Starting with a Giveaway!’ A Madness of Angels’ – Kate Griffin thanks to Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review. If you want to see if it’s worth wining he’s got a review up tomorrow, hopefully.
Graeme also has a review of The Secret War by M. F. Curran, which has spurred me on to try and finish it.
I just spotted a review of The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness, which was in my head as wend commented about the opening and the ending seems to be right cliff hanger!
Simon A’s given Bloodheir by Brian Ruckley a review (the paperback is out in April BTW 
). I reviewed Winterbirth and made a bit of a hash of it, but I liked the book well enough to want see what happens next.
Robert and Liviu give Dragonfly Falling a once over saying, ‘Personally, I can’t wait for more…’ and ‘Smoother than the first one and packed with more action’ Always good to know that the next one in a series is worth reading.
Rob has the US cover of A Madness of Angels. Looks a little more imposing than the UK cover, which you can see on Graeme’s blog above.
Read about 'Madness' on Graeme's Fantasy Book Review and it sounds right up my street. But anything that's compared to Neil Gaiman's work is a done deal for me!
I'm pretty astonished that Stephen King criticised Stephenie Meyer's writing talent. The books are okay, and work for the market they're aimed at (and more) as he mentions, and at least he does back up his criticism with the reason why he thinks she can't write well rather than just say *it's pants*. But, if the books get the reluctant readers reading then well done Meyer I say. There are other YA authors doing well right now just because they are being recommended alongside Meyer's books in my local bookshop. [I did prefer "The Host" myself, but that's just MHO ;o)]. I'm sure King's comments are going to cause a lot of debate on blogs and beyond.
Forgot to add … glad my comment brought Knife to mind … and the linked review was great. Pretty much everything my mate has been raving about, and I trust him as he doesn't rave that often!
I need to respond faster!
Yeah the Neil Gaiman comparison get's it bumped up!
Lots of YA writers are great story tellers, and story is always king. No matter how interesting the characters they have to do something interesting!
I've not read Twighlight yet, I got it for Christmas but lots of my friends love it!
No worries … I'm rubbish at remembering where I've commented on blogs but you have a nifty *Notify me of follow-up by email* which I wish more blogs would have ;O)
The Twilight Saga main focus is romance between Edward and Bella … that's why the teens adore it. That, and, as a vampire Edward is potentially *dangerous*. I found the first three novels okay, at times a bit gushy, but overall good … but I wasn't fussed on the last book personally. I kept putting it down and read four other books inbetween reading it which is unusual for me! Unlike many people, if I've invested time in a series, I'll finish it even if I'm not particulary enjoying it. I know why I didn't like Breaking Dawn, but cannot comment here without giving away major spoilers.
Still, my mates love the series too!
When I was a teenager I loved the books of Anne Rice and the Vampire Lestat so I guess that every generation has their own Vampires… I wonder if you trace that back to Dracula. The best Vampire book.