Monday, December 16, 2013

Monday, December 16, 2013 - , , No comments

Braving the Brontes (Carly Keene: Literary Detective):

Rating : 4.5 Stars
Version: ARC eBook
Author: Katherine Rue
GoodReads:
Carly Keene is a twelve-year-old from Alaska who has always longed for adventure. She gets her wish when she is transported back to 1846 and finds herself living with the Bronte family in England. There is a mystery surrounding the Bronte sisters, and until she solves it Carly is stuck in the past. Will adventure be what she thought it would be? Will she ever get home?

 Review:
Carly Keene, Literary Detective was a fun and imaginative story. The book's description alone was enough to hook me, throw in a bit of nostalgia and I had to read it! The main character, Carly, is very likable and easy to relate to, especially for those who have a vivid imagination and thirst for adventure. 
I loved the plot, but initially was hoping for a bit more. For instance, after reading the description I imagined Carly falling into a book filled with fantasy and action. Yet, despite not meeting my expectations, I'm not at all dissatisfied. The thought of falling back in time to meet the Bronte sisters is both unique and creative. Additionally, younger audiences will find this book has plenty of action.  After all, there are ghosts, time travel, mystery, and lets not forget adventure --Carly almost died--. Thinking back to the books that I used to read when I was in elementary school, I can definitely see me picking this up off the library shelf. 

I’m not sure if it’s my copy or the publishers style, but some sentences were choppy with words straddling numerous sentences (whole chapters). Similarly, the chapter headings were preceded and followed by 3 and 3*, respective. I originally thought it was strange, but figured the number 3 had some significance story. Could the 3 stand for the Bronte sisters and 3* represent the change underwent by Carly's presence?


Sunday, December 8, 2013

Sunday, December 8, 2013 - , , , , No comments

Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble:

Rating: 5 Stars
Version: eBook
Author: H.P. Mallory

GoodReads:
Life isn't bad for psychic Jolie Wilkins. True, she doesn't have a love life to speak of, but she has a cute house in the suburbs of Los Angeles, a cat and a quirky best friend.

Enter Rand Balfour, a sinfully attractive warlock who insists she's a witch and who just might turn her life upside down. Rand hires her to help him solve a mystery regarding the death of his client who also happens to be a ghost. Jolie not only uncovers the cause of the ghost's demise but, in the process, she brings him back to life!

Word of Jolie’s incredible ability to bring back the dead spreads like wildfire, putting her at the top of the underworld’s most wanted list. Consequently, she finds herself at the center of a custody battle between a villainous witch, a dangerous but oh-so-sexy vampire, and her warlock boss, Rand.

 Review:
I really debated about posting a review for this book, but I enjoyed it so much that I want it to gain recognition. I also wrote my review before I read the GoodReads summary, so skip the first paragraph if you don't want a basic rehash of the plot.

The book centers around a witch living in L.A. that's for the most part, unaware of her abilities. Jolie - the witch - has visions and uses those visions to make a living as a psychic. She meets a man, who later turns out to be a warlock, that puts forth an unusual job offer. The job entails using her abilities to see who killed his friend. Jolie accepts the offer and ultimately discovers she can reanimate the dead. Yet in doing so, Jolie alerts the whole magical community of her presence, which happens to be at the early stages of war. A witch has never been able to reanimate the dead before. So, with this knowledge, you can imagine why both sides want her.

I really loved Mallory's writing style, because she writes as if she's having a conversation with you. Moreover, the story flows very well and keeps you hooked. If its any indication, I finished this book in about a day. The fact that I was reading the All Soul's trilogy beforehand probably helped though, because both series contain very similar aspects such as, a magical war; an unaware, blond haired, super powerful witch; and similar magical constrains. However, if I were to compare Harkness and Mallory, I think I would side with Mallory. In contrast to Diana, Jolie was more proactive and sure of her abilities. Also, it didn't take two books for Jolie to get past amateur level and I really appreciated it.

This book is currently free! So, you have no excuse not to read it!

 Free on Amazon: Click Here

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Sunday, November 17, 2013 - No comments

Share a Though Saturday (3): Visualization


Yep, it's not Saturday, but I've been researching the net for insight on a question that's been nagging me. So, I figured I would create a post and get some information from people who also love reading.

Question: 
How do people visualize when reading?

My Experience:
I remember reading when I was little and I would create settings, scenes, and characters with relative ease. Yet, now I find my visualization lacking. Although, it could be because I'm over thinking it. For example, when I'm reading, most of the characters/scenes/settings are hazy. Sometimes, I feel like I need to stop and actively create a crisp image, to then become frustrated, because the process is supposed to be passive (right?). However, once I've finished reading, I can play back what I've read without a hitch.  Could it be that I'm too conscious when reading? By too conscious, I mean that I'm overly aware of trying to visualize and thus interrupting the passive ability. For now I'm convinced that my method of visualization is collecting data as I read the book and letting it "sink in". If this is true, it still explains why I can remember characters from years ago, just not when they became crisp in detail. 

What's your experience with visualization? 

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Sunday, November 10, 2013 - , , , , 6 comments

Paradox Child

For those who enjoy my normal review font (Apple Chancery), I'm sorry to inform you that I will not be using it for this review. However, it's only because I'm writing it from another computer. Normally I would just wait, but I've been wanting to do this review for a while now.

Rating: 3 Stars
Version: eBook
Author: Jane Yates

Amazon Summary:
Set in the 1980’s most of the drama for this time traveling adventure is set in the Pitt Rivers Museum Oxford UK.

Lilly's family has an extraordinary secret, one they have kept for four generations. Lilly's proud to be different and special. At Halloween she's happy to stay at home and cast spells with her mum and her gran rather than go out trick or treating like the other kids. At 12 years old, she thinks she knows it all.

But then Lilly becomes unsettled by odd events, like seeing the sinister man in the white shoes staring at her while she walks the dogs, and then local children start to go missing. When her mum doesn't come back from one of her regular night-time jaunts, Lilly's gran thinks it's time to tell her the whole story. Lilly has second thoughts about whether her family's secret is a blessing, or a curse...

 Review:
Normally I don't gravitate towards science fiction and even though this book isn't science fiction per say, the aspect of time travel would still turn me away. Yet, I ran across this copy on Pixel of Ink, which means it was free, plus the central theme is about magic, so I decided to give it a shot.

The story is a bit on the long side (554 pages) and packed with grammatical errors/typo's, but the plot was interesting enough to dissuade me from giving up. I read this copy on my iPhone and saw as many as 3-4 errors per page with an average of about 1 per page. Under normal circumstance I would just put the book away, so the fact that I finished this book, not because I had to, but because I wanted to, should underscore how much I enjoyed the plot. As I've said before, I don't want to give the false impression that my grammar is perfect, but the mistakes in this book were prominent. It should be noted that the author describes herself as a "dreamer and a dyslexic", which helps provide a bit of insight and understanding to what I referenced above.

The story is definitely geared towards a young audience, but it has bits and pieces for all ages. For example, there's magic, romance, death, mystery, and science. Of course dealing with time travel, it's not hard to guess where the title paradox child comes from or where the book may lead you. However, I really enjoyed learning just how and why Lilly became one. If it had not been for the numerous typos/grammar issues, this book would definitely have earned 4 stars. So if you're borderline about reading this book, I suggest you give it a chance. After all, you can always get a sample from Amazon.

I've read that Paradox Child is only book one in a two-part series, but that information could be mistaken. Hopefully I will get back to you guys soon with an answer from Jane.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - , No comments

The Dream Thieves:

Rating: 4.5 Stars
Version: Harback and NetGalley eBook
Author: Maggie Stiefvater

GoodReads Summary:
Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same.

Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life.

Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...

Review:
After finishing The Raven Boys, I felt like it took forever to get my hands on a copy of The Dream Thieves. Yes, I had high expectations and Maggie Stiefvater did not disappoint and because of this, she is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

The story picks up two months after Adam wakes the Cabeswater ley line. As far as Gansey, he is still obsessed with finding Glendower, Blue is still the only non-psychic in her family, Noah is still dead, Adam is still slowly loosing himself, and Blue’s family is still a bit quirky.  However, one character changed dramatically, and that was Ronan. I won’t go in-depth because I would hate to spoil the story, but you slowly discover that he’s not the complete jerk you may of thought he was. In fact, much of the story centers on Ronan, a boy who from his dreams, can create reality.

Ronan is the only Greywaren but Kavinsky also possesses the same ability. In fact, it’s Kavinsky that helps hone Ronan’s gift. I’m not exactly sure where Kavinsky’s rage comes from or why he’s out to cause chaos, – much like the joker from Batman – but it would have been nice to know why. When these boys pull objects from their dreams it draws on the ley lines energy and causes a detectable spike. The spike is what leads men hired to hunt the Greywaren to Henrietta.




Spoiler Alert :  





It’s hard to describe what I want to say without spoiling parts of the book, but here it is. Personally, I’m glad the romance between Adam and Blue ended, because Adam comes across as weak and annoying. Blue finally came to terms with her attraction towards Gansey and I think it’s time they take the risk. Also, I was a bit shocked that Maura fell for Mr. Grey. I saw it coming after their first encounter, but it was definitely not one of my pre-reading predictions.













I
have mixed emotions about the ending for several reasons. First, Mr. Grey is
terrified of his older brother and he passes that on to the reader, but when
they meet the ending is simple and abrupt. I was expecting more. Secondly, even
though I’m glad Kaminski is out of the story, I feel that something was
missing. Lastly, I liked the cliffhangers, but dislike the fact that book three
is nowhere near being released, but that ones on me.


































                            

                          

                          

                        



Tuesday, October 22, 2013




                          

                        









Tuesday, October 22, 2013
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Halloween Guest Post: Jack Croxall







































Hello everyone! I'm happy to bring you a guest post from author Jack Croxall, where he describes both his love for Halloween and the inspiration behind his new book entitled "X". For your reading pleasure, Mr. Croxall has graciously provided an excerpt. Be sure to check out his new book on Amazon and feel free to ask any questions you may have below. 















Guest Post: Jack Croxall:





I
love Halloween. Not just because of the fancy dress and mischievous hijinks,
but because of all the spooky stories that rear their creepy heads to give us
goose bumps, shudders and, most importantly, that little something extra to
think about. A gory supernatural horror is all well and good, but I find a
spooky tale is all the more unsettling if it is driven by something real; by a
theme or character we can relate to, or even by a situation we recognise from
real life.








Throughout the beginning of this year, I’d been
mulling a horror story over in my mind constantly. I had a character, a claustrophobic
setting and an unforgiving menace, but no actual theme – no real point to the
story. Luckily though, I got one idea and just ran with it. That true-to-life
idea turned out to be the very thing that gave the story meaning, and turned it
into a tale worth telling. 

















Title: X

Author: Jack Croxall





Summary:

Fifteen-year-old X thinks she is going to die. Shacked up in the cellar of an old farmhouse, she starts a journal to document her last few days. Much less than a few days if the things outside manage to get in.









 Excerpt: 



I
spend all of my daylight hours in this musty old cellar now. It’s woeful, and I
bet it smelled this bad even before everything turned to crap. Great. My second
sentence and I’ve already resorted to swear words. When I decided I’d start
this diary (five minutes ago) I thought it would be my poetic and deeply-moving
goodbye to the world. Maybe I’d write about love and loss, or maybe even the
splendour of nature. Then, if anyone ever found it, at least I’d have left
something to be remembered by. As well as my corpse, of course. 







This
was a bad idea.







OK I’m an idiot.
There’s nothing else I can do down here; I’ve rooted through every cardboard
box a hundred times, organised and reorganised my supplies until I can recite
the labels on the cans by heart, and even built a fort. So, I’m back. Hello.
Again. 







God this diary is
going badly. 







But there’s just
enough light coming in through the boards I nailed over the cellar’s tiny
window to write by. So I may as well. Stops me constantly staring up at the
window waiting for a shadow to pass by.







Where to start? Well,
my name is – actually, I think I’m going to refer to myself as X. That sounds
mysterious. If you’re reading this and want to know my real name, I still carry
my purse. Stupid I know. But my railcard is in there and, if you really want to
know who I am, go find me and fish it out. I won’t bite.












A best-selling short story, X is available through Amazon UK and Amazon US now.





 Much more info at www.jackcroxall.co.uk









































































                            

                          

                          

                        



Tuesday, October 15, 2013




                          

                        









Tuesday, October 15, 2013
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Witches and Wizards:



















































Rating: 3 Stars

Version: Hardback

Authors: Anton and Mina Adams



The full title is "The Learned Arts of Witches & Wizards: History and Traditions of White Magic", but I've shortened it to "Witches and Wizards" for convenience. 





GoodReads:





For most of us the practice of
witchcraft and the terms 'witch' and 'wizard' are shrouded in myths and mystic
rites. Here is a visual almanac that lifts the veil on the story of witchery.
This elegant book offers a concise, accessible history of witches and sorcery
and also provides a fascinating insight into the world of magic - sacred
places, power spots, magic sites, and ways to reconnect with nature through
rituals and practices. Lushly illustrated with pictures drawn from medieval to
contemporary sources, this beautiful compendium is an informative guide to the
history, traditions, and ways of witches and wizards.








Review:



I decided to pick
this nifty little book up at my local bookstore, to provide a “nonfiction”
perspective on the Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge. I didn’t
go looking for a book on magic… it just caught my eye as I was perusing the
stacks. Not to mention, it was hard to miss with the reflective lettering and
colorful design. Seriously, if you’re ever in a bookstore, look for this book.
When you find it, check out the pages and layout. I think you’ll see what I’m
talking about. 







As for the book,
it was both very brief and informative, but at times I thought it was trying to
test my impartiality. This is the particularly reason I placed nonfiction in
quotations, because some sections seemed overly fantastical. Please keep in
mind that I’m in no way trying to discredit the authors or their beliefs, just
simply stating my honest opinion. Also, I noticed the reviews on GoodReads and
Amazon were both lacking in numbers and slightly low on ratings. For example,



GoodReads: 38
Ratings, 3 Reviews 



Amazon 6 Ratings,
6 Reviews



This combination
of low ratings and reviews, coupled with the first review I saw entitled “The
first book on the Craft I ever read, but not very accurate is some areas” did
not help enforce this book’s credentials. 







One thing I found
particularly interesting was the connection between chapters of this book and
topics from some of my favorite YA books. For example, “Witches and Wizards”
provided a brief run-through of ley lines and ley centers, which can be found
in “The Raven Cycle” by Maggie Stieffvater. It also provided an overview of the
Egyptian gods that’s key in Michael Scott’s “The Secrets of the Immortal
Nicholas Flamel” series. Other topics of this book touched on real world
applications such as breathing exercises and meditation techniques, a few of
which I’ve seen in fitness training sessions. 







Overall, this
book helped quench my curiosity, but I couldn’t take it too seriously.  I think it was a timely selection seeing that
Halloween is nearing!













































                            

                          

                          

                        



Monday, October 14, 2013




                          

                        









Monday, October 14, 2013
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Witch Eyes



























Rating: 3.5 Stars



Version:
Paperback



Author: Scott Tracey







GoodReads:



 Braden was born with witch eyes: the ability to see the world as it truly is: a blinding explosion of memories, darkness, and magic. The power enables Braden to see through spells and lies, but at the cost of horrible pain.


After a terrifying vision reveals imminent danger for the uncle who raised and instructed him, Braden retreats to Belle Dam, an old city divided by two feuding witch dynasties. As rival family heads Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe desperately try to use Braden's powers to unlock Belle Dam's secrets, Braden vows never to become their sacrificial pawn. But everything changes when Braden learns that Jason is his father--and Trey, the enigmatic guy he's falling for, is Catherine's son.

To stop an insidious dark magic from consuming the town, Braden must master his gift—and risk losing the one he loves.








Review:



Have you ever had
a book that’s call to you, one that would beckon you to pick it up while
browsing a library or a bookstore? Well, that’s exactly what happened to me. At
the time, I was in the middle of another book, but I kept finding myself yearning
to read Witch Eyes. Perhaps, this is why I found the book so…  disappointing. I had put so much hype on the
story that it ultimately let me down. There was just so much potential
and I feel that the book didn't come close to matching it.







Braden is the
story’s main character. His mother died when he was born and his father left –abandoned-
him with his uncle. Braden has a special ability, not only is he a witch, but
he also has “witch eyes”. This trait is extremely rare and only one other
person is credited with possessing the same ability. However, as with most
things, his abilities come with a price. Braden must always wear sunglasses,
not only to hide his eyes, but to also filter out the influx of incoming information.
He doesn’t know the precise limits of his ability, but he knows that he can
instantly unravel and comprehend spells; see past memories of locations; trace
magic; and get an occasional visions. When Braden decides to use the witch
eyes, he must always keep in mind the consequences, because the longer he uses
them, the more sever the pain. For example, a few minutes can lead to a
migraine, but any longer can lead to unconsciousness. A turn of events leads
Braden to Belle Dam, a city where a centries old magical war - not un-similar
to a modern Hatfields versus the McCoys – is brewing. Due to his extreme
ability, both sides desire him. Yet, extreme circumstances inhibit him from
choosing – It would spoil the story to explain what these are. 







In my opinion,
the ending was horrible. You would think the concluding battle between a witch
and a demon would be climatic, but it wasn’t. Skip the power struggle, there
was none; it ended with a gunshot, albeit a very unusual gunshot. 







I decided to give
it week, read another book, and then look into purchasing the sequel: Demon
Eyes. However, the summary didn’t seem to continue on from book one. For
instance, the summary states: “After
destroying the demon …”, but wait… did he? After a bit of thought, I realized
I had literally forgotten the ending. I guess the thought of a witch “destroying”
a demon by gunshot didn’t register. The reason I included my lapse of memory is
to provide a gage of how unremarkable the ending was for me. Ultimately, I feel
this book did provided entertainment, but failed miserably with living up to
its potential.  







































                        

                      










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