Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts

Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures, Book 1) Review

Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures, Book 1)
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Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures, Book 1) ReviewI liked this book. It was interesting, the paranormal aspects were fairly unique, and I love a story with a long family history like this one has.
But I just liked it. It never grabbed me by the throat and demanded that I keep reading. I think, mostly, this was because the pacing was off. There was too much time during the story when I was relaxed and not worried about whether the characters were going to get out of trouble. Sure, there were intense moments when I was glued to the pages, but then things slowed down too much and I was lulled into a strange sense of security. This made it too easy to set the book down.
The characters weren't as developed as I wanted them to be, either. Ethan's voice felt too feminine to me. Actually, when I first started reading, I thought the story was from Lena's perspective, just based on the voice. Then, after I adjusted to Ethan's voice, he didn't feel real to me. His entire character felt cliche, like the teenage girl's ideal boyfriend, not what boys are actually like (I think another reviewer said this, and I couldn't agree more).
Then there was the setting. It didn't *feel* like the south. To me, the story could have taken place in any rural situation. We didn't get a sense of southern culture, which is so unique and could have had an amazing impact on the story. A really good example of southern setting, by the way, is Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell. Great book. But I digress...
Beautiful Creatures is a good story. I think it could have been great if it had been shorter, which would have increased the tension and kept the reader glued to the pages through the whole story. Or, at least, if it had a bit more depth to it with the characters and setting. Overall, the only thing that really set it apart was the paranormal aspect, which was really interesting and unique. Unfortunately, it's not enough.
Total side note: I find it interesting, and a little sad, that so many people here are voting against the reviews that don't give high stars, even when the review is fair and well-written. After all, different opinions are what make the world an interesting place. Expecting everyone to agree with you just turns us all into lemmings. :)Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures, Book 1) Overview

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The Great Escape Review

The Great Escape
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The Great Escape ReviewIan Watson's The Great Escape is an incredible anthology of nineteen uniquely original and awe-inspiring short stories, ranging from a group of fallen angels determined to escape Hell, to a vampire with a weakness for confectionaries, to the difficulties of caring for aging parents inside of one's brain rather than in a more traditional nursing home. An amazing selection of vibrantly original, eclectic, and sometimes darkly satirical stories that run from one end of the spectrum of the fantastic to the other, The Great Escape bombards the reader with the new, the unexpected, and the stories that just can't be put down.The Great Escape Overview

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The President's Nemesis Review

The President's Nemesis
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The President's Nemesis ReviewI thought this to be a unique thriller. It has a somewhat complicated plot but it definitely held my attention. It moved at a steady pace and your not ever sure what's going to happen next. A different kind of thriller, but one I really liked.The President's Nemesis Overview

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Dead Beat (The Dresden Files, Book 7) Review

Dead Beat (The Dresden Files, Book 7)
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Dead Beat (The Dresden Files, Book 7) ReviewLet me say it right off: "Dead Beat" is not the best in the series, but it is damn good nevertheless. In all fairness it has several weaknesses, which I will briefly mention below, but it certainly doesn't betray the usual strong plot, fun adventure and high quality writing we came to expect from Jim.
The previous installment, "Blood Rites", had Harry discover new and disturbing facts about his life. In this book, Harry turns to introspection. Faced with a bunch of necromancers in a mad race after a lost artifact of unspeakable power, all of them much stronger magically than Harry, our hero has to make choices and compromises which are morally ambiguous. As with real life, there are no clear-cut `right' solutions (high points for realism, Jim). But hey, nothing like moral dilemmas to have a character grow. Indeed, here we find Harry gradually losing the naiveté and bumbling enthusiasm of the first volumes; this is a world-weary Harry who has to undergo a painful examination of his weaknesses of spirit in order to be able to live with them. Nicely done.
If the hero gets all the attention he deserves, that can hardly be said about the rest of the characters we came to love, or love to hate. Thomas pops in and out of the plot at random moments; some old characters get cameo appearances, others are conspicuously absent for the entire duration of the plot, which was decidedly odd. Also, there should be a limit to how many artifacts Harry is able to locate during the course of a book ... and then lose to the bad guys rather immediately! I am not saying this makes for a bad plot, but boy was I gritting my teeth in frustration. Finally, some small inconsistencies (an attentive reader will no doubt notice them, so I won't go into that). All these do not change my impression of the series, which is among the best out there now that Anita went bananas and Meredith will soon collapse from sexual exhaustion. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and can't wait to get my hands on the next one. Go Harry!Dead Beat (The Dresden Files, Book 7) Overview

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Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1) Review

Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1)
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Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1) ReviewFrom the first sentence this book takes off and kept me breathless to the end. Well OK, I was able to catch my breath but poor Harry hardly ever does. The Harry here is Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden and the narrator seems to "get" him as much as the author does. The book starts with a pair of grisly murders and Harry has been brought in on the case by the Captain of Chicago's Special Investigations unit. There is a mob connection and a drug connection and people that seem to want Harry dead.
What James Marsters accomplishes in narration is nothing short of magical. He not only does justice to the voices of a host of characters, he makes you feel like you've traveled this journey with him and when Harry is bone weary you can feel it through Mr. Marster's voice. I know he has done the next 3 books in this series already, and I hope he does them all.Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1) Overview

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The Wikkeling Review

The Wikkeling
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The Wikkeling ReviewThe Wikkeling announces to the world that it is a unique read even before you open the cover. It's size, cover art, texture and fonts all mark this one as different and hopefully help it stand out. This is above all else a good story. It's hard to say that about a lot of children's books these days, as author's strive to capture the attention of a young audience that often times seems too busy to remember to read, or too dazzled by modern technology to remember the joy to be had in reading a good book. Interestingly enough, this is an issue addressed in this folk tale that seems to be laid over a science fiction story. It's a dystopian tale that includes it's own boogey man of legend, all set to scare the kiddos.
This story works on many levels and achieves that magical goal of being a book that both children and adults can enjoy. The author sets up his society by turning a critical eye on our current education system, our reliance on technology, and our scorn for all things old. Adults will appreciate his portrait of endless traffic jams,constant cell phone communication, and parents who have gone so overboard in protecting their children, they are no longer allowed to imagine and explore. Kids will appreciate our intrepid trio of misfits that find the courage to confront their fears and discover how capable and smart they really are.
I love the art in this book, done entirely in black shadows. It adds to the old fashioned feel of the story, however I'm not sure if it adds to this books "curb appeal". I plan on recommending it to any library patron who is a fan of fantasy and adventure stories. It is unique, incredibly well told, and will be a quick read for anyone grades five and up. Libraries, books and how we value them play an important role, so that marks it as a winner right there. Great characters, important lessons to be learned, original world building, and creepy adventure. Give this one a try. You won't regret it.The Wikkeling Overview

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Sister Mischief Review

Sister Mischief
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Sister Mischief ReviewSister Mischief is a gay romp through the suburbs of Minneapolis. Gay as in not straight, and romp as in young people up to no good in all the best ways.
It introduces Esme Rockett (aka MC Ferocious) and her crew of friends/collaborators: Marcy (DJ SheStorm), Tess (The ConTessa), and Rowie (MC Rohini). As a Jewish(ish?) lesbian, a heterosexual butch backslid Catholic, a rebel Lutheran teen queen, and a desi thrift store genius, these ladies don't exactly blend into the background of Holyhill -- a place pretty shamelessly defined by its SWASP (Straight White Anglo Saxon Protestant) majority. When their high school presents a code of conduct that bans anything related to hip-hop from the school premises, the girls take action and form a hip-hop discussion group slash gay-straight alliance. Needless to say, a book's worth of trouble and goodness ensues.
I expected Sister Mischief to alienate me a little bit because I don't listen to much hip-hop, but I'm happy to report that it's completely accessible to anyone who knows what it is to be young and in love with any music scene, whether as a performer or just a fan. The girls do occasionally come off a bit like music professors expounding on theses about the roles of race, gender, and sexuality in hip-hop. They are portrayed as a pretty nerdy crew, so perhaps this is justified, but it did give me a little ache for the youthful state of just loving that is part of what makes music such an intense experience for teenagers. In any case, the rhymes Ez and Rowie throw down are awesome and add something cool and authentic to the story, so that's a plus.
I was impressed with Goode's frank portrayal of teenage sexuality and casual drug use. With drugs in particular, it seems like too often YA authors feel the need to throw this veneer of this-is-what-the-cool-people-do-but-it's-not-really-cool over it. In this book, as in real life, smoking up isn't about being cool or not; it's just one of the things you can do with your brain and your friends.
I don't know if real-life teenage girls ever have these intense, beautiful four-way friendships like you read about in books, but this one is pretty convincingly constructed. The book takes place over the course of a single school year, but it establishes a lot of history along the way. Too many books give multi-girl friendships flimsy origin stories like meeting in the sandbox and being inseparable from that day forth, which I think belies the complex nature of what it's really like to be a human who delights in the companionship of certain other humans. These girls love each other's guts in all directions, but that love is not on entirely even footing. Some of the ties that bind them are older than others, some are more easily imperiled, and some are taut with sexual tension.
But there are some things about the ways relationships are drawn in this book that were a little irksome to me. For example, there are certain conversations that seem to keep being repeated on the page. Certainly things tend to come up over and over again when you're dealing with issues like cultural differences, coming out, a renegade mother, et cetera, but at times I wish the text could have been a little more principle-of-the-iceberg about them.
There was also one character, Mary Ashley Baumgarten (or MashBaum), who I never quite believed in. She's Tess' former comrade, an intensely nasty SWASP who has it out for Tess' new friends, and is particularly fixated on exposing them all as homosexuals (which not all of them are). My experiences as a high school queer speak to the fact that such meanies exist, but MashBaum lacks the subtlety that allows a bigot to really get under one's skin. I kept wanting to see something in her that would make her original friendship with Tess evident, but she was just pure blunt evil. Maybe this comes of seeing her through Esme's eyes, but given how carefully she observes everyone else, I was disappointed that she never caught a whiff of MashBaum's humanity. There was really fertile ground here for exploring how a person can make a choice to be unpleasant and use religion as an excuse for that behavior, but not much came up -- at least not with MashBaum. There is plenty of discussion elsewhere in the book about how to re-envision a life of faith so that it doesn't exclude and oppress people.
On the subject of How To, this book is a pretty good style guide for having fun and retaining your sanity and self-worth when you're stuck in a situation where a lot of people just aren't going to like you, or even be civil about it. Sister Mischief reminded me of a time when I had to call on a kind of strength that hasn't been required of me since I was in Ez's shoes. It's not that life is harder when you're a teenager, but the hard stuff is new and peculiar to you, and your options for for dealing with it are limited. It's true that it gets better, but there's also a certain kind of magic that can only happen when things aren't so great. Sister Mischief can teach you how to cast some of those spells.Sister Mischief Overview

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Fool Moon (The Dresden Files, Book 2) Review

Fool Moon (The Dresden Files, Book 2)
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Fool Moon (The Dresden Files, Book 2) ReviewThere are many kinds of wolves in the world, and not all of them are human. Not even those that walk on two legs.
Someone, someTHING, is shredding people in Chicago, leaving behind huge doggy footprints painted in the blood of the victims. Oh, and of course, it's round about full moon time. Reluctantly Karrin Murphy, Director of Special Investigations for the Chicago P.D., has had to call in Harry Dresden, professional wizard. Not that she trusts him much anymore after the way he left her hanging the last time they worked together. But he's the only with the knowledge and special skills she'll need if she has to deal with a werewolf on the loose.
In this second volume of his exciting new "Dresden Files" series, Jim Butcher has packaged up another action-filled detective story with a mystical twist. Like any good gumshoe thriller, "Fool Moon" has a plot full of peril, false leads, near misses, and all the usual (and unusual) suspects. Like any good fantasy tale, it has a believable, well-developed mythology. The reader comes away with an arcane education--werewolf lore, potion-cooking, demon-summoning. As narrator, Harry Dresden lets his audience in on all the little trade secrets of the practicing mage. Now, if only he could learn to be so candid with his colleagues and friends....
In the final analysis, "Fool Moon" is more about learning to trust than about foiling werewolves, more about self discovery than arcane knowledge, more about the demons in Harry's heart than those in his summoning circle. In other words, it is about Harry Dresden himself, a hero of pure intention, tremendous power, and courage in the face of unspeakable danger, who just happens to be afraid to meet his own eyes in the mirror. He infers the blackness of his own soul from the reactions of others brash or foolish enough to meet his gaze. And he fears that the kind of knowledge that has so blackened him will be at least as destructive to others. Harry's struggle to come to terms with himself and those he cares about, his faltering advances and all-too-frequent backslides, are what really keep the reader turning the pages. They are also what keep Harry half a step behind the villains until it is almost too late.
If you like action, mystery, magic, or just watching the growth of a compelling character, you'll want to read "Fool Moon."Fool Moon (The Dresden Files, Book 2) Overview

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Lover Unleashed (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 9) Review

Lover Unleashed (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 9)
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Lover Unleashed (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 9) Review
******SPOILERS*******Lover Unleashed, book nine in my beloved Black Dagger Brotherhood series is Manny and Payne's book - or so we were told. But honestly, this book is Vishous's. True? Vishous steals the show. Manny and Payne have a romance, but their story is nothing compared to V's. Nothing. There is also no way this one can be read as a stand alone - you need V's backstory throughout the entire series to get anything from this book.
I was definitely disappointed with the ending of V's book Lover Unbound, when Jane was turned into a ghost. Not only with the ghost aspect, but I just wanted more of a closure with V and Jane but we get it in this book. V is not in a good place. Payne comes to his side, paralyzed from a sparring session with Wrath. Vishous has had no idea in the 300 years he has been alive that he even had a twin sister. The Scribe Virgin, their mother (who is not in this book which is a shame), has had Payne imprisoned. Now she is here, in his life, and the protectiveness V feels for her is out of control.
When Jane calls Manny in to help operate on her, there is that instant "mine" between them (even though Manny is a human). This does not go over well with V, as Butch and the other brothers struggle to keep him from killing Manny. As time goes on, V goes into an even deeper downward spiral. Payne doesn't heal as she should, and when Jane attempts something shocking, he walks away - from Jane. This scene is very moving and well done. What we really get is V coming to terms with his abusive father, his negligent mother, and his role as a hellren. Yes he loves Jane, but can he overcome his past, and his current broken self to give her what she needs? Can he fulfill the new role as a brother to Payne?
Butch plays a very important role in "saving" V. I won't go into specifics as to not spoil too much, but this issue had to be addressed. He is in love with Butch as we all know. We finally get a little more exploration into this relationship - the one we were teased with in Lover Unbound.
Before I started the book I thought how in the world will anything happen between V and Butch with both of them mated (to Jane and Marissa). But it works out totally fine. And it is not the actual scene that fulfilled me, but a scene with them later - a very quiet peaceful moment that to me, lets me breathe a sigh of contentment for these two males. I still don't know if JR Ward gives Butch and V a fair shot - the big scene with V and Butch is kind of short. But I'm glad she does what she does.
And I have to say, I actually liked Jane in this book - crazy, right? I think JR Ward does a nice job with the emotional turmoil between these two. There is one scene where V just walks away from her - and it is heartbreaking. But I get her more. I understand her more. I like her with V now. I'm content with their relationship.
Let's move onto Blay and Qhuinn, or as they are called "Qhuay." They had such a presence in Lover Mine I am disappointed with the lack of progress in their relationship. I hear a novella might be in the works for them so maybe JR Ward is saving up for that - but still, there is no Qhuay in this book. We get a tiny bit with Blay and Saxton. And we get a little more than that with Qhuinn and Layla (OMG - I can't even go there right now). We get a big reveal with Qhuinn - something that will happen in the future. We need to discuss this my friends....soon.
No Lassiter or Tohr in this one. No Murhder, which surprised me since we were introduced to him in Lover Mine. There is also an odd side story of a serial murderer. Now in it, we are introduced to Jose de la Cruz's new partner Thomas DelVecchio Jr, or Veck. I can only hope Veck plays some kind of role in the next book because otherwise I have no idea why this storyline is in it. Unless I missed something. Veck does have some strange...ways, so I assume there is more to come of him. I'm very intrigued.
We meet some new vampires, not necessarily brothers, but six men (although we really only meet three) that fight lessors. They fought under the Bloodletter until he died, and the Xcor took over. Along with Throe and Zypher, they are a secret band of "brothers" - I use that term loosely because they are not necessarily like The Brothers. They fight together -killing lessors, or humans. They are much more violent without as many morals. They have been living in the old country, but have realized, most of the lessors have moved to where the Brotherhood now reside. Xcor wants one thing - to be king. So they move near Caldwell and start to set things in motion. So, yes they fight lessors, but they are not necessarily friendly with the brotherhood. I am interested to see how this plays out. The brotherhood is aware of Xcor, but we don't get any details of the how or why. It looks like the new conflict might be moving away from the lessors and more towards a fight with Xcor for the King.
I suppose I can't leave Payne and Manny out. Honestly, they did nothing for me. If I had to hear Payne say "Verily" one more time I might have thrown the book. For some reason I thought Payne was going to be similar to Xhex, but she ends up more like Layla. She has a few kick ass moments towards the end but I didn't feel like she was a warrior or a brother like Xhex is. There was just nothing that stood out about them. I like Manny - he had nice interactions with Jane. And I liked out he stood up to Vishous and his interactions with Butch are fun. But for the actual romance between these two - it did nothing for me, which makes it really hard to rate this book. Also - the way Payne ends up healing is so corny. I'm sorry - but I just didn't get it.
While Lover Mine really took us back to the romance, away from the UF feel after book 3, this one takes us right back. In a way, I don't want to complain because the spotlight is on Vishous. And I LOVE Vishous. Before I started this book, my one hope was that we got a lot of Vishous material. Little did I know he would be the entire book. He even announces at the end that he is officially mating with Jane (tattoo on his back etc). Seriously, this is his book.
Bottom line is - I have very mixed feelings. The book entertained me. I read it in one day. I love this series, I love the brothers, I really enjoy JR Ward's style of writing. I love that we get tons of stuff with Vishous. I think Vishous's story needed to be continued, but it was at the expense of the main characters. Honestly, I wasn't invested at all in Payne and Manny, so not getting a full story from them isn't all that heartbreaking to me. But - this is their book. And they get jipped. With the lack of Blay and Qhuinn after such a build-up in the previous book, I can't help but be a little disappointed.
I also want to note that no one is really set up to be next in the series - and that is driving me crazy!!! I'm very curious to see who it is!!!!Lover Unleashed (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 9) Overview

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Daughters of the Moon: The Choice - Book #9 (Daughters of the Moon) Review

Daughters of the Moon: The Choice - Book #9 (Daughters of the Moon)
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Daughters of the Moon: The Choice - Book #9 (Daughters of the Moon) Reviewthis book is simply one of the best daughters of the moon books i ever read! lynne ewing is a excellent writer! the plot of the book involves around jimena traveling back into the past in order to prevent her most terrifying premonition to come true!!she also discovers that new enemies are trying to stop her from trying to prevent that from coming true. in order to save the other daughters, she must join forces with her old rival payasa and together must save them. the plot of the story also deals with the mythlogy of Medusa. this book was really fantastic but the ending was really sad and it leaves you wondering what will happen next. one of my faves so far!Daughters of the Moon: The Choice - Book #9 (Daughters of the Moon) Overview

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The Ultimate Guide to Sports Marketing Review

The Ultimate Guide to Sports Marketing
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The Ultimate Guide to Sports Marketing ReviewThis book is full of good information, and some new perspectives on old themes. I would recommend the book to anyone starting an event or seeking sponsorship for an existing event. Every sponsor seeker should have this book in their library and read it every year or two.The Ultimate Guide to Sports Marketing Overview

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A Giant Problem (Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles) Review

A Giant Problem (Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles)
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A Giant Problem (Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles) ReviewI loved the original SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES. I devoured the whole set of five books within the same day. At the end of THE WRATH OF MULGARATH, Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi had hinted that there might be more to the Spiderwick story, and that definitely made me excited. A GIANT PROBLEM is now book two in the new BEYOND THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES series, and I must say that it's taken until this book to really make me enjoy these further adventures.
The story picks up immediately from book number one, and I had to go glance back through THE NIXIE'S SONG to remember different plot details. Pretty much, Nick and Laurie are off on further adventures to stop the coming onslaught of giants destroying by fire the whole of the state of Florida. A daunting task for two kids and a blind old man named Noseeum Jack. I had been hoping all along through the first book and in beginning this second one that the story would grow beyond stopping giants from randomly destroying things. Yes, the problem seemed large, but just not enough for me -- especially after the original five books. That's why I was pleasantly surprised and chilled to come to the twist ending of A GIANT PROBLEM. It took the whole series to a new height, and I am extremely excited to get my hands on book number three, which I won't even tell the title of since it holds a bit of the secret.
The writing is as usual superb, and the illustrations dazzling in that throwback style that DiTerlizzi is so brilliant at. Just looking at his drawings sucks the reader into another world. My only complaint is that I had to wait so long for book number two. I really hope that we don't have to wait another year before the final installment.A Giant Problem (Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles) Overview

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Stuart Little Review

Stuart Little
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Stuart Little ReviewThe most common complaint about Sutart Little is the ending, or lack of ending. I disagree. The story is one of growing up, and sadness, and yearning for something just out of reach. The brilliant E.B. White denies us a happy-Disney ending, avoids "closure". The story is just like life; it is a journey, not a package. The loose ends don't need to be cleared up with a sequel. Stuart has grown up and struck off on his own, the end. When I first read this story as a young boy, it gave me my first taste of melancholy. This should be the first "profound" book that a child reads, for it leaves you feeling sad, but hopeful.Stuart Little Overview

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Tales from the Hood (Sisters Grimm, Book 6) Review

Tales from the Hood (Sisters Grimm, Book 6)
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Tales from the Hood (Sisters Grimm, Book 6) ReviewBook 6 is another quick and exciting read in the Sisters Grimm story. It would also seem that it might be a pivotal edition: the girls are growing up, old characters leave, new characters enter, and the Scarlet Hand has taken over Ferryport Landing. As good as this book was (and it didn't disappoint for a moment), I'm more eager to see what the next couple of books will mean for the girls.Tales from the Hood (Sisters Grimm, Book 6) Overview

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Sweetly Review

Sweetly
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Sweetly ReviewMs. Pearce has perfectly blended together pain, love, humor and the journey to find one's self in this beautiful, dark and delicious companion to Sisters Red....
This is not a retelling, but a genius reconstruction of Hansel and Gretel, that will leave you reading into the wee hours of the morning, heart racing, minding reeling and palms sweating. Thanks Amazon for the early copy, cus I devoured this captivating tale of brother and sisters, and all the struggle that comes between them in no time! Each character is their own. They have their own problems and faults and the author is not afraid to make that apparent. I love it, 'cus they are all real.The romance is def there, but once again Ms. Pearce crafts it into the story so seemlessly that you feel the emotion and aren't overwhelmed by what could have easily been a redic 'love you forever' romance.
The action is brilliant, I really, really like the action, Jackson can def write an action scene. This book is just good, better then good - brilliant. I recommend it for ppl who like ANY YA paranormal books like Wicked Lovely, Paranormacly, The Mortal Instruments, Firelight, Twilight and basically anything else. Its sooooo great. *sighs* what a terrific book!!
You must read!!
You really must . . . .
Her next Fairy Tale Retelling is Fathomless (the Little Mermaid) due out next year and *maybe* Whiter (working title for the Snow Queen!!)!!
visit me @: thereadersheartstring dot blogspot dot com
visit me @: thereadersheartstring dot blogspot dot com for the more detailed/spoiler-ish review!!
p.s. this is an ACTUAL companion to Sisters Red. I will not give any secrets away, but this is not just another fairy tale being retold, but Sisters Red and Sweetly AND Fathomless, which hasn't even been released yet and whatever Fairy Tale Retelling that comes next, is all connected, is all one, amazing, fantasical, beautiful and sometimes, frightening world! It is one seemless realm of the unreal and scary. You will be going insane over this book, especialy if you have read Sisters Red and watch Jackson's youtube vids and livestream with her, 'cus this is true treat for fans, and frankly anyone who enjoys a great read!!!Sweetly Overview

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Starcrossed Review

Starcrossed
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Starcrossed ReviewHelen has always tried to hide her differences and knows that her face holds a beauty like no other, yet instead of this being a asset in her eyes, she finds it be a major flaw as it draws attention to herself. She is painfully shy, to the point where she experiences horrendous pains whenever any attention is drawn to her. When she starts having nightmares that come to life as well as startling visions of three screaming women who cry tears of blood she knows that she won't be able to hide her true self much longer. To make matters worse those three women go into an absolute fury driving Helen with the need to kill whenever she runs into one of the Delos teens, especially Lucas. What Helen doesn't know is that the fates have ensured that these two will replay the roles of one of the greatest tragedies of all time, destined to be star crossed lovers with the highest stakes imaginable.
I've always loved anything to do with Greek mythology, especially books that turn the myth into reality in a modern setting. Starcrossed does exactly this. However, what is different is that it paints the gods as petulant beings that no longer have a role in human's lives. Well, as long as the demigods keep their end of the bargain that is. This was a really interesting twist on the typical mythology story, and made Starcrossed really stand out from the crowd. The idea of fated roles is really intriguing, especially since there is still the possibility that the characters could potentially find a way around that destiny and choose their own paths.
This may seem to be a little funny, but I couldn't help but be a little frustrated at the major roadblocks standing in the way between Lucas and Helen, especially considering the title. I knew before I even started reading that things would be rough between them, perhaps their love being forbidden but not by insurmountable odds. Of course that thought got quickly put out of my mind once things started to be revealed. Considering how sweet things were between the two of them and how much their heartache sucked me in, I really hope that they find some way to overcome those obstacles so they can be together. As Lucas points out, never say never, as the gods like to torment those who use absolutes.
The best thing about Starcrossed is that while you are kept in plenty of suspense to keep you sucked in, you are also given just the right amount of information to ensure that you never get overwhelmed or frustrated from a lack of information. This can be a hard balance to find, but Starcrossed does it perfectly. I'm really eager to see what happens next as there was a twist at the ends that can only spell trouble for the future. All in all Starcrossed was a really great read, that may have been a little slow to build at first, but it never once lost my attention. Prepared to be sucked in from almost the start and make sure to give yourself plenty of time to read this one as you won't be able to put it down. Definitely a fantastic debut that you won't want to miss if you are a fan of mythology in the YA genre.Starcrossed Overview

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The Princess Trap Review

The Princess Trap
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The Princess Trap ReviewGold Star Award Winner!
Roughly a year has passed since Scandia regained its presumably dead king and main character, Jenna, found out that she was royalty. With the conspirators that appeared in THE PRINCESS PLOT out of the country, the North Islanders and the South Islanders of Scandia should be able to live happily ever after, right?
Well, not quite.
Jenna is an outcast at her boarding school, especially due to her dark features that are typically associated with all North Islanders, and her pizza-eating media scandal that revealed not-so-princess-like behavior. After feeling the pressure to be perfect among a tangled romance, Jenna finds herself running away into the hands of a friend - and unexpected trouble.
Things are also rocky on the home front. Food shortages and attacks supposedly staged by the country's rebels are destroying the reforms that King Magnus, his sister, and other government members installed to help bring about peace between the previously divided country. Is a coup truly going to ruin all hope for a united Scandia, despite the different economic classes and physical features?
THE PRINCESS TRAP is a book full of adventure and constant plot twists. The courageous characters, along with the incorporation of history and national pride, help to make this novel one-of-a-kind. The ending will leave you with goose bumps and a new sense of empowerment.
Reviewed by: Hannah MarieThe Princess Trap Overview

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The Good and the Ghastly: A Novel Review

The Good and the Ghastly: A Novel
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The Good and the Ghastly: A Novel ReviewUsually when someone contacts me via email about reading their book, they give me a description of it and I say sure, send it, or no that's not for me. And usually, if the description includes a phrase like "gangster noir epic set a thousand years into the future." I'll pass because, well, that's just not for me, in most cases. Usually, the name on the book is not James Boice. I said it once, when I reviewed NoVA, and I'll repeat it here: I don't know why this guy doesn't get more attention.
The Good and the Ghastly is as described in that email. Set in 3348, after the war and the nuclear destruction, after 1000 years of crawling back to a time that reflects our own. Bits of ancient history seep through the years - the great leaders and artists who stand tall throughout the centuries - Alexander the Great, Bob Dylan, Sarah Palin. Thank god Visa is there to hold everything together.
Junior Alvarez grows up in the fractured gangland of Visa NoVA with a God complex, a bad temper, and a will to act violently and decisively against his foes. In a massive teenage gangfight, he beats a boy to death, and the boy's mother starts a never-ending campaign against Junior - first through legal means, and the via a systematic vigilante attack on the gang system.
Junior is the real story here, though. He rises from an anger-fueled street thug, unwelcome (frustratingly so for JR) through the front door of the highest establishments, to a meticulously organized lieutenant masquerading as a community benefactor, to mob boss, sometimes through deception and sometimes through violence. It's a rise familiar to the modern reader or filmgoer - think The Departed, or Heat, or Billy Bathgate with something of a steampunk sensiblity.
Junior is a great character. He's despicable from a young age, seducing minors and busting heads. He believes he is destined for greatness and the shame he feels at his back-door status is palpable and the motivation for the swath of violence he unleashes.
Whereas NoVA was reserved and pointed, viewing suburbia from multiple angles, The Good and the Ghastly is a detached view of a killer, with all his charms and warts, building an empire and chased Javert-like by feds and vigilantes.
James Boice is as good as ever here. He doesn't let the dystopian satire get in the way of the story, relieving me of one of my personal annoyances. He's gritty and reflective, twistedly funny, and his sentences are as sharp as ever. A fearless, unrepentant book of a fearsome future - The Good and the Ghastly will be released by Scribner on 6/14/11.
more reviews at threeguysonebook.comThe Good and the Ghastly: A Novel Overview

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Lightning People: A Novel Review

Lightning People: A Novel
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Lightning People: A Novel ReviewI was intrigued when I read the synopsis of this book and decided to pre order a copy. I had high expectations and not only did this book meet those expectations, it exceeded them! Lightning People is by far the best book I've read all year.
Lightning People could be called a New York novel but that would be doing it a disservice as it's so much bigger than that.
It's an epic, plot driven, character piece that grips you from beginning to end. The central characters - Del, Madi, Joseph, Raj and William - will haunt you for weeks after you finish reading. I still can't help but think of them each day. In fact, I miss them!
The plot continuosly twists and turns. It's one of those books that are impossible to put down. It's about paranoia, love, loss, friendship, rattlesnakes, multiculturalism, marriage, green cards, murder.....and that's just part one!
I was surprised to see that this was Christopher Bollen's first novel. He really knows how to craft complex characters and place. I live in Tampa and for one week I was completely transported and engulfed by the gritty and seductive streets of New York City. Not only is Bollen a sophisticated writer, he is obviously a great observer of people and life. I really think he has communicated something important about the human condition with this book. I'm excited to see what he does next.
It's rare to find a book that is so entertaining and edifying. A MUST READ!Lightning People: A Novel Overview

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Summer Promise/A Whisper and a Wish/Yours Forever (The Christy Miller Series 1-3) (Christy Miller Collection, Volume 1) Review

Summer Promise/A Whisper and a Wish/Yours Forever (The Christy Miller Series 1-3) (Christy Miller Collection, Volume 1)
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Summer Promise/A Whisper and a Wish/Yours Forever (The Christy Miller Series 1-3) (Christy Miller Collection, Volume 1) ReviewThe promise shared is one of holding on to your dreams, and holding out for God's best. My sister Mandy and I read this book when she was a freshman in high school, and I, a twenty-three year old, stay-at-home mom of a little girl named Lindsey.
When Mandy and I shared these special moments in the life of this fictional girl known as Christy Miller, we laughed, and we cried. We learned together what it was like to relate to the joys and trials of a young woman going through the kind of change that one goes through when getting to know God in a personal way. The memories for my sister and I will be long remembered. This past Christmas Mandy handed down her "Christy Miller" collection to Lindsey. Again, the promise will be shared, even as I read the books with my twelve year old daughter. Lindsey is already introducing her younger sister, Lauren, age four, to all her "friends" from the Christy Miller series! The sharing of another promise to "read the books together" has been made.
The writings of Robin Jones-Gunn are a true legacy. Her love for the Lord and her desire to share that love and the joy of knowing Him are ever present in her works. I can not thank the Lord enough for her giftedness as an author. The quality and moral integrity with which she addresses her audiences is a true joy to myself, as an avid reader, and also as the mother of a young girl in search of an adventerous and realistic read.Summer Promise/A Whisper and a Wish/Yours Forever (The Christy Miller Series 1-3) (Christy Miller Collection, Volume 1) Overview

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