The Dead Tossed Waves

I was hoping the book would start up where it left off with Mary finding out about the ones she left behind in the forest. Because, that is usually how a sequel goes, but not this one. Instead this book skips to the next generation that have to deal with the Mudo (or Unconsecrated from the first book). The book centers around Gabry, Marys daughter. Who doesn't know very much about her mothers past.

Close to the end, it does give us a glimpse of what happened to Harry, Cass and Jacob so it ties up that loose end. But, it gets me wandering about Jed did he escape? Never goes back to him. And, it kind of tells the beginning of the Return but not enough information for me.

Gabry didn't grow up like Mary. The Mudo was not part of her everyday life. She was shelter from them. They didn't moan at the fences like in Mary's childhood. The mudo was buffered away from them with the forest and ocean blocking the mudo from there village. Of course, Gabry saw mudo, the ones that washed ashore that were bloated and slow, which her mom would behead right way and they were no threat. They were no threat, until the night Gabry sneaks over the barrier with her friends and she encounters her very first breaker mudo.

Gabry escapes the mudo, but two of her friends didn't and Catcher, her crush, was infected. Gabry was the only one able to run home as the rest of her friends were captured by the militiaman and punished for breaking the law by going past the barrier to the unprotected area.

Gabry tries to make things right. But things keep spiraling in the wrong direction. At one point Gabry must find refugee in the same forest her mother is from. And, by doing so Gabry also finds out she has more in the common with the forest than she knew.

During the novel, you going get bits and pieces of the first novel. Basically, it is a whole new story but in the same environment. It is great, because we the reader, know more than the Gabry who is telling the story trying to piece everything together. The book doesn't over summarize anything but actually put things in a new light with Gabry. I really enjoyed the book, it was one thing after another with Gabry, just like her mother in the first novel. And, I can't wait for the next!

The Forest of Hands and Teeth - Carrie Ryan

This book is mostly the inter thoughts of Mary. A girl who lives in a village surrounded by the Forest of Hands and Teeth. There is not very much interaction with other characters in the book. There is some dialogue but mostly it is Mary.

I do enjoy books with a lot of character interaction, dialogue. Even though this one didn't have much of it, it made up for it in great detail. I could envision everything that happened to Mary. At some parts I didn't want to go on afraid of what would happen but at the same time I just could not put the book down!

This is a very great book, different than most I have been reading right now. It kept me on the edge of my seat and was never a dull moment. Mary dreams of the ocean and hopes there is something other than the fences that entrap her from the unconsercrated on the other side. Terrific book! and now I am off to read the next one!

Fire Study

I just finished Fire Study, the last book in the Study series. It took me quite awhile to read it. It didn't have me as interested as the other two books in the series. I would go days without really wanted to read it. There was a lot of repetition in the book, summarizing from the other two books and repeating facts from earlier in the book, that dulled the book for me. Didn't have as much adventure, rather boring.

Yelena, the main character, has to fight the fire warper. She has many enemies in this book. Ferde who she defeated in the last book but was freed from another of her enemies Cahil. Cahil wants to rule Ixia and loathes Yelena and Valek. Yelena must also battle with the 1st Master Magician Roze who doesn't trust Yelena and believes Yelena is a spy from Ixia trying to take over Sitia. So, Yelena has a lot on her plate as she tries to find a way to get Ferde back and fight the Fire Warper.

There is still the same characters from the previous books, Valek, Ari, Janco, Fisk, Cahil, and Leif. Even though I didn't like Valek in the second book, this one I started to see the old Valek again. Yelena did start bothering me and if you have ever read House Of Night novels, she began to remind me the the main character in that series Zoey.

Some of the dramatic scenes didn't really hold any emotion for me. I don't want to list any to give anything away. But, when someone would die or something big would happen I didn't really seem important the way it was described. It would be described in two sentences and that would be the end of it.

I enjoyed the first two I just wished this one peaked my interested as much as the first one!

Magic Study

Magic Study is the sequel to Poison Study. At the end of Poison Study, Yelena finds out her parents are still alive and that she is part of the Zaltana Clan in the country of Sitia. To learn more about her magic abilities and to get to know her family she must travel to the country of Sitia. Also, she has been exiled from Ixia because of her magic abilities so she must leave her friends and Valek.

Being Yelena, soon after she arrives in Sitia she makes enemies. Her older brother Leif loathes her, believing she is a spy for Ixia and not his real sister. On the way to the Citadel she makes enemies with Goel a guard for Cahil who is the last of the Blood line for the King of Ixia. But, Yelena also makes friends, Dax a student at the Keep where Yelena learns about her magic. And Fisk the little beggar boy who helps her around the market place.

Poison Study has a lot of action, Yelena must fight for her life a couple times. And, as like Poison Study, Valek does come to her rescue a couple times as well. She also learns about her magic which is interesting. She has the ability to heal, listen to peoples thoughts and talk to horses but she can't move objects with her mind.

It is a great book, but I enjoyed Poison Study much more. One of the things I really liked in Poison Study is Valek. I enjoy his personality, but in Magic Study Valek seems different, softer I suppose. Maybe he has been soften by his love for Yelena. Valek wasn't in Poison Study as much as he was in Magic Study, but I feel like that character lost a lot in the sequel. Ari and Janco on the other hand are as funny and sarcastic as they were in Poison study. I really enjoy Ari and Janco. Also, the new faces in this book are very entertaining as well, such as Fisk, Dax, Leif and Cahil. I didn't get quite a grasp on the Cahil character and I hope to learn more about him in Fire Study.

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

There is never a dull moment with Yelena the poisoned food taster. The main character of the story, Yelena hasn't had the best life. Orphaned as a child and brought to Brazell's manor only to become a lab experiment. When she kills Brazell's son she is sent away to be sentenced to hang. That is when Yelena's life changes. She becomes the food taster in exchange for her life. Yelena must face many obstacles as a food taster. At any moment she could be poisoned by the food she tastes, Brazell is after her for killing her son, and her food taster instructed Valek could kill her any time with one of his tests.

Always finding herself back up against the wall she tries to fight for her life. Yelena may have made some enemies but she has made some friends as well that try to help her fight through.

It was a great book, I didn't want to stop reading. Never a dull moment, always something new about to happen. Some great small twists that kept the novel interesting. I can't wait to read the next in the series Magic Study. I hope to see some of the old characters in this novel as well.

Ella Enchanted

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine has been out for many years and even a movie has been made which I have watched as well. But, I haven't read this book until now. It was a delightful book, cute and funny. I haven't watched the movie in quite some time, but from memory, there are lots of differences. Ella Enchanted is a re-telling of Cinderella (Cinder ella get it? took me almost the end of the book to see that.) The story of Cinderella never tells why Cinderella does everything her step sisters and step mother tells her too, I mean why didn't she just run away from it all? But, Ella Enchanted gives a reason to why Ella stays and does all of their bidding. Ella Enchanted even has the glass slippers and pumpkin stagecoach which I don't think the movie had. I think the movie strayed more from the Cinderella aspect of it and went more toward Ella's obedience.

When Ella was a baby, she was gifted obedience and must do whatever anyone has order of her. Ella didn't let this gift bring her down. She was defiant to her gift, if her cook told her to bring her almonds Ella would bring her two. She would find ways to defy the gift. When Ella's mother dies things go down hill for her but she meets Prince Char and starts a relationship with him. It is a cute story between her and Char. But, after a while, Ella's father must remarry and Ella moves in with her Stepmother and stepsisters who make things awful for her when her father leaves.

I am glad that I finally read this book. It is a really cute retelling.

Princess of the Midnight Ball

Princess of the Midnight Ball is a great story. Based off the Brother Grimm tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses. I really like how she retold the tale. In the Brother Grimm's tale the girls seem more arrogant. But, in the Princess of the Midnight Ball the girls seem to have more compassion and I like reading the way Jessica Day George wrote them.

The story is about twelve princesses. Ever morning when they wake their dancing shoes are found worn out. No one can figure out why this is happening. And the twelve princesses will not tell anyone. So, the king makes a reward: The prince who figures out the secret can marry the daughter of their choosing. But, all the princes fail. Then, the solider turned under gardener tries. And, he has some tricks under his sleeves.

The story follows Galen the solider/under gardener and Rose the eldest princess most of the time. Rose has eleven other sisters all named after a flower that grows in the late Queen's garden. One of the sisters who stand out the most besides Rose is Poppy, which the next book in the series Princess of Glass is about. I haven't read it yet, but I really enjoyed this books so I am going to read that one next!