Book Review: Burn Bright by Marianne de Pierres

Title: Burn Bright
Author: Marianne de Pierres
Series: Night Creatures #1
Publisher: Random House Australia
Publication Date: March 1, 2011
Number of Pages: 316

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Into a world of wild secrets and deadly pleasures comes a girl whose innocence may be her greatest strength.
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.

MY REVIEW

Want a book that is unlike any other, Burn Bright is that book. Burn Bright takes the idea of going to a club, and takes that to into a completely new world. On Ixion, the sun never shines, but that is all right, because it is perfect for clubbing. That is all the teens on Ixion do, go from one club to another making life one big party. This all sounds amazing to the teens that seek to escape from their lives, and runaway to Ixion, but that is not Retra. Retra is a seal, a young woman to keep her emotions sealed and her face veiled. Retra does not want to party and have fun, she just want to find her brother who left for Ixion two years previous.

Leaving is not as easy as sneaking out to meet the ship, not for Retra. When Joel ran away, something that does not happen in Seal South, Retra’s family was punished. Retra was forced to have an obedience strip inserted into her leg. The closer she comes to the walls that seal in Seal South, the more intense the pain. Retra works for two years to manage her pain, to push herself closer to the gates of her city, and ignore the pain. After training her body, she is finally able to leave on the boat to Ixion.

Once at Ixion, Retra stands out because she is not like the others. She is not there to party, or to lose herself in all that is offered. This causes Retra to be noticed by the Rippers. The Rippers are the guardians of Ixion, and if you end up on their radar, you may just disappear. Ixion is not safe, never wonder off the paths, because the Night Creatures are waiting for you.

Retra is such a strong female lead, who helps other citizens of Ixion without second thought to her own safety. She does what she can to protect her new friends Suki, and Markes, the handsome musician. While she seeks to find Joel, Retra begins to uncover secrets, secrets that the Rippers would kill to protect.

Burn Bright is one of those amazing books, with characters you fall in love with and you root for no matter the situation. The thing I loved the most is the way Marianne de Pierres has with words. This is not a book that should be published only in Australia, it a book that should be available for everyone around the world to enjoy. The second book Angel Arias has already been released, and the third book in this series, Shine Light releases in September. If you can get a copy of Burn Bright, do yourself a favor and read it.

Just a note: There is drug use and sexual situations in the book so this is a book meant for older teens.

**Unabridged Bookshelf received this as part of a tour, with big thanks to Dani @ Refracted Light Reviews**


This book is amazing!
Is there a book that is not available worldwide that you feel should be?


Thank you for stopping by Unabridged Bookshelf!

Book Review: Blood Song (Lharmell #1) by Rhiannon Hart

Title: Blood Song
Author: Rhiannon Hart
Series: Lharmell #1
Publisher: Random House Australia
Publication Date: September 1, 2011

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(Thank you to Mackenzie @ Oh, For the Love of Books! for pointing out Fishpond.com to me)

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?

 MY REVIEW

Princess Zeraphina knows that she is not like other girls, but she does her best to seem normal. Why is she different? Zeraphina hungers for blood, and she feels this yearning to travel to the north. When her sister, Lilith, receives a betrothal proposal from the largest kingdom, Pergamia, Zeraphina cannot pass up the opportunity to travel north. Zeraphina hopes to find answers to why she is different in Pergamia. The only story she knows is that she almost died when she was just a little girl, and when she recovered her hair turned to a shade of black, and her eyes became an ice blue.

Zeraphina knows she needs to find answers, but she also cannot risk her sister’s possible marriage to Prince Amis. Her country, Amentia, is poor, frozen and the people are starving. Without a marriage to the richest kingdom, their county will be in peril. When Zeraphina meets the Royal Family of Pergamia, she also meets the King’s young advisor, Rodden. Rodden regards her with suspicion, and seems to know more about Zeraphina’s condition than anyone does. The problem is he refuses to give Zeraphina answers, and he seems to be hiding something. It may have to do with the war between Pergamia, and a small country, Lharmell, especially since no one is allowed to talk about it.

Zeraphina also has two pets that follow her everywhere, a cat named Leap, and a golden eagle named Griffin. These stunning pets comfort Zeraphina, and they have important roles in Zeraphina’s life and story. Zeraphina seeks comfort from them and archery when the hunger for blood becomes overpowering. If she is not careful, she will have shaking fits to the point of blacking out.

Zeraphina is a strong female character, which is something I tend to like in my books nowadays. I also like how she takes control of her situation, and tries not to let it control her life. She also refuses to take no for an answer, when it comes to getting the answers she needs. I really admired Zeraphina’s strength and her need to protect Lilith from danger.

Now let us talk about Rodden, the mysterious, handsome advisor with all the secrets. First off, that description right there is kind of why I love him. You do not learn a lot about him until the end of the book, but he still manages to be sexy. I will admit, I have a thing for aloof, mysterious guys, because that mystery adds a bit of danger. You cannot help but wonder what he is hiding, and why just like Zeraphina.

This book is unique blend of supernatural, with a historical feel. While it takes on the myth of vampires, it does so in its own way. It does not feel like you are reading the same book with different characters. Since this books is only currently published in Australia getting a copy is not easy, but it is well worth it.

**Unabridged Bookshelf received this book as part of book tour hosted by Dani @ Refracted Light Reviews** 

Teaser Tuesday: Blood Song

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly event hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others!

Make sure to share the title and the author so other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their to be read piles.

This Weeks Teaser Comes From:

Title: Blood Song

Author: Rhiannon Hart

Series: Lharmell #1

Publisher: Random House Australia

Publication Date: September 1, 2011

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?

TEASER 1:

"I was going to prove he was a monster. But first, I had to make sure that I didn't end up as his wife"

Page 121

TEASER 2:

"...like curious snakes wondering whether to strike. I opened my mouth to scream but the sound was frozen in my throat."

I just received this book yesterday in the mail, and I am already devouring it. 

Blood Song is only published in Australia, which makes getting a copy in the US very hard. Dani @ Refracted Light Reviews offered up an extra copy to be part of a tour she organized, and I very ecstatic that I get to be a part of it. I sincerely hope that this book series is published internationally very soon, so everyone can enjoy it. Please come back Saturday to see my final thoughts on the book after I finish it!!

And a big THANK YOU TO DANI!!

What are you currently reading/teasing? Make sure to leave a link

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