REVIEW:The Vampire Hunters by Pete Johnson

On Marcus's thirteenth birthday his life changed for ever. That's when his parents told him the shocking truth: he's a half-vampire. Any notions that this could be cool went quickly out the window—he's been attacked by an evil vampire bat, had huge cravings for his best friend's blood, and nearly died from eating a pizza (half-vampires aren't great with garlic). Writing his secret blog is the only thing that’s kept him from going completely crazy. As if life couldn't get any more complicated, there have been some vicious attacks in the local woods. Vampire-mad Tallulah (definitely not Marcus's girlfriend) thinks a super-vampire is behind them—and she's desperate to prove it—with a mysterious chain that's supposed to glow red hot when a vampire is close by. Marcus has a horrible feeling the chain's going to turn red-hot any day now.

I knew I was going to like The Vampire Hunters because of loving The Vampire Blog, and I was right! I can't decide which one I like better, they're both brilliant. It was exciting and unpredictable, and of course, filled with the fantastic Marcus's trademark humour! If it wasn't for Marcus constantly cracking jokes, I don't think I would love this series half as much :)


We were introduced to a couple of new characters in this book, most notably Gracie. I really liked Gracie, possibly more than Tallulah! Tallulah is very cool and all, but she is so moody that it gets on my nerves sometimes! She annoyed quite a lot in this book. Gracie is really lovely, funny, and genuine! She's a great friend and it was great for Marcus to have a half-vampire friend that he can really be himself with! She was a brilliant new character, my second favourite  - after Marcus of course! Oh, Marcus. Hilarious as always! I loved him in The Vampire Hunters possibly even more than in The Vampire Blog, because of the way he dealt with things. He is able to make his slightly more than cringeworthy episodes, like his 'blind date' at the cinema, and the couple of times he started to roar uncontrollably, light and funny. He is confident but not arrogant, and was all-round, a well developed and likeable character! 


I have to admit, I did not guess the twist in the end! I should have suspected it, after what happened in The Vampire Blog, but I just didn't think! I like it when books surprise me though, and it was a good shock!


I read The Vampire Hunters in under a day. It is quite short, but also absolutely unputdownable. I raced through it, it was so addictive and I enjoyed every minute of it. I didn't want it to end! I can't recommend this series enough! Read it, then give it to any child you know :) And then let me know, did YOU guess the ending, or am I the only idiot who didn't?! ;)

Rating: 5/5

Source: For Review - a massive thanks to the publisher for sending me this in exchange for an honest review.

Format: Paperback
Pages: 264

Age group: 9+

Official Publication Date: 2nd June 2011
Publisher: Corgi Yearling, an imprint of Random House

Challenges:  British Books Challenge 

Letterbox Love #4

Letterbox Love is a new weekly meme, hosted by Narratively Speaking. It's a great way of sharing what books you receive every week, and I'm delighted to be taking part!

For review:
Between The Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer (ARC)
I was so excited for this book because I loved 'My Sisters Keeper' by Jodi Picoult. I have already read it and it's amazing! Review to come soon. Thanks Hodder and Stoughton


Starters by Lissa Price
I'm so excited for this one! It's supposed to be amazing! And the cover is so cool :) Thanks Random House.


Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (ARC)
This sounds great, and the ARC cover is awesome, thanks so much Bloomsbury!


Shattered Dreams by Ellie James
I had never heard of this or the book below before they turned up, but ooooh, I cannot wait for this, it looks awesome! I keep staring at the cover...it's so pretty!!!


My Family and Other Freaks by Caroline Midgley
This sounds like a fun, cute read, I'm looking forward to starting it. Thanks to Quercus for this and Shattered Dreams.


Torn by Amanda Hocking
I loved Switched, so I'm really looking forward to Torn! Thanks for this Macmillan.

Sorry for the sideways-ness :L

Bought:
The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
I keep hearing that this is incredible, and it was only €4 on Amazon so I had to get it! The cover is actually gorgeous :)


Insurgent by Veronica Roth
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP. :D I'm so happy to finally get this!!! Yay :) Divergent was (obviously) AMAZING so I of course had to buy this :) I would be reading it now but I have to read books for blog tours! :/ oh well!


What books did you get this week? Leave me a link and I'll drop by!

REVIEW:The Vampire Blog by Peter Johnson

Marcus has just found out he’s a half-vampire, just like his parents – though he only just found out they are too. He doesn’t know how to handle it and like everything else in life he tries to make a joke out of it. Until weird things start happening to him. His breath grows foul he starts craving blood and worst of all Vampires exist - and there’s one after him. Vampires love the taste of half-vampires “in season” which is what Marcus is whilst he’s changing from a human to a half vampire. Can Marcus keep away from the vampire and get over his terror of become half a monster?


 I was a bit hesitant about reading 'The Vampire Blog' before I began it. I thought it wouldn't really be my thing and would be a bit too 'boyish'. How wrong I was! The Vampire Blog is a hilarious, entertaining and gripping book. I finished it in just over a day and really enjoyed it, a lot more than I though I would!


Marcus (or 'Ved'!) was the protagonist and was so funny! He was a typical 12-year-old boy, confident and sarcastic, and he was always cracking jokes which drove his parents mad but made me laugh! I really liked Marcus and I think he would be easy for boys about 10-13 to relate to. His cousin Ryan was very annoying, I didn't like him at all! I liked how Marcus was always making fun of him :) Tallulah was awesome, she was a little bit weird and moody but very likeable!


I liked the way it was told in blog entries, it was a fun and appealing way to tell this great story! The Vampire Blog had such a fun idea and it certainly wasn't a wasted one! It wasn't a super original novel, but the author added interesting half-vampire and vampire trivia, which was fun to read about, and made the book more unique. 


I don't think I'm giving this book justice in my review. It is a really amusing and enjoyable book, which I found very hard to put down. Marcus is impossible not to like, and so is this book! The Vampire Blog is an engaging, funny, adventurous novel, and I think all boys and girls from the ages of 9-12 will love Marcus and his humorous (and even a little scary...) tale!

Rating: 5/5

Source: For Review - a massive thanks to the publisher for sending me this in exchange for an honest review.

Format: Paperback
Pages: 229

Age group: 9+

Official Publication Date: 27th May 2010
Publisher: Corgi Yearling, an imprint of Random House

Challenges: ABC Reading Challenge, British Books Challenge 

Winners!

Hey everybody! Sorry I took so long announcing the winners of my 100 followers giveaway, but I was away the last three days. Anway, thanks so much  to everyone who entered the competition and followed my blog! I am now at 185 followers, and I had 119 at the beginning of the giveaway! Thanks so much everyone :) So without further ado, here are the results....


100 follower giveaway #1- 
Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend by Cora Harrison
Jasmine Skies by Sita Brahmachari
All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Winner is - Beverley from A Reading Daydreamer

100 follower giveaway #2 - 

Shiver

Linger by Maggie Stievater

Winner is - Natalie Henderson

Congratulations both of you! You will both receive an e-mail shortly. If you don't reply within 3 days, a new winner will be chosen. Thanks for entering!

Thanks to Macmillan and Scholastic for providing the prize packs!

Letterbox Love #3

Letterbox Love is a new weekly meme, hosted by Narratively Speaking. It's a great way of sharing what books you receive every week, and I'm delighted to be taking part!

For review

Shift by Em Bailey
This looks amazing, I am dying to read it! Thanks Electric Monkey!

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth
I've heard mixed reviews about this, I'm looking forward to seeing what I think of it!














Won

The Case of The Cambridge Mummy by Joan Lennon
This looks a bit young for me, but still good enough! I'm sure I'll get round to it at some point.












Borrowed

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Macker
I was so happy to get this, it's been on my wishlist for ages! I'm reading and loving it!












What did you get in your letterbox?

I've been absent...

Hey everyone! I'm so sorry, I haven't posted in ages :( I do actually have a reason though! I have been really busy lately, with family stuff (not bad stuff, just stuff) as well as studying for some tests I have coming up, so I haven't really had any time at all to do any blog-related stuff. I haven't even been commenting lately or anything! For the next two weeks, I have even MORE family stuff, and I REALLY need to study for these exams! There's nine of them, oh my goodness ;) So I won't be posting much until the end of May when we get our summer holidays, and then I will be posting lots. I hope to post maybe 1 or 2 reviews and Letterbox Love's in the next two weeks, but I can't guarantee anything. See you soon (enough)!

Letterbox Love #2

Letterbox Love is a new weekly meme, hosted by Narratively Speaking. It's a great way of sharing what books you receive every week, and I'm delighted to be taking part!


For review

The Girl Who Cicumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
I had never heard of this book or this publisher! - before earlier on in the week when I got an e-mail about it, but I thought it looked good, and after receiving it I am dying to read it! The name is such a mouthful though ;) Look out for a blog tour for this one in June! Thanks Corsair and Blare.










What did you get in your letterbox?