Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Tuesday, February 25, 2014 - No comments

Bentwhistle the Dragon in a Threat from the Past

Rating: 5 Stars
Author: Paul Cude
Version: eBook (review copy)


Summary (Amazon)

Three young dragons in their human guises become caught up in an evil plot to steal a precious commodity, vital to the dragon community. How will the reluctant hero and his friends fare against an enemy of his race from far in the past? 
Fascinating insights into the dragon world are interspersed throughout the book. Ever wondered how dragons travel below ground at almost the speed of sound? Or how they use magical mantras to transform their giant bodies into convincing human shapes? 
In an action packed adventure that features both human and dragon sports, you’ll get a dragon-like perspective on human social issues and insight into what to do if you meet a giant spider grinning at you when you’re wearing nothing but your smile! 
You’d be flamin’ mad to miss it.

Review:
I’ve been extremely busy this past month and no, I don’t mean the lame excuse many people use to avoid doing something. I literally mean BUSY. However, I’ve been filling the little bits of free time I have by reading  “Bentwhistle the Dragon in A Threat from the Past” by author Paul Cude. I must say that I have throughly enjoyed this book. Although, I might be a bit biased due to the fact that I love books about magic, dragons, witches, elves, etc…. but who doesn’t?! 

The plot was very unique in the sense that I’ve never come across a book like this - or at least I can’t recall at the moment. In “Bentwhistle the Dragon in a Threat from the Past”, the roles of dragons are to protect and guide humanity towards a greater good. So, purge your mind of fairy tales depicting man-eating beasts, because in this book, the thought of harming a human is blasphemy. Another concept I found unique was the fact that dragon cites were established far beneath the Earth’s surface, where dragons were able to roam about in their true form. Imagine accentually stumbling into a dragon portal, what would you even do? 

One thing I particularly loved about this book was Mr. Cude’s writing style. He never left anything to question and he gave a vivid description of his characters and their surroundings. Also, I absolutely loved the opening of the book! The story of George and the Dragon kept me wanting to read more, and to be honest I was a little sad to discover that it was only a story within a story. However, after getting to know Peter, Tank, and Richie, I can’t complain. For instance, I loved Richie’s competitive, boss attitude; Tank’s loyalty and protective qualities; as well as how easy it was to emphasize with Peter. 

There were very few downfalls about this book, but one was how hard it was for ME to imagine a dragon doing ordinary activities. One thing in particular was the idea of a dragon (in true form) putting on an overcoat… I just couldn’t do it. There were other instances like this, but like I said, it was my lack of imagination and not the authors fault. 


Overall, I really enjoyed Mr. Cude’s twist on fantasy and I highly, highly recommend giving his book a try. Mr. Cude’s next book in the series is set to be released within the next week and is titled “Bentwhistle The Dragon in A Chilling Revelation”. 

Link to Download: Bentwhistle the Dragon in a Threat from the Past


Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Tuesday, February 18, 2014 - , , , , , , No comments

Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble



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

 Summary:
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 read this book in December of 2013 and yes it’s been 2 months, but this book definitely deserves a mention and I regret putting it off.  For starters, I received this book from Pixel of Ink for free and was EXTREMELY surprised by how much I loved reading it. At the time, I had just finished reading the first two books of the All Souls Trilogy (A discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night), both of which I have yet to review, and noted several similarities. For instance, you have a witch/vampire attraction, a witch who was unaware of her potential, and a full out species war that resides on the protagonist choices. However, Mallory and Harnkess’s books have enough differences to not feel like you’re rereading the same material with a different twist.

If I had to decide on which work I liked best, I would probably choose Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble, because Jolie (the main character) isn’t afraid to use her powers and is a bit more aggressive than Diana Bishop (the All Souls protagonist). Also, this book seemed to progress at a much faster pace, with less time spent wondering “when is this chapter going to be over with?” Another thing, which is unrelated to the content the book, but is something that I loved, is the cover art. The cover art appeals to my sense of Halloween and what a book about a witch should look like. It is so much more attractive than any of the All Souls dust jackets - The reason I say dust jackets is because, the hardcover editions of the All Souls trilogy are black with gold/orange star decorations, which are amazing.

As for the story, It was fast paced, action packed, and contained an ideal amount of romance. As I’ve said before, I’m not one for stories that rely heavily on romance, so it was nice to be able to read without cringing. 


I didn’t intend to mention the All Souls trilogy so much in this review, but because the concepts were similar, I find it hard not to compare them. As I said before, the concepts are unique in and of themselves and are easily distinguishable. Please give this book a chance and read it, because you won’t be disappointed. 

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Sunday, February 9, 2014 - , , , No comments

White Space

Rating: 1.5 Stars
Author: Ilsa Bick
Version: ARC review copy

Summary:
In the tradition of Memento and Inception comes a thrilling and scary young adult novel about blurred reality where characters in a story find that a deadly and horrifying world exists in the space between the written lines.

Seventeen-year-old Emma Lindsay has problems: a head full of metal, no parents, a crazy artist for a guardian whom a stroke has turned into a vegetable, and all those times when she blinks away, dropping into other lives so ghostly and surreal it's as if the story of her life bleeds into theirs. But one thing Emma has never doubted is that she's real.

Then she writes "White Space," a story about these kids stranded in a spooky house during a blizzard.

Unfortunately, "White Space" turns out to be a dead ringer for part of an unfinished novel by a long-dead writer. The manuscript, which she's never seen, is a loopy Matrix meets Inkheart story in which characters fall out of different books and jump off the page. Thing is, when Emma blinks, she might be doing the same and, before long, she's dropped into the very story she thought she'd written. Trapped in a weird, snow-choked valley, Emma meets other kids with dark secrets and strange abilities: Eric, Casey, Bode, Rima, and a very special little girl, Lizzie. What they discover is that they--and Emma--may be nothing more than characters written into being from an alternative universe for a very specific purpose.

Now what they must uncover is why they've been brought to this place--a world between the lines where parallel realities are created and destroyed and nightmares are written--before someone pens their end.

Review:
I really wanted to like this book, I truly did, but I was unable to read past 40%.

After viewing the description and the cover art, I was super excited about the concept and couldn't wait to begin reading. However, the more I read, the more confused I became. For starters, I felt like I was thrown into Libby's world without any background information at all. The made up words and symbols that seemed to be extremely important, were never defined and it was extremely frustrating. For example, what is the sign of Sure, what exactly is thought energy, are the metal creatures alive, and why is Libby's quilt so important ? There were plenty more, but I can't remember them all, because I put down the book hoping I would want to finish it later. Sadly, I don't plan on doing so. To see how others felt about White Space, I checked Goodreads. Apparently, many agree that they don't like swimming in 500 pages of confusion before they understand what's happening.

Another thing I found annoying was the numerous point-of-view changes. After trying to cope with the new environment and the flux of made up words, I felt switching between 4 and 5 characters, each in a new situation, was extremely unnecessary.

I was also unprepared for the horror sections I read. After all, people were comparing White Space to Inkheart and the idea of flesh being severed from bone, bloody snow, and empty eye sockets was not something I envisioned. However, if you don't mind horror, the blizzard scene is extremely similar to Stephen King's movie "The Mist".

This book will probably be amazing to someone, but for me it was a complete let down. For those reading this review, please do not let my opinion sway you from reading the book. If you are interested, please give it a try and form your own opinion.

Friday, January 31, 2014

Friday, January 31, 2014 - , , , 2 comments

The Percy Jackson & The Olympians Series

Rating: 5 Stars
Author: Rick Riordan
Version: Hardcovers

I've been hearing a lot about the Percy Jackson series - PJO for those who don't know the slang - from Christine's booktube channel on YouTube (Click Here). So, I decided to ask for the first book- The Lightning Thief- for Christmas. Needless to say, I was surprised when I unwrapped the hardcover boxed set!

 Review:
I don't really see the need to go into a synopsis of the plots, because that's what the summery section is for... and I think it does a pretty good job. I will place the summaries below the review section, because there are five books to be summarized and I don't want the length of this review to be intimidating.
There are several things I enjoyed about the PJO series. For example, the pacing is great, meaning that nothing seems too forced, nor too slow. You know how some books have dry spells? Well, I don't recall hardly any in these.. maybe 1 or 2, but I can't remember them, which is a good thing. Also, I really loved the fact that this series wasn't set around romance. Yes, there is some flirting and I'm extremely satisfied with the ending. However, the romance I'm referring to is the type where the girl/guy will absolutely die if they don't see their significant other every 5-10 minutes. Another thing I loved about the PJO series, is the fact that the characters were SO well developed. Some of my favorites are Annabeth, Artesmis, Nico, BlackJack, and Poseidon.

  • Annabeth is amazing.
  • Artemis is a boss.
  • Nico has that creepiness about him that I like and his powers are awesome.
  • BlackJack is a spunky black Pegasus and I have no doubt you will love him.
  • Poseidon is down to earth and fatherly, which isn't common of the Gods. 
I absolutely loved Rick Riordan's writing style. Read the first sentence out of The Lightning Thief and you will see what I mean. Read it off Amazon's sample: The Lightning Thief: 

Out of the five books, I would say my most favorite was The Last Olympian (the last book) and my least favorite was The Sea of Monsters (the second book). In order of favorites, it would have to be:
  1. The Last Olympian (Book 5)
  2. The Titan's Curse (Book 3)
  3. The Battle of the Laberinth (Book 4)
  4. The Lightning Theif (Book 1)
  5. The Sea of Monsters (Book 2)
I HIGHLY recommend this series to ANYONE that hasn't read them already. If you're worried about the fact that this book is middle grade level, please don't let that stop you. A book's content is not limited by the section it sits in, in the bookstore. 

Summary Section: (placed here to reduce the scare factor)
The Lightning Thief: 
Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school... again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus' master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus' stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

The Sea of Monsters:
The heroic son of Poseidon makes an action-packed comeback in the second must-read installment of Rick Riordan's amazing young readers series. Starring Percy Jackson, a "half blood" whose mother is human and whose father is the God of the Sea, Riordan's series combines cliffhanger adventure and Greek mythology lessons that results in true page-turners that get better with each installment. In this episode, The Sea of Monsters, Percy sets out to retrieve the Golden Fleece before his summer camp is destroyed, surpassing the first book's drama and setting the stage for more thrills to come.

The Titans Curse:
IT'S NOT EVERYDAY YOU FIND YOURSELF IN COMBAT WITH A HALF-LION, HALF-HUMAN.

But when you're the son of a Greek god, it happens. And now my friend Annabeth is missing, a goddess is in chains and only five half-blood heroes can join the quest to defeat the doomsday monster.

Oh and guess what. The Oracle has predicted that not all of us will survive...

The Battle of the Labyrinth:
Percy Jackson isn't expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse.
In this fourth installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos's army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop the invasion, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth - a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn.

The Last Olympian:
All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of a victory are grim. Kronos’s army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan’s power only grows. 

While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it’s up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.

In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling series, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy’s sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.


Thursday, January 16, 2014

Thursday, January 16, 2014 - , , , No comments

City of Fallen Angels

Rating: 4 Stars
Version: Hardcover
Author: Cassandra Clare

 GoodReads:
The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She’s training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And—most importantly of all—she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering Shadowhunters, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second, bloody war. Clary’s best friend, Simon, can’t help her—his mother just found out that he’s a vampire, and now he’s homeless. When Jace begins to pull away from her without explaining why, Clary is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: she herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

The stakes are higher than ever in the #1 New York Times bestselling fourth installment of the Mortal Instruments series

 Review:
After finishing City of Glass, I was unsure if whether or not I wanted to continue on with the series. After all, Cassandra Clare originally planed for TMI to be a trilogy and I was scared the books would begin to center on romance, which is just not my genre.  However, I saw this book in a used bookstore for $5 (hardcover) and I decided "why not?" 

 Personally, I feel like this book took longer to "get into" than the prior three. Just for reference, I think I was somewhere around page 300 before I had the "omg I have to read more" reaction. However, once I hit that stage, I was satisfied. Much of the book focuses on Simon, which was a huge driving force behind Cassandra writing the book. For instance, you get numerous example of how the mark of Cain works and delver further into experiencing how Simon adjusts to becoming a vampire. Claire also releases a bit more history and foreshadowing when the group encounters a pretty powerful demon, but that's all you will get from me (no spoils). 

 I'm still unsure if whether or not I will continue on with the series. Yet, I most likely will, but I'm in no rush to buy the next couple of books.

 Background from Cassandra Clare: Click Here

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

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