Review: Graceling

Title: Graceling
Author: Kristin Cashore
Pages: 471
Release Date: October 1, 2008
Publisher: Graphia, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt



 




 

Goodreads Description:

In a world where people born with an extreme skill—called a Grace—are feared and
exploited, Katsa carries the burden of the skill even she despises: the Grace of killing.
She lives under the command of her uncle Randa, King of the Middluns, and is expected
to execute his dirty work, punishing and torturing anyone who displeases him.

When she first meets Prince Po, who is Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of
how her life is about to change.

She never expects to become Po's friend.

She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret
that lies hidden far away...a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words
alone.



I couldn’t say why it took me so long to open this book up and read it, but I really regret
procrastinating! I bought the book a LONG time ago and it’s been sitting patiently on my
shelf while I kept passing it over to read other books. That was a GINORMOUS mistake
on my part!

Kristin Cashore creates a world that the reader effortlessly falls into. It is very well
written (from a third person point of view)-creating a good balance of language
appropriate for the time/setting of the book while not turning off the target age range.
GRACELING takes place in a time of castles and kings, where knives and swords are
the weapons of choice and horses and ships transport you through the land of the seven

kingdoms. I absolutely love stories set in this time period but what I loved more was the
kick-butt female lead character, Katsa! She is fierce, deadly, and powerful and is a really
nice change from some of the other “weaker” female characters that have been popping
up in YA books lately. Throughout the story, she develops as a person tremendously but
in a seamless manner making it feel more realistic.

Katsa shows her skills, or rather her grace, in the first pages and the action keeps pace
from then on. The plot has many twists and secrets (who kidnapped the grandfather and
why) that kept me feverishly turning the pages and at the same time, not wanting to keep
reading because the book was bound to end. The best bittersweet situation for all book
lovers! There is a love interest in the book that doesn’t not consume or deter from the
original storyline.

This book is aimed toward 14 years and older, but parents should know that there are
a few scenes that hint toward some characters engaging in sex. The book does not go
into detail or come right out and say it, but it definitely implies it. I would liken these
situations to the “sex scenes” from Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series-nothing over
the top. The book also takes a firm stand against marriage as Katsa finds it to be too
suffocating and somewhat demeaning to women.

All in all, this book was a fantastic escape to a fantasy world with magic, love, and
friendship. Cashore has two companion novels, Fire and Bitterblue, that I expect to be
just as amazing!

Review: Surviving the Angel of Death

Title: Surviving the Angel of Death
Author: Eva Mozes Kor, Lisa Rojany Buccieri
Publisher: Tanglewood Press (March 13, 2012)
 ISBN: 978-1933718576



From Amazon: 
Eva Mozes Kor was just ten years old when she arrived in Auschwitz. While her parents and two older sisters were taken to the gas chambers, she and her twin, Miriam, were herded into the care of the man known as the Angel of Death, Dr. Josef Mengele. Subjected to sadistic medical experiments, she was forced to fight daily for her and her twin's survival. In this incredible true story written for young adults, readers learn of a child's endurance and survival in the face of truly extraordinary evil.

The book also includes an epilogue on Eva's recovery from this experience and her remarkable decision to publicly forgive the Nazis. Through her museum and her lectures, she has dedicated her life to giving testimony on the Holocaust, providing a message of hope for people who have suffered, and working for causes of human rights and peace.



Eva Mozes Kor and her sister are Jewish twins, which means two things: one, they are destined to be shipped off like cattle to a Nazi camp, and two, they will become living experiments for the "Angel of Death." At just ten years of age, Eva must endure and survive the unthinkable all the while protecting her twin. Her story is amazingly horrific. The book depicts Eva's life just prior to being rounded up and shipped off to Auschwitz, her time of experimentation under Dr. Josef Mengele (the Angel of Death), and life after the liberation from the camp. The strength and awareness that Eva had at ten years old is remarkable and made for a page-turning story. I highly recommend this book to any and all. It is an easy read for adults and has enough details to keep an adult completed submerged yet still is gentle enough for kids around middle school/preteen age. It is written beautifully with a tone of encouragement and forgiveness which is an unexpected surprise given all that Eva and her twin lost.

Review: Orion You Came...

Title: Orion You Came and You Took All My Marbles
Author: Kira Henehan
Publisher: Milkweed, May 4 2010
ISBN: 978-1571310750







Finley, the narrator, tells the readers about an investigation through the premise of a written report. The investigation centers around a Professor and certain information that is unclear to the reader. This story was a little confusing. If I had to describe this book in one word, it'd be unique.  The sentence structure was very odd and choppy and I didn't understand the flow and lack of details and background information. Perhaps other readers will find this book to be a great read, but it was just not my taste.

Sea of Storms-Review

Title: Lodestone Book One: Sea of Storms
Author: Mark Whiteway
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Virtualbookworm.com Publishing, 2010
Pages: 290
ISBN: 1602645469


From Amazon:

Alli-Kar, a white-hole portal from another universe, rains meteoroids onto the surface of the planet Kelanni. But the so-called "lodestones" behave according to different physical laws, transforming Kelanni's society. With the aid of the fearsome Keltar in their flying cloaks, the Kelanni are being put to forced labor to mine the lodestones. Shann, an orphan with a fiery disposition, witnesses a battle between a Keltar and a stranger bearing a similar flying cloak. She tracks down the stranger, and learns of the technology behind the Keltars' power, joining him on a mission to free the slaves and cut off their supply of lodestones. Meanwhile Keris, a Keltar, is sent on a mission to track down the rebels. She is attacked by a flying creature and saved by the enigmatic Chandara. At their Great Tree, she learns that a mysterious "Prophet" is out to destroy the Kelanni people. Their only hope is a powerful instrument hidden in the distant past. Pursued by Keltar, the party will encounter bizarre creatures, ancient technologies and terrifying dangers. Finally, they must seek to cross a massive storm barrier in order to reach the other side of their world, where a world-shaking revelation awaits.



The rebels are forming and plotting by their leader known only as "The Prophet." The Kelanni are being forced to harvest the lodestones. When Keris, a Keltar questioning her work for "The Prohpet," learns that the Kelanni people are in more trouble than is realized, she sets out to find a way to save them. The journey takes a group of five, including Keris, Shann-a village girl, and Boxx-a creature with powers, on an adventure that will reveal astonishing truths and dangerous encounters.

Author Mark Whiteway makes his novel debut with the first book in his Lodestone series. He creates a fantastical world that is easy to get sucked into. The plot is unique and easily keeps the attention of the reader. Whiteway's writing is smooth and consistent. It has the simplicity to hold the attention of kids and teens while weaving in ideas to appeal to adults as well. The characters more than simple creations. Whiteway creates characters that the reader will love and root for. This is the first book in a series that will surely be loved by children, teens, and adults!


My rating: 4 lattes due to page-turning intrigue, excellent writing, and thrilling adventure! What a fun read!



*This book was given to me for review courtesy of author Mark Whiteway. Thanks Mark!

Fallen-Review

Title: Fallen
Author: Lauren Kate
Genre: YA/Paranormal
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2009
Pages: 464
ISBN: 0385738935

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.


Sword and Cross is a dark, depressing place that feels more like prison than a boarding school. Luce finds herself being forced to enroll and attend the bleak establishment after a suspicious fire kills her boyfriend. Friendliness does not come easily between Luce and the majority of the student body. In the midst of the gloom and fog that hang over the school, however, Luce catches the eye of one of the more well-known students, Cam. Cam begins to pursue Luce but Luce has eyes for Daniel. Thus, the love triangle begins. But this love triangle is dangerous with deadly consequences.

After reading numerous mixed reviews, I wasn't sure if I'd like this book. I set out to find a book that would fill the void of my Twilight obsession. Though nothing can accomplish that, I feel that Lauren Kate's book came close but in another realm of young fiction. Instead of vampires and wolves, Fallen incorporates angels, more specifically, fallen angels. Though the beginning starts out a little slow, I began to really enjoy the story. The writing style easily captured my interest because it was not bogged down in flowery language. Lauren Kate's writing was imaginative and descriptive without overpowering the storyline. There are many unanswered questions and loose ends but I felt they were necessary. Lauren Kate took the time to introduce Luce, Cam, and Daniel and develop the story that surrounds all three of them. Lauren Kate does a masterful job of not divulging everything in this first book. The mysterious unknowns left me wanting more and pulled me deeper into the story. I am anxiously awaiting the next installment in the series.

My rating: 4 lattes because it was an intriguing read that left me wanting more. It completely engulfed me and had me eagerly turning the page to find out what happened next.





*Picture, information, summary from Amazon.com and Goodreads.com.

Sea of Monsters-Review

Title: Sea of Monsters
Author: Rick Riordan
Genre: Young Adult/Children
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion, 2006
Pages: 279
ISBN: 1423103343


Picture and Info. from Amazon & Goodreads:

After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war among the Greek gods, Percy Jackson is finding his seventh-grade school year unnervingly quiet. His biggest problem is dealing with his new friend, Tyson, a six-foot-three, mentally challenged homeless kid who follows Percy everywhere, making it hard for Percy to have any normal friends. But things don't stay quiet for long.

Percy soon discovers there is trouble at Camp Half-Blood: the magical borders that protect Half-Blood Hill have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and the only safe haven for demigods is on the verge of being overrun by mythological monsters. To save the camp, Percy needs the help of his best friend, Grover, who has been taken prisoner on an island somewhere in the Sea of Monsters, the dangerous waters Greek heroes have sailed for millennia. Only today, the Sea of Monsters goes by a new name: The Bermuda Triangle.

Together with his friends, Percy must retrieve the Golden Fleece from the Island of the Cyclopes or Camp Half-Blood will be destroyed. But first, Percy will learn a stunning new secret about his family, one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon's son is an honor or simply a cruel joke.



Rick Riordan's second in the Percy Jackson series continues with excitement and adventure. When Percy begins to have communicative dreams with his friend Grover, who happens to be a satyr, and monstrous dodge ball players attack during gym class, things just get worse. Annabeth, Percy's close friend, gives Percy some terrible news and the two, along with Tyson, a classmate who follows Percy everywhere, must set out on a unauthorized mission to save Camp Half-Blood as well as rescue Grover before it's too late. Many treacherous events occur during the journey to the Sea of Monsters and unexpected secrets are revealed.

This second installment maintained the same page-turning thrill as the first. The main characters are wittier than ever and the antagonists are more clearly shaped. A well-written continuation, Sea of Monsters is a hilarious ride of a read with many unexpected twists, reveals, and betrayals. It is a perfect blend of humor, fantasy, and adventure. Readers will eat up this book and quickly grab for the next in series. I definitely recommend this book, though I suggest reading the books in order. Disappointment will not be found within the pages of this book!


My rating: 4 lattes because it was completely enthralling with unforeseen twists that kept me wanting more.

Black, Red, White, Green-REVIEW

I just finished Ted Dekker's Circle series with the latest being Green and thought, in addition to posting my review of it, I would post my review of the other books in the series too. Keep in mind this is a "circle" series. Meaning, you can start ANYWHERE within the series because it all comes back full circle. However, my recommendation would be to read the series in this order: Black, Red, White, Green. Additional books related to this series: Showdown, Sinner, Saint, Chaos, Lunatic, Renegade, Elyon, Chosen, Infidel.



Publisher: Thomas Nelson, 2009
Pages: 432
ISBN: 1595542884





Travel between two worlds with Thomas Hunter. In Green, Thomas hasn't dreamt in years and the Circle is weakening because there's no sign of their Creator, Elyon. When Thomas' son, Samuel, loses the faith, evil from both worlds tempts him to initiate war. Will Thomas be able to save Samuel and the Circle?


Thomas Hunter has saved Earth from a deadly virus and fended off the Horde. Thomas no longer dreams, but this does not mean there are not events happening in the Earth world that will gravely impact Thomas' forest world. Though unaware of the coming events on Earth, Thomas suspects there is a war fast approaching. His beloved son has created turmoil and unrest throughout the Forest people. Thomas must find a way to bring his people together again and save not only his son but the future of the Forest. With multiple betrayals, this task will be the ultimate challenge.

Ted Dekker does it again. His final chapter in the Circle series will have the reader turning pages long into the night. The suspense enthralls the reader to continue the journey through unsuspecting turns and astonishing twists. There are a few new characters introduced while other absent characters return. Green is not only the sequel to the series but the prequel as well. In addition, Dekker does a fabulous job of weaving in connecting series' such as The Paradise series and The Lost Books series. It was a fabulous end, or beginning depending on how you view it, to a most-engaging series.



Publisher: Westbow Press, 2004
Pages: 352
ISBN: 0849917921

Some say that the world hangs in the balance of every choice we make. Now, the fate of two worlds hangs in the balance of one man's choices... an unlikely hero who may not survive the next 24 hours.

In White, Thomas Hunter struggles to stave off a war and a virus that are simultaneously ravaging two world's populations. Meanwhile, he must also contend with the ramifications of an incredible love story that unfolds--consequences that are far more crushing than anyone could ever imagine. This final installment brings the groundbreaking series to a close in a completely unexpected manner, filled with final plot twists that will richly reward those who have taken this epic journey.


Thomas Hunter's life is never easy these days. The threat of the unleashed virus weighs heavily on Earth. A terrorist, who unleashed the viral weapon and holds the key to the antidote-which can be exchanged for the world's nuclear power, is on the hunt to kill Thomas. Being killed is the least of Thomas' worries as he furiously attempts to retrieve the antidote before it's too late. Though Earth is being ravaged by a virus, Thomas has little control over when he sleeps and the events that occur in them. While trying to unite the Forest people and fend off the Horde, Thomas' heart has fallen for a woman. However, this is no ordinary woman. The consequences of their love with surely bring war and death to the two as well as Thomas' people.

Ted Dekker's third installment does not disappoint. The development of the characters brings to light various emotional traits: love, sacrifice, pain, and strength. The reader finds that there are characters worth rooting for while there are others to loath. The quick-paced writing found in the previous two novels, is not lost in the third. The Circle series is a continuous thrill ride. The reader is engulfed by Dekker's writing style as his depictions surround the reader to feel and see as the characters feel and see. A fantastical, thrill of a ride to be taken by any reader willing.





Publisher: Thomas Nelson, 2004
Pages: 400
ISBN: 0849917913

"We have stepped off the cliff and are falling into madness."

The mind-bending pace of Black accelerates in Red, Book Two of Ted Dekker's groundbreaking Circle trilogy. Less than a month ago, Thomas Hunter was a failed writer selling coffee at the Java Hut in Denver. Now he finds himself in a desperate quest to rescue two worlds from collapse. In one world, he's a battle-scarred general commanding an army of primitive warriors. In the other, he's racing to outwit sadistic terrorists intent on creating global chaos through an unstoppable virus.

Two worlds on the brink of destruction. One unthinkable solution.

A life turned upside down and inside out is the life of Thomas Hunter. As he teeters between two not-so-different worlds, Thomas finds himself racing against time to advert destruction. In our world, it is a race to find a cure for the Raison Strain-a virus that has annihilating properties. A monumental battle against the ever-imposing Horde is on the horizon as the Forest people begin falling apart at the seams in Thomas' dream world.

Ted Dekker's second book keeps the reader completely engaged. It is a fast moving storyline on both world accounts. In the midst of journeying with Thomas' characters between the two worlds, the reader begins to contemplate which world is the real world and which is the dream world. The characters are well-written and believable. It is easy to relate to the characters as exciting to see them develop even further. Dekker's writing pulls the reader in to the point of feeling in the middle of it all. It is a book packed with action, sacrifice, suspense, and above all, love. Though this book has Christian undertones, it can easily be enjoyed by any reader.





Publisher: Thomas Nelson, 2004
Pages: 400
ISBN: 0849917905

Fleeing assailants through alleyways in Denver late one night, Thomas Hunter narrowly escapes to the roof of an industrial building. Then a silent bullet from the night clips his head and his world goes black.

Now Thomas wakes from a deep sleep, remembering the vivid dream he just had of being chased. Incredibly real. His head is even bleeding – but he's fallen on a rock. He's in a green forest, waiting to meet Rachelle, the woman he's falling madly in love with.

That night, Thomas tumbles into bed and falls into a fitful sleep. He dreams. But here comes the real mind bender. Every time Thomas falls asleep in one reality, he awakes in the other. He truly no longer knows which reality is real. Each reality has dramatic impact on the other, each proves to be real, each presents huge stakes, and the fate of each will depend on one man: Thomas Hunter.

Though Thomas Hunter's life is far from a success, he is the key. After being cornered in an alley by an unknown man bent on killing him, Thomas begins to dream when he sleeps. Not ordinary dreams, however, dreams where fantasy becomes reality. Thomas is thrust into a world if imagination and almost killed by ravaging beasts. He soon discovers that when he sleeps he not only dreams, but travels between two realities-both in despair and in desperate need of saving.

The suspense and intrigue flow throughout the entire book. Dekker's style of writing is amazing and unlike any other author. His ability to grab the reader with his creative story-telling is remarkable. The characters begin to develop into relateable beings and the reader is introduced to two very different, very similar worlds. Dekker's adrenaline-laced writing will draw the reader into a world where two realities not only coexist but depend on each other.



My rating: 5 lattes for all four books because each book kept me wanting more. The storyline was suspenseful and exciting. It was well-written with fully developed characters. I highly recommend this series to a read who loves fantasy and/or suspense with a little love thrown in.

Book photos and information found at Goodreads.com.

Review Policy

Thank you for stopping by Coffeelicious Bookaholic...

I am more than happy to assist in reviewing/promoting your book if you are an author or a publisher. I accept ARCs and e-books as well as books that have already been released. If you would like me to review your book, please email me at ashleyziemer@gmail.com.

Being that I am not a professional reviewer, I receive no compensation for my reviews other than complimentary review copies. The reviews written are based solely on my opinion and will not include spoilers. I rate each book on a personal rating system. Below is a summary:

• 5 Lattes-Blissful cappuccino; exceptionally sensational
• 4 Lattes-Sugar-free mocha; almost perfect, needs sugar
• 3 Lattes-Decaffeinated joe; missing the energy
• 2 Lattes-Burnt java; distastefully bitter
• 1 Latte-Drinking coffee grounds; horrendously unpleasant

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