Changing Teams

Zombies Vs. Unicorns by Holly Black, Justine Larbalestier, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Maureen Johnson, Carrie Ryan, Scott Westerfeld, Meg Cabot, Garth Nix, Kathleen Duey, Margo Lanagan, Naomi Novik.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I went into this book as a reader with boxfuls of MLPs. Sure, I’m scared of horses, and pretty sure my parents’ Shetland is trying to kill me. But unicorns? Sign me up! Team Unicorn all the way.

Now, I don’t know whether it’s the love-story-heavy Team Zombie, or the high-ick-factor on Team Unicorn, but somewhere early on in this book, I realized that I have grown up, moved on... and changed teams. I’m now a Zombieland, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Hollowland kind of girl.

Between the gorgeous undead love stories, heart-breaking end-of-days dramas and skull-cracking comedies, I’m sold. (But I think I’ll hang on to that box of MLPs, just in case ;)).

My favourite stories? Love Will Tear Us Apart by Alaya Dawn Johnson, Bougainvillea by Carrie Ryan, The Care and Feeding of Your Baby Killer Unicorn by Diana Peterfreund, Inoculata by Scott Westerfeld.

If Dreamhunter was a cake...

Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Very Inception. Delicate and beautiful imagery. I was nearly 300 pages in before I realised that there hadn't been a love interest! And I still didn’t care! Lucky for me I have the sequel, because I really want to know what happens next!

And if Dreamhunter was a cake? It would be a raspberry lamington – delicate, intricate, deceptively easy, smooth, and (surprisingly) Kiwi.

One more week of NZ Book Month - have fun :)

Everything is possible!

New Zealand Book Month

It’s March! So, in honor of New Zealand Book Month, I’m reading some Kiwi YA. I have to admit, after years of reading, writing, and breathing US YA, the Kiwi slang is a fair jolt (and I speak it!)

If you’re looking to check out some New Zealand books, here are some ideas:

• For YA paranormal romance, check out Margaret Mahy’s The Changeover.*
  *Forgive the 80's cover and focus on the 600+ 4 and 5 star ratings on Goodreads :)
• For a poignant (& funny!) MG book, read See Ya Simon from David Hill. #gotaranaki!
• For a literary gut-wrenching, dive into Keri Hulme's The Bone People.

This month, I'm challenging myself with male POVs, drag cars, and science fiction. I'm reading Thunder Road (Ted Dawe), Smiling Jack (Ken Catran), and Dreamhunter (Elizabeth Knox). And of course, there's a whole lot of Hairy Maclary being chanted around the house!

Ooh, and if you are in New Zealand? You can get the NZ Book Month voucher for $5 off your next book store purchase here.

Happy New Zealand Book Month :)

Everything is possible!

K is for Kindle :)

Hundreds of books in your palm... what??!
You know, I'm still excited that I can nuke popcorn!

We live in a world of tiny little miracles - and great big ones :) And while I will always love the feeling of a book in my hands, for travel and convenience? I’m getting a Kindle! EEEEeeeeee!

Do you have a Kindle?
Do you love it?

Any advice?


(Can I handle the awesome?) 



Keep kicking ass!