The Third Rule (Eddie Collins #1) by Andrew Barrett

Synopsis:

When you're accused of murder, you'd better hide, run, or fight.

The Third Rule is England's new infallible capital punishment. But absolute proof of guilt is no longer required, so there’s a queue at the Slaughter House doors.
CSI Eddie Collins hasn't killed anyone, but he knows who has. That’s why he’s on the Slaughter House list, and when a government hunter tracks him down, Eddie has to fight or die.

“If you want to kill serious crime, you have to kill serious criminals.”
Sir George Deacon, Minster of Justice.

My review:

This is the first in Eddie Collins series and what a start. I have actually already had the pleasure to meet Eddie in Ledston Luck and actually liked his unlikable character. But The Third Rule has given me a fab insight into why Eddie can be such an ungentlemanly character.

At first I was confused and slightly afraid of the amount of characters that were being thrown at me for the first quarter of the book, but Andy has a great way of marrying up the story of each and every person and it all just slots together beautifully.

The overarching theme of this novel is the idea of ultimate punishment. The Rules should provide the country with a legal way of cleansing society of dark characters that are not allowing the ‘normal’ law-abiding members of public to live their lives to the full as they hide behind closed doors afraid of being burgled, attacked, killed etc. On the surface, the idea is excellent. You commit a crime; you get rule one. You recommit, you get rule three. And well, if that doesn’t stop you then the bullet of rule three will.

However, what happens when the rules are used for someone’s own gain of power. Let’s say a police officer just wants that promotion and will convict the easy target for a quick conviction, even though the evidence points the other way. Or if a high-power politician uses the rules to cover up tracks from his own crimes.

It’s a superb question of morals and it’s so well written, it keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time you read it. Eddie is a very unlikely hero and that’s what’s most attractive about him, because underneath all the darkness, he is a good, fair character that will do anything to stop injustice.

My rating: 5/5

Available to purchase from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Forte by J.D. Spero

Synopsis:

Back in New York City, piano filled Sami McGovern's life, but moving upstate has changed everything. Thanks to the coach at Skenesboro High, Sami's volleyball skills blossom like magic. But success comes at a cost, and the same sports drink that makes her a superstar silences her music. Worse still, to stay in the "in" crowd, she must betray the few true friends she has made in the tiny town. Her one hope: fulfil a prophecy to end the magic before it destroys her...and everyone else in its thrall.

My review:

Young adult fiction has for a while become somewhat stagnant in the whole vampire, supernatural genre, which I must admit I do enjoy as one of my guilty pleasures. But after reading Flawed by Cecelia Ahern and then this book I feel like this genre is now getting much bigger and covering more of the modern day issues that youngster these days have to face.

Forte started off slightly confusing and I couldn’t really identify with the main character Sami until about third of the book through. I found her too easy to jump between the two sides and I also found her so-called new friends unhelpful in their multiple warnings with no explanations – I would be frustrated so no surprise that Sami was. Being a pianist all her life, suddenly she signs up to the volleyball team. Her mum warns her against the team and the fascinating blue drink the athletes seems to drink like water, but of course being a typical teenager, Sami knows better and has to learn from her own mistakes before it’s too late and she loses her ability to play the piano forever.

What was quite well portrayed in this book was the peer pressure young adults go through to be with the cool gang, to be athletic, to look a certain way and to be noticed by the ‘right’ crowd. There is a clear sense of hierarchy and class separation at the school Sami attends as the new girl.

It’s an enjoyable book and I would say quite unique in its storyline and ideas.

Thank you to the author and the wonderful TBConFB for letting me read this book in return for an honest review.

My rating: 4/5

Available to purchase from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

The Eternity Road (1) by Lana Melyan

Synopsis:

When at her eighteenth birthday Amanda blows out the candles on her birthday cake, she wishes that Craig, her best friend Hanna’s brother, would finally notice her.

Her wish comes true less than half an hour later when Hanna gives her a present - an antique bracelet. To Amanda's astonishment, Hanna says, that the present isn't just from her, but also from her brother. But that isn’t the only surprise.

Later, Craig tells Amanda that two men are following her and that she is in danger, but he’ll do anything to keep her safe. This announcement brings up a lot of questions. Why did she suddenly become the center of Craig’s attention? What did these men want from her and who were they? But even though Hanna and Craig know what’s going on, they refuse to give her the answers.

What Amanda doesn’t know is that the men following her aren’t humans, but vampires. And Craig and Hanna, who moved to Green Hill to be close to her and protect her, are not ordinary people. They are the legendary Hunters, the ones who rid the world of supernatural evil. Strange, vivid dreams help Amanda understand that she has a mission. But she has no idea where this mission leads her and how close she is to uncover the deep secrets of her life.

My review:

This was a little bit of an easier read for me. Well written with likable characters and good ongoing story. If only I've realised it was first in a series and I will have to wait for the next book.

Amanda doesn't know who she is. Or better said she thought she knew who she was until her 18th birthday when the strange dreams started. In the dream she wakes up in a strange empty house. But she knows the house has something within it with strang pull that she cannot ingore.

Things go from bad to worse really quickly and Amanda soon realises that the world she thought she knew doesn't exist. That the stories she read about monsters lurking in shadows are true and she is part of something big and there is no way out.

The setting for this book was well thought out and all characters played well together. The bits sets in the past helped to paint a good picture of how each person developed into who they were today.

I very much enjoyed this book so big thanks to the author and TBConFB for giving me access in exchange for an honest review.

My score: 4/5

Available from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US