3 stars -- I liked it, but not as much as the first two books
Book three of The Last Survivors books picks up after book one (Life as We Knew It) and book two (The Dead and the Gone) leave off and combines them. This World We Live In returns to Miranda's house as the long winter ends.
I swear that the cover says, "For those who wonder what happened next," though a quick glance at the Amazon Look Inside option doesn't show it... I may have imagined it. I do things like that. But this book really is for those who wonder what happened next for both Miranda and Alex. They had both been left in extremely emaciated states, both seemed to be on the brink of death, and while the endings of the previous books were hopeful, things were so far gone that readers couldn't be sure what the characters' futures would be.
This World We Live In continues Miranda and Alex's stories. It's an interesting read, and without giving any more away than is already on the cover, readers can imagine what feelings spark up between Miranda and Alex, seeing as the world has so many less ways for young people to meet and interact.
Alec and Miranda's stories intertwine when Alex shows up at her house with her dad and his new family. They've formed become a family in their own rights when their travels led them all in the same direction for a while.
There are a lot of characters in this novel, which is different compared to the lack of characters in the previous two novels. It lent a completely different feel to the novel, despite going back to Miranda's journaling-style of writing.
The book gave more depth to the post-apocalyptic world that Ms. Pfeffer has created, but the ending seemed more hopeless than the other books. I almost feel like there's not much more she can do with this world, because things are just continually deteriorating and nothing ever improves. But it's a writer's perogative to turn things around on a dime if need be.
Overall, I really like the series. I like the post-apocalyptic descriptions and the amount of thought that had to go into everything that could and would go wrong with a seemingly innocuous event. But this third book is the least favorite of the three, and I'm not sure I would intentionally recommend it to anyone.
Showing posts with label 3 stars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 3 stars. Show all posts
Friday, June 18, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
3 stars -- Meh...
I'm not sure if I'm being overly generous by giving this book three stars or not. It might only deserve two stars, but I think because the writing was decent, I'll stick with three stars. I will say, "Shame on you, HarperCollins. Start publishing higher-quality books!" (I find I am most frequently disappointed by Harper's books... they have so much promise, such beautiful covers and copy, and then they just go flat. Good marketing and upsell; bad manuscripts [or perhaps editing].)
The Body Finder is about Violet, who can sense the bodies of murdered victims. The majority of her life, it's been dead animals that were killed by other animals, but when she was eight years old, she found a girl. And now, years later, she's finding more.
I really like serial-killer-type books/shows. I loved Profiler when I was younger, and I adore Dexter despite its terrible acting. I'm fascinated by Wikipedia entries about serial killers. I really like the suspense that can be played up and the peeks granted into a psychopath's mind. I was really looking forward to reading this novel!
Unfortunately, it seems like the main storyline is actually, "Will Violet and Jay get together?" rather than the serial killer. Which, of course, duh. Readers can see it from chapter one, and Violet's angstiness is annoying. But I guess when one reads YA, one should expect angstiness...?
So without giving everything away (except, apparently, the main plot), the book is engagingly written. I was able to believe the characters even when they got on my nerves; there's a nice love story, which is now and then interrupted by murders. So although there's nothing deep or mind-grabbing that would make me pick this book up again, it's not the worst thing in the world to read. I just wish there had been more focus on Violet's actual abilities and the interplay between her and the serial killer (more suspense, I suppose), and less focus on Violet and Jay (less lust, I think).
Also, hide the mystery better. I hate it when I know the end of the book before I'm even through the first couple chapters.
I'm not sure if I'm being overly generous by giving this book three stars or not. It might only deserve two stars, but I think because the writing was decent, I'll stick with three stars. I will say, "Shame on you, HarperCollins. Start publishing higher-quality books!" (I find I am most frequently disappointed by Harper's books... they have so much promise, such beautiful covers and copy, and then they just go flat. Good marketing and upsell; bad manuscripts [or perhaps editing].)
The Body Finder is about Violet, who can sense the bodies of murdered victims. The majority of her life, it's been dead animals that were killed by other animals, but when she was eight years old, she found a girl. And now, years later, she's finding more.
I really like serial-killer-type books/shows. I loved Profiler when I was younger, and I adore Dexter despite its terrible acting. I'm fascinated by Wikipedia entries about serial killers. I really like the suspense that can be played up and the peeks granted into a psychopath's mind. I was really looking forward to reading this novel!
Unfortunately, it seems like the main storyline is actually, "Will Violet and Jay get together?" rather than the serial killer. Which, of course, duh. Readers can see it from chapter one, and Violet's angstiness is annoying. But I guess when one reads YA, one should expect angstiness...?
So without giving everything away (except, apparently, the main plot), the book is engagingly written. I was able to believe the characters even when they got on my nerves; there's a nice love story, which is now and then interrupted by murders. So although there's nothing deep or mind-grabbing that would make me pick this book up again, it's not the worst thing in the world to read. I just wish there had been more focus on Violet's actual abilities and the interplay between her and the serial killer (more suspense, I suppose), and less focus on Violet and Jay (less lust, I think).
Also, hide the mystery better. I hate it when I know the end of the book before I'm even through the first couple chapters.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Soulless by Gail Carriger
4 fluffy bunnies
Soulless makes me giggle when I think about it. I really have no way to categorize this book, because it's nearly a smut book but just doesn't quite reach that level. I suspect that the lack of heaving bosoms and pulsing members is what prevents it from being what I consider straight-out smut.
The premise of the book is quite interesting, though just another drop in the well of books about vampires and werewolves. The added twist to this particular story is that in addition to the supernatural, there is also the preternatural, ie, those without souls.
The main character, Alexia Tarabotti, just happens to be such a preternatural. While perfectly normal looking (well, unattractive, according to standards of the day), the 26-year-old spinster (this is 19th-century London, after all) can negate the supernatural powers of werewolves and vampires with a single touch. Her inquisitive, obstinate nature and preternatural status constantly put Alexia in compromising and potentially dangerous situations, which tend to lead to Lord Conall Maccon, alpha werewolf of the local pack and head of BUR (a government agency that supervises the supernaturals) being called in.
Alexia and Conall irritate each other to no end, so there's the sexual tension...
With a little steampunk thrown in for fun, Soulless is a fun, guilty-pleasure type of novel. You read it not for any type of edification, but because you like vampires, werewolves, and a little bit of pinch and tickle and don't mind wasting a few hours of your day.
Soulless makes me giggle when I think about it. I really have no way to categorize this book, because it's nearly a smut book but just doesn't quite reach that level. I suspect that the lack of heaving bosoms and pulsing members is what prevents it from being what I consider straight-out smut.
The premise of the book is quite interesting, though just another drop in the well of books about vampires and werewolves. The added twist to this particular story is that in addition to the supernatural, there is also the preternatural, ie, those without souls.
The main character, Alexia Tarabotti, just happens to be such a preternatural. While perfectly normal looking (well, unattractive, according to standards of the day), the 26-year-old spinster (this is 19th-century London, after all) can negate the supernatural powers of werewolves and vampires with a single touch. Her inquisitive, obstinate nature and preternatural status constantly put Alexia in compromising and potentially dangerous situations, which tend to lead to Lord Conall Maccon, alpha werewolf of the local pack and head of BUR (a government agency that supervises the supernaturals) being called in.
Alexia and Conall irritate each other to no end, so there's the sexual tension...
With a little steampunk thrown in for fun, Soulless is a fun, guilty-pleasure type of novel. You read it not for any type of edification, but because you like vampires, werewolves, and a little bit of pinch and tickle and don't mind wasting a few hours of your day.
The Foretelling by Alice Hoffman
3 stars -- It's okay
I really prefer the softcover image to the hardcover of The Foretelling, but that's neither here nor there.
The Foretelling is about a girl named Rain, whose mother is the queen of the Amazonians. Destined to become queen herself, Rain struggles to inherit her birthright, because her mother treats her like she doesn't even exist. Rain was conceived by rape, and her mother has never forgiven herself for her weakness, her attackers for their intrusion, nor her daughter for being who she is, the personification of sorrow in human form.
Rain invests herself in becoming the best equestrian around, as horses are the reason the Amazonians have been able to defeat their enemies. She also excels at training to be a warrior and even manages to capture and tame a bear. She seems to be all that is needed in an Amazonian queen, but foretellings of her future predict that her own people will turn on her.
I have to say that the book is rather anticlimactic. While well-written and quite lovely as a story, not much actually happens. The brother that promises to be the spark of the conflict is taken care of with little issue, and the face-off between Rain and her people is peaceful. Granted, Rain is supposed to be the new way of the Amazonians, but there is so little actual action in this book that I was disappointed. The love story in place also seems to sputter and fizzle out without disturbing the peacefulness found in the telling of the story.
The Foretelling isn't bad, but it's not that good either. For a book about a warfaring people, the telling is suprisingly mild.
I really prefer the softcover image to the hardcover of The Foretelling, but that's neither here nor there.
The Foretelling is about a girl named Rain, whose mother is the queen of the Amazonians. Destined to become queen herself, Rain struggles to inherit her birthright, because her mother treats her like she doesn't even exist. Rain was conceived by rape, and her mother has never forgiven herself for her weakness, her attackers for their intrusion, nor her daughter for being who she is, the personification of sorrow in human form.
Rain invests herself in becoming the best equestrian around, as horses are the reason the Amazonians have been able to defeat their enemies. She also excels at training to be a warrior and even manages to capture and tame a bear. She seems to be all that is needed in an Amazonian queen, but foretellings of her future predict that her own people will turn on her.
I have to say that the book is rather anticlimactic. While well-written and quite lovely as a story, not much actually happens. The brother that promises to be the spark of the conflict is taken care of with little issue, and the face-off between Rain and her people is peaceful. Granted, Rain is supposed to be the new way of the Amazonians, but there is so little actual action in this book that I was disappointed. The love story in place also seems to sputter and fizzle out without disturbing the peacefulness found in the telling of the story.
The Foretelling isn't bad, but it's not that good either. For a book about a warfaring people, the telling is suprisingly mild.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Shadowland by Alyson Noel
3 stars... It's okay.
Hmm. This one has me confused. Well, not this book... nothing is confusing about this book or its series, but Amazon seems to have something wrong with it. See Shadowland is the third book in The Immortals series. Evermore is the first book and Blue Moon the second. But you'll notice I linked to the Library Edition of Blue Moon because the paperback version has some crazy plain cover that looks like it's for a foreign country... or maybe an ARC (advanced reading copy).
Also, Amazon says I rated both Evermore and Blue Moon as one star, and while they're certainly not the most brilliant books on the planet, I can't imagine that I would have rated them "I hate it" both times. Especially since I didn't particurlarly hate Shadowland. I tend to only give the worst of the worst the one-star rating.
So this has me puzzled, but certainly still able to comment about Shadowland.
Shadowland picks up right where Blue Moon left off, and there are enough clues in this book to help readers remember what happened in previous books. In the first two books you'll read all about Ever and Damen, two teens stuck in a cycle of falling in love, finding each other, and then Ever dies (rather like Fallen, but this series was written first, so it gets the props). In the first book, though, Damen gives Ever the elixer he drinks to keep himself immortal, bringing her back from the dead and making her immortal as well. In the first book, Ever kills Damen's crazy stalker immortal girlfriend.
In the second book, another immortal enters the scene, brainwashes everyone but Ever, and eventually she saves the day, though screwing up and making it so that should Ever ever touch Damen, he will die a horrific death.
So book three is all about Ever trying to fix the no-touching curse she and Damen are under, and Damen becoming Mr. Trying-To-Make-Things-Right-with-Karma-Guy.
I think I was most frustrated with Ever because she learned in the last book that jumping into things and not listening to the right people can have drastic results--the whole reason she's looking around now. You could forgive her previously because she's new at the whole immortal thing, and then she's new at the whole Summerland thing, and she's new with manifestation and chakras and all the crazy stuff... But now she should know better. And she just doesn't.
While the story didn't advance much in this book, the highlight is the addition of Jude. Alas and alack, this adds the love triangle to a previously straightforward love story, but Jude is just a nice character. He's laid-back and seemingly attractive (he is in my head anyway) and just genuinely nice. Besides, love triangles are interesting.
So I leave you with a convoluted and muddled: I don't know if you should read this series? (Pitch the mental voice upwards toward the end of the sentence.) Shadowland was okay, but apparently I didn't like the first two books and since I don't remember not liking them, I'm not sure what I found wrong with them.
Feel free to read the series and remind what I hated so much.
Hmm. This one has me confused. Well, not this book... nothing is confusing about this book or its series, but Amazon seems to have something wrong with it. See Shadowland is the third book in The Immortals series. Evermore is the first book and Blue Moon the second. But you'll notice I linked to the Library Edition of Blue Moon because the paperback version has some crazy plain cover that looks like it's for a foreign country... or maybe an ARC (advanced reading copy).
Also, Amazon says I rated both Evermore and Blue Moon as one star, and while they're certainly not the most brilliant books on the planet, I can't imagine that I would have rated them "I hate it" both times. Especially since I didn't particurlarly hate Shadowland. I tend to only give the worst of the worst the one-star rating.
So this has me puzzled, but certainly still able to comment about Shadowland.
Shadowland picks up right where Blue Moon left off, and there are enough clues in this book to help readers remember what happened in previous books. In the first two books you'll read all about Ever and Damen, two teens stuck in a cycle of falling in love, finding each other, and then Ever dies (rather like Fallen, but this series was written first, so it gets the props). In the first book, though, Damen gives Ever the elixer he drinks to keep himself immortal, bringing her back from the dead and making her immortal as well. In the first book, Ever kills Damen's crazy stalker immortal girlfriend.
In the second book, another immortal enters the scene, brainwashes everyone but Ever, and eventually she saves the day, though screwing up and making it so that should Ever ever touch Damen, he will die a horrific death.
So book three is all about Ever trying to fix the no-touching curse she and Damen are under, and Damen becoming Mr. Trying-To-Make-Things-Right-with-Karma-Guy.
I think I was most frustrated with Ever because she learned in the last book that jumping into things and not listening to the right people can have drastic results--the whole reason she's looking around now. You could forgive her previously because she's new at the whole immortal thing, and then she's new at the whole Summerland thing, and she's new with manifestation and chakras and all the crazy stuff... But now she should know better. And she just doesn't.
While the story didn't advance much in this book, the highlight is the addition of Jude. Alas and alack, this adds the love triangle to a previously straightforward love story, but Jude is just a nice character. He's laid-back and seemingly attractive (he is in my head anyway) and just genuinely nice. Besides, love triangles are interesting.
So I leave you with a convoluted and muddled: I don't know if you should read this series? (Pitch the mental voice upwards toward the end of the sentence.) Shadowland was okay, but apparently I didn't like the first two books and since I don't remember not liking them, I'm not sure what I found wrong with them.
Feel free to read the series and remind what I hated so much.
Monday, February 22, 2010
The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
3.5 stars -- It's okay.
A Christian werewolf story!?! Remember how well I liked the Christian vampire story? Well, this one worked much better.
In fact, I'm not completely sure that The Dark Divine is technically supposed to be Christian, and that may be why it worked better.
Grace Divine is the daughter of a pastor. She has a seemingly idyllic life... except for one thing from her past. A while back, Grace's family took in the neighbor boy, her brother Jude's best friend, because his father was abusive. A few years later, Daniel disappeared and Jude came home covered in blood. And no one would tell Grace what happened.
But now Daniel has returned... in worse shape than he left certainly, and Grace, always attracted to him before, still can't resist him today--despite her brother's warnings to leave Daniel alone.
Turns out (to the surprise of no one) that Daniel is a werewolf. And Grace's entire family, excepting herself, knows. In fact, Grace's father, the pastor, is trying to help Daniel find a cure.
See, in this storyline, werewolves were a creation of God, perverted by Satan. Strong and superhero-like human if they manage to remain pure, they turn into the wolf after their first kill.
This was a pretty solid YA book. I liked it for what it was. It's not superfabulous, but it's certainly not terrible. Also, it wasn't as completely predictable as most of the books I've been reading lately have been, which was a nice change of pace.
So if you want to see how to do Christianity and werewolves, take a look here. It can also help if you want to Christianity and vampires, zombies, or sea creatures.
BUT you don't have to be a Christian to read this, and it certainly isn't trying to convert you. It's just a fun read.
A Christian werewolf story!?! Remember how well I liked the Christian vampire story? Well, this one worked much better.
In fact, I'm not completely sure that The Dark Divine is technically supposed to be Christian, and that may be why it worked better.
Grace Divine is the daughter of a pastor. She has a seemingly idyllic life... except for one thing from her past. A while back, Grace's family took in the neighbor boy, her brother Jude's best friend, because his father was abusive. A few years later, Daniel disappeared and Jude came home covered in blood. And no one would tell Grace what happened.
But now Daniel has returned... in worse shape than he left certainly, and Grace, always attracted to him before, still can't resist him today--despite her brother's warnings to leave Daniel alone.
Turns out (to the surprise of no one) that Daniel is a werewolf. And Grace's entire family, excepting herself, knows. In fact, Grace's father, the pastor, is trying to help Daniel find a cure.
See, in this storyline, werewolves were a creation of God, perverted by Satan. Strong and superhero-like human if they manage to remain pure, they turn into the wolf after their first kill.
This was a pretty solid YA book. I liked it for what it was. It's not superfabulous, but it's certainly not terrible. Also, it wasn't as completely predictable as most of the books I've been reading lately have been, which was a nice change of pace.
So if you want to see how to do Christianity and werewolves, take a look here. It can also help if you want to Christianity and vampires, zombies, or sea creatures.
BUT you don't have to be a Christian to read this, and it certainly isn't trying to convert you. It's just a fun read.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Captivate by Carrie Jones
3.5 stars -- I like it.
The sequel to Need, Captivate picks up shortly after Need left off. The author and publisher did very well carrying the themes through. The covers fit together well, and they're both beautiful and haunting. The storyline follows well (as far as I can recall). There are enough clues in Captivate for me to recall what the first book was about without having it regurgitated in its entirety.
I have to admit, I don't really remember the first book at all. I rated it 4 stars, so I must have liked it fairly well, but it didn't stick in my head as anything amazing.
Thus, I don't know if how the characters acted in this book fits well with what happened in the first book, but they fit well for this book. This book feels a bit more "needy" than the first book. More gasping teen hormones than I recalled, but since I didn't recall Nick, the love interest, at all...
All of that to say: take this review as being about a stand-alone novel rather than a sequel, even though it is a sequel and you should definitely read the first book if you're going to read this one.
Captivate has a somewhat unusual plot line. There are fairies and were-things (not merely werewolves, though Nick is that), and in this book we've added some Norse mythology and mythological creatures. Surprisingly, there are no vampires, though they could appear in future books, I'm sure.
Zara, the main character, a half-fairy/half-human hybrid and, conveniently, daughter of the local fairy king, has trapped (with the help of her boyfriend and friends) the local fairy population in a glamour-hidden house (the plot of Need there).
Now Zara, Nick, and her friends patrol the area for pixies that come into the area and drag them to the house to be trapped as well. Except... with the fairy king weak and incapacitated in the house, new fairy kings will try to take over. And that's what this book is about.
I have to say I was quite disappointed by the happenings in this book, though I still liked the storyline well enough and it was a fun read (probably more fun if you can remember the first book). I think the third book will probably make me feel better about this book and its ending, although with the unflattering description of pixies, I'm not sure I could ever like one... although, as happens in fiction, all things are reversible given the right magic.
I don't want to give too much away, because (although you'll figure things out quickly enough if you read the book) I don't want to give so much away that you don't have to read the books at all.
This is a typical YA fantasy book, so if that's your thing, I say go ahead and pick up this series. It's on par with Twilight as far as depth, although it never reaches the same emotional level (which, admittedly, is the main draw to Twilight, but you can still read this for a fun, quick, fantasy escape).
The sequel to Need, Captivate picks up shortly after Need left off. The author and publisher did very well carrying the themes through. The covers fit together well, and they're both beautiful and haunting. The storyline follows well (as far as I can recall). There are enough clues in Captivate for me to recall what the first book was about without having it regurgitated in its entirety.
I have to admit, I don't really remember the first book at all. I rated it 4 stars, so I must have liked it fairly well, but it didn't stick in my head as anything amazing.
Thus, I don't know if how the characters acted in this book fits well with what happened in the first book, but they fit well for this book. This book feels a bit more "needy" than the first book. More gasping teen hormones than I recalled, but since I didn't recall Nick, the love interest, at all...
All of that to say: take this review as being about a stand-alone novel rather than a sequel, even though it is a sequel and you should definitely read the first book if you're going to read this one.
Captivate has a somewhat unusual plot line. There are fairies and were-things (not merely werewolves, though Nick is that), and in this book we've added some Norse mythology and mythological creatures. Surprisingly, there are no vampires, though they could appear in future books, I'm sure.
Zara, the main character, a half-fairy/half-human hybrid and, conveniently, daughter of the local fairy king, has trapped (with the help of her boyfriend and friends) the local fairy population in a glamour-hidden house (the plot of Need there).
Now Zara, Nick, and her friends patrol the area for pixies that come into the area and drag them to the house to be trapped as well. Except... with the fairy king weak and incapacitated in the house, new fairy kings will try to take over. And that's what this book is about.
I have to say I was quite disappointed by the happenings in this book, though I still liked the storyline well enough and it was a fun read (probably more fun if you can remember the first book). I think the third book will probably make me feel better about this book and its ending, although with the unflattering description of pixies, I'm not sure I could ever like one... although, as happens in fiction, all things are reversible given the right magic.
I don't want to give too much away, because (although you'll figure things out quickly enough if you read the book) I don't want to give so much away that you don't have to read the books at all.
This is a typical YA fantasy book, so if that's your thing, I say go ahead and pick up this series. It's on par with Twilight as far as depth, although it never reaches the same emotional level (which, admittedly, is the main draw to Twilight, but you can still read this for a fun, quick, fantasy escape).
Monday, January 25, 2010
Dark Visions by L.J. Smith
3.5 stars -- I sort of like this
I picked this one up off the express shelf in the library because I liked the cover. Check it out!
This book, Dark Visions is a bind-up of L.J. Smith's trilogy of the same name. Remember when I said I liked the cover? Check out the originals: The Strange Power, The Possessed, and Passion. How cover treatments change in just 15 years!
I was a bit worried about this bind-up. I know that sometimes books are bound together when the originals didn't have sales as high as initially projected. They can also be bound up if the author is really popular and the bind-up will appeal to the author's fans. They can also do bind-ups of books that are extremely popular (Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia). And finally, they can do a bind-up to boost sales by giving the books a new look and feel. I assumed this book was the first option, but now (looking at those covers *shudder*), I'm guessing it might be the last one instead.
I really like the first book in the series (or in my case, in the bind-up). The Strange Power introduces the characters and their powers, has the start of a good love story, has some really evil characters, etc. It was a decent book on its own, but it was clearly written with a sequel in mind.
However, in the second book, The Possessed, I started to lose interest... or perhaps things were getting just a bit too far-fetched. Which, when it comes to mental powers, really how far-fetched is too far-fetched? Well, survivors of Atlantis, I think, is a bit too far-fetched. Plus, I really didn't like seeing the nice love story turning all love-triangly. Granted, the back-ad assures the reader beforehand that that's how it's going to go, and really, the initial love story is just a bit sickenly sweet, but still...
And finally, the third book, Passion, just loses me completely. Our main character, Kait (she of the love triangle, corner #3), attempts to get all bad-ass and fails miserably. Corner #2 of the love triangle is this back-and-forth of love and hate, miserable self-loathing and surperiority, etc. A man of mixed signals is what I would call him. Corner #1 is clueless and helpless (but overwhelmingly GOOD and GOLD and LIGHT) and mostly not in the story at all.
The ending, I think, is what lost me. Everything is just tied up too nicely. Corner #1 gets another girl (which the author kindly hinted at throughout the third story so it wouldn't be a surprise when it happens... I found this too convenient and contrived to be believable). Corner #2 gets Kait, because they are a better match as they are not so GOOD and GOLD and LIGHT as corner #1 (he gets the girl who is WISE and PATIENT and UNDERSTANDING [and the caps are because that is how these two people are described in the books over and over and over and over again so that I can't think of them but in all caps]).
Really, though, I was pleasantly surprised with the books. They're not terrible, and I wouldn't tell you not to read them. They're just not good, so I wouldn't actually go around recommending them either. (Unlike this book, which is amazing and has a sequel coming out soon. READ IT. And I put up the kindle link, because the old cover was amazing and the new cover is NOT.)
I picked this one up off the express shelf in the library because I liked the cover. Check it out!
This book, Dark Visions is a bind-up of L.J. Smith's trilogy of the same name. Remember when I said I liked the cover? Check out the originals: The Strange Power, The Possessed, and Passion. How cover treatments change in just 15 years!
I was a bit worried about this bind-up. I know that sometimes books are bound together when the originals didn't have sales as high as initially projected. They can also be bound up if the author is really popular and the bind-up will appeal to the author's fans. They can also do bind-ups of books that are extremely popular (Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia). And finally, they can do a bind-up to boost sales by giving the books a new look and feel. I assumed this book was the first option, but now (looking at those covers *shudder*), I'm guessing it might be the last one instead.
I really like the first book in the series (or in my case, in the bind-up). The Strange Power introduces the characters and their powers, has the start of a good love story, has some really evil characters, etc. It was a decent book on its own, but it was clearly written with a sequel in mind.
However, in the second book, The Possessed, I started to lose interest... or perhaps things were getting just a bit too far-fetched. Which, when it comes to mental powers, really how far-fetched is too far-fetched? Well, survivors of Atlantis, I think, is a bit too far-fetched. Plus, I really didn't like seeing the nice love story turning all love-triangly. Granted, the back-ad assures the reader beforehand that that's how it's going to go, and really, the initial love story is just a bit sickenly sweet, but still...
And finally, the third book, Passion, just loses me completely. Our main character, Kait (she of the love triangle, corner #3), attempts to get all bad-ass and fails miserably. Corner #2 of the love triangle is this back-and-forth of love and hate, miserable self-loathing and surperiority, etc. A man of mixed signals is what I would call him. Corner #1 is clueless and helpless (but overwhelmingly GOOD and GOLD and LIGHT) and mostly not in the story at all.
The ending, I think, is what lost me. Everything is just tied up too nicely. Corner #1 gets another girl (which the author kindly hinted at throughout the third story so it wouldn't be a surprise when it happens... I found this too convenient and contrived to be believable). Corner #2 gets Kait, because they are a better match as they are not so GOOD and GOLD and LIGHT as corner #1 (he gets the girl who is WISE and PATIENT and UNDERSTANDING [and the caps are because that is how these two people are described in the books over and over and over and over again so that I can't think of them but in all caps]).
Really, though, I was pleasantly surprised with the books. They're not terrible, and I wouldn't tell you not to read them. They're just not good, so I wouldn't actually go around recommending them either. (Unlike this book, which is amazing and has a sequel coming out soon. READ IT. And I put up the kindle link, because the old cover was amazing and the new cover is NOT.)
Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor
3 stars -- It's okay.
Waiting for Normal is, like The Unfinished Angel, a bit younger than my normal reading age range. Unlike The Unfinished Angel, it didn't make me feel okay about reading so young. Don't get me wrong, it was fine for its age range. I'm sure 9-12-year-olds would enjoy, but I didn't very much.
Like Ash, I put this book down and would pick it up days later without qualms. It was slow moving; there just wasn't much going on. Granted, for a younger age range, this is probably perfectly acceptable. It's also very realistic, which I think is a plus.
The main character, Addie, is 12 years old, and she appears to be the adult in the relationship between herself and her mother. They've just moved into a trailer owned by Addie's ex-step-dad, which means Addie is starting at a new school, has to make new friends, has to explain her learning problems all over again.
Addie's mom is clearly neglectful, leaving Addie alone for days at a time and using the money the step-dad sends for her own personal uses rather than to buy, say, food or clothing. But Addie loves her mom (as most children do... for a few more years at least), and she goes out of her way to protect her and to hide the extent of the neglect... until it just can't be hidden any more.
The story does have a happy ending for Addie, although her coming sibling leaves the adult reader a tad worried (albeit for a fictional unborn character). The book addresses the issues of cancer, homosexuality, neglect, stealing, adoption, step-relationships and half-relationships, and many other things that I think the juvenile crowd would find beneficial to read about and become familiar with. It also does it very well. I was not offended by any of the issues, nor did I feel like I was being beaten over the head with them. If a reader is very young, they probably wouldn't even notice.
So my 3 stars is merely because I wasn't drawn into the story very much, and that I am, obviously, much too old for the genre. But I really feel like readers in the juvenile age range would enjoy and could benefit from reading this story. It's very well written, and Addie's story is relatable and realistic.
Worth introducing to a young reader in your life!
Waiting for Normal is, like The Unfinished Angel, a bit younger than my normal reading age range. Unlike The Unfinished Angel, it didn't make me feel okay about reading so young. Don't get me wrong, it was fine for its age range. I'm sure 9-12-year-olds would enjoy, but I didn't very much.
Like Ash, I put this book down and would pick it up days later without qualms. It was slow moving; there just wasn't much going on. Granted, for a younger age range, this is probably perfectly acceptable. It's also very realistic, which I think is a plus.
The main character, Addie, is 12 years old, and she appears to be the adult in the relationship between herself and her mother. They've just moved into a trailer owned by Addie's ex-step-dad, which means Addie is starting at a new school, has to make new friends, has to explain her learning problems all over again.
Addie's mom is clearly neglectful, leaving Addie alone for days at a time and using the money the step-dad sends for her own personal uses rather than to buy, say, food or clothing. But Addie loves her mom (as most children do... for a few more years at least), and she goes out of her way to protect her and to hide the extent of the neglect... until it just can't be hidden any more.
The story does have a happy ending for Addie, although her coming sibling leaves the adult reader a tad worried (albeit for a fictional unborn character). The book addresses the issues of cancer, homosexuality, neglect, stealing, adoption, step-relationships and half-relationships, and many other things that I think the juvenile crowd would find beneficial to read about and become familiar with. It also does it very well. I was not offended by any of the issues, nor did I feel like I was being beaten over the head with them. If a reader is very young, they probably wouldn't even notice.
So my 3 stars is merely because I wasn't drawn into the story very much, and that I am, obviously, much too old for the genre. But I really feel like readers in the juvenile age range would enjoy and could benefit from reading this story. It's very well written, and Addie's story is relatable and realistic.
Worth introducing to a young reader in your life!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Front and Center by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
4 stars -- I liked it
I seem to be catching up on my series this weekend!
Front and Center is the third book in the Dairy Queen series (Dairy Queen and The Off Season being the first two books), and I liked it just as well as I liked the first two books.
D.J., our main character, is a sports-loving girl who comes from a very athletic family. In the first book, the author focuses on D.J.'s relationship with Brian, a fellow jock from a rival school. It also shows D.J.'s family and how much she gives up (basketball) for her father.
In book two, D.J. joins her school's all-boys football team, and she's great at it. Of course, tension arises when she has to play against Brian and his team, and in the end, their relationship ends.
This book follows D.J. back into basketball, into a new relationship with a likable character, and into her dilemma regarding college.
I think what I like about these stories is that D.J. is just so darn believable. She's not academically smart, and she's not cocky. She's very shy and while, as the reader of her internal dialogue, we can see how intelligent she is (and sometimes isn't), we also get how hard it is for her to communicate what she wants to others.
I also had to cheer her on regarding her relationship with Brian. She obviously still has strong feelings for Brian, but when he treats her wrongly, she lets him know it. And she desperately tries to stick to her ultimatum throughout. Just because she wants to talk to him doesn't mean she lets herself.
I don't know much about sports, so I can't critique the rightness or wrongness of how she is when she plays, but it feels right to me. And D.J.'s brutal honesty (about herself mostly) rings true for how most females feel about themselves, if only expressed more simply/bluntly.
I really like the Dairy Queen books, and I'm not even a sports fan. :)
I seem to be catching up on my series this weekend!
Front and Center is the third book in the Dairy Queen series (Dairy Queen and The Off Season being the first two books), and I liked it just as well as I liked the first two books.
D.J., our main character, is a sports-loving girl who comes from a very athletic family. In the first book, the author focuses on D.J.'s relationship with Brian, a fellow jock from a rival school. It also shows D.J.'s family and how much she gives up (basketball) for her father.
In book two, D.J. joins her school's all-boys football team, and she's great at it. Of course, tension arises when she has to play against Brian and his team, and in the end, their relationship ends.
This book follows D.J. back into basketball, into a new relationship with a likable character, and into her dilemma regarding college.
I think what I like about these stories is that D.J. is just so darn believable. She's not academically smart, and she's not cocky. She's very shy and while, as the reader of her internal dialogue, we can see how intelligent she is (and sometimes isn't), we also get how hard it is for her to communicate what she wants to others.
I also had to cheer her on regarding her relationship with Brian. She obviously still has strong feelings for Brian, but when he treats her wrongly, she lets him know it. And she desperately tries to stick to her ultimatum throughout. Just because she wants to talk to him doesn't mean she lets herself.
I don't know much about sports, so I can't critique the rightness or wrongness of how she is when she plays, but it feels right to me. And D.J.'s brutal honesty (about herself mostly) rings true for how most females feel about themselves, if only expressed more simply/bluntly.
I really like the Dairy Queen books, and I'm not even a sports fan. :)
Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz
3 stars -- It's okay.
Deadly Little Lies is the sequel to Deadly Little Secrets. I rated Deadly Little Secrets 4 stars on Amazon, but this book really only garners 3 from me. I don't remember Deadly Little Secrets very well, so I can't tell you what would make the difference between the 3 and 4 stars; I just know I didn't like this one as well.
Deadly Little Lies, a Touch Novel, still follows the story of Camelia and her attraction to Ben, a boy with extraordinary powers. The last novel finished with him leaving her, but now he's come back.
I think part of the problem I had with this book is that the characters are far too "Twilighty." Replace Ben's name with "Edward" and Camelia's with "Bella," and you could have scenes right out of Twilight. All about her aching for him to touch her, and he unwilling to make contact. Lips trembling with the desire as he reaches toward her wrist, only to pull back without even brushing her skin. And of course, there's the whole stalker issue with him showing up outside her house, crawling in her window, coming to her work uninvited.
It wasn't just Twilight, however, that this copied from. While I know the premise of the series is about Camelia being in danger and Ben saving her, I feel like a lot more could have been done with this book without making it such a repeat of the first.
Camelia has just recently (4 months previously) been abducted and saved, and yet, when the terrorizing notes, intimidating pictures, and threatening phone calls start pouring in, Camelia doesn't go to any real authority for help. In fact, she even lies about it to her dad once, glossing over the details. And while there is always an excuse--her mom hearing bad news about her suicidal aunt, her dad being too busy to hear her quiet voice, a friend's trouble always coming up--when it's your life in danger and you've just been traumatized, it's more believable for me to think you would get help ASAP.
On the other hand, it was nice to have a main character that did pay attention to her friends' troubles (unlike a recent book I've read).
I just don't think that this book added much to the series. We got rid of a character who didn't have to be brought in, added a love triangle that we know isn't going anywhere, and made Camelia go through another traumatizing attack (which, let's face it, if every book is about her getting traumatized, Camelia will probably end up being very untrustful of others and pretty messed up).
Hopefully the next book moves us forward and gets us back on track, because the first book was pretty good.
Deadly Little Lies is the sequel to Deadly Little Secrets. I rated Deadly Little Secrets 4 stars on Amazon, but this book really only garners 3 from me. I don't remember Deadly Little Secrets very well, so I can't tell you what would make the difference between the 3 and 4 stars; I just know I didn't like this one as well.
Deadly Little Lies, a Touch Novel, still follows the story of Camelia and her attraction to Ben, a boy with extraordinary powers. The last novel finished with him leaving her, but now he's come back.
I think part of the problem I had with this book is that the characters are far too "Twilighty." Replace Ben's name with "Edward" and Camelia's with "Bella," and you could have scenes right out of Twilight. All about her aching for him to touch her, and he unwilling to make contact. Lips trembling with the desire as he reaches toward her wrist, only to pull back without even brushing her skin. And of course, there's the whole stalker issue with him showing up outside her house, crawling in her window, coming to her work uninvited.
It wasn't just Twilight, however, that this copied from. While I know the premise of the series is about Camelia being in danger and Ben saving her, I feel like a lot more could have been done with this book without making it such a repeat of the first.
Camelia has just recently (4 months previously) been abducted and saved, and yet, when the terrorizing notes, intimidating pictures, and threatening phone calls start pouring in, Camelia doesn't go to any real authority for help. In fact, she even lies about it to her dad once, glossing over the details. And while there is always an excuse--her mom hearing bad news about her suicidal aunt, her dad being too busy to hear her quiet voice, a friend's trouble always coming up--when it's your life in danger and you've just been traumatized, it's more believable for me to think you would get help ASAP.
On the other hand, it was nice to have a main character that did pay attention to her friends' troubles (unlike a recent book I've read).
I just don't think that this book added much to the series. We got rid of a character who didn't have to be brought in, added a love triangle that we know isn't going anywhere, and made Camelia go through another traumatizing attack (which, let's face it, if every book is about her getting traumatized, Camelia will probably end up being very untrustful of others and pretty messed up).
Hopefully the next book moves us forward and gets us back on track, because the first book was pretty good.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs
3 stars. Or 4 fluffy bunnies. (I'm not really sure whether to rate Oh. My. Gods. as a normal book or as a fluff book. In my head, when I first started reading it, it was a normal book, but now that I've finished it, I'm not sure why it couldn't be fluff.)
Proof that when a book makes it big, all the other publishers jump on the bandwagon, Oh. My. Gods. is very similar to The Lightning Thief. . . . Except it's written for girls.
Phoebe's mom goes to Greece to meet her late husband's extended family and comes back with a fiance. Against, her will, Phoebe is forced to move to a small island near Greece where said fiance is the headmaster of a small school.
Based on the title of the book and the book I compared it to, I'm sure you've already realized that the school is a school for the offspring of the Greek gods. Differing from the Percy Jackson series, Phoebe is not half-god (at least... not in the majority of the story), and therein lies the crux of the story. Everyone hates her because she's normal, and she has a crush on the most popular guy in school, who just happens to be dating the most popular girl in school, who just happens to be a spiteful bitch.
Despite its unsurprising storyline, this was a decent read. It only took a few hours, and it's entertaining. Finding out that Phoebe's crush has a heroes' complex and literally cannot pass up someone who needs help is a welcome and funny surprise for the reader. Seeing the stepsister and Phoebe settle their differences (but not become best friends) is refreshing (although perhaps outweighed by Phoebe's new best friend throwing aside her 10-year dislike of the Phoebe's crush in a matter of minutes).
Overall, as a fluff book, this is a good read. There's romance and betrayal. Lots of teen angst. An evil stepsister. Loyal best friends. New best friends. Perfect matches. A bet reminiscent of the late '90s (think She's All That.) All the components necessary for a good teen read. But if you're looking for something life-changing and mind-altering, you might want to keep looking.
Proof that when a book makes it big, all the other publishers jump on the bandwagon, Oh. My. Gods. is very similar to The Lightning Thief. . . . Except it's written for girls.
Phoebe's mom goes to Greece to meet her late husband's extended family and comes back with a fiance. Against, her will, Phoebe is forced to move to a small island near Greece where said fiance is the headmaster of a small school.
Based on the title of the book and the book I compared it to, I'm sure you've already realized that the school is a school for the offspring of the Greek gods. Differing from the Percy Jackson series, Phoebe is not half-god (at least... not in the majority of the story), and therein lies the crux of the story. Everyone hates her because she's normal, and she has a crush on the most popular guy in school, who just happens to be dating the most popular girl in school, who just happens to be a spiteful bitch.
Despite its unsurprising storyline, this was a decent read. It only took a few hours, and it's entertaining. Finding out that Phoebe's crush has a heroes' complex and literally cannot pass up someone who needs help is a welcome and funny surprise for the reader. Seeing the stepsister and Phoebe settle their differences (but not become best friends) is refreshing (although perhaps outweighed by Phoebe's new best friend throwing aside her 10-year dislike of the Phoebe's crush in a matter of minutes).
Overall, as a fluff book, this is a good read. There's romance and betrayal. Lots of teen angst. An evil stepsister. Loyal best friends. New best friends. Perfect matches. A bet reminiscent of the late '90s (think She's All That.) All the components necessary for a good teen read. But if you're looking for something life-changing and mind-altering, you might want to keep looking.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Betrayals by Lili St. Crow
3.5 stars -- It's ok, but I don't know if I like it :)
The sequel to Strange Angels, Betrayals picks up exactly where the first book left off and does plenty of flashbacks, in italics, to bring you up to speed if you don't quite remember what the first book was about. Surprisingly enough, I did. Usually I don't. I read so many books that details tend to fade and blend together. That Strange Angels didn't should show that it's a worthwhile book. I rated Strange Angels 4 stars on Amazon. I remember being slightly put-off by the whole "She's a unique and special girl with a werewolf for a best friend and a potential vampire crush," but I liked the story line enough that I was looking forward to the sequel.
I thought that this book had a lot of potential, but in reading it, I realized that it didn't quite hit the target. On the other hand, it's possible that it could redeemed by further books in the series... of course, it could continue going downhill.
The majority of Betrayals flies by in a blur... literally for the main character. Dru spends the book--which covers, I believe, about a total of two or three weeks--in constant pain, frequently unconscious, and always completely unsure of what's going on and whom she can trust. She gets in battles every day, and she never comes out on top. That's not to say she doesn't win any, but there's always some caveat--she starts bleeding so the other character wants to eat her; the other character starts bleeding so suddenly she wants to eat him, etc.
I was a bit disappointed in the battle scenes. At one point, Dru runs away from the school she's been at for about a week and winds up entangled in a thorn bush. She hears screaming and sees a werewolf, and at one point (after running from the bush and slamming into a tree) sees the wolf tear apart a vampire. I left the scene believing Dru had been outside for, at the most, an hour, and that she had seen what was going on. But in the next chapter, it turns out that she had been outside most of the night, and there were three dead vampires, not just the one. Dru is described as shuddering and in shock and practically catatonic, though she had seemed fine in the descriptions of the actual battle. This left me saying, "Wait... what??"
Overall, this book wasn't as strong as the first book. Dru seems weak and stupid, whereas in the first book, she was the one who knew what was going on. She didn't necessarily know all of the pieces, but she was still able to defend and protect herself. Now she has to be protected by both of her "guardian angels" time and time again. In the climax, she is literally carried and dragged through the battle while she fades in and out of consciousness by one "angel," while the other is kicking ass for her.
I'm not going to say I didn't like it, but I can't really say that I did either. I guess I'm just waiting for third book to see if this is series is worth following any further.
The sequel to Strange Angels, Betrayals picks up exactly where the first book left off and does plenty of flashbacks, in italics, to bring you up to speed if you don't quite remember what the first book was about. Surprisingly enough, I did. Usually I don't. I read so many books that details tend to fade and blend together. That Strange Angels didn't should show that it's a worthwhile book. I rated Strange Angels 4 stars on Amazon. I remember being slightly put-off by the whole "She's a unique and special girl with a werewolf for a best friend and a potential vampire crush," but I liked the story line enough that I was looking forward to the sequel.
I thought that this book had a lot of potential, but in reading it, I realized that it didn't quite hit the target. On the other hand, it's possible that it could redeemed by further books in the series... of course, it could continue going downhill.
The majority of Betrayals flies by in a blur... literally for the main character. Dru spends the book--which covers, I believe, about a total of two or three weeks--in constant pain, frequently unconscious, and always completely unsure of what's going on and whom she can trust. She gets in battles every day, and she never comes out on top. That's not to say she doesn't win any, but there's always some caveat--she starts bleeding so the other character wants to eat her; the other character starts bleeding so suddenly she wants to eat him, etc.
I was a bit disappointed in the battle scenes. At one point, Dru runs away from the school she's been at for about a week and winds up entangled in a thorn bush. She hears screaming and sees a werewolf, and at one point (after running from the bush and slamming into a tree) sees the wolf tear apart a vampire. I left the scene believing Dru had been outside for, at the most, an hour, and that she had seen what was going on. But in the next chapter, it turns out that she had been outside most of the night, and there were three dead vampires, not just the one. Dru is described as shuddering and in shock and practically catatonic, though she had seemed fine in the descriptions of the actual battle. This left me saying, "Wait... what??"
Overall, this book wasn't as strong as the first book. Dru seems weak and stupid, whereas in the first book, she was the one who knew what was going on. She didn't necessarily know all of the pieces, but she was still able to defend and protect herself. Now she has to be protected by both of her "guardian angels" time and time again. In the climax, she is literally carried and dragged through the battle while she fades in and out of consciousness by one "angel," while the other is kicking ass for her.
I'm not going to say I didn't like it, but I can't really say that I did either. I guess I'm just waiting for third book to see if this is series is worth following any further.
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