Review: The High Lord (Black Magician Trilogy #1) by Trudi Canavan

The High Lord by Trudi Canavan

This is the third book in the trilogy, and the review may contain some spoilers if you haven't read book one and two. You should check out my review of The Magicians' Guild (book one) and my review of The Novice (book two).

Summary
As Sonea gets to know the High Lord better, she learns that the evil he is dabbling with may be related to an ancient enemy just waiting its chance to take over. Can Sonea navigate these treacherous plans and survive?

Commentary
If nothing else, Trudi is completely willing to do evil things to her characters. Did I mention the tension these books have. Yikes! Every time I hope it breaks, I just get wound up even tighter.

We get to spend more time with Cery in this one, which was kind of fun although I wish we had seen more of him in the last book since it feels like we didn't get to see his character development. He's kind of badass now, and I really like the trap things that he sets up (yes, I know you have no idea what I'm talking about). Trust me they're pretty cool.

I do wish it had ended on a different note because as I've mentioned before, I like my satisfying happy endings, but it is in the style of writing throughout this trilogy so I won't say that it wasn't fitting.

Star Rating: 3.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

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Review: The Wish List by Eoin Colfer

The Wish List by Eoin Colfer

This is an audiobook review!

Summary
Meg hasn't been a saint for most of her life, but when she dies unexpectedly, she finds out that she hovers right between god and bad. Now, in order to try to get into heaven instead of hell, she must help an old man finish his final wishes. Hell, though really wants her and is trying their very best to thwart her.

Commentary
This book had a lot of fun light moments, and while the subject of going to Heaven or Hell is a heavy subject, this is definitely a comedic treatment of the whole thing. I really liked the little touches of modernization of the afterlife which were sprinkled in.

The audiobook narrator did a pretty good job of using a variety of different voices for the various characters although one or two of the voices were hard to understand. There are a lot of different viewpoints so the voices helped a lot.

In general this is a feel good sort of book, and while it's not all that heavy on substance, it's still a fun read when you're not looking to think too much. If you enjoy Colfer's other YA books, this is very similar in tone and style.

Star Rating: 3.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

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Review: Half-Blood (Covenant #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Copy Courtesy of Spencer Hill Press
Release Date: October 18, 2011

Summary
Half-bloods have 2 futures: slave or daimon killer (Sentinels). Alexandria (Alex for short) has been on the run for the last 3 years since leaving the Sentinel training academy. Now though, she is back, and she must prove herself or risk becoming a slave.

Commentary
At first I wasn't all that into this book because Alex mouths off to her 'betters' (the Pure Bloods) in a rather annoying fashion. In a society where the half-bloods are supposed to be downtrodden, this struck me as unrealistic. There is lots of talk about the danger of offending Pures, but the actions and talking back from Alex without any punishment contradicted any sense that there were punishments.

But ok, I pretend that these are normal-ish modern teenagers in a high school setting, and the story that followed was actually pretty good. There were edge of the seat action scenes, decent character development, and a satisfying ending.

It was really the second half of the book that saved it since I spent the first half in lack of suspension of disbelief mode. Basically if you don't have problems with the first half, this is a pretty good book.

Star Rating: 3.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

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Review: Relations that Suck: The Story of Eva and Dries by Marilyn Yu

Relations that Suck: The Story of Eva and Dries by Marilyn Yu

Copy Courtesy of Marilyn Yu
Already Published

Summary
A fable about friendship and destiny. Eva is a creative vampire who likes people and Dries is a traveling spider; their story portrays denial and guilt.

Commentary
I really liked the fact that this was essentially a picture book for adults. Each page has a photo and some of them are haunting while others are silly.

I'm not that artsy so I'm not much of an art critic, but I found some of the photos to be corny although others are very nice. The story itself is a bit weird, and has a a sort of well that sucked (for the people in the story) feeling to it... as the title implies.

It's definitely something interesting to check out, and since it consists of mostly photos, it won't take you very long to look through either.

Star Rating: 3.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

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Review: Future Imperfect by K. Byer Reese

Future Imperfect by K. Byer Reese

Copy Courtesy of St. Martin's Griffin
Already Published

Summary
Ade can see the future, but only when he gets a concussion. Seeing the future gives him a sort of high, and he is definitely addicted until he meets the girl of his visions (and dreams). Now, what the future holds is getting darker and darker, and Ade must get to the bottom of things or he may lose everything.

Commentary
Perhaps the best description I can come up with for this book is weird. The visions which Ade gets often feel like he is tripping at least the way they are described in the book. I think the quality of these visions makes them a closer analogy to being on drugs and thus the addiction is a closer parallel.

The tone is generally pretty dark since the book is dealing with addictions. I'm not entirely sure there is a single "normal" character. All of them seem to have pretty egregious quirks, and it makes the book interesting but not necessarily very accessible as a mainstream read.

I did enjoy this book for the most part although there is a bit of fragmentation of the story as we follow Ade 'down the rabbit hole' as it were. This book is certainly not for everyone although if you read it from the perspective of the frightening implications of addiction, I feel like it portrays that well.

Star Rating: 3.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

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Review: A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine

A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine

Copy Courtesy of NetGalley and Harper Collins
Already Published

Summary
Elodie goes to Two Castles to become an apprentice. She hopes to become a mansioner (actor essentially), but no one will take her. Just as all hope dies, she is saved by the Dragon Meenore who offers her an assistantship and sends her off to solve a mystery using her wits.

Commentary
I think this falls more into middle grade fiction than YA. The main character may be 14-ish, but the way the story is phrased and actions taken by characters speaks of more innocence. There's a big emphasis on Logic, and the author kind of beats you over the head with it. I think I would have preferred it to not be so blatant.

Meenore is somewhat arrogant although that is usually expected of a dragon so that wasn't too bad, but it did make him hard to sympathize with, in the way that smart people very focused on their smartness are hard to sympathize with. Elodie is a somewhat standard character although like-able enough.

It was mostly a cute little story although I think the characters could have been written better. I don't really give it a strong recommendation, but it's not a bad read.

Star Rating: 3.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

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Review: Incarceron (Incarceron #1) by Catherine Fisher

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Summary
Finn lives inside Incarceron, which is a prison that is alive and watches the inmates within. Even though escape is supposed to be impossible, Finn is trying to escape. There is also Claudia, she is the daughter of the Warden of Incareceron, and betrothed to the prince and heir to the realm. She has dreaded this union ever since the other prince and heir died in a tragic accident.

Commentary
This story had a lot of intriguing parts to it, but the individual pieces didn't fit together all that well. The story itself was pretty predictable, which definitely undermined the novelty of the story concept. There is also a dystopian element to this story although it isn't as compelling as some of the other dystopians out right now particularly because it really wasn't the main part of the story.

The personification of the prison was creepy in a good way and is perhaps one of the best aspects of the book. We get to see some parts of the prison and how a diverse culture has been built up within its walls, which I can definitely see the thought put into it, although there isn't a whole lot of depth to the different groups. I also thought the characters were somewhat shallow (not vanity more in a character development sense) because I couldn't sympathize with them much.

Incarceron is an interesting read, but the problem may be that it's trying to attack too many moving targets at once. The outcome is a book which I don't want to stop reading, but feels lacking in depth..

Star Rating: 3.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

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Review: Enclave (Razorland #1) by Ann Aguirre

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

ARC borrowed from Debbie of Debbie's World of Books
Release: April 12, 2011

Summary
The world as we know it has ended. Deuce, who is now old enough to have a name, has become a Huntress to protect and feed her Enclave in the vast underground system which is just barely surviving. After her naming ceremony, she is partnered with Fade, a mysterious outsider to the Enclave and they are tasked with finding out why the Freaks (mutated mindless humanoids who eat any and all meat) are showing signs of intelligence.

Commentary
The story is not really a new one although Ann pulls off some interesting and mostly likable characters in Deuce and Fade. I enjoyed reading about Deuce in particular as she faces internal struggles between being a warrior who accepts losses and the human being who wants to save those she knows. Also, three cheers for a romance that grows rather than appears out of nowhere.

As for the world, we know that there was an apocalypse, but we are never told the details of how things came to be. A lot of the world is portrayed in broad stereotypes rather than delving into intricacies although we do meet several types of people along the way. In general there is an oversimplification of what could be a very complex landscapes. For example we have creatures who are likely mutations of human beings called Freaks of which there are really only 2 kinds, the new smart ones and the regular dumb ones.

Basically, I want more depth to the world that can support the depth found in the characters, more explanations of why things are the way they are, more evidence besides the changes in society that the world is different, and perhaps some of that will be found in the next novel. This was an interesting beginning, but it would not stand well on its own.

Star Rating: 3.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

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Review: Wishful Thinking by Alexandra Bullen

Wishful Thinking by Alexandra Bullen

Summary
Hazel has always felt alone. As a babe she was given up for adoption, and a nice lady adopted her only to die in a fire a few years later. On her 18th birthday, she receives a letter with her mother's name, and she prepares to meet her when she gets some awesome dresses which apparently grant wishes.

Commentary
The dresses were actually a pretty neat mechanism for granting wishes, but this may be because I like gorgeous dresses (although really what girl doesn't?). Hazel's background sob story is laid on pretty thick, but it does set the reader up to feel sorry for her especially since the book is really short so I guess the information needs to be more potent?

The story itself is pretty heartwarming and has a definite undertone of a moral of the story kind of deal. Lo and behold there is some romance, but it's not really the focus. Happily, though, it doesn't feel like an afterthought, and is a natural progression of the story even if there isn't much to it.

Despite the tug at your heart-strings moments, the story is pretty light weight even as it deals with some issues which readers may find controversial. It is a story based on magical dresses which grant wishes after all.

Star Rating: 3.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

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Review: The Fall of Hyperion (Hyperion #2) by Dan Simmons

The Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons

There are no spoilers in this summary, but this is a review of the second book in a quartet so you may want to check out my review of Hyperion (the first book).

Summary
The time when the Time Tombs are to open grows ever closer. The Hegemony, Ousters, and the Technocore have weaved a web of political intrigue so entrenched in what is happening on Hyperion that none can predict the outcome as the pilgrims on Hyperion face their final confrontation with the Shrike.

Commentary
One bit of wonderful story weaving that I would like to point out. At the beginning of most books which are not the first in a series, there is usually a recap of what events happened in the previous books. This is a great way to refresh readers' memories, but it is often a tedious summary. Simmons works in the recount of events very cleverly in a report of the pilgrims' stories to CEO Gladstone. Bravo!

The rest of this second book, though, was less masterful, and often seemed to descend into a chaos that was very different from the orderly delineation of events which I very much enjoyed in the first book. I could follow the events, but the sensation of being jolted back and forth between the various plot lines was a lot more jarring than I would have liked.

There are a lot of elements which I enjoyed the political infighting and plotting, the visualization of the Technosphere, and of course the weird things that happen with the Shrike. My problem with this book stems from the fact that its predecessor, Hyperion, was simply a far superior story. If you've read the first one, you are probably dying to know what happens in the second one so you should read The Fall of Hyperion. I'm not altogether sure that I want to read the third and fourth though.

Star Rating: 3.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

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Review: Entwined by Heather Dixon

Entwined by Heather Dixon

Copy Courtesy of Greenwillow Books
Release: March 29, 2011

Summary
Azalea is a princess. She has many younger sisters (11 in fact) and all of them (including Azalea) love to dance, but the King (her father) has decreed that there will be no dancing during the year of mourning after their mother passes away. The girls find a secret place to dance, a place of magic and also a place of great danger.

Commentary
This is a cute little book. It's premise seems to be about the sisters dancing, but it is actually a moral story about the importance of family. Besides the morality part of the story though, the rest of it was a pretty light read.

The sisters (the whole lot of them) get into a lot of trouble because of their curiosity in a way that is not unlike unruly puppies. It's actually quite adorable the way they tumble into mishaps and accidents, and it made me giggle. The Keeper (who is the guardian of the secret place they go to dance) is eerie, and I think his character's transformation in attitude towards the girls was very well written.

Generally speaking though, there isn't a whole lot of depth to the characters or the story which makes for a fun read but don't expect much emotional impact. This book reads much like a light fairy tale.

Star Rating: 3.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

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Review: XVI by Julia Karr

XVI by Julia Karr

Summary
Nina is 15, and she has been told all her life that all girls turn into sex addicts once they turn 16. The law basically considers them fair game for any man, but Nina really doesn't want this to happen so she dreads the XVI tattoo she will get which will mark her as a 16-year-old.

Commentary
I definitely picked up this book because the premise was intriguing. The book itself, in some ways reminds me of The Handmaid's Tale with its myriad of rules although its not as bleak as The Handmaid's Tale, which I find to be a good thing although others may disagree.

Things happen pretty quickly in the story, so don't blink because you might miss something that is happening. The rapid pacing though, somewhat detracts from the philosophical journey that is going through Nina's head as she finds other people who share her viewpoint about sex.

While the premise was intriguing, I'm not entirely sure that the scope of the story was wide enough to hit the reader with the full impact of the society. I do worry about the safety of the characters (Nina and her sister in particular) but I feel like I'm viewing their world from a place of safety rather than almost being Nina. With the bumper crop of dystopian pieces out there, it is likely that you will find one which will hold your interest for longer.

Star Rating: 3.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

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Book Party Post ^.^

Review: The Interdimensional Dumpster by Ray Connor

The Interdimensional Dumpster by Ray Connor

Summary
Willie Ford is 12 years old when his parents tell him that he was found in a dumpster 10 years ago. And not just any dumpster, one where a criminal jumped into moments before Willie was found. When the police looked into the dumpster to chase the criminal, they found Willie instead. Some days later, Willie unknowingly climbs into that same dumpster and finds a magical land.

Commentary
This is a middle grade book (7-8? or well that's when I might have read it anyway although since our hero is 12 that may make more sense...) so it was pretty simplistic in its story, which is not necessarily a bad thing for the level of reading.

There is a video game theme which runs throughout the book which may appeal to mostly young boys, and actually, I was somewhat amused by it. The characters are quirky which I tend to like although again there was some oversimplification of characters because there were quite a few despite the short length of the book.

You should consider getting this for a younger boy as a fun read.

Star Rating: 3.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

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Review: Wither (Chemical Garden #1) by Lauren DeStefano

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Copy Courtesy of Simon and Schuster via Galley Grab
Release: March 22, 2011

Summary
Rhine is sixteen in a world where girls die by the time they are 20 and guys by the time they are 25 from a genetic virus. She has been kidnapped and forced to marry Linden. All she thinks about is how to escape back to her twin brother, but Linden's father is bent on using her for his genetic experiments to save his son before he too succumbs to the virus.

Commentary
I'm somewhat disappointed because I was pretty excited about this book. The premise is perhaps a bit silly because there aren't any genetic reasons for the numbers 20 for girls and 25 for guys, but the idea of what could happen with a society whose lifespan is severely shortened was novel enough for me.

The description of how the world had turned brutal worked well for me, and I liked how it affected class divisions (rich vs poor). Since Rhine had sisters wives who were also married to Linden, the author was able to give varying perspectives on their situation as well as the world, which I enjoyed although I didn't connect with any of the characters in particular.

While reading, I felt like I was observing the events in the book through a telescope. Things were happening, but they didn't feel important, as if the whole decadent household of Linden was a staged play (especially the ending). I liked the story, but I don't feel an urge to recommend to it to anyone.

Star Rating: 3.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

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Review: Princess for Hire (Princess for Hire #1) by Lindsey Leavitt

Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt

Summary
Desi is hopelessly in love with a very cute boy in her class. Unfortunately, he is dating her former best friend who despises her so when Desi is offered a chance to become a stand-in princess, she jumps at the chance. Little does she know that the glamorous life of subbing for princesses is harder than she imagined.

Commentary
This is definitely one of those cute, fun, fluffy, and mostly brainless reads. I picked this book up after I had read a few dystopian pieces because its pink cover and frivolous title hinted that I would get a happy story. Happily, it provided just what I needed to recharge my reading batteries for heavier material.

A lot of this book is very silly which is great for lightening the mood and to just not think about what your reading. This book captures some of the wonder of being a princess although it also adds in how reality can make things different. I enjoyed these aspects although the end gets a bit too moral of the story for such a fun book.

Granted, a lot of YA books that I read when I was younger probably had moral of the story even when they were fun although I just don't seem to remember those parts as well. The morals have likely already been embedded deep within my mind somewhere. So, this was just a generally cute read.

Star Rating: 3.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

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Review: Mistress of Nothing by Kate Pullinger

Mistress of Nothing by Kate Pullinger

Copy Courtesy of First Reads and Simon and Schuster/Touchstone
Already Published

Summary
Sally is a lady's made to a vibrant Lady of London society - Lady Duff Gordon. Lady Gordon is sick with tuberculosis, and the doctor has prescribed the treatment of going to Egypt to help clear her lungs. Once in Egypt, despite having served her lady faithfully for many years, something happens, and Sarah find that she is mistress of nothing.

Commentary
The preface of the book (as well as the title and summary) informs you of the impending disaster so you are anticipating it the entire time. I think this expectation marred the otherwise pleasant journey through Egypt. Granted, without the expectation, I might have found the journey to be boring so obviously I'm just hard to please.

Mistress of Nothing reads very much like a diary. The story takes place in a time of political turmoil in Egypt, and I found the greater surrounding Sally's journey to be a very interesting setting despite the fact that the politics really didn't intrude very often. I could sort of connected with the characters, but I can't say that I really liked any of them.

If you like slice of life stories, you may enjoy reading this one The disaster, when it happens, is one that I'm not sure fits into the picture very well. It should be noted that this is based on a true story so it must be somewhat accurate, and real life in general is messy unlike nice neat books.

Star Rating: 3.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

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Review: The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer

The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer

Summary
Cosmo Hill is an orphan, whose parentage couldn't be identified so he belongs to the Clarissa Frayne Institute for Parentally Challenged Boys. They rent boys out as test subjects for companies. Cosmo knows that if he stays, he will die. So he tries to escape only to find himself a part of a group who is trying to save the world from creatures that noone can see, creatures that are stealing people's lives.

Commentary
I love the world that Eoin Colfer has created for this novel. The corporate takeover of so many aspects of the world speaks to a lot of the increasing amount of power which companies wield. I would almost classify this as a dystopian book although it's much more a world gone a little too far rather than a complete police state so I wouldn't put it in that category.

Cosmo Hill gets really lucky all throughout this book to the point of deus ex machina. I don't mind a character getting lucky a couple of times because special circumstances are better story fodder, but pulling out another hidden talent every time he got into a tight situation does not a good story make.

The ending was also a somewhat predictable. Thus, despite very much admiring the world that Colfer had created, I am a little disappointed in the overall story.

Star Rating: 3.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

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Review: Royal Assassin (Farseer #2) by Robin Hobb

Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb

*Note: This is the second book in the series and this review may contain some spoilers although really not that many. You should read my review of the first book Assassin's Apprentice*

Summary
The Raiders continue to raid the shores of the Six Duchies while Fitz recovers from being poisoned. Fitz also admits to falling in love with Molly who is now at Buckkeep as a servant. As the situation in the Six Duchies gets worse and worse. Fitz scrambles to keep his word to the King and to help keep Regal from destroying everything precious to him.

Commentary
The biggest thing you will notice about this book is how incredibly long it is. I often felt like things were happening at a crawling pace. I believe this is deliberate since it mirrors Fitz's mounting frustration throughout the novel, but it made the book really hard to get through.

Despite the pacing, I did enjoy the story itself as it is unapologetic about reality's harshness for someone in Fitz's position as a bastard assassin, and the depth with which Hobb writes is very much appreciated. The choices characters have to make are all tough, which made for interesting situations.

While I want to know what happens to Fitz, I'm dreading the slow pace of events that has been prevalent through the first two books of this trilogy. Also, the tone of this series is very much bleak so that also contributed to the slow pace feeling.

Star Rating: 3.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

This is one of the books I've read and reviewed for the fantasy mini-challenge. Progress 12/13 books.

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Review: Across the Nightingale Floor (Tales of the Otori #1) by Lian Hearn

Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn

Summary
Against the backdrop of feudal Japan, this tale unfolds. Takeo is the sole survivor of the massacre of his village. He is saved from certain death by one Lord Otori, who becomes his mentor and father figure. One day, Takeo hopes to confront the man who slaughtered his mother, sisters, and everything he had known.

Commentary
There are parts of this book, which I loved a lot. Feudal Japan has so much beauty despite the prevalence of violence and the harshness of the honor systems which everyone is bound by. Hearn describes this time period with depth, detail, and style.

I loved the journey the reader takes with Takeo through his training (reminds me of heist books, which I've mentioned before I enjoy). Unfortunately, Takeo is also a rather flat character who can seem to do no wrong. Lord Otori is an interesting figure although he also does not have many flaws. Granted, that's the way feudal Japan liked to portray its heroes especially with the Japanese penchant for silence in regards to flaws.

I have to admit that the story dragged at times, which made it hard to continue reading. I did end up enjoying a good majority of it though, so I think Across the Nightingale Floor is worth taking a look if you enjoy gorgeous imagery although I don't plan to read the books in the rest of the series.

Star Rating: 3.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

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Review: Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Summary
Coraline is a somewhat neglected little girl whose parents work at home, but are to busy to pay attention to her. They have moved into a new house where there is a mysterious door that seems to lead to nowhere, but in the middle of the night leads to another world which contains her other mother and other father. It seems nice, but there are sinister things afoot.

Commentary
I will note that I saw the movie before I ever read the book, and so the plot did not come as much of a surprise. This also meant that, in my mind's eye, I was viewing the characters as they were portrayed in the movie instead of something unique that my mind thought up.

I liked this story; I thought it was perhaps somewhat creepy, but that was to be expected from the premise. It's not so spooky that it should not be read by kids, but there is definitely a sinister element to it although I think the movie portrays that part better than the book.

Coraline goes through various quests because the other mother wants to keep her from in this world that the other mother has created. There is a moral to this that you should not neglect your kids, and that getting everything you want is not a good thing for kids.

I would consider this to be a middle grade read rather than a pure YA.

Star Rating: 3.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

This is one of the books I've read and reviewed for the fantasy mini-challenge. Progress 8/13 books.

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