The Rules of Survival Review and a Sort Of Hiatus

Hey Blogger Buds,

Those who have been following me for a long time know that I go away every August, to the middle of nowhere without internet. I've considered putting a sibling in charge of the blog, but the Blobfish (AKA: the sister) is super-busy. I try to schedule posts for you, even though I can't put together as many as usual. (I know my blogging has already been pretty...erratic...lately, but that's besides the point.)

I have 2 reviews going up next Tuesday and the one after. I hope to put up another review, though I'm super busy today and I'm leaving tomorrow. I do plan on putting together another few posts, to go up every Sunday (I can't do Sunday and Thursday), but I can't promise. (Seriously--CRAZY busy today.)

I will be back Tuesday, August 21 and I'll put up another post then, if I'm not completely exhausted.

I'm going to have brief internet access, hopefully, on Sunday, August 5th. If you would like to contact me about the blog, I can be reached at RivReads AT gmail DOT com. If you have a more personal, less-official message to send me (I'm going to regret sharing this, aren't I?), I can also be reached at RivReWrites AT gmail DOT com. Blog-related emails WILL NOT BE RESPONDED TO if sent to the second address*.

*Unless you're J K Rowling personally emailing me to offer up a signed ARC of The Casual Vacancy. In which case, maybe.

And, since it's Tuesday, I have a sort-of-mini review for you, as well, of The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin. (Recommended by the aforementioned Blobfish.)

Blurby:

For Matt and his sisters, life with their cruel, vicious mother is a day-to-day struggle for survival. But then Matt witnesses Murdoch coming to a child's rescue in a convenience store, and for the first time, he feels a glimmer of hope.

When, amazingly, Murdoch begins dating Matt's mother, life is suddenly almost good. But the relief lasts only a short time. When Murdoch inevitably breaks up with their mother, Matt knows he needs to take action. But can he call upon his hero? Or will he have to take measures into his own hands?

A heart-wrenching portrait of a family in crisis, this is Nancy Werlin's most compulsively readable novel yet.

Review:

The Rules of Survival was pretty intense, I guess, but I wasn't overwhelmed by it. I do love the style. It was written as a letter (similar to Stolen: A Letter to My Captor) to Matt's younger sister, who was just a child when the book took place. You also, weirdly, know how the book ends before it does. Matt keeps saying how his sister is reading this "after," and she knows XYZ happened. But you still don't know exactly how it's going to go down (I'm reverting to the 80s) until it does, and I was definitely thrown for a few loops. There are multiple climaxes, and they are intense.

One small problem I had was that there was a "big reveal" about Murdoch in the end, something I was able to guess early on. But there was more to it, at least, which I didn't expect.

The Rules of Survival gives you a lot of great insights. Matt's mother wasn't exactly abusive on a regular basis. But that almost makes it worse, because she was unstable. You get inside of Matt's head, and you can understand and sympathize with him, living in a constant state of absolute terror.

I liked the characters well enough, though it's not really my type of book. It was okay, and that's pretty much it. A bit forgettable for my fantasy-centered mind. (I find it harder to care about individual characters when the fate of entire worlds hangs in the balance. And yeah, I'm completely aware that this book is realistic, and, sadly, very commmonplace.)

Rating: 3 stars. It was okay.

Adios,

Riv

A Flyaway Mini-Review; Oh, and POTTER FREAKIN' MORE

(Brownies if you get the "freakin'" reference)
*waves dorkily*

#1:

Flyaway by Helen Landalf

Blurby at Goodreads
Characters: I liked Stevie at first. She has spirit, a personality. But when she refuses to wear clothes that her mom wouldn't like, all I can think is "Ugh! She's such a poseur!"
I hated Stevie's Mom from the get-go. She's self-absorbed, and cares about her "cigs" much more than about her daughter.
The Professor (real name is Van) is sweet...until he falls victim to the "let's turn Boyfriend #1 from a sweetheart into a jerk so our main character will dump him!" trope. (À la Lola)
Alan. Oh, Alan. Let's weigh your actions and excuses. Action: You're rude. Excuse: It's okay, because you're gentle with the injured birds. Action: You're a bully. Excuse: You've had it rough. Action: You publicly outed a Christian. Excuse: (Spoiler. Valid reason, though.) Action: You tripped and bullied a special ed kid until she had to switch schools. Excuse: ... What was that, Alan? Can't hear you over your conscience's cries of pain. It's like killing puppies, Alan. The eighth deadly sin.
Everything Else: The plot is pretty much the only redeeming quality. It kept me up, gripped by Stevie's story. Why? I don't know. There was zero emotion; there was just Stevie telling us what's happening. ("I woke up. I saw Aunt Mindy. She gave me news. I screamed in anger. I slammed the door in her face and went back to sleep.")
What I didn't like about the plot? No grit. A freaking love triangle that served very little purpose besides being a love triangle.
The ending was the best part. It was very fitting.
[/End rant]
Rating: 3* Okay

#2:
You might have heard of this thing. It's called Pottermore.
Yeah. Pottermore.
As in, ya know...

That Pottermore. And they're open.

The Philosopher's Stone part is out already.

I'm in Slytherin which is, apparently, Merlin's house. (And you know about me and Merlin.)

My wand is acacia wood with a dragon heartstring core, 13 inches, brittle.

This one's a bit longer than mine. Source.

So what are you waiting for? Hop on the Express and head over!

Peace and dragons,

Riv

Mini Reviews: Wings of the Wicked; Hold Me Closer, Necromancer; Looking for Alaska

Hey Blogger Buds,
I have these books piling up that I really want to review....I just never get around to it. And time passes, my memory gets foggy with old age, and I lose interest in writing reviews.
So here we go, quickfire.
I've listed a few things here: A goodreads link, a short blurb of my own creation, and a song that connects to the book.

Wings of the Wicked by Courtney Allison Moulton

Linkage: Angelfire Review ~ Will Doll ~ Cadan Doll

Blurby: In the sequel to Angelfire, Ellie has to deal with growing into her powers, her feelings for her guardian, Will, and deceit, while she's struck with tragedy after tragedy and is presented with life-changing secrets.

(Why can't I be this good at blurbing my OWN books?)

Review: WotW was absolutely phenomenal. I was blown away. You've gotten so much more familiar with the characters at this point, and they're all just adorable and amazing. Really strong, and kick-butt. I'm a total "Wellie" shipper. They're there for each other through thick and thin, balancing the other out perfectly. When tragedy strikes, they present a united front, Will holding Ellie while she screams and cries, even when she's so mad she tries to hurt him. No pun intended, their love is undying.

Of course, this book also featured my favorite character a great deal--Cadan. He's just...awesome. In so many ways. (In my dream world, I'm Team Rivdan.)

The only critique I can make is that when Ellie suffered, I didn't feel her pain. Some really bad...stuff...hits the fan, and it destroys (not literally, don't worry) destroys Ellie, but I didn't really feel it as much as I wish I had.

I NEED book 3.

(Plus, the fight scenes were epic.)
Song: Guardian Angel by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Rating: 8 stars AMAZING

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Blurby: Miles Halter, unpopular dork obsessed with last words, goes to Culver Creekboarding school, where he finds new friends in the Colonel, Takumi, and the hurricane which is Alaska Young, who turns his life upside-down, shakes it up, and opens up, leaving it to explode like a soda bottle.

(Bad metaphor simile, I know)

Review: I was a little bit underwhelmed by Looking for Alaska, but it felt very real. All the characters were well-rounded and charming. The numerous pranks sprinkled throughout make me question John Green's schoolboy days, though...

I just felt like there was something missing, some sort of draw, throughout the first part of the book. I didn't feel the tension.

"After" was amazing, though. I didn't see it coming until about a page before, I just couldn't imagine it...and then BAM. I felt the agony.

Emotional rollercoasters FTW. A billion percent.

There isn't a real answer, in the end, but I think it's fitting that way. There's hope for everyone, all the strange and quirky characters.

Song: Looking for Alaska by Hank Green
Rating: 3 stars Okay

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride

Blurby: Sam LaCroix was a pretty average joe (or Sam, as the case may be)...until someone tells him he's a necromancer. Yup, "necromancer" as in "you can raise the dead, and that makes you a threat to that power-hungry necromancer down yonder, but to make up for it, here's a werewolf girlfriend." Wait. What? Necromancers and werewolves?

Review: I think what makes this book so fantastic, the key part of it, is the characters. Sam is just so...real. I don't think I will ever find a character as mundane as Sam. He works in fast-food. He plays potato-hockey (you read that right). He has a snarky little sister, and a cool mom. His friends are also super loyal...and really, really quirky. His name is short for Samhain (apparently pronounced Sowin.)

I didn't like the multiple POVs at first, they were distracting and boring enough to make me give up on the book for a while, but once I got into it, I got into it.

I have three complaints. (1) Sam took everything in stride, which irks me in paranormal books. "I'm a necromancer? Weird. But, ya know, I can live with that." DUDE. FREAK OUT. *grabs Sam and shakes him by the shoulders* (2) The writing was a little bit repetitious. (3) The book was mad funny, but most of the brilliantly mad funny was in the beginning, so my high hopes weren't met after those opening pages.

I just found out that there's a sequel. YES.

Song: Hold Me Closer, Tiny Dancer by Elton John (of course)
Rating: 5* Original and well thought out.

Peace and swords,
Riv

The Future of Us Review

(For those of you who saw this yesterday, sorry! I forgot to schedule it.)
Hey Blogger Buds,
It's been a while since I've put up a review. The Future of of Us, by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler, is released Monday, November 21st.
Some of you may remember "As Long As You'll Dine: A Wicked Parody" which is a parody of, well, Wicked. As in, Broadway Wicked. I had a lot of fun writing ALAYD, and I've made another parody for The Future of Us. I'll leave you guessing what song I'm parodying. Hint: the genre is pop-country.
Pop back in next Sunday for the parody!
So. On to the review. Summary from Amazon.com

The Future of Us on Goodreads.

Blurby:

It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail,his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future.
By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they're forced to confront what they're doing right - and wrong - in the present.

Review:
[Note: This review isn't a full review, like usual. It's just my thoughts. It's kind of scattered, partially coherent and, like my brain, mostly scary.]
[Sorry in advance for the poor review.]

The book was interesting. I felt like the authors were trying to hard with the world building. (Five pages in, and I'm being overwhelmed with "pop" culture references.)
And, although I'm assuming that Jay Asher wrote the chapters from Josh's POV and Carolyn Mackler wrote Emma's chapters, I didn't find a distinction between the two voices, oddly enough. The key to multiple authors is clearly separating the voices, and I wasn't feeling it.
It was a pretty good book though. It wasn't predictable, and the ending was very bittersweet. Upon hearing about the book, I wondered how the authors would do it, and they incorporated Facebook very well.
There were some "inside jokes" for the reader as well. For example, two characters were talking about Ellen DeGeneres. One said that he thinks she might be gay, and the other character replied that it's impossible.

I recommend this book to those who can reminisce about the good ol' days, when computers took FOREVER to turn on, and you had to unplug your phone line to use the internet.
I also recommend it for those goshdarn young-un's, so we they can point and laugh. :)


I give The Future of Us 3 stars. Mediocre book. Not compelling, but interesting.

Pre-order TFoU: Amazon Book Depository Barnes and Noble

Peace and Interwebs,
Riv

Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure Review

Hey Blogger Buds,
Wow. I feel like I haven't written a review in ages. Today I have Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure by Allan Richard Shickman. The book has some pretty impressive awards, and a very original world that I was excited to read. (Uh, hello? Prehistoric?)
{I received Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure, as well as the sequel Zan-Gah and the Beautiful Country in exchange for an honest review of Zan-Gah: A prehistoric adventure. All opinions expressed here are my own, and were not influenced in any way.}
Linkage below, as usual.

Blurby (from Goodreads):
Zan-Gah, seeking his lost twin brother in a savage prehistoric world, encounters adventure, suffering, conflict, captivity, and final victory. In three years hero passes from an uncertain boyhood to a tried and proven manhood and a position of leadership among his people. Themes include survival, brotherhood, cultures, gender roles, psychological trauma, and nature's wonders and terrors. This is the electronic version (ignore that bit) of Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure, which has been awarded Mom's Choice Gold Medal for Series, the Eric Hoffer Notable Book Award, and was a finalist for ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year.

Quickie:
With an original premise and a simple writing style, Zan-Gah is great for younger kids. Zan's determination really shines through. It's an interesting, quick book, with a bittersweet ending.

Full Review:
Right off the bat, the tagline throws me off. "How could Zan fight...what he couldn't see?" I believe everything is pretty clear and visible.
It's a brilliant premise, with really high potential. It just didn't pull through. The characters could have had long, arduous struggles, but I didn't feel Zan's pain. Anyways I'll start at the beginning...
I'm willing to suspend belief, especially seeing as this is for kids. I can totally see a lioness attacking Zan and him accidentally-on-purpose killing her. I can totally see Zan being named "Rock"  by the head chief of the tribes. What I can't see is Zan's brother, Dael, getting angry and stalking off to go on his own adventure. I can't see Zan getting all chummy with the aforementioned head chief.
(Character time)
But I can see Naz, a warrior from an enemy tribe that captures Zan, treating Zan like garbage. Let's back up a bit; I need to rant about Naz a bit. Am I the only one who, the second his name is written on the page, said, "That's Zan backwards. That's gotta mean something." And it's very on purpose. In the end, Zan-Gah says to himself, "Maybe I'm not so different from Naz." I was like, "WHAT? You're very different from Naz!"
Anywho, that threw me off. But. Zan time.
Zan is a pretty good character. Strong, brave, slightly faulty. He's brave, and goes after his brother, even though he doesn't know where he's going. Zan is also amazingly resourceful. He made his own sling!
Other characters: I have a tendency to like supporting characters more than MCs, and this book was no exception. Rydl, a young boy who accompanies Zan, is so adorable and smart. He's just cute. Chul, Zan's massive uncle is like a simple child. He's nice and selfless, and does anything for his tiny little wife. It's a bit cliche, but cute anyway. And Dael...I'm not going to give anything away, but he was a nice surprise.
(Plot and writing)
The plot had a bunch of little stories scattered throughout it. Each chapter had something happen in it, a nice little story. Zan killing the lioness, Zan leaving, Zan making a sling, etc. Cute, but a bit chunky.
The writing was very simple and clear. A bit too much Tell, not enough Show. (yes, they get capitalized, because I said so.) But this makes it much easier for younger kids.
And the last page was...interesting. (I really don't know if I liked it or not.)

I don't really recommend books for a certain age, usually, but I would recommend this for younger kids, 8-10. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I was younger.

I may give away my copy, so be prepared for that.

Rating: 3 stars Mediocre book. Not compelling, but interesting.

Linkage: Goodreads Book Site Amazon Book Depository (want more links? let me know, and I'll add them in the future!)

So, have you read Zan-Gah? What did you think of it?

Peace,

Riv

Current Music: Land of Youth (Tir Na Nog) by Máire Brennan (I know, it's random. But I was looking for music for a fairy project I started.)

Jane Eyre Review

Hey Blogger Buds,
So I recently read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte for class, and, as I haven't read anything else besides for it, I'm  here to review it (as you can see)!

Blurby: (from Goodreads, blurb for book cover to right.)
With her 1847 novel, Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë created one of the most unforgettable heroines of all time. Jane Eyre is an orphan, penniless and plain, but full of courage and spirit. She has endured incredible hardship to secure her humble status as the governess in the household of her brooding employer, Mr. Rochester. Jane's sharp wit and defiant nature meet with Rochester's sardonic temperament. The two become enmeshed in a deep, intense bond. But Rochester has a terrible secret- a remnant from his past that could threaten any hope of happiness with his only love.
An unconventional love story that revolutionized the scope of romantic fiction, Jane Eyre is ultimately the tale of one woman's fight to claim her independence and self-respect in a society that has no place for her.
[Tidbit about introduction, and Erica Jong.]

Review:
I came in expecting to hate the book. (Come on, it's for school!) Creep romances, tiny print, and words like "unclose". It was very annoying.
My copy was around 450 pages long. The book had probably the slowest plot advancing in history. It took 100 pages just to introduce Jane and get her to Rochester's estate. And then almost another 50 to introduce you to Rochester, but I'll get to him soon.
Jane wasn't so bad. She's feisty, determined, and bold. But she's got a handle on her emotions. My main problem with Jane is her supreme idiocy. It has depths like the oceans--if you get anywhere near the bottom, the pressure will kill you. Painfully. Multiple times during the book, I wanted to pull a YA-emphatic-reader and throw the book across the room, because Jane is so stupid. *rant over* (sorta) She had her ups and downs, and the end left me not hating Jane as much, but she annoyed me plenty. More than she should have.
I have to say though, I like Mr. Rochester. He's intelligent, sharp, and, just like in modern YA, he's closed off and has a dark past. But he's not "ruggedly handsome" and the smell of his sweat doesn't make Jane swoon. It's a perfectly healthy relationship.
Well, sorta. Let me give you a bit of an idea of how old these characters are: Mr. Rochester could be Jane's father, as is mentioned repeatedly. Jane is around 18. Or dear Mr. Edward Rochester on the other hand is 38.
On to some more Weird Factors...
St. John--he comes in a bit later. Jane meets St. John, a devout Christian with plans to become a missionary. And, after you learn more about him, he has a proposal for Jane. The creep factor skyrocketed. I was grossed out by St. John after all was said and done, and emotionally scarred for life.
Rudeness: zOMG!! They're all, like, so, incredibly rude! *squeal of disgust* *quits acting* All of these characters are really rude. They all say things like "you're really ugly" "why would anyone marry you?" "you're not at all handsome" and I want to smack them all. Yeah, different society, I get it, but hullo?

And last but not least:
Adela=cuteness

Rating: 3stars-mediocre book, not compelling but interesting.

Linkage: Goodreads Amazon BookDepo

Thirteen Reasons Why Review

Hey Blogger Buds,
Today, as you can see, I'm reviewing Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. I highly recommend this one; it's gotten fantastic reviews, and the message is brilliant. I'm mostly reviewing this book to get it out there to those of you living under a rock. You'll see why in a moment.
(Linkage below)

Blurby:
Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker—his classmate and crush—who committed suicide two weeks earlier.
On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out how he made the list.
Through Hannah and Clay’s dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

Review:
I wondered how Jay Asher was going to support the dual narratives and it was done very tastefully, with very little confusion.
I totally felt both Clay's and Hannah's emotions, though I had some problems.
Clay was incredible. He was "that good guy" who everyone likes. He was just..the perfect character for this. He was so genuine.
I didn't like Hannah, though. Whenever she went onto the next tape, the next reason, I was so hopeful that I would get it. But I didn't, and the entire narration just screamed "angst". But a little bit...I got it. We're teenagers. Teens blow everything out of proportion, and I can...excuse...Hannah's behavior, I suppose. But she didn't make sense to me.
And then we got to the reason that Clay got these tapes and it felt like...like such a cop out.
Not to offend Jay Asher, but one thing about the book reminded me of--dare I say it?--Twilight. Twilight was incredibly addictive for no reason; I couldn't put it down, and I didn't even like it that much. I like 13 Reasons Why more, definitely, but not enough to read it at 2 am. But I was glued to the book until I realized how late it was and summoned all my willpower to stop.
The ending was incredible, though. My favorite part was that last page. It got me thinking, huh. Maybe that ball of angst did some good in the end and I'd love some sort of epilogue, to see if it's true, but that ending was so hopeful, and put this big smile on my face.
Sidepoint, no reflection on review: Curious, I decided to hear the audiobook. Right now, I'm listening to a free sample from Random House, and--honestly?--I recommend you pick up the book, even if you usually listen to audiobooks. Clay sounds like the guy who did voiceover for Hiccup, from How To Train Your Dragon (yup. just listened to a bit of the HtTYD trailer for a comparison, and it's uncanny). And Hannah sounds like a 30 year old chain smoker. No offense, but I recommend the paper book.

The book wasn't bad, it just wasn't my cup of tea. I highly recommend it, though. This is a book that needs to be read, thus why I reviewed it. Though I can hardly handle the fact that it's going to be movie-fied, and by Selena Gomez.

Rating: 3 stars. Mediocre book.

Linkage: Goodreads Borders Amazon B&N BookDepo Site (go to it!) Hannah's Blog (wait, what? Oh)

Peace,
Riv

Current Music: Soul Sister, Gleekified
Current Mood: Meh

Willow Review

Hey Blogger Buds,
Sorry, I thought this posted yesterday! Some thing wonky happened, and it went up wrong! So here's my review today!
I have no idea what to post, hence the lack of an updated RC, so I pulled up an old review I wrote. I read Willow a while ago, and it was interesting. Linkage below, of course.

Blurby:

Seven months ago, on a rainy March night, sixteen year- old Willow’s parents died in a horrible car accident. Willow was driving. Now her older brother barely speaks to her, her new classmates know her as the killer orphan girl, and Willow is blocking the pain by secretly cutting herself. But when one boy—one sensitive, soulful boy—discovers Willow’s secret, it sparks an intense relationship that turns the “safe” world Willow has created for herself upside down.
Told in an extraordinary fresh voice, Willow is an unforgettable novel about one girl’s struggle to cope with tragedy, and one boy’s refusal to give up on her.

Review:

Willow was weird, at first. It took me about 50 pages before I realized what the problem was; it was written in a format I've never seen before; third-person present tense. Meaning it has sentences like; "Willow cries as she thinks about it all". (I completely made that sentence up.) I lent the book to a friend when I finished with it, and when I asked her if she thought the writing was weird, she said yes and I had to explain the problem.

Willow's a character you feel bad for. She's not a great kid with a lovely personality. I did have a problem with Guy, the one who discovers Willow's problems. My sister likes that he was named "Guy" like he could be anyone, but personally the name gets on my nerves. Guy as a character got on my nerves, too. The summary I read of the book describes him as "a sweet and sensitive boy" with problems of his own. Guy has no problems, at least none as major as Willow's. And his initial reaction to finding out what happened was something along the lines of "I don't need this right now. I'm on my way to college, I don't need this kind of worry on my head right now." There was nothing "sweet and sensitive" about him.

The book was slightly open-ended. It was obvious what happens after, but I'm the type of person that likes a book to be sealed up tight.

Overall, it was an okay book. I wasn't wowed.

Linkage: Amazon Goodreads BN Borders BookDepo

***3 stars

Peace,

RR

Mistwood Review

Hey Blogger Buds,
A while ago, I got Mistwood by Leah Cypess (links below) from the library. Today I visited my local indie and found out I have some impressive connections to her, and decided to buy the book. This review I wrote a while ago, but I never had a chance to put it up. Instead of the usual picture, below is a quick, grainy, photo of my

That is my hand

Blurby:

The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwod.
But when she is needed she always comes.
Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be, or the powers she is supposed to have.
Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift to animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty--because without it, she may be his greatest threat.
Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can't help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court . . . until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them.
Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart . . . and everything she thought she knew.

Review:

Mistwood has an interesting premise, and I had high hopes for it, though it was not as good as I expected.

I've seen positive reviews for Mistwood, but I did not find Isabel, the main character, likable, nor did I think that her main struggle should have been so hard.

Isabel comes across as slightly whiney. She keeps saying "Oh, poor me. I can't do this one little thing so I'm hopeless. Whatever shall I do?" And then when it comes to telling her prince about this problem she puts her pride first and refuses to tell him.

And then it's open-ended. I mean, I can sorta guess what's going to happen, but what's up with that? They never actually confessed their undying love for each other, and she never had to choose between "her loyalty" and "her heart".

Now, this book may sound awful the way I describe it, but it had some redeeming qualities. I loved some of the side characters. Will was cute and loyal, and there was also Ven, who was just sweet and awesome and loveable.
There's even a Severus Snape of the book, Clarrise. You spend the whole book guessing, in a good way, what side she's on.
The book also had very impressive action scenes, good suspense, etc.

***3 stars.

I did a little post about a companion novel, Nightspell, a few months back, when I was originally planning to post this.It's here.
Links: Goodreads Amazon BookDeposity Barnes&Noble Borders AuthorSite

Peace,

RR

Iron Daughter Review

Hey Blogger Buds,
Today I've got my review for the Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa, the sequel to the Iron King. The final book in the trilogy, titled the Iron Queen (surprise!) comes out in February. I bought the book in Borders while I was away, and it drew me in whenever I had a spare moment. As it took me almost a month to read it, I don't have a full review. I did write a Midway Mention though, and I'll be adding on what I thought of it as a whole.
Remember, Midway Mention is a not-quite meme I made up, in which I say what I thought of a book halfway through it. You can use MM if you wish, but please let me know and link back to me.

Blurby:
Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.
Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

Midway Mention:
Thus far into the book, the Iron Daughter shares the same fate as many other sequels; coming nowhere near meeting the high standards set by the previous book. To start with, the summary was wrong. Most of the summary talks about Meghan's stay in the Winter court, which ends early on. Then there are her conflicting feelings for Ash. She keeps wondering if he loves her or was playing her, but the answer is quite obvious. Wrongly emphasized summaries are one of the things that always gets on my nerves.
I really felt for Meghan when she learnt more about Ariella, Ash's  first love. Puck said something to Meghan, and it was predictable and cliche`, but she should have accepted it anyways.
The book takes some unexpected twists, forcing me to stop at an intense moment. It's been a bit predicable but very climactic. I'm excited to continue reading.
Rating So Far: *** 3 stars
Stopped At: Part 2, Chapter 13, Charles and the Redcaps, Page 183

Continued Review:
After the first half, the book took a turn for the better. It became brilliant and intense, always leaving you on the edge of your seat, glued to the pages as you waited for the rest. Though there were slow parts in the beginning, the second half was brilliant.
Characters: Meghan was strong and tough, but smart. She knew better than to charge into battle like a weakling. And she's also capable of emotions, so she's not just a hard shell. Puck comes back after his little disappearance, and he's his usual awesome, fearless self. And then we have Ash. Oh, man, Ash. He's also really awesome, except he was a bit too angsty for my taste. He was all about "I want to but I can't" and "It's my duty alone" and "I'm too much of an idiot to accept help". Okay, maybe he'd didn't say the last one, but it was implied.
Team Ash vs Puck: In terms of who I like better, I'm in love with Puck. He's sooo awesome!! As for who Meghan should pick, Team Ash. But, she already picks at the end of this book.
The ending. Oh, wow, the ending. I was sitting there for a moment, stunned. It's sooo awesome!! I love the ending, and I'm soooo excited for the next book! I was rocking back and forth moaning for a bit as I got over the aftershock. Any complaints I had about the book were obliterated with that ending.

Julie Kagawa's blog. She's totally awesome!

Catchup Week: Percy Jackson Midway Mention

Hey bloggy buds,
Well, I didn't plan on doing PJ, but I'm not halfway through any other book at present, so I'm doing this one.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
I mentioned this yesterday, I think, but I hate plot-driven books. They get on my nerves. I like a book with an active character. Yes, I understand, certain things have to be plot-driven, but I think a lot of it should be done by Percy. And I'm just not seeing it.
PJ seems to be doing stupid things and getting on my nerves. Besides for accepting everything and taking it all in stride (something I noticed in Tyger, Tyger, too), he's acting dumb. Someone died early on and now, without a second thought, Percy has decided he's going to go to the Underworld and rescue this dead character. Never mind that they're dead, he wants them out. Very irritating.
Yeah, I get it, he's upset and 12, but think. Plus, I feel like he's going about things the wrong way.
But I do like the basic idea. Rick Riordan is brilliant, but he could put it together better.
So far, 3*

Peace,
RR

Current Music: The Minstrel's Prayer by Cartel
Current Mood: Tired Exhausted

Catchup Week: Break Review

Hey bloggy buds,
As promised, it's time for Break by Hannah Moscowitz.

Blurby:

The first feeling is exhilaration.
The second feeling is pain.
The feeling that never comes is regret.

Jonah is on a mission to break every bone in his body. Everyone knows that broken bones grow back stronger than they were before. And Jonah wants to be stronger—needs to be stronger—because everything around him is falling apart. Breaking, and then healing, is Jonah's only way to cope with the stresses of home, girls, and the world on his shoulders. This is the story of his self-destructive spiral, his rock-bottom moment, and how he finally learns to accept help and find true strength through recovery.

Review:

I don't have much to say, really. On the Midway Mention for Break, I said most of my thoughts on the books. I thought there was too much swearing, but I've already spoken about that, and I want to do a full rant post sometime on swearing.

It was a fun read but the plot shifted halfway through. One thing that I hate is when a plot shifts, and the goal is different. It was pretty well written, and I did enjoy it, overall. It was a quick, fun read.

Jonah is an interesting character. He's completely selfless, and the most normal one in his messed up family. He has a weird relationship with his non-girlfriend that really confused me. The way she acted, and the way his and her feelings changed was...strange. She was impulsive, and they acted differently before and after.

One scene really jarred me. Jesse, Jonah's brother, was injured, but everyone was ignoring him and focusing on Jonah. Jonah kept saying "he's hurt" but everyone just focused on Jonah and didn't actually listen to him. Another thing jarred me was when Jonah's baby brother finally stopped crying. It made zero sense.

Like I said, Break was a fun read and I mostly enjoyed it. It was like no other book I've ever read, but I suppose it can be loosely related to Willow (which I'm reviewing soon, too). Messed up families, self-mutilation, etc. Not something I would recommend.

*** 3* An interesting but not incredible book.

Peace,

RR

Current Music: Jump by Simple Plan (haven't heard it in ages)

Current Mood: Frustrated...at life

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Ingo Review

So, today I'm reviewing Ingo by Helen Dunmore. This book was first published in England, and then here in the U.S. It's juvenile fiction.

Blurb (as per Helen Dunmore's site):
Sapphire and her brother Conor live on the Cornish coast in a cottage on the cliff-tops. One day just after Midsummer Eve, their lives change for ever when their father disappears while out in his boat one evening.
Everyone else thinks he has drowned, especially when his upturned boat, the Peggy Gordon, is found wedged between rocks at the foot of the cliffs a few miles down the coast. But Sapphire and Conor believe he is still alive, and they make a vow never to give up their search until they find him.
Through their quest for their father Sapphire and Conor discover that they have the power to enter the mysterious world of Ingo. They meet a Mer brother and sister, Faro and Elvira, and voyage deeper and deeper into the world beneath the sea, where you travel by surfing currents and must learn the ways of dolphins, sharks and whales. Soon they are drawn far away from their life in the Air. Sapphire and Conor learn that although they are human, they also have Mer ancestry. When they are in Ingo their Mer blood grows strong, and they have powers they never knew they possessed .


My Review:
Ingo was a pretty good book, overall. I liked the characters and the level of mystery. I felt that a lot could be done to improve the writing. One thing that really threw me off was her swear replacement. I remember that one character got mad at the main character, and he said something like, "I don't care at all about #%$*&@* Ingo!" In the book, Dunmore actually used an ansterisk, a pounce sign, etc. I read this book a few years ago and it didn't seem so out of place, but several weeks ago when I reread it it threw me off.
Another thing; this may just be me being an idiot, but I couldn't figure out how old the main character, Sapphire was. She was somewhere between ten and twelve, but I can't tell exactly how old. That kept me always wondering throughout the whole book.
I love the plot of this book. If the writing were better, and if it were YA, it would be wonderful. When I say that it should be YA,  I mean that the characters should be older and also with a bit of romance. If it were YA, I think this book would attract a larger audience-even though it's already won several prizes. It's a good fantasy read  if you're looking for something with an entertaining and ingenious plot, but not such strong character development and the like.


***3 stars


Current Music: None, surprisingly
Current Mood: A bit sleepy


I probably won't be able to post tomorrow. I'm going on a trip until Tuesday night.


RR