Old Reviews :D

Posted by Sadie , Friday, July 16, 2010 3:55 AM

Ello There!
Been very busy few weeks, I was looking forward to a relaxing holiday where I got to to very little of anything and lots and lots of sleeping, but apprently life had other plans for me. Such has stickering books and drinking lots of coffees. But its not all bad infact most of it has been a brillant holiday, although I'm chomping at the bit to get back to uni :D.
So, as promised here are some of my older reviews, admittedly some are just wrap ups of books because they were destined to sit on the shelf next to the book to sell it, not so much to review them. With some of these I didn't add anything new to them because I honestly couldn't remeber enough to make up a decent comment, or review on it. For the first few I have added some of my thoughts today cause they're have been new books added to the series or my thought have changed on  it over time. Also I'm super excited for the release of Mockingjay the new and finial :'(  addition to the Hunger Games series, I was the first person in my store to put my name to a copy and only a month to go!
So lets get started with a review dump :D. 


Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
Katniss and Peeta are the Tributes, to the reality TV show Hunger Games, a fight to the death. Thrown in to combat where each new challenge puts their lives on the line, in a reality television show designed to make the populace submit to the control of the central government, the all knowing and powerful rulers of the post-apocalyptic America. At face value Hunger games is a fast pasted science fiction thriller. As a literature student, it also brings up multitudes of messages and raises questions all of which kids should be asking about the control over that television has over them and how the limiting of information affects each of us. Taken into the extremes of what could happen, but with more approachable this is the more fun version of 1984 by George Orwell (I loved the ideas in that book, I thought it was brilliant, but I couldn't ever actually finish it). Hunger Games is apart of a Trilogy that is just about to finish with Mockingjay which is out on the shelves on the 25th of August, and is a must read! (For Dymocks Australia Customers it is now marked at 9.99 for a pre-order campaign)

 

Want to see other peoples opinions of the series and all the awards each book has won head to:
 http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/catching_fire_88086.htm


Ink Exchange- Melissa Marr 
Lesile is searching for a way to regain her control, to feel safe. After getting her tattoo, one that she simply couldn't resist, things begin to change, no longer is she scared. What she doesn’t know is that her unique tattoo has bound her Irial the leader of the dark Fae court. With gripping romance, love triangles and intrigue this book is perfect for fans of Stephanie Meyer and Cassandra Clare.  
This one is apart of a now 4 book series, of Wicked Lovely, Ink Exchange, Fragile Eternity, and the newest Radiant Shadows. Each book is set in Melissa Marr's world of urban fantasy, although they don't all follow the same character lines, although they do cameo in other characters story lines. This was the one aspect I didn't enjoy because while each story is fantastic, when waiting for the continuation for my favourite fairy/human pairs it can get a bit frustrating. I particularly loved the underground urban fantasy aspect of each novel, where as I found the romance especially in Ink Exchange slightly lacking, perhaps this was due to the relationship between Irial and Lesile isn't exactly a typical romance, in any case I much preferred Aislinn and Keenan interactions.
The Mortal Instruments Trilogy- Cassandra Clare
 
Is the ultimate book to follow on to after Twilight. These books are perfect for those, who loved, or hated twilight. Set in New York’s, other side, Clary finds herself thrown into a world of mystery and danger, as she discovers her past with the Nephlim, the Shadowhunters, and the threat that they all face, especially her. 
Another Urban Fantasy, I loved this series, it was in fact the book series that I read straight after I finished Twilight while I was still Jonesing for Edward and Bella (yes I really WAS a fan). I was a while ago when I read these but I do remember really enjoying them on the recommendation of my other book store friends. The writing it self reminded me alot of Harry Potter, which isn't at all surprising as Cassandra Clare's name was made as a fan fiction writer for Harry Potter; which once she branched out to her own story line worked in her favour. I was also a huge fan of the relationship between Jace and Clary, the strong and tough Jace, while Clary was still trying to find her feet in Jace's world. This series really is as addictive as Twilight, the Vampire Academy series, the Anita Blake series, all the big names in vampire/ supernatural fictions. 

Wings- Aprilynne Pike
Laurel has just moved from her childhood home, from being home schooled to high school. But as if this wasn't hard enough, she has got her first pimple, but Laurel isn't like all the other kids, this pimple keeps on growing and suddenly one day it is replaced with a flower, scared and not know what to do she turns to her new friends, to find that it is a real flower. With the help of her new friends Laurel has to struggle with the truth of her true nature, she is a Faerie, but not the faeries that are so common in books for young girls, Aprilynne has given her own spin on the cannon faeries. More organic then mystical the faeries are enticing and new for seasoned faerie fans. Not only does Laurel have to struggle with being a Faerie, she also has to balance her human and faerie life especially in the second book Spells, she is completely torn between her two loves from each world and the ties she has to each. 
Laurel is a very real character she is strong and stands up for her self and her ties to both her worlds, something which I am sure I have said many times before is a major plus for any book that the female character is strong and uncompromising in her strength, even if she is unsure; compared to the serial offender Twilight where the female character, Bella, is basically an empty personality so girls can pretend to be her, and be exactly like her to get Edward. For Wings there is no Mary-Sue/ Bella character instead Laurel is a character to emulate and try and be like with her strength of will, she is an example which is why this book is great for the pre-teen age group rather then the older teens. (and after my lovely rant about the faults of Twilight the cover quote is "wings is a remarkable debut" - Stephanie Meyer)

Furnace- Alexander Gordon Smith
 
Alex is an innocent boy who was framed for murder and thrown into a hell on earth, the Furnace Penitentiary, deep under the earth. Alex is desperate to escape and has to fight for his life against the gangs and the terrifying Wheezers and Blacksuits. One part that I particularly loved in this book, was Alexander Gordon Smiths style when describing the 'symphony of screams', it is a image that was so heartbreaking that even after 7 months it still sticks with me. Furnace and its two follow up books Solitary and Death Sentence, are fast paced, dark and thrilling reads.
14+
 
The Graveyard by Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard is a coming of age story, much like the Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling the Graveyard is a critic’s favorite 18 month old, Nobody Owens is adopted by the grave yard ghosts, after he escapes the death of his family, finding a home and a family with the resident ghosts. Learning the life lessons from the dead, readers watch Nobody grow up in the Gothic surrounds of the Graveyard and all the fears and joys it comes with, Critic’s praise each chapter as its own gem; Suitable for children from 9 – 12.

The Curious incident of the dog in the night time- Mark Haddon
Offers a rare insight to the life and reality of autistic children for adults and children alike, Christopher and autistic boy, sets about solving the mystery of the dog in the night time, while combating his own quirks and nuances that come with his autism, the language in this book make it extraordinary allowing the reader to understand what is happening when Christopher and his heavily mathematical mind, cannot. Now on many high school reading lists, this is a book recommended for general readership.

39 Clues Series (10 books in total)- Various authors
Mapped-out and set up by author Rick Riordan, 39 clues follows the discoveries of the Cahill siblings Amy and Dan, about themselves and their pasts as well as the clues to the fortune of the families’ matriarch. Competing against other Cahill relatives, this 10 book set, is bound to be a wild ride of adventure, each book is penned by different big name authors, backed up with card sets and online games featuring $100,000 dollars worth in prizes scholastic.
 I’d Tell you I love you, but then I would Have to Kill you- Ally Carter
Cammie Morgan goes to Gallaghers Academy, where instead of handball she learns martial arts, where espionage is on the daily timetable. When Cammie meets Josh a local boy, she cannot tell him who she is, but she can use her spy skills to accidentally on purpose bump into him, but how can this not so ordinary girl, date an ordinary boy? Age 11 +

Book of Shadows – Cate Tiernan 
Morgan Rowlands is ordinary, she has an ordinary life, and looks ordinary next to her friend Bree, that is until Cal comes to town, the darkly handsome senior, he notices her. This is just the beginning for the changes Cal stirs up, he is Wicca, with Morgan and her friends he creates a Coven, but when Morgan is bursting with magick and her friend’s aren’t, what is she to do.  Part of a set of short stories, which unfortunately I didn't know this when I first read the series, which made it slightly less enjoyable, but once I treated the segments as short stories the ordering and set out made much more sense to me.

Magic Thief- Sarah Pineas
 Rule number 1, never steal from a wizard, but what happens when you do? Conn did, sending him on a whirlwind adventure with his wizard Nevery to save the city Willmet  from loosing all its magic. Irresistible to readers, Conn pulls us in as he tries to survive the dangerous city and become a wizards apprentice. Written both in the point of View of Nevery and Conn this book is suitable for children over 11

Rebel Angels- Libba Bray
 Apart of the ever poplar group of young adult fantasy writers Libba bray delivers another stunning addition to Gemma Doyle Trilogy. It's now Christmas time for Gemma and her friends, and they are heading to London to the balls, but how can they enjoy them selves while the Realms are falling into darkness; after reuniting with their lost friend Pippa, they must search for the temple in order to save the realms from the dark influences threatening to take over, all the while attending balls, and dealing with the mysterious and threatening Rakshana.

Posted in ,

0 Response to "Old Reviews :D"

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)