Hawksong Review

Release Date: September 2004
Publisher: Perfection Learning
Age Group: 12+
Pages: 243 (Hardcover)

DANICA SHARDAE IS an avian shapeshifter, and the golden hawk’s form in which she takes to the sky is as natural to her as the human one that graces her on land. The only thing more familiar to her is war: It has raged between her people and the serpiente for so long, no one can remember how the fighting began. As heir to the avian throne, she’ll do anything in her power to stop this war—even accept Zane Cobriana, the terrifying leader of her kind’s greatest enemy, as her pair bond and make the two royal families one. Trust. It is all Zane asks of Danica—and all they ask of their people—but it may be more than she can give. A School Library Journal Best Books of the Year A VOYA Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror List selection From the Hardcover edition.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hawksong...hmm.... What should I say about Hawksong...?

I think I know why it took me so long to read it and why it was so easy to put it down: no suspense. There was no mystery to keep me guessing, or villain for me to hate. And there was a weird romance going on that wasn't quite a romance going on between Danica and Zane. Now, both of these facts change in the last 60 or so pages, but it wasn't until then that I really got into the book.

I didn't seem to relate to Danica. She was supposed to have a composure on the outside-which I get-but she didn't have much emotion in her narration. I liked Zane a lot, though. Other than that, I didn't really love any of the characters.

The writing was great, but I always rave about Amelia Atwater-Rhodes' writing. I did feel like she lost some of her storytelling ability in Hawksong, though.

Was Hawksong worth the read? Sure. Would I recommend it? With my opinion, but yeah. Since I liked the ending so much, I'll be reading the second one. It wasn't as good as I'd hoped it would be, though.

Shattered Mirror Review

Release Date: July 8, 2003
Publisher: Laurel Leaf
Age Group: 12+
Pages: 221 (Paperback)
Other Titles In Series: In The Forests on the Night, Demon in my View (You should read them in order.)

To the casual observer, Christopher Ravena and Sarah Vida look like normal high school students. But he’s a vampire who has sworn off human blood, and she’s a witch, a daughter of the most powerful vampire-hunting dynasty in history. Slowly, without meaning to, Sarah finds herself won over by his sensitivity, his gentleness, his kindness. But his past and her future collide when they both get tangled up with Nikolas, one of the most reviled vampires ever.
-------------------------------------------------------

I think I liked Demon In My View more, but this was still a really good addition to the Den of Shadows series.

The plot was very original, and executed well. There was lots of action, and the Sarah's journey was very well documented. Even so, I didn't have much trouble putting it down, although there were parts where I couldn't.

I think part of the reason it was semi-easy to put down was that I didn't love any of the characters. Sarah, Christopher, Nissa, and Nikolas, were all OK. Sarah was probably my favorite; she had awesome fighting skills, wasn't whiny, and let her emotions guide her through the whole book.

What can I saw about Amelia Atwater-Rhodes? She is one of my favorite authors. All of her books that I've read (which, right now, has only been the first 3 in the Den of Shadows series) have been very well-written, well thought out, and very quick reads. And, of course, Shattered Mirror was no exception.

So, although Demon in my View is still my favorite out of the series, Shattered Mirror was still a pretty darn good read, and quick. If you're looking for a new, relatively unknown, well-written vampire and vampire hunter book, pick up Shattered Mirror. And the rest of the 90s, gothic Den of Shadows series.

Demon In My View Review

Release Date: May 9, 2000
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 176
Other Books In Series: In The Forests Of The Night

Though nobody at her high school knows it, Jessica is a published author. Her vampire novel, Tiger, Tiger, has just come out under the pen name Ash Night. Now two new students have just arrived in Ramsa, and both want Jessica’s attention. She has no patience with overly friendly Caryn, but she’s instantly drawn to Alex, a self-assured, mysterious boy who seems surprisingly familiar. If Jessica didn’t know better, she’d think Aubrey, the alluring villain from her novel had just sprung to life. That’s impossible, of course; Aubrey is a figment of her imagination. Or is he?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have one big complaint about this book: it should be longer.

I enjoyed In The Forests Of The Night, but I definitely liked this one better. The plot instantly grabbed my attention, making me not want to put it down. I probably would've read it in one sitting if I didn't have to take care of my mom. All of that, and the fact that it's a small book, made it an easy day read.

Aubrey, who I hated in the last book, easily became a great character. Jessica was also an awesome character (and not because we have the same first name, but that was cool). I really didn't hate any of the characters, except for the villain, Fala.

The fact that Amelia Atwater-Rhodes was only 16 when she wrote this (and 13 when she wrote In The Forests Of The Night) amazes me. The story didn't leave any loose ends, and the writing was great, as expected.

I'd recommend this book/series quickly! I cannot wait for the next book, Shattered Mirror. Hopefully, there'll be more of the characters that I have easily fallen in love with.