Ethan, aka "Scam," has a way with words. When he opens his mouth, whatever he wants you to hear comes out. But Ethan isn't just a smooth talker. He has a unique ability to say things he doesn't consciously even know. Sometimes the voice helps, but sometimes it hurts - like now, when the voice has lied and has landed Ethan in a massive mess. So now Ethan needs help. And he needs to go to the last people who would ever want to help him - his former group of friends, the self-named "zeros" who also all possess similarly double-edged abilities, and who are all angry at Ethan for their own respective reasons. Brought back together by Scam's latest mischief, they find themselves entangled in an epic, whirlwind adventure packed with as much interpersonal drama as mind-bending action.

 

Release Date: September 23 

Purchase: Booktopia | Book Depository | Amazon

As an Australian, I am an absolute sucker for books set in Australia. When that book happens to be a genre I enjoy and involves zombie-like creatures, there is little that will stop me from getting my hands on it.

LUCKILY there was nothing about this book to let me down.

I really enjoyed the plot, it was different enough from all those other zombie-like books/movies out there to keep me entertained. As much as I don't mind good zombie-based media, it does get tedious seeing the same thing over and over.

It took me a little while to warm up to Lyn, but Squid had my heart pretty much right from the very beginning. The supporting cast are quite intriguing in their own rights - especially the dynamic between state and church as horde shambles towards Alice. I think many people will see real-world parallels in how they interact not only with each other, but the wider populations they're attempting to protect.

This is a really great read, even if "zombies" or "dystopia" aren't really your thing. And if I haven't convinced you to drop everything and go buy it yet, stay tuned for a review of book 2 later this week.

About to get stuck into The Word Hunters by Nick Earls and Terry Whidborne.

I have books collecting dust on my shelf that I tell myself over and over again that I need to read.  "Today will be the day," I tell myself.  Instead, I pick up a book I've read numerous times but still feels like a fire truck rammed itself into my stomach each time I reach the ending.

Jellicoe Road starts off slow and I remember the first time I read it that I disliked the constant shifting between Narnie's story and Taylor's narration.  I still prefer Taylor's story to Narnie's but Marchetta successfully merges both perspectives into a moving tale about survival, friendship, family, and how secrets kept with the best intentions can ultimately cause more pain and destruction to the people we love most.

This book is a tad melodramatic but I love the lyrical passages and the way the author is able to craft characters who are damaged but likeable.  This is something Marchetta excels at in her other books as well.  Although it's somewhat hard to believe that Taylor so easily forgets certain aspects of her upbringing, her character's strength, wittiness and persistent desire to find answers to her mysterious childhood is compelling.  This book has everything: a slow burn romance, amazing dialogue, lies and secrets, major plot twists, death, friendship and a sense of community.  The themes of the story are dark and none of the characters come away unscathed from the events that unfold, but there's still a possibility of hope and redemption.  For me, this is the best kind of story.

First off, this book is mad difficult to find. None of my local bookstores sell it and neither do any of the major online retailers because it's out of print. AbeBooks also doesn't return any results. As for library systems, according WorldCat, only libraries in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore have Saltwater Moons in their systems. I suppose if you're really interested in reading this, you could try getting directly in touch with Julie Gittus. Or hope that some random seller lists it on Amazon. I reserved it at my library, so that's how I got my hands on it.

Saltwater Moons is a very contemplative novel, full of heartache from the beginning right through to the end. What I liked about it is how true to life it is. I think that's difficult to pull off. As much as realistic fiction carries the label realistic, it's more about being believable because so many things happen in life that are unbelievable, yet in fiction, readers struggle to suspend their disbelief when such events take place in books.

When I say true to life, I mean that Saltwater Moons is messy. Sun is partly to blame because her choices have consequences but she also is the victim of her circumstances. Take Tycho. He and Sun have such a great connection but for all the best intents in the world, such deep soulful connections don't always lead anywhere. At least that's what my own experiences have taught me to believe. This is why I appreciated Tycho, who clearly is a nice guy, yet is so difficult to figure out. Then there's his mate, Mark. He's much more forward than Tycho, and clearly has no qualms about taking advantage of others around him. Tycho included. At the same time, he has his family to worry about, so that adds another dimension to his character. And let's not forget Nicky, Sun's best friend, who has every reason to be mad at Sun.

Despite all the complications Sun faces in her relationships, Saltwater Moons has a mellow tone. The drama isn't over the top or in your face. Instead, it is introspective and grounded in lyrical prose, supported by snippets of poetry that Sun and Tycho are so fond of.

Sun's voice is clear despite her inner turmoil and confusion. I think it's very fitting of a 17-year-old who seeks independence, all while finding it difficult to justify her own actions. She is rebellion personified when it comes to her parents' rules, yet is close enough to her mother to talk to her about important issues.

Even though I like the tone and the overarching premise, I wish the plot would've had a little more to it. I get that Saltwater Moons is about Sun's life in Year 12, her thoughts and hopes, but while the relationships had something going for them, the plot basically rose in an even plane. This also affected my own emotional involvement. I only felt a very brief investment once towards the end though it dissolved very quickly. Nonetheless, if you come across a copy of this book, don't hesitate to pick it up!

This review is also available at dudettereads.com.