Well, I know I haven't been posting much. At all, really. Sorry about that. Anyway, I'm thinking I should start reviewing again. I probably wont do all the books I read since the last post, because the memories aren't fresh enough, but I'll certainly provide a few good suggestions.
Well, maybe.
I hope.
Tuesday, 26 June 2012
Thursday, 12 April 2012
Review: The Chaos Walking Trilogy - Patrick Ness
What would life be like if you could here the thought of every man around you? And women ceased to exist? This is the world Todd Hewitt lives in.
When new settlers arrived on an alien planet that was to be their home, how could they expect that there would be a virus that would broadcast the mens thoughts, while killing the women? Or at least that is what Todd has been taught. Prentisstown is a simple, farming town, but it's slowly dying as the boys grow up, and the women have long sinced died.
But when Todd discovers a strange quietness in the swamp, his world changes forever, and he starts on a long journey, pursued by vicious enemies, with a companion he thought could never exist.
The first book in this trilogy is called 'The Knife of Never Letting Go'. Todd isn't very well educated, and so there are a lot of spelling mistakes in this book. It isn't as annoying as it sounds, and you soon adapt to it, and it adds character.
This books are the type that you can put down, but whenever you pick it up you are immersed again. I highly recommend them!
When new settlers arrived on an alien planet that was to be their home, how could they expect that there would be a virus that would broadcast the mens thoughts, while killing the women? Or at least that is what Todd has been taught. Prentisstown is a simple, farming town, but it's slowly dying as the boys grow up, and the women have long sinced died.
But when Todd discovers a strange quietness in the swamp, his world changes forever, and he starts on a long journey, pursued by vicious enemies, with a companion he thought could never exist.
The first book in this trilogy is called 'The Knife of Never Letting Go'. Todd isn't very well educated, and so there are a lot of spelling mistakes in this book. It isn't as annoying as it sounds, and you soon adapt to it, and it adds character.
This books are the type that you can put down, but whenever you pick it up you are immersed again. I highly recommend them!
Sunday, 8 January 2012
So....
So, in the haze of school and stuff, I've basically failed at keeping this blog going... Don't get me wrong, I've been reading and writing, and doing all manner of things, but writing reviews...? Not so much...
I cant make any promises, but I'll try to write some up soon.... maybe...
I cant make any promises, but I'll try to write some up soon.... maybe...
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Review: Wither - Lauren DeStefano
This book is set in a world where, in an attempt to make the human race almost immortal and disease free, scientists released a ticking time bomb into the human DNA. Girls live to 20, and Boys to 25.
Rhine lives with her twin brother, that is until she is kid-napped and sold as a bride, along with two others, to a rich man. In her world, this is seen as common, and in some cases necessary. Although Rhine now lives in a mansion, she is a prisoner. Still, she remains strong, desperately trying to escape and return to her brother. But, she lives in comfort, and so what if she is forced to love her husband, so what if her sister-wife has already died of the virus? At home, she will return to poverty, but at her new house, there are parties and luxuries. How could she ever leave? After all, she only has four years left.
I loved this book. It's one of those books you just fly through, and never put down. DeStefano has a great style, and some chapters still haunt me. Also, for a book so based on the concept of sex, it's fairly PG.
Rhine lives with her twin brother, that is until she is kid-napped and sold as a bride, along with two others, to a rich man. In her world, this is seen as common, and in some cases necessary. Although Rhine now lives in a mansion, she is a prisoner. Still, she remains strong, desperately trying to escape and return to her brother. But, she lives in comfort, and so what if she is forced to love her husband, so what if her sister-wife has already died of the virus? At home, she will return to poverty, but at her new house, there are parties and luxuries. How could she ever leave? After all, she only has four years left.
I loved this book. It's one of those books you just fly through, and never put down. DeStefano has a great style, and some chapters still haunt me. Also, for a book so based on the concept of sex, it's fairly PG.
Friday, 11 November 2011
Review: Inheritance - Christopher Paolini
Wow. So, it's the end. I started Eragon when I was about 8 - well before even Eldest came out. And now, after waiting and waiting, the end has come. You can imagine the paradox I was trapped in; on one hand, I wanted to know what happened ASAP, on the other, I didn't want it to be over. As you can probably tell, my self control failed, and so, I'm done. It's done.
There isn't much I can tell you without revealing spoilers, but I'll do my best. For those of you who aren't familiar with the series (shame on you) it is an epic in the style of the Lord of the Rings. It is set in a mythical land, where dragons once roamed free. After much war between the race of Dragons and of Elves, a pact was made that bound them together, which men joined after. If a dragon egg hatched for a person, they became bonded in the most powerful of ways, connecting them mentally, and a Dragon Rider was created. For ages the Riders and their Dragons kept rule, until one among them rose against them, and slaughtered both the Riders, and the free dragons. This Rider claimed the throne, and has ruled since, as the lives of Riders can stretch on for centuries. He kept three eggs for himself though, and when one is stolen, and eventually ends up in the hands of a young farm boy by the name of Eragon, everything changes.
That is the pretense on which the first book starts, and I wont tell you anymore. I hope it has ignited something in you that yearns to read them, if not, do it anyway.
This last book, well I cant really think of how to describe it. Including the pronunciation guide and acknowledgments, it is 860 pages long. An unbelievable amount of events occur, and each one is satisfying. The battles, though numerous, each retain their individuality and are heart pounding. The emotional moments are just that - emotional. If I had been in a private place I would have been crying my eyes out. Pretty much all the loose ends are tied up, even those from earlier books. It was a very satisfying read.
I have but a few faults with it. One, is the Paolini often reuses phrases in the series. I understand that it may be a character trait that must be described like that, or something similar, but it does get a bit annoying at times. Most notably, he uses the phase '...., even as..' often. Ok, thats not a phrase, but it's a word order. An example would be something like 'Eragon watched him, even as he had watched Arya." (That is made up, and has no real relevance to the story, I was just illustrating a point.)
The other fault was that the ending I had worked on trying to figure out was one entirely different to the actual one. (Yeah, I know I didn't write the series.... but still.. *disappointment*) I cannot say much, as even disproving my theory would tell you what would not happen, and that is almost, but not quite as bad as telling you what does happen. I had come up with an intricate theory, having deduced many things, and kept arriving at the same conclusion. I was so sure that one thing could not happen, but it did. My reason was that it would be too perfect. But, it seems to have righted itself, leaving a bittersweet ending, which I do enjoy. (I'm a horrible person yes, but who really wants a true 'happily ever after?)
Well, thats about all I can say, and so, it's over.
There isn't much I can tell you without revealing spoilers, but I'll do my best. For those of you who aren't familiar with the series (shame on you) it is an epic in the style of the Lord of the Rings. It is set in a mythical land, where dragons once roamed free. After much war between the race of Dragons and of Elves, a pact was made that bound them together, which men joined after. If a dragon egg hatched for a person, they became bonded in the most powerful of ways, connecting them mentally, and a Dragon Rider was created. For ages the Riders and their Dragons kept rule, until one among them rose against them, and slaughtered both the Riders, and the free dragons. This Rider claimed the throne, and has ruled since, as the lives of Riders can stretch on for centuries. He kept three eggs for himself though, and when one is stolen, and eventually ends up in the hands of a young farm boy by the name of Eragon, everything changes.
That is the pretense on which the first book starts, and I wont tell you anymore. I hope it has ignited something in you that yearns to read them, if not, do it anyway.
This last book, well I cant really think of how to describe it. Including the pronunciation guide and acknowledgments, it is 860 pages long. An unbelievable amount of events occur, and each one is satisfying. The battles, though numerous, each retain their individuality and are heart pounding. The emotional moments are just that - emotional. If I had been in a private place I would have been crying my eyes out. Pretty much all the loose ends are tied up, even those from earlier books. It was a very satisfying read.
I have but a few faults with it. One, is the Paolini often reuses phrases in the series. I understand that it may be a character trait that must be described like that, or something similar, but it does get a bit annoying at times. Most notably, he uses the phase '...., even as..' often. Ok, thats not a phrase, but it's a word order. An example would be something like 'Eragon watched him, even as he had watched Arya." (That is made up, and has no real relevance to the story, I was just illustrating a point.)
The other fault was that the ending I had worked on trying to figure out was one entirely different to the actual one. (Yeah, I know I didn't write the series.... but still.. *disappointment*) I cannot say much, as even disproving my theory would tell you what would not happen, and that is almost, but not quite as bad as telling you what does happen. I had come up with an intricate theory, having deduced many things, and kept arriving at the same conclusion. I was so sure that one thing could not happen, but it did. My reason was that it would be too perfect. But, it seems to have righted itself, leaving a bittersweet ending, which I do enjoy. (I'm a horrible person yes, but who really wants a true 'happily ever after?)
Well, thats about all I can say, and so, it's over.
Monday, 17 October 2011
Review: Supernaturally - Kiersten White
This is the sequel to Paranormalcy. As the names suggest, they are rather supernatural books. Almost every sort of paranormal creature exists in Evie's world; vampires, faeries, mermaids, etc.
I can't really say much, because it it a sequel, so I'll give you a general summary. Evie can see through glamour - the cloaking magic that allows paranormals to walk unnoticed among humanity. But her gift is in high demand, and there are many sides and factions who try and claim her as their own. This is the second book, and Evie still struggles with her life, her soul. What side should she choose? And how will the others react? And, most importantly, what is she?
I know that that is very vague, but honestly, I cant say more without giving away some of the first book. Either way, I really enjoyed this book, but perhaps not as much as the first. Still, if you want a quick, fun to read book, this is the one for you!
I can't really say much, because it it a sequel, so I'll give you a general summary. Evie can see through glamour - the cloaking magic that allows paranormals to walk unnoticed among humanity. But her gift is in high demand, and there are many sides and factions who try and claim her as their own. This is the second book, and Evie still struggles with her life, her soul. What side should she choose? And how will the others react? And, most importantly, what is she?
I know that that is very vague, but honestly, I cant say more without giving away some of the first book. Either way, I really enjoyed this book, but perhaps not as much as the first. Still, if you want a quick, fun to read book, this is the one for you!
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Review: The Power of 6 - Pittacus Lore
This is the sequel to I Am Number 4. It is very much a sci-fi book, taking place in a world when aliens from the dying planet of Loren have come to earth in order to escape the race of aliens that have caused their planets destruction - but they cant evade the Mogadorians forever.
The plot to these books is simple (if you are used to the whole sci-fi/fantasy genre). The last survivors of an alien race have come to earth. They are in the form of pairs of children and their guardians. Each child has a number, from one to nine, and they cannot be killed out of order, except if they come into contact with another number.
You may notice I said 'killed' there. That's because the race of aliens that caused the destruction of the planet Loren have the same plans for earth. What's stopping them is the survival of the children - now teenagers. But the race is on, as now that they are older they have begun to develop legacies (powers).
The first book is focus around Number 4, whereas this one switches between Number 4, and Number 7.
I don't want to give too much away, and the background information there is about the same as you would get if you read a review of the first book, so I wont say much more.
I read this book in an odd manner. It's the kind of thriller that you cant put down - except I did, and I read it slowly. I think it was because I didn't have much time, but still, maybe it says something.
It was kind of light on the emotions (but then again, I have high standards for things like that... you'd be hard pressed to hand me a book that really makes me feel), but it's a good book, over all.
The plot to these books is simple (if you are used to the whole sci-fi/fantasy genre). The last survivors of an alien race have come to earth. They are in the form of pairs of children and their guardians. Each child has a number, from one to nine, and they cannot be killed out of order, except if they come into contact with another number.
You may notice I said 'killed' there. That's because the race of aliens that caused the destruction of the planet Loren have the same plans for earth. What's stopping them is the survival of the children - now teenagers. But the race is on, as now that they are older they have begun to develop legacies (powers).
The first book is focus around Number 4, whereas this one switches between Number 4, and Number 7.
I don't want to give too much away, and the background information there is about the same as you would get if you read a review of the first book, so I wont say much more.
I read this book in an odd manner. It's the kind of thriller that you cant put down - except I did, and I read it slowly. I think it was because I didn't have much time, but still, maybe it says something.
It was kind of light on the emotions (but then again, I have high standards for things like that... you'd be hard pressed to hand me a book that really makes me feel), but it's a good book, over all.
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