The Grimm Legacy

 

Title: The Grimm Legacy

Author: Polly Shulman

 Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Publication date: July 8, 2010

Rating: 3 Stars

Elizabeth has a new job at an unusual library— a lending library of objects, not books. In a secret room in the basement lies the Grimm Collection. That's where the librarians lock away powerful items straight out of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales: seven-league boots, a table that produces a feast at the blink of an eye, Snow White's stepmother's sinister mirror that talks in riddles.

When the magical objects start to disappear, Elizabeth embarks on a dangerous quest to catch the thief before she can be accused of the crime—or captured by the thief.
This was a really cute book and I think middle grade children especially will enjoy it. I loved to magic of the repository. Imagine being able to borrow Abraham Lincoln's top hat or Jane Austen's quill or even Cinderella's Glass Slipper. The Grimm Legacy tells about the importance of objects and, for the Grimm objects, the magic they hold.

I loved every scene with the magic mirror. The rhyming was awesome and the mirror was so incredibly creepy, but in a good way. Elizabeth was not always the most interesting character but I liked the way she treated Anjal's sister. She never put her down and always treated her like an equal which was different than Anjal treated her. I found Marc to be boring and Anjali was not much better but Andrew on the other hand was more interesting, although he acted like kind of an idiot near the end.


So, at the beginning of this review I say that the book is cute and so far I have only criticized it but now I'll tell you why I enjoyed it. I loved the idea of the world of magic and fairy tales. I loved that the main character worked in a library of objects of history and magic. I loved being introduced to that world. Was this book fantastic? No, but it was fun, there are technicalities that I could point out but I won't. My mind has gotten too picky, that's why I recommend this for a younger audience. They will be able to look at this book and experience the magic that my mind wouldn't let me fully enjoy.

Firelight (Firelight #1)

Title: Firelight (Firelight #1)
Author: Sophie Jordan
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: September, 7th 2010
Rating: 3 Stars

A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.-GoodReads

This story idea was original, I'll give it that. It's not everyday you read a book about a girl who can change back and forth between human and dragon(draki). I liked the story for the most part. I disliked the romance. I started getting sick of obsessive romances not long after I got out of Twilight. Actually, probably even before that. I have read way too many of them and I'm just not interested in the same old thing. Who knew "true love" could go out of style.

The story was good but now that I come to think about it, I didn't actually like any of the characters. I didn't dislike them, I just didn't with connect to them. I probably would have liked the book much better if I had. Jacinda's constant back-and-forth about staying or leaving gets really annoying. Will seemed to be the type male character that is in most YA Paranormals, flat and prone to violence.

And after all that because of the last 30 pages, and also my inability to give up on a book, I have already put the sequel on hold at the library. I can't help myself.

Red Glove (The Curse Workers #2)

Title: Red Glove (Curse Workers #3)
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Publishing date: April 5th, 2011
Rating: 4 Stars

Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else.

That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does.

When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself?

Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.-GoodReads

Red Glove is the sequel to White Cat. I loved this book, I haven't read anything like it. I love the world, the curses, the crime, the murder, the love, the friendship, the drama, the dysfunctional family. It is addicting.

I've also come to the conclusion that I love Cassel's character. He's sarcastic, well meaning, a conman, totally messed up and he is completely aware of it. I liked his relationship with Lila, as messed up as it was, they are each others equal and they make one heck of a team. They are absolutely vicious. I can't wait to see them meet up in the next book, it's sure to be destructive.

Black would be a great criminal if ever she decided to give up writing and turn to a life of crime. The cons were planned out so well, it's like a work of art. There are so many layers, so many people involved, so many small details and things that come it to play. It's insane.

In a style quite like White Cat the ending was heart breaking and left you wanting more. I can't believe I have to wait a couple of months for Black Heart to come out. I can't wait! I want to find out the conclusion to Cassel and Lila's story. It's sure to be unforgettable.

Inkheart (Inkworld #1)

Title: Inkheart (Inkworld #1)
Author: Cornelia Funke
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Publish date: October 1, 2003
Rating: 5 Stars

Meggie lives a quiet life alone with her father, a book-binder. But her father has a deep secret-- he possesses an extraordinary magical power. One day a mysterious stranger arrives who seems linked to her father's past. Who is this sinister character and what does he want? Suddenly Meggie is involved in a breathless game of escape and intrigue as her father's life is put in danger. Will she be able to save him in time?-GoodReads

I discovered this book when the film came out in theaters, oddly enough, it took a few months to discover it was actually based off of a book. The movie was really good but, as always, the book was ten times better. This is one of those unforgettable books, the ones that touch your heart and never leave. This is a book lovers book.

The writing style is great, it makes you feel like your reading a fairytale, like one of the many ones they mention. For a children's book I found Inkheart to be very mature, there's nothing too terrible in it, just a few cuss words, but this maturity leaves room for older audiences to love it. These characters are so painfully human and every single one of them has their flaws and weaknesses. You may not always like the characters but they always act realistically even if their actions are not what you wish they would be. I really respect that.

I love the relationship between Mo and Meggie, he's all she knows and all she needs but he knows of a different time when her mother was there and he misses it and is sad that Meggie doesn't remember and that she doesn't care to. Mo would do anything to protect Meggie and she would do the same.

Elinor rocks! She's a pain but you can relate to her obsession with books. They are her children and her only love. I love how through the books she changes and becomes more caring. I also love how she's always ready to dish out some insults to idiots with weapons.

Dustfinger... I am in love with Dustfinger. He is not a particularly heroic characters, actually, he's not heroic at all. But what he is, is smart and cunning. He misses his world so much he would do anything to get back, no matter the consequences. He's a coward and often runs but when he stays to fight you love him twice as much for it because know how much it took not to run away. He's human. Plus, the fact that he can speak to fire is awesome, and he has a pet Marten.

The idea of fall into the pages of a book that your reading has most likely been a fantasy that many readers have had. To be able to visit our most beloved worlds and meet our favorite characters, to change whats going to happen and make a happy ending. In Inkheart these fantasies come true, once again, within the pages of a book.

I love this book, it's been a favorite of mine for a while now. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Whether you decide to check out the book or the movie I don't care, just experience this story for yourself.

Raised by Wolves (Raised by Wolves #1)

Title: Raised by Wolves (Raised by Wolves #1)
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Publication Date: June 8th, 2010
Rating: 3.5 Stars

Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two.

But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.

But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?-GoodReads

I can't say that I loved this book. I had a real problem with the romance. Romances where the characters really don't know each other but feel an uncontrollable need to be with each other annoy me. It's just unrealistic and obsessive. Of course when paranormal books are involved you have to give the book a little bit of wiggle room because of outside supernatural influences. I also didn't like how Bryn bossed Chase around. It seemed like she was doing to him what she hated being done to her.

I loved the werewolf world, it feels so realistic. It reminded me a lot of the Mercy Thompson world. As for the characters, Lake ROCKED!!! Who wouldn't love a 15 year old shotgun toting werewolf?! I also loved Devon. Bryn was pretty cool, Chase had a nonexistent personality, and Callum is kinda badass. I loved how his character was portrayed in the last part of the book. I kind of loved him. Speaking of the last part of the book, the ending is epic. It's really cool. If you want to find out what I'm talking about just read it. And another note about the ending,there is no cliff hanger, it feels like a complete book. Everything that the characters set out to do got done. I really appreciated that.

I think this book could have been a bit shorter. As much as I love books, unless their one of my favorites, 400 pages is just too much for me. Overall, besides the puppy dog, brainless romance it was a good book. If you're looking for a werewolf book to read, this isn't a bad one to pick. I enjoyed it despite my grumbling.

White Cat (The Curse Workers #1)

Title: White Cat (The Curse Workers #1)
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Date: May 4th, 2010
Rating: 3 Stars

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers — people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail — he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.-GoodReads

The best thing about this book by far was the world that Holly Black built. It was so detailed and it felt real. I love the fact that everything came with a price, especially the magic they worked. If a worker took away a memory, memories were taken from them in the blow back. If a death worker killed something or someone a small part of them died also in the blow back. It took me a couple of chapters to get used to the world but once I did it was great.

The characters were interesting enough. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Cassel for the way his family was. Everyone stabbed each other in the back and the ending showed just how someones best intentions could go wrongly. Cassel himself was the type of person who played a character. He was afraid of who he was so when he was at school he pretended to be a person who blended in with the crowd. By the end of the story I think he was finally able to be himself with his friends.

The writing style was great and I enjoyed the story, but for me it wasn't the greatest. I will probably read the sequel and if the summery interests you I suggest that you read it. It was a good book but for me personally it just didn't have a spark.

Graveminder

Title: Graveminder
Author: Melissa Marr
Publisher: HaperCollins
Date: May 17th 2011
Rating: 3 Stars

Rebekkah Barrow never forgot the tender attention her grandmother, Maylene, bestowed upon the dead of Claysville, the town where Bek spent her adolescence. There wasn't a funeral that Maylene didn't attend, and at each Rebekkah watched as Maylene performed the same unusual ritual: three sips from a small silver flask followed by the words "Sleep well, and stay where I put you."

Now Maylene is dead and Bek must go back to the place--and the man--she left a decade ago. But what she soon discovers is that Maylene was murdered and that there was good reason for her odd traditions. It turns out that in placid Claysville, the worlds of the living and the dead are dangerously connected. Beneath the town lies a shadowy, lawless land ruled by the enigmatic Charles, aka Mr. D--a place from which the dead will return if their graves are not properly minded. Only the Graveminder, a Barrow woman, and the current Undertaker, Byron, can set things to right once the dead begin to walk.-Amazon

There were so many great things about Graveminder but I feel that it didn't reach it's full potential. The world was fantastic, both the world of the living and the dead. I love the idea of the Graveminder, someone connected to the dead and watching after them, protecting them, and also making sure they don't ever come back. Also, the Undertaker who's responsible for dealing with the bodies left behind and a partner to the Graveminder.

Marr loves writing from many character points of views and that isn't bad, but it can also connect you with side characters that aren't supposed to be important and in the case of Elizabeth, Alice(I think that's her name), and Amity I feel like she didn't give them satisfactory endings.

The story was a bit slow to start off, considering the length of the story I feel that there should have been more accomplished in the first 150 pages. Rebekkah and Byron were only just their getting into their jobs as Griveminder and Undertaker by the end of the book and it just felt too short, like their should have been more.

Overall, it was an interesting book. It had a great world and storyline and I did enjoy it.

Emily the Stange: The Lost Days

Title: Emily the Strange: The Lost Days(Emily the Strange Novels, #1)
Author: Rob Reger
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year: 2009
Rating: 3 Stars

I can't find a good summery of this book to post so I'll describe it in one sentence. Strange goth girl genius gets amnesia and finds herself in a town called Blackrock that has no black rocks.

In the style of Emily herself I thought I'd write my review in lists of 13 things.

13 Things I Liked About Emily the Strange
1. Emily
2. Amnesia 2
3. The strangeness
4. Pockets with Gallifreyan technology :D
5. Her lists of 13 things
6. Conversations with Raven
7. Her refrigerator box
8. Her inability to not write in her notebook
9. The matchstick Delorean
10.Molly's lines for Raven
11. How she found out she was a cat person not a dog person
12. Refreshing nightmares
13. Her tickets

13 Things I Disliked About Emily the Strange
1. The fact that I can't decide if I liked it or not
2. Calamity Poker
3. Attikol
4. Some of the Stupidness
5. Blackrock
6. I had to read it in short segments
7. More Stupidness
8. I have not become immune to stupidness
9. I still can't decide if I liked it or not
10. um
11. I'm having a really hard time coming up with 13 things
12. Beige
13. Let's just call that 13 things and be done with it

The Hunter's Moon

Title: The Hunter's Moon (The Chronicles of Faerie, book 1)

Author: O.R. Melling
Publisher: Amulet Books
Year: 2000

Gwen travels to Ireland to visit her cousin Findabhair, expecting a summer of backpacking, late nights, and the usual road trip adventures. But when Findabhair is kidnapped by the King of Faerie, Gwen must race to save her cousin before the rise of the Hunter's Moon, when the fairies need a human sacrifice.-Summery from Goodreads


I've had this book on my shelf for a couple of years now, I've just never got around to reading it until now. It was a fun read, there are a lot of problems I had with the book, but still it was fun. It took me a while to realize that it was written like a fairy tale(yes, I do realize that I am reading a tale about fairies but I'm talking about Fairy Tales, you know, the Grimm kind). There were tests that Gwen had to pass, random friends along the way who helped, people filled with courage and bravery willing to die for something they loved. Nevertheless the down sides to fairy tales were also apparent such as lack of believability, cookie cutter and underdeveloped characters, boring dialogue, and sudden professions of love.
One of my favorite things in the book was the constant adventure Gwen was on traveling around to a lot of Ireland's best Faerie places. And the best part had to be when the Leprechaun was giving Gwen his tour of Dublin, I couldn't help but laugh at his renaming of the statues, like Tart-with-the-Cart.
The thing that makes people like this book, I think, is that it's steeped in legends and folktales. Miller sure did put her B.A. in Celtic Studies to use, every place Gwen went there seemed to be a story to go along with it, everything in the book seemed connected to Faerie in some way. There were so many legends woven into this one story. Like I said, It was a fun read.

Fallen

Title: Fallen
Author: Lauren Kate
Pages: 464

Seventeen-Year-Old Luce is a new student at Sword & Cross, an unwelcoming boarding/reform school in Savannah, Georgia. Luce’s boyfriend died under suspicious circumstances, and now she carries the guilt over his death with her as she navigates the unfriendly halls at Sword & Cross, where every student seems to have an unpleasant—even evil—history.

It’s only when she sees Daniel, a gorgeous fellow student, that Luce feels there’s a reason to be here—though she doesn’t know what it is. And Daniel’s frosty cold demeanor toward her? It’s really a protective device that he’s used again . . . and again. For Daniel is a fallen angel, doomed to fall in love with the same girl every 17 years . . . and watch her die. And Luce is a fellow immortal, cursed to be reincarnated again and again as a mortal girl who has no idea of who she really is.

Ok, I'll be honest. The reason I read Fallen was because of the cover, it's just too cool to ignore. Well, you know what they say. "Never judge a book by it's cover."

It started out ok. I love Arianna and Penn, they are the reason I got through this evil book, Luce wasn't even that bad of a character. So what did I hate about this book? The storyline, and Daniel. I hated them both.

Don't read this book.

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Pages: 398

After four weeks I have finally completed the first book in the LotR trilogy. yay me!!

I'm pretty sure most people already know what LotR is about, so I won't be posting the summery this time.

I remember the first time I saw the movie in theaters. It was not a pleasant experience, to say the least. I was seven years old, my mom was working that night and my sister and dad wanted to see the movie(they had no idea what it was about) so I decided to tag along. I spent almost the whole three hours in tears, and hiding my face beneath a jacket. I find it funny now that I'm old enough to watch, and enjoy, the movie.

When I read this book I was surprised to find just how different it was from the movie. You'd think because the movie was so long it would be fairly close to the book. Wrong. They left alot of stuff out in the movie(There was seventeen year between Bilbo's eleventy-first birthday and when Frodo left the Shire). And not only was the Story different from the movie, but the characters were different as well; especially Merry.

One of the thing's I love about the Fellowship of the Ring is the way it is written. It's written like a Fairy Tale; there aren't many books like that. On the other hand, the way it's written also makes it hard to relate to that characters.

It was enjoyable to book read, but you have to be a patient reader. Don't give up on it just because it is hard to get through.

The Shifter-By Janice Hardy

'Nya is an orphan struggling for survival in a city crippled by war. She is also a Taker—with her touch, she can heal injuries, pulling pain from another person into her own body. But unlike her sister, Tali, and the other Takers who become Healers' League apprentices, Nya's skill is flawed: She can't push that pain into pynvium, the enchanted metal used to store it. All she can do is shift it into another person, a dangerous skill that she must keep hidden from forces occupying her city. If discovered, she'd be used as a human weapon against her own people.

Rumors of another war make Nya's life harder, forcing her to take desperate risks just to find work and food. She pushes her luck too far and exposes her secret to a pain merchant eager to use her shifting ability for his own sinister purposes. At first Nya refuses, but when Tali and other League Healers mysteriously disappear, she's faced with some difficult choices. As her father used to say, principles are a bargain at any price; but how many will Nya have to sell to get Tali back alive?'

The Shifter, or The Pain Merchant, is the first book in the Healing Wars series by Janice Hardy. I knew from the first page that I would like this book. It started with Nya narrating, talking about how to steal an egg from a chicken. Since I have had to deal with chickens on many occasions(I almost got attacked by a rooster today), I formed an instant bond with Nya.
Click HERE for a excerpt from The Shifter.

I have been lucky to find so many great books lately, this is one such book. I love how it was written, Janice Hardy is a great author. The world was so detailed, the storyline so dark, filled to the brim with drama, the characters lovable and easy to connect with. There was nothing I didn't love about this book. If you haven't read it already, you need to.

Fire-By Kristin Cashore

'She is the last of her kind... It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her.'


This book is kind of a prequel to Graceling. I thought I would like this book as much as the first, but Fire just seemed to fall flat. There was nothing wrong with it, other then the fact that I didn't care about the characters, or the story. there was a whole bunch of twists and turns, but I didn't find any of them shocking or interesting because I just wasn't interested. I don't know why.

Mercy Thompson Series- By Patricia Briggs

Car mechanic Mercy Thompson's life is not exactly normal, her neighbor is a werewolf, her old boss is a Gremlin (fae), and she's fixing a VW bus for a vampire. Oh yeah, and she's a 'Walker'(a Native American shapeshifter who turns into a coyote).

This is an amazing series, everything about it is fantastic. It's got fantastic characters, a good storyline, great writing. Most of the time I hate books that are written in first person; with these books I didn't mind it at all. The story just flows.

Usually I don't get scared when I read books. Vampires and werewolves, just really don't scare me when I'm reading about them. Except one scene in Blood Bound, just thinking about it still gives me chills. It's just plain creepy. So, congratulations Patricia Briggs, you have succeed in writing one terrifying chapter ;)

A couple of times when I was sitting down watching a movie, I kept on thinking 'that person should be able to smell them lying,' or 'they should never had been able to sneak up on him'. I don't know when I started relating werewolf super powers to every movie, but it was starting to get on my nerves a bit. I guess it is possible to have too much of a good thing.

I'm finding it really difficult to describe Mercy's character, I've been trying to write this review since 12/31/09 and I just can't seem to put it in the right words. I might try again when Silver Bourne, the 5th Mercy Thompson book, comes out. I just read on Patricia Briggs' website that she finished it 1/4/10, it' supposed to be released at the end of March 2010.

Graceling-By Kristin Cashore

"Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight - she's a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king's thug. She never expects to fall in love with beautiful Prince Po. She never expects to learn the truth behind her Grace - or the terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone."


This book is absolutely fantastic!!! The story had me on the edge of my seat from page one. If I didn't need sleep, I would have finished it the first night. Sometimes when I get obsessed with reading it becomes more about the need to finish the book, instead of just enjoying the story, this book reminded me, again, just how much fun it is to read. Graceling has action, mystery, romance, great writing, lovable characters; everything a good book needs.

SPOILER ALERT!!!!


SPOILER ALERT!!!!


SPOILER ALERT!!!!


The only thing I could NOT stand about this book was: Katsa found a guy who she loved, and who loved her in return. But instead of marrying him like he wanted, she did not even consider the idea of marriage because it would take away her freedom, so she decided having a lover was better then having a husband. Okay, that's the end of my rant.



END SPOILER!!!!


Get if from the library, or pick it up from a book shop, it is definitely a book worth reading, especially if you love fantasy.

Eragon & Eldest- By Christopher Paolini

ERAGON: The storyline had potential but it never really gets interesting. Saphira is a good character, but Eragon is really boring. I would not recommended reading this. But alot of people like it; everyone has their own opinion.




ELDEST: Well if you are a fan of the first book just ignore my review because we obviously have very different opinions.
The only good part in this book was Roran, I loved reading his story, the rest of the book..... I was not impressed. Saphira was just pathetic, and Eragon who used to be just a boring idiot has been promoted to a love sick boring idiot. if you didn't like Eragon(the book), you can flip through Eldest and read the parts with Roran, or just skip it altogether. I can't decided which is a better option.