The Princess Bride Review

The Princess Bride has been one of my favorite movies for my entire life. Seriously. One of my earliest memories is watching the moving, freaking out at the fire swamp scene and being terrified of that creepy old lady. Naturally, I was both excited and hesitant to read the novel. Excited because I knew I loved these characters and this story, and hesitant because I knew I wouldn't be able to separate the book from the movie. And...well...what if I didn't like it?

Hahaha.

In case you haven't seen the movie or heard of the story (WHAT) here's a brief synopsis: Buttercup falls in love with the farm boy, Wesley, just before he leaves. And when he dies, she vows to never love again. Which makes a marriage with Prince Humperdink perfect. Soon before the wedding, chaos erupts in the form of a kidnapping, and another kidnapping, and true love. Swords! Giants! Animal battling! GREAT THINGS!

Reading this book was both a nostalgic experience as well as a new and exciting one. These characters and these jokes are ones that were already a part of me, but reading them changed them into something completely different.

The movie did a spectacular job of keeping true to the book, but there were a few scenes that didn't make it in. Mostly backstory, and I love backstory a lot. There was also an epilogue-like chapter called Buttercup's Baby that was sogoodyouguys. Ohmygod.

Also, you know that whole story about how this is abridged and Goldman's father read this to him or whatever? All a lie. All a plot device. As is Goldman's occasional commentary. I just thought you guys should know that it is actually a part of the book, because I started to get pretty confused and was ready to skip over that stuff.

Anyway. Yes. I fell in love with this book in the way I've always been in love with the movie. And if you've experienced only one, or neither, please change that.

Characters: Uh huh.

Plot: Fast paced and fantastic.

Writing: Sharp/witty/etc.

Ending: Not enough closure. 

Content: Minor swearing, violence, and mentions of sex.

Overall:

The Raven Boys Review

The thing about Maggie Stiefvater is that her writing has a weird way of drawing you in and making you connect with events and characters you normally wouldn't. That was what happened to me with The Raven Boys, only it didn't draw me in quite enough to make me forget about it's problems.

Blue doesn't have an psychic abilities, which is weird because she comes from a long line of psychics. Still, she's definitely gotten used to dealing with the unusual. So has Gansey, but only because he's thrown himself into it for years to try and find Glendower, a dead Welsh king. In Virginia. He drags his friends, Adam, Ronan, and Noah, along with him to follow all kinds of clues that only lead to dead ends.

When their paths cross, they stop hitting dead ends and start getting answers. Answers they may not actually like. And as Blue gets closer to Adam, it gets harder to not kiss him, which is a problem, because all of her family have told her for years that the if she kisses her true love, he'll die.

As you can tell, there's a lot going on in The Raven Boys, and sometimes it got to be a little too much for me. The characters blended together and the plot seemed to be going nowhere. That's when I put it down to read a different book. When I came back to it, I found it to be a lot more enjoyable and a lot less confusing.

But plot-wise The Raven Boys still didn't do anything for me, even after I set it down. It seemed like very little actually happened and what did happen only somewhat mattered to the plot of the overall series, in my mind. It made this a very easy novel to set down, unfortunately.

And yet I connected with the characters in the end. I found Adam to be a wonderfully dreamy/angsty love interest. I found Gansey to be a fascinating and unique character. I found Blue to be a quirky and easy-to-relate-to protagonist.

In the end The Raven Boys was a mixed bag for me, and I'm not sure if I'll be reading the sequel or not.

Plot: Interesting but didn't really move.

Characters: I liked them.

Writing: Really good.

Ending: Meh.

Mature content: Maybe some swearing but I think that was about it.

Overall:

Somewhere in the middle.

I wasn't blown away by this book but it definitely wasn't the worst book I've ever read either.

The Curiosities Review

Authors: Maggie Stiefvater, Tessa Gratton, Brenna Yovanoff
Release date: October 1, 2012
Pages: 304
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
How I got it: For review from Netgalley 

From acclaimed YA authors Maggie Stiefvater, Tessa Gratton, and Brenna Yovanoff comes The Curiosities: A Collection of Stories. 

- A vampire locked in a cage in the basement, for good luck.- Bad guys, clever girls, and the various reasons why the guys have to stop breathing.- A world where fires never go out (with references to vanilla ice cream).  

These are but a few of the curiosities collected in this volume of short stories by three acclaimed practitioners of paranormal fiction. 

But The Curiosities is more than the stories. Since 2008, Maggie, Tessa, and Brenna have posted more than 250 works of short fiction to their website merryfates.com. Their goal was simple: create a space for experimentation and improvisation in their writing—all in public and without a backspace key. In that spirit, The Curiosities includes the stories and each author's comments, critiques, and kudos in the margins. Think of it as a guided tour of the creative processes of three acclaimed authors. 

So, are you curious now?

Let me start off this review by saying that there are little notes the authors made in the pages, but I was unable to read them on my e-reader, so I might have missed some stuff.

Stories I Liked

Vampire Box by Tessa Gratton

A Murder of Gods by Maggie Stiefvater

The Madness of Lancelot by Brenna Yovanoff

The Wind Takes Our Cries by Maggie Stiefvater

Auburn by Brenna Yovanoff

Puddles by Tessa Gratton

The Bone-Tender by Brenna Yovanoff

Death-Ship by Tessa Gratton

Cut by Brenna Yovanoff

Philosopher's Flight by Maggie Stiefvater

Dumb Supper by Tessa Gratton

Neighbors by Brenna Yovanoff

The Summer Ends In Slaughter by Tessa Gratton

Berserk by Tessa Gratton

Lazarus Girl by Brenna Yovanoff

Stories I was "Eh" About (Most os these ended up confusing me)

Blue As God by Brenna Yovanoff

Thomas All by Tessa Gratton

The Power of Intent by Brenna Yovanoff

A History of Love by Maggie Stiefvater

Girl Raised by Wolves by Brenna Yovanoff

Council of Youth by Maggie Stiefvater

Rain Maker by Maggie Stiefvater

Stories I LOVED

Another Sun by Maggie Stiefvater

Date with a Dragon Slayer by Tessa Gratton

Scheherazade by Brenna Yovanoff

The Deadlier of Species by Maggie Stiefvater

The Last Day of Spring by Maggie Stiefvater

Ash-Tree Spell to Break Your Heart by Tessa Gratton

Overall, this was a really cool look into three awesome author's creative process, especially as the stories were mostly uneditied. I'll definitely need to be buying this one for my shelves so a) I can read the notes and b) I need to re-read the ones I loved. Because I really did LOVE those. I would definitely recommend this one.

Exile Review

Author: Anne Osterlund
Release date: April 28, 2011
Publisher: Speak
Pages: 304
How I got it: From author for review
Other titles in series: Aurelia 

Crown princess Aurelia is a survivor. She survived attempted assassination. She survived the king's rejection. She survived her mother's abandonment. And now, in exile, she must survive her kingdom-from hostile crowds to raw frontier to desert sands. But even as unknown assailants track Aurelia and expedition guide Robert, she knows her greatest risk is falling in love...

------
Exile was a lot like its predecessor, Aurelia, in that it could've been great but fell completely flat for me.

In Exile, there is a lot of unnecessary talking and then more talking and not much doing. It felt very drawn out for me, and if I enjoyed the romance the author was trying to focus on then maybe I wouldn't mind that. However, I cannot say I enjoyed the romance. I was told that these two characters felt something for each other, but not once in the entire novel did I feel any kind of romantic tension between them. It all felt very forced.

I do wish I liked the romance more, because I do like Aurelia. She's damaged but soft-hearted and vulnerable in a unique and compelling way that most main characters are not. Robert is also nice, but he is so driven by his "love" for Aurelia that it was his main characteristic.

This series is not my favorite despite its heaps of potential. If it sounds like something you would like, then I wouldn't tell you not to read it, but I would suggest checking it out from the library instead of buying it.

Plot: Rather boring.

Characters: I like Aurelia but that's it.

Writing: There was no TENSION. I need my SEXUAL TENSION.

Ending: Fine, though not exciting enough to make me want to read the next book.

Kid friendly? Very. There's a brief mention of sex but it never happens, and their swear words are about crowns.

Overall:

Kinda had to force myself to get through this one.

This is just not the series for me, plain and simple. 

Other thoughts on Exile:

Reading Vacation

Bookworm1858

Maxine Matthew

Howl's Moving Castle Review

Author: Diana Wynne Jones
Release date: August 21, 2001 (First printing: 1986)
Publisher: HarperTrophy
Pages: 329
How I got it: Library 

In which a witch bewitched the hatter's daughter--and then some... 

Sophie lived in the town of Market Chipping, which was in Ingary, a land in which anything could happen, and often did--especially when the Witch of the Waste got her dander up. Which was often. 

As her younger sisters set out to seek their fortunes Sophie stayed in her father's hat shop. Which proved most unadventurous, until the Witch of the Waste came in to buy a bonnet, but was not pleased. Which is why she turned Sophie into an old lady. Which was spiteful witchery. 

Now Sophie must seek her own fortune. Which means striking a bargain with the lecherous Wizard Howl. Which means entering his ever-moving castle, taming a blue fire-demon, and meeting the Witch of the Waste head-on. Which was more than Sophie bargained for...

I want to love fantasy, I really do. ...But I just don't. Fantasy novels rarely ever hold my attention, and Howl's Moving Castle was not the exception. I enjoyed the characters and the quirky humor Wynne-Jones effortlessly infused into the story, but I just seemed to find myself all too willing to put it down.

I'll start with my favorite part of the novel: Sophie.What a wonderfully feisty heroine! Even when she's an old lady, does she ohhh I don't know, curl up in a ball and the woods and then stare out a window for four months. NOPE. She's like, "K." and does what needs to be done. She was so cool.

The plot had a lot going on. Maybe it seemed like that because I wasn't fully invested in it to begin with, but that's just my opinion. However, it all tied together in the end, which was really cool. But still. A lot going on.

Howl's Moving Castle is a classic YA fantasy, but sadly it wasn't for me. While I in no way disliked this novel, I did end up finding myself indifferent throughout the book. However, if you haven't read this yet, I'd still recommend it so you can experience Wynne Jone's clever writing style and story-telling. Also because it's one of my best friends all time favorite books.

Plot: Seemed kind of scattered, but elements of it were cool.

Characters: Sophie was awesome. Michael and Calcifer were pretty cool too, and while sometimes I found Howl annoying I did like him.

Writing: Really good.

Ending: Tied everything up nicely.

Kid friendly? Very!

Overall:

I put this one down a LOT.

Yep, sorry Sophie, your story just didn't hold my interest and adoration like I wanted it to, but I have mad respect for you and your author. And if I ever grow to like fantasy, I'll totally give you another try.

Other Review

Author: Karen Kincy
Release date: September 1, 2010
Publisher: Flux
Most Appropriate for Ages: 14+
Where I Got It: For review from publisher

Gwen Williams has been hiding a strange and fantastic secret: she's a shapeshifter. Although society may tolerate vampires, centaurs, and "Others" like Gwen, there are plenty of folks in her small Washington town who don't care for her kind.

When a new werewolf pack moves into the area, tensions rise—and Others start showing up dead, including someone close to Gwen. Despite the methodical murders, the police are ignoring evidence that suggests a serial killer. In the midst of terrible loss and danger, Gwen—along with a mysterious and sexy guy who happens to be a Japanese fox spirit—risks her life to find the murderer. But Gwen is already the killer's next target .

There are aspects I loved about Other, and aspects I really disliked. Needless to say, I had very mixed feelings on it, so this review should be...interesting.

About 50 pages in, I was loving Other because of two small yet HUGE things.

1. This was a paranormal WITH AN ORIGINAL PREMISE.

2. The main character was HOMESCHOOLED.

I was pretty much sold.

Unfortunately, it began to go a bit downhill from there.

Parts of this book were just kind of...awkward. Maybe it was the way they were written or the scenes or the characters, I'm not sure, but some things just didn't feel right at all.

Also, I did not fall for Tavian, Gwen's rebound boy (that she rebounded with WAY too quickly), like I was supposed to. He was nice and all but I'm not going to name my electronics after him or anything. None of the side characters were very remarkable, actually. Luckily the main character was. Gwen calls herself "snarky" and everyone who encounters her comments on her "snark" a couple of times, and despite how sick I was of the word by the end of the book, they had a point. Gwen is sarcastic and strong and pretty funny--I refuse to say snarky-- and as I character I really liked her, even if she could be a bit whiny.

Other had an original and interesting premise that even stood for something outside of the novel, I think, but overall some things just didn't click for me, sadly. I'm not sure if I'll be reading the sequel, Bloodborn...

Plot: Unique but prone to lagging,

Characters: I liked Gwen, but that was it.

Writing: Very simple and easy to read.

Ending: Predictable but decent.

Kid Friendly? Eh. There's a sex scene and some language.

Should I read it? If you're a fan of paranormal/fantasy with a touch of mystery, give it a go. If you're not then I'd skip it.

Overall:

Aurelia Review

Author: Anne Osterlund
Release Date: April 17, 2008
Pages: 246 (Paperback)
Publisher: Puffin
Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: From library

An impressive debut, equal parts commercial appeal and literary prowess. 

Princess Aurelia is next in line to rule the kingdom of Tyralt, but she would rather be one of the common folk, free to learn and roam and . . . not marry the next tyrannical prince that comes courting. Naturally, the king wants Aurelia to marry for political power. Aurelia wants to marry for love. And someone in the kingdom wants her . . . dead. Assigned to investigate and protect Aurelia is Robert, the son of the king's former royal spy and one of Aurelia's oldest friends. As Aurelia and Robert slowly uncover clues as to who is threatening her, their friendship turns to romance. With everything possible on the line, her life, her kingdom, her heart, Aurelia is forced to take matters into her own hands, no matter the cost.

It took me a while to get through Aurelia, but when I did I was pretty happy with it overall. So no it didn't wow me, I was able to find quite a few things to enjoy in my first Osterlund book.

I'll start with my main negative about Aurelia: the pacing was very slow, but it didn't help that it was far out of my normal genre. It just seemed like not a lot happened to me. And when things did happen, I saw them coming pretty early on.

My main positives about the novel would be its winning main character, Aurelia. Aurelia is trying to avoid all of her old and grody suitors, and torn between seeing the world and waiting to rule her beloved kingdom, Tyralt. And you never get to know Robert quite as well as you do Aurelia (though the story's told from both their perspectives) I still enjoyed his character a lot.

While I thought the story could've developed more smoothly and quickly, I enjoyed Aurelia overall. I'll be interested in reading the sequel to see on what other adventures Osterlund can take these great characters.

Plot: Kinda slow-moving and under-developed.

Characters: I was sad that there weren't really any side characters, I really liked the main characters.

Writing: Very good!

Ending: Predictable, but should make for an interesting sequel.

Kind Friendly? There may have been a tad of swearing, as well as a little violence, but that's it.

Should I read it? If it sounds good to you, give it a go.

Overall:

 

The Unwanteds Review

Author: Lisa McMann
Release Date: August 30th 2011
Pages: 390 (ARC)
Publisher: Aladdin
Most Appropriate For Ages: 8+
Where I Got It: For review from publisher

Every year in Quill, thirteen-year-olds are sorted into categories: the strong, intelligent Wanteds go to university, and the artistic Unwanteds are sent to their deaths.

Thirteen-year-old Alex tries his hardest to be stoic when his fate is announced as Unwanted, even while leaving behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted. Upon arrival at the destination where he expected to be eliminated, however, Alex discovers a stunning secret—behind the mirage of the "death farm" there is instead a place called Artime.
In Artime, each child is taught to cultivate their creative abilities and learn how to use them magically, weaving spells through paintbrushes and musical instruments. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it's a wondrous transformation.

But it's a rare, unique occurence for twins to be separated between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron's bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artime that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate, magical battle.

I'm a huge McMann fan, so even though I knew it wasn't fair to compare The Unwanteds (a middle grade fantasy) to her previous works (edgy teen thrillers), I couldn't help it. And while I enjoyed The Unwanteds much more than I normally would a middle grade fantasy, it was probably my least favorite of McMann's books to date.

If you're not a fan of McMann's writing, then have no fear, cause she's changed it up for The Unwanteds. While I was hesitant about it at first, I soon found that it was an incredibly smart decision. Like the best fantasy writers, McMann's writing draws you in and keeps you enchanted throughout the book.

Another thing I loved about this book was the world. I found myself unable to put the book down mostly because I wanted more glimpses of her unique, intriguing world.

The thing that really disappointed me about The Unwanteds was it's characters. Though I didn't dislike any of them (even if Alex could get pretty whiny), I never connected to them like I really wanted to. I hate feeling indifferent about characters, and sadly that seems to be what happened this time.

But even with my problems connecting to the characters, I still read this book quickly and definitely enjoyed it. I'd highly recommend this to young, reluctant readers, especially those who've expressed interest in stories similar to Harry Potter.

Book Report:

Plot: Original and fast-paced.

Characters: Eh...

Writing: Flowed really well!

Ending: Wrapped things up nicely, but can I still hope for a sequel?

Kid friendly? Yes, it's safe for all ages.

Should I read it? If it sounds like you'd enjoy it, give it a go.

Overall:

The False Princess Review

Author: Eilis O'Neal
Release Date: January 25, 2011
Pages: 328 (E-ARC)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Most Appropriate For Ages: 10+
Where I Got It: For review from publisher
Challenges: Debut Author 2011

Princess and heir to the throne of Thorvaldor, Nalia's led a privileged life at court.  But everything changes when it's revealed, just after her sixteenth birthday, that she is a false princess, a stand-in for the real Nalia, who has been hidden away for her protection.  Cast out with little more than the clothes on her back, the girl now called Sinda must leave behind the city of Vivaskari, her best friend, Keirnan, and the only life she's ever known.

Sinda is sent to live with her only surviving relative, an aunt who is a dyer in a distant village. She is a cold, scornful woman with little patience for her newfound niece, and Sinda proves inept at even the simplest tasks.  But when Sinda discovers that magic runs through her veins - long-suppressed, dangerous magic that she must learn to control - she realizes that she can never learn to be a simple village girl.

I'm weird about fantasies. They usually don't hold my interest very well and are usually just 3-star reads for me. Thankfully, this wasn't the case with The False Princess.

Another problem I usually have with fantasies are the bland characters, but again this wasn't the case with this novel. Sinda was a pretty awesome main character overall, though at times I found her to be too a little stubborn and naive. And Kiernan? Kiernan! *tackle hug* He was a brilliant side character. I quite liked all of the characters, actually. Save for the ones you weren't supposed to like, naturally.

Eilis O'Neal has crafted what I would deem a winner. While I occasionally found the plot a little unbelievable even for a fantasy, I still found a lot of enjoyment in this debut novel. The False Princess could very well be the best fantasy I read this year, so if you're a fan of the genre, I highly suggest you pick this one up.

Plot: A bit unbelievable, but fast-paced.

Characters: Really nice.

Writing:Very good.

Ending: Perfect!

Kid friendly? Completely.

Overall:

Tour: Nightspell Review

Author: Leah Cypess
Release Date: May 31, 2011
Pages: 336 (HC)
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: For review from Teen Book Scene

Here be ghosts, the maps said, and that was all.

In this haunted kingdom, ghosts linger—not just in the deepest forests or the darkest caverns, but alongside the living, as part of a twisted palace court that revels all night and sleeps through the daylight hours.

Darri's sister was trapped in this place of fear and shadows as a child. And now Darri has a chance to save her sister . . . if she agrees to a betrothal with the prince of the dead. But nothing is simple in this eerie kingdom—not her sister, who has changed beyond recognition; not her plan, which will be thrown off track almost at once; and not the undead prince, who seems more alive than anyone else.

Strong is the first word that comes to mind when I think of Nightspell. It was full of strong characters, strong writing, and very strong world-building,.

Though despite the characters strength--which was nice and kind of admirable--I never fully connected to them. Maybe it was the style of writing or something, but I felt more like the characters in this book were my cool acquaintances rather than my BFFs, you know?

I loved the setting so much. It was well thought-out, well executed, and unlike any other world I've read about. The idea that ghosts walked around and were full members of society was just so cool to me.

The pacing was kind of slow towards the beginning, but I still found it hard to put down thanks to the killer plot. If a book has action, sibling issues, and a dash of politics, then why would you put it down? We both know the answer.

When I read Cypess's debut last year, Mistwood, the ending was definitely my least favorite part of it. In my Mistwood review I claimed that, "The way that Isabel's past was explained just sort of popped up and left me confused and wanting to go into more detail about it." Luckily, I didn't have this problem with Nightspell's ending. It built up to it wonderfully to the ending and didn't leave me confused at all.

So despite some minor flaws, Leah Cypess has proved again to me that she's an author to keep an eye on, especially if you're a fan of fantasy.

Plot: Awesome, though it could be a bit quicker.

Characters: Strong, but hard to connect to.

Writing: Very good.

Ending: Very well done.

Kind Friendly? Yeah, definitely. There was some death, but other than that....

Overall:

Hunger Review

Author: Jackie Morse Kessler
Release Date: October 18, 2010
Pages: 184 (e-galley)
Publisher: Graphia
Most Appropriate For Ages: 14+
Where I Got It: For review from Netgalley

"Thou art the Black Rider. Go thee out unto the world."

Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

     

Traveling the world on her steed gives Lisa freedom from her troubles at home—her constant battle with hunger, and her struggle to hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her to go places where hunger is a painful part of everyday life, and to face the horrifying effects of her phenomenal power. Can Lisa find a way to harness that power—and the courage to fight her own inner demons? 

A wildly original approach to the issue of eating disorders, Hunger is about the struggle to find balance in a world of extremes, and uses fantastic tropes to explore a difficult topic that touches the lives of many teens.

 Hunger was an original take on eating disorders that quickly grabbed me until the end.

I think that every teenage girl has a "Thin voice". You know, the small voice in the back of your head that's always pointing out the worst in you. Your nose is too big. You're too short. You're so fat. Lisabeth Lewis (or Lisa, as she's commonly called) has not only let the Thin voice control her diet, but her life. She's pushing away her friends and loved ones due to her depression and extreme issues with food. And because Lisa's so lost to anorexia, we don't really get to know her that well, but Kessler shows just enough glimpses of who she was before her anorexia that we can see how much it's taken her over. It's honest and terrifying.

The Horsemen definitely added a new twist to the average anorexia story. However, I would've liked some more background about the Horsemen. I don't know much about them, and I sometimes found myself confused when it came to them.

Despite it's small size, Hunger is raw and real. I liked it a lot, and think it will resonate with everyone in one way or another. Bring on the sequel.

Book Report:

Plot: Unique and grabbing.

Characters: Likable, but we don't get to see too much of them. And I loved Death.

Writing: Impressive.

Ending: Done really well.

Kid friendly? Well--obviously--there's lots of talk about eating disorders, but I think this one is pretty safe.

Should I read it? Yeah, you should.

Overall:

  
Other reviews:
Wondrous Reads
Steph Su Reads
The Book Smugglers

Good Books and Good Wine

Kat, Incorrigible Review

Author: Stephanie Burgis
Release Date: April 5, 2011
Pages: 262 (ARC)
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Most Appropriate For Ages: 9+
Where I Got It: For review from Galley Grab
Challenges: Debut Author 2011 Challenge


Katherine Ann Stephenson has just discovered that she's inherited her mother's magical talents, and despite Stepmama's stern objections, she's determined to learn how to use them. But with her eldest sister Elissa's intended fiancÉ, the sinister Sir Neville, showing a dangerous interest in Kat's magical potential; her other sister, Angeline, wreaking romantic havoc with her own witchcraft; and a highwayman lurking in the forest, even Kat's reckless heroism will be tested to the upmost. If she can learn to control her new powers, will Kat be able to rescue her family and win her sisters their true love? 

Kat, Incorrigible--or A Most Improper Magick as it's known in the UK--is mysterious, humorous, and always a good time.

Kat is the kind of brave heroine that every girl dreams of being. She pretty much made the book. She's adventurous, brave, clever, funny, and just plain awesome. She's exactly the kind of protagonist middle grade readers need to be exposed to.

Actually, each of the characters were really well-written. From her sisters to their love interests and even their stepmother. While none of them are layered and complicated, we know them very well by the end of the book and begin to feel like they're our family as well as Kat's. (Also--and maybe this is just cause I've been watching tons of Buffy lately but--Mr Gregson reminded me a lot of Giles from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. So, naturally, I liked his character a lot.) The characters we didn't really see are Charles, Kat's oldest and only brother, and her father. Hopefully we'll see more of them in the sequel.

The plot wonderfully combined magic, humor, mystery, and family values. While I wasn't quite glued to the pages until the end, the plot did keep me engaged well enough. This makes me think that this isn't quite the perfect book for reluctant middle grade readers, but avid readers will enjoy it a lot.

I don't usually love middle grade books, but I found Kat, Incorrigible to be really cute and charming. I think anyone from age 9 to 90 will find something about it to find entertainment in, cause I sure did.

Book Report:

Plot: Well-paced and fun.

Characters: Kat is a wonderful main character, and the side characters are a blast.

Writing: Very good.

Ending: Wrapped everything up well, but I'm thinking there'll be a sequel--yay!

Kid friendly? Very.

Should I read it? Yes, especially if you're a fan of middle grade, magic, and Jane Austen-type books.

Overall:

 

Tour: Trickster's Girl Review

Author: Hilari Bell
Release Date: January 3, 2011
Pages: 289 (E-book)
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: For review from Netgalley

In the year 2098 America isn't so different from the USA of today. But, in a post-9/11 security-obssessed world, "secured" doesn't just refer to borders between countries, it also refer to borders between states. Teenagers still think they know everything, but there is no cure for cancer, as Kelsa knows first-hand from watching her father die.

The night Kelsa buries her father, a boy appears. He claims magic is responsible for the health of Earth, but  human damage disrupts its flow. The planet is dying. Kelsa has the power to reverse the damage, but first she must accept that magic exists and see beyond her own pain in order to heal the planet.

Sadly, I felt kind of indifferent about Trickster's Girl.

It started out pretty strongly, and I liked the environmental message a lot. Sadly, though, I became bored a little more than halfway through and from there I just didn't really care that much anymore

But I didn't really not like it, either. As I said, I felt almost indifferent towards it. The characters were decent. That's it. Decent. I was intrigued by Raven, Kelsa's magical mentor, and I would've liked to get to know him better than we did. He could've been so much more than he was, I thought.

So, I guess those are pretty much my only thoughts. This review sounds kind of mean, but like I said, I didn't not like Trickster's Girl. I just I wish I'd enjoyed Trickster's Girl more, but instead it was just an average, OK read for me.

Book Report:

Plot: Not too bad. Slow moving occasionally.

Characters: Average.

Writing: Decent enough.

Ending: Rather anti-climactic, I thought, but not bad.

Kid friendly? There are a few swears, but nothing too extreme. This one's pretty safe.

Should I read it? Yeah, sure, go for it.

Overall:

The Glass Maker's Daughter Review

Author: V. Briceland
Release Date: April 8, 2009
Pages: 320 (PB)
Publisher: Flux
Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: For review from publisher

Magic lies at the heart of Cassaforte, medieval city of bewitchments and intrigue. Cassaforte is home to sixteen-year-old Risa Divetri, whose fate is about to be decided by the gods.

Risa has led the sheltered life of a nobleman's daughter, but soon she plans to leave home to study the family craft-creating enchanted glass objects. When the gods are consulted to determine which school she will attend, the impossible happens: Risa remains unchosen. The rejection sends Risa into a spiral of shame, anger, and confusion. If she's not meant to be a glass maker, what will she do?

But when Cassaforte's age-old magic begins to unravel and dark forces threaten the kingdom, Risa's fiery spirit and untapped powers take her on a perilous journey—one that will lead her to her true destiny.

The Glassmaker's Daughter was a delightful fantasy adventure that is never low on thrills.

I will admit that the first few chapters confused me. There's a lot of terms that are used that I wasn't familiar with at all, and there wasn't an index, so you're left to just figure it out on your own. Luckily after a while I learned them.

After that, I thoroughly enjoyed the unique story that blends story elements like growing up, magic, friendship, challenges, and even a little romance effortlessly. For some reason I always seem to be afraid that fantasies will be really slow and drawn out, but that definitely wasn't the case with The Glassmaker's Daughter. Within the first couple of chapters our main character is already making new friends and throwing herself in dangerous situations to save strangers.

As for Risa, I definitely enjoyed her character. Though she could definitely have some self-confidence issues, she proved herself to be a brave heroin that I could enjoy reading about. But I wouldn't say that she was my favorite character. That spot can only be filled by Milo, the city guard that Risa befriends despite her much higher social status (which, by the way, ignoring the social rules? That scored Rise major brownie points from me).

The Glassmaker's Daughter left me grinning at my overall enjoyment of the novel, and because the ending was very sweet and satisfying. I can honestly say that I'm excited to dive into the sequel, The Buccaneer's Apprentice. This one is worth picking up.

Book Report:

Plot: Well paced and exciting.

Characters: They were each so colorful and fun.

Writing: Very pretty. Impressive.

Ending: Perfect.

Kid friendly? Very. I think there was a swear word or two, but that's it.

Should I read it? Yeah, give it a try.

Overall:

Guardian of the Dead Review

Author: Karen Healey

Release Date: April 1, 2010

Pages: 352 (ARC)

Publisher: Little, Brown Books For Young Readers

Most Appropriate For Ages: 14+
Where I Got It: Around The World Tours

In less than a day I had been harassed, enchanted, shouted at, cried on, and clawed. I’d been cold, scared, dirty, exhausted, hungry, and miserable. And up until now, I’d been mildly impressed with my ability to cope.

At her boarding school in New Zealand, Ellie Spencer is like any ordinary teen: she hangs out with her best friend, Kevin; obsesses over her crush on a mysterious boy; and her biggest worry is her paper deadline. Then everything changes: In the foggy woods near the school, something ancient and deadly is waiting.

Karen Healey introduces a savvy and spirited heroine with a strong, fresh voice. Full of deliciously creepy details, this adventure is a deftly crafted story of Māori mythology, romance, betrayal, and war.

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I had my share of issues with Guardian of the Dead, but it was enjoyable.

I really enjoyed the Maori mythology behind the story. I hadn't heard much about it at all, but it was definitely my favorite aspect of the book. The plot is very fast-paced and action packed once you get past the first 100 pages, and even then the mystery and great characters will keep you flipping pages. Sadly, it just seemed to lack...something. I'm not even really sure what it was, honestly, which may seem unfair, but that's just my opinion.

I loved Ellie, the main character. She had some martial arts training, so she wasn't completely defenseless in the midst of all of the action, and at one point she was literally beating the truth out of someone. That was COOL. She also isn't twiggy like most of the female protagonists that I've read about, and she's got a certain attitude that female protagonists lack. Mark, Ellie's love interest was...OK. He...OK, I'll tell you my real problem with him: he cried way too much. The book takes place within the span of a few days, and Mark cried three times. The second time he cried was understandable, but the other times were really random and just made him look like a wimp. I clearly like stronger guys. Other than that, he just wasn't nearly as swoon-worthy as the author tried to make him. This also really hurt his and Elli's romance for me. All of the side characters were really interesting and pretty fun to read about.

The writing was good, and it was written in a way that didn't go over my head. Karen Healey and her witty storytelling will be welcome in the YA world.

Overall, a decent book with some great mythology and a spirited heroine and a wimpy love interest. I think this is a stand-alone novel, but if there was a sequel I'd read it. I'd recommend it.

How kid friendly is it? I think this is targeted towards the slightly more mature reader. There are mentions of sex as well as rape, though never in detail. There's also language and a small amount of violence.

Going Bovine Review

Author: Libba Bray

Release Date: September 22, 2009

Pages: 380

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Most Appropriate For Ages: 14+
Where I Got It: For review

Can Cameron find what he’s looking for? All 16-year-old Cameron wants is to get through high school—and life in general—with a minimum of effort. It’s not a lot to ask. But that’s before he’s given some bad news: he’s sick and he’s going to die. Which totally sucks. Hope arrives in the winged form of Dulcie, a loopy punk angel/possible hallucination with a bad sugar habit. She tells Cam there is a cure—if he’s willing to go in search of it. With the help of a death-obsessed, video-gaming dwarf and a yard gnome, Cam sets off on the mother of all road trips through a twisted America into the heart of what matters most.
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You know that a book is going to be funny when you begin laughing somewhere in the first six pages. Going Bovine was definitely that type of book.

The plot was original, hilarious, and weird. It did seem to slow down a lot at some points, though. It was mostly a realistic fiction, but it definitely had a good amount of fantasy elements thrown in. Due to Cameron's mad cow disease, you're never really sure what's real, and what isn't. But as long as you don't dwell on that, I think you'll probably enjoying Going Bovine.

You meet a lot of characters throughout Going Bovine, each one unique and interesting. The main characters all grow a lot. Cameron starts out selfish, boring, and friend-less, and those are three terms that couldn't describe him by the end of his epic journey. My favorite character was definitely Balder, the yard gnome/viking god. He was hilarious! And Dulcie was great too. The book was full of awesome characters.

The writing was, you know, it was Libba Bray's writing. Brilliant, beautiful, and amazing. She tells a great story and is a great writer.

The ending didn't live up to my expectations that the book had set. It ended very abruptly and didn't satisfy me. Overall, though, a good read. Definitely one to check out!

Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter Review

Author: R.J. Anderson

Release Date: April 28, 2009

Pages: 328

Publisher: HarperCollins

Most Appropriate For Ages: 10+
Where I Got It: Won from Fantastic Book Review

Forget everything you think you know about faeries. . . . Creatures full of magic and whimsy? Not in the Oakenwyld. Not anymore. Deep inside the great Oak lies a dying faery realm, bursting with secrets instead of magic. Long ago the faeries mysteriously lost their magic. Robbed of their powers, they have become selfish and dull-witted. Now their numbers are dwindling and their very survival is at stake. Only one young faery—Knife—is determined to find out where her people's magic has gone and try to get it back. Unlike her sisters, Knife is fierce and independent. She's not afraid of anything—not the vicious crows, the strict Faery Queen, or the fascinating humans living nearby. But when Knife disobeys the Faery Queen and befriends a human named Paul, her quest becomes more dangerous than she realizes. Can Knife trust Paul to help, or has she brought the faeries even closer to the brink of destruction? Talented newcomer R. J. Anderson creates an extraordinary new fantasy world and weaves a gripping tale of lost magic, high adventure, and surprising friendship in which the fate of an entire realm rests on the shoulders of one brave faery rebel.
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Faery Rebels was a delightful tale that kept me up late flipping pages furiously because I couldn't put it down.

The plot is simple, yet original. It was low on action, but I never saw the twists coming, and it kept me guessing until the very end. It was amazing to watch Knife build friendships, get herself into very unappealing situations, and rebel against the rules of her Oak. I didn't really get hooked until the ending, though.

Knife was a great character. She was logical, smart, overly curious, and a fighter til the very end. Paul might have been my favorite character though. Knife finds him recently handicapped and depressed, but he grows so much in such a short time. And then there's the rest of Knife's faery friends-Thorn, Valerian, Wink, and Campion. Each one has their own quirks and no two are alike.

R.J. Anderson's writing was beautiful. It just flowed so perfectly, and she describes the faery Oak with such ease it's almost like she's been there herself.

The ending was just...wow. I hadn't realized that I had connected with the characters as much as I had, and it was almost like someone had punched me in the gut. Things wrapped up so well, though. Overall, this was a pretty book that I'd recommend to faery fans that don't need an action-driven plot and can just enjoy a good story.


This is one of the books being offered in my 200 Follower Shin-Dig! Go here to enter to win it.

Vampire Game Vol. 1 Review

Author: Judai

Release Date: January 13, 2009

Pages: 200 (Even though I thought it was a few more...)(Paperback)

Publisher: Tokyopop

Most Appropriate For Ages: 13+

In an epic battle, King Phelios defeats the Vampire King Duzell, but both monarchs are mortally wounded. As the two lay dying, Duzell prophesies that the two will meet again after their death, and vows that he will be triumphant. At least half the prophesy is proven true when Duzell is resurrected 100 years later, as a baby wildcat who is rescued and adopted by Ishtar, who just happens to be the great-granddaughter of his nemesis, King Phelios. Ishtar is a playful girl with an iron will and a penchant for pranks, a trait that distresses her caretaker, Sir Keld, and the dashing, but often bumbling, imperial guard, Captain Darres. Ishtar is not, however, the reincarnation of Phelios, leaving the now feline Duzell to continue his quest for revenge...with the surprisingly cooperative Ishtar as his companion!
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Vampire Game was something that my sister had, and it was the only thing for me to read after I'd finished The Dust of 100 Dogs, but it was better than I'd originally thought it would be!

The plot is somewhat juvenile- I mean, come on, a cat and a princess? And, it was too low on action for my manga tastes. But, other than that it wasn't bad. Definitely original.

The characters were really good! The main character, Ishtar, was pretty much a rude brat. Yet, I still loved her! Duzell provided some good laughs with his sarcastic comments that made me love him too. We didn't hear much from her body guard, Darres, who's past I'm anxious to find out since it really didn't go into much detail about his past in the first volume.

The animation, kinda like the plot line, was juvenile. I'm hoping it evolves throughout the series, because it didn't impress me very much. The dialogue wasn't too bad, though.

I didn't think I would care about the sequel until the ending of volume one, which was a nice little cliffhanger. Overall, this wasn't exactly my type of manga, but I enjoyed it. Definitely one for comedy and fantasy manga fans.

Prophecy of the Sisters Review

Release Date: August 1, 2009
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Age Group: 12+
Pages: 343 (Hardcover)

An ancient prophecy divides two sisters-

One good...

One evil...

Who will prevail?

Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents' deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets.

Lia and Alice don't know whom they can trust.

They just know they can't trust each other.
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It took me longer than I would've expected-longer than I've hoped-to get into this book. A dangerous prophecy sounds really engrossing, but it seemed to me like it dragged on quite a bit.

Once the plot actually got going, it was pretty good. But it took it kind of long to get to that point. I know this is the first book in what's supposed to be a series, but it did take some wading through on my part. I'm definitely glad I read it, don't get me wrong. It was a unique, dark, tale of the choices we have to make-and just a good fantasy.

The characters were pretty good. I didn't have one that I didn't like-save for Alice. She was deceptive and just all together evil. Lia was a well put together protagonist, and her friends Sonia and Luisa were very likable. My favorite may be Madame Berrier, who plays a big part in the story in a short amount of time.

The writing was there, definitely. Very dark, descriptive and perfect for the vibe of the book. We should be expecting good, if not great, things from author Michelle Zink.

All in all, not bad. A well though out, original story...once I got into it. I would recommend it, and will be reading the sequel.
(It was bordering on 3 1/2 and 4.)

If you liked A Great And Terrible Beauty, you may like this.


And, on a completely non-prophecy related note, I have 50 followers! Yay! Thanks guys, you rock.