Review: Rise by Amanda Sun

Title: Rise 
Author: Amanda Sun
Source/Format: freebie, iBooks ebook edition
More Details: YA, Fantasy
Publisher/Publication Date: Harlequin Teen, May 1, 2015

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

A long, long time ago, before the world was as we know it, Izanami and Izanagi came into being. Two of the first of the ancient gods of Japan, they crafted the world from ink and their own imaginations. Izanagi wants, more than anything, to be with Izanami—but one moment of pride could tear them apart forever. Yuki and Tanaka have been friends for as long as they can remember, but lately deeper feelings have been bubbling beneath the surface. How do they navigate the transition from friendship to true love without destroying the powerful bond between them? Set a millennia apart, can these two couples, living parallel love stories, find their happily-ever-afters?

I really enjoyed Rise by Amanda Sun. It was a really quick read—it's a short story—and perfect to get me motivated again. Rise follows a few of the series well known characters—Yuki and Tanaka—intertwined with the story of Izanami and Izanagi. The writing was fantastic, and though I haven’t kept up with this series lately, I’m looking forward to getting back into it. I really can’t say much, and I don’t want to unintentionally spoil some of the details for those who haven’t read it. So all I can say is that I enjoyed reading from both perspectives in the different time periods, and I recommend Rise to those who are familiar with this series.

Review: Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science and the World by Rachel Swaby

Title: Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science-and the World
Author: Rachel Swaby
Source/Format: Blogging For Books, Paperback
More Details: Nonfiction, Science
Publisher/Publication Date: Broadway Books, April 7, 2015

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Summary from Goodreads...

In 2013, the New York Times published an obituary for Yvonne Brill. It began: “She made a mean beef stroganoff, followed her husband from job to job, and took eight years off from work to raise three children.” It wasn’t until the second paragraph that readers discovered why the Times had devoted several hundred words to her life: Brill was a brilliant rocket scientist who invented a propulsion system to keep communications satellites in orbit, and had recently been awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. Among the questions the obituary—and consequent outcry—prompted were, Who are the role models for today’s female scientists, and where can we find the stories that cast them in their true light? Headstrong delivers a powerful, global, and engaging response. Covering Nobel Prize winners and major innovators, as well as lesser-known but hugely significant scientists who influence our every day...

When I first saw this book available for review I was more than excited for it. I previously knew about a few prominent female figures like Sally Ride, and I was looking to expand my knowledge. I wanted to know more about the accomplishment of women in the scientific field.

Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science and the World by Rachel Swaby offers a brief look at 52 woman who changed the fields they worked in—offering summaries of their accomplishments and general facts about them. This book covered subjects from Medicine, to Genetics and Development.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, despite the fact that only a few pages were dedicated to each woman and her major accomplishments. Headstrong does a great job highlighting each person by offering facts about their upbringing and schooling, even some of the hardships they faced in their respective workplaces before—sometimes even after—achieving acclaim for important discoveries. It was everything from opposition coming directly from prominent colleges refusing to admit them, to their names being omitted from work they spent their life on.

My only real complaint is as I said above, that the profiles were a little short, and I would have liked to know more about each person. But overall, I really liked Headstrong, and I read the book in a few days. I definitely recommend picking it up if you’re looking for a way to get introduced to more female scientists beyond what you might already know.

Top 5 Favorite Profiles...

• Jeanne Villepreux-Power "the mother of aquariophily" (p.52).
• Rita Levi-Montalcini "In 1986, she and Cohen were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology for their work." (p.107).
• Rosalyn Sussman Yalow "Over the course of conducting their insulin research, Yalow and Berson measured the antibodies generated as a result of the hormone." (p.149).
• Yvonne Brill "Her electrothermal hydrazine thruster was still used in satellites when she died in 2013." (p.171).
• Florence Nightingale "Through observation and statistical analysis of census data, Nightingale designed a curriculum for nurses that would provide them with adequate training for the very first time." (p.187-188).

I received this copy of the book from Blogging for Books for this review, thank you!

Rachel Swaby is a freelance journalist. Her work has appeared in theRunner’s World, Wired, O, The Oprah Magazine, New Yorker.com, Afar, and others. She is a senior editor at Longshot magazine, the editor-in-chief of The Connective: Issue 1, a former research editor at Wired, and a past presenter at Pop-Up magazine. She lives in Brooklyn. Visit her website HERE

Review: John Shaw's Guide to Digital Nature Photography by John Shaw

Title: John Shaw's Guide to Digital Nature Photography 
Author: John Shaw
Source/Format: Blogging for Books, Paperback Review Copy
More Details: Nonfiction
Publisher/Publication Date: Amphoto Books, March 17, 2015

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Summary from Goodreads...

John Shaw is the author of seven previous photography books published by Amphoto: his authentic voice and trusted advice has helped photographers achieve impressive shots in the great outdoors for decades. In his first-ever book on digital photography, Shaw provides in-depth advice on everything from equipment and lenses, composition, and close-ups, to up-to-date information on software filtration and the histogram. In addition, he offers inspirational and frank insight that goes far beyond the nuts and bolts of photography, explaining that successful photos come from having a vision, practicing, and then acquiring the equipment needed to accomplish the intention. Easily digestible and useful for every type of photographer, John Shaw's Guide to Digital Nature Photographyis sure to be the new classic in the category...

John Shaw’s Guide to Digital Nature Photography was a very informative book, and I realized that I had a lot to learn. Thankfully I’m not doing any serious photography to where I immediately need everything mentioned—this book is still something I’m glad I found—and something I’m even more thrilled to have on my shelf. The first chapter alone offers a comprehensive look at photography gear—lenses, tripods, cameras, filters, file types and a few other things. And then the following chapters delve more into the best ways to use what you have to capture the best photo. So if you’re looking to get into photography, or just need to brush up on your skills, then I recommend checking this book out.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review, thank you!

John Shaw is one of the world's leading nature photographers and the author of many enduring bestselling books. His photographs are frequently featured in National Wildlife, Outdoor Photographer, Natural History, Sierra, and Audubon magazines, as well as in calendars, books, and advertisements. He lives in Colorado Springs.

Review: Hover by Melissa West

Title: Hover
Author: Melissa West
Source/Format: Purchased, Paperback
More Details: YA, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Publisher/Publication Date: Entangled Teen, August 13, 2013

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Summary from Goodreads...

On Earth, seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander was taught to never peek, but if she hopes to survive life on her new planet, Loge, her eyes must never shut. Because Zeus will do anything to save the Ancients from their dying planet, and he has a plan.

Thousands of humans crossed over to Loge after a poisonous neurotoxin released into Earth's atmosphere, nearly killing them. They sought refuge in hopes of finding a new life, but what they became were slaves, built to wage war against their home planet. That is, unless Ari and Jackson can stop them. But on Loge, nothing is as it seems...and no one can be trusted...

I don’t know if this is going to be a thing, but I have to say that the dystopian books that I’ve decided to read this year have been really good. Hover is a sequel to Gravity, which is a book I read a long time ago, so I was curious to see where the story was going. Some of the details I’ve forgotten about—but not too much to where I couldn’t get back into the story. I have to say that I really liked Hover.

Loge as a setting was interesting. The landscape was vastly different from what I remember of the setting from Gravity. The transition between the two books really highlights the differences between the two worlds, and it was easy to see where some of the characters got their motivation.

Ari Alexander’s life on Loge was immensely different from the one she lived on earth. I liked seeing how she dealt with the sudden changes. Jackson and Ari’s relationship was an aspect of the story that I really enjoyed. They worked well together, and I liked the dynamic of it. West did an excellent job conveying the emotional turmoil that they experienced the longer they were on Loge as Ari learned more about Jackson’s past. Every time Zeus would pop up I just…*glare.* Seriously, I didn’t like Zeus at all, he was manipulative, coldhearted, and it seemed like he ended up losing himself no matter if his original intentions were for the benefit of his people or not. Also, he was calculating…seriously, he was. But that was part of the suspense that surrounded the story—there was just no telling what Zeus was going to do next.

The plot, while slow at times, was nice. I’m not going to specify because I don’t want to reveal anything. But just know that I completely enjoyed Hover. And now, I’m curious to know how the trilogy ends.

ARC Review: Lucidity by Stephanie Thomas

Title: Lucidity

Author: Stephanie Thomas

Source/Format: Author, E-ARC

Age Range: YA

Publisher/Publication Date: February 7, 2015

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Summary from Goodreads...

Beatrice never thought she’d find herself in the middle of Aura, the city of her sworn enemy, the Dreamcatchers. Nor did she never think she’d abandon everything she’d ever known and everyone she’d ever loved to blindly follow Echo, the Dreamcatcher Prince. Gabe would never forgive her, if he lives, and nor will any of the Seers. Upon arriving, Beatrice is quickly thrown into the Dreamcatcher Queen’s self-serving plot to save Aura from a disastrous plague, and Bea’s anticipated return to the City is becoming less likely every day she is held captive and subjected to the epidemic. Full Summary Here

My history with dystopian books has been spotty to say the least—I liked some and I disliked even more—but thankfully, Lucidity by Stephanie Thomas is one that I actually liked! You have no idea how excited I am about that.

It’s been some time since I read Luminosity, the first book in the series, and it was kind of an average read for me. But I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the sequel. The writing had a good flow to it, and it was easy to get into the story. There were plenty of descriptions and I could easily visualize the setting and what was happening. I really enjoyed the concept of Seers and Dreamcatchers, and the conflict that surrounded them.

Things literally started where the last book ended, and I was glad to see what happened to the characters after the events of Luminosity. Beatrice was a little indecisive—sometimes she was sure about what she wanted, and at other times she seemed more conflicted. But actually, it kind of worked. Beatrice was raised to have certain beliefs and I could understand why she had a hard time straying from them.

The conflict in Lucidity was enough to keep me invested in the story—the ending wrapped things up nicely and I liked it. Overall, the plot was good and the pacing was nice. The world building was handled well and it was easy to understand the society that the characters had to live in. Who knows, maybe my enthusiasm for dystopian books has finally returned, but regardless I enjoyed this book.

This copy of the book was provided by the author for review, thank you!

Review: Words for Pictures by Brian Michael Bendis

Title:Words for Pictures: The Art and Business of Writing Comics and Graphic Novels 
Author: Brian Michael Bendis, Foreword by Joe Quesada
Source/Format: Blogging for Books, Review Copy
Age Range: anyone
Publisher/Publishing Date: Watson-Guptill, July 22, 2014

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Book Summary from Goodreads...

One of the most popular writers in modern comics, Brian Michael Bendis reveals the tools and techniques he and other top creators use to create some of the most popular comic book and graphic novel stories of all time.Words for Pictures shows readers the creative methods of a writer at the very top of his field. Full Summary Here

     Words for Pictures (The Art and Business of Writing Comics and Graphic Novels) by Brian Michael Bendis, is a great guide for tips on how to structure stories for comics. It also offers an insight into the business aspect of the comic industry, and offers easy guidelines to remember.

“He learned how to fail. This is the key to success” (p.xi).

     In the beginning, this book goes over type A and B artists to give an example. But it makes a strong point, and it was all within a few paragraphs. There’s always room for improvement, and I like how the information was presented. It states some very true points on criticism and how some could take it more personal than others.

“If you’re not falling, you’re not really trying hard enough. This book is about falling, and it’s about failing. Any book that offers to provide you with a road map to success in any given field ultimately is about failure" (p.xii).

     There’s a lot to learn in this book, and I like how Bendis handled the explanation on the topics. I especially like the examples given on pitch documents, story outlines, the pros and cons of using a full script, and “a marvel style situation.” The script examples were also nice.

“I don’t want you to write like me. I want you to write like you” (p.8).

     There was never a truer statement—and it applies to all forms of writing. The book stresses the idea of developing your own individual styles, but also offers handy explanations on what different people do when working in groups. So, in the end I enjoyed reading Words for Pictures, and I will definitely keep this book on hand as a reference.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for review, thank you!

Review: Foundations in Comic Book Art by John Paul Lowe

Title: Foundations in Comic Book Art: SCAD Creative Essentials(Click title for synopsis)
Author: John Paul Lowe
Source/Format: Publisher, Review Copy
Age Range: Um, this is an educational book
Publisher/ Publication Date: Watson-Guptill, August 12, 2014

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My Thoughts:

     Foundations in Comic Book Art by John Paul Lowe was an interesting book with plenty of tips and tricks to help artist working on developing their own technique. There were easy examples to follow with exercises to help with drawing straighter lines and so on. If you're just starting out with comic book art and don't really know much about the craft then I think this book would be a good beginners guide, as it goes over some basic techniques and essentials that you need. The book had great explanations on the proper use and cleaning of brushes and nibs as well as recommendations on paper types that work best with each drawing utensil. It also offers great explanations for what to do with ink when its dried out after being left open, working with thicker inks, as well as handy tips for creating certain effects such as splatter marks on a page—and how to judge if paint brushes are good or not. Lowe presents the information in an easy to understand manner, so I will definitely keep Foundations in Comic Book Art on my shelf for future reference.

I received this book from Blogging For Books for this review, thank you!

Review: Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger

Title: Curtsies & Conspiracies (Click title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Won, Hardback
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Novermber 5, 2013 Little Brown Books for Young Readers
My Thoughts:

Curtsies & Conspiracies (C&C) by Gail Carriger was an interesting read—one that I happened to enjoy considering the lack of enthusiasm I’ve had for reading lately.  I found the overall writing style and plot refreshing.  It was nice to see an alternative-history based book targeted at a YA audience.  I wasn't familiar with the characaters because I didn't read the first book prior to diving into C&C.  But, I didn’t have any trouble following along with Sophronia’s adventures.  As a main character, Sophronia was alright, and I liked seeing the relationships she developed with the people around her.  She had a habit of being a bit nosey, but she did it with good intentions.  There were a whole host of characters, but to avoid spoiling anything, I won’t go into them.  Now as for the school, well, it’s one I’d like to attend after all it is in a dirigible. Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing School was a creative take on the boarding school concept sometimes found in YA.  My only problem with C&C is that all the action, albeit brief as it was, happened at the very end of the book.  And at times, the pacing seemed to slow down.  But that didn’t hamper my overall enjoyment of the C&C.  To sum it up, I liked Curtsies & Conspiracies, and I’m even more curious now than ever to see how the whole series started. 

 

Check out the Trailer for the book below!

 

Review: Spartan Frost by Jennifer Estep

Title: Spartan Frost (Click title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Purchased/ itunes digital edition
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Kensington Publishing Corporation, June 25, 2013






My Thoughts:

     I’m glad that Jennifer Estep decided to do a Novella from Logan Quinn’s point of view, because I always wondered what was going on in his head.  Spartan Frost really showed how Logan was struggling with what happened at the end of Crimson Frost.  Out of everything he seemed to be struggling with his guilt over what happened to Gwen, the most.  The only thing about Spartan Frost is that it was more about Logan and not necessarily how he felt about Gwen.  Sure, we get small pieces of his emotions, as well as some insight into the things he liked about her, but otherwise it was focused primarily on him and his father.  Spartan Frost was a nice bridge to fill the gap between Crimson Frost and the upcoming release, Midnight Frost.  I’m not sure what’s going to happen next, but what I do know is that there will be plenty Reapers of Chaos showing up all over the place.

Early Movie Review: Now You See Me

Title: Now You See Me

Director: Louis Letterrier

Producer: Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Bobby Cohen

Written by: Boaz Yakin, Edward Ricourt

Rating: PG-13

Release Date: May 31, 2013

For more information about the movie visit the official site here

My Thoughts:

     My first thoughts about Now You See Me were:  What?  How?  Where the heck did that come from?  Oh, ok, I did not see that coming.  After the end of Now You See Me, I was left reeling from it, and feeling like the movie was one giant illusion meant to trick the audience into believing they’re seeing something they’re not—well, at the very least, that’s how I felt.  It really made me think about the plot as it progressed as new details emerged.  Now You See Me is the kind of movie I’d eventually buy when it comes out on DVD/Blu-Ray, just to see if there were any small details I missed the first time I’d seen it.

      The plot follows “The Four Horsemen,” a team of talented illusionist, who go up against an elite team of FBI agents, in a series of thrilling heists.  Jack Wilder, Henley Reeves, Merritt McKinney, and J. Daniel Atlas start off as separate performers, unable to work with one another.  Through a course of mysterious events, the four end up working as a team.  The Horsemen were really the world’s greatest illusionist in this movie, as time after time, they always managed to stay one step ahead of the agents who were closing in on them. 

     Now You See Me was truly different from the other movies coming out this year.  I mean, come on.  How many times are you going to get a movie about illusionist pulling off heists?  I was so sure it was someone else, but it wasn’t.  I can’t say much more without spoiling the plot, but the secrets, oh the secrets will leave you questioning what you saw throughout the movie.  The greatest trick of Now You See Me was the movie itself, and the hidden details within it.  The only issue I really had with the movie was that there was some inappropriate suggestive content at seemingly random parts of the movie, and instances of crude humor that could have just been left out.  Otherwise, it was a pretty good movie.

 

Thank you to Summit Entertainment for the advanced screening tickets!  Another thank you to Z90.3 for the awesome Now You See Me hat!

 

Check out the trailer below:

Review: Gravity by Melissa West

 Title: Gravity (Click title for Synopsis)

Source/Format: Purchased, Paperback
Age range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Entangled Teen, December 18, 2012

My Thoughts:

     Gravity put an interesting twist on the dystopian genre by integrating Aliens into the mix.  I liked that it wasn’t all about some great love story, and that it had an actual storyline to it.  However, I felt that some parts lacked a little detail, but that didn’t take away from the overall greatness of the plot.  I liked the general concept of Gravity, and the ending left me wanting to know what happens next.

     Ari Alexander is supposed to be the next Commander.  She’s trained for it all her life, and her father expects her to do it.  And then Jackson Locke steps into the picture—he tests Ari’s loyalty, and makes her feel things she wasn’t trained for.  He really throws a monkey-wrench into Ari’s normal routines.  I really liked seeing them interact with each other.  I did not like how Ari’s father made almost every important decision for her like who she had to get married to.  I just felt like he wasn’t really listening to what she had to say to him.  Gravity was pretty good, and I liked the story and can’t wait to see where it goes next, but I wish that it hadn’t been so short. 

 

 

Review: Poison by Bridget Zinn

Title:Poison (Click on title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Purchased, Hardcover
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Disney Hyperion, March 12, 2013



My thoughts:


     Poison by Bridget Zinn was honestly a lovely story about potions, a piglet, and what one would be willing to do to save their kingdom.  It was captivating, well written, and full of characters that were likable.  Zinn crafted a story with mystery, intrigue, as well as an adorable piglet.  I really liked Poison as a whole.  It was the kind of book that had a good flow to it—one that I would read a second time, and recommend to others.

     Kyra, a potion’s master, was a good main character with a strong will.  Despite her strong bonds with her friends, she was determined to do what was right—even if it meant going on the run for committing a crime.  I liked seeing her develop as a character.  Hal, well, I really hated him.  Honestly, I’m glad Kyra found out what she did about him before things could escalate between them.  Fred was a good addition to the plot; he was funny, carefree, and likable.  Poison also had a really good cast of supporting characters.

      I liked the story.  At first I didn’t really get some of the details, but when everything was revealed at the end, I understood.  I liked the fact that everything in Poison had to do with the plot, and there weren’t any miscellaneous details floating around just because.  Overall, Poison was quick enjoyable read, and my only wish is there were would have been a sequel.

I really like it.  I would recommend it.

Review: Pivot Point by Kasie West

Title: Pivot Point (Click link for synopsis)

Author: Kasie West

Age Range: YA

Source/Format: Borrowed From Library, Hardback
Publisher/Publication Date Harper Teen/ February 12, 2013

My Thoughts:  

       As we go through life, we all have to make decisions in which we have to contemplate which choice will have the better outcome. Now just imagine if you had the power of divergence that allows you to have insight regarding the outcome of each choice. Would you make the decision that was most beneficial to you personally or those around you? In Pivot Point by Kasie West, Addison Coleman (Addie), who has the power of divergence, is faced with a major life decision. She must decide whether she wants to remain in the paranormal community with her mother or relocate to a norm community with her father after her parents get a divorce. So she uses her power to examine what each path has to offer. 

       The plot was well developed as West presents Addie’s life in a paranormal versus normal society.  The twists in the plot never ceased and at times I was unsure of what decision Addie should make. Addie had a love interest in each society. First, there was Trevor who was such an amiable character that I wanted to be on Team Norm. Then there was Duke who seemed a little self-centered, but could be just as charming, so I also wanted to root for Team Paranormal. It was hard to decide because I just couldn’t get the following statement by Mrs. Stockbridge, Addie’s teacher, out of my mind: “Sometimes perfection reveals the lie, Addie, not the truth” (57). Addie’s love interests in both societies had imperfections and there were well developed conflicts in both. Considering that some of the paranormal characters had the ability to persuade and affect emotions, it was hard to decipher who Addie could trust. Her friends Laila and Duke appeared to be self-centered; whereas, Trevor simply seemed to be hiding something.  As such, the complexity of the problems presented left me contemplating Addie’s best course of action. Just when I thought that I knew how the story would end, there was a slight twist that left me pleasantly surprised. 

I really liked it. I would recommend it.

 

MOVIE, BOOK, OR BOTH: Review of The Host by Stephanie Meyer (Novel) and Andrew Niccol (Screenplay)

Title: The Host (Movie, 2013)

Director:  Andrew Niccol

Writers: Stephanie Meyer (Novel) and Andrew Niccol (Screenplay)

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Attended an Open Roads Films Advance Screening of the Host
Rating/Review Originally Posted March 24, 2013 at The Host | gofobo

My Thoughts Regarding the Movie

I saw an advance screening of The Host. It was a good sci-fi/love story that focused on the power of love; although, it was slow paced. As a result of the inner conflict between Melanie and Wanderer, it was often humorous. There were some exciting and intense moments, but it didn’t have as much action as I expected. And I was a little disappointed in the portrayal of the resistance. I was also left with questions regarding how a “soul” took over the first host’s body and am now reading the book in hopes that it will clarify some of my unanswered questions.

For more information about the movie please click on the following link: The Host (2013) Official Website

Title: The Host: A Novel (Click on the link for the synopsis)
Author: Stephanie Meyer
Publisher/Publication Date: Little, Brown and Company, May 6, 2008
Source/Format:  Borrowed from Library, Hardback 

My Thoughts Regarding the Differences Between the Movie and Book

Okay, I finally read The Host by Stephanie Meyer. Now that I've read the book, I really like the story. I only wish that the movie was longer and provided the details found in the book. There were slight differences between the book and the movie. The book reveals how the first soul was implanted and I wish that the movie would have included this information. Also, I now get that the “souls” and the people were suffering from ignorance in the beginning. They did not understand each others’ worlds. The people of the resistance considered the aliens parasitic evil entities, and the aliens thought that the human race was evil.  As a remedy to the problems  on earth the aliens inhabited people’s bodies and attempted to create a sort of utopia.  But once the utopia was being created, I failed to understand what they, the aliens, had done differently. The aliens had biased viewpoints and chased people to their death to take over their bodies, because people weren’t deserving of the world they inhabited. But the real question I had was: Were their ways superior?

Most of the movie was similar to the book. However, the initial reservations I had about The Host (Movie) were a result of some of the adaptations. For instance, in the movie there was a scene in which members of the resistance were being pursued and they just seemed to give up without a fight. Yeah, at times the members of the resistance in the book appeared weak, but they didn’t act as hastily as they did in the movie. Meyer’s provided details regarding how Jared, one of Melanie’s/Wanderer’s love interests, knew that Melanie lived on in Wanderer’s head; whereas, the movies depiction of the same scene evoked laughter. Also the dialogue between Wanderer and Melanie seemed humorous in the movie; whereas some of their conflicts were serious in the book. And it was through these inner conflicts that Wanderer learned of Melanie’s love for her people and reconsidered her stance on the souls invasion of earth.

Now that I have read the book, I can say that I really liked The Host by Stephanie Meyer. If you're considering seeing the movie, I recommend reading the book at some point. Although there weren’t many changes in the movie adaptation, there were enough to influence my opinion of the overall storyline. Initially, the trailer had me expecting a lot of action, which left me slightly disappointed with the movie. However, after reading the book, I realized that this was the story of two worlds coming together against all odds. And it was Melanie’s and Wanderer’s love of their native lands that tested the fallacies held by the people and aliens of their worlds. It just makes one think….What would you do for the things and the people that you love?

I really like it.  I would recommend it.

 

Review: Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

Title:Tiger's Curse (Click title for Synopsis)
Source/ Format: Purchased, Paperback
Age Range: YA
Publisher/ Publication Date: Splinter, January 11, 2011




My Thoughts:

     I admit that I put off reading Tiger’s Curse, because I’d heard that it was just a love story—and I’ve read my fair-share of those.  Some of them I’ve liked, and others, well, not so much.  Tiger’s Curse was indeed a love story, but the exotic setting, and Indian mythology made it interesting.  Houck did an excellent job of describing all the places, as well as the culture of India.  I also loved the way the cover was designed, I felt like it capture the story within. The writing was good, and the story moved at a fast pace. 

     In Tiger’s Curse, we meet Kelsey Hayes, who was a bit of an annoying character.  She had a good nature and was loyal—traits that I saw more of as the book progressed.  Her life was normal, thus, she never thought that she’d be "breaking a 300-year-old Indian curse" instead of working the entire summer.  If anything, the only issue I really had was that Kelsey agreed to go along with things a little too easily.  I felt like she didn't question it enough to make a firm decision on it.  There was a bit of an insta-love, but with everything else going on, I hardly noticed it.  I also like that Ren wasn’t a werewolf, or a vampire, but a white tiger. The story starts off a little slow, and I was left wondering where it was going.  When it finally picked up I was glad that I stuck with the story. I also like that fact that Houck wrote a prologue, which gave me an insight into what happened before the story actually started. 

     The end was satisfying enough, and I get where Kelsey was coming from when she made the decision she did.  For a paranormal romance it was a pretty good book. I might check out the rest of the series.

I like it.  I recommend it.

Review: Greta and the Goblin King by Chloe Jacobs

Title: Greta and the Goblin King (Click title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Purchased, Kindle Edition
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Entangled Teen, December 11, 2012



My Thoughts:

     Greta and the Goblin King was an ok young adult book, and I found it entertaining.  But Greta was stubborn and refused to accept help, which I found kind of annoying.  Isaac was sweet in the way that he cared for Greta, and I wish that she’d been a little more willing to accept his help.  I guess she had her reasons for not trusting him, but she almost got herself and Isaac killed.  The setting, well, I wish I’d learned more about the land—more detail—and a little more about Greta’s life before she arrived in Mylean.  I like the book, and I’ll most likely read what comes next.  I recommend it to those like goblin stories filled with magic and danger.

I really like it.  I recommend it.

 

 

ARC Review: The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress

The Friday Society (Click title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Won (Appraising Pages, blog, thank you.), Bound ARC
Age range: YA

Publisher/Publication Date: Dial, December 6, 2012



My thoughts:

   
     The Friday Society is a whimsical, wonderful, and quirky novel full of steampunk fun—gadgets and scientific references included.  I loved all of the neat ideas incorporated into the book, which really made it work for me.  Steampunk is a vast genre and there are so many different things you can do with it.  Kress did a fantastic job of weaving the Steampunk elements into the story.

    The characters were lively, brilliant, and I enjoyed reading their story.  Each of the girls came from slightly similar circumstances as children, but where they ended up was completely different.  There was a dynamic to it that really fit with the story and kept it going.  I liked seeing the different backgrounds that Nellie, Cora, and Michiko came from.  The characters were well thought-out, and were in no way generic.  Out of all of the characters, Michiko, and the magician’s bird, Scheherazade, were my favorite.  At some points I was laughing out loud at Scheherazade’s antics. 

    The plot was great, and I was really in the dark until the end.  There were so many pieces to the puzzle that you wouldn’t think fit together, but they do.  The beginning was a little slow, and some of it got a little repetitive and seemed to drag a bit, but that didn’t take away from the overall greatness of the book.  The action really picked up towards the center and kept on going.  The surprise at the end—whoa—the culprit was someone I didn’t even notice, and the conclusion was satisfying.  There were also a few funny moments, but I won’t tell, because that would be too much of a spoiler. If you want to know, go buy The Friday Society.  I recommend it to anyone who enjoys the Steampunk genre. 

I really like it.  I recommend it.

 

Review: Unbroken by Paul Morris

Title: Unbroken (Click title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Purchased, Hardback
Age Range: YA
Publisher/ Publication Date: Scholastic Inc., February 1, 2013



My thoughts:


    It was some years ago that I was first introduced to Paula Morris’s work with Ruined.  It was a charming ghost story, with mystery, intrigue, hints of romance, and masterful storytelling.  I’ve reread my copy of Ruined so many times that the cover is now tattered, and I was ecstatic to learn that there was in fact a sequel.

     When my copy finally arrived, it didn’t take me long to read it.  Unbroken was an awesome follow-up to Ruined, and I really enjoyed it.  All of my favorite characters were back in the original setting, New Orleans.  Once again, Rebecca Brown was dealing with another ghost who seemed to need her help.  As a reader, I liked the fact that things weren’t perfect with Anton, Rebecca’s boyfriend, and a former friend of Helena Bowman.  There were a few more new characters, but mostly, I felt like loose ends from the first book were being tied-up.  The ending was really nice, and I look forward to reading future work by Morris.

I like it.  I would recommend it.