THE LAST PRINCESS by Shelley Wilson @ShelleyWilson72 #TuesdayBookBlog

4.5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon (universal link)
On Goodreads

How I discovered this book:  Disclaimer: I know the author and was excited about reading this book, but this has in no way affected the content of the review; if I had not liked it, I would not have reviewed.

In a Nutshell:  YA historical, Vikings and Saxons.

I'm mad for anything about Vikings and Saxon history, and some of this book is set in an area near where I live, so I was looking forward to it.  From the way Shelley Wilson talked about it on social media as she was researching and writing, I had a feeling it would be good, and it is.

First of all, I am aware that I am decades older than the target market; I would say it's quite young YA, as it would be the sort of book I'd have loved when I was 12 or 13, and if I had a young teenage daughter I would be happy for her to read it.  I tried at all times to read it with this in mind, though it's a cracking story whatever age you are, and I very much enjoyed it.  There is one scene that is a bit more sexually explicit than I expected, but no more so than some books available in children's libraries today.

(I mention reading it with its target market in mind, because some reviews on Goodreads appear to assess it as if it were an adults' book, which must be so frustrating for both author and publisher.)

The Last Princess is loosely based on the 9th century taking of the Northumbrian throne by Aelle, starting with the murder of King Osberht, his brother.  Whether or not Shelley Wilson's Edith, the daughter of Osberht, existed, I don't know; little is definite about that period.  This novel is about her life as a Northumbrian princess, the loss of her family, and the many adventures that took her from a slave ship to Viking battlefields.   It's got the lot: fear,brutality, love, hardship, betrayal, loss - I would actually like to read a longer version for AA (actual adults!), because I  enjoyed it so much.

Edith's growth and change throughout the story is believable, and my favourite character was Jarl Aaric, the Viking leader who becomes an important part of her life.  One aspect about it that I loved was how it didn't talk down to the reader, or try to push forward certain narratives, like so much in YA-orientated fiction (written word and TV) these days.  Ms Wilson has not shied away from the brutality of the time, or given her characters present-day attitudes.  In the 9th Century, people were far more close to death than we are now, and this is reflected.

Any negatives?  Only the occasional use of the word 'gifted' where 'given' or 'gave' would have done just fine; it's an Americanism that should have been pounced on by the editor.  However, apart from wincing each time I read this (and do bear in mind that it's a pet hate of mine - you may not mind it!), I wholeheartedly recommend this book - if you have a teenage daughter, buy it for her now - she will love Edith!

DEPARTURES by E J Wenstrom @EJWenstrom #RBRT

4 out of 5 stars

On Amazon UK
On Amazon.com
On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: it was submitted to Rosie's Book Review Team, of which I am a member.

In a Nutshell: YA dystopian, brainwashing, mind control.

I adored the premise of this book - it is set way into the future, after devastating wars, in a part of the world ruled by the 'Directorate'.  Here, citizens live in environmentally safe domes called Quads, where every aspect of their lives is observed, every move they make controlled by their governors.  

To an extent, I saw this situation as a clever take on a world that could be waiting for us: the mildest physical or mental ill health is to be feared, free speech is not an option and the primary objective is safety for all.  No risk taking, no individuality, no strong ideals to make a stand for.  It made me think of a video I saw recently, from the Academy of Ideas (see below; it's worth a watch!).  

In the Quads, extremes of emotion are not allowed, and grief is treated with medication - which brings me to the title of the book.  All citizens have their 'departure' (death) date tattooed on their arm.  Many will live for over a century, but others are allowed far less time on this earth. Evie doesn't know why she is to die at aged seventeen, but, as with every other custom in the Quads, the 'departure' procedure is presented as a kindness; the Directorate wishes to spare the individual any pain or discomfort.

Full compliance is essential; any diversion from the official line, from the prescribed behaviour, is not tolerated.  

'The Directorate would do whatever was necessary to placate its citizens.  There would be an explanation.  A distraction.  And then life would move forward.  A few might question it all for a bit, but the tug of a content, easy life would ultimately lull them back into line.  Because, I realise, here's the kicker: what most people want is not to trust their government.  It's not to build a better world.  All they want is to be comfortable ... and with a sickening twist to my stomach, I realise that I am one of them.'

The problem with Evie's departure ceremony is not only that she doesn't know why she must die when her life has hardly begun. Her departure doesn't happen as it should. She lives. She is one of the few for whom the euthanasia medication doesn't work.

The book alternates between the points of view of Evie, as she finds herself outside the Quads in a strange world that isn't supposed to exist, and her sister Gracelynn, who is confused, hurting over the loss of her sister, and beginning to wonder if their lives are based on lies.  The writing itself is clear and effective, and the compelling plot line flows along.  Evie and Gracelynn's discoveries come to light gradually, with truths unravelling at just the right pace.  

For the first half of the book, Evie and Gracelynn's personalities were well-defined, very different, but as the action ramps up they become more alike.  This novel is YA, not usually my genre of choice as I have not been a young adult for decades, but I couldn't resist the plot.  I felt this was right for the younger end of the YA range; I can imagine liking it when I was about fourteen but finding it a bit too simplistic when older.

I would have liked some sort of explanation about where in the world this was supposed to take place; as this is a couple of hundred years or more into the future, it could be that the author envisions a world in which the countries as we know them no longer exist - fair enough.  There is a little background information, but I would have liked more, and to know how large an area the Quads are supposed to cover, as well as how big they are - I couldn't imagine them.  The only other problems I had with it were a) overuse of the word 'goofy',  and b) the malfunctioning euthanasia process - even now, there exists the means to put people to death quickly and effectively, so it seems unlikely that in a couple of centuries' time they would still be making errors.  However, any books of this genre require some belief suspension here and there, and this didn't bother me too much.  Not as much as all the goofy grins, anyway, or 'Jeeze' being spelled 'Geez' (as an expression of annoyance, it's short for 'Jesus') - repetitions and misspellings are something we all do, but these should have been picked up by the editor.

Departures is a stand-alone, though I imagine there is more to come; I liked the rather uncertain ending (no spoilers!), particularly Gracelynn's outcome.  E J Wenstrom has created a spookily plausible future world, and I'd certainly be interested in seeing what happens next.

Why an Obsession with Safety creates Sick Minds and a Sick Society

THE 5TH WAVE by Rick Yancey

3 out of 5 stars

On Amazon UK
On Amazon.com

On Goodreads

On BookBub 

How I discovered this book: Amazon Browse

In A Nutshell: Post Apocalyptic thriller, with EMP blackouts, tsunamis, pestilence and aliens (yep, it's got the lot!). It is also YA.

I didn't realise when I bought this book that it's YA.  I've recently read other post-apocalyptic books in which the main characters were adolescent, that didn't feel YA at all.  It was only later that I looked at its categories on Amazon, and discovered the intended audience.

That having been said, at first I loved it.  Starts with Cassie, who is 16, in the later stages (the 4th wave) of the takeover of Earth by aliens.  Back to when they first appear - a ship, hovering near us in space for 10 days, while the entire country is in uproar about what it might mean.

The 1st wave is an EMP blackout that wipes out the electrical grid.  The 2nd is a spate of tsunamis around all coastal areas, forcing survivors into the centre of all countries.  3rd, a plague that wipes out 97% of humanity.  The 4th is discovered only gradually - apparent humans who are 'infested' with something that alters their brains to make them think like the aliens.

First we see what happens to Cassie, from the 1st-4th waves.  Next, a chapter from the POV of a teenage boy, who actually survives the plague.  Thirdly, one from the POV of one of the soldiers whose was impregnanted with whatever it is that the aliens put there - this happened 4 years before.  This part, in particular, I found most absorbing.

Then we go forward a little and find Cassie trapped in the snow, almost dead.  This is where the book fell down for me.  Her saviour just happens to be an amazingly hot-looking guy of around 18, who is living in a cabin alone.  Somehow, he has all the equipment and know-how to save her from certain death.  Despite them having lost everything, being in horrendous danger and, no doubt, deep shock, the two engage in flirtatious teen banter, and it becomes more like the sort of romance I would have abandoned even when I was at the younger end of the book's target market.  So I stopped reading it, which was shame, because the rest of it was SO good.  I might go back to it, and just skip-read the romance bits.  I'm not sure. 

I wouldn't normally review a book I didn't finish, but I am doing so because a) I had already set up this page with the links, b) the rest of it was extremely good, and c) it might help other YA writers to realise that 'teenage' doesn't mean 'unaware that developments are ludicrous'.  On the other hand, it's got literally thousands of great reviews, so maybe it's just me.  On the other other hand, some of the lower star ones also complain about the emphasis on the teen crush, rather than the excellent plot.  So maybe it's not.

 

 

KNIGHT IN PAPER ARMOR by Nicholas Conley

3.5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon UK
On Amazon.com
On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: it was submitted to Rosie's Book Review Team, of which I am a member.

In A Nutshell: Supernatural/dystopian/near future US

Billy Jakobek was born with powerful psychic abilities and has lived most of his life in a town called Heaven's Hole, under the care of the Thorne Corporation that dominates America.  Billy absorbs the physical pain, trauma and memories of everyone he meets, which, most of the time, causes him fear and sadness.  He frequently visited by an entity called The Shape, which he perceives as being the darkness in man, and which predicts a calamitous future for mankind.

At school, Billy meets Natalia, with whom he feels an immediate, powerful connection—it is more than just attraction.  Elsewhere, we learn more about Billy's 'Mother', aka scientist Roseanne, and Caleb Thorne himself.  I liked that the author wrote chapters from Roseanne and Caleb's point of view, too, as shows us what is really going on behind the scenes—and what Caleb's plans are once he has harnessed Billy's powers.

I liked the feeling of depressed doom about the town of Heaven's Hole, in which immigrant workers live and work in appalling conditions, though I would have liked to know more about it, and also how the country came to be how it is now—more background would have been welcome. 

The characterisation is good; I had a clear picture of who each of the main players were, and the dialogue is strong and realistic, the emotions portrayed well.  What I was not so keen on was the frequency of inner thoughts in italics (on just about every page), and the fact that the book was more YA-orientated than I thought it would be; I would class it as a YA book even though it is not listed as such.  One can have enough 'teen speak'.

I thought this book would be very much my cup of tea, though it wasn't so, but it's good of its type, and it is clear that a lot of work and thought has gone into it; and the aspects I was not so keen on are down to personal taste rather than there being anything wrong with the book.  I've given it 3.5* for how much I enjoyed it, though it's worthy of 4* for readers who enjoy teen-supernatural books with powerful themes of good and evil, and the overcoming of light over dark.

 

SUBJECT A36 by Teri Polen @tpolen6

4 out of 5 stars

On Amazon UK
On Amazon.com
On Goodreads 

How I discovered this book: I have 'met' the writer through Twitter; she was asking if anyone would like an ARC.  The subject matter interested me, so I said yes please!

In a Nutshell: YA Dystopian, genetic engineering.

I admit that I didn't realise this book was YA when I went for it—my fault!  It's about some time in the future when the fortunate (the rich) of an unnamed place in the US live in 'The Colony', and where they can pay for genetic engineering to ensure their families have the best health and looks.  The book starts with Asher, as a boy, having to flee from an army after him and his sisters to harvest their genes.  In chapter two, he is seventeen, and an operative with the insurgents, who free children captured for gene harvesting, aiming to reunite them with their families where possible.  

The other main character, who has his own POV chapter, is Oz; a bit of a misfit, humourous; I liked him.  

Asher and his people discover that The Colony is searching for a certain person, known as Subject A36—and the fight is on.

This is a very 'easy read', and the writing flows very well indeed.  I am not the ideal person to review it as I am over 45 years older than the audience for which it was intended, but I am sure that if I was between 11 and 14 it would be right up my street!  It's a good story, imaginative, and far from entirely unfeasible.

THE LOUDEST SILENCE by Kate L Mary

4 out of 5 stars

On Amazon UK
On Amazon.com
On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: I've read stacks of this author's books and actually can't keep up with the rate at which she writes them!

In a Nutshell: Zombie apocalypse, nine years in, set in Oklahoma.  Possibly YA.

A new zombie apocalypse series, set in the same world as the fabulous Broken World series, but in Oklahoma, starring Reagan, a 21-year-old who has been taken care of by her brother's best friend, Kellan, since the collapse occurred, nine years before, when their families all died.  They're now in a secret underground shelter, with four others - I liked that three of the characters actually come from one of the short stories in Broken Stories - love this sort of detail/connection.

Kate Mary is as readable as ever, and this story zips along, with some great new plot ideas that make it stand out from the usual collapse/survival/fight off zombies and scary people scenarios - I liked, too, that it started nine years in.  

Ms Mary does incorporate a fair bit of romantic suspense into her post apoc stories - a warning for those who don't like this element.  Whereas I was mostly fine with it in the Broken World series, because Vivian and Axl's relationship was so heartrendingly real, I wasn't so keen in this one.  Like, we knew they were going to end up together, so I didn't need to read about Reagan's frustrated hormones and Kellan's avowals of 'I have to keep you safe' every few pages; I was keen to get back to the survival/danger aspects.  But perhaps that's just me, not being into romantic suspense.  If you are, you'll love it.

I didn't find the characters quite so compelling in this story as the previous series, but I still kept reading because I loved the setting, the plot is excellent, and she writes so well.

CLONE CRISIS by Melissa Faye

4.5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon UK
On Amazon.com
On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: it was submitted to Rosie's Book Review Team, of which I am a member.

Genre: Dystopian, Futuristic, SciFi 

I really enjoyed this book.  I'm not its target audience, which is (it says) YA/NA, but it's the sort of intelligent YA that's not terribly 'teen'.  It's set in the US about 300 years in the future, when a 100 year long fertility crisis means that the human race continues by way of cloning.  Obviously this means no families; citizens live in communities, where they are divided into Gold, Silver, Bronze and Grey categories, according to intelligence and capability tests taken at a young age, and assigned a job most suited to them ~ allegedly.

It's all about the community.  Most follow the culture and rules laid down by the authorities without question, but the main character, a 'Gold' intern doctor called Yami, has started to think that all is not as it seems.  Then the impossible happens: someone gets pregnant.

I liked Yami very much; she's antisocial, doesn't require many friends, and says what she thinks because she doesn't care too much what others think of her.  The blinkered believers and followers of rules get on her nerves.  Some of her friends are super-irritating in their inability to see what was really going on, but such is the way of things in these dystopian worlds.  The writing flows well, all the characters are clearly defined, and the story is not predictable.  The science is convincing, too, when it needed to be; I never thought, uh-oh, she doesn't know enough about this stuff.  It's clear, for instance, that computer hacking/concealing of data is not her area of expertise, but it's written in such a way that the reader has all the information he/she needs. 

There were a couple of areas that I felt could have been dealt with more fully; for instance, Yami and her friends have to leave the community to travel across country to others, over land they have never seen before, but there was nothing about what the country actually looks like, 300 years on.  Where are all the old cities and towns?  I'd have thought the characters would have been gazing about in wonder, and I was looking forward to knowing what America was like outside these small, artificial settlements, but there was nothing.  Or perhaps Ms Faye didn't consider that necessary for a YA/NA novel ~ as I said, I'm not exactly its target market.

Yes, I'd recommend it for any lovers of light, dystopian/futuristic scifi.  The ending is excellent, and made me want to read more, which I definitely will do.

OATH BREAKER by Shelley Wilson @ShelleyWilson72

4 out of 5 stars

On Amazon UK
On Amazon.com
On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: I know the author from the Twitter writers community but had never read her books.  I had, however, seen a few very good reviews for this one, and decided to cut my YA Fantasy teeth on it.
Please note: I told Shelley that if I found YA werewolves were totally not my thing then I would let her know, rather than write some bullshit half-hearted/dishonest review.  As it happened, although I doubt this will ever become a favourite genre (something to do with being over 40 years older than the target market, I imagine), I thought Oath Breaker was jolly good!

The story starts with motherless Mia's horrible father having been killed by a werewolf, Mia being shipped off with the cold, distant Uncle Sebastian, and madly missing her beloved brother, Zak.  Mia is most surprised to discover that Uncle Sebastian runs a school for werewolf hunters.  Enter evil bitch Felicity, new pals Lizzie and Adam, and a total hottie called Cody who Mia meets when out running a marathon.

She uncovers a truth about the (life and) death of her mother, hears strange rumours about what is really going on at the Hood Academy (and the odd mysterious scream), and know she must take the oath to become a fully-fledged werewolf hunter...

So why did I like this, much to my surprise?  I'm not au fait with the werewolf world (being more of a zombie sort of girl), but I was most interested to find out what it's all about!  Shelley Wilson writes in a great style that's so readable, and the characters all came to life with ease; I wanted to know about them.  Most of all, though, the atmosphere really worked.  There are no great pages of description, but this book is real proof that writing can be descriptive without being chock-full of adjectives and metaphors.  I could feel the still, dense, damp wood where Mia met Cody, see the quiet village with its tea shop, imagine the dark halls of the Hood Academy (not sure if they were meant to be dark, but they felt so to me!).  I wanted to be in the story ~ and any book that provokes that reaction gets a tick v.g from me!

Yes, I liked it.  And I imagine that if I was a YA who was into werewolves, I would LOVE it. 😀

LOST IN STATIC by Christina Phillipou

4 out of 5 stars

On Amazon UK HERE
On Amazon.com HERE
On Goodreads HERE

This is the debut novel by book blogger Christina Phillipou, a well plotted mystery about four kids in their first year of university.  She should be proud of herself.

The basics
The story is set in 2001, and told from the first person points of view of Juliette, Ruby, Callum and Yasmine, in frequently alternating short sections.  Juliette is a Christian, a sort of observer, I thought, with hang ups about her sexuality. Ruby is Miss Insecure, accident prone, a bit silly, the stereotypical hard partying eighteen year old.  Yasmine is a spoilt (apparently) rich girl, superficial and calculating, intelligent and cold.  Callum is a friendly guy, handsome, and, most interestingly, his sections are written in the form of emails to an unknown recipient - this is really good, as the 'who is he writing to?' questions builds throughout!  From the beginning we get the hint of dark events to come, and behind the scenes; there is some mystery behind each character, with some secrets nicely hinted at. 

The postive
At first I was only averagely interested in the story itself, but it crept up on me and by about 40% I was engrossed.  The build up is excellent, and, more than that, I applaud Ms Phillipou for her skill in making sure all the characters had such different 'voices'.  As far as this element goes, this novel is one of the best I've read in ages.  Callum is totally different from how he is seen by Yasmine and Ruby ~ not so sure of himself as they assume.  I liked reading Yasmine's sections because she is clever, insightful and articulate; she's the bitch of the show, and by far the most interesting.  I can't say I warmed to any of them, but I like this in a novel, and applaud a writer who has the confidence to make her characters less than appealing.  'Nice' is boring; I like to read about the self-obsessed, the delusional, the underhand!

I thought it was a good, no holds barred portrayal of young men and women of that age, and the writing just flows, so easy to read.

The negatives
Few, and not game-changing.  The removal of about 95% of Ruby's constant use of the word 'mate' would have made her less irritating.  I thought it could have done with a bit of tightening up by the editor, generally, and there are some minor punctuation errors (and note to proofreader: the thing you pin on your clothes is a brooch, not a broach!)

The second point is something that many will not agree with, and an observation rather than a criticism.  As most scenarios are seen through the eyes of all the main characters, the reader keeps being taken back to the beginning of a scene to re-live it.  It's fascinating to see how differently each one sees a set of circumstances (I particularly liked the way in which one girl thinks she is getting somewhere with Callum, but in his sections she is mentioned only in passing and, later, as if he thinks she's a bit of a stalker), but on occasion I found it made the flow of the book stilted.  There are ways of showing that Yasmine might view things differently from Ruby without playing out the stream of events in its entirety; a couple of neat paragraphs with the key points, for instance, might have added variation, paced the book better and actually had more impact.

Lastly, I wasn't convinced by this constant demonising of smokers and a big deal being made out of it generally.  Before the public smoking ban of 2007, people either smoked or they didn't, to whatever extent, and that was that, particularly in young, hard drinking, hard partying circles; it wasn't the issue that it is now.

On the whole, I was most impressed with this debut.  It's so good to see such an original book by an author who has genuine talent for dialogue, character portrayal and the build up of suspense; the mystery unravels with perfect timing.  I would also like to thank Christina Phillipou for adding another word to my 'words I can't type' list.  The book's called Lost In Statci, right?  Every time...!

FREEDOM'S PRISONERS by Katrina Mountfort

5 out of 5 stars

Part 3: SciFi trilogy

On Amazon UK HERE
On Amazon.com HERE
On Goodreads HERE

Rather than explain what this book is about, I suggest you read my review of part one, Future Perfect, which is HERE, and explains all about the world Katrina Mountfort has created.  In short, though, it's a SciFi trilogy set in the UK (now known as State Eleven), starting in the year 2181, after the planet as we knew it was devastated by a virus. I realised after I'd read the first part that it's YA, but it's one of those YA series that doesn't seem to be particularly of that genre, and some of the main characters are much older, too, so don't let that put you off if you're over 18! 

One of the things I really appreciated about this book is the author's clever assessment of what technology would be like nearly 200 years from now, having read other books set in the future in which the world building has been less convincing.  In this third part of the trilogy we find out what life is like in France, where the new post-apocalyptic society is working out, unlike in State Eleven where it is cruelly divided into Outsiders and the citizens of the Citidomes, where life is regulated and many limitations are in place.  It was really fun to read, especially as 18 year old Joy discovers so much of which she knew nothing; the old and new worlds have merged so well.

Freedom's Prisoners is an adventure, an exciting and frightening one much of the time, and quite a page-turner.  The characterisation is great; it's told from the points of view of mother Cathy, who escaped from the Citidome when she was pregnant with Joy; of her daughter Suna who has lived in the Citidome all her life, and of Joy, who has only known the rough and ready, precarious but very real life on the 'outside'.

This is a terrific trilogy, not just as a story, but also because it tells alot about human nature, and about the possible (and worrying) development of some of our race's less likeable traits.  Very clever and well thought out, I'd recommend it to anyone who likes these sort of books, and to those who think they don't, too! 

There is a link to my review the second part, Forbidden Alliance, on the same page as my review of Future Perfect, above.

 

LADY OF THE HIGHWAY by Deborah Swift

5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon UK HERE
On Amazon.com HERE
On Goodreads HERE

This is the third book in the Highway Trilogy, and is every bit as good as the last two.  As I have a terrible memory I am probably the ideal person to review series; I could remember next to no details about the last two books, but this episode is so well put together that it could be read as a stand alone.  I'd suggest reading the first two as well, though, simply because they're so good!

It's YA, but, as with the other two parts, I wasn't that aware of it being a book for teenagers (which would have put me off).  It tells the end story of Lady Katherine Fanshawe, which is based on truth but given much fictional detail by Deborah Swift; there is a author's note of a few pages at the end to explain much of the history, which you may or may not want to read first.

The story itself is gripping, quite dark, a real page-turner, and as beautifully written as all this author's books.  Kate Fanshawe is a heroine who will appeal to many; she's a fighter, but so many things go disastrously wrong for her in a world where young women of noble stock are seen by everyone as little more than something to be bartered and bought.  As events take a more desperate turn I felt angry with her for the way she treated her loyal maid, Abigail, and her lovely groom, Cutch; brave of Ms Swift to make her not always likeable, but my sympathy was with her for most of the time, her good intentions were misunderstood, and she made bad decisions only out of desperation - I can't say too much for fear of giving the plot away.

The characters and history are so real, and there is a hint of the supernatural throughout the book, which worked very well.  I thoroughly enjoyed this whole trilogy and recommend it for readers of all ages.  

I received an ARC of this book for an honest review. 

Links to reviews of other books by Deborah Swift, including the first two parts of the Highway Trilogy, HERE

THE FINAL VIRUS by Carol Hedges

4 out of 5 stars

YA Post Apocalyptic Novella

On Amazon UK HERE
On Amazon.com HERE
On Goodreads HERE

Reviewed by me as a member of Rosie Amber's Review Team

I've read Carol Hedges' three Victorian murder mysteries and loved them; even though I am not a fan of YA books I love the whole post apocalyptic genre, so was keen to give this a go.  It has a sub-theme of Christianity (those with a knowledge of 'Revelations' will find it interesting), and is the first part of a series, although it's a complete story in itself.

In this future world all countries are one, with one president, and peace reigns.  This follows a cybercrash in which the computer systems of the world were wiped out within a couple of hours, and also the effects of climate change which has altered the entire landscape of the planet. 

The story centres around Will and Amber.  Will is popular, clever and sought after; Amber is a non-conformist with strange intuitive capabilities.  Oddly attracted to each other, they come together to investigate the truth behind the death of Will's father and possible government conspiracies.

As always, Carol Hedges' characters are immediately real and three dimensional, the dialogue sharp, realistic and often funny; there's a definite element of dry humour throughout this book that I liked very much.  However, I would have liked to know much more detail about how the current situation came to be, and how the people now live, how the world had changed as a whole; at the beginning I couldn't quite work out what was going on, when and where it was supposed to be taking place, etc, though some of my questions were answered fairly soon (by Mr Neots, the boring teacher, a great character!), and more later. 

The Final Virus is a good mixture of the sci-fi thriller/adventure and believable relationships between the teenage main characters, and I think YA fans of the genre will enjoy this series very much.

For my reviews of Carol Hedges Victorian Murder Mysteries, see HERE