Book Review: Mystic City (Mystic City #1)

Mystic City (Mystic City #1) by Theo Lawrence

 

 

Format: Paperback (arc)

Publishers: Corgi

Published: 11th October 2012

Pages: 397

Main Characters: Aria, Hunter, Thomas

Date Started: 10th October 2012

Date Finished: 17th October 2012

Rating Given: *** 1/2

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

For fans of Matched, The Hunger Games, X-Men, and Blade Runner comes a tale of a magical city divided, a political rebellion ignited, and a love that was meant to last forever. Book One of the Mystic City Novels.

Aria Rose, youngest scion of one of Mystic City's two ruling rival families, finds herself betrothed to Thomas Foster, the son of her parents' sworn enemies. The union of the two will end the generations-long political feud—and unite all those living in the Aeries, the privileged upper reaches of the city, against the banished mystics who dwell below in the Depths. But Aria doesn't remember falling in love with Thomas; in fact, she wakes one day with huge gaps in her memory. And she can't conceive why her parents would have agreed to unite with the Fosters in the first place. Only when Aria meets Hunter, a gorgeous rebel mystic from the Depths, does she start to have glimmers of recollection—and to understand that he holds the key to unlocking her past. The choices she makes can save or doom the city—including herself.
 

For me the moment I saw this cover I wanted to read it so I was very happy when Corgi (Random House) kindly sent me a copy for me to review (Big thanks to Corgi) I just wish I loved the story as much as I did the cover.

I love this cover and I have even done a Book Talk post about it. I love the way it looks mystical as it matches the title and even the actual story.  There is nothing that I don't like about the cover.

This book has the whole Romeo and Juliet romance going on which I loved that part of the story even though for most of the story I'm (and Aria) not sure who is the Romeo of the story. I found it a very confusing book but this is because Aria is also confused as she has no memory of what is happening which in turn makes for a very confusing book. Even though I understand why the book is confusing, I just couldn't get past it until things started to get cleared up which didn't really happen until close to the end. Once things started to get cleared up it became such a thrilling read that I just didn't want to put it down. I love that there is so many twists and turns I never quite know who is the good guy it led to some shocking moments. I liked that this was a dystopian novel with a paranormal twist which I wasn't expecting.

It took a while to actually like Aria but once I got to know her better she grew on me and I think she will continue to do so in the next book. To begin with she seems like your typical spoilt rich girl but I soon learn she has some hidden depths and she will fight for what she believes in. Hunter I liked from the moment he entered as he was such a strong character especially with the thing he has and is going through. I can't really say much else about the other characters without giving the story away but what I will say is that not everyone is who they seem which makes for (sometimes) an exciting read.

Overall once you get past all the confusion it's not a bad book and I am looking forward to see where the story takes us next.

Book Cover Talk: Mystic City

 

This week's book cover that I am talking about is...

 

 

 

Mystic City by Theo Lawrence

 

I say this nearly every week but it's the same with this book as all of the others that from the moment I saw this cover I fell in love with it. It's one of those cover that made me put the book on my wishlist the moment that I saw it and I am so glad that Corgi Publishers sent me a finished review copy and I have just started it.

The actual book cover looks even better than the picture I didn't think that was even possible.

I love the way it looks mystical so that it fits into the title of the book as well they have also put in the city behind the girl which I love. The city backdrop you can't really see on the picture as much as you can the physical book but let me tell you it looks stunning. It does look 3D which gives it a realistic look but with the transparency being faint it looks like a projection which gives it a futuristic feel to the cover. Although I'm not certain of this but I think that the book is set in the future but having only read the first chapter I am not 100%certain.

I love the muted colours but then the backdrop looks like an actual city all lit up it looks so pretty.

There are a lot of book with a profile of one of the characters and this one is no exception but because of the backdrop and then her hair this cover really does stand out. I love the hair it's my favourite part of the book as it looks like her hair is smoking I find it very eye catching. What I find a bit strange is the fact that the girl is solid up top but when you look closer at the hands it looks a bit transparent like the buildings whether that is deliberate I'm not sure.

I think my least favourite part of the cover is the font of the title as it's a little bit too plain for my liking but that isn't a huge deal as when I look closer I can see a light curve but compared to the rest it doesn't stand out. Also I don't like the composition of the title as it hides some of the hair/smoke.

Book Review: Witchstruck (Tudor Witch #1)

Witchstruck (Tudor Witch #1) by Victoria Lamb

Format: Paperback (arc)
Publisher: Corgi Children's
Published: 5th July 2012
Pages: 368
Main Characters: Meg, Alejandro
Date Started: 30th May 2012
Date Finished: 2nd June 2012
Rating Given: ****

Blurb from Goodreads:

Meg Lytton has always known of her dark and powerful gift. Raised a student of the old magick by her Aunt Jane, casting the circle to see visions of the future and concocting spells from herbs and bones has always been as natural to Meg as breathing. But there has never been a more dangerous time to practise the craft, for it is 1554, and the sentence for any woman branded a witch is hanging, or burning at the stake.
Sent to the ruined, isolated palace of Woodstock to serve the disgraced Elizabeth, daughter of Henry VIII and half-sister of Queen Mary, Meg discovers her skills are of interest to the outcast princess, who is desperate to know if she will ever claim the throne. But Meg's existence becomes more dangerous every day, with the constant threat of exposure by the ruthless witchfinder Marcus Dent, and the arrival of a young Spanish priest, Alejandro de Castillo, to whom Meg is irresistibly drawn - despite their very different attitudes to her secret.
Thrilling and fast-paced, this is the first unputdownable story in a bewitching new series.

I actually never knew about this series but when I asked for a review copy of a different book from Random House they very kindly gave me this to review as well which I am very grateful for as it was a very enjoyable read.

The cover is not as eye catching as the cover that I usually love but it's not a bad cover either. I love the font for the title as it looks very elegant but I think it would look better in the style of writing that would have been used back then although it does have an old feel to it. I do like the fact that they have used a girl in this style of dress as then you kind of get an idea for the period in which it was set.

This is my first book written by Victoria Lamb but I don't think it will be my last. To start with I didn't really get the style that she was using as at the beginning she would be saying one thing but then go into something that had happened to the character a while ago. This was confusing to start with but it was nice to know what the characters had done to lead up to that particular point but this didn't happen much and when it stopped I really enjoyed the book. I love a bit of history and I love the way Lamb used the Queen Mary time period it was interesting to see a different take on the time. It was a beautiful world that she created and one I am glad I was able to read about with the beautiful surroundings and even the dresses.

I do love a good witch story and this is no different. I would have liked to have seen more spells but with it being set in a time where witches where hanged or even burned they had to be careful on who was around to witness such a crime. There was always something happening so much so I didn't want to put it down there was even parts that I was on the edge of my seat while reading it. As well as action there was some humour thrown in there as well which I love a book to have otherwise it would be all doom and gloom. I loved that there was loads of twists and turns that I for one never expected. There is some questions left unanswered but I'm sure they will get answered in the coming books.

The characters was very likable well the good guys was but as always there was a villain thrown into the mix for us to hate. The main female character Meg I really liked as she always stood up for what she believes in and for what she actually is, she was no walkover. I loved that she would put herself in danger just to save someone else. Although there was times when she was just plain stupid. Alejandro wasn't in it as much as what I would have liked but he was great when he was in it although we are left thinking about his intentions for quite a lot of the book. I didn't really get the chemistry between Alejandro and Meg there didn't really seem to be any which I was a bit disappointed about as I was expecting this sizzling passion but I just never got it.

Overall a very enjoyable book that I am looking forward to continue on the journey.