Okay kiddos, so here goes with the review of Divergent, Insurgent and Allegiant. And don't you worry: I have A LOT to say!
So let me say a few things right off the bat. 1. Spoiler alert! I'm gonna talk about big stuff! 2. I did a big no-no by watching the movie BEFORE reading a book. That is almost never a good thing. I almost always like the book better than the movie (with the exception of The Princess Bride). With all that being said.....I loved BOTH the book Divergent and the movie Divergent. The other two books brought out quite a bit of feeling from me.
Normally, I would include the amazon description of the books before I review them. B/c this is a popular series, I'm going to put the descriptions at the bottom and my reviews at top. Sorry to change things up.
Okay, Divergent:
I. love. Four. I do; I love him. He is just a pea in my pod! I love his hostility, his vulnerability and the way he loves. I love the way he loves Tris. I get it. I enjoy Tris in the first book. I love to see her growth. I like the way she comes into herself as time goes on. I think Roth does a great job of creating a world that you can envision. The supporting characters are wonderful and have the great effect of being friends, comic relief, antagonists and just all around the spectrum of supporting characters. She begins STRONG with this storyline and I love where she goes with it. I almost wish she'd stopped with book 1. But it's okay; I'm not a hater.
Insurgent:
Let me break down Insurgent for you. 1. Run to another faction. 2. Stay there until you get kicked out/betrayed. 3. Cause an uproar that turns that faction upside down. 4. Get captured. 5. Escape. 6. Repeat in another faction/factionless. That is the whole of Insurgent. Meanwhile, the love story makes me move forward. I'll talk more about that in a minute.
Allegiant:
Words. More Words. And a lull......... Just keep reading.
Okay, so here's my honest opinion. Divergent is pure action and emotion and this nice little love story simmering along the bottom of the storyline and I loved that. Insurgent also had much action but I found the action a bit redundant. Insurgent's redeeming quality was the love story still simmers along the bottom. I think there were some profound love story moments in this book. Four, under the truth serum, confessing his feelings for Tris made my heart giggle. Her "death" in Insurgent brought about this great surge of emotion from so many characters, I loved that aspect. Why, oh why, oh why, oh why did I have to get 75% through the SECOND book for this girl to tell the boy she loved him?!? That had me way more frustrated than I should probably admit.
Now, had I made this review before finishing Allegiant, I would have ripped it to shreds. Allegiant has hardly any action in my opinion. I once read where JK Rowling said that she killed many parents in the Harry Potter series to demonstrate that war leaves orphans. And I won't even discuss Hunger Games and what she was trying to prove through it's violence. I have no issues with violence; I have no issues with war. I read to escape; to get away from the reality and the mundane of being a stay at home mom. I don't particularly like to read and feel a political statement being made through what I'm reading. I feel like Allegiant is a HUGE political statement. Roth is really trying to tell you something about war. At one point, I felt a parallel between this book and its "genetic purity" and Hitler and his pursuit for genetic purity. I really felt like she was so wordy in her attempt to teach us something. With all that being said, once I finished Allegiant, I liked it! I like how she ended it the book. There are some things I would do differently, if I were the author :) But I thought she ended it on a sweet note. Had it been reversed with the other character sacrificing, I don't think she could've ended with such a bittersweet note....it would just have been bitter. She made a great political statement when all was said and done...life carries on and you learn to move on or get left behind. I would've loved to seen more depth to Peter and maybe even Caleb. I would've loved for there to have been a huge romantic gesture by Four but let's be honest, by the end of Allegiant, Roth was over romantic gestures. She ended it having made her point and having said what she came here to say.
My final opinion: Will I reread this series? One day, many moons later, after I've grieved and accepted the fate of all the characters. Will I watch the other movies? Yeah. Will I continue to love Four and his sad little state of being? Oh, my yes. Will I recommend this series to you? Yes, as long as you know that there is a portion of the series where you have to remind yourself "just see where it goes". I feel like part of the time I was reading just to see what she would do with it. And in the end, I was pleased.
Now, for Amazon's description:
Divergent:
One choice can transform you. Beatrice Prior's society is
divided into five factions—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the
selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the
intelligent). Beatrice must choose between staying with her Abnegation
family and transferring factions. Her choice will shock her community
and herself. But the newly christened Tris also has a secret, one she's
determined to keep hidden, because in this world, what makes you different makes you dangerous.
Insurgent:
One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice
has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her,
Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and
herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and
forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.
Tris's
initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with
her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War
now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows.
And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and
choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful.
Transformed
by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new
discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her
Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.
Allegiant:
What if your whole world was a lie? What if a single revelation—like a
single choice—changed everything? What if love and loyalty made you do
things you never expected?
Monday, February 23, 2015
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Lark Rising by Sandra Waugh
This book is a fairly new release and I can't wait for the sequel. I'm not sure what genre it would qualify for except maybe fantasy.
Let's start with amazon's description:
Sixteen-year-old Lark Carew is happiest close to home, tending her garden and gathering herbs for medicines. But when her Sight warns her that monsters called Troths will soon invade her village, Lark is summoned on a journey to seek help from the legendary Riders of Tarnec. Little does she suspect that one of the Riders, Gharain, is the very man who has haunted her visions. Or that the people of Tarnec have called her there for another reason: Lark is the Guardian of Life, the first of four Guardians who must awaken their powers to recover four stolen amulets. Together, the amulets—Life, Death, Dark, and Light—keep the world in Balance. To take back the Life amulet, Lark will have to discover her true inner strength and give in to a love that she swears will be her downfall.
My review:
Let's start with Lark. She seems like a pretty simple girl. She gets visions when she touches something (in another book series this gift is called "pyschometry"--don't I sound smart?). These visions can be gifts or curses. She shies away from human touch b/c of this gift. She doesn't like to be far from home b/c she can be overwhelmed by the emotions. She starts off very shy, content with her little place in life and her small role in her world. But she gets summoned/destined to head off on an adventure and off she goes. Quickly she is confronted with terrifying creatures and circumstances but this where Lark starts to grow and shine. Bravery is said to be the act of courage in the midst of fear. Lark is definitely brave. She learns to head off on a quest that she didn't ask for and really isn't close to prepared for but she does it anyway and by the end of book 1, you're not only rooting for her but you almost want to wink at how she has become so smart.
Bring in a group of "riders" (think knights) and you have the beginning of a great love story. Gharain carries some major angst when he meets Lark and to be honest, if I'd been her, I would've slapped the boy silly upon first meeting. He carries some baggage and at first it annoys me. But just as Lark grows up, Gharain learns to get over past mistakes and seeks to be better than the past. (I'm soundly majorly like Yoda right now; this books makes me philosophical I guess.)
Anyhooooo, the author manages to throw in some quirky side characters that make me wish for more backstories or even future stories which is why I'm so excited for book 2. She adds these side characters and makes them so darn likable that I think she could run this series on and on if she wanted. I look forward to seeing where she goes with it.
Oh, and for those who like to censor, there is no foul language and one kissing scene that is so ambiguous that I'm still wondering "did they or didn't they?". So certainly nothing graphic and just fun enough to make me smile when she blushes at Gharain getting out of the pool. I totally recommend it!
Let's start with amazon's description:
Sixteen-year-old Lark Carew is happiest close to home, tending her garden and gathering herbs for medicines. But when her Sight warns her that monsters called Troths will soon invade her village, Lark is summoned on a journey to seek help from the legendary Riders of Tarnec. Little does she suspect that one of the Riders, Gharain, is the very man who has haunted her visions. Or that the people of Tarnec have called her there for another reason: Lark is the Guardian of Life, the first of four Guardians who must awaken their powers to recover four stolen amulets. Together, the amulets—Life, Death, Dark, and Light—keep the world in Balance. To take back the Life amulet, Lark will have to discover her true inner strength and give in to a love that she swears will be her downfall.
My review:
Let's start with Lark. She seems like a pretty simple girl. She gets visions when she touches something (in another book series this gift is called "pyschometry"--don't I sound smart?). These visions can be gifts or curses. She shies away from human touch b/c of this gift. She doesn't like to be far from home b/c she can be overwhelmed by the emotions. She starts off very shy, content with her little place in life and her small role in her world. But she gets summoned/destined to head off on an adventure and off she goes. Quickly she is confronted with terrifying creatures and circumstances but this where Lark starts to grow and shine. Bravery is said to be the act of courage in the midst of fear. Lark is definitely brave. She learns to head off on a quest that she didn't ask for and really isn't close to prepared for but she does it anyway and by the end of book 1, you're not only rooting for her but you almost want to wink at how she has become so smart.
Bring in a group of "riders" (think knights) and you have the beginning of a great love story. Gharain carries some major angst when he meets Lark and to be honest, if I'd been her, I would've slapped the boy silly upon first meeting. He carries some baggage and at first it annoys me. But just as Lark grows up, Gharain learns to get over past mistakes and seeks to be better than the past. (I'm soundly majorly like Yoda right now; this books makes me philosophical I guess.)
Anyhooooo, the author manages to throw in some quirky side characters that make me wish for more backstories or even future stories which is why I'm so excited for book 2. She adds these side characters and makes them so darn likable that I think she could run this series on and on if she wanted. I look forward to seeing where she goes with it.
Oh, and for those who like to censor, there is no foul language and one kissing scene that is so ambiguous that I'm still wondering "did they or didn't they?". So certainly nothing graphic and just fun enough to make me smile when she blushes at Gharain getting out of the pool. I totally recommend it!
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Creepy Hollow series by Rachel Morgan
So, again I'm reviewing an entire series at a time and you'll thank me b/c Morgan leaves book 2 in a major cliff hanger so be thankful you didn't have to wait for book 3 like I did. Actually, I read these books last year and decided to review them after rereading them b/c I like them that much.
So here's the amazon descriptions:
Faerie Guardian (Creepy Hollow Book 1):
Protecting humans from dangerous magical creatures is all in a day's work for a faerie training to be a guardian. Seventeen-year-old Violet Fairdale knows this better than anyone--she's about to become the best guardian the Guild has seen in years. That is, until a cute human boy who can somehow see through her faerie glamour follows her into the fae realm. Now she's broken Guild Law, a crime that could lead to her expulsion.
The last thing Vi wants to do is spend any more time with the boy who got her into this mess, but the Guild requires that she return Nate to his home and make him forget everything he's discovered of the fae realm. Easy, right? Not when you factor in evil faeries, long-lost family members, and inconvenient feelings of the romantic kind. Vi is about to find herself tangled up in a dangerous plot--and it'll take all her training to get out of it alive.
Faerie Prince (book 2):
Guardian trainee Violet Fairdale is just weeks away from one of the most important occasions of her life: graduation. After messing up big time by bringing a human into the fae realm, Vi needs to step up her game and forget about Nate if she hopes to graduate as the top guardian of her year. Everything would be fine if she wasn't forced to partner with Ryn, her ex-friend, ex-enemy, current 'sort of friend'. They might be trying to patch up their relationship, but does she really want to spend a week undercover with him for their final assignment? On top of that, the possibly insane Unseelie Prince is still on the loose, free to 'collect' as many specially talented faeries as he can find--and Vi is still at the top of his list. Add in faerie queens, enchanted storms, complicated not-just-friends feelings, and a murder within the Guild itself, and graduation is about to become the least of Vi's problems.
Faerie War (Book 3):
Violet Fairdale is in big trouble. Her home is gone, her beloved forest lies in ruins, the guy she gave her heart to has deserted her—and she doesn’t remember any of it. The powerful Lord Draven is taking over, brainwashing guardians into fighting for him. No one is safe from the evil spreading throughout the fae world.
As alliances are forged between the remaining free fae, Vi struggles to reclaim her identity and figure out where she belongs in this new world. When someone from her past shows up, life gets even more complicated. He brings with him a long-forgotten weapon and an ancient prophecy that places Vi at the center of the fight against Draven. With the future of the fae world at stake, can Vi carry out the prophecy’s instructions before it’s too late?
Okay, my review: First off, this is a good YA book. There is no explicit sex. There are make-out sessions but they are teenagers, make-out sessions are fun! There is only one curse word used throughout the series and it isn't referring to a donkey.
Book 1 is not my favorite but it starts a good story. It is definitely the beginning of greater things to come and book 2 is by far greater. I love Violet in book 1. She is kinda naive in the first book. She is strong, independent, and has a plan.....but sometimes plans just don't go the way we, well, plan. She has some puppy love and of course, that's what starts her whole mess. But what I love the most is how she grows as the series goes on. And I love, love, love Ryn! He's up there on my top 5 favorite fictional crushes! That's pretty big stuff! I have a few assassins and tough fellas on that list and this goofy, reckless, playboy steals my heart and yay b/c he steals Violet's heart too!
Book 3 is a few things for me. Okay, I mentioned that book 2 is a cliff hanger....like a HUGE cliff hanger and so I was a little impatient with book 3. You can't leave me hanging and then slowly drag me around from a couple different points of view. Now, with that being said, some people may like that. I was sitting on the edge of my seat seeing how she would bring it all back around together and she did....but it took awhile. I also felt that she spent so much time bringing it all back around and then rushed the big confrontation at the end. She could've given me about 5 more chapters for the big final conflict. She also left something unresolved. So while it seemingly ends, I can see her surprising us with another story down the line. I also will mention, though it's not a criticism, that I saw some parallels with Harry Potter and the Mortal Instruments series. I even noticed some similar character names as the City of Bones gang. I don't know if it was intentional or maybe just something I picked up on. I don't think she stole ideas at all but there were some similarities that I think someone might notice, if they look hard enough.
With all that being said, like I mentioned earlier, I reread this series. I really like this series. I love Violet and Ryn. Nate is a little "ehn" for me but you can't win them all and that's okay. I recommend these books. If you like kick butt faeries, magical realms parallel to the human world, and you like a little romance in between all out battles, you'll like this series :)
So here's the amazon descriptions:
Faerie Guardian (Creepy Hollow Book 1):
Protecting humans from dangerous magical creatures is all in a day's work for a faerie training to be a guardian. Seventeen-year-old Violet Fairdale knows this better than anyone--she's about to become the best guardian the Guild has seen in years. That is, until a cute human boy who can somehow see through her faerie glamour follows her into the fae realm. Now she's broken Guild Law, a crime that could lead to her expulsion.
The last thing Vi wants to do is spend any more time with the boy who got her into this mess, but the Guild requires that she return Nate to his home and make him forget everything he's discovered of the fae realm. Easy, right? Not when you factor in evil faeries, long-lost family members, and inconvenient feelings of the romantic kind. Vi is about to find herself tangled up in a dangerous plot--and it'll take all her training to get out of it alive.
Faerie Prince (book 2):
Guardian trainee Violet Fairdale is just weeks away from one of the most important occasions of her life: graduation. After messing up big time by bringing a human into the fae realm, Vi needs to step up her game and forget about Nate if she hopes to graduate as the top guardian of her year. Everything would be fine if she wasn't forced to partner with Ryn, her ex-friend, ex-enemy, current 'sort of friend'. They might be trying to patch up their relationship, but does she really want to spend a week undercover with him for their final assignment? On top of that, the possibly insane Unseelie Prince is still on the loose, free to 'collect' as many specially talented faeries as he can find--and Vi is still at the top of his list. Add in faerie queens, enchanted storms, complicated not-just-friends feelings, and a murder within the Guild itself, and graduation is about to become the least of Vi's problems.
Faerie War (Book 3):
Violet Fairdale is in big trouble. Her home is gone, her beloved forest lies in ruins, the guy she gave her heart to has deserted her—and she doesn’t remember any of it. The powerful Lord Draven is taking over, brainwashing guardians into fighting for him. No one is safe from the evil spreading throughout the fae world.
As alliances are forged between the remaining free fae, Vi struggles to reclaim her identity and figure out where she belongs in this new world. When someone from her past shows up, life gets even more complicated. He brings with him a long-forgotten weapon and an ancient prophecy that places Vi at the center of the fight against Draven. With the future of the fae world at stake, can Vi carry out the prophecy’s instructions before it’s too late?
Okay, my review: First off, this is a good YA book. There is no explicit sex. There are make-out sessions but they are teenagers, make-out sessions are fun! There is only one curse word used throughout the series and it isn't referring to a donkey.
Book 1 is not my favorite but it starts a good story. It is definitely the beginning of greater things to come and book 2 is by far greater. I love Violet in book 1. She is kinda naive in the first book. She is strong, independent, and has a plan.....but sometimes plans just don't go the way we, well, plan. She has some puppy love and of course, that's what starts her whole mess. But what I love the most is how she grows as the series goes on. And I love, love, love Ryn! He's up there on my top 5 favorite fictional crushes! That's pretty big stuff! I have a few assassins and tough fellas on that list and this goofy, reckless, playboy steals my heart and yay b/c he steals Violet's heart too!
Book 3 is a few things for me. Okay, I mentioned that book 2 is a cliff hanger....like a HUGE cliff hanger and so I was a little impatient with book 3. You can't leave me hanging and then slowly drag me around from a couple different points of view. Now, with that being said, some people may like that. I was sitting on the edge of my seat seeing how she would bring it all back around together and she did....but it took awhile. I also felt that she spent so much time bringing it all back around and then rushed the big confrontation at the end. She could've given me about 5 more chapters for the big final conflict. She also left something unresolved. So while it seemingly ends, I can see her surprising us with another story down the line. I also will mention, though it's not a criticism, that I saw some parallels with Harry Potter and the Mortal Instruments series. I even noticed some similar character names as the City of Bones gang. I don't know if it was intentional or maybe just something I picked up on. I don't think she stole ideas at all but there were some similarities that I think someone might notice, if they look hard enough.
With all that being said, like I mentioned earlier, I reread this series. I really like this series. I love Violet and Ryn. Nate is a little "ehn" for me but you can't win them all and that's okay. I recommend these books. If you like kick butt faeries, magical realms parallel to the human world, and you like a little romance in between all out battles, you'll like this series :)
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Dragon Blood series by Lindsay Buroker
So far there are 4 books in this series and I will cover all of them.
So, I reviewed another series by Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge series, and gave it glowing reviews. There were 7 in that series with several side novellas that I also enjoyed. I find myself thinking of Buroker as one of my "go to" authors, alongside Sherwood Smith and Maria V. Snyder. I love her books. I love her series and I love that she makes her a little bit edgy with just enough romance to make this stay-at-home mom feeling flirty! Buroker is definitely steampunk genre (Steampunk is a term used for books that tend to bring magic/modern technology and combine it with historical fiction type books.) She creates just enough history/technology with magic to make it interesting and creative. It's definitely not your typical fantasy book. There is also a sense of nostalgia, makes me think of 1910s/1920s when the world was just a little dirtier, from soot and unwashed bodies and general lack of sterilization. Hope that makes sense; I'm not quite an author when it comes to expression.
For the fast forward review, there is a little bit of sex in the first book. The rest of the books elude to sexual jokes/innuendos but in a way that is smart and funny and not vulgar. I'm trying to recall foul language and I can't so there really must not be much in that way either.
Here's amazon's descriptions of each book, then I'll review more at the bottom.
Balanced on the Blade's Edge (Dragon Blood Book 1):
Colonel Ridge Zirkander isn’t the model of military professionalism—he has a tendency to say exactly what’s on his mind, and his record has enough demerits to wallpaper the hull of an airship—but as the best fighter pilot in the Iskandian army, he’s used to a little leniency from his superiors. Until he punches the wrong diplomat in the nose and finds himself issued new orders: take command of a remote prison mine in the inhospitable Ice Blades Mountains. Ridge has never been in charge of anything larger than a flier squadron—what’s he supposed to do with a frozen fortress full of murderers and rapists? Not to mention the strange woman who shows up right before he arrives…
Sardelle Terushan wakes from three hundred years in a mage stasis shelter, only to realize that she is the last of the Referatu, the sorcerers who once helped protect Iskandia from conquerors. Their subterranean mountain community was blown up in a treacherous sneak attack by soldiers who feared their power. Everyone Sardelle ever knew is dead, and the sentient soulblade she has been bonded to since her youth is buried in the core of the mountain. Further, what remains of her home has been infested by bloodthirsty miners commanded by the descendants of the very soldiers who destroyed her people.
Sardelle needs help to reach her soulblade—her only link to her past and her last friend in the world. Her only hope is to pretend she’s one of the prisoners while trying to gain the commander’s trust. But lying isn’t her specialty, especially when the world has changed so much in the intervening centuries, and if Colonel Zirkander figures out who she truly is, he’ll be duty-bound to sentence her to the only acceptable punishment for sorcerers: death.
Deathmaker (Book 2):
When Lieutenant Caslin Ahn joined Wolf Squadron, she was prepared for the reality that she might one day be killed in the line of duty. She was less prepared for being shot down, assumed dead by her own people, and dragged off to the Cofah Empire as a prisoner of war. As if being thrust into a dungeon and interrogated wasn't bad enough, the sadistic commandant decides to give her a cellmate: the notorious pirate Deathmaker. Given the crimes he's committed against Iskandia, Cas owes it to her people to try and kill him.
Part warrior and part scientist, Tolemek "Deathmaker" Targoson has not only slain thousands with his deadly concoctions, but he has a special loathing for Iskandian pilots. It was Ahn's commander, Colonel Zirkander, who ruined his military career, forcing him to leave his country in shame and join a pirate organization. Years later, he uses his dreadful reputation like a shield to keep people away; all he wants is to be left alone to work in his laboratory. But when fate lands him in a cell with Zirkander's protégé, he sees a chance for revenge. Why kill the lieutenant when he can use her to get to his old nemesis?
There's just one problem: it's hard to plot against your enemies when you're in prison with them. Cas and Tolemek will have to work together if they hope to escape the Cofah dungeon. In the process, they may find that neither is what the other expects, and that they have far greater problems to worry about than ensnaring each other...
Deathmaker is a full-length 85,000-word novel. It is set after the events in Balanced on the Blade’s Edge, but it can be enjoyed even if you haven’t read the first book.
Blood Charged (Book 3):
Sardelle Terushan, sorceress and healer, should be lying low. Magic is forbidden in Iskandia, and magic users are drowned, shot, or otherwise slain. The problem? She's fallen in love with ace fighter pilot and national hero, Colonel Ridge Zirkander, a man whom everybody notices, including the king. It's not long before Sardelle has spies dogging her steps and people trying to blow her up. Worse, her presence is jeopardizing Ridge's career. If she can't find a solution to the nation's centuries-old hatred of magic, the only way to protect Ridge—and herself—may be to leave.
Ridge Zirkander isn't used to worrying about more than shooting down Cofah airships and keeping the officers in his squadron alive, but his world has gotten more complicated since giving his heart to Sardelle. It's difficult to keep people from noticing a mysterious and enigmatic woman, not to mention her chatty sentient sword. He's been passing her off as an archaeologist to his fellow pilots, but when the king calls him in to a private meeting, Ridge fears his secret has been discovered.
But the king—and the rest of the country—has a greater problem. Cofah military scientists have acquired something that shouldn't exist in the world any longer: dragon blood. In addition to having countless mysterious properties, it's a powerful energy source that can be used to create devastating weapons. Ridge, Sardelle, and their allies must travel to the empire as part of a secret strike force to steal the dragon blood. If they fail, the Cofah will finally have the power to destroy all of Iskandia.
Patterns in the Dark (Book 4):
Everyone knows dragons have been extinct for over a thousand years. Everyone is wrong. At least one dragon remains, and military scientists from the Cofah Empire are experimenting with its blood, using the magical substance to power deadly new weapons that could be used to bring the world to its knees.
That's a concern for Zirkander, Cas, and the rest of the Iskandians, but all Tolemek wants is to find his missing sister. The last time he saw her, their father had locked her in an asylum because of a mental illness with no cure. Now the military has taken her. What use the Cofah have for her, Tolemek can only guess, but he is certain she is in danger. He must save her before it's too late. But her fate is inexplicably tied to the dragon's, and he must find it to find her.
My Review:
Book 1 is interesting. Zirkander and Sardelle are fascinating characters and it is a great start to the series, albeit a little bit of a slow start. Their relationship is very quickly sexually charged and kinda leaves you wondering if they really have a thing for each other or is it just lust.
Jaxi, the darling vicious soulblade, is the perfect character. She's funny, tells it like it is, and is very engaging and important to the storyline considering she is a talking sword.
Put them all together and like I said, it's a great start. Just kinda gives you a taste of this series.
Book 2 is where I became a big fan. Again, I find myself drawn to "Deathmaker", a bad boy pirate who really just has a bad reputation (he's a softy at heart). I love this storyline. This a stand alone, spin off tale from the first book, telling the story of a character briefly mentioned in book 1. Don't worry; they come together at one point. I found this book very enjoyable! I love the relationship with Cas and Tolomek. They both just want to survive and find out as time goes on that surviving together might just be a good thing.
Book 3 brings them all together and it is not one big happy family. Zirkander and Tolomek tolerate each other. Both couples are a tad jealous of the other couple and throw in a couple of side characters, Apex and Duck and you just want to have everyone over for Christmas dinner....because you want them to be real people and you want to hang out with them.
Book 4 continues on with the adventure started in Book 3 and I will say there were moments I was a little unhappy with the author. I found myself thinking "she better resolve this in a way that I'll like." No offense to the author but the sign of a good book is one that you are invested in and I was invested in Buroker making this story go the way I wanted.
I'm finding myself thinking this author, this girl, is on my wave length. I enjoy what she puts out there. Sometimes she has moments of brilliant quotes that I think are perfect for life in general. I even have to look up a few words sometimes which is nice for personal growth. I highly recommend this series, even though it isn't done yet. I highly recommend this author, Lindsay Buroker. She writes good stuff. It's witty and not too gritty!
So, I reviewed another series by Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge series, and gave it glowing reviews. There were 7 in that series with several side novellas that I also enjoyed. I find myself thinking of Buroker as one of my "go to" authors, alongside Sherwood Smith and Maria V. Snyder. I love her books. I love her series and I love that she makes her a little bit edgy with just enough romance to make this stay-at-home mom feeling flirty! Buroker is definitely steampunk genre (Steampunk is a term used for books that tend to bring magic/modern technology and combine it with historical fiction type books.) She creates just enough history/technology with magic to make it interesting and creative. It's definitely not your typical fantasy book. There is also a sense of nostalgia, makes me think of 1910s/1920s when the world was just a little dirtier, from soot and unwashed bodies and general lack of sterilization. Hope that makes sense; I'm not quite an author when it comes to expression.
For the fast forward review, there is a little bit of sex in the first book. The rest of the books elude to sexual jokes/innuendos but in a way that is smart and funny and not vulgar. I'm trying to recall foul language and I can't so there really must not be much in that way either.
Here's amazon's descriptions of each book, then I'll review more at the bottom.
Balanced on the Blade's Edge (Dragon Blood Book 1):
Colonel Ridge Zirkander isn’t the model of military professionalism—he has a tendency to say exactly what’s on his mind, and his record has enough demerits to wallpaper the hull of an airship—but as the best fighter pilot in the Iskandian army, he’s used to a little leniency from his superiors. Until he punches the wrong diplomat in the nose and finds himself issued new orders: take command of a remote prison mine in the inhospitable Ice Blades Mountains. Ridge has never been in charge of anything larger than a flier squadron—what’s he supposed to do with a frozen fortress full of murderers and rapists? Not to mention the strange woman who shows up right before he arrives…
Sardelle Terushan wakes from three hundred years in a mage stasis shelter, only to realize that she is the last of the Referatu, the sorcerers who once helped protect Iskandia from conquerors. Their subterranean mountain community was blown up in a treacherous sneak attack by soldiers who feared their power. Everyone Sardelle ever knew is dead, and the sentient soulblade she has been bonded to since her youth is buried in the core of the mountain. Further, what remains of her home has been infested by bloodthirsty miners commanded by the descendants of the very soldiers who destroyed her people.
Sardelle needs help to reach her soulblade—her only link to her past and her last friend in the world. Her only hope is to pretend she’s one of the prisoners while trying to gain the commander’s trust. But lying isn’t her specialty, especially when the world has changed so much in the intervening centuries, and if Colonel Zirkander figures out who she truly is, he’ll be duty-bound to sentence her to the only acceptable punishment for sorcerers: death.
Deathmaker (Book 2):
When Lieutenant Caslin Ahn joined Wolf Squadron, she was prepared for the reality that she might one day be killed in the line of duty. She was less prepared for being shot down, assumed dead by her own people, and dragged off to the Cofah Empire as a prisoner of war. As if being thrust into a dungeon and interrogated wasn't bad enough, the sadistic commandant decides to give her a cellmate: the notorious pirate Deathmaker. Given the crimes he's committed against Iskandia, Cas owes it to her people to try and kill him.
Part warrior and part scientist, Tolemek "Deathmaker" Targoson has not only slain thousands with his deadly concoctions, but he has a special loathing for Iskandian pilots. It was Ahn's commander, Colonel Zirkander, who ruined his military career, forcing him to leave his country in shame and join a pirate organization. Years later, he uses his dreadful reputation like a shield to keep people away; all he wants is to be left alone to work in his laboratory. But when fate lands him in a cell with Zirkander's protégé, he sees a chance for revenge. Why kill the lieutenant when he can use her to get to his old nemesis?
There's just one problem: it's hard to plot against your enemies when you're in prison with them. Cas and Tolemek will have to work together if they hope to escape the Cofah dungeon. In the process, they may find that neither is what the other expects, and that they have far greater problems to worry about than ensnaring each other...
Deathmaker is a full-length 85,000-word novel. It is set after the events in Balanced on the Blade’s Edge, but it can be enjoyed even if you haven’t read the first book.
Blood Charged (Book 3):
Sardelle Terushan, sorceress and healer, should be lying low. Magic is forbidden in Iskandia, and magic users are drowned, shot, or otherwise slain. The problem? She's fallen in love with ace fighter pilot and national hero, Colonel Ridge Zirkander, a man whom everybody notices, including the king. It's not long before Sardelle has spies dogging her steps and people trying to blow her up. Worse, her presence is jeopardizing Ridge's career. If she can't find a solution to the nation's centuries-old hatred of magic, the only way to protect Ridge—and herself—may be to leave.
Ridge Zirkander isn't used to worrying about more than shooting down Cofah airships and keeping the officers in his squadron alive, but his world has gotten more complicated since giving his heart to Sardelle. It's difficult to keep people from noticing a mysterious and enigmatic woman, not to mention her chatty sentient sword. He's been passing her off as an archaeologist to his fellow pilots, but when the king calls him in to a private meeting, Ridge fears his secret has been discovered.
But the king—and the rest of the country—has a greater problem. Cofah military scientists have acquired something that shouldn't exist in the world any longer: dragon blood. In addition to having countless mysterious properties, it's a powerful energy source that can be used to create devastating weapons. Ridge, Sardelle, and their allies must travel to the empire as part of a secret strike force to steal the dragon blood. If they fail, the Cofah will finally have the power to destroy all of Iskandia.
Patterns in the Dark (Book 4):
Everyone knows dragons have been extinct for over a thousand years. Everyone is wrong. At least one dragon remains, and military scientists from the Cofah Empire are experimenting with its blood, using the magical substance to power deadly new weapons that could be used to bring the world to its knees.
That's a concern for Zirkander, Cas, and the rest of the Iskandians, but all Tolemek wants is to find his missing sister. The last time he saw her, their father had locked her in an asylum because of a mental illness with no cure. Now the military has taken her. What use the Cofah have for her, Tolemek can only guess, but he is certain she is in danger. He must save her before it's too late. But her fate is inexplicably tied to the dragon's, and he must find it to find her.
My Review:
Book 1 is interesting. Zirkander and Sardelle are fascinating characters and it is a great start to the series, albeit a little bit of a slow start. Their relationship is very quickly sexually charged and kinda leaves you wondering if they really have a thing for each other or is it just lust.
Jaxi, the darling vicious soulblade, is the perfect character. She's funny, tells it like it is, and is very engaging and important to the storyline considering she is a talking sword.
Put them all together and like I said, it's a great start. Just kinda gives you a taste of this series.
Book 2 is where I became a big fan. Again, I find myself drawn to "Deathmaker", a bad boy pirate who really just has a bad reputation (he's a softy at heart). I love this storyline. This a stand alone, spin off tale from the first book, telling the story of a character briefly mentioned in book 1. Don't worry; they come together at one point. I found this book very enjoyable! I love the relationship with Cas and Tolomek. They both just want to survive and find out as time goes on that surviving together might just be a good thing.
Book 3 brings them all together and it is not one big happy family. Zirkander and Tolomek tolerate each other. Both couples are a tad jealous of the other couple and throw in a couple of side characters, Apex and Duck and you just want to have everyone over for Christmas dinner....because you want them to be real people and you want to hang out with them.
Book 4 continues on with the adventure started in Book 3 and I will say there were moments I was a little unhappy with the author. I found myself thinking "she better resolve this in a way that I'll like." No offense to the author but the sign of a good book is one that you are invested in and I was invested in Buroker making this story go the way I wanted.
I'm finding myself thinking this author, this girl, is on my wave length. I enjoy what she puts out there. Sometimes she has moments of brilliant quotes that I think are perfect for life in general. I even have to look up a few words sometimes which is nice for personal growth. I highly recommend this series, even though it isn't done yet. I highly recommend this author, Lindsay Buroker. She writes good stuff. It's witty and not too gritty!
Monday, February 9, 2015
Mary, Martha, and Me by Camille Fronk Olson
Wow, a serious, spiritual book as opposed to a fantasy ridden tale? I know "who knew Greta had such depth?" But here it is. I've read this book before and I do find it helpful b/c I am a Martha (the sister from Bethany mentioned in the New Testament gospels). I am a do-er who would rather work making supper than sit and listen to teachings. And that's not necessarily a bad thing or so this book discusses.
From the dustcover:
"When someone says, 'She's a Martha type,' we know just what that means: a woman who is practical, competent, down-to-earth. We recognize that Marthas are certainly useful and necessary, but it's usually Mary who gets the halo.
In a world that thrives on comparison and competition, our souls yearn for One Needful Thing to provide focus and direction. Here author Camille Fronk Olson draws unique insights from the biblical story of two sisters, Mary and Martha--each of whom serves Jesus in a different way--to help us sort through the mixed messages of daily life and solve the problem of comparing our gifts and contributions with others'.
For all of us who fear that we can never know enough or do enough, Sister Olson brings inspiration from the lessons that Mary and Martha learn from each other in finding the "one thing [that] is needful" for all."
So for my review, first of, I enjoy reading books of biblical history. I enjoy this kind of non-fiction where I look at a biblical figure and see them as a person, not a character in my novel. I love the idea of seeing what makes them tick. In the case of Martha, she kinda gets a bad rap most of the time and I'm totally a Martha so I wanted some vindication for her. I won't say that this book provides that b/c it doesn't. But it does give us insight into how Martha might have grown from her interactions with Christ and it provided some good advice for me, a person who does compare and justify and does get bogged down in the details. So, here's what I'm going to do. I'm gonna add some of my favorite quotes from the book and hopefully you'll find them uplifting too.
1."Why does a compliment to one have to diminish the value of another? I love the King James Translation of Christ's answer to Martha: 'Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her' (Luke 10:42). What is He saying about Mary's choice of service? It is good. What does that say about Martha's service? Nothing. When we label Martha's active service as not as good, or even bad in comparison to Mary's studious service, we create a dichotomy that Christ did not imply."
2. Then he (Christ) delivers the gentle but clear rebuke. But the rebuke would not have come had Martha not prompted it. The Lord did not go into the kitchen and tell Martha to stop cooking and come listen. Apparently he was content to let her serve him however she cared to, until she judged another person's service. Martha's self-importance, expressed through her judgement of her sister, occasioned the Lord's rebuke, not her busyness with the meal."
3. Charity is accepting someone's differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn't handle something the way we might have hoped.
4. ...questions led her to a new appreciation for the ubiquitous Book of Mormon phrase: "And it came to pass." With her new insight, Sister Kapp saw in that phrase a representation of countless disciples who helped move God's work from where it had been to where it then was. Those names and acts of service are not announced to us "that [their] alms may be in secret and [their] Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward [them] openly" (Matthew 6:4). The Father's "history book" perfectly remembers each act of service sincerely rendered.
5. Grandma gave me one of her finest gifts when she graciously and overtly accepted my help, communicating that my efforts made a difference.
6. Satan has a powerful tool to use against good people. It is distraction. He would have good people fill life with 'good things' so there is no room for the essential ones.
7. Do not nag yourself with a sense of failure. Get on your knees and ask for the blessings of the Lord; then stand on your feet and do what you are asked to do.--Gordon B. Hinckley
From the dustcover:
"When someone says, 'She's a Martha type,' we know just what that means: a woman who is practical, competent, down-to-earth. We recognize that Marthas are certainly useful and necessary, but it's usually Mary who gets the halo.
In a world that thrives on comparison and competition, our souls yearn for One Needful Thing to provide focus and direction. Here author Camille Fronk Olson draws unique insights from the biblical story of two sisters, Mary and Martha--each of whom serves Jesus in a different way--to help us sort through the mixed messages of daily life and solve the problem of comparing our gifts and contributions with others'.
For all of us who fear that we can never know enough or do enough, Sister Olson brings inspiration from the lessons that Mary and Martha learn from each other in finding the "one thing [that] is needful" for all."
So for my review, first of, I enjoy reading books of biblical history. I enjoy this kind of non-fiction where I look at a biblical figure and see them as a person, not a character in my novel. I love the idea of seeing what makes them tick. In the case of Martha, she kinda gets a bad rap most of the time and I'm totally a Martha so I wanted some vindication for her. I won't say that this book provides that b/c it doesn't. But it does give us insight into how Martha might have grown from her interactions with Christ and it provided some good advice for me, a person who does compare and justify and does get bogged down in the details. So, here's what I'm going to do. I'm gonna add some of my favorite quotes from the book and hopefully you'll find them uplifting too.
1."Why does a compliment to one have to diminish the value of another? I love the King James Translation of Christ's answer to Martha: 'Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her' (Luke 10:42). What is He saying about Mary's choice of service? It is good. What does that say about Martha's service? Nothing. When we label Martha's active service as not as good, or even bad in comparison to Mary's studious service, we create a dichotomy that Christ did not imply."
2. Then he (Christ) delivers the gentle but clear rebuke. But the rebuke would not have come had Martha not prompted it. The Lord did not go into the kitchen and tell Martha to stop cooking and come listen. Apparently he was content to let her serve him however she cared to, until she judged another person's service. Martha's self-importance, expressed through her judgement of her sister, occasioned the Lord's rebuke, not her busyness with the meal."
3. Charity is accepting someone's differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn't handle something the way we might have hoped.
4. ...questions led her to a new appreciation for the ubiquitous Book of Mormon phrase: "And it came to pass." With her new insight, Sister Kapp saw in that phrase a representation of countless disciples who helped move God's work from where it had been to where it then was. Those names and acts of service are not announced to us "that [their] alms may be in secret and [their] Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward [them] openly" (Matthew 6:4). The Father's "history book" perfectly remembers each act of service sincerely rendered.
5. Grandma gave me one of her finest gifts when she graciously and overtly accepted my help, communicating that my efforts made a difference.
6. Satan has a powerful tool to use against good people. It is distraction. He would have good people fill life with 'good things' so there is no room for the essential ones.
7. Do not nag yourself with a sense of failure. Get on your knees and ask for the blessings of the Lord; then stand on your feet and do what you are asked to do.--Gordon B. Hinckley
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
The Fianna trilogy (Books 1 and 2) by Megan Chance
This is the review of two books in the Fianna Trilogy. Book 3 is not out yet.
Amazon description of The Shadows (Book 1):
Amazon description of The Shadows (Book 1):
Grace Knox is about to turn seventeen, and
the world of Victorian New York society should be opening to her—a time
of dances and parties and boys vying for her heart and her hand.
Instead, Grace’s world is closing in: the family business is gone; her
brother is drinking and gambling away whatever is left; her widowed
mother cannot cope; and her grandmother is slipping into madness. And
now Grace is having disturbing dreams of ancient battles.
Grace’s only hope is to marry Patrick Devlin and let his fortune save them all. But she isn’t sure she loves Patrick, and she doesn’t share his passion to free Ireland from British rule. Why look to Ireland when there is so much poverty and despair here?
Then Grace meets Diarmid, an Irish stableboy. Being with him means losing everything. But the secrets and mystery surrounding him are too compelling to ignore. Soon Grace is drawn into his world of legend and heroes, magic and prophecy—the world of her dreams—where her own choice between faith and fear holds the greatest power of all.
Now, I enjoyed this book. First off, no real foul language, no sex, pretty easy read. It starts off a little backward and it takes a few chapters to understand what you just read but it's fun! It's got some great Irish/celtic mythology and folklore and who doesn't like a tall, dark Irish stableboy who makes every girl a little weak in the knees. I found myself thinking "aye lass" for most of my replies to my kids for a week :) But what makes this such a good read for me was that it had me guessing. I've read a lot of books. I can usually sense where the author is going to take the story or at least predict who the heroine will end up with if there is a love triangle. I can't do that with this series. The clear right and wrong is a little blurry for me. I usually attach myself to one of the fellas in the triangle and take it personally if the author doesn't pair the girl up with the guy I picked. But I don't know who I pick. Diarmid is dreamy but he's also willing to sacrifice a little too much of himself for my taste. And while Patrick makes some major mistakes, he clearly loves her and wants to protect her. So yeah, I don't know who Grace should be with.
I will say this one critique though: I do get a little sick of Grace and Diarmid dancing around each other and not just saying their thoughts. Stop trying to assume that you know what the other one is thinking. Just talk it out. That kinda gets on my nerves but that's just my nitpicking.
Amazon description of The Web (book 2):
Grace’s only hope is to marry Patrick Devlin and let his fortune save them all. But she isn’t sure she loves Patrick, and she doesn’t share his passion to free Ireland from British rule. Why look to Ireland when there is so much poverty and despair here?
Then Grace meets Diarmid, an Irish stableboy. Being with him means losing everything. But the secrets and mystery surrounding him are too compelling to ignore. Soon Grace is drawn into his world of legend and heroes, magic and prophecy—the world of her dreams—where her own choice between faith and fear holds the greatest power of all.
Now, I enjoyed this book. First off, no real foul language, no sex, pretty easy read. It starts off a little backward and it takes a few chapters to understand what you just read but it's fun! It's got some great Irish/celtic mythology and folklore and who doesn't like a tall, dark Irish stableboy who makes every girl a little weak in the knees. I found myself thinking "aye lass" for most of my replies to my kids for a week :) But what makes this such a good read for me was that it had me guessing. I've read a lot of books. I can usually sense where the author is going to take the story or at least predict who the heroine will end up with if there is a love triangle. I can't do that with this series. The clear right and wrong is a little blurry for me. I usually attach myself to one of the fellas in the triangle and take it personally if the author doesn't pair the girl up with the guy I picked. But I don't know who I pick. Diarmid is dreamy but he's also willing to sacrifice a little too much of himself for my taste. And while Patrick makes some major mistakes, he clearly loves her and wants to protect her. So yeah, I don't know who Grace should be with.
I will say this one critique though: I do get a little sick of Grace and Diarmid dancing around each other and not just saying their thoughts. Stop trying to assume that you know what the other one is thinking. Just talk it out. That kinda gets on my nerves but that's just my nitpicking.
Amazon description of The Web (book 2):
In Victorian New York, seventeen-year-old Grace Knox is tangled in the web of an ancient prophecy.
The Fianna, legendary Irish warriors, have been magically called from their undying sleep to aid Ireland in its rebellion against Britain. But the Fianna have awakened in New York alongside their bitter enemies, the Fomori. A prophecy demands that a Druid priestess—a veleda—must choose between these two sides. Grace is this veleda. But being the veleda means she must sacrifice her power—and her life—to her choice. On one side are her fiancé, Patrick Devlin, and the Fomori. On the other are the Fianna—and the warrior Diarmid Ua Duibhne, with whom Grace shares an undeniable connection. Patrick has promised to find a way to save her life. In three months, at the ancient ritual, Diarmid must wield the knife that kills her.
Grace doesn’t know whom to trust. As dark forces converge on the city, she struggles to discover the truth about her power. Can she change her own destiny? Can she escape the shadows of the past and reach for a future she could never have imagined?
I'll only say a little about book 2. First off, there is one sex scene but it is not overly explicit. She handles is pretty well. If you're a married woman, this is not going to embarrass you while you're reading it. If you're a teenage girl, ask your mother first. What I really love about this book is the outside characters. If the author decides to write a spinoff book about Oscar, I'll read it. I really just think he's a doll.
So yes, I recommend these books. I look forward to reading book 3 when it's out. I would read more of her books. I think she takes a good story and develops it in a great way.
The Fianna, legendary Irish warriors, have been magically called from their undying sleep to aid Ireland in its rebellion against Britain. But the Fianna have awakened in New York alongside their bitter enemies, the Fomori. A prophecy demands that a Druid priestess—a veleda—must choose between these two sides. Grace is this veleda. But being the veleda means she must sacrifice her power—and her life—to her choice. On one side are her fiancé, Patrick Devlin, and the Fomori. On the other are the Fianna—and the warrior Diarmid Ua Duibhne, with whom Grace shares an undeniable connection. Patrick has promised to find a way to save her life. In three months, at the ancient ritual, Diarmid must wield the knife that kills her.
Grace doesn’t know whom to trust. As dark forces converge on the city, she struggles to discover the truth about her power. Can she change her own destiny? Can she escape the shadows of the past and reach for a future she could never have imagined?
I'll only say a little about book 2. First off, there is one sex scene but it is not overly explicit. She handles is pretty well. If you're a married woman, this is not going to embarrass you while you're reading it. If you're a teenage girl, ask your mother first. What I really love about this book is the outside characters. If the author decides to write a spinoff book about Oscar, I'll read it. I really just think he's a doll.
So yes, I recommend these books. I look forward to reading book 3 when it's out. I would read more of her books. I think she takes a good story and develops it in a great way.
Gilded by Christina Farley
Okay, so I've mentioned before that I do not like to give bad reviews. Everyone has their own tastes and sometimes what floats my boat doesn't float someone else's. With that being said, I'm gonna try to respectful as I give a not-really-liking-it review.
This is Amazon's description of Gilded:
Sixteen-year-old Jae Hwa Lee is a Korean-American girl with a black belt, a deadly proclivity with steel-tipped arrows, and a chip on her shoulder the size of Korea itself. When her widowed dad uproots her to Seoul from her home in L.A., Jae thinks her biggest challenges will be fitting into a new school and dealing with her dismissive Korean grandfather. Then she discovers that a Korean demi-god, Haemosu, has been stealing the soul of the oldest daughter of each generation in her family for centuries. And she's next.
But that’s not Jae’s only problem.
There's also Marc. Irresistible and charming, Marc threatens to break the barriers around Jae's heart. As the two grow closer, Jae must decide if she can trust him. But Marc has a secret of his own—one that could help Jae overturn the curse on her family for good. It turns out that Jae's been wrong about a lot of things: her grandfather is her greatest ally, even the tough girl can fall in love, and Korea might just be the home she's always been looking for.
Okay, so Greta's turn for description: This book is Farley's first novel and it shows. I spent most of the time feeling like this book was written by a 14 year old girl. Jae Hwa, the supposed black belt with deadly proclivity with steel-tipped arrows, is a wimp. She spends most of the novel telling us how she doesn't need protection or any help and then screams, cries, or throws up every time she faces the bad guy. She also spends all her time in the book terrified of what's to come. While I get that being courageous in the face of fear is something to be proud of, don't make me read about it on every page of the book. Suck it up and go to work girl. Stop feeling hopeless throughout the entire novel.
As for the romance with Marc, she spends maybe twenty minutes with the guy in the book, shares one kiss and he professes love to her. Puh-lease! Dude is supposed to be some hot guy that the top mean girls are panting after and he follows after Jae like a puppy. He's also supposed to be super hot and have "mad skills" at being a guardian in training but the only evidence to support that is when he carries Jae around the island after she's hurt.
Now, the Korean mythology is what drew me in. I had no idea about any of the stories so I was curious and ready to hear some stories. You hear one story and then Farley throws in random snippets of Korean mythology with little to no explanation of where they come from or what they mean. She had a great plan/plot/storyline to draw in a potential reader. Unfortunately, she failed to deliver a book that I enjoyed. I finished it (I almost always do) but I'm so glad that I got the book for free. I wouldn't pay money to read it. I also looked up to see that she has written a sequel to this book. I won't pay the $5 they are asking for it. Maybe if they offer the 2nd book for free I'll read it....but that's only if I have no other books to read.
This is Amazon's description of Gilded:
Sixteen-year-old Jae Hwa Lee is a Korean-American girl with a black belt, a deadly proclivity with steel-tipped arrows, and a chip on her shoulder the size of Korea itself. When her widowed dad uproots her to Seoul from her home in L.A., Jae thinks her biggest challenges will be fitting into a new school and dealing with her dismissive Korean grandfather. Then she discovers that a Korean demi-god, Haemosu, has been stealing the soul of the oldest daughter of each generation in her family for centuries. And she's next.
But that’s not Jae’s only problem.
There's also Marc. Irresistible and charming, Marc threatens to break the barriers around Jae's heart. As the two grow closer, Jae must decide if she can trust him. But Marc has a secret of his own—one that could help Jae overturn the curse on her family for good. It turns out that Jae's been wrong about a lot of things: her grandfather is her greatest ally, even the tough girl can fall in love, and Korea might just be the home she's always been looking for.
Okay, so Greta's turn for description: This book is Farley's first novel and it shows. I spent most of the time feeling like this book was written by a 14 year old girl. Jae Hwa, the supposed black belt with deadly proclivity with steel-tipped arrows, is a wimp. She spends most of the novel telling us how she doesn't need protection or any help and then screams, cries, or throws up every time she faces the bad guy. She also spends all her time in the book terrified of what's to come. While I get that being courageous in the face of fear is something to be proud of, don't make me read about it on every page of the book. Suck it up and go to work girl. Stop feeling hopeless throughout the entire novel.
As for the romance with Marc, she spends maybe twenty minutes with the guy in the book, shares one kiss and he professes love to her. Puh-lease! Dude is supposed to be some hot guy that the top mean girls are panting after and he follows after Jae like a puppy. He's also supposed to be super hot and have "mad skills" at being a guardian in training but the only evidence to support that is when he carries Jae around the island after she's hurt.
Now, the Korean mythology is what drew me in. I had no idea about any of the stories so I was curious and ready to hear some stories. You hear one story and then Farley throws in random snippets of Korean mythology with little to no explanation of where they come from or what they mean. She had a great plan/plot/storyline to draw in a potential reader. Unfortunately, she failed to deliver a book that I enjoyed. I finished it (I almost always do) but I'm so glad that I got the book for free. I wouldn't pay money to read it. I also looked up to see that she has written a sequel to this book. I won't pay the $5 they are asking for it. Maybe if they offer the 2nd book for free I'll read it....but that's only if I have no other books to read.
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