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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0954311884
| 9780954311889
| B01H95GI5Y
| 3.74
| 77
| Aug 19, 2016
| Sep 10, 2016
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liked it
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Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. Children of the Different is a different flavor of post-apocalyptic, dystopian YA faire. In fact, for many, it migh Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. Children of the Different is a different flavor of post-apocalyptic, dystopian YA faire. In fact, for many, it might be a welcome change of pace from the much used (and, perhaps, over used) trope of angst-ridden teenagers whining about the patent unfairness of life while having to untangle themselves from messy love triangles . . . and save the world, of course. Thankfully, Mr. Flynn avoids that tried and true narrative, offering up as a gift to readers a fantastical tale, which – while still a coming-of-age tale – delivers enough creative touches, adds enough unique elements, to transform the familiar into the unexpected. Our guides for this journey are twins Arika and Narrah. These two teenagers have grown up in Western Australia about two decades after “The Great Madness” which killed nearly all of humanity. Those who survived this extinction level event are either beast-like Ferals (Think zombie but really, really fast) or survivors whose mental health problems were cured by the illness. Around them has grown up a new world of isolated settlements scattered across a barren landscape. Ferals run wild across the sparsely inhabited land. Technology is almost non-existent. Civilization is minimum at best. And “The Great Madness” still haunts everyone. Only now it strikes the teenagers of the world and is called “The Changing”; adolescents entering a comatose state, while their consciousness visits a dreamland that is very real: injuries or death there replicating in the real world. This journey of the soul ending with the new adult turning Feral and being driven away from his/her home or awakening with unique powers. As Children of the Different opens, Arika has entered her “Changing.” Her brother Narrah is terrified for her and for himself: his changing is yet to come. The story shifting between the otherworldly Changeland and reality itself. The twins having to work together to evade a mythical creature called the Anteater, whose malevolent presence, insidious threats and tantalizing promises mars both realities, twisting and turning them as they desperately attempt to prove themselves worthy of being adults yet are plagued by uncertainty, fear, and doubts. Arika and Narrah holding fast to their bond of familial love; this dedicated relationship to one another helping them brave dangers neither could survive alone. Their path leading them ever deeper into a widening pathway toward maturity, knowledge, and, perhaps, the beginning of a new world. What sets Children of the Difference apart from other post-apocalyptic stories is Mr. Flynn’s imaginative concepts, which mixes fantasy and Aboriginal mythical elements into a classic young adult narrative of self-discovery; the pinnacle of which is the Changing. This very ethereal, mysterious, dream-like reality allowing Mr. Flynn to show the past, the present, defy the laws of nature, and keep readers on the edge of their seats when they realize anything and everything can happen in this other place. Sure, post-apocalyptic aficionados might be adjusted to seeing dystopian worlds filled with man-eating zombies (Ferals), or Mad Max-like humans, but the unpredictable and nightmarish dangers of this unknown dimension are new, exciting, and create instant tension. All stories succeed or fail along with their lead characters however. At least, that is my opinion. I mean, cool dystopian societies, stellar action, interesting magic, and nail biting tension can only take a tale so far. Thankfully, Narrah and Arika are capable of carrying the weight of this novel upon their young shoulders. The twins strong, loving bond and their very realistic determination to overcome obstacles while still being terrified at the same time makes them so true to life that it is easy to empathize with them and want to follow along behind them to see whether they succeed or fail in their journeys. And they somehow do all this without any love triangle? Who knew that was even possible in YA anymore? The only criticism (silly as it may sound) is the young adult nature of some of the narrative. What I am specifically referring to is how certain key narrative concepts are explained over and over again. Not that this is an unusual occurrence plaguing only Children of the Different. Actually, I’ve noticed it in many Ya works that I have read in recent years. Maybe, this need to reiterate key information is a necessary and accepted part of writing for this genre. If that is so, I suppose, my dislike of this tendency is merely a personal dislike on my part, which no one else should concern themselves with. Overall, S.C. Flynn’s debut novel is an imaginative success, fully realized in every way, easy to digest, and utterly enjoyable to read. Strange yet beautiful, it transports readers to a post-apocalyptic world where familial love still thrives even in harsh, brutal circumstances. And I, for one, will be eagerly awaiting this author’s future work. I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank him for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone. Merged review: Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. Children of the Different is a different flavor of post-apocalyptic, dystopian YA faire. In fact, for many, it might be a welcome change of pace from the much used (and, perhaps, over used) trope of angst-ridden teenagers whining about the patent unfairness of life while having to untangle themselves from messy love triangles . . . and save the world, of course. Thankfully, Mr. Flynn avoids that tried and true narrative, offering up as a gift to readers a fantastical tale, which – while still a coming-of-age tale – delivers enough creative touches, adds enough unique elements, to transform the familiar into the unexpected. Our guides for this journey are twins Arika and Narrah. These two teenagers have grown up in Western Australia about two decades after “The Great Madness” which killed nearly all of humanity. Those who survived this extinction level event are either beast-like Ferals (Think zombie but really, really fast) or survivors whose mental health problems were cured by the illness. Around them has grown up a new world of isolated settlements scattered across a barren landscape. Ferals run wild across the sparsely inhabited land. Technology is almost non-existent. Civilization is minimum at best. And “The Great Madness” still haunts everyone. Only now it strikes the teenagers of the world and is called “The Changing”; adolescents entering a comatose state, while their consciousness visits a dreamland that is very real: injuries or death there replicating in the real world. This journey of the soul ending with the new adult turning Feral and being driven away from his/her home or awakening with unique powers. As Children of the Different opens, Arika has entered her “Changing.” Her brother Narrah is terrified for her and for himself: his changing is yet to come. The story shifting between the otherworldly Changeland and reality itself. The twins having to work together to evade a mythical creature called the Anteater, whose malevolent presence, insidious threats and tantalizing promises mars both realities, twisting and turning them as they desperately attempt to prove themselves worthy of being adults yet are plagued by uncertainty, fear, and doubts. Arika and Narrah holding fast to their bond of familial love; this dedicated relationship to one another helping them brave dangers neither could survive alone. Their path leading them ever deeper into a widening pathway toward maturity, knowledge, and, perhaps, the beginning of a new world. What sets Children of the Difference apart from other post-apocalyptic stories is Mr. Flynn’s imaginative concepts, which mixes fantasy and Aboriginal mythical elements into a classic young adult narrative of self-discovery; the pinnacle of which is the Changing. This very ethereal, mysterious, dream-like reality allowing Mr. Flynn to show the past, the present, defy the laws of nature, and keep readers on the edge of their seats when they realize anything and everything can happen in this other place. Sure, post-apocalyptic aficionados might be adjusted to seeing dystopian worlds filled with man-eating zombies (Ferals), or Mad Max-like humans, but the unpredictable and nightmarish dangers of this unknown dimension are new, exciting, and create instant tension. All stories succeed or fail along with their lead characters however. At least, that is my opinion. I mean, cool dystopian societies, stellar action, interesting magic, and nail biting tension can only take a tale so far. Thankfully, Narrah and Arika are capable of carrying the weight of this novel upon their young shoulders. The twins strong, loving bond and their very realistic determination to overcome obstacles while still being terrified at the same time makes them so true to life that it is easy to empathize with them and want to follow along behind them to see whether they succeed or fail in their journeys. And they somehow do all this without any love triangle? Who knew that was even possible in YA anymore? The only criticism (silly as it may sound) is the young adult nature of some of the narrative. What I am specifically referring to is how certain key narrative concepts are explained over and over again. Not that this is an unusual occurrence plaguing only Children of the Different. Actually, I’ve noticed it in many Ya works that I have read in recent years. Maybe, this need to reiterate key information is a necessary and accepted part of writing for this genre. If that is so, I suppose, my dislike of this tendency is merely a personal dislike on my part, which no one else should concern themselves with. Overall, S.C. Flynn’s debut novel is an imaginative success, fully realized in every way, easy to digest, and utterly enjoyable to read. Strange yet beautiful, it transports readers to a post-apocalyptic world where familial love still thrives even in harsh, brutal circumstances. And I, for one, will be eagerly awaiting this author’s future work. I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank him for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone. ...more |
Notes are private!
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2
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not set
not set
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Sep 02, 2016
not set
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Sep 21, 2024
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ebook
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| 0765381931
| 9780765381934
| 0765381931
| 3.86
| 1,192
| Feb 27, 2018
| Feb 27, 2018
|
liked it
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Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. If you like quick reading murder mysteries, To Right the Wrongs is a great book to pick up and enjoy on a nice rain Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. If you like quick reading murder mysteries, To Right the Wrongs is a great book to pick up and enjoy on a nice rainy day. The title character, Erin Blake, is a smart, modern day detective who has a habit of getting mixed up in CSI-like cold cases. Her friends, Lysa and Spam, always along for the ride, as these precocious teens find a lot more to occupy their time than keeping a streak alive on social media. Picking up shortly after the events of the first book (To Catch a Killer), Erin is trying to readjust to life after she gained local fame last time out. Not only did she catching the killer of her mother and teacher, but she brought loads of attention to herself when all she has ever wanted to do was blend in. Sure, there were some good things that had come out of everything like her new boyfriend Journey actually noticing her, but other than that she wishes she could just flip a switch and finish the last few weeks of her sophomore year of high school like nothing out-of-the-ordinary has happened. Things aren’t that simple for Erin though. While she tries to focus on her summer forensic class, mysteries keep coming her way. From a new principal who is seriously crazy to Spam’s boyfriend acting strange to the girls’ digging up information to help Journey build a case to get his dad out of prison, Erin and her friends find themselves drawn into one dramatic twist after another. Going into this read, all I was seeking was a fun murder mystery. The fact that the characters here were all young adults in high school gave me a bit of a pause, since I’m not in that age category anymore, but Sheryl Scarborough’s writing made me feel right at home among these teens, able to thoroughly enjoy the sleuthing and snooping. Plus, this is a fast-paced, quick narrative, one any avid reader will find easy to get sucked into. The element I enjoy most about the book was the camaraderie between the characters. Erin, Lysa, and Spam are good friends, and it shows. They play off one another well, work great together, and find time to laugh, act like the teens they are. Sure, there are moments when the YA quotient gets a bit too high, but it always comes back down, as the detective business shifts to the forefront of the story. My main criticism of the story would be Journey. Now, I didn’t read book one, so maybe he had more of an impact there, but here he seems a fairly throwaway character. Yes, his mission to clear his dad is what drives a lot of the narrative, but mostly he shows up in the story to alternate between making Erin feel uncomfortable (as shown by her constant blushing or giggling when he is around) or annoying the hell out of her. Like I said, this guy seemed really underappreciated. Overall, To Right the Wrongs was a fun, fast-paced novel which did a great job mixing adventure with mystery and with teen friendship. I won’t go so far as to say it is the best YA mystery I’ve ever read, but it was really enjoyable and surprised me by how easy it was to slip into even though I hadn’t read book one of the series. I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 15, 2018
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Mar 18, 2018
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Mar 20, 2018
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| B075TTN2FN
| 3.95
| 289
| Sep 21, 2017
| Sep 21, 2017
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liked it
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Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. Urban fantasy isn’t one of my usual reading genres. Young adult isn’t either. Neither is humorous stories. Be that Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. Urban fantasy isn’t one of my usual reading genres. Young adult isn’t either. Neither is humorous stories. Be that as it may, I decided to cast caution to the wind and give I Was A Teenage Weredeer a go, certain that these authors could wow me as much with this creation as they did their space opera Lucifer’s Star. Set in the same world as Phipps’ Straight Outta Fangton, Weredeer takes place in the small town of Bright Falls, Michigan: the home of the shifter clan. Our protagonist is a smart, snarky, and geeky girl by the name of Jane Doe, who just happens to be a weredeer. It isn’t a big issue for her though because everyone around here has a special gift and paranormal activity is a part of life. What is a big deal is that Jane’s brother is a suspect in the murder of her friend’s sister. Jane quickly winding up in the middle of said murder investigation. The mystery which thereafter evolves is full of family and town secrets; secrets which will certainly change Jane’s life forever. There are more than a few things to really like about Weredeer, but one of its chief strengths is the authors’ clever subversion of the standard tropes of both urban fantasy and young adult. Even though the usual teen angst of YA and fantastical elements of urban fantasy are ever present here, the authors offer a rather darker side to many things, using societal issues and diverse characters in a refreshing way to add depth to what would otherwise be a fairly generic plot line. If you had to point to one thing and say that is what I Was A Teenage Weredeer is all about though, then it would have to be the humor. First, everyone in this story is obsessed with puns. Good puns. Bad puns. Puns that are cheesy. Some that are damn clever. More than a few about deer and our protagonist Jane DOE. Second, pop culture references are everywhere, turning many scenes into funny discussions about how this film or this character would handle the current situation. The puns and references making sure the fun never stops. The only complaint I have with Weredeer is the pacing. To be fair, this was most notably a problem in the middle sections of the book, slowly fading as the authors accelerated to a very exciting conclusion; however, during the times it was an issue, the narrative did drag quite a bit, weighed down by descriptive passages and too much humor. I know all the puns and pop culture references were there to lighten the mood up, add some fun to things, but when it seemed ever single character was getting into the pun making, it became a case of a little too much of a good thing, causing my desire for more puns to peaked and quickly decline. To sum up, I Was A Teenage Weredeer was a nice, easy read with a few surprises, some good paranormal MUR-DEER action, and loads and loads of puns. I could definitely see fans HUNTING for something like Buffy the Vampire Slayer or a similar tv series/films enjoying this novel DEERLY . (Yeah, I had to put in, at least, a couple of deer pun.) Seriously, though, anyone who finds YA urban fantasy with a dark side to their liking would probably really enjoy this novel. I received this book from the authors in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 13, 2018
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Mar 18, 2018
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Feb 28, 2018
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Kindle Edition
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| 0765382695
| 9780765382696
| 0765382695
| 4.04
| 1,224
| Oct 17, 2017
| Oct 17, 2017
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it was ok
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Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. My rating is 2.5 stars. Last Chance is the second volume of Gregg Hurwitz’s Rains Series, picking up the tale of bro Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. My rating is 2.5 stars. Last Chance is the second volume of Gregg Hurwitz’s Rains Series, picking up the tale of brothers Chance and Patrick Rain as they struggle to survive the transformation of their peaceful town into a zombie infested war zone. While book one, The Rains, was all about the initial outbreak, this follow-up installment delves more deeply into the progenitors of the outbreak, their true motives, and the reason why the Rain brothers find themselves wanted men. And while all that makes Last Chance sound like just another entry in the ever growing horde of novels about zombie that isn’t exactly a fair assessment, because this narrative has a nice twist on the familiar theme, one which makes Gregg Hurwitz’s novel a nice change-of-pace read for zombie enthusiasts. Brothers Chance and Patrick Rain, along with a small group of fellow teens and a couple teachers, continue their struggle to survive after parasitic spores infect everyone over 18 years-of-age in their town of Creek’s Cause. But even more terrifying than the “zombies” are the dark clad figures who soon appear and seem to control them; these “Harvesters” (as the survivors call them) gathering up children and teenagers, taking them to areas where the brothers know unspeakable things are being done to them. As this narrative begins, Chance Rain is alone, having survived the survivors’ attack on the Harvesters base, but now separated from everyone else. He is determined, terrified, and wishes that he was as tough as his older brother, because he realizes it is only a matter of time before he is captured and taken back to the “Hatch Site.” The story that follows is all about Chance Rain as he fights Harvesters, interacts with the other survivors, and slowly learns what is so special about himself and Patrick that everyone (Harvesters and other survivors) seems to be looking for them. The revelation of exactly why just as surprising and distressing as the outbreak itself! Not being a huge fan of zombie stories, I was a little wary of this book. I mean, the story of people attempting to survive the collapse of civilization after a zombie outbreak has been done before, right? I seem to recall some comic series and television show called The Walking Dead touching on that and being kind of a big thing in the recent past. But I was quite surprised how Gregg Hurwitz was able to surprise me, overcome my doubts, introduce me to me some interesting characters, and entertain me with his new spin on this old theme. The point-of-view character here is, of course, Chance Rain. The story told through journal entries. And even though it did take me a few chapters to get use to the style, I very quickly stopped noticing, focused on Chance with his tragic past, his deep devotion to his fellow survivors, and his desire to be as tough as Patrick. Quickly, his warm relationship with other survivors and his troubled interaction with some bad apples made me care about everyone here even if I only knew them through a few journal entries. Hell, even Dr. Chatterjee, the teacher turned survivor leader, became more than a soon-to-be-eaten extra and instead became an interesting guy dealing with insurmountable terror and expectations. All these people quickly becoming people I cared about, which made everything which transpired next more emotional. As for action, there is more than enough of it here. The author delivering just enough to keep the more character driven stuff from growing stale or boring, but never so much that you felt like you were on a runaway roller coaster barreling out of control. And, sure, the narrative had that whole “if-things-are-going-good-you-know-someone-will-soon-end-up-getting-eaten” kind of thing, but it’s a zombie book after all, so I sort of expected that. The only negative to me was the scientific elements of the story. Specifically, I’m talking about the how, why, where, et cetera of the plague, the Harvesters, and their ultimate plan. Certainly, Hurwitz attempts to insert tidbits of scientific expositions into the narrative in a normal way, slowly educating a reader on the science, and make it seem plausible, creative, and horrific in equal measure, but for me, it never really fit together in a rational way. Yes, I understood the science. No, I never felt like I was dealing with info-dumps about it. Yeah, it was a creative concept. Yet I never felt convinced by any of it, compelled to believe this could really happen tomorrow in my own town. Instead, what kept going through my mind was “So this is really what we are going with here?” Overall, I found Last Chance to be an entertaining read; the novel having a great mix of action, banter, feelings, romance, and horror to keep you flipping pages. Certainly, Gregg Hurwitz is striving to connect with lovers of young adult stories set in a post-apocalyptic world, but most anyone who enjoys fast-paced, exciting books would find this a worthy read. I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jan 12, 2018
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Jan 15, 2018
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Jan 16, 2018
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| 0765382547
| 9780765382542
| 0765382547
| 3.70
| 5,011
| Feb 16, 2016
| Feb 16, 2016
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liked it
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Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. Riders is a YA fantasy novel from Tor Teen which is set in our present world. The story revolving around mysterious Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. Riders is a YA fantasy novel from Tor Teen which is set in our present world. The story revolving around mysterious creatures who might be angels or might be demons. The problem is that our protagonist Gideon Blake, eighteen year old U.S. Army Ranger, doesn’t know which is which. Actually, he doesn’t really know what is going on most of the time, because he discovers he might have died and been resurrected as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse! Wait, wait. I’m getting ahead of myself, because, as the book opens, we don’t know any of that. In fact, the beginning of the book is actually the end. Yeah, you read that right. Riders starts at the end. Gideon Blake waking up in an interrogation chamber, tied to a chair, gagged with his head covered and no idea where the hell he is at. And it is only through his conversations with his interrogator that the story begins to come into focus. First, we discover that young Gideon has had a rough few years: his dad dying unexpectedly; the lose sending him into a downward spiral of trouble; and ultimately it causing him to join the military to straighten out his life. And it does. Or, at least, it had until a horrible training accident occurs. An accident which should have killed Gideon . . . but didn’t. Or did it? Gideon isn’t quite so sure. After finding his way back home to California (ostensibly to stay with his mom while he recovers), the nagging belief that he actually died spurs Gideon into action. Well, that and a feeling that something mysterious is going on around him. And once a group of strange people show up at a party, speaking cryptic and exhibiting some bizarre powers, Gideon finds himself thrown together with a beautiful but frustratingly secretive girl who wants him to help her save humanity from an ancient evil which she herself barely understands. From this setup the fun begins. Gideon and his companion journeying around to find others like him. The truth about his situation slowly coming into focus (though much of it is still in doubt even at the end); his fellow horsemen knowing more – and less – than himself; and the conclusion to this episode demanding a sequel as soon as possible. One of the main things I found interesting about Riders was the structure of the narrative. Veronica Rossi doing a wonderful job using the “ending” as a jumping off point that immediately built tension and excitement from the first line. That coupled with Gideon himself telling the story through his first person responses to his “interrogator” was a clever and refreshing way to tell this sort of tale. Another thing which set this book apart from other YA faire was the great characters, specifically how they actually speak and act like young adults. I mean, we can all agree there are YA books out there where the characters resemble thirty year olds rather than teenagers, right? Not that those books are bad, but it is really refreshing to read about people who fit their age. Gideon, in particular, was a fun narrator; his insecurities, his emotions, and his flaws amazingly realistic and entertaining. Even though Gideon was the star of this show, I have to just go ahead and admit that the coolest thing about the story was the horses. The four horsemen of the apocalypse have to have cool horses, right, and Veronica Rossi definitely gives them some. Each horse distinctly original, exhibiting their own individual badass powers, and gifted with a unique personality which slowly shines through. After saying all those great things about the book, I’m sure many of you wonder why I only gave it three stars. Simply put, the reason is that too much of the time I kept wondering why Gideon was doing what he was doing. I mean, his acceptance of his “mysterious” fate seemed a little too easy and too quick, and his instantaneous decision to travel around with a complete stranger (No matter how attracted he is to her.) was a bit of a head scratcher. Plus, it seemed a bit silly that he never really understands what the hell is going on – even when he begins training to fight “demons.” All of these things really detracted from my enjoyment of the story. Overall, Riders was a fun YA fantasy book. It definitely isn’t your typical angels versus demons story, and Gideon is a really entertaining protagonist. While I can’t say it reinvented the YA wheel, Veronica Rossi entertained me enough that I will be picking up book two to see where she goes from here. I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Feb 2016
|
Aug 19, 2017
|
Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| 0765316331
| 9780765316332
| 0765316331
| 3.64
| 433
| Mar 01, 2016
| Mar 01, 2016
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None
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Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Oct 2016
|
Aug 19, 2017
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Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 1466876301
| 9781466876309
| B01FQQ41RA
| 3.62
| 688
| Jan 10, 2017
| Jan 10, 2017
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None
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Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Feb 2017
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Aug 19, 2017
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Kindle Edition
| |||||||||||||||
| 0765381389
| 9780765381385
| 0765381389
| 3.80
| 205
| Feb 28, 2017
| Feb 28, 2017
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None
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Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Mar 2017
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Aug 19, 2017
|
Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 1925645029
| 9781925645026
| B071JNR9HB
| 3.79
| 405
| Jun 15, 2017
| Jun 15, 2017
|
liked it
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Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. For Steam and Country is a young adult, steampunk adventure penned by Jon Del Arroz. It is a light, fast-paced, and Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. For Steam and Country is a young adult, steampunk adventure penned by Jon Del Arroz. It is a light, fast-paced, and action-packed adventure which delivers hours of fun! Sixteen-year-old Zaira von Monocle is a country girl who has been living alone, tending her family farm ever since her mother died and her father disappeared over two years ago. While she struggles with all her responsibilities, Zaira gives it her best, holding things together as best she can with the help of her neighbor James and his parents. But things are about to change! A pair of strangers appear at Zaira’s farm driving a new-fangled steamcar. Both of these individuals having known her father well, informing Zaira that Theo von Monocle was something of a war hero in Rislandia, having undertaken many secret missions for the crown against the Iron Empire, and that after two years he has finally been declared legally dead after disappearing on one of said missions. The two of them having traveled to inform her of this fact and that she is the sole beneficiary of Theo’s will, having inherited the farm as well as her father’s most prized possession: an airship! Zaira is now faced with a choice: stay and remain a farmer, or take on her father’s role as commander of The Liliana. The latter task much more than merely learning how to fly a zeppelin, but requiring our young hero to win over her father’s devoted crew and take on his role as a defender of Rislandia. The vile Iron Empire even now preparing for war on Zaira’s homeland; the king needing every airship he can get into the air to ward off the new threat – including the famous Liliana! What should Zaira do? Her home might not be safe anymore with the war looming, but she has no idea how to command an airship. Plus, the burden of helping lead the Liliana into a war unnerves her. But if she doesn’t, how can she live with herself if Rislandia is destroyed? What shines brightest in this novel is the realistic characters crafted by Jon Del Arroz. From the young, inexperienced Zaira to the tough, confident Captain von Cravat, this story is populated with people who are uniquely different from one another, have their own character quirks (Some of which are running jokes.), and organically grow and develop as the narrative unfolds. All of which means it is not your usual young adult story with a Mary Sue lead who does everything exceptionally well and whom everyone falls all over themselves to fall in love with. Nope, the author decided to make this a young adult tale set in reality, which I deeply appreciated. I feel I also need to praise the author for his deft handling of action scenes. The guy knows how to write them, write them well, and make them interesting and important to the ongoing plot. No, he doesn’t describe every damn riposte like R.A. Salvatore, but in my book that is a good thing, since he gave me the silver screen excitement without a clinical lecture on fighting technique. As for the world building, For Steam and Country is set in a solid, steampunk world. Not all of it is revealed, not every strange kingdom is highlighted, but there are glimpses of this place, its people, and its past inserted naturally into the ongoing tale. The steampunk machines and contraptions scattered throughout the narrative appearing in a very seamless manner with enough detail added to clearly describe them, but the author not falling into the trap of turning every item introduction into an excuse to fill pages with steampunk techno-babble. And there is even tons of foreshadowing about the amazing things not yet seen to whet ever readers appetite for more in the future. The only real problem I had with the book is more attributed to my personal reading preferences (i.e. I generally do not like young adult) rather than anything wrong with the narrative. So while I did find this book to be a tightly scripted, fast-paced, and fun story, there were parts of it regarding our protagonists slow maturation and evolving relationships which I found difficult to stay interested in, not because Jon Del Arroz did a poor job crafting those elements but merely because I don’t find those sort of plots very compelling anymore. Even with my anti-young adult tendencies, I have to say that For Steam and Country was an enjoyable read, introducing me to some interesting characters caught up in a thrilling adventure, while all around them a really cool steampunk world began to take shape. All in all, I’d definitely recommend it to those who enjoy young adult or fun, action-packed steampunk, and I can’t wait to see where Jon Del Arroz takes this series in the future, because it definitely has the potential to be a fine ongoing series, in my opinion. I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank him for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone. ...more |
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1
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Sep 13, 2017
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Sep 19, 2017
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Jul 10, 2017
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Kindle Edition
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| 0765382202
| 9780765382207
| 0765382202
| 3.59
| 995
| Jan 17, 2017
| Jan 17, 2017
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liked it
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Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. The latest novel from best-selling author Carrie Vaughn, writer of the Kitty Norville urban fantasy series, Martian Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. The latest novel from best-selling author Carrie Vaughn, writer of the Kitty Norville urban fantasy series, Martians Abroad is a space opera for the Young Adult genre. Told in first person, this tale of Polly Newton, our narrator, and her twin brother Charles is filled with optimistic hope, adolescent travails, and scientific fun. Set in a future where humanity has colonized the solar system, Polly and Charles are Martians, having happily lived out their short life on this colonial world ,where their mother is the director of operations. But while Polly is perfectly happy with her plans to be a starpilot and Charles with studying colony administration, the twins’ mother decides to enroll them in the prestigious Galileo Academy on Earth. The twins the first Martians to be accepted at Galileo, which means this should be a great honor, but, of course, it really isn’t viewed that way by either of them. Polly’s dislike of her new school and home quickly turns into pure disgust and anger after she and her better-than-thou classmates begin to have problems. The usual juvenile peer disputes turn into something even more sinister however, as a mysterious conspiracy rears its ugly head, placing Polly right in the middle of the dangerous action. Obviously, the focus of this story is the coming-of-age of Polly Newton. This youth having to accept responsibility for her life and attempt to emulate the capable, confident women she looks up to. But while Polly tends to triumph in her numerous trials, she always remains a realistic character. She has strengths, weaknesses, and does need direction and support from those around her. Nor does our young hero wallow in teen angst or dreary dystopian misery. Nope, she attempts to be optimistic and strong without ever slipping into the Mary Sue mold — unlike so many other Young Adult heroes. But this is a space opera, right? So how can it have a space feel if it is set on Earth? Actually, despite most of the story taking place on old Mother Earth, it keeps its decidedly science fiction feel by deft writing from Carrie Vaughn. Constantly, the author finds ways to integrate Mars and the Martian way of life into the narrative mix. The science fiction aspects of living on another planet always turn up in plausible ways. Physical differences between Polly and Charles and their fellow students are acknowledged and explained. The Martian colonial spirit highlighted and celebrated. Technological aspects of humanity in space are intelligently explored, creating a realistic political and societal setting for the tale. All of these elements (and more!) merging to create a satisfying space opera setting for the YA fun. The only criticism I have with Martians Abroad is the ending. As so many other reviewers have also stated, it ends rather suddenly and unsatisfactorily, leaving one to wonder where the rest of the story can be found. Perhaps this issue can be chalked up to me just wishing to know even more than I did about the story and the characters, but I felt I should, at least, state that the ending left me a bit disappointed. Space opera for the Young Adult crowd, Martians Abroad is futuristic, optimistic, and refreshingly fun. This tale sure to evoke an innocent sense of wonder in every person who reads it and remind them of a more hopeful time in the world when we all spent our days dreaming of the stars. I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jan 14, 2017
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Jan 19, 2017
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Jan 23, 2017
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Hardcover
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| 0765387883
| 9780765387882
| 0765387883
| 4.02
| 3,704
| Feb 01, 2003
| Oct 25, 2016
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liked it
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Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. Dragon and Thief is a short, scifi story based upon a really cool idea (If you – like me – think sentient, symbiot Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. Dragon and Thief is a short, scifi story based upon a really cool idea (If you – like me – think sentient, symbiotic aliens who live on your skin as tattoos, talk to you, and can turn into warrior-poet dragons is cool.), and I can see middle grade readers (the intended audience) really enjoying it. I even believe others (who might only know Timothy Zahn from his Star Wars Expanded Universe novels) will find this straightforward tale an entertaining adventure worth their time. The fun begins when Draycos, the aforementioned K’da symbiote, survives the destruction of the starship he is traveling on and is forced to find a new host within six hours. This causes our alien to join with the problem teenager Jack Morgan, who is a trained thief but doesn’t really enjoy his chosen profession. But instead of this joining calming things down for our dynamic duo, it results in each gaining new enemies, whom they must flee before, while also trying to pull off a tricky robbery of the most powerful people in the galaxy. Other than the cool concept (How can you not love an alien warrior tattoo?), what keeps a reader turning pages here is the two main characters and their struggle to co-exist once they find themselves united. While it might seem strange, Draycos and Jack really don’t hit it off right away. Draycos is a true warrior-poet with a deep devotion to always doing right according to his moral code. Jack Morgan, on the other hand, has grown up as a thief, trained by his con man uncle Virgil; his general attitude is one of self-preservation and no concern for the harm his action might do to others. So, naturally, these two spend a great deal of time dealing with their interpersonal conflicts, learning about one another, and attempting to overcome their differences and work together as a team. No story is perfect however, and I did have one problem with Dragon and Thief, specifically the feeling that nothing was resolved by its end. I mean, I knew going in that this was the first installment of a series, but my expectation was that, at least, something would be resolved in this narrative. Instead, the story read more like an extended introduction to the characters and a setup for the conflicts going forward in the series, creating dangling plot threads everywhere while leaving little feeling of satisfaction. Overall, Dragon and Thief was a fun read that I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys middle grade or young adult stories. The idea was cool; the characters are interesting; and the science fiction elements are easy to digest. No, our heroes don’t blow up the Death Star at the end, but they definitely have a lot of future adventures set up for the rest of the series to focus on. I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone. ...more |
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1
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Oct 27, 2016
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Oct 31, 2016
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Oct 27, 2016
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Paperback
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| B00KA101LW
| 4.03
| 33,652
| Jul 16, 2015
| Jul 16, 2015
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it was ok
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Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. I’m a completionist at heart, especially when it comes to reading. When I’ve experienced most of a story, a part of Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. I’m a completionist at heart, especially when it comes to reading. When I’ve experienced most of a story, a part of me demands to know how it all ends – even if I have not “loved” the overall series. And this character trait explains why Half a War ended up on my reading list after Half a King and Half the World underwhelmed me. As this tale begins, three years or so have passed since the events in book two. The Shattered Sea is now ripped apart by war. Gettland and Vansterland staring down the High King. So far though, the alliance between King Uthil and Grom-gil-Gorm has accomplished little, as their ally Throvenland’s fall clearly illustrates. But the deeply cunning (and clearly ruthless) Father Yarvi has schemes within schemes, plots within plots that he has been slowly brewing, waiting patiently to gain his vengeance against Grandmother Wexen, and now the time for true war has come! This titanic clash between Father Yarvi’s rebellion and Grandmother Wexen’s loyalist is seen through the eyes of three, new point of view characters: Princess Skara of Throvenland, Koll from Half the World, and Raith, sword bearer and cupbearer for Gorm. Very different people who begin this journey with their own unique circumstances, yet quickly find themselves drawn into the swirling vortex surrounding Yarvi. Events playing out around them which they have little to no control over. The hellish toils of war escalating, turning deadly and personal until it builds to a classic Abercrombie ending, where everything and everyone is painted in absolute grey, not a single hero in sight. Wow, that sounds rather exhilarating, doesn’t it? A rousing and bloody conclusion to this grimwhine series, and there are many things to like here. Action and bloody combat heads my list. All of the warfare realistically portrayed. Abercrombie fully capturing the brutality of regicide and warfare in this post-apocalyptic world. Death, mayhem, and deceit reign supreme. Sacrifices are made. Lies are told. Innocents die needlessly. Betrayals occur. Alliances are forged then broken. Revenge is served: both the hot and cold varieties. All of it drenched in the author’s cynical view of people; the philosophy that one person’s hero is another person’s villain clearly portrayed. The true origins of the Shattered Sea is also revealed here. Not fully perhaps, but enough that the mysterious “elves” of the ancient past do come more into focus. This advanced civilization’s fall is hinted at; their poisonous and creepy ruins examined up close; and their lost technology plays a vital role in the conclusion. Abercrombie finally delivering on the promise of this ancient place. Even acknowledging these strengths, I rated this book as a two star novel, which means it was merely “okay” in my eyes. Let me explain why. For the third time in three books, Mr. Abercrombie chose to tell his story with all new point of view characters. That means this is the third time I’ve been introduced to new people, had to learn to either empathize or hate them, and seen the same overarching plots retold through the eyes of new characters. At the same time as this is taking place, the trilogy has to wrap up: the stories of Yarvi, Wexen, Uthil, Grom, Thorn, and Brand ending as well as the epic, world changing war concluding. And for all Mr. Abercrombie’s writing skills, he was not able to do all this and still make me feel the same depth of emotional attachment for Skara, Koll, and Raith as I did the stars of Half a King or even Half the World. Rather, our fresh faced trio turned into the latest faces in the Shattered Sea revolving door. This lack of fully realized characters did not cause my next complaint, but it certainly did not alleviate it. What I’m referring to is the main protagonists in Half a War not being in control or even fully knowledgeable about what is actually going on. Instead of being in the thick of the decision making and plots in this titanic conflict, our trio are always on the outside peaking in like a bunch of kids eavesdropping on the grownups party. Sure, every once in a while the “adults” like Yarvi, Grom, or Thorn will talk to them, pat them on the head, or pass along a tidbit of what is going on inside, but the bulk of the time, Skara, Knoll, and Raith are out of the loop, not in the inner circle, bumbling around in the dark. Their actions having little to do with the outcomes in the story, or if they do, they are merely a puppet whose strings are being pulled by Yarvi or someone else. All of it rending our new characters little more than distractions from the real story playing out behind the scenes, which left me annoyed and longing for a chapter where the old characters (Yarvi, Uthil, et cetera) would be my point of view yet again. My third complaint is the “romantic” element here. I have to admit not being a huge fan of Yarvi’s love story in Half a King, but I could swallow it. When Thorn and Brand got together in book two, I rolled my eyes more than a bit, but I’m not a young adult anymore so I just threw it up to my romantic side being a bit cynical after a lifetime of real life. But in this story, Skara and her significant other never, never felt the least bit moving or even plausible. It felt forced and contrived; all of it a set up so the author could paint yet another character in absolute shades of grey. But the most disappointing aspect of this novel to me, the most annoying element was the absolute lack of suspense. I’m merely speaking for myself, but the ending, the revelation of people’s true actions, and the transformation of characters into traditional grimdark snakes was guessed well in advance and did not deviate from their estimated course. The lack of “Wow!” reveals causing me to skim pages continually. Now, I know that sounds like I did not enjoy Half a War at all, but the fact is it was an okay book, well worth reading to see how Yarvi and the Shattered Sea story ended. What it has cemented in my mind, however, is that – try as I might – I do not enjoy the kind of grimdark Mr. Abercrombie pens. Not sure exactly what it is, but I find his style, his constant philosophical commentary (I grew tired of “Only half a war is fought with swords” appearing so frequently in the narrative.), and his grey characters lacking in some essential quality, making me dread picking up his books rather than anxious to do so. I completely understand why many of you love his works (I can see his stellar writing ability clearly on the pages in front of me.), but I have merely accepted that I’m not going to be on the bandwagon no matter how many of his books I read. Don’t be sad for me though, because there are more than enough books out there for everyone to love. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 22, 2016
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Apr 23, 2016
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Apr 23, 2016
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Kindle Edition
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| 0765378981
| 9780765378989
| 0765378981
| 4.13
| 13,852
| Oct 2009
| Apr 19, 2016
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really liked it
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Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. The Knights of Crystallia is the third installment of the Alcatraz series by Brandon Sanderson. For those who don’t Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. The Knights of Crystallia is the third installment of the Alcatraz series by Brandon Sanderson. For those who don’t understand what a series actually means and where you should start reading it, Alcatraz Smedry is nice enough to help explain all this as the book begins. I know that some of you Hushlanders have trouble counting to three. (The Librarian-controlled schools don’t want you to be able to manage complex mathematics.) So I’ve prepared this helpful guide. Definition of “book one”: The best place to start a series. You can identify “book one” by the fact that it says BOOK ONE on the back cover. Smedrys do a happy dance when you read book one first. Entropy shakes its angry fist at you for being clever enough to organize the world. Definition of “book two”: The book you should read after book one. If you start with book two, I will make fun of you. (Okay, so I’ll make fun of you either way. But honestly, do you want to give me more ammunition?) Definition of “book three”: The worst place, currently, to start a series. If you start here, I will throw things at you. Definition of “book four”: And . . . how’d you manage to start with that one? I haven’t even written it yet. (You sneaky time travelers.) And that, my friends, is a sample of the trademark tongue-in-cheek silliness of this addictive middle-grade series. A tale which has followed young Alcatraz from unhappy foster child to son of the famous Smedry family of the Free Kingdoms. His Grandpa Smedry having whisked our young hero away from the boring Hushlands (The real world where you and I live) to enter the adventure filled world where the Free Kingdoms wage a constant struggle to keep the Earth free of Evil Librarian control. Magic, oculatory lenses, knights, and even more wondrous (and awful) things revealing themselves to our young hero. But Alcatraz isn’t really a hero. At least, he doesn’t believe it. Instead, he describes himself as “a liar, a sadist, and a terrible person.” But since his fans (because Alcatraz has A LOT of them both in the Hushlands and the Free Kingdoms) believe he is, he has “come to the conclusion that the only way to convince you readers that I’m a terrible person is to show you how arrogant and self-centered I am. I’ll do this by talking about my virtues. Incessantly. All the time. Until you’re completely sick of hearing about my superiority.” Not that Alcatraz really does that. Instead, The Knights of Crystallia shows our young Smedry getting his first taste of the Free Kingdoms, discovering what it really means to be a “Smedry”, learning he is as famous as Elvis ever dreamed of being, dealing with his friend Bastille’s trial, and attempting to stop a peace proposal by the Evil Librarians, which would hand over the Kingdom of Mokia to them! There really is a lot of cool stuff to love in this book, but it all depends on whether you dig Brandon Sanderson’s humor. I mean, Alcatraz’s self-depreciating silliness and quirky observations aren’t for everyone, and I’ve encountered people who are turned off by it as well as the middle-grade story style. Myself and my son really dig it however. And since I have a college degree and am a recognized expert in book reviewing, you should just accept my opinion already and go buy the book. (Read the novel, and you will get the joke I’m telling in that last sentence.) But, anyway, The Knights of Crystallia delivers everything a great MG (Is that even the correct acronym for middle-grade? Shrug.) story needs. Adventure. Laughs. Magic. Cool, awkward teenagers. And even some words of wisdom here or there. (“Fame is like a cheeseburger. It might not be the best or most healthy thing to have, but it will still fill you up . . . It isn’t until years later you realize what it has done to your heart.") So give this series a try (Alcatraz prefers you begin with book one remember?) or give it as a gift to a cool MG-er who likes awesome, magical adventures. I received this novel from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 07, 2016
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Jun 07, 2016
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Apr 05, 2016
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Hardcover
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| 0765378965
| 9780765378965
| 0765378965
| 4.14
| 16,738
| Nov 01, 2008
| Feb 16, 2016
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liked it
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Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. My rating is a solid 3.5 stars. After thoroughly enjoying our first adventure with Alcatraz, my youngest son and I q Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths. My rating is a solid 3.5 stars. After thoroughly enjoying our first adventure with Alcatraz, my youngest son and I quickly began the sequel; both of us having become fans of this quirky, fun series. In The Scrivener’s Bones, our hero and friends find themselves with a new mission: infiltrating another library. (Well, if one is fighting evil librarians, they are usual found in libraries, right?) But this time they are heading to the most famous one (arguably) in the history of the world — the Library of Alexandria. Yeah, you read that right. The great library of the ancient world which was supposedly destroyed around 270 AD by Roman Emperor Aurelian. But it still exists you see. Its vast tomes of knowledge weren’t burned at all. The legend is yet another monstrous lie of the evil librarians, who actually stole the library and hide it in a deep underground vault. A place of pure evil where undead curators guard the ancient lore; their souls exchanged in return for the opportunity to access the hidden Alexandria collection. And Alcatraz and friends have to brave the horrors to rescue Grandpa Smedry; the endearing fellow having gone and gotten himself captured! The story which develops from here is classic fun in the Sanderson style. Sure, it is targeted for the younger audience of the Middle Grades, but anyone who loves this author will undoubtedly enjoy it, for it has the trademark elements of all Brandon Sanderson books. First, there are the amazing magic systems, which were introduced in Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians , but are expanded upon and beginning to form into a silly yet complex structure in this installment. The magical talents of the Smedry family are especially important to the narrative, so they get lots of page time, but oculatory lenses and silimatic technology are also touched upon. All of them quirky, imaginative, and, at times, down right silly; each explained as only Sanderson can; the magic becoming just as much a distinguishing characteristic of the Alcatraz series as the title character himself. As for our hero's personal story, it continues to organically develop, not only his immediate adventure but the foreshadowing of future events and the unveiling of unknown history and family secrets. All of it setting up the future very nicely, making it impossible for a lover of Alcatraz not to be dying to get their hands on the next book to see where Mr. Sanderson is heading. What sets the series apart from other Middle Grade books, though, is our hero’s sense of humor (or Mr. Sanderson’s if you’d prefer.) Alcatraz constantly interrupting the narrative to add sarcastic remarks, bizarre references, or eccentric asides. His self-deprecating manner adding many a funny moment, even at the author’s own expense, as when Alcatraz advises his readers to hit themselves in the head with “one of Brandon Sanderson’s fantasy novels. They’re big enough, and goodness knows that’s really the only useful thing to do with them.” The Scrivener’s Bones is a great continuation of the Alcatraz series. Obviously, it isn’t for everyone (The Middle Grade tone and the quirky humor might turn some off), but if you (like me) are a big kid at heart or intend to share this with a special kid in your life (My son and I read it as a bedtime story.) then it is a Brandon Sanderson story not to be missed, one which will have you smiling and chuckling more than a little. But just be warned, Alcatraz has no sympathy on those readers who commit that “most putrid and unholy thing any reader can do.” So no peaking at the ending, okay? I received this book from the Starscape Books in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank the publishers for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 10, 2016
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Mar 15, 2016
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Mar 10, 2016
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Hardcover
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| 0765378949
| 9780765378941
| 0765378949
| 3.91
| 32,360
| Oct 01, 2007
| Feb 16, 2016
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really liked it
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Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths The first adventure in the young adult fantasy series Alcatraz The Evil Librarians was one which I and my youngest Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths The first adventure in the young adult fantasy series Alcatraz The Evil Librarians was one which I and my youngest son read as a bedtime story. As a fan of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series and Mac Barnett’s Brixton Brothers mysteries, I knew the novel was a can’t miss with the little Bookwraith, and I wasn’t wrong. This fast-paced, funny tale by Brandon Sanderson bringing more than a few smiles to my face and eliciting many a hysterical giggle from my son, which meant it was great fun but didn’t really put him to sleep any faster. In this story, foster child Alcatraz Smedry is our star. Like most thirteen year olds, he has more than a little teen angst going on, but Alcatraz has more than a little right to feel that way, because he has had a pretty rough life: losing his parents, moving from foster home to foster home, and being cursed with a knack to break almost anything. And when he gets a bag of sand in the mail for his birthday, his angst only grows, as it seems this is his only inheritance from his mom and dad. Soon, though, Alcatraz learns that there is a lot more to this stupid bag of sand than he thought. A cult of evil Librarians (who plan on taking over the world by distorting the truth) stealing it from him, trying to shot him before a strange, old man in a modified Model T-Ford slams his car into the side of Alcatraz’s house. Grandpa Smedry not only saves Alcatraz but opens his eyes to a whole new world. A place where the Free Kingdoms are waging a hidden war against the Evil Librarians, and Alcatraz’s inheritance of a bag of sand is the most powerful gift anyone could have ever been given. (It took Alcatraz’s dad his whole life to gather the Sands of Rashid one grain at a time!) The Librarians wanting the sands, because with them they will be able to create the most powerful Oculatory Distortions ever, giving them the power to finally overthrow the Free Kingdoms! Well, at least, Grandpa Smedry says all this is true. Alcatraz isn’t really sure if he believes him or not, especially the part about him being his grandpa. So what is he to do: run off into unknown danger with a strange man who might be delusional or head off to another foster home? Finally, our young orphan decides, telling Grandpa Smedry, “I’m only going with you because someone just tried to kill me. You see, I’m a somewhat reckless boy and not always prone to carefully considering the consequences of my actions.” But how will the odd pair retrieve the sands from the armed and dangerous Librarians? Grandpa Smedry has the answer: They will use Alcatraz’s Smedry talent. The talent (not a curse at all) to break things. The most powerful Smedry talent ever! Lighthearted, funny, and filled with wild, crazy ideas sure to delight everyone who has the heart of a child, Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians shows a very different side of Brandon Sanderson, but it still displays all his amazing storytelling talents: amazing plot, interesting characters, and mesmerizing twists and turns, which means it is a story not to be missed. I received this book from the Starscape Books in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank the publishers for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 16, 2016
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Mar 06, 2016
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Feb 16, 2016
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Hardcover
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| 1400086248
| 9781400086245
| 1400086248
| 3.95
| 1,824,059
| Jun 01, 2002
| Jan 01, 2004
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it was ok
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Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths Reviews This review must begin with my admission that I am a middle-aged, white man. My angst ridden teen years a di Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths Reviews This review must begin with my admission that I am a middle-aged, white man. My angst ridden teen years a distant memory most days. However, as the proud – and highly stressed, at times – father of several children, I get to relive those dramatic teen days over again through my kids. Something I tend to do by watching their favorite tv shows and movies with them, listening to their music, and reading the younger children (pre-teens and younger) their favorite books at bedtime. And this is how I first was introduced to Eragon several years ago: First at the movies in 2006, then a few years later as a bedtime story read. More recently, I decide to revisit the story via an audio book. Why am I starting my review this way, you ask? Mainly, it is to warn everyone that I am definitely not the target audience for Eragon, so please be aware of that and assume that the review to follow will not be highly favorable of it. Eragon starts out like many old school fantasy books: The focus being on a poor farm boy. His name here is . . . (drum roll please!) Eragon! This solidly built and morally firm youth is out hunting in the dangerous mountains for food to help his “adopted” family get through the winter. It is something he does willingly, since his uncle has loved and raised him as his own son ever since Eragon’s mother disappeared soon after his birth. After a tiring hunt, our young farm boy is about to kill a deer when a burst of magic disrupts the peace of the land. As the light disappears, Eragon discovers something much more dangerous than any wild beast lying before him. Rather, he observes an unadorned blue stone! A simple thing really. One that Eragon quickly takes, intending to sell it to get his family food for the winter. Little does he know that the stone is priceless beyond imagination. A metamorphosis soon to occur that will change Eragon’s life (and the fate of the world) forever! The story that follows mixes a dash of Lord of the Rings (everything), a pinch of Star Wars (knights with glowing swords), a smidgen of Pern (dragonriders), and a cup of over-used fantasy tropes (you name it, it's here) to create a fairly generic story. While it isn’t bad, Eragon isn’t anything great either. Honestly, it seems at times that Mr. Paolini was content to cut and paste his favorite parts from other stories, tacking these borrowed elements together to create his own teenage fantasy adventure. (Yes, I know Paolini was a teenager when he wrote this, which is why I believe this assessment is fair.) Does that mean Eragon is not worth reading? No, it is a decent fantasy novel. My youngest child adores it. He has had me read it to him once and watches the movie regularly, but he hasn’t even hit double digits in his age yet. My older children (pre-teen and teens) do not like it at all, however. In fact, when I read it to them as a bedtime story several years ago, they totally revolted, demanding that I stop and read something more interesting. When I asked why they felt that way, they said Lord of the Rings was better. Since I couldn’t argue, I moved to the next book. So my kids are split on the book, but why didn’t I (middle-aged, white guy) like this one? As I mentioned earlier, I find it generic. The story is just too formulaic, filled with too many tropes, inhabited by too many archetypes, and too unsurprising to be terribly interesting to me. The generic farm-boy-with-mysterious-past-finds-magical-object-and-becomes-the-chosen-one was overdone even when I was a kid, and by the 2000s, it was almost impossible to concoct anything new and exciting out of that type of scenario. Even adding in the Star Wars-like elements, Paolini’s story had already been told before and told better to put it simply. Even saying all that, I can understand where others would disagree and personally love this book, especially those new to fantasy. It is an excellent introduction to traditional fantasy with enough magic, world building, and mystical creatures to keep a reader interested. In that introductory type of role, I can see how Eragon could be great. On a final note, I must give praise to the narrator of the audio book I listened to. This person did an outstanding job with this story. The voices he created were amazingly well done as were the emotions that he somehow endowed the words with. Many times, I could tell the characters feeling just by the tone of the narrator’s voice. A performance that was especially noteworthy and in need of a spotlight. ...more |
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Mar 20, 2015
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Mar 27, 2015
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Mar 20, 2015
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Audio CD
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| 3.97
| 37
| Jan 01, 2014
| Oct 01, 2014
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really liked it
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Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths Reviews In his YA series, The Delphi Trilogy, Chris Everheart has slowly introduced readers to a global conspiracy Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths Reviews In his YA series, The Delphi Trilogy, Chris Everheart has slowly introduced readers to a global conspiracy called the League of Delphi; a secret order which has evolved from the original Oracle of Delphi in ancient Greece into a worldwide organization with its webs spun around the world. One of the centers for this elite group being located in the idyllic town of Arcanville, U.S.A.; a city copied directly from a Thomas Kinkade painting. But as we all know, looks can be deceiving, and no one realizes this more than sixteen year old Zachary White, who returns to his childhood home after nine years spent in French boarding schools under an assumed name. The weirdness of his life having built up in Zach a determination to discover the why of his strange life, and so he walks into Arcanville a loner, taking a job at the local coffee house, and begins his own private investigation into the wrongness of his old home. Through books one and two of the series, Zach’s detective-like crusade has slowly but surely led him to uncover the horrible plot of the League of Delphi. And along the way, he has discovered things about his past and his present that he never would have imagined possible: seemingly normal people involved in sinister research at the local university, hidden records stretching back thousands of years, his own families involvement in all of it, and the central role the girl he loves plays in all the League’s plans. Yes, Zach is a young man way over his head as this book begins. Someone who has trusted the wrong people, found himself betrayed, and yet is determined not to give up. He can’t, because the League’s plans are about to come to fruition and destroy people he loves. And so the stage is set for The Delphi Revelation. Now, as most of my friends already know, YA novels and I do not usually mix. Blame it on my age, or my pessimistic adult nature, or whatever, but the fact is I generally find their youthful point of view naive at best and laughable at worst. (The only exception to this being Percy Jackson. I can’t help but love that kid. He reminds me of my own twelve year old son, I guess.) No matter my preconceived dislike of YA, however, Mr. Everheart’s Delphi Trilogy really sucked me in, made me turn the pages, and got me excited when the next installment arrived. It is, without a doubt, a story that entertains despite its youthful voice, despite its characters’ naivety, and despite their clueless decision-making, because Mr. Everheart uses all those perceived failing to make these some of the most normal teenagers I could imagine. And with The Delphi Revelation, he takes these normal teenagers, sends them into some dangerous situation and does a fitting job of wrapping up this part of Zach’s story, seamlessly resolving all the dangling plots, unveiling a surprise or two along the way, and leaving a reader wanting to hear the next chapter of Zach’s story – because we all know the League of Delphi won’t give up too easily. So if you love YA or would just like to give it a try, pick this trilogy up. It is well worth a read. I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank Netgalley for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone. ...more |
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1
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Nov 22, 2014
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Nov 26, 2014
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Nov 22, 2014
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ebook
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| 4.55
| 1,050,344
| May 05, 2009
| May 12, 2009
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really liked it
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Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths Reviews The Last Olympian is, I suppose, a fitting conclusion to the Percy Jackson series. It brings together all t Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths Reviews The Last Olympian is, I suppose, a fitting conclusion to the Percy Jackson series. It brings together all the memorable characters one last time; lets them take their turn in the spotlight; entertains a long time reader with a novel spanning battle of epic proportions; and then simply and neatly ties up the loose plot threads. So for all those reasons, it is a satisfying ending to one of the most well-known coming-of-age tales in recent memory. Like all long time readers know, this novel begins with Percy Jackson dreading the inevitable battle with the Titan Lord Kronos, his fellow Titans and their numerous allies as well as the fulfillment of the Delphi’s ominous prophecy. Thankfully, Percy and his half-blood friends have been preparing for this for years though. So they should be able to respond to pretty much anything their enemy throws at them, right? Wrong. Because this is Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and no planning is ever enough to keep the unexpected from happening. And so, while everyone at Camp Half-Blood knew their odds were going to be grim when the final face-off came about, none of them were expecting how strong Kronos’ army really was. Nor were they anticipating the coldly orchestrated manner in which the Lord of Time goes about dividing his enemies and setting them up for failure. (Something that you would think Athena, goddess of wisdom, or some other experienced demigod would have expected. But I digress.) And so, Percy and his fellow half-bloods find themselves in a familiar spot of trying to save themselves (and the world) from certain destruction with no clear idea of what exactly to do. The story that is crafted out this chaotic, juvenile mess is a typical Percy Jackson tale that mixes re-imagined Greek mythology with seat-of-your-pants action, a bit of teenage angst, and a lot of daring-do by our young heroes. And while it doesn’t do anything different from the preceding four books, that isn’t a bad thing, because by this point you either like Percy or don’t. No need for Mr. Riordan to change paddles in midstream, so to speak. But if I was forced to point out something I didn’t enjoy in this book, it would be Percy’s absolute “denseness”percy jackson cluelesss or “absent mindedness” or “clueless-ness” or whatever you want to call it. In The Lightning Thief, it made him endearing and completely relatable, because he was a young teen thrown into a situation which made no sense, and he kept floundering around, trying to figure what was going on. Even in the next three books, “seaweed brain” reacted fairly appropriately, giving that he was continually getting into unexpected situations. But now we are at the final battle. You know, the big confrontation he and all the half-bloods have been preparing for, and it just did not seem realistic, at all, to me that Percy would still be so “OMG, what is going on?” With that diatribe by my middle-aged self out-of-the-way, I have to say I and my son enjoyed this novel. (My son more than me, but isn’t that the way it should be?) It gave us a huge, ongoing battle worthy of a clash between Kronos and the Greek gods, lots of Percy Jackson heroic denseness, and a resolution to the prophecy that we had been wondering about for so long. Plus seaweed brain finally understood girls. Well, he thinks he does, but all us middle aged men know something that Percy hasn’t understood yet -- "Women are made to be loved, not understood." ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 03, 2014
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Sep 13, 2014
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Jul 03, 2014
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Audio CD
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| 3.86
| 176
| Dec 10, 2013
| Dec 10, 2013
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it was ok
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Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths Reviews Sometimes, I run across a book that is difficult for me to write a review about, usually this is because I Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths Reviews Sometimes, I run across a book that is difficult for me to write a review about, usually this is because I hated it so much I could not finish it, but then there are times when the book had all the appropriate elements (action, decent writing, good characters, world building) but for some unknown reason, I could not get into it. An analogy is going out on a first date with someone who is attractive and has all your same interest, but you feel zero spark between you. Why didn’t it work? On eharmony, it looked like the best thing ever, but as you sit there at dinner wondering when this will be over, you can’t stop asking yourself what happened to the damn compatibility algorithms. And that is how I felt after finishing The Trials of the Core. There is not any reason why I did not “connect” with this story, but I just didn’t. I don’t hate it. Rather, the novel left me feeling indifferent. I guess, The Trials of the Core and I had better just stay friends. Oh, you want me to stop with the dating analogies and tell you about the actual story already? Sure. No problem. Anyway, The Trials of the Core is a genre bender of science fiction and fantasy as dreamed up by author Michael Thies. Here he gifts his readers with a universe that has a dash of Harry Potter, a little bit of Star Wars and a whole lot of intrigue circa The Hunger Games. Far, far away in a distant solar system spin five, diverse planets. Upon these shining globes are a host of nations - each with their own distinct inhabitants and cultures - that together form a system spanning imperium ruled over by a “Guardian,” who protects and governs his subjects. However, even an all powerful Guardian of the Core cannot rule forever, and since the current Guardian is closing in on his 200th year, he determines to seek out an apprentice to beginning training as his ultimate successor. To find this protégée, invitations are sent out to the brightest of the bright among the intergalactic kingdom; these select people to compete in a grueling series of trials that will sort the strong from the weak. Since there can be only one apprentice to the Guardian, each of the contestant is desperate to win for their own individual reasons, and so the plot line becomes who will ultimately triumph in this intrigue filled contest and to what lengths will the participants go to be the last person standing? While this fight among youths echoes the plot of some other popular books, Michael Thies does a good job of making this a different sort of competition. Sure, there are a few deaths - not all of them accidental, but by and large, the majority of this novel is about getting to know the characters and seeing them deal with this immense pressure. A reader learns about their pasts, their strengths and weaknesses, their reasons for competing, and their unique abilities, which run the gamut from elemental magic to physical strength to mental dexterity. They exhibit perseverance and courage as well as unbridled ambition. They form alliances against one another, wage internal feuds, and form friendships that some of them are more than willing to discard if necessary to further their drive toward becoming the Guardian’s apprentice. As the story progresses, a reader is left to twist as to who is going to ultimately win this contest. Will it be one of the royals, who have been groomed their whole life to be Guardian? Or will one of the brainiacs ultimately triumphs? How about the offspring of a famous warrior, who is desperate to exit his father’s immense shadow? Or will the underdog commoner, who possess no great skills but is in the contest nonetheless, find a way to rise above his less-than-stellar origins and become the ruler of the imperium? On the whole, The Trials of the Core had the makings of an interesting story. It had immense worlds to explore, different viewpoints, “flawed” characters who are as individually compelling as they are repugnant, and unique magic/technology. However, there were a few issues that detracted from my enjoying of this novel. 1) After reading the book, I still have no idea what the Guardian of the Core is. All I know is that it is very important and has immense powers that come along with it. Other than that, I have no idea. After a whole novel, I should vaguely understand why all these people are willing to die to obtain this position 2) There needs to be an appendix with maps, family genealogies, and other important information. While I muddled through everything, I prefer some reference material if the story has lots of world building and numerous characters. This could be just me being picky however. In summation, if you are a fan of genre bending novels, this unique and unconventional book might be just what you are looking for. Michael Thies writes in a clear and concise voice, and the story moves along rapidly, shifting seamlessly between its various viewpoints as you experience these gifted youths fighting for the right to be the ruler of their worlds. While it is definitely young adult faire, I could envision more mature people liking this one as well. Netgalley provided this book to me for free in return for an honest review. The review above was not paid for or influenced in any way by any person, entity or organization, but is my own personal opinions. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 06, 2014
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Mar 10, 2014
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Mar 06, 2014
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Paperback
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| 0804178321
| 9780804178327
| 0804178321
| 3.97
| 67,818
| Jul 03, 2014
| Jul 15, 2014
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liked it
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Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths Reviews Since starting to read fantasy again several years ago, there have been a few authors whose names have been Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths Reviews Since starting to read fantasy again several years ago, there have been a few authors whose names have been constantly whispered in my ear as the “it” writers to try: Peter V. Brett, Brent Weeks, Mark Lawrence, and especially Joe Abercrombie. From all the gushing, I was led to believe that reading a novel penned by Lord Grimdark (as Mr. Abercrombie is called) would not only enthrall me in his fantasy spell but leave me a meth-like addict begging for more. Well, finally, I’ve given him a try, and all I can say is that Half a King wasn’t as great as I anticipated it being (because we all know nothing is ever as good as the hype surrounding it), though it was still a very entertaining read – just not necessarily for me. Why do I say that? Well, while I’m not a grimdark aficionado, I have read several of those types of novels during my fantasy renaissance, enjoying most of them: Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence being my personal favorite and the standard that I judge all other grimdark against. But relative to my other forays into the grim, Half a King did not have the shock, grit or gore of my favorites. In fact, there were lots of times it read eerily like a YA novel, but it really wasn’t a true YA novel either, because for every moment where the main character would be lovesick, naive or voice his teenage angst there would be another where he was acting like a very seasoned and mature grimdark hero. So I suppose, Half a King is not really either grimdark or YA but rather a genre blending work which I hereby dub GRIMWHINE! Now, there is nothing wrong with Mr. Abercrombie creating grimwhine. It is obviously a whole new genre, and creative people always like to push the boundaries in whatever they are doing at the moment. Take some of my friends, for example, they personally enjoy grilling, even though they are not “chefs” by any definition of the word, and when they grill, they will occasionally create new recipes to wow their friends and family. Sometimes, they are lucky and get it right, and everyone pats them on the back, telling them how great they are. Other times, they aren’t so fortunate, and while no one hates their new dish, no one loves it either. The later situation is how I view grimwhine as served up to me in Half a King. The story itself focuses on Yarvi, the second son of King Uthrik and Queen Laithlin of Gettland, who is born into a Viking-like world where physical strength and honor in battle define manhood. Unfortunately, for our youth, he can never live up to this societal role, because he was cursed with a deformed hand that is almost useless. Growing up as the kingdom’s one handed prince, Yarvi views himself as inadequate and an embarrassment; feelings that are only reinforced by his father’s very open disgust for him. Whenever he can, he slips away to the secret tunnels in the castle, attempting to hide from his tormentors and an older brother whose good-natured teasing cuts him like a knife. But now, all the years of crying in the dark are over for Yarvi, because he has found his calling in life. No more weapons practice or hiding his deformity from view. No, our young prince is training to be a minister, taught by Mother Gundring herself, and she has recognized that while Yarvi might not have the physical strength to be a great king, he has the quickness of mind, the empathy, and the silver-tongue to someday become Father Yarvi, advisor to kings. But Yarvi’s happiness does not last, as life in this violent and brutal land intervenes. During a raging storm, his Uncle Odem arrives to break the news to him: A horrible act of treachery has been executed by King Grom-gil-Grom of the Vanstermen, and both his father and his older brother lie dead of their wounds. Now, Yarvi is King of Gettland! From this beginning, Mr. Abercrombie weaves a story of Yarvi’s ascent to the Black Chair of kingship, the political betrayals that inevitably follow, and his descent into the depths of misfortune where he has to struggle to just survive. Along the way, several interesting and compelling characters enter our one-handed Prince’s life, poking and prodding him along his way to inner enlightenment. There are murders, grand fights, personal revelations, and twists and turns in the plot — even two surprise endings (Yeah, you read that correctly), and during it all, a reader is pulled along on a journey that cannot be called anything other than entertaining. But even the best novels have problems, and Half a King is no different. Let me explain my personal issues with it. The first problem was that there wasn’t any suspense. In a tale full of manipulations, murdering schemes and revenge, you expect the revelations of “who did what” to be the exciting part of the narrative, but here none of the villains or heroes were surprising in the least. The first “betrayer” of Yarvi was readily apparent from the outset of the story; the young prince’s future friends and saviors were easily recognized; the identity of the big surprise “hero” was so thoroughly foreshadowed that I would have been disappointed if it had not been he; and even the climactic ending did nothing but unveil a villain who looked suspicious from the beginning of the tale. These things plus the fact that the latter two revelations were deus ex machina endings definitely made me sigh a bit and set the book aside until I stopped shaking my head at the very tidy and convenient conclusion Mr. Abercrombie penned. The second problem with Half a King was that it had no fantasy elements in it. Sure, we have passages here or there mentioning ancient Elves who destroyed the world and split apart the One God, but other than seeing a few of their relics and ruins, they have no part in the story, and they are the only thing fantastical about it. Without these allusions to the past, there is no magic in this novel: nothing to keep it from being a tale about a one-handed Viking prince back in the Middle Ages. In fact, you can just change the names of Gettlanders to Scylding, add a few other Danish kingdom names, and the novel is now about real history, not fantasy. (And before anyone mentions it, I know what George R.R. Martin is writing about in Song of Ice and Fire, but would anyone like to list all the fantastical elements he has integrated into his fantasy version of the War of the Roses?) So while it is perfectly fine for Mr. Abercrombie to write a Viking-esque story, Half a King could just as easily been historical fiction as fantasy. In a summation, this was a decent coming-of-age story that combined elements of grimdark and YA to create what I like to call “grimwhine.” It was fast-paced, well written, and very easy to read in no time at all. The continual ups-and-downs of Yarvi’s existence never became dull or bogged down in angst or romance like many YA adventures and neither did the blood, gore, and pessimism of grimdark totally overshadow the inherent optimism of a youth trying to find his place in the world. Truthfully, Mr. Abercrombie did a great job of balancing the two tones. However, the balancing act cost Half a King something, and it was that the testosterone rush of blood-drenched grimdark and the heart-wracking angst of great YA were both missing, which doesn’t bode well for grimwhine’s appeal – at least to me. I received this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank both of them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone. ...more |
Notes are private!
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Aug 13, 2014
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Aug 13, 2014
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Feb 07, 2014
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Hardcover
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Bookwraiths
>
Books:
young_adult
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| 3.74
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liked it
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Sep 02, 2016
not set
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Sep 21, 2024
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| 3.86
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liked it
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Mar 18, 2018
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Mar 20, 2018
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| 3.95
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liked it
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Mar 18, 2018
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Feb 28, 2018
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| 4.04
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it was ok
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Jan 15, 2018
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Jan 16, 2018
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| 3.70
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liked it
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Feb 2016
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Aug 19, 2017
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| 3.64
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Oct 2016
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Aug 19, 2017
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| 3.62
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Feb 2017
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Aug 19, 2017
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| 3.80
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Mar 2017
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Aug 19, 2017
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| 3.79
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liked it
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Sep 19, 2017
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Jul 10, 2017
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| 3.59
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liked it
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Jan 19, 2017
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Jan 23, 2017
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| 4.02
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liked it
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Oct 31, 2016
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Oct 27, 2016
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| 4.03
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it was ok
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Apr 23, 2016
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Apr 23, 2016
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| 4.13
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really liked it
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Jun 07, 2016
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Apr 05, 2016
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| 4.14
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liked it
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Mar 15, 2016
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Mar 10, 2016
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| 3.91
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really liked it
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Mar 06, 2016
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Feb 16, 2016
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| 3.95
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it was ok
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Mar 27, 2015
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Mar 20, 2015
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| 3.97
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really liked it
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Nov 26, 2014
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Nov 22, 2014
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| 4.55
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really liked it
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Sep 13, 2014
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Jul 03, 2014
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| 3.86
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it was ok
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Mar 10, 2014
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Mar 06, 2014
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| 3.97
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liked it
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Aug 13, 2014
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Feb 07, 2014
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