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!

Chosen Review

Title: Chosen
Author: Ted Dekker
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Thomas Nelson; Reprint edition (April 13, 2010)
Pages: 272
ISBN: 978-1595548597

From Amazon.com:

Think with your heart and prepare to die . . . for you have been Chosen.

Thomas Hunter, supreme commander of the Forest Guard, has seen a great evil decimate much of his beautiful world. With a dwindling army and an epic threat, Thomas is forced to supplement his fighters with new recruits ages 16 and 17. From thousands, four will be chosen to lead a special mission.

Unknown to Thomas, the chosen four are redirected to a different endgame. They must find the seven lost Books of History before the Dark One. For these seven books have immense power over the past, present, and future, controlling not only the destiny of their world . . . but that of ours as well.

Thirteen years have passed since the evil being Teeleh destroyed Elyon's perfect creation, leaving barren desert, home to the Horde, and few lush forests, home to the Forest Guard and the people they swore to protect. But the fight against the Horde has been brutal, leaving the Guard outnumbered. As a last resort, young teens are enlisted to the purpose of the Guard. Four young leaders are chosen by Thomas Hunter (the Circle series). Johnis, Billos, Silvie, Darsal are chosen by Thomas to lead in battles, however, that is not the only thing these four are destined to accomplish. They are the only ones who can find the Books of History, ancient books with power so great, they would be fatal in the hands of Teeleh's minions. The four chosen ones must search out the books before it is too late.

Chosen is the first book in Dekker's young adult series, The Lost Books. It is an extension from his adult Circle series. Though this is considered young adult, it is easily a crossover adult book. The books pulls readers back into the unforgettable world Dekker created in Black, Red, White, and Green. Fans aching to return to the land of Elyon will drink up this book. Dekker's ability to weave a fantasy with realistic properties and underlying truths is not lost here. The story is just beginning but the adventure and action come swinging full speed in Chosen.

5 lattes: The fast paced action/adventure kept me turning the pages while the engulfing world Dekker created seduced me to dive deep. Cannot wait to read Infidel.

New Author Spotlight!

Being the huge Twilight fan I am, I recently came across a Twilight blog ran by a guy named Kaleb Nation. He gives his view on all things Twilight form a guy's perspective. In his early 20s, Kaleb Nation has also written and published two novels. His novels center around a young boy named Bran Hambric. His books are typically aimed toward middle grade students but from reviews I've read, it seems that these books can be enjoyed by a wide range of readers (similar to Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, and Percy Jackson). Check out the books below and their plot summaries.



Bran Hambric is a foundling, left in a bank vault and taken in by Sewey and Mabel Wilomas, who live in the town of Dunce. In an effort to preserve the decency of the community, the town has banned even the mere mention of magic. During a harrowing accident involving a truck at the Duncelander Fair, Bran discovers that he is a mage. He also has to face the difficult truth that his mother was a mage as well as a criminal, in league with an underground group with a rather gruesome plan to overthrow the Mages Council. Bran discovers that people are trying to find him so that they can use him to help finish the job she started. This book is a clear reflection of the influence of the "Harry Potter" books on a new generation of writers. Sadly, the author's attempts at creative language and original ideas come across as silly. Nation creates a contemporary world that is a tool for social satire, but that feels flat and uninteresting. Beyond quirks of dialogue, he gives no real sense of who the characters really are, so it is difficult to have any empathy when they are injured or appear to have died.

Your enemies will do anything to stop you. Your best friend might be dead. And your only hope is your father...a man you've never met-until now.

Who would you trust?
Would you even trust yourself?

Bran Hambric believes that the Farfield Curse is over with. But when he discovers a safe-deposit box in his dead mother's name-in the very bank vault where he was discovered as a boy-Bran's past comes rushing back. Now he's on a frightening path that puts everyone he cares about in danger.

When Bran's best friend, Astara, is kidnapped, Bran will do whatever it takes to save her and prevent the evil mage on his trail from claiming the power of the curse for herself. But will the magic destroy him the way it destroyed his mother?

Immanuel's Veins Book Trailer

One book I have been anxiously awaiting is Immanuel's Veins by Ted Dekker. Dekker is a master suspense and intrigue and a true literary genius. Here's a bit about his new novel from Amazon:

This story is for everyone--but not everyone is for this story.

It is a dangerous tale of times past. A torrid love story full of deep seduction. A story of terrible longing and bold sacrifice.

Then as now, evil begins its courtship cloaked in light. And the heart embraces what it should flee. Forgetting it once had a truer lover.

With a kiss, evil will ravage body, soul, and mind. Yet there remains hope, because the heart knows no bounds.

Love will prove greater than lust. Sacrifice will overcome seduction. And blood will flow.

Because the battle for the heart is always violently opposed. For those desperate to drink deep from this fountain of life, enter.

But remember, not everyone is for this story.

Now here's the book trailer:

Immanuel's Veins from Magnus Creative on Vimeo.

Firelight Trailer

One book I'm anxiously awaiting is Firelight by Sophie Jordan. It's something completely different than what I'm used to reading the early reviews (to be released Sept. 7, 2010) and book summary sound too good to pass up! Below is a little about the book followed by a trailer for the book.



From Amazon:

Descended from dragons, the draki's ability to appear human protects them from hunters. Jacinda lives with her pride in the Cascades, but she chafes under her special status as the only fire-breather in hundreds of years. Recklessly breaking the “no-fly” rule, she attracts hunters; mercifully, one hunter, a beautiful boy who looks upon her with wonder, lets her escape. After this, the pride intends to hobble her rebelliousness, and Jacinda is forced to flee. But while twin sister Tamra, who never manifested and was shunned, is happy with the move, Jacinda feels only anguish within Nevada's desert climate. Then she meets Will and, despite recognizing him as the same draki hunter, feels herself come alive. Jordan's compelling addition to the supernatural star-crossed lovers theme is equal parts taut suspense and sensuous romance, with visceral writing and believable relationships among characters, particularly among Jacinda's family. A foreshadowed twist and a thrilling confrontation in the end pages leave Jacinda heartbroken and in trouble, and readers will howl for more.

Free Book Preview

If you're a fan of young adult fiction here is a chance to read an exciting new addition to bookshelves everywhere-for FREE! For a limited time, HarperTeen is giving everyone a chance to read Gillian Shields' new paranormal fantasy Immortal. Click here to read it! Below is a little bit about the book from Amazon:


Sensible Evie Johnson arrives alone to face her new life at the Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies. Raised by her beloved grandmother, Evie never wanted to attend boarding school, especially one for spoiled rich girls. But Frankie has fallen gravely ill and Evie's father is away in military service, so off to Wyldcliffe she goes. It is as horrible as Evie suspected it would be. The girls mistreat her, the headmistress is a nightmare, and she keeps seeing a girl who looks just like her. Evie's only joy comes from her budding romance with elusive Sebastian, who tells her that he lives near the school. Why will he only meet her at night? What does he know about the mysteries surrounding the school? And who is that shadowy girl? Billed as the first in a paranormal romance series, this lightweight story is filled with romance, mystery, and suspense. The moors provide plenty of atmosphere and Wyldcliffe Abbey and its teachers are downright spooky.–Sharon Grover, Hedberg Public Library, Janesville, WI

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!

It Has Arrived-Twilight Novella

The time has arrived!! Stephenie Meyer's new novella is out! I am so thrilled! I am a HUGE Twilight fan and super excited to delve back into Stephenie Meyer's vampire world. I pre-ordered my copy awhile ago and have to wait until it arrives, BUT I not only ordered a copy for myself but I bought one to giveaway. Stay tuned as I will be hosting this giveaway soon! How excited are you for this release?

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.