Title: The Near Witch

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Imprint: Hyperion

Pub Date: 2 August 2011

ISBN: 9781423137870

Author: Victoria Schwab

I absolutely love ‘The Near Witch’ by Victoria Schwab. It’s a perfect blend of romantic fantasy and fairy tale. The storyline was highly original and I have to say that the author have quite a way in expressing her imagination.

I find the story is refreshing and unpredictable, and that is really something for a fairy tale.

I highly recommend this book to all those who enjoy reading fantasy. You wouldn’t want to miss the world of magic and wonders that this book had to offer.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I received an ARC of this book from Disney-Hyperion via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review for this book.

Book description:

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Title: Artemis Fowl

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Pub Date:1 May 2001

ISBN: 9781423132172

Author: Eoin Colfer

In conjunction of Artemis Fowl 10 years anniversary, Disney-Hyperion sent me a complimentary copy of Artemis Fowl book. To be honest, I haven’t even read Artemis Fowl before and I discovered that so far, there’s 7 books in the series, and the story is amazing. The author has confirmed that the series will end in the next book, and the eighth book is scheduled to be released in 2012.

Artemis Fowl is an amazing Young Adult series and I wondered why I did not think about picking up this book before. It’s wicked, highly entertaining is much more satisfying than reading the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.

If you haven’t read about Artemis Fowl, it’s time you do so. I promise you, you won’t be disappointed.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I received a digital copy of this book from Disney-Hyperion via Netgalley and I was not obligated to give a positive review for this. For more information on Artemis Fowl and future release, click here.

Book description:

Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a millionaire, a genius-and, above all, a criminal mastermind. But even Artemis doesn’t know what he’s taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit. These aren’t the fairies of bedtime stories; these fairies are armed and dangerous. Artemis thinks he has them right where he wants them…but then they stop playing by the rules

Title: Mercy

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Imprint: Hyperion

Pub Date:17th May 2011

ISBN: 9781423145172

Author: Rebecca Lim

I’m a little bit concern over what reading material that can be considered safe for teenagers consumption these days. It seems that it’s somewhat a trend that the tales that is considered ‘safe’ for teenagers consumption are rather ‘dark’, and most heroines in young adult fiction these days tends to fall for bad boys.

Anyway, enough ranting. I am no teenager, and therefore, I thought it is completely safe for me to read ‘Mercy’ by Rebecca Lim without having to feel disturbed after finishing the book.

But I was wrong. The tale is so moving, so intense and so heart-wrenching at some point that I found myself feeling the angst of the characters.

This book is not to be read when you’re depressed or emotionally unstable, for you will feel the effect without failed.

Mercy is a good story nevertheless. I would recommend this book to older teens, and I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Book description:

Mercy in an exile from heaven with shattered memories of who she used to be. She’s doomed to “wake” repeatedly on earth in a new body, each time assuming a new life. During the day she survives in the human world on instinct and at night her dreams are haunted by her lost love, who pleads with her to find him.

But this time is different. When Mercy wakes up she meets Ryan, an eighteen-year-old reeling from the loss of his twin sister, Lauren, who was kidnapped two years ago. Only Mercy and Ryan believe his sister is still alive. For the first time since she can remember, Mercy has a purpose: she can help. So she doesn’t understand why the man in her dreams cautions her not to interfere. But as Ryan and Mercy come closer to solving the mystery of Lauren’s disappearance, danger looms just one step behind.

Will Mercy be able to harness her extraordinary power in time?

The release date for this book is: 17th May 2011. For more information on this title, please click here.

Below is the book trailer for Mercy.

Title: The Royal Treatment

SubTitle: A Princess for Hire Book

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Pub Date: 5 March 2011

ISBN: 9781423121930

Author: Lindsey Leavitt

Looking for a suitable book for your dreamy, pre-teen daughter? Well, look no further. The Royal Treatment-Princess for Hire is just the right book for your pre-teen daughters. It’s filled with intrigue, humour, adventure and most of all, moral values. I assure you that your girls would not find it difficult to relate to the main character in this story. This is one book the modern girls would need to have on their book shelf during their growing up years. This book will make a wonderful keepsake too.

Book description:

What girl wouldn’t swoon over outrageous perks like free jewelry, designer clothes, and the chance to hang out with crush-worthy Prince Karl? But best of all, Desi gets one-on-one time with Genevieve, the head of the super-secret and ultra glamorous Façade agency. She’s taken a special interest in Desi’s magical abilities.

But between Desi’s BEST (Betterment of Elite Sub Training) program, starting the eighth grade, trying out for the school play, and dealing with the cute-but-bossy new boy Reed, she’s beginning to feel like she’s in over her head.  Even worse, when Desi learns a secret about the magic that keeps Façade running, she realizes that not everything is as perfect as it seems.

Full of humor and heart, this second installment in the Princess for Hire series shows Desi that the royal treatment may just be masking mysteries, and only she can uncover the truth….one princess at a time!

I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. I received a digital ARC of this book from Disney-Hyperion via Netgalley and I was not compensated in any ways for writing this review.

Title: Aliens on Vacation

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Pub Date: 5 March 2011

ISBN: 9781423133636

Author: Clete Smith

This is my first time reviewing for Disney-Hyperion Publisher, and boy am I glad that I’ve been given an opportunity by Disney-Hyperion to review their ARCs for they made the child in me giggle in amusement when I read their books, especially this one: Aliens on Vacation by Clete Smith.

Aliens on Vacation is about a young boy helping out his grandmother in a bed and breakfast specially for space tourists. READ: Aliens.

The story was really amusing, funny, and well written. I daresay this story will amuse not only children, but adults as well too.

The storyline was original and highly imaginative, and with loads of moral packed in in.

I rate this book 4.5 out of 5 stars, and highly recommends this book to children 8 years and above.

Book description:

David, otherwise known as Scrub (don’t ask), isn’t happy about leaving Florida and his friends to summer with his grandmother in “Middle of Nowhere,” Washington. When he arrives at her Intergalactic Bed & Breakfast, he isn’t surprised by its 60s meets Star Wars decor, but he issurprised by the weird-looking guests. It turns out that each room in the inn is a portal, and his grandma is the gate-keeper, allowing aliens to vacation on Earth. Grandma desperately needs Scrub’s help with welcoming (and disguising) the tourists, shopping for cartloads of aluminum foil for dinner, and taking rambunctious alien kids camping in the nearby woods. The problem is, the town sheriff–already suspicious about Granny–is a scout leader camping in the same spot. Will Scrub blow Granny’s cover, forcing the B&B to shut down forever? Full of cosmic chaos and mind-bending mayhem, Scrub’s summer adventure will leave readers wanting to make a return trip.

For more information on this title, please click here.