Catching Up....

I have finally started overcoming BabyBrain and finding myself more able to read nearer the speeds to which I was always accustomed. Not quite at my usual pace but I was still delighted to read a book in a day last week (I say day, this means whilst K had morning and afternoon naps plus an hour at bedtime). So to recap then:
The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
The first 3/4 of this book was just utterly sublime. The descriptions of Prague, of Karou and of her "family" were just breathtaking and transported me to another world. I was really excited by this book initially and felt like I had just fallen in love! The characters were well drawn generally and the plot was unfolding seamlessly. I did however find the tale of Madrigal a little predictable, not sure if it was meant to be but there were certainly no gasps of surprise here. I had been totally immersed in this book but somehow came adrift a little in the last part. That might have been due to the length of time before I picked it back up again (about 6 hours) however and therefore I do not wish to labour this point too much. Suffice it to say the book was enjoyable and compelling enough for me to have secured the second in the series.

The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R Carey
I started this with a  free sample on my Kindle and wanted more as a result. Now those who know me, know my love of zombies - The Enemy Series by Charlie Higson has to be one of my all-time favourites and I am a HUGE The Walking Dead fan. That said, zombies are a tried and tested genre and often fall into similar patterns. In this, as with The Enemy and The Cell (Stephen King), we see a different zombie to the usual mindless cannibals. These are not only sentient but are also children, a delightful twist. The main protagonist is Melanie and we learn about her world in a facility. The highlight for her are her lessons with Miss Justineau and she comes to have a huge significance for Melanie. I loved this book. The main characters were really well constructed and believable, the plot was beautifully unfolded to its stunning denouement and Melanie, well she wasn't quite the docile compliant girl we first thought (but I'll say no more to avoid Spoilers!). All in all this was a really good read and definitely one I would recommend.