Getting invited to an advanced screening… On the way to the cinema… When the movie is starting… Five minutes after the movie has started… Every time Augustus Waters appears on screen… Every time anyone says the word “Okay”… Isaac’s eulogy… Augustus’s letter… The End… Grab a copy of The Fault in our Stars here Sarah McDuling is a contributor ... Read more

Love Letters to the Dead is a powerful coming-of-age novel that will grab hold of your heart and soul, drawing you into the narrator’s world so completely that finishing the book is actually quite upsetting – like having a door slammed in your face by your new best friend. As far as I’m concerned it’s one of the top Young Adult novels of the year. This book first came to my attentio... Read more

This week’s Book Trailer of the Week goes to Half Bad by Sally Green. Intense, mysterious, gripping, our own Sarah McDuling reviewed Half Bad recently and absolutely loved it, saying that, despite her “ridiculously high expectations, Half Bad did not disappoint.” Could Half Bad be the next Harry Potter? The next Hunger Games? Order your copy today and find out. Grab a copy a S... Read more

Every so often you hear about a book that’s being touted as a “global sensation”. Usually in such cases the film rights have been bought, the author is being labelled “the next J.K Rowling” and the general consensus seems to be OMG this is it! The New Craze! The Next Big Thing! And so on, and so forth. We’ve heard it all before, right? And yet it doesn’t seem to matter how many times I hear it,... Read more

Here’s what I knew about Norse mythology when I first picked up The Gospel of Loki by Joanne M. Harris. a)     Norse gods live in a place called Asgard. b)    Loki is the coolest god . Sure he’s evil, but he’s also played by Tom Hiddleston (see left) and therefore his evilness is cancelled out by his perfect male beauty. c)     Thor is the god of Thunder. He has very large muscles and a magic h... Read more

Banish really surprised me. When I pick up a Paranormal Romance these days, especially in the Young Adult genre, I automatically brace myself for a barrage of tropes and clichés. 1) Average human girl meets brooding immortal boy – cue Love At First Sight. 2) Requisite villain does something villainous (at which point, I usually start yawning and skipping pages). 3) Happy ending. The detai... Read more

Sarah McDuling, the fearless editor of Booktopia’s Young Adult Buzz, takes a look at the latest offering from author Skye Melki-Wegner. I’m not really sure how to categorise Chasing the Valley. Unless “Phantasmagorical” can be considered a category? No? Okay, fine. Categorise this:  An insanely glorious blend of Steampunk Adventure and Dystopian Fantasy with a touch of Romance... Read more

Lauren Oliver is mean. Please understand, this criticism comes from a place of love. I say this as a devoted Lauren Oliver fan. I’m not suggesting she is a bad person. I’m sure she’s a lovely person. But she’s downright cruel to her readers. Case in point: The Delirium Trilogy. Anyone who suffered through the heart-breaking ending of Book One in this trilogy will back me up here. Delirium ends ... Read more

Days of Blood and Starlight is the second book in what has to be the most wildly imaginative and beautifully written Urban Fantasy series I have come across in a long, long time. There was a time I’d have said Urban Fantasy was one of my favourite genres. But then along came a multi-million dollar book/movie franchise that will remain nameless (cough, cough, Twilight, cough) that was so insanel... Read more

The only thing better than discovering a new series of books is realising that the author is not going to make you wait too long for the next instalment. Having been introduced to Sulari Gentill’s Rowland Sinclair novels earlier this year with Miles off Course, and then devouring books one and two with all the gusto of a confirmed historical fiction addict, I was pretty much ecstatic when I rea... Read more