reviews August 11, 2013

A Tainted Dawn by B.N. Peacock

A Tainted Dawn: The Great War by B.N. Peacock

August 1789. The Rights of Man. Liberty. Equality. Idealism. Patriotism. A new age dawns. And yet, old hostilities persist: England and Spain are on the brink of war. France, allied by treaty with Spain, readies her warships. Three youths – the son of an English carpenter, the son of a naval captain, and the son of a French court tailor – meet in London, a chance encounter that entwines their lives ever after. The English boys find themselves on the same frigate bound for the Caribbean. The Frenchman sails to Trinidad, where he meets an even more zealous Spanish revolutionary. As diplomats in Europe race to avoid conflict, war threatens to explode in the Caribbean, with the three youths pitted against each other. Will the dawn of the boys’ young manhood remain bright with hope? Or will it become tainted with their countrymen’s spilled blood? (publisher)

The book starts with brief encounter of 3 boys: Edward; son of a Navy Captain, Louis; son of a French tailor and Jemmy; son of a carpenter who works as a fiddler. The boys’s lives will intervene later on The Caribbean after all of their lives has changed.

The book is told from the point of view of the 3 boys. My favourite was Edward’s story at a ship his grandfather dropped off. I liked to read about the life at the sea and men there. I didn’t however particularly like Louis so I found his chapters to be most boring ones. At the beginning Louis and Edward meet ends up fighting and Louis hates Edward for the rest of his life. I didn’t see the reason for such hate and it was the only thing besides revolutionary thoughts that drove him.
Jemmy was much more sympathetic character. A poor boy with a drunken father trying to get on with life.

There was some slow going paces but overall it was enjoyable. I liked the to read about the life at the sea most and it was fascinating reading about the relationship between the shipmates.

3/5
Published: Fireship Press (2012)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 352
Source: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

 

reviews August 10, 2013

Abandon by Meg Cabot

Abandon (Abandon Trilogy 1) by Meg Cabot

Last year, Pierce died – just for a moment. And when she was in the space between life and death, she met John: tall dark and terrifying, it’s his job to usher souls from one realm to the next.

There’s a fierce attraction between them, but Pierce knows that if she allows herself to fall for John she will be doomed to a life of shadows and loneliness in the underworld. But now things are getting dangerous for her, and her only hope is to do exactly what John says . . . (Goodreads)

Pierce moves to Isla Huesos with her mom after her parent’s divorce and Pierce’s near death experience. One day she was trying to save a bird and ended up in a pool and hitting her head. While dead she ends up in a mysterious world where she meets this gorgeous boy John. After John explains that she has to stay in that world, Pierce panicked and escaped. But now John has appeared at Pierce’s new school and weird things are happening.

I’ve heard lot about Cabot’s books and I was curious to try this.
I liked the idea of Underworld and Persephone and all but it ended being just flat. I didn’t feel any chemistry between Pierce and John but gladly there was no love triangle. Can’t say the same about insta-love though. Can’t blame Pierce bolting after you hear you’re dead and you’re supposed to live there with this guy you met once when you were 7 years old.

I wasn’t too crazy about Pierce either who was too annoying and whiny but the book was rather enjoyable but I don’t see the hype over Cabot’s books.

3/5
Published: Macmillan (2011)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 297
Source: my own

reviews August 10, 2013

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Seraphina (Seraphina 1) by Rachel Hartman

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty’s anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen’s Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life. (Goodreads)

Seraphina is half-dragon, a thing that is supposed to be a myth. She’s able to recall her birth, remembers her time as a baby and has her late mother’s memories. She has always loved music but her father doesn’t let her play it. After Seraphina finally convinces her father into letting her get lessons, Phina soon starts to get attention for her skill.

Seraphina is drawn into court politics after Prince Rufus is found dead supposedly by dragon attack. While working with Prince Lucian Kiggs to resolve the murder, she finds that secrets are getting harder to keep.

What a great start for the year! I loved this book and I’m happy I chose this for the first book of the year.

I’m not sure if I’ve ever read a book where dragons play such a big role so can’t compare to anything but I loved the idea. It was interesting to see how dragons could have view humans.

I loved Seraphina and Kiggs and I so hope they end up together! And yey for no-insta-love! Even after realizing she loves Kiggs, she could use her brain and think rationally.

Oh why writing reviews for books you love is so much harder? So I’ll just say I loved the book and I’m surely reading the next one too!

4,5/5
Published: Random House (2012)
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 451
Source: library

reviews August 10, 2013

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices 1) by Cassandra Clare

The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them…. (Goodreads)

16-year old Tessa is heading to Victorian England in search of her brother. She’s kidnapped by mysterious Dark Sisters and learns she has the ability to transform into another person. She also learns there are Shadowhunters who are fighting against the demons.

Hmm…. What to say about the book? So this is a prequel to Mortal Instruments but I’ve only read the first book City of Bones.

Tessa is a likeable person but just couldn’t connect with her. I liked Jem who was a sweetheart but couldn’t see what’s the deal with Will. Most of the time he was just annoying and rude. I also didn’t see any chemistry between Tessa and Will or is it supposed to be in later books?

I don’t really know what to say about this. This was easy and quick to read but in couple of months I won’t be able to remember what happened here. It was entertaining but that’s it. I’m in two ways if I should try the second book but we’ll see.

3/5
Published: Walker (2010)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 479
Source: library

reviews August 10, 2013

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy 5) by Richelle Mead

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Siberia, Dimitri’s birthplace, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s — and to her best friend, Lissa Dragomir. It’s graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives outside of the Academy’s cold iron gates to finally begin. But even with the intrigue and excitement of court life looming, Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri. He’s out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance, and now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won’t join him, he won’t rest until he’s silenced her…forever.

But Rose can’t forget what she learned on her journey — whispers of a magic too impossible and terrifying to comprehend. A magic inextricably tied to Lissa that could hold the answer to all of Rose’s prayers, but not without devastating consequences. Now Rose will have to decide what — and who — matters most to her. And in the end, is true love really worth the price? (Goodreads)

Rose is finally graduating from the Academy and only the last trial is ahead. But she hasn’t given up on getting Dimitri back and with Lissa’s help she uses the information she gathered in Blood Promise. But they need help from Victor who is in prison.

There are times I don’t understand what makes me read these books but I can’t help myself. I need to know what happens to these people and if they have some sense in the end.

In the last book I thought Rose had finally matured little and damn now were back on square one. Okay, there was parts where she acted like responsible person and the she’s back on being childish and selfish.
She’s taking guarding Lissa seriously but when her relationships are concerned I just want to slap her. Rose is supposed to be with Adrian, or at least give him a chance but instead she’s obsessed getting Dimitri back. And even when Dimitri tells he’s no longer interested she just don’t get it. And she’s still with Adrian! I was reminded how slutty I thought her to be in book 1.

I’m glad that Dimitri is back but oh the drama! I get that he regrets the things he did as strigoi but the way he wants to protect Rose even though she doesn’t mind the things he did. Or enough not wanting to be with him anyway.

I’m starting to like Adrian but I wish he finds someone better than Rose to be with. Just saying…

3,5/5
Published: Puffin (2010)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 479
Source: library