 WHEN THE VOICES CALL, DON'T ANSWER... In the wake of his parents' tragic deaths fourteen-year-old Richard Elauved has been sent to live with his aunt and uncle in the remote town of Ballantyne, where all is not as it seems. Richard quickly earns a reputation as an outcast, and when a classmate named Tom goes missing, no one believes him when he says the telephone booth out by the edge of the woods sucked Tom into the receiver like something out of a horror movie. No one, that is, except the enigmatic Karen, who encourages Richard to pursue clues the police refuse to investigate. He traces the number to an abandoned house in the woods. There he catches a glimpse of a terrifying face in the window. And then the voices start. REVIEW
When Richard's parents die in a fire, he is sent to live with his aunt and uncle. He hangs out with a boy called Tom, but a prank turns deadly and Richard is left trying to figure out what happened. This book is very twisty and it is essentially told in three parts. If you are a fan of Stephen King, big twists and weird stones then it might be for you. 3.5 out of 5 star
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 Dorothy Must Die meets Alice in Wonderland! This is not a story of happily ever after – it’s the twisted YA origin story of an infamous villain… Dinah is a princess, the future Queen of Hearts, who will one day reign over Wonderland. Unaware of the dark depths of her kingdom; she longs only for her father’s approval and to reign with the boy she loves. But when a betrayal breaks her heart and threatens her throne, Dinah is launched into the dangers of Wonderland. She must stay one step ahead of her enemies or she’ll lose not just the crown, it will be off with her head! Evil is brewing in Wonderland, and maybe, most frighteningly, in Dinah herself. The first in an epic, imaginative series tells the origin of one of the most infamous villains – the Queen of Hearts. REVIEW
Princess Dinah is set to take over Wonderland from her father. Her brother, the mad hatter, cannot rule and she is his only other heir or so she thinks. Then her father introduces her half sister to her. As she tries to carry out her duties, she soon learns that there are many secrets being kept in the palace. This reimagining of Wonderland was interesting, with a dark edge to it. It was quite clear to me what the 'plan' was from the beginning, but when you consider Dinah's relationship with her father and how she was raised, she has no reason to think anything different. The story moved at a good pace and there is a book two as this ends on something of a cliffhanger. I will definitely be checking out the next book. 4 out of 5 stars.  The magical Sídhe have been expelled from their home and forced into the Grey Land - a place under the earth; a place of darkness and death. But now they've returned to take back what they lost. All teenagers will be called, and when your time comes, you have to be ready to run or fight to the death. The vengeful Sídhe will grab you by surprise - you could be studying or hanging out with friends when suddenly you're pulled into their terrifying world, alone and hunted. Only one in ten will return alive - the rest subjected to a tortuous and painful death. No one believes Nessa can survive The Call, but after years of torment and, worse, pity - she's determined to prove them wrong . . REVIEW
Nessa and the other teens of Ireland are being hunted by the Fae. Taken during puberty to the Grey Lands, they are chased through the night, while only being missing in the real world for three minutes. This book really pulled me in. The Idea was intriguing and I would have loved this as a teen. It is quite dark, so a warning is needed for younger teens. Nessa is an interesting character. Having a character with a disability that puts her at a severe disadvantage does add more tension to the story. The author's writing style is a little unusual in that on occasion it feels the same scenes are being skipped over where readers would like to know more, but there is enough of a hint to keep you wondering. It was a creepy, entertaining read. I would give it 4 out of 5 stars  Zélie remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. When different clans ruled – Burners igniting flames, Tiders beckoning waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoning forth souls. But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, anyone with powers was targeted and killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope. Now Zélie has a chance to bring back magic to her people and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must learn to harness her powers and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good. Danger lurks in Orïsha, where strange creatures prowl, and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to come to terms with the strength of her magic – and her growing feelings for an enemy . . . Review
Zélie lost her mother when magic was taken away, now that she has a chance to restore it, she wants revenge. When she meets Princess Amari, they clash over the situation, as they try to figure out what to do next. I enjoyed the story and how the two main characters interacted. They come from two different worlds, but they are both good people at heart. Zélie has struggled with loss, poverty and trying to help her family. When she learns magic can be restored, she feels like things can finally change. Meanwhile, Amari lived a life of privilege, but when she sees someone she cares about die, it turns her world upside down. The story examines how oppression can impact people and what happens when the oppressed fight back. It shows that it is important to choose a side and stand up for others and that no one should be stripped of a part of themselves. It was a very good book and I will be reading the next in the series. 4.5 out of 5 stars. |
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About the Author:S. K. Gregory is an author, editor and blogger. She currently resides in Northern Ireland. “Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s.” 
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