Reading Roundup – 31st January 2014
Reading Roundup / January 31, 2014

First of all, I’ve decided to extend my give-away for another week – if you’re interested in winning the first three books in Vampire Academy series from Audible check it out.  A reminder that you don’t need to have an Audible subscription or account to take advantage of this prize.   Good luck! This last couple of weeks, I’ve done something I don’t do very often – marathoning an entire series of books.  In the last couple of weeks I have read the entire six books in the Vampire Academy series.  I just adored the world, the characters and the storylines.   You can follow my Vampire Academy reviews through the index.  I kept thinking ah well, the books aren’t that thick (ebooks can be deceiving in that way…) but then I realised that they were four or five hundred pages each!  Often I like to change things up a bit, so it says a lot for Mead’s writing and worldbuilding that she was able to retain my interest through six large books. Recently I came across a fun exercise from Random House of Canada: Reading Bingo.  Please check it out on RHoC’s Facebook page or their site page.  I…

Reading Roundup – 31st January 2014
Reading Roundup / January 31, 2014

First of all, I’ve decided to extend my give-away for another week – if you’re interested in winning the first three books in Vampire Academy series from Audible check it out.  A reminder that you don’t need to have an Audible subscription or account to take advantage of this prize.   Good luck! This last couple of weeks, I’ve done something I don’t do very often – marathoning an entire series of books.  In the last couple of weeks I have read the entire six books in the Vampire Academy series.  I just adored the world, the characters and the storylines.   You can follow my Vampire Academy reviews through the index.  I kept thinking ah well, the books aren’t that thick (ebooks can be deceiving in that way…) but then I realised that they were four or five hundred pages each!  Often I like to change things up a bit, so it says a lot for Mead’s writing and worldbuilding that she was able to retain my interest through six large books. Recently I came across a fun exercise from Random House of Canada: Reading Bingo.  Please check it out on RHoC’s Facebook page or their site page.  I…

Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4) by Richelle Mead
Book Reviews , eBook reviews / January 29, 2014

Blood Promise is the fourth in the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead.  In it our protagonist, Rose Hathaway, travels to Dimitri’s hometown in Siberia to try to keep a promise she made to him.  Meanwhile back at St Vladimir’s, Lissa faces a hidden threat. This novel is very much a journey novel both physically and emotionally as Rose struggles to deal with the events of Frostbite and Shadow Kiss.  During this journey she meets various people who help or hinder her, and who, interestingly, could have been her if she’d made different life choices. What i liked The Alchemists.  Rose his helped by young Alchemist, Sydney, which is our first introduction to this secretive organisation.  Sydney is also the protagonist of the spinoff series Bloodlines.  I was intrigued by what I read about them and look forward to reading more in Bloodlines.  Handy tip: don’t read the preview of the new series at the end of the ebook if you don’t want to be spoiled about the rest of the VA series.  I hate it when publishers do that!  Anyway… I enjoyed how Sydney’s friendship with and understanding of Rose grew as they worked together. What-ifs.  I really enjoyed…

Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3) by Richelle Mead
Book Reviews , eBook reviews / January 27, 2014

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead is the third of six books in the Vampire Academy series.  In it Rose Hathaway must deal with the consequences of the events of Frostbite and learns more about the bond between Lissa Dragomir and her and the effects of being shadow kissed.  Her relationship with instructor Dimitri develops, but then tragedy strikes. Having read the entire Vampire Academy series now I consider Shadow Kiss as kind of a transition book in the way that Goblet of Fire is a major turning point for Harry in the Harry Potter series.  Up to and including Shadow Kiss Rose’s main preoccupations other than protecting Lissa are more normal teen concerns; her crush on Dimitri, getting enough good grades to pass class, not getting into trouble with the teachers, future career options, dealing with class bullies.  After the events of Shadow Kiss, she takes responsibility for herself and goes off into the adult world, with more adult cares and preoccupations.  The scope also expands to include the whole of Moroi society including the Court.  What I liked Character development.  Both Rose and Lissa continue to develop in interesting ways.  I liked how their knowledge of spirit increased, even though…

Reading Roundup and Audiobook Giveaway!
Giveaways , Reading Roundup / January 24, 2014

First of all in honour of the new site name, Scottish eReader, and also in honour of my current obsession with Vampire Academy, I have decided to host a giveaway of the first three books in Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy series.  They are:  Vampire Academy.  In which we first meet dhampir bodyguard-in-training Rose Hathaway and her best friend, good vampire Lissa Dragomir.  This is narrated by Stephanie Wolf. Go ahead and read my review of Vampire Academy.  Check out a sample.  Frostbite.  This is the second book in the series and Rose’s relationship with Dimitri deepens as does her and Lissa’s knowledge of spirit magic.  This is narrated by one of my favourite narrators, Khristine Hvam.  Check out my thoughts on the book.  Check out a sample.  Shadow Kiss.  Things start to get more serious between Rose and Dimitri and St Vladimir’s faces an unexpected threat and tragedy is ahead.  This is also narrated by Khristine Hvam.  Review coming soon.  Check out a sample. The prize will be gift codes to pick up the first three books from Audible.com.  In order to enter the giveaway, please check out the books on Audible.com, OR share the giveaway on your favourite social…

Reading Roundup and Audiobook Giveaway!
Reading Roundup / January 24, 2014

First of all in honour of the new site name, Scottish eReader, and also in honour of my current obsession with Vampire Academy, I have decided to host a giveaway of the first three books in Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy series.  They are:  Vampire Academy.  In which we first meet dhampir bodyguard-in-training Rose Hathaway and her best friend, good vampire Lissa Dragomir.  This is narrated by Stephanie Wolf.  Check out a sample.    Frostbite.  This is the second book in the series and Rose’s relationship with Dimitri deepens as does her and Lissa’s knowledge of spirit magic.  This is narrated by one of my favourite narrators, Khristine Hvam.  Check out a sample.    Shadow Kiss.  Things start to get more serious between Rose and Dimitri and St Vladimir’s faces an unexpected threat and tragedy is ahead.  This is also narrated by Khristine Hvam  Check out a sample.   The prize will be gift codes to pick up the first three books from Audible.com.  In order to enter the giveaway, please check out the books on Audible.com, share the giveaway on your favourite social media sites and leave a comment below telling me why you would like to have these great…

Reading Roundup and Audiobook Giveaway!
Giveaways , Reading Roundup / January 24, 2014

First of all in honour of the new site name, Scottish eReader, and also in honour of my current obsession with Vampire Academy, I have decided to host a giveaway of the first three books in Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy series.  They are:  Vampire Academy.  In which we first meet dhampir bodyguard-in-training Rose Hathaway and her best friend, good vampire Lissa Dragomir.  This is narrated by Stephanie Wolf. Go ahead and read my review of Vampire Academy.  Check out a sample.  Frostbite.  This is the second book in the series and Rose’s relationship with Dimitri deepens as does her and Lissa’s knowledge of spirit magic.  This is narrated by one of my favourite narrators, Khristine Hvam.  Check out my thoughts on the book.  Check out a sample.  Shadow Kiss.  Things start to get more serious between Rose and Dimitri and St Vladimir’s faces an unexpected threat and tragedy is ahead.  This is also narrated by Khristine Hvam.  Review coming soon.  Check out a sample. The prize will be gift codes to pick up the first three books from Audible.com.  In order to enter the giveaway, please check out the books on Audible.com, OR share the giveaway on your favourite social…

Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2) by Richelle Mead
Book Reviews , eBook reviews / January 22, 2014

Frostbite by Richelle Mead is the second in the Vampire Academy series of books and continues the story of Rose and Lissa.  We learn more about their bond and about the spirit magic that Lissa wields.  We also get to meet Rose’s mother, legendary dhampir guardian Janine Hathaway and we see the less than warm relationship the two share.  The attitude of Moroi towards their dhampir protectors and their lack of responsibility for their own safety is started to be explored through the character of Tasha Ozera. What I liked Character and relationship development.  I liked how the bond between Rose and Lissa continued to be explored. it was interesting that Mead presented the developments in such a way that Rose’s absorbing Lissa’s spirit darkness was obvious to the reader long before the characters themselves worked it out.  That is a technique used rather a lot by Mead.  Another example would be Adrian’s use of alcohol and drugs to counter spirit magic’s unwelcome side effects.  For me that worked well, although some readers may be rather irritated by the characters’ blindness to these developments. I also liked Rose’s realisation that killing Strigoi is not as glorious as it sounds in…