City of Ashes

City of Ashes
written by Cassandra Clare



I was not very satisfied by this volume of the Mortal Instruments series. I think it was summed up well by a friend of mine as just being a very weird book. The writing is unnecessarily melodramatic while the plot moves along quite slowly, except during the important parts, where it seems to zoom by too fast. For the most part, the characters are kept realistic, although they all do go through their brief moments of flatness. The cultural references are a fun addition, adding a bit of extra enjoyment throughout the book. Like I had said in my review of City of Bones, the love triangle is overdone, like so many other books. The additional drama with Simon's character seems ridiculously overdone to me, particularly the supposed vampire vs. werewolf drama, as if we needed more of that. The cliffhanger was crazy awesome, and I can't wait to read more, but by God, I hope we are done with the disgustingness that is Jace/Clary. I don't need to read about siblings who are madly in love with each other, I really don't. Anyways, looking forward to getting my hands on City of Glass, and, oh, one last thing. Dumbledore would so win in a fight versus Magnus, no questions asked!

Rating: 3.5/5

I got this book from...:Secret Santa!

Princess Academy

Princess Academy
written by Shannon Hale



While sometimes wordy, this book has a really catchy plot that is sure to grab and keep the reader's attention. The characters are fascinating dimensional people that the readers will really come to care about very early on in the storytelling. The story may feel predictable at times, and then all of a sudden it turns around and baffles the reader with astounding twists. It's a Newbery Honor winner, which, for kids, makes for some boring books, but this is a genuinely likable and interesting read, despite Newbery status. The title may involve the word 'princess', but it really isn't an overly girly book at all. It's a surprisingly original work of fantasy, although the storytelling has its low-tempered dull points. The end result of the princess picking is a little rushed, but adorable all the same. The romance throughout the book is subtle but sweet all the same, feeling like a marvelous new beginning rather than an ending.

Rating: 4/5

I got this book from...:Chatham University's Jennie King Mellon Library

ArchEnemy

currently reading: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
want to read: By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters

ArchEnemy
written by Frank Beddor



I must say, I'm a little torn. Part of me wants to say that this was a fantastic book, a perfect ending to the trilogy, but unfortunately, I don't think I can. A lot of this book was insignificant fighting scenes that seemed to go on forever. I'm sure this makes it a popular read for some readers, but that's really not what I go into books for. The writing was spectacular, sharply witty, albeit going overboard sometimes with the details of the fight scenes, and it was through this amazing writing that these characters really came to life. I found myself switching favorite characters from Dodge (who sadly doesn't make as many appearances as I had hoped/expected him to make) to good old Hatter. My heart really broke for him and Molly, and Beddor portrayed the awkward phase they were going through really well. I've not read many books where the author has so fully developed a complete world. I didn't know what to think of the many instances of blatant foreshadowing; it had its plusses and minuses, sometimes it worked, other times it was a little much. Up until the ending, it was really a great read. However, the ending seemed, in my opinion, completely rushed, slowed down, and anticlimactic--not as epic as the rest of the series. I know Beddor could have done better. I still do highly recommend this series to all fans of fractured fairytales and the like.

Rating: 4.5/5

See Also:
The Looking Glass Wars
Seeing Redd

I got this book from...:Barnes & Noble

The Diamond of Darkhold

The Diamond of Darkhold
written by Jeanne DuPrau



I think this book must have come to be as a result of the criticisms of books 2 & 3 (no return to Ember, lack of Lina and Doon, etc.). While the return to Ember was much anticipated and a welcome plot element, parts of this book were, as a result, overwhelmingly repetitive of the first book. This worked in some instances, but in others, it felt like a desperate return to the successful elements seen in the first book, in order to gain back disappointed fans. I did enjoy seeing Lina and Doon again, and the teamwork seen in this book was reminiscent of the first one in a good way. Plotwise, there was a clear single goal, but it wasn't as interesting, nor as desperate, as the goal in the first book, making for a story that was, in turn, less interesting. Other than Lina and Doon, I felt that many of the secondary characters lacked strong characterization, which made their roles seem slightly flat. I enjoyed the fact that everything came full circle, although I do wish DuPrau had rearranged things a little bit. I felt like the ending of this book should have been extended and essentially served as the second book, eliminating the need for books 2 & 3. I just think a lot was done wrong in the creation of this series, and maybe The City of Ember would have been best served as a stand-alone.

Rating: 3.5/5

I got this book from...:Waldenbooks

City of Bones

City of Bones
written by Cassandra Clare



City of Bones was a great read...if you don't mind reading a book that is extremely predictable. I have in my notes details from the first chapter that end up being the Big Plot Twists, so that's slightly sad. A lot of the book falls into what one typically expects from a fantasy novel, down to the "turn a person into a rat" trope. The Big Reveals were kind of pathetic, and frustrating to read, I know I wanted to reach into the book to shake Clary in her utter obliviousness. The exposition to the fantasy world was done well, introducing it simultaneously to the reader and Clary herself. While I was irritated by yet another love triangle, sick to death of those, I was thrilled with its conclusion. The characters, despite their predictability and all, are very well developed, and you find yourself getting attached to some, repulsed by others, all essential parts of great characterization. The ending does leave the reader satisfied while at the same time, wanting more, essentially being all that a great ending should be.

Rating: 4.5/5

I got this book from...:Borders

Magic Lessons

Magic Lessons
written by Justine Larbalestier



Magic Lessons starts off strong, asking lots and lots of exciting new questions, building suspense, as any good book does. This, however, gets overdone. By the time the reader is in the denser middle section, there are too many questions and not enough answers and a lot of frustration. I'm still extremely ticked off that Sarafina doesn't show up at all in the book, as she is my favorite character and the one I would love to learn more about, so it's frustrating, and I'm really hoping the third book sheds more light on this intensely interesting woman. Magic Lessons does a great job of combining realism with a greater dosage of fantasy than seen in Magic or Madness, and it does so with perfect balance. Reason's dilemma at the end of the book was painfully obvious, though, and I was disappointed--it was the one part of the book that definitely lacked the suspense the rest of the book upheld. There are still questions left unanswered, but since it's a trilogy, I expect they will be answered shortly! The one thing that left me most gleeful was the SPAGBOL reference--hooray for married authors!

Rating: 4/5

Wicked Lovely

Wicked Lovely
written by Melissa Marr



While the beginning of this book was frustratingly confusing, probably intentionally so to a degree, as I kept reading, an amazing new world unfolded. The evolving relationship between Seth and Ash is a real joy to read about and is one of the more powerful friendships/relationships out there in the YA book world. Once the mythology is explained, everything clicks and forms such a great new setting that you just want to learn more about! The faeries are interesting little creatures, and it seems like they vary from being relatively good to absolutely evil--quite the interesting dichotomy! I enjoyed reading about the old mixed in with the new, particularly when technology played a part (like the search history being an important part of the plot). Seth and Ash, I just can't stop gushing about the chemistry between the two. It's really a wonderful relationship, but the suspense throughout the book whether they can or cannot survive is heartbreaking at times, in a good way. I do want to know more about Ash's family history; sounds like her father may play a role in future books as his identity is kept secret. As far as that goes, I'm really not sure why a sequel is needed. That is the only loose end I saw, so I'm a little confused & concerned about the quality of Fragile Eternity, which obviously won't stop me from reading it, I'll just go into it a little more cautiously.

Rating: 4.5/5

Everlost

Everlost
written by Neal Shusterman




Though not as political as Unwind, Everlost makes for another great story set in another amazing world created by Neal Shusterman. I was a little wary going into this, I am not a fan of death stories, but Shusterman dealt with the idea tactly but also in a very straightforward way. He's not out to offend anyone. The story involves a lot of moving around, very much like Deathly Hallows' infamous camping scenes, where nothing much seems to happen, and the story is not being developed. I was waiting a good long while for one of those amazing plot twists that Neal Shusterman is so good at doing. Thankfully, although it came a little late, I wasn't disappointed. The ending is filled with amazing plot twists and, as the rest of the book, creative storytelling that is worth the read.

Rating: 4.5/5

Impossible

Impossible
written by Nancy Werlin



I had a lot of book websites recommending this book to me, and I didn't understand why. A fantasy book? But I'm not really into those! I gave in, eventually, and I'm so glad I did. The writing style immediately grabs you and pulls you into an extraordinary world where realism and fantasy blend seamlessly. It's Kathryn Reiss, with a lot better writing and geared at a much older audience. At first, it's a typical, ordinary, teenage novel, but very soon ordinary turns to so far beyond ordinary you never could have seen it coming. There were parts of the book where I was honestly scared to keep reading, the suspense was so bad and I didn't have a clue what would happen next. I did read it though, I read it all the way through in one sitting. There is no way I can possibly capture how amazing this book is in a little review. It's just one of those things that you have to read it to believe. The plot sounds ridiculous when you first hear of it--family curse? in a YA novel? come on!--but I do hope you give it a try. It is now, without a doubt, one of my favorite teen books.

Rating: 5/5

Seeing Redd

Seeing Redd
written by Frank Beddor



From the beginning, I felt that I was going to like this book. It was finished in one sitting. Beddor dives right in with the new story instead of recapping everything that had happened in the first book. Along the way, as different characters step up to the spotlight, a bit of their backstory is given, all given on a need-to-know basis. There is so much more time dedicated to develping the characters and the world they live in. Hatter is given an extremely powerful story, and Alyss and Dodge's romance moves along as well. So much happens, new characters, new situations, old characters returning and leaving. Arch Enemy is going to be one amazing book to look forward to! One thing really worth mentioning, I'd read the hardcover version of The Looking Glass Wars. Apparently, I'd missed out. The paperback versions of both books have these incredible images in them, and for once, the paperback is a much better buy than the hardcover, just for that. The only thing I slightly disliked about Seeing Redd was the over-description of battles. I like reading about them, but I'd much rather prefer something along the lines of "They fought. ____ won." although I'm sure it keeps some readers reading. Beddor ends on a cliffhanger, and I'm sure fans of the series are already anticipating the final book in the trilogy, where apparently, everything, including the main protagonist, changes. I can't wait!

Rating: 5/5

Magic or Madness

Magic or Madness
written by Justine Larbalestier



This book, like many others I've recently read, was difficult to get into, but once the reader familiarizes themselves with the tone, reads wonderfully. There is heavy description in places, and that got extremely distracting, but the story itself is a good one. There is suspense, although one could easily argue that there is far too much suspense, leaving the reader to want answers more than the main character herself! The sometimes-alternating POV is confusing and probably not entirely necessary, as the story moves along great when Reason is the one telling it. Some things still make very little sense, and I'm hoping they are explained in the later books. I feel like Reason's mom should have gotten more time on the page, and again, there's something I hope is remedied in Magic Lessons. The end leaves the reader still not entirely sure who to trust and desperately hoping to see what happens next. There is heavy foreshadowing, and I really do hope, as suggested, that Reason does have more options than just the very bleak ones she is currently being offered. Looking forward to Magic Lessons and hopefully more intriguing revelations!

Rating: 4/5

The Looking Glass Wars

The Looking Glass Wars
written by Frank Beddor



The Looking Glass Wars took a while to get into, I'm not going to lie, but once I was about a quarter of the way in, it was smooth reading. The problem is, while the pace picks up and more time is dedicated to storytelling, the time for character develpment is sadly lost, and some of the characters are not explored as in-depth as they should have been. All the connections to Alice in Wonderland are great, but you don't have to be a complete Wonderland Fan to understand and enjoy the story. The weird thing about this book is that, well, technically, it's an Alternate/Author's Universe Fanfic. It's good writing for the most part, though dense at times, but the story isn't as original as it could have been. Nevertheless, I did enjoy this unique new spin on things, as I am a complete sucker for fractured fairy tales. It was very interesting to see the original author now presented as a character in the story, very mind-blowing, but in an awesome way. My personal favorite was Dodge, and I can't wait to see where his story, along with Alyss's go in the next book.

Rating: 4/5


In other news, you may have noticed a new link in my sidebar. This is to a fantastic microfinancing nonprofit called KIVA. I definitely encourage you all to check it out and maybe make a donation. The money you give will allow someone to go out, make some money, and in a couple months time, pay you back, allowing you to keep giving and making more peoples lives better. Hope you consider this great way of giving!

[In other, other news, guess who has gotten completely obsessed with Brotherhood 2.0? Yeah, that'd be me.]

I Was a Teenage Fairy

I Was a Teenage Fairy
written by Francesca Lia Block



Getting into I Was a Teenage Fairy was a hard task. At the very beginning, the reader is suffocated by a mass of description and plunged right into a confusing, out-of-focus, plot. Soon, though, the haze clears out and a message begins to form. You'll find yourself wondering pretty existential questions throughout this read. Who--or what--is Mab? Is she a figment of Barbie's imagination? Is she Barbie herself? Is she supposed to symbolize all or none of us at all? While there doesn't seem to be much other than a rough outline of a plot in this book, it's still an enjoyable read--far better than Block's Weetzie Bat series. It's still filled with the same kind of hazy wording, but there appears to actually have a point, while Weetzie really didn't. There is a point to the stories that are being told, and it is a hauntingly poignant one.

Rating: 4/5

Which Witch?

Which Witch?
written by Eva Ibbotson



Although Eva Ibbotson's The Secret of Platform 13 is the more well-known novel, I've always felt it's completely overrated. This, in my opinion, is her real work of genius. I read it repeatedly as a child and loved it more each time, finding great new aspects I'd missed each time. Now, many years later, it's still as adorable and enjoyable, with a complex plot, highly unique characters that grow on you, and a mystical, fantastical tone that anyone will love. Ibbotson demonstrates her great talent at plot twists as well in this great book! My one minor complaint is that she does spend a little too much time directly describing each character (your typical paragraph blurb, giving a physical description), and that's something that always disturbs my reading and my imagination in general.

Rating: 5/5

Palace of Mirrors

Palace of Mirrors
written by Margaret Peterson Haddix



I did enjoy Just Ella, but I didn't have high hopes for this one, as I noticed that there were new characters as opposed to a continuation. Immediately, I noticed that each of the characters was intriguing, and had a fully developed backstory, something I felt Ella lacked. I liked the characters a lot, particularly Harper. I wanted to know more, more about all of them, from Cecilia to Sir Stephen. I thought there might be a small cameo, a passing mention of Ella and/or Jed, so boy was I unprepared to see the humongous role Ella ended up playing! It was amazing, I've never seen an author so seamlessly blend a character from one novel into the next, giving a new reader a good read, and an old reader an absolutely amazing one. But that's not the only thing the book excelled at. May I just mention that this was by far the most amazing plot twist I have ever read of? It's one nobody could possibly guess, but at the same time is so deliciously twisted that you can't help but love it. Palace of Mirrors was everything you could want in a book, and I'd love to give it all the praise the literary world has to offer.

Rating: 5/5

Just Ella

Just Ella
written by Margaret Peterson Haddix



With all the retellings of Cinderella out there, it's really hard to decide which are worth the read. I'd stop the search right now and read Just Ella. While the original story is retold, it is more of a sequel. I love the twist on it--what if Cinderella's brand new life was worse than her old conditions? If Prince Charming was a bore, and being ladylike just wasn't worth it? Not much seems to happen plotwise in this story, but the idea is pretty amazing. I think Haddix would have ended up with a better story if it was a short story or something to that effect, but it still is a very entertaining read. It both put a feminist spin on it all, and retained its own fairy tale roots (although, no 'happily ever after', actually, I was kind of hoping it would end with those words.) I'm disappointed that there isn't a sequel/there wasn't more to the story, but I'm looking forward to the companion book!

Rating: 4/5

The Emerald City of Oz

The Emerald City of Oz
written by L. Frank Baum



This, in my opinion, was the last of the REALLY great, *must read* Oz books. The rest of them were cute, but nothing nearly as revolutionary. This book contains a really great tour of Oz, given to Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, who, awesomely enough, are now officially residents of the Land of Oz. I noted that (and this is found in all of the Oz books) many things are mentioned, places are visited, people are met, and none of them actually contribute to the plot. This is one of the best and the worst things about the books. It certainly provides all the charm and imagination, but also loses some great plot that could exist, and doesn't really. In this one, the plot could have been more focused on the Nome King and his invasion, but that ended up really rushed. The ingenious solution to end the invasion was great to read about, but ultimately, led to the end of "communication" with Dorothy & the gang. This won't be the last we hear of Oz, but it was indeed the last (minus a few VERY minor mentions) we did hear of Dorothy and many of the characters we have really grown to love. It was a clever way to end the series on Baum's part, but still a very bittersweet moment.

Rating: 4.5/5