reviews August 11, 2013

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms 1) by Morgan Rhodes

In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power—brutally transforming their subjects’ lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined:

Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.

Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished—and finds himself the leader of a people’s revolution centuries in the making.

Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword…

The only outcome that’s certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed? (Goodreads)

The story is about 3 kingdoms that were once united: Auranos, Limeros, and Paelsia. There’s been peace between the countries for centuries but then a wine-maker’s son was killed by Auranian noble from the princess’s entourage. The victim’s brother vows revenge and sets in motion a war that’s been long brewing.

Cleo is Auranian princess, spoiled, stubborn and childish. She was probably my least favourite character. She does grow as a person towards the end but unfortunately it comes after so much has happened. She’s also carrying this secret and let me tell you, that was the lamest secret. Ever.

I liked Magnus before he turned this bloodthirsty idiot and turns into his father who he despises. And he’s in love with his (adoptive) sister.

Jonas is a pheasant who harbors hatred for all things royal and when his brother is killed in princess Cleo’s presence he basically wants to start a war. And he seemed to blame Cleo more for the murder than Aron who actually killed him, just because she was royal.

I haven’t read much YA fantasy and this wasn’t in no way bad but I thought it lacked that something. Maybe things pick up in the next book.

3,5/5
Published: Razorbill (2013)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 432
Source: library

reviews August 11, 2013

The Dead Girls’ Dance by Rachel Caine

The Dead Girls’ Dance (The Morganville Vampires 2) by Rachel Caine

Claire Danvers has her share of challenges—like being a genius in a school that favors beauty over brains, dealing with the homicidal girls in her dorm, and above all, finding out that her college town is overrun with vampires. On the up side, she has a great roommate (who tends to disappear at sunup) and a new boyfriend named Shane, whose vampire-hunting dad has called in backup: cycle punks who like the idea of killing just about anything.

Now a fraternity is throwing its annual Dead Girls’ Dance and—surprise!—Claire and her equally outcast best friend, Eve, have been invited. When they find out why, all hell is going to break loose. Because this time both the living and the dead are coming out—and everybody’s hungry for blood. (Goodreads)

Starting right after where Glass Houses ended, Shane’s dad is back with his friends intending to kill every vampire they can get their hands on. Then Shane gets himself implicated in a vampire killing and Claire finds herself in trouble trying to help him, while Michael makes drastic decisions to help his friend.

I didn’t remember that Glass Houses ended in a cliffhanger and of course this one started right from it. Good thing my friend has the 1 book so I could read the last chapter.

I think Claire grows little during this book and comes to herself more but I found her more annoying than in book 1. She’s supposed to be this genius who skipped few grades but makes few idiotic choices. Like when in dark alley where more than one person has told you not to go, then what do you do? Well go in there of course because that’s the sensible thing to do. Or when she’s told to stay at home in safe she insist going to school. To a class she’s already read the books and spends the entire time daydreaming about her boyfriend. Intelligent behavior?

Also what is such a big deal with the age difference between Claire and Shane? I don’t remember for sure but if Michael is 19 I assume Shane is the same or close and Claire is 17. This was bugging me in the first book also but then it was with Claire and Michael. And now it’s between Claire and Shane. See how fast these things changes?

While I liked the first book more this wasn’t bad either even if there was some stupid things mentioned before. Guess I have to read the next book to see if it gets better than this since the first was better too.

3/5
Published: NAL (2007)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 248
Source: my own

reviews August 11, 2013

Evernight by Claudia Gray

Evernight (Evernight 1) by Claudia Gray

Bianca wants to escape. 

At the eerily Gothic Evernight Academy, the other students are sleek, smart, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn’t fit in.

When she meets handsome, brooding Lucas he warns her to be careful–even when it comes to caring about him. But the connection between them can’t be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart…and to make Bianca question everything she’s ever believed. (Goodreads)

When sixteen year old Bianca’s parents decides they’re moving to Evernight Academy where they are starting as teachers, Bianca is horrified. Being extremely shy, bit of a loner and living in the same place her whole life, she’s not looking forward to this.

The night before the school starts she makes an attempt to run away and runs into Lucas who is also starting at the Evernight Academy. Lucas is a loner, and not to mention good-looking, and they start to spend time together.
But then one night Bianca nearly looses control and nothing is like it seems.

Girl goes into new school where everyone are rich, snobby, beautiful and bunch of vampires and a hot guy and there’s basically everything that goes on in this book.
I’ve read worse books but this wasn’t great either. But at least it was enjoyable.

Bianca makes some idiotic choices like trying to run away with nothing but flashlight. I mean who does that? And of course fall head over heels with the first boy she meets.

And what is with vampires going into school? Especially when this is a school where nearly everyone is a vampire then why about 400 year old goes into school? I admit that I laughed when teacher tries to explain ipod to a guy from 7th century but still.

The first half was pretty slow paced but action started to pick up in the second half. I’m still in two minds what to think about this but it was quick and enjoyable read.

3/5
Published: HarperTeen (2009)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 327
Source: my own

reviews August 11, 2013

An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon

An Echo in the Bone (Outlander 7) by Diana Gabaldon

Jamie Fraser is an eighteenth-century Highlander, an ex-Jacobite traitor, and a reluctant rebel in the American Revolution. His wife, Claire Randall Fraser, is a surgeon—from the twentieth century. What she knows of the future compels him to fight. What she doesn’t know may kill them both.

With one foot in America and one foot in Scotland, Jamie and Claire’s adventure spans the Revolution, from sea battles to printshops, as their paths cross with historical figures from Benjamin Franklin to Benedict Arnold.

Meanwhile, in the relative safety of the twentieth century, their daughter, Brianna, and her husband experience the unfolding drama of the Revolutionary War through Claire’s letters. But the letters can’t warn them of the threat that’s rising out of the past to overshadow their family. (Goodreads)

I loved that Jamie and Claire visited Scotland we got to see Jamie’s family there again. We get to see lot more of Jamie’s son William but I thought those were the most boring chapters. It didn’t help he wrote very long letters to Lord John which were pretty tedious to read and ended up mostly skimming those … But there was much more of John Grey in this book and I have to confess I have soft spot for John. But boy, I would have loved to see how Jamie took that little surprise in the end!

Brianna and Roger are back in the 1980’s and I wasn’t huge fan of those scenes. There was something going on with their daughter, someone is stuck in the future and stuff happened but somehow I’ve never liked Brianna much so that was kinda boring.

I really hope Young Ian gets his girl in the next book because that boy sure needs some happiness in his life.

3,5/5
Published: Dell (2011)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 1149
Source: my own

reviews August 11, 2013

A Breath Of Snow And Ashes by Diana Gabaldon

A Breath Of Snow And Ashes (Outlander 6) by Diana Gabaldon

The year is 1772, and on the eve of the American Revolution, the long fuse of rebellion has already been lit. Men lie dead in the streets of Boston, and in the backwoods of North Carolina, isolated cabins burn in the forest.

With chaos brewing, the governor calls upon Jamie Fraser to unite the backcountry and safeguard the colony for King and Crown. But from his wife Jamie knows that three years hence the shot heard round the world will be fired, and the result will be independence — with those loyal to the King either dead or in exile. And there is also the matter of a tiny clipping from The Wilmington Gazette, dated 1776, which reports Jamie’s death, along with his kin. For once, he hopes, his time-traveling family may be wrong about the future. (Goodreads)

I liked the book but there was some boring parts too. I loved the books much more when they were in Scotland, and I have to confess I don’t know much about The American Revolutionary War. It’s just not really my era. And I’ve always thought Roger was boring and there were quite a few chapters by him.

I loved hearing more about Ian’s time with the Indians and his wife. It’s been awhile since I read the last book but I thought his wife was dead? Maybe I’m just remembering wrong or confusing it with their daughter…I so hope we get to see more Ian in the future!

3/5
Published: Dell (2008)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 1438
Source: my own