Burn Bright - Marianne de Pierres

Synopsis: In Ixion music and party are our only beliefs. Darkness is our comfort. We have few rules but they are absolute . . .
Retra doesn’t want to go to Ixion, the island of ever-night, ever-youth and never-sleep. Retra is a Seal – sealed minds, sealed community. She doesn’t crave parties and pleasure, experience and freedom.
But her brother Joel left for Ixion two years ago, and Retra is determined to find him. Braving the intense pain of her obedience strip to escape the only home she’s ever known, Retra stows away on the barge that will take her to her brother.
When she can’t find Joel, Retra finds herself drawn deeper into the intoxicating world of Ixion. Come to me, whispers a voice in her head. Who are the Ripers, the mysterious guardians of Ixion? What are the Night Creatures Retra can see in the shadows? And what happens to those who grow too old for Ixion?
Retra will find that Ixion has its pleasures, but its secrets are deadly. Will friendship, and the creation of an eternal bond with a Riper, be enough to save her from the darkness?Listen well, baby bats. Burn bright, but do not stray from the paths. Remember, when you live in a place of darkness you also live with creatures of the dark. (From Goodreads)


I feel a bit neutral about his book. I didn't love it and I didn't dislike it. It was perfectly good and I found it enjoyable. It is different from your typical dystopia out there - pursuing pleasure instead of order - although order still plays a huge role whether the characters would like to admit it or not. The concept of Ixion was fascinating. Especially for the age group - where being young is a party. You can go, have people take care of all your needs, and you only need to have fun and remember to sleep every once in awhile. Sounds ideal, right? Right. (Ok. If I were 18 still, it would sound ideal. I think I'm aging way too fast - because this lifestyle sounds way too exhausting for me).

Retra was an interesting heroine. She chose to go to Ixion, but she didn't want to be there. As much as she wanted to escape the rigid obedience of the dystopian society she was raised in, she was also very reluctant to let go of her upbringing. I guess she wasn't really just escaping either - she's after her brother - who I actually think is a bit selfish and misguided. But she experiences this major change half way through the book and her character does a 180. That change is what sets Retra apart from other heroines. She doesn't change because she learns more or grows into herself - she changes because she is forced. It's not gradual either. One page she is Retra the Seal and on the next she's completely different. That was a bit jarring, but in a good way.

All the creatures, gangs, politics, rules, etc. of Ixion were a little hard to keep track of, but it didn't impede my understanding or enjoyment of the book. There's a lot of set up in this book, so I imagine the second would have the opportunity to be a lot more action and not as much explanation. There were a few characters, like Joel and Markan (the possible love interest...), who weren't fully fleshed out in this book and I'm really curious to know more about them. And the pirate! I got so excited that there was a pirate in this book and she barely made an appearance. Although, I think that might be a bigger part in book two, which makes me excited to continue in the series.

I can't put a finger on anything in this book that is lacking, but it just didn't have that extra umph - or it just didn't quite draw me in enough for me to go crazy about. Still, I'm really happy that I read it and I would recommend it to fans of dystopia who are getting a bit tired of the same plot lines and stock characters - because this one does (thankfully) break away from those things.

This book was published in Australia - so thanks so much to Dani @ Refracted Light for organizing the book tour and allowing me to read it!

Blood Song - Rhiannon Hart

Synopsis: I wanted to turn but I was held captive by the song on the wind. I’m coming, I told the voices. Please, wait for me.
When her sister becomes betrothed to a prince in a northern nation, Zeraphina’s only consolations are that her loyal animal companions are by her side – and that her burning hunger to travel north is finally being sated.
Already her black hair and pale eyes mark her out as different, but now Zeraphina must be even more careful to keep her secret safe. Craving blood is not considered normal behaviour for anyone, let alone a princess. So when the king’s advisor, Rodden, seems to know more about her condition than she does, Zeraphina is determined to find out more. Zeraphina must be willing to sacrifice everything if she’s to uncover the truth – but what if the truth is beyond her worst nightmares? (From Goodreads)

I got off to a slow start with Blood Song. It starts out with Zeraphina at home in her run down castle in her freezing cold country. In the beginning all we know is that she craves blood, feels drawn to the North, and she has an overbearing mother and a pure white princess of a sister who is her exact opposite. But not much happens in the first few chapters other than travel arrangements to go to meet Zeraphina's sister's prince of a fiance.

The beginning feels a bit simplistic in both world building and character development. I don't think I connected with Zeraphina until much later in the book. Her mother didn't make a lot of sense to me because she's the queen of her country, she's the one in charge, yet all she worries about are dresses and the way her daughters present themselves. She's more of a Mrs. Bennet than a Queen Elizabeth and that felt a bit incongruous.  I actually think what kept me interested in the beginning were Zeraphina's animals - a cat named Leap and an eagle named Griffin that follow her around wherever she goes.

Things started getting more interesting once there was actual movement. But still it wasn't until the last 70 pages or so that I found I was really into the story. Most of what came before was Zeraphina trying to figure out who she is and what secrets the king's advisor, Rodden, is hiding. Yet once she actually ends up in the country to the north that she's felt so drawn to and finally learns everything things start getting really good.

It's near the end that this book really pulls out the fantasy adventure aspects and Zeraphina's personality is drawn out. The things people fear in the world are truly terrifying and the land they live in is dark but vivid. The concept behind her blood cravings turns out to be very interesting (and I was very happy that they weren't vampire things, they were just vampire-like). I also really like the idea that people just accept the way the world is, and have no idea that there is a force out there making it that way. And I love that when Zeraphina finds this out, she does something about it.

I actually felt like as I was reading, Rhiannon Hart was growing stronger as a writer. I felt like I was watching her own progression. So the beginning was a little weak, but by the end I was entranced. If I get the chance, I'll definitely pick up the second book in the series. Because, now that I know Zeraphina and Rodden a little better, I feel invested in what happens to them.

I'm so glad I got a chance to read this Australian book, so thanks so much to Dani @ Refracted Light for organizing the book tour!