Author Liesel K. Hill's Musings on Fantasia...
Showing posts with label Book Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Book Review. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Book Review: Dare You To by Katie McGarry
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So, I finally read Dare You To by Katie McGarry. I have had it on my kindle since around Christmas time, so I'm glad I finally got to it. *I largely avoid spoilers in my reviews so if you haven't read it, you can read this review without worry.*
Plot: Book 2 of Pushing the Limits focuses on Beth's story. (Pushing the Limits is not a series that needs to be read in any particular order. The same group of friends is in each book, but each installment is about a different character's story, so they feed into one another but aren't necessarily chronological.) So Beth is a rough girl. She's had a difficult past, beyond what most people can imagine, and when her uncle shows up to take her away from her broken home, she fights him tooth and nail. Meanwhile she meets Ryan. They really hate one another at first, and the reasons for their initial interaction are anything but the right ones. But, as time goes on, and they get to know one another, things begin to change. Tale-as-old-as-time-style.
Characters: The great thing about Katie McGarry is that her characters are so colorful and believable. The voices are never remotely the same. And it's a nice blend of ages. Their teenager-hood is obvious, but not in an annoying way. McGarry's characters have real problems, not just high school problems, and that makes them more mature than most teens. (Which I think is why I can stand to read her books. High school books generally aren't my thing.) All characters in the book jump off the page as real and believable, and you'll find yourself very invested in their stories.
Writing: The writing is phenomenal. McGarry's stories always draw you in and you can't stop turning pages. A word of warning, though. With Beth being a "rough" girl, there are a lot of cuss words in this book. I remember seeing them in Pushing the Limits #1 as well, but it was much more prevalent here. Lots of f-bombs and other cussing. Maybe I just don't remember how much there was in book 1, but I have the impression of that one being PG-13-ish, where the content in this one is much closer to rated R. You've been warned.
Ending: I liked the ending. McGarry is good at endings. She always manages to sum up the major problems of the novel, but also leave enough open for it to feel real. Not everything is tied up in a neat bow, but things are being worked on, and you feels satisfied with where she ends.
Overall: Here's the thing--and I've said this before--contemporary romance, especially of the high school variety, is really REALLY not my genre. I generally wouldn't touch it. But McGarry's books I will read and even look forward to reading. That should tell you something. She's really that good. In short, highly recommended!
Has anyone else read Dare You To? What did you think of it?
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Book Review: The Scorch Trials
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I usually don't like to do reviews so far after I've read the book. I tend to forget the details and what my first impressions were. Because of that, this review will be on the shorter side.
**I stay largely away from spoilers in my reviews but there may be some minor ones, especially for book 1. Read at your own risk!**
Plot: The story picks up pretty much exactly where it left off, with our group of boys in a bunker of sorts, hoping to learn the truth of the Maze and all their previous trials. Instantly things get weird, though, and it seems their brief 'sanctuary' wasn't a sanctuary at all, but rather just a respite between periods of drama, and perhaps even a passage into the next phase. We learn more about the virus that seems to have ruined the world, and what it does to it's victims, but as per usual there are more questions than answers.
One thing I will say about this series, it is anything but predictable. I can never even begin to imagine where Dashner is taking us next. And that's refreshing.
Characters: As in the first book, we get a lot of character development with Thomas as his relationships with the other boys, Teresa, and a new girl in his life develop. There are endless complications and contingencies to wade through, with plenty of dystopian death and drama along the way. Good times.
World-Building: The world in book 2 is very different than book 1. Where the first one consisted of the maze, with lots of vines and greenery (the feel of it was somewhere between woodsy and tropical), book 2 takes place in a waterless desert (hence the title). It's just as vivid and exotic as book 1's locale, though. How different it is from book 1 is kind of shocking to the senses.
Ending: The ending, as you might imagine, leaves the reader salivating for book 3. I kind of figured it would. Overall, though, I felt it closed and summed up most of the threads for this book, so it was a satisfactory ending. Of course now I'm going to have to finish the trilogy. Eventually. :D
Has anyone else read Dashner? What did you think of him?
Friday, April 3, 2015
Book Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
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(If you're one of the four people in the world who haven't read or seen HP yet, be warned there may be spoilers below.)
Hooray for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!
Hooray for Harry beating Voldemort, discovering the truth about Snape, forgiving Dumbledore, and achieving everything he could have ever hoped for! And of course for him ending up with Ginny, and Ron and Hermione staying together as well.
I love book 7. It was so epic. One of those fantasies that you worry will be a disappointment after all the buildup and hype of the previous books, but then surpasses all your expectations with flying colors, all with an ease and seamlessness that only a true, legendary author could pull off.
I tend to blubber through a lot of the ending of this series, and not just the sad parts. Some of its epicness is so gripping (even though it's awesome, not tragic) that it just brings me to tears. (What can I say? I'm a girl. Deal with it!)
Most of all the thing that always strikes me about this book is how well Rowling gets her concepts across. There are so many lines that are beautiful and concise, summing up all the underlying themes of her story without being too wordy or in-your face.
Some of my favorite lines:
"After all this time.""Always." (pg. 687)
"...who would he want to bring back from the dead? He fears the dead. He does not love." (pg. 721)
"Of course it's happening in your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean it isn't real?" (pg. 723)
"Albus Severus," Harry said quietly..."you were named for two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew." (pg. 758)
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What I would like to have seen:
More details about Dumbledore's past, and when he told Harry about his sister in his own words and cried. That was unspeakably powerful, but left out of the film. As with film #5 and somewhat at the end of #6, they always seem to skimp on the really powerful emotional stuff. Don't know why they do that, but I'm always a bit bugged by it.
And of course there are always the humorous details that get left out. I especially loved some of the hilarious images during the final battle. The broken gargoyle Harry stepped over that said, "Oh don't mind me. I'll just lie here and crumble." Or the image of McGonagall using student's desks to fight Death Eaters, running around the corner and yelling "Charge!" I crack up every time. Wish we could have seen that.
What the film did well:
I liked that it added the scene where Snape went and hugged Lily's body after she died. While it really compressed some of the rest of the history, that made it so the material point and the powerful emotions of Snape's unrequited love came across. Very well done. Also the epicness of the battle between Harry and Riddle, getting to see Neville triumph, and getting to see Mrs. Weasley kill Bellatrix were all there. Kudos for those. And of course the 19-Years-Later ending was done very well too. Loved it!
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All I can say is, there is a reason Harry Potter is a classic. There's never been anything quite like it, nor will there be again. Our children and grandchildren will still be reading and enjoying the magic of Hogwarts and gaining character from reading about Harry's very human triumph over his arch nemesis, and the enemy of the entire wizarding world.
Did you like HP #7? What did you think of Hollywood's efforts?
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Book Review: Eleanor by Johnny Worthin
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**Though I do discuss my general reaction to the book's ending (whether I liked it, whether it fit the story, etc.) I stay away from spoilers for the most part. You don't have to worry about reading my review even if you haven't read the book.**
Plot: Eleanor isn't like other girls her age. She hangs out on the outskirts of the high school social circle, lives with her adoptive mother who has a nasty case of terminal cancer, and has several closely-guarded secrets. When David, a boy Eleanor hasn't seen since he moved out of the area years before returns, she starts to remember what it was like to have a friend again. She thinks she's headed toward her own inevitable doom, but her experiences with David and her mother may help her capture the human experience better than ever before.
Characters: I found Eleanor to be a very compelling character. She may not be exactly human, which makes her new to everything in high school, society, and the world at large. You can't help but sympathize with Eleanor and her plight. Tabitha and David are also very real and compelling. The main villains come from the community at large and the hostility of school bullies. Overall, I found all of them to my liking.
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Book Review: Dreams of Gods and Monsters
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Story: The story picks up right about the place it left off at the end of book 2. As we move along, we get more of the same from the first two books, but in a good way. I thought the plot was great and fitting for the final book in a trilogy. We wanted to see an epic battle and have a major confrontation, and GaM didn't disappoint.
I will say there was an extra little problem near the end that I thought was unnecessary. It was just a way to up the drama at the end, and it wasn't terrible or anything, but I thought the book could have done without. (I can't give details or it will spoil. Just know overall I was really pleased with the plot.)
Characters: I liked where the characters went in this book, even if there wasn't much that was unpredictable about them. In a lot of ways, the third book isn't the place to be unpredictable with the characters. With the plot, yes, but the characters should be pretty well established by now.
They did add a new character to tell this final installment of the story named Eliza. At first I wasn't thrilled to see a new character, but I ended up really liking her. Her story was so well-told, and her nemesis was especially fun, that I was glad she was included. She actually enhanced the story a lot.
Writing: As with the previous installments of the trilogy, Taylor's writing was beautiful and flawless. I think part of the reason this trilogy is so popular (the other part being the awesome characters and story) is the poetry in her writing. She has a way of making everything seem epic and drama filled in a way that makes you want to keep turning pages.
Ending: Again, I won't spoil, but overall I found the ending to be very satisfactory. I always include how I liked the ending, but without actually happened, because I want people to know that it was a good ending, not one that's likely to disappoint or cause major drama among the readership. It fit well with the story and did pretty much everything we, as readers, wanted it to do.
Overall: If you liked the first two books, like angel/demon books, or just a great story all around, I would highly recommend this trilogy. Like I said, I don't even like angel/demon books, but I loved it!
Has anyone else read this trilogy? What did you think of it?
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Book Review: Into the Still Blue by Veronica Roth
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Plot: Into the Still Blue picks up where book 2 left off. Aria and Perry have lost a lot, including friends and family. They're surrounded by enemies and trying to find a way into the peace of the Still Blue. It's hard to describe the plot without giving spoilers, especially for those who haven't read the first two books, so I'll just say it's more of the same. But I don't mean that in a bad way. The story goes where you want to see it go and we get more adventures with this world's favorite power couple. :D
Characters: I liked that the characters stayed very true to themselves and each other. The two main characters, even more than the world are what makes this trilogy worth reading. Book 3 does not disappoint in this regard.
Writing: As always, Roth's writing is very good. I always kind of wish that her imagery was a bit more vivid. I can always visualize the action, but not always the setting. That said, her writing is easy to read and you just fly through it.
Ending: I won't spoil, but I thought this was a very fitting ending to the trilogy as a whole. I didn't see any glaring holes or spot any major elements that were unresolved. I was highly satisfied with how it ended. More so, I will say, with how the Divergent series resolved. This just fit.
Overall: Okay, one thing I will say is that I had a hard time getting back into the story. I don't think this had anything to do with the story itself or the characters or the writing. It was just me. Perhaps if I had re-read the first two books (I really didn't have time) to re-familiarize myself with the story, it would have been better. As it was, I just couldn't get super-excited about the final installment of this series, despite how good it was. But I have a hard time with most YAs anyway, and I think I was just kind of over it. But if you like YA, if you liked the first two books, if you're big on dystopian, you'll probably love it. I really liked it, but it wasn't my favorite.
Has anyone else read Into the Still Blue? What did you think of it?
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Book Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
(If you're one of the four people in the world who haven't read or seen HP yet, be warned there may be spoilers below.)
Ah book 5. So sad! I remember that book 5 was the first one I had to wait for. Not very long, mind you. There was something like a two or three year gap between books 4 and 5 while Rowling took a year off. I finished book 5 a few months before book 5 came out, and even that was torture!
Book 5 has so much great stuff in it: great developments, great villains, and tons of character development for Harry. We got to learn more about the centaurs, who are surprisingly closed-minded. We met a real giant--and Hagrid's half-brother, no less!. The there's the formation of the D.A., the delicious rebellion of the teenagers in general, the coming together of the Order of the Phoenix, occlumency, and of course how much we love to hate Umbridge.
Rowling has done such a great job with all these characters, that I thought it was the best thing in the world when Moody, Lupin, Tonks, and a bunch of others we love showed up to escort Harry at the beginning. So great! Number 12 Grimmauld Place was just all kinds of fun, and you can't help but love Kreacher, even if he's an evil little dude. (Polar opposite of Dobby.)
Of course this is also the first book that had a supremely tragic ending. (Yes, I know, book 4 was pretty tragic, but as much as I loved Cedric and was sad he died, our sadness there was more for Harry than anything else, and we didn't know Cedric very well. It was infinitely more heart-rending when Sirius died.)
This was one major gripe I had with the film. I've said it before, but films often try to downplay the darkness that occurs in books and it bugs me to no end. I think the film makers thought the end of this book was too sad, or maybe that it cast Harry in a negative light because he was so angry. So, instead of hash out how Harry was really feeling, they took all the emotion out of that final scene in Dumbledore's office. I had a major problem with that. Of course we got very little of the centaurs in the film and even less of the details like Dobby and the visit to St. Mungus, which was also a shame. (I've always felt like the films short-change Neville's story line.)
Of course the Department of Mysteries bit was greatly simplified in the film (to be expected, as it would have come across as confusing on screen) but I definitely enjoyed the detail of the book more.
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How did everyone else like book 5?
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Book Review: While Beauty Slept by Elizabeth Blackwell
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Plot: Elisa is a peasant girl who grows up with a sympathetic mother, a harsh father, and lots of brothers, but no sisters. One day she learns that her mother's past is somewhat colorful, and that her father is not her actual father, but a man who was willing to marry a pregnant woman who used to work as a lady in waiting in the castle. When the pox comes and claims most of her family, she leaves to follow the life her mother once did. Elise embarks on a whole new life as a maid in the castle, where she sees the sweet, sad Queen Lenore daily, and recognizes the struggle to have an heir, which leads to the banishment of the witch Millicent, and the birth of daughter the king affectionately called Beauty. The re-telling is scene through the eyes of a secondary character who has her own story including romance, upward mobility in her social circumstances, and the tragedy that eventually befalls the kingdom.
Characters: Elise is an utterly believable and sympathetic character. You feel for her plights and root for her in every situation. The author also does an excellent job with the well-known characters from the fairy-tale. Rose, the king and queen, Flora (the only of the three fairies represented) and the evil Millicent are all well-written and given plenty of personality and motivation, but with a slightly different spin that is all the author. Basically, exactly what you want in a re-telling like this.
Writing: The writing is excellent. Though this is a somewhat long novel by most people's standards (about 550 pages) I read through it quickly and easily. The writing is such that it's effortless to just keep turning pages. I would recommend this author to anyone!
Ending: I thought the ending was very fitting for what she had already set up in the story. I will say that the major issue dealt with for the climax was somewhat anti-climatic. While it was definitely a big deal, it's not something that lends itself well to a great deal of action. That said, I still think it worked for how the story was set up. And then there was a clever plot twist at the end that made me smile. It's something most people won't see coming, and I enjoyed it.
Issues: The only issue I had with the story is a minor one. And that is that it doesn't focus on the story of Sleeping Beauty as much as I'd like. Don't get me wrong, it is an obvious re-telling of that story, but it focuses much more on Elise's character and her trials, while the Sleeping Beauty legend, while inextricably linked with Elise, happens mostly in the background. Now, as Elise really is the main character, that's definitely not a bad thing where the book is concerned, but personally I'd really like to see a re-telling where the legend IS the main story. This doesn't by any means make it a bad book. It just took a somewhat different direction than I'd envisioned, and I would have liked it a bit better had the legend been more central. That's all.
(In fact, I feel a bit hypocritical saying that, because the way this book was written reminds me a lot of the Kremlins series, which I wrote. So I'm definitely not bashing this. Then again, I wasn't re-telling a beloved fairy tale, so it's a little different. :D)
Overall: I would recommend this to anyone who is into fairy tale re-tellings, historical fiction, especially medieval, or Sleeping Beauty stuff in general. Overall I loved the characters and the story was engrossing, easy to read, and satisfying. I really liked it!
What's your favorite fairy tale re-telling?
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Book Review: L.A. Noir
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Story: L.A. Noir is about the history of Los Angeles. It begins with how L.A. rose up as a settlement. We learn how, when, and by whom it was settled. We see the history of who controlled the city through two main camps: organized crime and the LAPD.
Now, I've been to LA before, just as a travelling tourist. I've spent almost no time in the city itself, keeping to more touristy places like Anaheim and less touristy places like Modesto (because I have family there). So my interest in this book wasn't necessarily for the city itself, but rather the history. We see a lot of the infamous Mickey Cohen, who I knew next to nothing about, and also a hard-core, straight-laced policeman named William Parker, who served the LAPD in many and various capacities over the year. I love juxtapositions like this. Cop vs. mobster, organized crime vs. law and order, criminal mentality vs absolute justice. In fact, most mobster stories--films, books, etc.--need this opposition or else they're just plain dull. And the fact that this is all real life history is even better!
Writing: While the subject matter was very interesting to me, the book itself, I'll admit, was a tad on the boring side. Perhaps it was just that it was a non-fiction, but I don't think so. Plenty of non-fics I've read are super easy to read. I think it's more that he used lots of names and titles, even for minor players in the story. Maybe that's just him being historically thorough, but it made for difficult reading. Also, he did tend to jump all over the place, from story to story, without using any obvious linear or consecutive narrative to tell the story. The other historian I've read who does this is Edvard Radzinsky, who writes Russian history. And there's nothing for it. That's just how these guys write. If you want the history, you gotta deal with it. Just saying it's not the easiest way to envision a timeline.
History: The history was obviously well-researched and I learned a ton about these people and this time period. He even had lots of interview quotes from the major players. (It probably helped that Cohen fancied himself a celebrity and was always more than happy to talk to the media.)
My Take-Away: I felt like I got a lot out of this book. Lots of history, and a clear picture of who these people, their personalities, and how they respectively fit together or (more often than not) clashed. There were several ridiculously interesting characters (usually the supporting players) that I just had to write down something about, and where to find them in the book so I could come back. Let's face it, truth can be stranger than fiction, and I don't think I could come up with such rich characters on my own. These character studies are priceless.
Dislikes: The only thing I could say I didn't like was something that didn't pop up until the end. As they got into the late '50s-early '60s time period, of course there was much talk of the civil rights movement. I didn't mind this in and of itself. In fact, with the large number of African Americans living in L.A. at the time, one could hardly talking about the city's history without mentioning it. My problem was that, at this point, I felt like the author took on an agenda, and I was bugged by it. For most of the book, he did a good job of simply presenting fact, as well as all viewpoints involved, without asserting his own opinions. Once the issue became race, his opinion was very front and center.
I'm not saying I agreed nor disagreed with his opinion (okay, for the most part, disagreed) but more to the point, it was so in-your-face obvious, especially as compared to the rest of the book, that I felt it took away from the history. The book claims to cover the history of L.A. during the lifetimes of Mickey Cohen and William Parker, but there was an entire epilogue about the Rodney King riots of '91, which happened after both men had passed away. Not that those riots aren't important, and they are a big part of L.A.'s history, but they were beyond the scope of what the book claimed to cover. It felt very superfluous; an excuse for an extra, racially charged discussion that has little to do with the subject matter. Anyway, this painfully obvious agenda was about the only thing that rubbed me the wrong way about the entire book.
Overall: I really liked the book and was glad I finally got through it. I would recommend it to anyone interested in this time period, Mickey Cohen, the history of LA, or just mobster history in general. With the caveat that it's not the easiest read in the world. Despite what I've said above, it's not a terribly difficult read or anything, just not the easiest in the world. If you really want the history, it's definitely worth it!
Has anyone else read this book, or this author? What do you think of the history? Of the writing style?
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Book Review: The Maze Runner
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Plot: Thomas awakens in a box which takes him, elevator-style, to a glade full of boys who have been trapped there for two years. They live in the midst of an unsolvable maze, complete with moving walls and terrifying monsters. None of them remember life before the maze, including Thomas. He's just the newest edition to the party. But not long after he awakens in his new life, things start to get really weird.
Characters: I really loved the characters in this book. Reminiscent of the Ender quintet, or things like The Sandlot or Holes, this is a story about young boys who are utterly believable. The relationships Thomas develops run the gauntlet between best friend, bordering on brother, to utter enemy. It gives the story a very school-ish feel, but because the situation is life and death, it's much more compelling than that.
Story: This is a very unique story. It's one of those that isn't easily categorized. It starts out feeling very fantasy-like, but by the end it has become clear that this is actually the mysterious first-chapter of a dystopian saga. The world outside the maze seems to be in ruins, which means the maze is really just the beginning.
Ending: Like all great first-books of a series, this ends on a cliffhanger, and makes you just want to start the next book in the series. I didn't figure I would, at least not right away, but I may have to re-think that a bit. :D
Overall: I really enjoyed this book. I plan to finish the series and, you know, see the movie. :D
Has anyone else read The Maze Runner? What did you think of it?
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Book Review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
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We actually finished this book back on 12/26, but over the holidays I had pretty much NO time to post. So, here's my post about book 3. :D
Gotta love book 3! Azkaban introduces Sirius Black, dementors, werewolves, animagus, hippogriffs, Patronuses, and a lot of heavy history for Harry.
Though there are elements of the film version of this book that I really loved (Gary Oldman as Sirius for one) there were also a lot of things I was disappointed in. This was the only film that I really felt like screwed up the history a lot. They didn't go into enough detail about Black being the Potter's Secret Keeper, exactly how Pettigrew betrayed them, losing his finger, etc. I remember watching it with my older sister, who hadn't read the book, and I had to explain all this extra stuff to her. She asked why it hadn't been put in the film, but I had no answer. They just kind of messed that part of it up.
That said, I thought they did an excellent job with the dementors, the whole patronus situation, and most of the rest of it. Let's just say that the elements that were there were done very well, but there was a lot missing, from my view of things.
One other thing missing from the film that I wish they had done more with was Sir Cadogen. I know he was a very minor part of the narrative, and I think he did show up in the film, but just as a part of the scenery, but I totally loved him in the book! Wished they had focused more on him.
Then there was the relationship between Sirius the dog and Crookshanks. I thought this whole thing was hilarious. I loved that the cat knew how to stop the Whomping Willow from kicking everyone's butt. I wish we'd seen more of this in the film as well.
Well, those were probably my favorite bits--the ones that stuck out to me, anyway--along with the time travel element, which I thought was well done.
What was your favorite part of The Prisoner of Azkaban?
Gotta love book 3! Azkaban introduces Sirius Black, dementors, werewolves, animagus, hippogriffs, Patronuses, and a lot of heavy history for Harry.
Though there are elements of the film version of this book that I really loved (Gary Oldman as Sirius for one) there were also a lot of things I was disappointed in. This was the only film that I really felt like screwed up the history a lot. They didn't go into enough detail about Black being the Potter's Secret Keeper, exactly how Pettigrew betrayed them, losing his finger, etc. I remember watching it with my older sister, who hadn't read the book, and I had to explain all this extra stuff to her. She asked why it hadn't been put in the film, but I had no answer. They just kind of messed that part of it up.
One other thing missing from the film that I wish they had done more with was Sir Cadogen. I know he was a very minor part of the narrative, and I think he did show up in the film, but just as a part of the scenery, but I totally loved him in the book! Wished they had focused more on him.
Then there was the relationship between Sirius the dog and Crookshanks. I thought this whole thing was hilarious. I loved that the cat knew how to stop the Whomping Willow from kicking everyone's butt. I wish we'd seen more of this in the film as well.
Well, those were probably my favorite bits--the ones that stuck out to me, anyway--along with the time travel element, which I thought was well done.
What was your favorite part of The Prisoner of Azkaban?
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Book Review: Outpost
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Plot: The plot picks up where book 1 left off, with our characters in Salvation, trying to figure out themselves, each other, and where they fit in this new community. This is definitely a YA novel. There's a lot about Deuce trying to fit in with other girls her age and how different she is than them. There's also a lot of her trying to figure out what the dynamic will be, both between her and Fade and her and Stalker. It wasn't bad, by any means, but it felt very teenager/high school, which most of you know isn't my favorite thing.
I will say that the plot was more engaging in this book than in the previous one. The muties/freaks seem to be gaining intelligence, which is downright terrifying at times. The Salvation community, it seems, may be living on borrowed time, but Deuce and a handful of others are the only ones who realize it and actually want to do something about it. I did get very engrossed in the plot as this book went along.
Characters: As I said above, there was a lot of teenager drama, but there was other good stuff too. Deuce has a home and family for the first time, and it was nice to see her settle into what for the first time in her life is normal, filial connection. The stuff with Fade is quite romantic as well, despite Stalker as an added point on the love triangle, and I really like how their romance is progressing.
Writing: Okay, I still have a problem staying in the story. It's not that the writing is clunky or bad. I just get bored. I think I figured out why, in this second book. Deuce, by definition, is very much in her own head. She thinks much more than she talks, which isn't a bad trait by any means. But on top of that, this is a first person narrative.
Often in my own writing group, the other members tell me that something ought not to be told in the narrative, but shown some other way. They tell me to have someone say it in conversation or something that will make it stronger, rather than just telling it. Now, sometimes I get frustrated with them because, while they're usually right and telling in the narrative shouldn't be overused, I believe it can be used to great advantage at times. But, in Deuce's case, I'd say ninety percent of the story is told in Deuce's thoughts. If more of it were shown in dialogue and action, it would be easier to stay in the story. As I said, the writing isn't bad in the least, but for me, it's just kind of boring. Which is weird, because the story really isn't. Anyway, it's probably just me being weird, but that's still how I feel.
Ending: No spoilers, as usual, but the ending was left completely open for book 3. While I'm still not crazy about the writing, I'll admit that the ending left me wanting to know what happens next. There was enough tragedy and angst to keep me hooked and make me disappointed when I reached the final page.
Overall: I have so much to do and read that I probably won't run out and buy book 3 (I don't currently own it) but should a copy fall into my hands in the future, I might accidentally...read the entire thing. Just sayin'. :D
Has anyone else read Outpost? Or Horde for that matter? What did you think of them? Would you recommend book 3?
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Book Review: Enclave
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Plot: Deuce lives in an underground community known only as the conclave. After some kind of virus wiped out civilization and left behind "freaks" (their word for monster-zombies) the few survivors eek out an existence far beneath the rest of the world. Deuce receives her name (before she was known only as a number) and because of her physical prowess and fighting skills, becomes a Huntress. It's what she's wanted her whole life. She is paired with Fade, a boy who recently joined the enclave from the outside (which is rare) and who doesn't seem to have or want any friends. He and Deuce are sent on a dangerous mission, the results of which will turn Deuce's world upside down.
Characters: I really liked Deuce's character. She's strong, determined, and doesn't let anything or anyone define her, or tell her what she can't do. Despite that, she's willfully closed her eyes to the problems and possible lies of her society. It creates a wonderful dichotomy which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Fade's character is a bit more cliche. He's the mysterious boy no one knows much about, and it's obvious right away that Deuce will be the one that unlocks him and gets him to open up. Despite the cliche, it actually worked well for the story, and I was intrigued.
World Builidng: He book felt very dystopian, which I liked (being a dystopian fan myself). The characters end up wandering around quite a bit, which is how they explore the parts of the world Deuce has never seen. That said, this aspect was kind of meh for me. I didn't hate it, by any means, and honestly it might be a by-product of the YA problem, which I've ranted about before. The world-building wasn't bad, but it just wasn't terribly detailed or original, either. Being a fan of guys like Robert Jordan (who can't go two pages without mentioned embroidery or the styles/fashions/customs/culture of some group of people), Brandon Sanderson, etc., I just didn't have much umph for this. As is my problem with many YA novels, it was just a bit too bland for me. I need more edge. But, if you're big on YA novels, this probably won't be a problem for you.
Plot/Ending: The action in the beginning of the novel was great. About 2/3-3/4 of the way through, I have to admit the story stalled for me. It picked up again at the end, and I thought it ended on a good note, but like the world-building, it was just a bit blah. Not bad, by any means, but it really didn't blow me away either, which was surprising. I thought I'd love this book. That said, I plan to read book 2. Partly because the story was good enough to keep reading, and left off in such a way that there are endless possibilities for the next installment. And partly because I have book 2 on my shelf. So, I might as well. :D
Writing: Superb. No problems at all there.
Overall: It was no The Walking Dead or The Road, which are my faves because they're a dose of gritty, often tragic reality that I get addicted to. But, some people find them too dark. If you're looking for something a little more tame that still feels very dystopian, with a healthy dose of YA thrown in, this may just be the book for you! Check it out.
Has anyone else read Enclave? What did you think of it?
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Review Day: Allegiant by Veronica Roth
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Warning: I'll do my best not to give spoilers, and I promise not to give away the ending, but there may be some very mild spoilers for previous books!
Plot: The third installment picks up where book 2 left off, after seeing a certain video made by a woman with a familiar name. This volume felt very different to me, in a way, because Tris and the gang actually leave the city--where books 1 and 2 were set--to see what is beyond. It just has a whole different feeling to it than the first two books did. Not that things are so different outside Chicago. They still run into different groups of people trying to control things and butting heads with all kinds of intrigue and conflict. Good times.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Review Day: My Soul to Steal (Soul Screamers #4)
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Plot: So we begin again with Kaylee and Nash still trying to work out their relationship. Kaylee is still angry about all the lies Nash told her in previous books, and hasn't gotten to the point where she can forgive him yet. But of course, things simply must get more complicated, right? Nash's ex-girlfriend, Sabine, transfers to their school. Not only is this an old flame for Nash, but she's also a mara. Basically that means she's the personification of a nightmare, and can get into people's heads and make them dream terrible things. Sabine wants Nash back, and will do anything--including rummaging around in Kaylee's head and exploiting her fears--to get him back. Meanwhile, teachers at their school start dropping dead--in their sleep, no less--and Kaylee's convinced Sabine has something to do with it. Who said high school was easy?
Characters: One thing I love about Rachel Vincent is how well she writes high schoolers. She gets that guys and gals think completely differently and does a good job incorporating that into her stories. Sabine was also a very believable, well-rounded new character.
Ending: I thought the end was a good one. It shored up what happened in this installment reasonably well, but left a few things open for the (obviously) next installments.
As with previous books I'm really enjoying the series and have no complaints. If you love a great YA read, and this is your genre, you'd love these! There is a lot of teenaged angst and relationship-type problems in them, so if that annoys you, they may not be for you. Keep in mind that I'm VERY picky about both YA and paranormal, and I'm really liking them. So, even if it's not your genre but you'd like to try it out, this series would be a great place to start!
Has anyone else read this series?
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Review Day: The Mortal Instruments
I finally got around to reading books 4 and 5 of The Mortal Instruments, City of Fallen Angels and City of Lost Souls. As I said in my review of City of Glass, I really thought book three could have been the end of the series. The way it wrapped up all neat and tidy felt like an end of sorts. You always have to be careful when that happens because there's potential for the series to start to feel dragged out. Luckily, that doesn't seem to be an issue with Cassandra Clare.
Ending: No spoilers, I promise. I just wanted to say that this is one of those books with a supremely frustrating ending. It's like, really? And then you have to go get book 5. Luckily, book 5 is out and available for sale.
City of Lost Souls
Plot: Book 5 picks up a few weeks after the end of book 4, which a search for...uh, someone who went missing at the end of Fallen Angels (told you I wouldn't spoil, didn't I?) but of course there's no trace at all, and because of the Clave, political issues muddy the water as well.
I actually found that I liked the plot of this book much more than that of book 4. Don't get me wrong: book 4 was really great and I couldn't stop reading it, but book 5 was better. There was just more going on and each character and plotline felt more focused. In a lot of ways, book 4 felt more like a setup for what is coming. Again, I'm not complaining. It wasn't bad, just different. And again, book 5 was better.
Overall, I really loved it and can't wait to get my hands on book 6, which will be out later this year. (It does have a cover or two now, btw, so look it up if you haven't seen it yet.)
I'm so glad that I've finally managed to read this series, though it hasn't ended yet, and I'm seriously thinking of looking to her Clockwork series, though probably not right away. :D
So, who else had read this series? What are you most excited to read about in book 6?
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City of Fallen Angels
Plot: I don't want to say much and give spoilers for earlier installments, but suffice it to say this picks up where the last book left off. Everything seems to be hunky dory ('seems' being the operative word there) but the ramifications that things that happened at the end of book 3 become clear. And they're, well, kinda disastrous. (Hooray for great fiction!) Needless to say, Clary, Jace, Simon, Isabelle, Alec, and Magnus find themselves in quite a pickle, and have to band together--whether intentionally or not--to try and get themselves out of it.Ending: No spoilers, I promise. I just wanted to say that this is one of those books with a supremely frustrating ending. It's like, really? And then you have to go get book 5. Luckily, book 5 is out and available for sale.
City of Lost Souls
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Plot: Book 5 picks up a few weeks after the end of book 4, which a search for...uh, someone who went missing at the end of Fallen Angels (told you I wouldn't spoil, didn't I?) but of course there's no trace at all, and because of the Clave, political issues muddy the water as well. I actually found that I liked the plot of this book much more than that of book 4. Don't get me wrong: book 4 was really great and I couldn't stop reading it, but book 5 was better. There was just more going on and each character and plotline felt more focused. In a lot of ways, book 4 felt more like a setup for what is coming. Again, I'm not complaining. It wasn't bad, just different. And again, book 5 was better.
Overall, I really loved it and can't wait to get my hands on book 6, which will be out later this year. (It does have a cover or two now, btw, so look it up if you haven't seen it yet.)
I'm so glad that I've finally managed to read this series, though it hasn't ended yet, and I'm seriously thinking of looking to her Clockwork series, though probably not right away. :D
So, who else had read this series? What are you most excited to read about in book 6?
Monday, January 13, 2014
Book Review: The Golden Cord by Paul Genesse
**Quick Announcement: On Wednesday and Thursday of this week Quantum Entanglement, book 2 of Interchron, will be FREE on Amazon. I'll announce it again on Wed, but just wanted everyone a heads-up.**
The Golden Cord is one of those books that has been on my kindle forever--uh, well, since last spring, anyway--and I finally got around to reading it. I was super excited to read this because it's about dragons and I'm currently writing about dragons. I'm always a bit spooked about reading other authors who are writing in similar veins as I do, because I don't want to be too influenced by them while I'm writing my story. But... the first draft of Dragon Magic is written--I'm just beginning the editing phase--so I'm interested to branch out and see how other authors are handling the dragon subject matter.
Plot: The Golden Cord follows Drake Bloodstone, a man from a small village who, as a teenager witnessed the tragic death of his best friend. In a world where humans and dwarfs are ancient enemies, and killer dragons roam the skies, Drake becomes an object of hatred and ridicule when two dwarf-kind show up at his village, and he offers them his protection. They are on some kind of journey to seek their lost kin in a mine not far from Drake's village, but they're also obviously hiding things about what their journey is truly about, and Drake soon gets himself in over his head.
Writing: I didn't have any major issues with the writing. There weren't many typos or grammatical issues. Still, for some reason, the writing seemed a bit sprawling to me. For some reason, I had a really hard time getting into the story. I don't know why. The characters and plot were both good. I think perhaps it was a bit over-written. If it would have been more condensed, it would have been easier to follow. Of course, that was just me. Once they actually all set out on their quest--this was definitely a quest-type story--things began moving along at a better cadence. And I'll admit that, once I got to the end, I did want to pick up book 2 to see where the story went from there.
Mythology: As stated in the plot blurb, this has both dwarves and dragons in it. There were no mentions of elves in the first book, but even so, it was very reminiscent of Tolkien. I didn't have a major problem with this, as the dwarf/Mines of Moria story line is one of my favorite aspects of LOTR. Genesse does different things plot-wise with it than Tolkien did, of course, but even so it didn't strike me as terribly original. If this is something that would bug you, you probably wouldn't enjoy The Golden Cord. If you're a big fan of this kind of thing, then would probably highly enjoy it.
The other thing I was a bit disappointed about was how little there actually was of the dragon. Other than in an abstract way, there was absolutely no mention of dragons until at least 2/3 of the way through the book. There were other creatures--griffins and the like--but no dragons. Part of the reason for that is that the Dwarfs had to keep their true motives secret, but even so, I felt like I was wading through many pages, waiting for mention of the dragon that graces the cover.
I actually got to speak with this author very briefly at an LUW conference (the reason I bought his book) and I asked him if he did any scenes from the dragon's POV, which he said he did. Now, don't get me wrong, the scenes from the dragon's POV were really interesting and well-written. I just wish there had been more of them.
Overall: I had a hard time getting into the book and thought portions of it were quite slow. But, I probably will pick up book 2 and continue the story. It's just not something I'm jumping to do right away.
Has anyone else read The Golden Cord?
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Plot: The Golden Cord follows Drake Bloodstone, a man from a small village who, as a teenager witnessed the tragic death of his best friend. In a world where humans and dwarfs are ancient enemies, and killer dragons roam the skies, Drake becomes an object of hatred and ridicule when two dwarf-kind show up at his village, and he offers them his protection. They are on some kind of journey to seek their lost kin in a mine not far from Drake's village, but they're also obviously hiding things about what their journey is truly about, and Drake soon gets himself in over his head.
Writing: I didn't have any major issues with the writing. There weren't many typos or grammatical issues. Still, for some reason, the writing seemed a bit sprawling to me. For some reason, I had a really hard time getting into the story. I don't know why. The characters and plot were both good. I think perhaps it was a bit over-written. If it would have been more condensed, it would have been easier to follow. Of course, that was just me. Once they actually all set out on their quest--this was definitely a quest-type story--things began moving along at a better cadence. And I'll admit that, once I got to the end, I did want to pick up book 2 to see where the story went from there.
Mythology: As stated in the plot blurb, this has both dwarves and dragons in it. There were no mentions of elves in the first book, but even so, it was very reminiscent of Tolkien. I didn't have a major problem with this, as the dwarf/Mines of Moria story line is one of my favorite aspects of LOTR. Genesse does different things plot-wise with it than Tolkien did, of course, but even so it didn't strike me as terribly original. If this is something that would bug you, you probably wouldn't enjoy The Golden Cord. If you're a big fan of this kind of thing, then would probably highly enjoy it.
The other thing I was a bit disappointed about was how little there actually was of the dragon. Other than in an abstract way, there was absolutely no mention of dragons until at least 2/3 of the way through the book. There were other creatures--griffins and the like--but no dragons. Part of the reason for that is that the Dwarfs had to keep their true motives secret, but even so, I felt like I was wading through many pages, waiting for mention of the dragon that graces the cover.
I actually got to speak with this author very briefly at an LUW conference (the reason I bought his book) and I asked him if he did any scenes from the dragon's POV, which he said he did. Now, don't get me wrong, the scenes from the dragon's POV were really interesting and well-written. I just wish there had been more of them.
Overall: I had a hard time getting into the book and thought portions of it were quite slow. But, I probably will pick up book 2 and continue the story. It's just not something I'm jumping to do right away.
Has anyone else read The Golden Cord?
Monday, January 6, 2014
Book Review: Lord of Chaos
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Plot: This installment picks up where book 5 left off. All of our characters are dealing with the tragedy of Moiraine vs. Lanfear that went down at the end of The Fires of Heaven. Egwene is still training with the Wise Ones, Nynaeve and Elayne make their way to the camp of the rebels, and Rand continues to try to keep his head above water, as concerns the Forsaken, all the politics swirling around him, and his own sanity.
Lots of key things happen in this book. Where Rand has been in the Waste for the past 1 1/2 books, he finally crosses back over to the "wetlands" which mean a lot of extremely annoying politics. The divided tower starts making plays to further their own positions. Nynaeve and Elayne come up with a way to help Rand and the world. And Egwene...well things change pretty drastically for her as well.
Ending: The end is what makes this book! I won't spoil it, but I've got two words for you: EPIC BATTLE. Oh yeah. It's freakin' awesome! Totally loved it and geeked out about it on my read-long post.
Basically, if you like WoT and epic fantasy in general, you'll love it. If not, you probably won't. It's one of my favorite endings of the series, so I was excited to read it again.
Has anyone else read the Wheel of Time series? What's your favorite volume?
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Book Review: Ender's Game + NaNo Updates!
I didn't mention it yet, I don't think, but I'm trying to finish the second book in my Street Games series for NaNo. I'd started writing it before November, but I only had about 5,000 words. I think it will be longer than 55,000--more in the 70-90,000 range, but I think I can finish it, or if not that, come very close.
I'm tentatively calling book 2 Desolate Mantle.
Yesterday, I wrote 4898 words, which puts me at 12303 for NaNo and 25,997 for the novel.
For more info on book 1, Dark Remnants, click the link. It's currently priced at $0.99, though that will probably change when I finish book 2.
Meanwhile, I did manage to finish a book last week! (Yeah!)
I finally got around to reading Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card! I could swear I read this book as a kid, but now I kind of don't think so. Maybe I picked it up but never actually read it. I have a pretty good memory and I think it would seem at least vaguely familiar to me if I'd read it before. And it didn't. Not at all.
But, no worries. I have now read it and actually saw the film right afterward, over the weekend. I'll review it here tomorrow, so come back to see what I thought.
As for the book, I freakin' loved it! I didn't go into it thinking I'd like it so much. It's was just fascinating! I'm not very familiar with Card's work, despite knowing very well who he is (we share a religion) but I can say now with absolute confidence that Orson Scott Card is a genius.
Ender is the youngest of three children. But he lives in a society that limits most families to two children in order to control the population. His parents had to get special permission to have him. He thinks they only did it to put him into school. Card does a good job of showing that, even though Ender thinks his parents never truly wanted him, the opposite was most likely true. Ender just can't see it. When he is asked to join battle school, he feels obligated to do so, so that as a "Third" he will not be an embarrassment to his parents.
There's a lot of sadness in this book from the get-go. Ender's older brother, Peter, is mean and violent, showing serial killer tendencies such as killing small animals. Between him, and other bullies at school, Ender gets beat up a lot. He's small, but smarter than most, which is why he makes it to battle school and why he's often the object of bullying. There were parts that brought me to tears. (I'm looking at you, scene-with-Valentine-on-the-lake).
This may sound like a typical anti-bullying middle grade read, but it's not. Not at all. The science is interesting, but it's really being inside Ender's head and seeing him run through all his strategy that makes the book truly addictive. The characters are young children (Ender is six as the book begins) but they are so intelligent, that they think like adults. So they have more book smarts than most normal adults will attain in their lifetimes, but they still have the emotional vulnerability of children. Sorry to keep quoting Mr. Spock, but simply fascinating. I really couldn't put this book down. I totally loved it and would recommend it to absolutely anyone. Totally gonna go shove it down my younger brothers' throats and tell them to read it or no Thanksgiving pie for them! Okay, I really won't. I'm not that mean. But I am going to tell them to read it. Because everyone should read this book once. Especially young boys.
That, and I need someone to geek out about it with. :D So yeah, go read this one. And then you can see the film. :D Come back tomorrow for my review of that story medium for this book. :D
Has anyone else read Ender's Game? How did you like it?
I'm tentatively calling book 2 Desolate Mantle.
Yesterday, I wrote 4898 words, which puts me at 12303 for NaNo and 25,997 for the novel.
For more info on book 1, Dark Remnants, click the link. It's currently priced at $0.99, though that will probably change when I finish book 2.
Meanwhile, I did manage to finish a book last week! (Yeah!)
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But, no worries. I have now read it and actually saw the film right afterward, over the weekend. I'll review it here tomorrow, so come back to see what I thought.
As for the book, I freakin' loved it! I didn't go into it thinking I'd like it so much. It's was just fascinating! I'm not very familiar with Card's work, despite knowing very well who he is (we share a religion) but I can say now with absolute confidence that Orson Scott Card is a genius.
Ender is the youngest of three children. But he lives in a society that limits most families to two children in order to control the population. His parents had to get special permission to have him. He thinks they only did it to put him into school. Card does a good job of showing that, even though Ender thinks his parents never truly wanted him, the opposite was most likely true. Ender just can't see it. When he is asked to join battle school, he feels obligated to do so, so that as a "Third" he will not be an embarrassment to his parents.
There's a lot of sadness in this book from the get-go. Ender's older brother, Peter, is mean and violent, showing serial killer tendencies such as killing small animals. Between him, and other bullies at school, Ender gets beat up a lot. He's small, but smarter than most, which is why he makes it to battle school and why he's often the object of bullying. There were parts that brought me to tears. (I'm looking at you, scene-with-Valentine-on-the-lake).
This may sound like a typical anti-bullying middle grade read, but it's not. Not at all. The science is interesting, but it's really being inside Ender's head and seeing him run through all his strategy that makes the book truly addictive. The characters are young children (Ender is six as the book begins) but they are so intelligent, that they think like adults. So they have more book smarts than most normal adults will attain in their lifetimes, but they still have the emotional vulnerability of children. Sorry to keep quoting Mr. Spock, but simply fascinating. I really couldn't put this book down. I totally loved it and would recommend it to absolutely anyone. Totally gonna go shove it down my younger brothers' throats and tell them to read it or no Thanksgiving pie for them! Okay, I really won't. I'm not that mean. But I am going to tell them to read it. Because everyone should read this book once. Especially young boys.
That, and I need someone to geek out about it with. :D So yeah, go read this one. And then you can see the film. :D Come back tomorrow for my review of that story medium for this book. :D
Has anyone else read Ender's Game? How did you like it?
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