The Shattering

This is an author to watch out for - her first book, Guardians of the Dead, a retelling of what I think were Maori myths (certainly no myths/stories that I'd grown up with) was a great read, and this one shows she's getting better at her craft. Again the setting is New Zealand, so while there is some......more

The writing itself is good and the voices of the three different POV characters were distinctive and appropriately teenagery. I really liked Keri and Janna. Keri is smart and strong, and Janna is cool and fun (and not nearly as shallow as she thinks she is). And I thought it was interesting that the......more

I highly enjoyed this teenage drama/mystery with a supernatural edge. The town of Summerton had me enchanted from the start - a West Coast town where it doesn't rain? Certainly, there did seem something suspicious about it. It may be a fictitious place, but it reminded me rather of the small NZ coun......more

Originally posted on The Book Smugglers HERE Review: First Impressions: Ana: Karen Healey’s first book, Guardian of the Dead, took me entirely by surprise last year and it even made its way to my top 10 of 2010. I had been waiting for her sophomore novel ever since and it is with great relief that I sa......more

This book was mysterious and had a good climax and the characters fit well with the book but the ending could've been a little better. The falling action and resolution could've tied together better. The beginning was very interesting and got to the point. Sometimes it took a little time to find out......more