks you NB publishers ) and am super excited about diving into is Sing Down the Stars. I was first introduced to Nerine’s writing years ago, when I read one of her first books, What Sweet Music They Make (Would 100% still love to see more of that). Over the years, I ’ve come to know Nerine as well and she’s not ...

The Secret

Book review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The follow up to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, Hodkin’s Evolution of Mara Dyer is a story filled with nail-biting tension, intense creepiness and spine-chilling moments.

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (published by Simon Pulse, a division of Simon & Schuster UK, in 2013)
 

Disclaimer:
Review first appeared on Women24.com.

You can purchase a copy of the book on Raru.co.za


NOTE:
Given that The Evolution of Mara Dyer is the second book in a trilogy, this review may contain spoilers from the first book.

I’m a sucker for a good, psychological and mind-bending, twisted read.

This, is why I finally decided to pick up The Evolution of Mara Dyer. It’s a book that’s been sitting in my shelf for ages, and one that I’ve been meaning to read for a while.

The first thing you should know is that this isn’t the kind of book you can read without having read the first book.  The events that occur in this book, is preceded by the cliff-hanger ending of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer.

I think that part of the reason why it took me so long to read this book, is because I adored the first book so much; and was afraid that the second book wouldn’t live up to my ridiculously high expectations.

Second book syndrome, as the bookish muses like to call it.

Thankfully, from the moment I started reading, my reservations quickly dissipated.  I ended up deeply immersed in a story filled with tension, intense creepiness and some gore-inducing, spine-chilling moments guaranteed to leave you feeling on edge.

When we last left off, Mara Dyer found herself reporting to the police in an attempt to surrender. However, instead of being locked up in a cell, she ends up in a psychiatric treatment centre, as no one seems to believe that her ex-boyfriend, Jude, is still alive.

Still struggling to come to terms with the death of her best friend and her lethal ability, Mara knows that the only way she can get out of the treatment centre, is by faking normality.

But, it’s easier said than done.

And with her (unwanted) ability to kill people with her mind, flashbacks to a past life she has no recollection of, and dealing with deliberate and gory reminders of events that have happened, Mara’s battle is only beginning.

If you love books that combine the sinister atmosphere of abandoned asylums with the supernatural, then you’ll love this.

Michelle Hodkin has a gift for creating an acute sense of menace, and the beauty of this novel lies in the fact that the sinister proceedings aren’t always overt (although when it is, it’s hectic).

Most of the time if feels as if things are moving slowly and insidiously, creeping up on you in a way as there is a feeling of impending doom with each and every turn of the page.

Feeling inclined for a book to scare the wits out of you? Do yourselves a favour and pick this one up.

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Book talk: 10 books I’m planning to read before I buy more new books

Ah, the plight(s) of a book lover. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who is guilty of this, but at the moment, there are tons of books sitting in my shelves still waiting to be read. In the past month or so, I’ve made many a verbal agreement about self-imposed book buying bans, but to no avail. I’ve even roped in one of my fabulous book blogging friends, but the lovely Urbanised Geek was just as bad at upholding her end of the bargain as I was (and am). In light of this, I’ve decided the next best thing would be to make a list of 10 books I’m going to read next before I buy any additional books. At this rate, the books that I’ve been buying will never be read, so I’m considering this an intervention of sorts. Without further ado, these are the books I’ll be reading before rewarding myself with new books. *grins* 1. After the Woods by Kim Savage Would you risk your life to save your best friend? Julia did. When a paroled predator attacked Liv in the woods, Julia fought back and got...

Cover reveal: Spark by Holly Schindler

Today, thanks to HarperTeen and YA author Holly Schindler , I’m excited to be part of the cover reveal for Holly’s forthcoming book, Spark. I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been a fan of books about star-crossed lovers and Spark is a book that, well, has that in spades. Or so it certainly seems to me.  Also, the theatre (we use UK spelling here in SA by the way) as a setting? Oh yes please. Without further ado, behold the gorgeous cover! Be sure to scroll down for more info about the book and more about Holly. About the book: When the right hearts come to the Avery Theater—at the right time—the magic will return. The Avery will come back from the dead. Or so Quin’s great-grandmother predicted many years ago on Verona, Missouri’s most tragic night, when Nick and Emma, two star-crossed teenage lovers, died on the stage. It was the night that the Avery’s marquee lights went out forever. It sounds like urban legend, but one that high school senior Quin is now starting to believ...

Mini book review: Banished by Liz de Jager

Welcome to another mini book reviews edition of my blog. In today’s mini reviews feature, I share my brief thoughts on Liz de Jager’s Banished.   Summary from Goodreads (published by TorUK in 2014)   Kit is proud to be a Blackhart, now she’s encountered her unorthodox cousins and their strange lives. And her home-schooling now includes spells, fighting enemy fae and using ancient weapons. But it’s not until she rescues a rather handsome fae prince, fighting for his life on the edge of Blackhart Manor, that her training really kicks in. With her family away on various missions, Kit must protect Prince Thorn, rely on new friends and use her own unfamiliar magic to stay ahead of Thorn’s enemies. As things go from bad to apocalyptic, fae battle fae in a war that threatens to spill into the human world. Then Kit pits herself against the Elder Gods themselves – it’s that or lose everyone she’s learnt to love. You can purchase a copy of the book on Raru.co.za My thoughts: What a fun...

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