Review: Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter

Through the Zombie Glass (White Rabbit Chronicles, #2) by Gena Showalter
Publisher: Harlequin Australia
Publication date: October 1st, 2013
Number of pages: 480 pgs
Format: Paperback
Purchase: Amazon |  The Book Depository | Bookworld Australia

Inspired by the childhood classic Alice in Wonderland, this harrowing and romantic story features teen zombie slayer Alice Bell who has lost so much—family, friends, her home. After a strange new zombie attack, Alice fears she may be losing her mind as well. A terrible darkness blooms inside her, urging her to do wicked things. The whispers of the dead assault her ears and mirrors seem to come frighteningly to life. She’s never needed her team of zombie slayers more—including her boyfriend, Cole—than she does now. But as Cole strangely withdraws and the zombies gain new strength, Ali knows one false step may doom them all.

Ever since I devoured Alice in Zombieland I have been anxious to read the sequel to this unique and fascinating story. There is nothing from this author that I would not read. Her adult books devour me. And just as much so, this YA series is just as interesting as her PNR ones.
I fell in love with Ali and Cole.. with all of the characters, the world. I could not wait until to read what this installment had in store for us.
I was lucky to be able to get an ARC a few weeks before the release date and I couldn't have been anymore happier.

This is a dark saga, but those are the best kinds, right? It takes a fairytale story and Gena has made it work in her own, interesting way. To bring Ali to such limits, to make her into this character which you never ever saw before. She had her ups and down in the first book to this series as she dealt with the deaths of her family, and then being forced to live with her grandparents. Then there was dealing with the fact she can see  monsters out there in the world that not many people can, only a select few, but she was lucky enough to be able to befriend some of these unique people and form her own new group of friends, a surprisingly new relationship which did not come easy, and found that life might not be so bad after all in this new town.

When we pick up this story, not much time has passed and Ali is still recovering. She yearns to be in Cole's arms, but when he suddenly starts ignoring her, she discovers that a new batch of Zombie Hunters have arrived in town, and not only does she have to deal with his recent ex, yet another girl from Cole's past makes her entrance, and she sure does not like Ali. That's not all she has to deal with... the moment she gets a look at one of the new guys.. something strange happens --- yep, you guessed it, a vision, which is something, I felt she thought her and Cole only shared. The question is.. what do these visions actually mean, and what really is the whole purpose of them? I want to know this answer too.

Ali and Cole are my favourite part of this series, and this book is no different. There are some scenes... well, you just know she has an PNR background because of how hot and saucy they are. There is something to say about a sexy scene without sex being involved -- yet. And these two are the perfect counterparts to a hot duo. There is nothing Cole wouldn't do for Ali, although, yes, he can be overprotective but I think it's because he has never felt like this for someone else and so it's new territory for him as well.
They have their issues during this book.. some which make me scream and pull out my hair, but with all great romances, things end up where they belong.

Ali goes through a crazy, dark and interesting period that involves the Zombies, and it provides a different take on her character. Some will like it, some won't. Ali was battling more than Zombies in this installments --- in more ways than one, she was also battling herself. 

I loved the direction of the relationship between Kat & Frosty, they don't have the easiest relationship either, maybe moreso than most, but I loved we got to see more of them and understand Kat a little more, getting more into her personal life. These two are meant for one another, no matter how many times they may break up and get back together.

There was lots of action and heartbreak to go along with the romance.  There was new characters, I really liked Gavin. He is a major flirt, actually more than that, but I liked that in the end.. he wanted something more someday. It was progress I felt. I hope he does find the happiness he deserves.

I look forward to the next (Last?) installment to this epic, fascinating story.

Thanks to Harlequin Australia for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.5/5

Review: Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

Alice in Zombieland  (White Rabbit Chronicles, #1) by Gena Showalter
Publisher: Harlequin Teen Australia
Publication date: October 1st, 2012
Number of pages: 404 pgs
Format: Paperback
Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository | Bookworld AU

She won't rest until she's sent every walking corpse back to its grave.

Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that's all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real.

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn't careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies.

Oh boy! Man, this was pure awesome. I have a big fan of Gena's work. I've read some of her YA (Intertwined) and I go crazy over her PNR series (LotU) so naturally this was a MUST READ for me.
I love re-tellings of fairytales and the sort, and the thought of zombies in a story like this, with a twist intrigued me even more so.
I could smack myself for waiting this long to read it though. I had so much to read and it kind of fell to the backburner, but I am so glad I did give this a chance as it was so awesome. I should not have expected anything less from a fabulous author such as Gena!

Gena gives us  such an amazing story. It's not what you would expect, nor are used to, but Gena brings a whole new aspect to this world and it's such an interesting one that I would not have wanted anything but.
We meet Alice fairly quickly who is the daughter to two loving parents and a sister to a younger sibling. Then, one things changes everything. A horrible crash completely throws her whole world upside down. Her life. Gone. Her family. Gone.  As a survivor to a horrible tragedy, she can't get the image of how her family was taken from her... but this is a secret she can't bare to tell anyone for fear she may appear to be crazy.

Soon Alice (going by "Ali") has to move in with her grandparents and attend a new school. As if that isn't daunting enough. The moment she sees bad boy Cole Holland, she is drawn in by him. A first look and she is smacked with images, exotic and intense images of the two of them making out. WHAT THE? You must be thinking. It is kind of strange, I thought so too.  The relationship between Ali and Cole was so intense, so soulful, exciting and aching to see more.
Gena sure knows how to write romances, and this one is no exception. She brings out everything and more.. especially when things begin to get complicated...

I really adored the characters. Ali, our protagonist I felt for quite deeply. How could you not? After witnessing the murders of her family, having been uprooted and starting a new life someplace else --- it couldn't have been an easy adjustment for a teenager. Her experiences. Her emotions and everything that came after was so real. It's easily relatable especially if you have lost someone close to you. Becoming an orphan is not something she anticipated and that is something Ali needs to deal with and find some way to cope.

Cole easily became a favourite character of mine by the end of the book. Initially he may appear to be your average bad boy, but he was so much more than that. As you begin to get to know him, you see him for who he is, what he has been through and the world he has opened up to Ali.

Of course given the title of the book, it was a given that this take on this world would include zombies. That might have been a little odd to think about at first, but Gena works it into this story as easy as pie. They aren't your average zombies. They are different, but yet have that similar feel about them.
I was very intrigued and this version of zombies enticed me throughout the story. I will never look at them the same way again.

If you are a fan of Genas, or never heard of her before. If you want something different and are intrigued by this story, then I would recommend giving this a shot. You will not be disappointed.
I look forward to the upcoming sequel. I can't wait to find myself back in this world once again.

Review: 5/5

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
Publisher:  Random House
Publication date: January 31st, 2013
Number of pages: 240
Format: Ebook via Netgalley
Buy: Amazon | The Book Depository

R is having a no-life crisis—he is a zombie. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he is a little different from his fellow Dead. He may occasionally eat people, but he’d rather be riding abandoned airport escalators, listening to Sinatra in the cozy 747 he calls home, or collecting souvenirs from the ruins of civilization.

And then he meets a girl.

First as his captive, then his reluctant guest, Julie is a blast of living color in R’s gray landscape, and something inside him begins to bloom. He doesn’t want to eat this girl—although she looks delicious—he wants to protect her. But their unlikely bond will cause ripples they can’t imagine, and their hopeless world won’t change without a fight.

R is a zombie who can't remember about his real name or his life before. As he lives at an abandonded airport with the rest of the Zombies. The moment he sees Julie, his existence suddenly changes forever.

This was an interesting, but yet romantic take on Zombies. I guess it seems to be IN right now, like the new Vampires. I really liked what Isaac did with this story.
The romance between R and Julie was very sweet, and it's something that happens over the course of the book.

R is such an interesting character. He is different from everyone else. He feels, he speaks, whilst in slow words. But he is just like a human, but. well dead. It makes you feel for him in so many ways. And when he meets this girl, he is so intrigued by her that he doesn't want to let her go.

Julie is also a great character. She is strong and kickass. She isn't scared of him or what he is, and by being with her, R slowly, somehow becomes human again. It's so surreal, but maybe it's the power of the love between the two of them.

I have been meaning to read this book for a while now, so I am glad Netgalley and Random House were able to give me the chance to review it.
I am looking forward to the upcoming movie adaption. I can't wait to see how similar it is to the book.

Verdict:  4/5