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Sunday 12 April 2020

Fallen

Fallen
by Lauren Kate
Published 1 July 2010 by Corgi

I am aware I am very late to this particular YA party. Fallen was published in 2010 and is the first in a series of four books. There was huge hype about it when it came out with Lucinda and Daniel having enough fans to topple the Edward and Bella Twilight 'ship. It was this hype however that kept me from reading Fallen and, true to its title, it had fallen from my memory and been packed away into a TBR box.

This year I decided not to go on a book buying ban (I mean...could you imagine!) but instead actually read the books I own rather than read borrowed ones (I work in a public library). It was because of this that I uncovered Fallen and gave it a go.

I am sorry to say I have not 'Fallen' in  love with the story. Or with Lucinda and Daniel. Or with any part of it other than the cover art (gorgeous). It is an easy read but I found it sooooo slow and therefore tedious. The action that did occur fell flat until about the last 100 pages during which **SPOILERS INCOMING** my favourite character died and it was all just a bit...meh.

The premise is that Lucinda and Daniel are meant to be. Over and over again. The problem is Daniel is a fallen angel which means they can't be together and when they do get together, Lucinda dies - usually when they kiss. This time is different. Lucinda killed a guy when she kissed him which got her sent to this creepy reform school which is actually a front for the angels. When she and Daniel do lock lips, she's still breathing. Cue celebrations and research but of course, not everyone is happy that Daniel and Luce are together again.

As I said, it is the first of four books and I would have passed it on to a charity shop but as I looked at the front again, discovered it had been personally dedicated and signed by Lauren herself. Awwww! I haven't met Lauren so I am guessing my cool colleagues at School's Library Service did an event with her and brought me a book back. I shall therefore be keeping the book and may even try Torment - the next in the series (after I've emptied another couple of these TBR boxes).

Carnal Acts

Carnal Acts
by Sam Alexander
Published 15 June 2014 by Arcadia Books

This novel is described as crime noir. Dark and at its most terrifying. While I found this a dark read - as most are - I did not find it terrifying. This may please or disappoint you depending on the crime genre you prefer.

Set in the Northern English borders (hurrah) DI Joni Pax and DCI Hector 'Heck' Rutherford are investigating a murder at an Albanian-run brothel. Their suspect is on the run and bodies soon start piling up as Joni and Heck try to solve the crimes and take the Albanian mafia down.

Expect strong language, sexual scenes and violence.

I was a little nervous in starting this book as I expected it to be too gritty, however I was very quickly hooked on the tense plot and whip-smart twists. I felt really invested in Joni and Heck - both through their backstories and with their actions in cracking this case. As a duo, they work well. I see a fatherly respect building between them. The setting was pleasantly unusual - not East London or inner city Manchester but the rural town of Corham with cameos of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and Roman Northumberland.

I would have absolutely picked up another Sam Alexander novel to read (which is apparently the pseudonym of a highly respected crime writer) were there any more published but at least feel I can now say I am a fan of Police procedural crime fiction.