What a great book! Obviously there is going to be more after this book because so much is left hanging. I don't think I have ever finished a book that had so much left hanging as much as this book does. I mean the last sentence itself makes an explosion of even more questions that were not even there before. Really not much is answered, it only scratches the surface of what is going on and I can tell the next books in the series is going to be really good. This book has such an airy, mystical quality to it, it keeps you wanting to know more and more. The story moves smoothly and the story untwists itself as you continue to read and understand exactly what is going on.
The book starts off with Blue. Blue is surrounded by family who can see the dead, but she cannot. Only her presents amplifies the seers ability to see. Ever since Blue was six she had been told if she was to kiss her true love, he would die. But by 16, Blue had decided she would never fall in love so it didn't matter. Then, that year on St. Marks Day, the day the spirits of those who would die in the next 12 months show themselves, Blue saw her first spirit of a boy her age. And there is only two reason a non seer would see a spirit on St. Marks Eve, either you're his true love or you killed him. Doesn't that just peek your interest? I have never read a book like this before with ideas like this and that is only the first chapter. So much more happens, there are ley lines, and magical woods, psychics, murder mystery, glendower, I could keep going.
The
character development is great. Even characters that are barely in the
book like Roger Malory has so much character development that I can
imagine him instantly. Every character is so different. I hate
characters in books that all feel the same, but each character in this
book is very distinct and very much themselves.
I don't want to
go to much in the book to give anything away. But if you liked Maggie
Stiefvater other books you will like this one. I really liked The
Scorpio Races, and this one has the same kind of feel to it as that one.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
The Magic in the Receiver by Paul Dillion
This novels goes back and forth between the past in Argostoli, Kefalonia in 1953 during a massive earthquake, the present and a week prior to the present. The story of the past, during the earthquake, relays the story of what happened to a nine year old boy named Ionnis Katros and his family. I really enjoyed this part of the story. And, I am disappointed that the story didn't go back to that part as often as the present. I would have really like to know more about characters relationships and what exactly happened to Ionnis older brother. Or more about how Nicia's and Andrea's relationship blossoms to what it is now in the present. There was so much that could have been worked on during the past that would made the story so much more interesting.
Then, there is the week before the present. In which Elena comes to Kefalonia with her father, Ioannis, to the festivities to honor Saint Gerasimos and to remember the earthquakes of 1953. This part of the story is also not told out as much as it could be. I would have liked to see more in the father's eyes of what he was feeling. Of how he was reminiscing about the past and how it effected him. But this part of the story is pretty brief, and it is in the eyes of Elena who just sees second hand of how her father is feeling and mostly just thinks it is really hot and tiring.
Those two parts of the stories correspond with each other and were the most fascinating parts of the story. But then there is the present, which is the bulk of the novel and it just didn't feel like it fit with the rest of the story. It is about Elena staying after her family leaves, to go back to the states after the festivities, and then how she meets a man name Ben who instantly falls head over heels for her. The only thing it had in common with the rest of the novel was that Elena was in it. It would have been much more interesting if it tied into the rest of the novel like Elena trying to find out more history of the earthquake event or something of that nature but no it just about Elena meeting Ben. Which makes me dislike Elena and the decisions that she makes along the way. Each time a new chapter came I was hoping it would be about the past but it was more about Elena and her poor decisions.
There seems to be a lot of unnecessary descriptions in some places and not enough description in others. Some of the extra description bogs down the story and takes away from it. I want to know more about the earthquake history and what happens during that past and not of Elena and Ben having dinner. There is a lot of awkward dialogue where it is just boring to read or I think, who really talks like that?
Then, the ending it just abruptly stops! It doesn't really conclude anything at the end. Which I hope that doesn't mean there is another novel because really all we needed was one extra paragraph stating exactly what Elena does in the end. But overall I just wished the story played more off of the past instead of awkwardly adding it and having no relation at all to what was happening to the present.
Then, there is the week before the present. In which Elena comes to Kefalonia with her father, Ioannis, to the festivities to honor Saint Gerasimos and to remember the earthquakes of 1953. This part of the story is also not told out as much as it could be. I would have liked to see more in the father's eyes of what he was feeling. Of how he was reminiscing about the past and how it effected him. But this part of the story is pretty brief, and it is in the eyes of Elena who just sees second hand of how her father is feeling and mostly just thinks it is really hot and tiring.
Those two parts of the stories correspond with each other and were the most fascinating parts of the story. But then there is the present, which is the bulk of the novel and it just didn't feel like it fit with the rest of the story. It is about Elena staying after her family leaves, to go back to the states after the festivities, and then how she meets a man name Ben who instantly falls head over heels for her. The only thing it had in common with the rest of the novel was that Elena was in it. It would have been much more interesting if it tied into the rest of the novel like Elena trying to find out more history of the earthquake event or something of that nature but no it just about Elena meeting Ben. Which makes me dislike Elena and the decisions that she makes along the way. Each time a new chapter came I was hoping it would be about the past but it was more about Elena and her poor decisions.
There seems to be a lot of unnecessary descriptions in some places and not enough description in others. Some of the extra description bogs down the story and takes away from it. I want to know more about the earthquake history and what happens during that past and not of Elena and Ben having dinner. There is a lot of awkward dialogue where it is just boring to read or I think, who really talks like that?
Then, the ending it just abruptly stops! It doesn't really conclude anything at the end. Which I hope that doesn't mean there is another novel because really all we needed was one extra paragraph stating exactly what Elena does in the end. But overall I just wished the story played more off of the past instead of awkwardly adding it and having no relation at all to what was happening to the present.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan
Now that Apophis has escaped his cage, Sadie and Carter must find a way
to get Ra back to full power before Apophis swallows Ra and destroys the
world. But, that isn't the only thing that is on there plates. Carter
is trying to start a relationship with Zia and Sadie keeps going back
and forth over Walt and Anubis. Plus in their quest to save the world,
Walt only has a little bit of life left in him, as he gets weaker and
weaker under his families curse.
The whole Kane Chronicle series is a lot of fun. Even in the mist of the world ending the Kane kids still crack jokes and make fun of Gods. I love it. This series is great for any age. You get your Egyptian mythology along with a great story. Of course all this is being done by I think a 13 year old and 16 year old so it isn't at all believable but it is fiction :P
You really can't go wrong with a Rick Riordan book. At the end it hints to maybe a tie in novel with the greek mythology kids. Even though this series seems to be over it would be nice to have some spinoffs where Sadie and Carter have cameos.
The whole Kane Chronicle series is a lot of fun. Even in the mist of the world ending the Kane kids still crack jokes and make fun of Gods. I love it. This series is great for any age. You get your Egyptian mythology along with a great story. Of course all this is being done by I think a 13 year old and 16 year old so it isn't at all believable but it is fiction :P
You really can't go wrong with a Rick Riordan book. At the end it hints to maybe a tie in novel with the greek mythology kids. Even though this series seems to be over it would be nice to have some spinoffs where Sadie and Carter have cameos.
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