Aug 15, 2012

Hmmm... Update

SO, I know I haven't posted a review in FOREVER, but I actually have been reading crap-loads. Why no reviews then? Mainly because I hardly have time with assesments due AND exams coming up at school, but also because I've been reading an incredible, amaaazing book series: The Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series, by Laurell K. Hamilton. (Just a note, I'd label it an M [mature] or R15...)
And I have already reviewed about two of the books in the series, and there are more than 7 books, so I figured if you aren't hooked by the first two reviews then...well, you can put it together.
Anyway, I'm not sure when I'll get around to reading something else or posting a review...
Another factor is that my keyboard's space-bar is half broken, so most of the time I have to push it at least twice before it works. Majorly slows down typing...

But I'm open for guest reviews!

Jul 6, 2012

Black Heart Blue, by Louisa Reid

Title: Black Heart Blue
Author: Louisa Reid
Reading Level: Young Adult
Pages: 274
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Person: first
Tense: Present
Rating: 10 / 10

Blurb:
‘They tried to make me go to my sister’s funeral today. In the end I had to give in... I’d been walking in her shadow for sixteen years and I liked its cool darkness. It was a good place to hide.’
Rebecca’s twin sister Hephzibah was beautiful and daring. She was the one who always wanted more. The one who wouldn’t listen. Now she’s gone, Rebecca is alone.
While there were two of them, they stayed silent about their home life. But Rebecca, who knows the truth about how her twin died, suddenly finds herself keeping too many secrets. Hephzibah dreamt of escape, but failed. Could Rebecca be the one to find freedom?

Original and unforgettable, Black Heart Blue is not just Rebecca and Hephzibah’s story. It’s a story about all of us: a story about the lies we want to believe, the truth we sometimes can’t accept, and having the courage to discover the difference.”

Opinion:
This novel hooked me almost instantly. It’s a review copy, so I didn’t have much choice about reading it - and to be honest, that is the only reason I picked it up, because this is not the sort of novel I normally read. Though I have to say, I’m incredibly glad of it. Black Heart Blue is a thrilling novel about family abuse; it forces you to think (when you aren’t tied up reading it) about the rest of the world and what could be happening somewhere at this moment. The descriptions and storyline are realistic - I actually had to remind myself it wasn’t a autobiography.
The characters emotions become your own, and you feel their urgency, their fear, their need. The book switches point of view, from one twin to another, which I found to be highly effective - even if a little confusing when it switched from present to past and such. I found myself hating along with the twins, I found myself holding my breath as they struggled to survive.
There were two characters I struggled to understand for a good portion of the book, one being the mother. I found it hard to get a sense of the role she played and where she stood in the story; nevertheless, the characters were incredibly lifelike, and could have been people I knew.
This was an unforgettable, amazing read. I highly recommend it, even if it isn’t your preference.           

BROKEN!

Ooooookay, sooo.....My laptop is officially broken. What does that mean? Extremely limited computer access. It's been broken for about half a week now, and it doesn't seem like I'm going to have it back (you know, when it's fixed) for a fair while...
This means, guess what? I'm going to be even more absent than normal! Which is frustrating, because I was just getting motivated in my writing.
Anyway, good luck to you all and I hope to be up and running again soon. Fingers crossed!

Jun 16, 2012

Lament, by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: Lament
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Reading Level: Young Adult
Pages: Paperback - 356
Chapters: 22
Genre: Romance / fantasy
Person: First
Tense: Past
Rating: 10/10

Blurb (quoted):
“Sixteen-year-old Dee is a cloverhand – someone who can see faeries. When she finds herself irresistibly drawn to beautiful, mysterious Luke, Dee senses that he wants something more dangerous than a summer romance.
But Dee doesn’t realize that Luke is an assassin from the faerie world.
And she is his next target.”

Opinion:
Okay, so perhaps this is a common sort of storyline – killer and victim fall in love, etcetera, but this is a whole new spin on ‘romance’. Having always been a dreamer, this book has certainly spoken to that inner child of mine that says ‘maybe they do exist…’
This novel was another page-turner, and is yet another of my favourites. This author – my god can she write romance! If you loved her novel Shiver, you’re going to adore this.
Maggie weaves magic into her writing so well, and her descriptions are oh-so-believable. This is a story you won’t want to take your nose out of – I was so disappointed at finishing it!
Highly recommended, especially for faerie-heads.

Guilty Pleasures, by Laurell K. Hamilton

Title: Guilty Pleasures
Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
Reading Level: Adult
Pages: Paperback - 265
Chapters: 47
Genre: thriller / fantasy
Series: Anita Blake Vampire Hunter:
1-Guilty Pleasures, 2-The Laughing Corpse, 3-Circus of the Damned
Person: First
Tense: Past
Rating: 9/10

Blurb (quoted):
“’I don’t date vampires. I kill them.’
My name is Anita Blake. Vampires call me the Executioner. What I call them isn’t repeatable.
Ever since the Supreme Court granted the undead equal rights, most people think vampires are just ordinary folks with fangs. I know better. I’ve seen their victims. I carry the scars…
But now a serial killer is murdering vampires – and the most powerful bloodsucker in town wants me to find the killer…”

Opinion:
To be honest, I was quite worried picking this book up. I haven’t had much success finding adult books on vampires that aren’t all sex, and I am aware that this particular author has another book series that isn’t exactly suitable for a younger audience, so typically I didn’t have high hopes for this one.
I must say, I was pleasantly surprised! There is the barest of hints at such content, but it’s certainly suitable for a mature audience – 13+? (Though I can’t vouch for sequels just yet). There is a touch of romance but it doesn't run wild through the story.
I was almost immediately drawn into the book. It has my favourite kind of vampires – the dark, dangerous and sexy kind – with some Shapeshifters and zombies thrown in. Best of all would have to be the snarky, sarcastic protagonist.
Definitely a favourite book and I recommend to anyone who is mature and looking for a bit more than the sappy teen romances hogging the shelves of teen-fic.

City of Glass, by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Glass
Author: Cassandra Clare
Reading Level: Young Adult
Pages: Paperback - 541
Chapters: 21
Genre: Fantasy / Romance
Series: The Mortal Instruments:
1-City of Ashes, 2-City of Bones, 3-City of Glass, 4-Cit of Fallen Angels
Person: Third
Tense: Past
Rating: 10/10

Blurb (quoted): “Amid the chaos of war, the Shadowhunters must decide to fight with the vampires, werewolves and other Downworlders – or against them. Meanwhile, Jace and Clary have their own decision to make: should they pursue the love they know is forbidden?”

Opinion:
I was propelled through this book by anticipation; I could hardly put it down. There were so many pages that had me so involved I lost track of time.
This book is an amazing read, the characters have amazing personalities, there’s humour, despair, romance – everything.
There are so many twists and turns to the story line, you’re constantly asking ‘what next’. It builds so well on the two previous books from the series, the plot is solid.
It has me antsy for the next one.

Apr 29, 2012

City of Ashes, by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Ashes
Author: Cassandra Clare
Reading Level: Young Adult
Pages: Paperback - 411
Chapters: 21
Genre: Fantasy / Romance
Series: The Mortal Instruments:
1-City of Ashes, 2-City of Bones, 3-City of Glass, 4-Cit of Fallen Angels
Person: Third
Tense: Past
Rating: 8/10

Blurb (quoted):
“With her mother in a coma and her father hellbent on destroying the world, Clary Fray is dragged deeper into New York City’s terrifying underworld of werewolves, demons and the mysterious Shadowhunters. Discovering the truth about her past was only the beginning. Now the fate of the word rests on Clary’s shoulders, but can she master her new-found powers and control her feelings for a boy who can never be hers?”

Judgement:
It’s hard to review this book.
I absolutely loved reading it, and it was amazingly detailed and descriptive, it drew me in, it made me laugh, it made me hold my breath.
But it also annoyed the hell out of me. First, near the beginning, I noticed that the way it was written or the writing style… was cheesy and it got on my nerves. Secondly, this is the second book in the series that has ended in a way that frustrates me, though this time it’s just because of the very last page that make me need the next book – which of course is probably what the author wants, but I hate it.
There is definitely a mystery aspect to the story, which makes it a page-turner, but my favourite parts are the ones that made me hold my breath or laugh. The story line pulls on all your stings, it has every emotion.
This book would have a 10/10 if a few things were different, but even as is, I’d recommend the series to anyone.

Apr 14, 2012

City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Bones
Author: Cassandra Clare
Target Audience: Young Adult
Pages: 442
Chapters: 24
Genre: Fantasy / Mystery / Romance
Series: 1-City of Bones, 2-City of Ashes, 3-City of Glass, 4-City of Fallen Angels
Person: Third
Tense: Past
Rating: 8.5/10

Blurb (quoted):
“It’s after dark in New York City, and Clary Fray is seeing things. The best-looking guy in the nightclub just stabbed a boy to death – but the victim has vanished into thin air. Her mother has disappeared, and a hideous monster is lurking in her apartment. With her life spiralling into darkness, Clary realizes that she has stumbled into an invisible war between ancient demonic forces and the secretive Shadowhunters – a war in which she has a fateful role to play.”

Judgement:
First and foremost, I must say I absolutely loved this book, and the only reason it didn’t get a higher rating is because I was incredibly frustrated with the ending, which I can’t go into more detail about without spoilers.
The story line is exactly my cup of tea; it’s got an amazing fantasy aspect fused into the world as we know it, and the storyline is captivating (though I wasn’t sure what genre to class it as…). The plot is well constructed, consistent, and mysterious, though I have to say the drastic twist near the end was upsetting and I am now eager to read the second and pray something is not as it seems…
Descriptions aren’t lacking in this book and it became a movie screen in my mind – definitely a page-turner.
I loved this book, I’m keep for the next, and I definitely recommend it.

Apr 13, 2012

Juicy Writing, by Brigid Lowry

Title: Juicy Writing
Subtitle: Inspiration and techniques for young writers
Author: Brigid Lowry
Target Audience: Young Adult
Pages: 195
Chapters: 5
Genre: Non-fiction - Writing
Rating: 9/10

Blurb (quoted):
“Brigid Lowry knows the highs and lows of being a writer, but she still thinks it’s a joy. In this book she takes you on a journey to discover yourself and what you really want to say, AND how to make it juicy and original. So, what do you need to begin? Where can you find ideas? How can you make your writing better? What can you do if you get stuck?
Let Brigid inspire you to doodle, daydream and discover your creativity – then write hard and fast into the wild land of your imagination. If you ever thought you’d like to write, start reading Juicy Writing!

Judgement:
I have to say, this book was very inspirational. I found myself wanting to put it down and start writing all the time.
The content is highly helpful to both beginners and novices. It has great writing exercises, games, and ideas, as well as information and thoughts on various aspects of writing such as plot, characters, point of view, and the affect it can have on a person’s life and how a person’s life affects it.
The writing style is fun, playful, informal – perfect for those who struggle to read non-fiction due to the rigidity and raw information that gets boring. It held my attention through almost all of it and was quite entertaining as well as informative.
I definitely recommend this book to creative writers, whether you write poems, novels, scripts, or cartoons, it doesn’t matter.

The Messenger, by Markus Zusak

Title: The Messenger
Author: Markus Zusak
Target Audience: Young Adult
Pages: 386
Genre: Mystery
Person: First
Tense: present
Rating: 7.5/10

Blurb (quoted):
“Ed Kennedy – cab driving prodigy, pathetic card player, useless at sex – shares coffee with his dog and is in nervous love with Audrey. His life is one of suburban routine and incompetence, until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery.
That’s when the first ace turns up and Ed becomes the messenger.
PROTECT THE DIAMONDS
SURVIVE THE CLUBS
DIG DEEP THROUGH THE SPADES
FEEL THE HEARTS
Chosen to care, he travels through town, helping and hurting, until only one question remains. Where are the messages coming from?”

Judgement:
This novel is a very symbolic one, meant to teach the reader a life lesson. I rather enjoyed it actually, but not for the content, rather the writing style. Had this book been written differently, without the humour, the sarcasm, and mocking attitude, I would’ve probably fallen asleep – it’s certainly not a book I’d generally pick off the shelf (we had to read it in English class though).
It’s structure is certainly interesting – set into five parts (each based on an ace of a different suit and a joker), and each part divided up by card numbers (ace to two to jack, etc.). Everything in this book is meant as a message to the reader to teach the moral.
I think most of the characters are identifiable with in that they are hopeless (or feel hopeless) and lost in life. They are developed individuals and very believable. I think what I love most about this novel is that none of the characters are actually ‘bad’, but there is still massive amount of conflict in it, both internal and external/physical.
What did it for me in this book was the way it was written. It is witty and amusing – it keeps you smiling or grinning and thinking.
The mystery aspect of it is present throughout as a side thought, but is never actually thrown in your face as the big question, but it instead focuses on the messages and journey Ed, the main character, must make.
If you like a mystery or even just witty, sarcastic humour, I’m sure you’re enjoy this book.

Apr 10, 2012

The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien

Title: The Hobbit
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Target Audience: Young Adult / Adult
Pages: 280
Chapters: 19 (XIX)
Rating: 8/10
Genre: Fantasy / Adventure
Person: Omnipresent (?)
Tense: Past

Blurb (quoted):
Smaug certainly looked fast asleep, when Bilbo peeped once from the entrance. He was just about to step out on to the floor when he caught a sudden thin and piercing ray of red from under the drooping lid of Smaug’s left eye. He was only pretending to sleep! He was watching the tunnel entrance…
Whisked away from his comfortable hobbit-hole by Gandalf the wizard and a band of dwarves, Bilbo Baggins finds himself caught up in a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon…”

Judgement:
The Hobbit, written by J.R.R. Tolkien, is a very famous story. Known to be the prelude to The Lord of the Rings, and due to be fully available in film by late next year, it’s the buzz of talk.
I can honestly see why too. The adventure draws you in and drags you right along with it, whether you like it or not – in fact, I found myself wanting to march out my own front door and embark on such journeys!
To be honest, it’s rather like an overview, as it skips over very many days and weeks, though had those bits been included it would have been much too long and gotten rather boring. However, as a result, some parts felt like they dragged on and I couldn’t wait for the story to move on, because it was like a glimpse at something but was never explored and kept you on the surface, which was at times incredibly dull and irritating. As well, it doesn’t dwell too much on description, but still manages to cast a landscape in your mind.
I think it takes a lot of talent to write a book like this, as the main characters total to 14! Yet, I still didn’t find myself wondering who was who; each character had a distinguishable or memorable feature that was mentioned, and either that kept it straight in your mind or at the time it didn’t matter! Because of the sheer amount of characters, there wasn’t much room for character-building, but despite this every single one of them was recognizable and individual.
As for character development, there is a lot of change in opinions and actions among many of the character, but the main character, Bilbo, definitely develops and changes by the end of the book, but still maintains a strong sense of who he was at the beginning, which is done very well.
The plot was well crafted and followed from start to finish in a typical structure, and had an original story line that does more than satisfy.
The style the book is written in keeps in contact with the reader, as it’s literally a story being told and often pauses to speak to the reader very briefly. Normally the downside to this is that it throws the reader out of the world that has been cleverly build in their mind, but Tolkien has avoided this and keeps the reader engaged.
The only other thing I have to mention about this book, is that I found myself reluctant to pick it up – I’m not entirely sure why, but I have the feeling it’s related to my disinterest in putting it down again for many hours. I enjoyed reading this book and think it’s definitely one to read.

Mar 30, 2012

Abhorsen, by Garth Nix

Title: Abhorsen
Author: Garth Nix
Target Audience: Young Adult
Pages: 426
Chapters: 31
Rating: 10/10
Genre: Fantasy
Number: third in the series
Series: 1-Sabriel, 2-Lirael, 3-Abhorsen
Person: third
Tense: past

Blurb (quoted):
“Beneath the earth, a malignant force lies waiting, greedy for freedom from its ancient prison. As the Old Kingdom falls into darkness and terror, people look desperately to the Abhorsen, scourge of the Dead, to save them. Yet Abhorsen Sabriel is lost, missing in Ancelstierre.
Only Lirael can confront the Destroyer. With her companions, Sameth, Mogget and the Disreputable Dog, she races across the Old Kingdom, battling Shadow Hands and dark necromancers, to reach Ancelstierre before it is too late. But what hope can one young woman have against an evil with the power to destroy life itself?”

Judgement:
I love this series – Sabriel, the first in the trilogy, was my first book rated 10/10 and now this one is added to the list. It draws you in, entrancing you in its alternate world; the descriptions are amazing, it creates a movie-reel in your mind and I found myself angsting to pick it back up every time I set it down.
The design and representation of the fictional world is consistent and enthralling; well-structured and put together.  I loved it. The creatures are probably my favourite part – this series is almost based on zombies I guess, but in a way most don’t think of, as they are portrayed somewhat different…
I loved the characters; even the sarcastic and brooding Mogget made me smile. Garth Nix has successfully created a connection and emotion between the reader and the characters within its pages.
As for the storyline, the first two or three chapters were average, but after that it set off running and within days I found myself in the final quarter of the book; the ending however was somewhat more difficult for me to read, not for lack of action or anything, but more because it’s all very stand-still for a large chunk, where you aren’t really moving forward or backward or going anywhere and you’re really just waiting – which is supposed to be tension-building, but I just saw it to be slush I had to push through before it picked up again in the last one or two chapters.
The writing is easy to follow, I found it easy to remember, despite how many different angles it is written from. The book actually jumps around from person to person, so it’s almost like three different books compiled into one, but in a way that works and weaves together to ultimately create a compelling, highly enjoyable read.
I really love this book, it’s a great contribution to the trilogy, and I highly recommend it to all fantasy lovers.

Mar 29, 2012

So, You Wanna be a Writer? by Vicki Hambleton and Cathleen Greenwood

Title: So, You Wanna be a Writer?
Subtitle: How to Write, Get Published, and maybe even make it big!
Author: Vicki Hambleton and Cathleen Greenwood
Target Audience: Young Adult
Pages: 143
Chapters: 12
Genre: Non-fiction - Writing
Rating: 10/10

Blurb (quoted):
“You have the ideas and the creativity to be a writer. You’re missing only one thing… this book!
Do you long to see your name in print? Do you dream of captivating people with your stories, poems, or movies? If so, this is your chance! So, You Wanna Be a Writer? gives all the information you need to become a published author. Learn the secrets behind:
·         Finding the right genre to best express yourself.
·         Creating cool story lines and fascinating characters.
·         Starting your own reading and writing groups.
·         Overcoming the dreaded writer’s block.
·         Selling your stories and getting them published.
·         Promoting your work through signings, TV and more!
Read exclusive interviews with famous writers like Michael Crichton, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, and Wendelin Van Draanen. Plus, meet ten real kid authors who share their best writing tips and advice!”

Judgement:
This book honestly covers everything – that is the first thing I have to say. It takes you through the entire writing and publishing process, explaining everything along the way.
Although it doesn’t say so anywhere on the cover, this book is for young writers hoping to get their name into print. It includes a dozen or so interviews with young writers from ages of about 8 to around 16, with information about how they write and why, and their publishing experiences.
The writing style is fun and enjoyable; unlike a lot of fiction books, it made this one fun to read. The information is helpful to those who are just starting out in the writing world or have already been researching and participating in it for years.
There are so many helpful resources, with websites and contacts for where to get published, including contests, magazines, publishers, and where to find more information on writing. It also includes some information about different careers for writers, types of writing, and tips about editing and writers block.
This book, as I’ve already said, covers everything, and anything it misses can be found in one of the resources listed.
I really enjoyed reading this book and found a lot of useful information in it. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for information on anything from writing to editing to publishing.

Mar 23, 2012

Career Ideas for kids who like Writing, by Diane Lindsey Reeves

Title: Career Ideas for kids who like Writing
Author: Diane Lindsey Reeves
Target Audience: Young Adult
Pages: 162
Chapters: 9
Genre: Non-fiction
Rating:  9/10

Blurb (quoted):
“What do you want to be when you grow up? At the age of 10, 11, 12, or 13 could you possibly know exactly what career you will choose as an adult? Of course not! But these are the perfect ages for you to start discovering who you are, what you like to do, and what you can do best.
It’s natural for you to change your mind about what you want to be when you grow up. One day it’s an astronaut, the next it’s an athlete. The Career Ideas for Kids series takes advantage of this curiosity and shows you the many, diverse opportunities available to you.
This enjoyable new series guides you through a multitude of career possibilities based on your specific interests and skills and links you talents to a wide variety of actual professions. Highly motivational, and just plain fun, each light-hearted volume is filled with delightful text and playful illustrations to engage you.
Volumes in the series include Career Ideas for Kids Who Like Art, Career Ideas for Kids Who Like Computers, Career Ideas for Kids Who Like Science, Career Ideas for Kids Who Like Sports, Career Ideas for Kids Who Like Talking, and Career Ideas for Kids Who Like Writing.
Diane Lindsey Reeves hold an undergraduate degree in elementary education and a master’s-level certification in applied communications. She is a graduate of the Denver Publishing Institute and is the author or co-author of several books. Reeves is the owner of a publication development company and conducts workshops on teaching career-planning skills to students. She is also the mother of two daughters and is actively involved in their education.”

Judgement:
This book, although aimed at pre-teens / tweens, was incredibly useful, informative, and inspiring for me, even at age 16.
It is interactive-optional, meaning there are activities within the book to complete, however they are optional and not necessary to continue reading. It’s well designed and set up in an easy to navigate and easy to understand way. The information is clear and informative while still interesting without being dull. It is easy and fast to read, as you can skip over parts that aren’t applicable or interesting to you. This book provides insights into your personality type, career options, and ways to get your foot in the door.
I found the book engaging and inspiring, as well as informative – it’s not a bore to read, which is key to non-fiction. It delivers exactly what it promises.
 This book has a recommendation from me to anyone wanting to know about career pathways that involve writing.

Chain Letter and The Ancient Evil, by Christopher Pike

This book is two novels, a first and its sequel, in one printed book. Therefore, I have done a review for each book, in the same document.

Title: Chain Letter
Author: Christopher Pike
Target Audience: Young Adult
Pages: 278 (1 – 278)
Chapters: 18
Rating: 7/10
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Person: Third
Tense: Past

Blurb (quoted):
“Seven friends, one secret deadly chain letter. One by one they will regret they were ever involved.”

My Summary:
A group of high school teens have a dangerous secret: they killed someone – accidently of course.
But now someone knows, and they’re intent on making them pay for their crime in a sadistic manner told through a private chain-letter that has them all shaking in their boots. When they realise their life-or-death choice between doing the Caretaker’s deeds or hoping for survival, life becomes a finger-pointing game without answers until the final showdown when all is revealed and they have to use wits to work themselves out of a tight-spot.

Judgement:
This book was a little hard for me to read – I don’t know if it was because I was busy and distracted or because the content just didn’t hold me, but I had to check the book out twice to finish it.
However, the storyline is definitely interesting and I can’t call it a bad read; I would say it’s well thought out and planned, and has a definite structure.
The character I think annoyed me. They seemed a little inconsistent and not the type I prefer to read about, but they had personality and specific traits, even though they were all stereotypes.
The ending didn’t make much sense to me. It just didn’t gel with the rest of the story and seemed quite abrupt – it was the only part of the novel that seemed like it was thrown in and made up at the last minute as a desperate attempt to close the story.
What did keep me reading it, and even compelled me to renew the book was the curiosity it sparked. The writing makes the reader desperate to know who’s behind these incredible and disturbing letters that are tormenting the main characters. The story begs for an answer the whole way through but it isn’t given one until the last couple of chapters – and that part was a confusing disappointment.
I wouldn’t advise against reading it, or say it isn’t enjoyable, but it’s not something I’m likely to remember a year or even a few months down the track (not now that I know the ending).



Title: The Ancient Evil
Author: Christopher Pike
Target Audience: Young Adult
Pages: 223 (281 – 503)
Chapters: 18
Rating: 8/10
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Person: Third
Tense: Past

Blurb (quoted):
“Seven friends, one secret deadly chain letter. One by one they will regret they were ever involved.”

My Summary:
The horror is back when Fran receives a chain-letter in the mail from the caretaker – after the supposed-caretaker’s death. Now it’s a fight to figure out who the new threat is before they’re forced to choose between something dear to them, or their life. With two friends dead, Alison accepts the help of an outsider to follow the trail in hope of saving their souls.

Judgement:
The surprise factor comes when the book seemingly starts over (anew) with a first chain letter, though it maintains the characters and includes reference to the previous story. This time, the novel focuses more on who is behind the torment – even though the culprit is supposedly revealed at the end of Chain letter, it is apparent someone else is in fact responsible.
This novel I consider to be better than the first; it makes more sense and has more clues as to where it’s heading, rather than keeping the reading completely in the dark from start to end. It is also considerably more thrilling – the first one had the fear-factor, but this one is far more worthy of nail biting as the stakes are much, much higher.
I thought there was a little more inconsistency in the characters again, mainly the main character who I felt had inexplicably changed – it’s like she’s one way at the end of the first book, and a different way at the start of the next one.
Parts of it seemed somewhat unrealistic to me, and other parts were downright frustrating. But again, it gave me that need to know what was going on – though it did become painfully obvious somewhere in the middle, it managed still to give a surprise at the end.
Speaking of the ending, it made a hell of a lot more sense than the first and was much more satisfying.
Overall, I’d say this book was readable and interesting, but perhaps could have used some work on the construction side.

Mar 22, 2012

Write Your Own Fantasy Story, by Tish Farrell

Title: Write Your Own Fantasy Story
Author: Tish Farrell
Target Audience: Young Adult
Pages: 61
Chapters: 10
Genre: Non-fiction
Rating: 4/10

Blurb (quoted):
“Want to be a writer: This is the perfect place to start. The Writ Your Own series will teach you how to craft believable characters and intense plots, along with satisfying beginnings, middles, and endings. Examples from numerous books appear throughout the text, along with tips from published authors to help you along.

Fantasy is one of the most popular types of fiction. Fantasy stories – from The Wizard of Oz to Harry Potter – feature characters, places, and events that are beyond what is possible in our world. These stories make amazing, surprising and fantastic things seem completely real, and these takes hold readers in their grip from beginning to end.”

Judgement:
This book is supposed to be a guide to fiction writing. Although it has suitable content, it taught me nothing new, about fantasy or writing. This fact brings me to say that it is suitable for a beginner, who is just starting on their way to novel writing.
The cover is professional and attractive, eye-drawing, and gives the sense of many pages of text (just as a novel is), however when I opened it I found instead a picture book, which took it down to a younger level and somewhat disappointed me.
I would only suggest this book to younger people looking to begin novel writing for the first time.

Mar 19, 2012

After the Snow, by S.D. Crockett

Title: After the Snow
Author: S.D. Crockett
Target Audience: Young Adult
Pages: 308
Rating: 5/10
Genre: Adventure / Sci-fi fantasy
Person: First
Tense: Present

Blurb (quoted):
“Fifteen-year-old Willo was out hunting when the trucks came and took his family away. Left alone in the snow, Willo becomes determined to find and rescue his family, and he knows just who to talk with to learn where they are. He plans to head across the mountains and make Farmer Geraint tell him where his family has gone.

But on the way across the mountain, he finds Mary, a refugee from the city, whose father is lost and who is starving to death. The smart thing to do would be to leave her alone -- he doesn't have enough supplies for two or the time to take care of a girl -- but Willo just can't do it. However, with the world trapped in an ice age, the odds of them surviving on their own are not good. And even if he does manage to keep Mary safe, what about finding his family?”

Judgement:
I’ve got to be honest, although it was readable (if your tried hard enough), I felt like I was going to drop a few levels in English just reading this. It wasn’t bad writing, in fact it’s actually structured well… But the writing style, which I assume was due to the theme/setting of the actual book, was (what first comes to mind) caveman-style; it was illiterate and improper. At first it made me think of a Texas accent (I’m not dissing on them at all, by they tend to skip the beginning or end of words and such) but it’s just beyond that, and it really got on my nerves, though it fits the storyline perfectly because Willo (main character) has been raised in the wild, without school, and it just makes sense – but it’s irritating.
Other than that, the storyline is easy as pie to follow, and it’s good in that it has multiple settings, and you aren’t stuck in the same place throughout the whole story. It takes you on a journey.
I’d suggest this book to guys – I don’t mean to be sexist or anything, but it is certainly not the type of thing I usually read though I’m sure my brother would enjoy it (if he wasn’t so stubborn he refuses to read anything I suggest).
I found the setting, a sort of post ice-age / apocalypse world, interesting to say the least. It’s quite original in my opinion and written well enough to allow the reader to turn it into a movie in their mind (if that is how they read, like me). And I can’t honestly say there was a dull moment – there really wasn’t.
The characters are definitely individuals, there aren’t a bunch of clones filling these pages, and each have distinctive personalities and skills which help propel the story through the different settings.
Personally, not my piece of cake, but overall an acceptable read.

Mar 18, 2012

Eon: Dragneye Reborn, by Alison Goodman

Title: Eon: Dragoneye Reborn
Author: Alison Goodman
Genre: Fantasy
Target Audience: Young Adult
Pages: 529
Person: First
Tense: Past
Rating: 6.5/10

Blurb (Quoted):
Swordplay, dragon magic – and a hero with a desperate secret.
Twelve-year-old Eon has been in training for years. His intensive study of Dragon Magic, based on East Asian astrology, involves two kinds of skills: sword-work and magical aptitude. He and his master hope that he will be chosen as a Dragoneye – an apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune.
But Eon has a dangerous secret. He is actually Eona, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been masquerading as a boy for the chance to become a Dragoneye. Females are forbidden to use Dragon Magic; if anyone discovers she has been hiding in plain sight, her death is assured.
When Eon’s secret threatens to come to light, she and her allies are plunged into grave danger and a deadly struggle for the Imperial throne. Eon must find the strength and inner power to battle those who want to take her magic… and her life.”

Judgement:
This book is so detailed – that’s the first thing I have to say about it. The descriptions allow for instant mental images, and I think that is the main part of what drew me into this book. I read it in only a few days (faster than I expected), and though I enjoyed it, it didn’t “wow” me.
One thing about the characters is that the main character, Eon (or Eona), was somewhat an empty shell – she has heart and morals and emotion, yes, but she has no favourites or preferences. Also, the emotions are quite empty in my opinion; someone dies and it’s almost like “yeah, whatever – next!” but at the same time it’s not… The author addresses the emotion, but the reader can’t feel/experience it.
A huge theme in this book is a mix of Japanese and Chinese culture. The whole story is based on their customs and beliefs, though set in a fictional place.
I don’t have much else to say about this book. It was fun to read, and the sequel (Eona) is on my reading list, but it doesn’t make the favourites-cut.

Mar 11, 2012

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Seen as Google+ Friend Connect is shutting down for all blogs (other than blogger apparently) I figured I'd get up another way for you guys to keep up with me incase you can't use it anymore! Blog Lovin lets you follow any blog, from any publsiher!
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Mar 4, 2012

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, by Michelle Hodkin

Title: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Genre: Mystery / Romance
Target Audience: Young Adult
Pages: 452
Chapters: 59
Rating: 9/10
Person: First
Tense: Past

Blurb (Quoted):
“When Mara Dyer wakes up in hospital with no memory of how she got there, or any explanation as to why the bizarre accident that caused the deaths of her boyfriend and two best friends left her mysteriously unharmed, her doctors suggest she start over in a new city, at a new school, and just hope her memories gradually come back.
But Mara’s new start is anything but comforting. She sees the faces of her dead friends everywhere and now she’s started to see other people’s deaths before they happen. Is she going crazy? As if dealing with all this isn’t enough, Noah Shaw, the most beautiful boy she’s ever seen, can’t seem to leave her alone. But does he have her best interests at heart, or another agenda altogether?”

My Summary:
After Mara is left unharmed from an accident that she can’t seem to remember which killed her boyfriend and two friends, she and her family move to Miami, Florida for a new start. But Mara, suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is haunted by her friends’ faces.
When people start dying after Mara imagines it, she’s positive she’s crazy and struggles to discern hallucinations from reality.
To complicate things more, Noah Shaw, the boy with a reputation, won’t leave Mara alone and she’s swept along in a current she can’t control. But when crazy gets dangerous, Mara discovers a shocking truth.

Judgement:
The story line (coming out of an accident / coma and life being different forever) seems to be becoming pretty main-stream and common – but to say that this book is ordinary would be a lie.
First, I loved this book because not only was it addictive, but it kept me grinning the whole way through – and I’m not just saying that, I seriously had a grin plastered on my face for almost every page.
It’s witty, sarcastic, teasing, even embarrassing… Everything to spark interest and keep you page-turning. I wish I could say this book was a comedy for how much I laughed, but it really isn’t in any way – which doesn’t even make much sense. Point is, I was hooked and found myself up late as well as pulling it out at school.
I have to say, it has quite a twist towards the end and just the last few chapters of the book completely changes the story line. It sort of threw me and that made me a little irritated, but didn’t make it any less enjoyable.
There are a lot of questions to be asked throughout this novel: who was that? Was that real? What does it mean? What’s going to happen next? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? All of which are answered in due time – well, almost all.
The ending leaves it open for a sequel, though it doesn’t actually hint at one (if that even makes sense?) so there could be another, but I can’t see the storyline for it.
I found this quite an enjoyable read, and I applaud the author as this is her debut novel.