Renounced by J.Lilley
Reviewed by Jo

As daughter of the leader of the Shalean tribe, Leira has always known her place, always understood her powers. She’s used to “hearing voices”, preferring telepathy to more conventional conversation. What she doesn’t like so much anymore is having a “mate” already picked out for her.
 
Donny is wonderful and handsome, over-protective and always inside her head.  

At just 16, she realises that her life has been planned for her and in a fit of anger at Donny and his possessive behaviour, she renounces her powers – all she’s ever known - choosing instead to experience life as a human.  

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Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Reviewed by Terri-Maree
Imagine being married to this man who you love so much but becomes grave when thinking about the past, and his late wife whom you never talk about. Imagine being haunted by the ever lurking memory of his late wife as you start your life together at his home.This is the scene that is set in Rebecca. 

'Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.'

The novel begins in the present, as seen above and it becomes apparent to the reader that the narrator no longer lives in Manderley. We never learn the name of the narrator, which is very relevant because of the title she gets when she marries Maxim de Winter.

Despite Maxim saying to her, 'You have a very lovely and unusual name', the narrator is still young and unsure of herself and of who she really is - and in marrying and becoming the new Mrs de Winter - her identity or rather her finding of her identity is stunted by the way the spirit or memory of the previous Mrs de Winter is still alive around Manderley.

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Earth unaware by Orson Scott Card
Reviewed by KJ
In Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game we never got the complete back story of how humanity found itself in a situation so desperate that it became acceptable to use children in war.

There were hints and brief references to the Formic Wars, but the details were largely left to the readers’ own imagination.

In Earth Unaware, co-authored by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston, we finally get to see how it all began. Buckle up, double-check your spacesuit, clip on your lifeline and prepare yourself - the buggers are coming and it’s going to be one hell of a ride!

Earth Unaware follows three main story lines. The first, and most important, is that of seventeen year old Victor Delgado onboard the El Cavador, a family-run mining ship eking out an existence in the Kuiper Belt.

Read the rest of his review here.

The Orchid House by Lucinda Riley
Reviewed by Terri-Maree
The Orchid House is one of the best books I have read in a long time. It is marvellously written with amazing descriptions and a story that will leave you hanging on the pages for more.

I was absorbed by the pages of this book and I felt as though I were in the tropical climates with Harry.You felt the despair and uncertainty of war with Olivia. You felt Julia's heartache and uncertainty. This book was marvellously written!

This story was very well plotted - with so many climaxes that you cannot put it down. I was very impressed with how well the lead up to each climax progressed - there wasn't just a bang in the story - it truly built up to a great revelation each time.

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13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Reviewed by Terri-Maree
I have never read a book like Thirteen Reasons Why before. What one tends to see in popular culture is those who are left behind after a loved one's suicide picking up the pieces of their lives, or we will see someone who has just had enough taking their life.

This wonderful book tells the story behind suicide so much better, it goes to the root of why Hannah felt she had no way out but to take her life.
 
This book is haunting and compelling, you need to see what happened to poor Hannah, what made her reach this conclusion. I could not put it down, I read this book through the night, I felt as though I were Clay listening to these tapes that could only lead to one outcome.

Read the rest of her review here.

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