Bad Reviewer

The last month I have definitely slipped on my book reviews.  Shame, shame, shame.

I am hoping that in the future I will do better, but for now, I am still playing catch-up. :(



27. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand


What an incredible story!

This book brought out so many different emotions.  I love books that can move me like this one did.

Rating: 5/5 stars


 - a book based on a true story



28. Killing Floor by Lee Child

I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed this!

Mysteries and thrillers aren't really my type of genre, but this story pulled me in from the very beginning.  I cannot wait to read more Jack Reacher novels.

Rating: 4/5 stars

- a mystery/thriller




29. Golden Son by Piece Brown

That ending - GAH!

Such a fast paced and exciting read! Never a dull moment in this book.

Rating: 5/5 stars


- a book with a color in the title            



30. Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder

It makes me sad to give this a low rating, because I LOVE Valek (and Yelena by extension), but this story was very different than the first three Study books.

It was told from three different POVs (Yelena, Valek and Janco), and while I could have overlooked it being just Yelena and Valek, I really did not understand why Janco was included. In my opinion, it didn't further the story any and seemed to drag it out more than was needed.

Also, while I enjoyed learning more about Valek's past, I did feel as though it was included just to make the story longer... again, it didn't really do anything to further the story. A few paragraphs, maybe a chapter would have been enough, but almost every Valek chapter had a flashback in it.

Like I said, it really hurt my heart to give this anything lower than a 3, but for me, this book was just okay. I will read the next book in the series, though, because I am too invested in Valek and Yelena to give up on them now.

Rating: 2.5/5 stars



31. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

It took FOREVER for me to get into this book. The first three quarters of the book seemed rather dull. I spent the entire time prepared to give it 2 stars, but then the last few chapters picked up and I found myself drawn into the story.  Rating: 3/5 stars 32. I Don't Know What You Know Me From: Confessions of a Co-Star by Judy Greer I really don't know what I was expecting, but it was definitely something different than this. I really wanted to like this book, because I love most of the movies in which Judy Greer is a co-star, but it seemed very disjointed and all over the place. Add to that the part where her "funny" stories weren't really funny. I guess I was hoping to read more about her actual life, you know, being a co-star to the "famous" in Hollywood - maybe more on how her career actually started, what she does to stay pertinent in the acting community, heck, maybe even something about all the people she has worked with - but this was just a bunch of short stories about random subjects from shopping at CVS to having a pink car and it didn't really entertain me. Nothing against Judy Greer, she seems like a fun person, but this book wasn't for me. Or maybe I just have something against memoirs... I don't know. Rating: 1.5/5 stars - a funny book 33. A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout Wow. What an amazing story of survival. It is so hard to read about the darkness and terror that can be found in this world. I am so impressed by Amanda's perseverance and will to survive in the face of such horrors and I wish nothing but the best for her continued recovery. Rating: 4/5 stars  - a nonfiction book

Catch up (books #18-21)

18. Plus One by Elizabeth Fama

It takes guts to deliberately mutilate your hand while operating a blister-pack sealing machine, but all I had going for me was guts.

Sol Le Coeur is a Smudge—a night dweller in an America rigidly divided between people who wake, live, and work during the hours of darkness and those known as Rays who live and work during daylight. Impulsive, passionate, and brave, Sol deliberately injures herself in order to gain admission to a hospital, where she plans to kidnap her newborn niece—a Ray—in order to bring the baby to visit her dying grandfather. By violating the day-night curfew, Sol is committing a serious crime, and when the kidnap attempt goes awry it starts a chain of events that will put Sol in mortal danger, uncover a government conspiracy to manipulate the Smudge population, and throw her together with D'Arcy Benoît, the Ray medical apprentice who first treats her, then helps her outrun the authorities—and with whom she is fated to fall impossibly and irrevocably in love.

Set in a vivid alternate reality and peopled with complex, deeply human characters on both sides of the day-night divide, Plus One is a brilliantly imagined drama of individual liberty and civil rights—and a compelling, rapid-fire romantic adventure story.

 

This was an unique take on a dystopian society.  I really wanted to read more about what brought this type of society about and how people were okay with it, but there wasn't very much of that.  I also felt there was a lot of information missing from this book that would have made it better, not just a more thorough history of their society but other parts of the story that were lacking and could have used more description.  Some parts seemed quite unbelievable, but I guess that is what makes is dystopian, right? ;)

 

Overall an interesting read.  Another great thing it had going for it... it is a stand alone novel (I think and HOPE).  Not many of those anymore.

 

Rating: 3.75/5

 

- a book based entirely on it's cover

19. Seraphina (Seraphina #1) by Rachel Hartman

In her New York Times bestselling and Morris Award-winning debut, Rachel Hartman introduces mathematical dragons in an alternative-medieval world to fantasy and science-fiction readers of all ages. Eragon-author Christopher Paolini calls them, "Some of the most interesting dragons I've read in fantasy."

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.  

 

 

I originally read this book in December 2013 and loved it!  Such a fascinating take on dragons!  I felt Seraphina was a character you could really connect with and Lucian Kiggs was another great candidate for a literary crush.

 

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

 

- a book with a one-word title

 

 

 

20. Shadow Scale (Seraphina #2) by Rachel Hartman

 

Seraphina took the literary world by storm with 8 starred reviews and numerous “Best of” lists. At last, her eagerly awaited sequel has arrived—and with it comes an epic battle between humans and dragons.

The kingdom of Goredd: a world where humans and dragons share life with an uneasy balance, and those few who are both human and dragon must hide the truth. Seraphina is one of these, part girl, part dragon, who is reluctantly drawn into the politics of her world. When war breaks out between the dragons and humans, she must travel the lands to find those like herself—for she has an inexplicable connection to all of them, and together they will be able to fight the dragons in powerful, magical ways.

As Seraphina gathers this motley crew, she is pursued by humans who want to stop her. But the most terrifying is another half dragon, who can creep into people’s minds and take them over. Until now, Seraphina has kept her mind safe from intruders, but that also means she’s held back her own gift. It is time to make a choice: Cling to the safety of her old life, or embrace a powerful new destiny?

 

 

I have been eagerly awaiting this book!!!!  It was a long wait between my reading Seraphina and Shadow Scale coming out and as the date for it's release got closer I got more excited.  Maybe that is why I was rather disappointed with this one...

 

Here's what I wrote on Goodreads:

This is a hard one to rate. I thought for sure going into it that I was going to love it. The world Rachel Hartman created is so fascinating and unique, and in the beginning of this book we learn more of Seraphina's history and in particular her history with Jannoula. But at times the story seemed drawn out (for example when she was in Porphyry) and really slow. Despite that, I wanted to continue reading because I was desperate to know what happened to the characters I have grown to love. I was really enjoying the book until the last one hundred or so pages. It seemed as though Seraphina became a completely different person. Up until then I would have given it four stars. Unfortunately the ending was irritating and really put me off, which is sad because I wanted to love this story.

Rating: 3/5 stars

 

- a book with more than 500 pages

 

 

 

 

21. How to Betray a Dragon's Hero (HTTYD #11) by Cressida Cowell

 

High up in the Treacherous mists of the Murderous Mountains, Hiccup and the Company of the Dragonmark are in hiding. The witch's Vampire Spydragons are guarding the shores of Tomorrow -- but Hiccup is determined to become King of the Wilderwest. Can Hiccup dodge the dragons and steal back the King's Things from Alvin before the Doomsday of Yule? And is there a traitor in Hiccup's camp who, in the end, will betray them all?

 

 

This has been a really enjoyable series.  I read the first ten books with my eldest daughter and we have loved them.  This is the first one I read by myself (she also read it by herself before I did), which was a little bittersweet.

 

Hiccup and Toothless and all the rest of the characters in these books are so well written you can't help loving them.  This is the second to last book in the series so things are drawing closer to an end in this installment.  I will be sad to say goodbye to Hiccup and his gang.

 

Rating: 4/5 stars

 

- a book with non-human characters



16. The Princess Bride by William Goldman

What happens when the most beautiful girl in the world marries the handsomest prince of all time and he turns out to be...well...a lot less than the man of her dreams?

As a boy, William Goldman claims, he loved to hear his father read the S. Morgenstern classic, The Princess Bride. But as a grown-up he discovered that the boring parts were left out of good old Dad's recitation, and only the "good parts" reached his ears.

Now Goldman does Dad one better. He's reconstructed the "Good Parts Version" to delight wise kids and wide-eyed grownups everywhere.

What's it about? Fencing. Fighting. True Love. Strong Hate. Harsh Revenge. A Few Giants. Lots of Bad Men. Lots of Good Men. Five or Six Beautiful Women. Beasties Monstrous and Gentle. Some Swell Escapes and Captures. Death, Lies, Truth, Miracles, and a Little Sex.

In short, it's about everything.

 

 

I absolutely LOVE the movie so I really wanted to read this book.  It was different than I expected, what with all the parts of "the author" writing about his life and how he came about abridging S. Morgenstern's version of the book into just the "good parts" of the story.  Obviously that is not in any part of the movie so it was unexpected.  But I think it brought something unique to the story and I was rather interested by it.

 

The characters in this story - amazing!  How can you not love Fezzik and Vizzini and Westley and Inigo?  They are all so classic it just makes for a fabulous story.

 

The movie follows the book pretty closely, with a few tweaks here and there.  I really enjoyed the information that was in this book compared to the movie.  It helps the reader connect even more to the characters.  For example, the back story of Westley and Buttercup and how they discovered they love each other.  We also were given the history of Inigo Montoya and why he feels the intense desire to avenge his father.

 

Speaking of his father, there are so many great one-liners in this story!

 

"Hello.  My name is Inigo Montoya.  You killed my father.  Prepare to die."

 

CLASSIC!

 

William Goldman created a work of magic with this story.  What a talented writer!  Seriously, this story has it all and I really enjoyed it.

 

Rating: 4/5

 

* a book that became a movie

The Study series by Maria V. Snyder

I absolutely love this series!

 

Seriously, some of my favorite characters come from this series and one of my best literary crushes.  Yelena is such a strong, fascinating female character.  I really love that about Snyder - she is great about writing great female leads.  And Valek... oh, Valek... Of course Yelena could not resist you.  How can anybody resist you?

 

I had a lot of fun re-reading this series in preparation for Snyder's new novel, Shadow Study.  Supposedly it is a continuation in Yelena and Valek's storyline so I was definitely looking forward to reading it.

 

I am so glad I took the time to read these.  Apparently I have only read the last two books in the series once and that was over four years ago!  It was a great refresher!

 

So a few days ago I eagerly opened my copy of Shadow Study... and within the first few pages I realized I was missing part of the story.  Apparently if you want ALL the details in Yelena and Valek's story you need to read the Glass series by Snyder, as well.  I'm sure you could probably read Shadow Study without reading those books and get most of the story, but I am such a fan of these characters that I feel I would be doing them an injustice by going ahead and reading Shadow Study without reading the Glass series.

 

Sadly, I put the book back on my shelf and quickly requested the Glass series from the library... now to wait. :(

 

I really hope the Glass books are worth it!

8. Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Nicholas Sparks comes a tender story of hope and joy; of sacrifice and forgiveness -- a moving reminder that love is possible at any age, at any time, and often comes when we least expect it. At forty-five, Adrienne Willis must rethink her entire life when her husband abandons her for a younger woman. Reeling with heartache and in search of a respite, she flees to the small coastal town of Rodanthe, North Carolina to tend to a friend's inn for the weekend. But when a major storm starts moving in, it appears that Adrienne's perfect getaway will be ruined -- until a guest named Paul Flanner arrives. At fifty-four, Paul has just sold his medical practice and come to Rodanthe to escape his own shattered past. Now, with the storm closing in, two wounded people will turn to each other for comfort -- and in one weekend set in motion feelings that will resonate throughout the rest of their lives.

 

I haven't read many Nicholas Sparks' books, but the ones I have read were really good.  Tear jerkers all of them.  So I knew this one would follow suit.

 

I imagine it would be very hard to have your marriage end after 20 years together.  I felt so bad for Adrienne and was completely drawn in to her story.  Her strength and resilience through all the she went through was incredible.  A great read, definitely one that requires Kleenexes nearby. ;)

 

Rating: 4/5

 

- a book that makes you cry

6. The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

Though the Greek and Roman crewmembers of the Argo II have made progress in their many quests, they still seem no closer to defeating the earth mother, Gaea. Her giants have risen—all of them—and they're stronger than ever. They must be stopped before the Feast of Spes, when Gaea plans to have two demigods sacrificed in Athens. She needs their blood—the blood of Olympus—in order to wake.

The demigods are having more frequent visions of a terrible battle at Camp Half-Blood. The Roman legion from Camp Jupiter, led by Octavian, is almost within striking distance. Though it is tempting to take the Athena Parthenos to Athens to use as a secret weapon, the friends know that the huge statue belongs back on Long Island, where it "might" be able to stop a war between the two camps.

The Athena Parthenos will go west; the Argo II will go east. The gods, still suffering from multiple personality disorder, are useless. How can a handful of young demigods hope to persevere against Gaea's army of powerful giants? As dangerous as it is to head to Athens, they have no other option. They have sacrificed too much already. And if Gaea wakes, it is game over.


As the fifth and final book in the series, author Rick Riordan did a great job tying everything up.  I was very disappointed that it had to come to an end.  The Heroes of Olympus series was a great follow-up of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and I loved reading more about my favorite Greek demigods, as well as meeting some new ones and some demigods of their Roman counterparts.  I have always been fascinated by Greek mythology so these books are right up my alley.  I have even started reading the Percy Jackson series with my oldest daughter and she is loving them, too!

Rating: 4/5

- a book from an author you love that you haven't read yet

4. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

I don't know how I made it to the ripe old age of 30 without having read this book.  I LOVE Pride and Prejudice and pretty much anything to do with that time period.

 

So, I have seen this movie a few times and I have to say I really enjoy the movie.  Reading the book, I would have to say they followed it pretty closely.  There were some difference, but of course there will be difference.

 

I love how different Elinor and Marianne are - it's fascinating how two sisters, raised by the same parents in the same household, can be so entirely different.  Elinor is very mature and reserved and knows what is expected of her in society.  Marianne is immature and overly emotional and could care less what society thinks of her.

 

Both deal with love and the loss of that love in completely different ways.  Thankfully by the end of the book Marianne does some growing up and I am pleased with  how it all turned out.

 

It took me a while to read because the language is so different.  They spoke so much more elegantly and beautifully two hundred years ago.  However, I will never get over how "proper ladies and gentlemen" honestly did NOTHING their entire lives.

 

 

Rating: 4/5

 

- a classic romance

Books 1 - 3 of 2015

1. Dreamspinner by Lynn Kurland

- a book by a female author

Pretty self-explanatory.  Since this was a re-read it didn't really fit into any exciting category.

Rating: 4/5



2. River of Dreams by Lynn Kurland

- a book with magic

Again, since this was a re-read it didn't meet any of the unique categories, but it is based in an imaginary land with magic where the main characters are magic wielders.

Rating: 3/5


3. Dreamer's Daughter by Lynn Kurland

- a book published this year

This is the newest book in the Nine Kingdom series, just came out last week.

Rating: 2.5/5



Like the last instillation of the Nine Kingdom series, Runach's story started out really well and with so much potential!  I was drawn into the story and was eagerly awaiting how it would all end.  Runach seemed like such a different character than her usual magic-wielding male leads and I really enjoyed that about him.

But then... surprise (not really)!  The main characters actually do have magic!  .........

I get that the series is based in a world full of the stuff, but is it so wrong to write a strong character that doesn't have magic?  And the constant "long lost magical persons found" storyline is SO overdone.

I love the Nine Kingdoms, I especially love Miach and Morgan, but I am glad to be done with the rest of the series.  I will most likely only ever read the original three books ever again.

Favorites of 2014

A Different Blue
by Amy Harmon

Blue Echohawk doesn't know who she is. She doesn't know her real name or when she was born. Abandoned at two and raised by a drifter, she didn't attend school until she was ten years old. At nineteen, when most kids her age are attending college or moving on with life, she is just a senior in high school. With no mother, no father, no faith, and no future, Blue Echohawk is a difficult student, to say the least. Tough, hard and overtly sexy, she is the complete opposite of the young British teacher who decides he is up for the challenge, and takes the troublemaker under his wing.

This is the story of a nobody who becomes somebody. It is the story of an unlikely friendship, where hope fosters healing and redemption becomes love. But falling in love can be hard when you don't know who you are. Falling in love with someone who knows exactly who they are and exactly why they can't love you back might be impossible.

Rating: 5 stars


Me Before You
by Jojo Moyes

Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.

Rating: 5 stars


Throne of Glass series
by Sarah J. Maas
Throne of Glass
Crown of Midnight
Heir of Fire

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another.

Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.  

Ratings
ToG: 3.5 stars
CoM: 5 stars
HoF: 5 stars


The White Rabbit Chronicles
by Gena Showalter
Alice in Zombieland
Through the Zombie Glass
Queen of Zombie Hearts

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

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

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


I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.
I'd tell my sister no.
I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.
I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.
Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.

Ratings
AiZ: 4 stars
TtZG: 4 stars
QoZH: 4 stars


Wonder
by R.J. Palacio

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?

R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.

Rating: 5 stars

Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen

Can I just say... I love me some Robin Hood!

I really enjoy this series by A.C. Gaughen!  I am completely caught up in the world of Robin Hood, Scarlet, Little John and Much!  Something about the way these stories are written just pulls me in.

While this story wasn't as great as the first one (and really, which sequel is ever as good as the original?), I still really enjoyed it.  The reader gets a glimpse into another aspect of Scarlet.  We are also introduced to Prince John and other nobles as royalty pours into Nottingham to find a replacement for sheriff.

I loved the scenes with Rob and Scarlet and there is another twist in this book that I did not see coming!

Rating: 4/5

11. Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.
 
Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

Blood Red Road has a searing pace, a poetically minimal writing style, violent action, and an epic love story. Moira Young is one of the most promising and startling new voices in teen fiction.


What an interesting story!  At first, the language in the book really bothered me (all the bad grammar and spelling), and I didn't think I would be able to stand reading it.  But after the first 20 or so pages, I completely didn't notice it and in my mind read it in regular English.

I was sucked into the story right away.  I wanted to know all about Saba and Lugh and Emmi.  Saba's journey was so incredible!  All she went through in her quest to find her brother - amazing!  I loved it when she would overcome  a hurdle - I was totally rooting for her!

And then when she met Jack and the Free Hawks - awesome!  I loved Jack from the start!  Swoon!

There was so much action in this book!  It really was a great read and I am so excited to read Rebel Heart!


Rating: 4.5/5

9. Allegiance by Cayla Kluver

Only I saw Narian for who he truly was: a young man with courage and an independent mind, and made to pay for what was outside his control. He couldn't help his past any more than he could help the way those intense, deep-blue eyes pierced me and held me captive.

An eighteen-year-old queen in love with the enemy as their countries pass the point of no return...

Bound to a man she cannot love, Queen Alera of Hytanica must forget Narian, the young man who holds her heart. For Narian is destined to conquer Hytanica at the behest of his master, the powerful magic-user known as the Overlord. Alera doesn't truly believe Narian will fight against Hytanica-until Cokyrian troops attack with Narian commanding the charge.

Faced with the greatest betrayal a heart can know, Alera must set aside personal feelings and lead her kingdom through its darkest time. And when all hope, will and courage seem lost, she must find strength and remember that even the blackest night must have a dawn....


This book started out a little slow for me.  I don't want to give anything away, but it just seemed like more of the same old, same old, and I was kind of disappointed.  However, about halfway through things started to pick up.

By then, I had a really hard time putting the book down.  I was so eager to know what would happen to Hytanica and Alera.  Her character definitely progressed in this book, which pleased me, because she seemed rather underdeveloped in Legacy.  There were quite a few twists and turns I did not expect.

An enjoyable read (at least for the last half).  The ending was also not quite what I was expecting, and left me a little perplexed by what the third and final book in the series could possibly be about.  We shall see...


Rating: 3.75/5 (so I'll round it up to 4)

7. The Rise Of Nine by Pittacus Lore

Until the day I met John Smith, Number Four, I'd been on the run alone, hiding and fighting to stay alive.

Together, we are much more powerful. But it could only last so long before we had to separate to find the others. . . .

I went to Spain to find Seven, and I found even more, including a tenth member of the Garde who escaped from Lorien alive. Ella is younger than the rest of us, but just as brave. Now we're looking for the others--including John.

But so are they.

They caught Number One in Malaysia. Number Two in England. And Number Three in Kenya. They caught me in New York--but I escaped. I am Number Six. They want to finish what they started.

But they'll have to fight us first.

 

 

 

This is the third book in the Lorien Legacies series, books about the survivors of the planet Lorien and their ongoing battle against another alien race out to destroy them, the Mogadorians.

 

The remaining 6 Garde (members of the Lorien race gifted with special powers), with the addition of Number Ten that they didn't know existed, are starting to gather together to prepare for a final battle against the leader of the Mogadorians, Setrakus Ra.

 

I don't want to give too much away, but this is an exciting continuation of the struggles of the Garde to survive and find each other.  After all, they are only their strongest when they are all together.

 

I am so ready for the next book to come out.  I find their story so fascinating.

 

 

Rating: 4.5/5

5. How To Steal A Dragon's Sword by Cressida Cowell

The How to Train Your Dragon series chronicles the adventures and misadventures of Viking underdog Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III and his dragon, Toothless. In Book 9, a dragon rebellion is coming--filled with the meanest, nastiest dragons in the Archipelago. Razor-wings, Tonguetwisters, and Vampire Ghouldeaths are attacking Vikings and seem to be seeking one soul in particular: Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third! Only a King can save them...and only a champion with all of the King's Lost Things can be King. In his adventures, Hiccup has collected quite a few "things" himself. But can a scrawny Viking save the entire Archipelago from certain doom? To find out, Hiccup will have to outwit a witch, fight his arch-enemy, and beat back an army of bloodthirsty dragons with just one sword.

 

These books really are so cute.  They are easy to read, fun stories and my oldest daughter Lindsay just loves them.  I enjoy reading them out loud to hear and hearing her giggle or laugh out loud during the story.  Even my five year-old started listening to this one and giggled along with it.  Hiccup really is an edearing character and it's been fun following his "misadventures".

 

If you have young children, I really encourage you to read these books with them.  It is so much fun!

 

 

Rating: 4/5

3. Dreamspinner by Lynn Kurland

 Aisling of Bruadair has lived a provincial life, heedless of the evil creeping over her land. That ordinary existence changes forever, though, when she is sent to the opposite end of the world to find a master swordsman. If she fails, her life--and her country's safety--will be forfeit. She just never expected that swordsman to be a wounded elven prince masquerading as a simple soldier. Powerless and scarred from a long-ago conflict, Rùnach of Ceangail has spent years in obscurity, ignoring battles he can no longer fight. And although he has been drawn back into the world, he fully intends to live an unremarkable life far away from events he knows he cannot change... Until Rùnach meets Aisling and realizes that she is far more than what she seems, that their alliance has attracted unwelcome notice, and that some battles must be fought.

 

 

When I first heard that Lynn Kurland was writing another novel about the Nine Kingdoms, I have to say, I was very hesitant to read it.  The last book in her previous continuation of the series, Gift of Magic, was pretty terrible.  A complete disappointment.  Need I go on?

 

But, I really, really, really enjoyed Morgan and Miach's story, and the beginning of Ruith and Sarah's story, so I figured I would give it a chance.

 

I am SO GLAD I did!  This book felt so much to me like the first three books in her Nine Kingdoms stories, it was refreshing.  I also loved the cameos that some of her previous characters played.  A very fun read!

 

I was worried when I heard it was about Runach... that somehow he would magically be all "awesome and powerful" again and that the story would be completely ridiculous.  But Kurland did a great job of keeping her characters true to themselves.  I loved reading about Runach and Aisling's exploits (and that this story seemed less gag-worthy than Ruith's) and trying to figure out Aisling's secrets.

 

I really look forward to the next installment in this series!

 

Rating: 4/5

2. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.Written for J.R.R. Tolkien’s own children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when it was first published in 1937. Now recognized as a timeless classic, this introduction to the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, the wizard Gandalf, Gollum, and the spectacular world of Middle-earth recounts of the adventures of a reluctant hero, a powerful and dangerous ring, and the cruel dragon Smaug the Magnificent.

This book was a lot easier to read than the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  To me, it seemed like more of a story than a list of events (which was kind of how the LOTR trilogy was, but I still enjoyed it).

It was fun getting a closer look at Bilbo.  I enjoyed reading about the dwarfs (though at time I thought there were too many, but I digress), and was glad that by the end of the journey they all respected and befriended Bilbo, especially Balin.  It was also fun reading about all of Bilbo's ideas and plans that saved them so many times.

There were parts of the journey that I thought were rather boring and drawn out, but overall it was enjoyable.  I am interested to see how the next two films depict the rest of the story... although the first movie was VERY different than the beginning of the book.  And what the heck?!?! - no Legolas?  I was deceived...

To me, Smaug was killed too quickly, certain people who died shouldn't have, but I guess that's why I don't write stories.  The ending was rather abrupt and I wish there was a little more to the story, but I will survive.


Rating: 4/5

REVISED:  While I enjoyed reading The Hobbit, I didn't enjoy it enough to give it four stars.  I just liked it.

New Rating: 3/5

The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened in Ohio. John Smith, out there, on the run. To the world, he's a mystery. But to me . . . he's one of us.

Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us—if we all still believe in our mission. How can I know? There are six of us left. We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another . . . but our Legacies are developing, and soon we'll be equipped to fight. Is John Number Four, and is his appearance the sign I've been waiting for? And what about Number Five and Six? Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams? The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine? The girl who may be strong enough to bring the six of us together?

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio—and failed.

I am Number Seven. One of six still alive.

And I'm ready to fight.


I had such a hard time putting this book down!  Thankfully I was feeling rather cruddy today and had a good excuse to spend a lot of it reading!  I find the whole concept of powerful aliens seeking safety on Earth from another species of alien set on hunting them all down rather fascinating.

I was drawn into Number Four's (aka John Smith) story in the first book, I Am Number Four.  In this book we are introduced to more of the "numbers" and I found myself rooting for all of them and hoping they all find each other.  A couple of twists in this story and it was super riveting!  I hate that I have to wait for another book, though!

Rating: 4/5

Spellweaver by Lynn Kurland

Ruith had long managed to ignore the magic in his veins, until aiding Sarah with her ill-fated quest forced him into places where his heritage was impossible to deny. Faced with an ever-increasing number of enemies who covet his power, Ruith must accept his birthright and gather his father's spells together so he can destroy them-or turn away and allow his father's evil to overcome the Nine Kingdoms.





Now, Ruith and Sarah must rely on each other more than ever-for everything they value is at risk: the Nine Kingdoms, their lives...and their hearts.


The second story of Ruith and Sarah was a good read.  I had to reread the first book following their story, A Tapestry of Spells, so I could reacquaint myself with their journey.  In this book, Ruith and Sarah travel across the Nine Kingdoms, looking for more of Gair's spells. Ruith is afraid someone is trying to collect them and all of Gair's powers with them - which could destroy their world.  They encounter more of Ruith's relatives along the way (which made me very happy - I love family reunions in these books), and learn things about Sarah's past that they never expected.  As they get closer to their goal, Ruith and Sarah also grow closer to each other, which I figured would happen, but it was still fun to read about.  One thing that did bother me was how Sarah was always finding excuses to not be with Ruith... drove me nuts.  Quit torturing yourself trying to be all "noble" and just accept what's in front of your face, Sarah!  So annoying.

Anyway, it was fun to continue in this series and I hate that I have to wait another whole year for the next book!

Rating: 4/5

The Demon King

I have to start with the obvious - this book (or series) is MUCH better than the Heir Chronicles series! The storyline was much more interesting and the characters much better defined.

I enjoyed how the story flipped between the two main characters, Han and Raisa. I really felt invested in them and really wanted everything to work out for them. I felt bad for Han and frustrated for Raisa. They both live on the extremes of life (a poor ex-pick pocket and a princess), but they both have similar frustrations with those extremes.

I had a hard time putting this book down, and spent most of Halloween reading it while I was sick in bed. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series, The Exiled Queen, but I have to because it's not available to me at my library right now. Drat!

AND... I totally knew that would be the ending of the book (a certain character's past). But still good!

Rating: 4/5

Spirit Bound

I have to confess... this book started out kind of boring with Rose's Guardian exam. Blah, blah, blah. Thankfully things picked up.

I love the planning that went into breaking Victor out of prison. Lissa and Rose make quite a team. However the whole "saving Dimitri" thing was resolved rather quickly and I was left wondering what the rest of the book could possibly be about (BTW - I enjoyed how everything turned out there).

After that, things REALLY started to pick up. I enjoyed all the court intrigues and how everything was evolving with the whole Guardian only vs. Moroi help in battling the Strigoi. And then the ending - WOW! I did not see that coming (of course I did figure the whole "other Dragomir" thing). What an ending! I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book!

Rating: 4/5