I know, I said OCD Love Story would be the next review up, but this book had to go back to my library sooner than expected. I have seen the movie and it was what prompted me to pick up and read the book. I am not going to be comparing the book to the movie now, but if people want me to and say as much, I will. This is the first book in the Mortal Instruments series, I do plan on reading the series when I can. So here is this review, and I hope you enjoy!
Think it was going to be just another day, Clary Fray witnesses a murder in a local club. The people committing the murder are just teens themselves and they have these weird markings on them. They are the Shadowhunters and they are warriors who rid the world of demons. Jace is the magnificent, blond of the group and no more than a day later Clary is in his world. To top it off her mother disappears and Clary is attacked numerous times. Clary is a mundane and has the Sight, the Shadowhunters are unsure of what to make of this. Hopefully it all pans out for itself, and for the good.
I finished this book, in about a day and a half. I am kicking myself for not reading this either when it got popular or when it caught my eye a few years back. Clary, Jace, Magnus, and Simon are my favorite characters by far, mainly Simon and Jace for their witty sarcasm and dry humor. City of Bones was fast paced and sometimes I got caught up in it and other times I was fine. I almost feel as though if it weren't so fast paced it would have been too wordy for my likings. The surprises aren't too crazy but hinted toward in a fashion that you know something is going to happen because of it. *SPOILER-ALERT* Not too sure how I feel about the whole brother-sister action in the book but hey, that may just be another twist in the series. *SPOILER-ENDED* I like that things were explained in a way that was as short as possible but held all the necessary details to get the readers through the book. I laughed a lot as well while reading, and I wasn't expecting that. I was expecting things to be more serious and I am really glad that it wasn't. I am also glad that this book isn't vampire based. There are vampires in it but there is other folklore that comes into play and it works for this book. This isn't a smaller book, this is a slightly bigger book and it is another nice change I have been reading books that are on the smaller side.
As for things I didn't like, one was mentioned in the spoiler part. I have a feeling it is all a bunch of lies but there is something that someone said that stops me from pushing it aside. The action in this book is another thing. Yes I said that I liked it but at the same time if it weren't for the humor in the parts that aren't full of action, I wouldn't have liked it. I did get confused in a few parts, I'm not too sure if it was the way that the passage was worded or what, but it didn't trip me up too bad. Hopefully this series doesn't disappoint in the end.
I devoured this book in a day and a half and if that doesn't show you that I liked it, I don't know what will. For a 'teen' book, I think people of all ages would enjoy this. It just feels right to me, and I think I might like this series a lot (at least I am hoping). I definitely recommend this book to everyone who has either looked at it, considered it, or anything. I would love to own this book one day and maybe I will. As usual when I can get my hands on the second book I will read and review it.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Page Count: 485 pages (paperback)
Price: $10.99
Next Book: OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu
Thank you for reading!
~Jade
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Monday, May 26, 2014
Fear: 13 Stories of Suspense and Horror Edited by R.L. Stine
For this particular review I am going to be say something that I liked and did not like about each short story in one blurb, just to keep things simple and not too crazy. As usual, I hope you enjoy!
When you crack open this book you are greeted to an introduction by R.L. Stine and it was a short and simple one. It actually got me pumped to read these short stories. From there on, in reading order, there is Welcome to the Club by R.L. Stine, She's Different Tonight by Heather Graham, Suckers by Suzanne Weyn, The Perfects by Jennifer Allison, Shadow Children by Heather Brewer, The Poison Ring by Peg Kehret, Dragonfly Eyes by Alane Ferguson, Jeepers Peepers by Ryan Brown, Piney Power by F. Paul Wilson, The Night Hunter by Meg Cabot, Tuition by Walter Sorrells, Tagger by James Rollins, and lastly Ray Gun by Tim Maleeny.
Welcome to the Club was a really great opening short story. It was like welcoming you to the coming short stories of horror and suspense. I don't have a con to talk about because the short was well put together and really had me speeding through to get to the end from the first page.
She's Different Tonight had me wondering at first. Was the plot really going to be that straight forward to the very end? Thankfully no and just the hint of supernatural beings was enough to make me wish it were just a little bit longer. Yet again I don't have anything negative to speak about this short.
Suckers was my favorite story by far. I never thought it would end the way it did, and it was a twist I love greatly. I was hooked from the first page and I didn't want it to end. It was the future based but not so future base that made me love it from the beginning. Different perspectives are really wicked once you know certain details from who's perspective it is coming from.
The Perfects reminded me of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, in a way except the whole town was in on the murdering. If Entrails Michigan were a real place I will be far away from it. This short also happens to take place on Halloween like She's Different Tonight. I wasn't too taken with this short but I didn't not like it.
Shadow Children was the one that I was most looking forward to in this compilation but I wasn't too happy with it. It was a great plot, had great characters, had a great everything, but I just couldn't really get into it. It was also very short and I know "short stories" but this is 16 pages long. I feel as though if it were just a little longer I would have enjoyed it more.
The Poison Ring didn't go how I thought it would go. I thought it would end up like Skeleton Key where the old lady takes over the body of the younger girl, but nope. I'm glad it didn't, but I am glad that this was more of a suspense story, it fitted it nicely.
Dragonfly Eyes was another story that I thought would take a whole different path then what it did take. I was hooked from the beginning with just the first sentence. It is another perspective-type story but this time it's because of a traumatic experience that the perspective changes. This is another short that would be really amazing leading into a bigger series or another book. This was the shortest story in the book with being only 8 pages long. I wanted so much more but at the same time I was content with what was given.
Jeepers Peepers I expected to have murder in it especially with the way it started. It ended up being really sweet, and I loved how it ended. I loved the little boy and I loved how special people need someone to ground them when things start to go wrong. It just goes to show that your imagination can get the better of you if you let it.
Piney Power was a short that I basically knew what was going on and what was going to happen within the first few pages. I would have been more upset if it were a full book, but since it was a short it was tolerable. I do have to say that the characters made the short completely worth the read, for me.
The Night Hunter ended up being a whole bunch of sweetness. I loved the ending and who ended up being who. I would say that this one was another that if the characters where different I probably wouldn't have liked the short as much as I do.
Tuition, I'm not too sure how I feel about this short. I liked the end a lot and the plot that was going for it, but I didn't like much more than that. Again, I know. The characters and the plot are what count (for some), but I also look forward to how it is all put together.
Tagger reminded me of a mixture of Anna Dressed in Blood and The Black Tattoo. Bittersweet till the end, I don't know what to say about this short either. It was a little plain to me, and very easy to read. Overall I was able to just skim through it and know what was going on. I don't exactly not like this short, I am just not crazy about it either.
Ray Gun, as the final short, I have to say that I liked it very much and wish it were a full length book. The back story to it and it's 'anything can happen'-ness is what made me get sucked in, and the beginning as well.
I had pretty mixed emotions about the whole compilation, but I would read these shorts again. I do recommend this book to others who like a little bit of horror and suspense in their reading. I wasn't completely unhappy with any of the shorts, which is great. I don't know if I would buy this book or just be content with having to borrowing it from the library when I want to read it. I also recommend that you check out some or all of these authors if something intrigues you about them. I do read from a handful of these authors.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Page Count: 306 pages, including About the Authors (hardcover)
Price: $16.99
Next Book: OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu
Thank you for reading!
~Jade
When you crack open this book you are greeted to an introduction by R.L. Stine and it was a short and simple one. It actually got me pumped to read these short stories. From there on, in reading order, there is Welcome to the Club by R.L. Stine, She's Different Tonight by Heather Graham, Suckers by Suzanne Weyn, The Perfects by Jennifer Allison, Shadow Children by Heather Brewer, The Poison Ring by Peg Kehret, Dragonfly Eyes by Alane Ferguson, Jeepers Peepers by Ryan Brown, Piney Power by F. Paul Wilson, The Night Hunter by Meg Cabot, Tuition by Walter Sorrells, Tagger by James Rollins, and lastly Ray Gun by Tim Maleeny.
Welcome to the Club was a really great opening short story. It was like welcoming you to the coming short stories of horror and suspense. I don't have a con to talk about because the short was well put together and really had me speeding through to get to the end from the first page.
She's Different Tonight had me wondering at first. Was the plot really going to be that straight forward to the very end? Thankfully no and just the hint of supernatural beings was enough to make me wish it were just a little bit longer. Yet again I don't have anything negative to speak about this short.
Suckers was my favorite story by far. I never thought it would end the way it did, and it was a twist I love greatly. I was hooked from the first page and I didn't want it to end. It was the future based but not so future base that made me love it from the beginning. Different perspectives are really wicked once you know certain details from who's perspective it is coming from.
The Perfects reminded me of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, in a way except the whole town was in on the murdering. If Entrails Michigan were a real place I will be far away from it. This short also happens to take place on Halloween like She's Different Tonight. I wasn't too taken with this short but I didn't not like it.
Shadow Children was the one that I was most looking forward to in this compilation but I wasn't too happy with it. It was a great plot, had great characters, had a great everything, but I just couldn't really get into it. It was also very short and I know "short stories" but this is 16 pages long. I feel as though if it were just a little longer I would have enjoyed it more.
The Poison Ring didn't go how I thought it would go. I thought it would end up like Skeleton Key where the old lady takes over the body of the younger girl, but nope. I'm glad it didn't, but I am glad that this was more of a suspense story, it fitted it nicely.
Dragonfly Eyes was another story that I thought would take a whole different path then what it did take. I was hooked from the beginning with just the first sentence. It is another perspective-type story but this time it's because of a traumatic experience that the perspective changes. This is another short that would be really amazing leading into a bigger series or another book. This was the shortest story in the book with being only 8 pages long. I wanted so much more but at the same time I was content with what was given.
Jeepers Peepers I expected to have murder in it especially with the way it started. It ended up being really sweet, and I loved how it ended. I loved the little boy and I loved how special people need someone to ground them when things start to go wrong. It just goes to show that your imagination can get the better of you if you let it.
Piney Power was a short that I basically knew what was going on and what was going to happen within the first few pages. I would have been more upset if it were a full book, but since it was a short it was tolerable. I do have to say that the characters made the short completely worth the read, for me.
The Night Hunter ended up being a whole bunch of sweetness. I loved the ending and who ended up being who. I would say that this one was another that if the characters where different I probably wouldn't have liked the short as much as I do.
Tuition, I'm not too sure how I feel about this short. I liked the end a lot and the plot that was going for it, but I didn't like much more than that. Again, I know. The characters and the plot are what count (for some), but I also look forward to how it is all put together.
Tagger reminded me of a mixture of Anna Dressed in Blood and The Black Tattoo. Bittersweet till the end, I don't know what to say about this short either. It was a little plain to me, and very easy to read. Overall I was able to just skim through it and know what was going on. I don't exactly not like this short, I am just not crazy about it either.
Ray Gun, as the final short, I have to say that I liked it very much and wish it were a full length book. The back story to it and it's 'anything can happen'-ness is what made me get sucked in, and the beginning as well.
I had pretty mixed emotions about the whole compilation, but I would read these shorts again. I do recommend this book to others who like a little bit of horror and suspense in their reading. I wasn't completely unhappy with any of the shorts, which is great. I don't know if I would buy this book or just be content with having to borrowing it from the library when I want to read it. I also recommend that you check out some or all of these authors if something intrigues you about them. I do read from a handful of these authors.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Page Count: 306 pages, including About the Authors (hardcover)
Price: $16.99
Next Book: OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu
Thank you for reading!
~Jade
Sunday, May 25, 2014
New TV show from one of the books I reviewed???
Not too long ago I reviewed a book called The Strain, and I still haven't had much luck with getting my hands on the rest of the trilogy. This morning I was eating my cereal when I saw a teaser for the new TV series The Strain. Now, even though I did not give the book that great of a rating I am incredibly excited to see the show. Here in the US it is set to premier on July 13th, which is also my birthday! I recommend that you look up a trailer and check it our for yourself, and tell me; is anyone else excited for the TV show? Have you read the book or the whole trilogy?
As far as I can tell and from descriptions on the show, this first series is going to be based off of book one, in the trilogy. There is no talk as to how many series might be coming out, nor how long this season might be. Each episode is an hour long, and this is being aired on FX. It is based off of the book, and Guillermo del Toro is the director.
Stay close by because a review is coming up soon!
Thanks for reading!
~Jade
As far as I can tell and from descriptions on the show, this first series is going to be based off of book one, in the trilogy. There is no talk as to how many series might be coming out, nor how long this season might be. Each episode is an hour long, and this is being aired on FX. It is based off of the book, and Guillermo del Toro is the director.
Stay close by because a review is coming up soon!
Thanks for reading!
~Jade
Monday, May 19, 2014
Zom-B Gladiator by Darren Shan
Gladiator is the sixth book in the Zom-B series. If you go check out my review of Zom-B Baby there will be links to the other book reviews.
B knows what she wants to do, now. Fighting for the good side, for as long as she can. The zombies are everywhere and among them are mercenaries who have no sense of right or wrong. They lay a trap and B is taken. It will take just about everything that B has, to get out somewhat alive.
After putting down the last book I wasn't too sure if I wanted to read Gladiator right away or not. I decided to read the last book I did a review on, and afterwards I was ready to read this book. Now, I wished I had read this book right after Zom-B Baby, because Shan is in my 'good list' again. At first I was a little skeptical, because it seemed like this was going to be another filler book for the series. At about a third of the way into the book, things heat up. For the rest of the book it is nothing but constant problems arising for B and I kept reading until there was nothing left to read. B knows where she stands with the Angels, she doesn't want to get close with anyone and so she almost completely separates herself from them. They understand but they want her to know that they got her back no matter what. *SPOILER-ALERT* It takes for them to break her out of her battle to the death with zombies for her to realize that they need each other, but she gets there. *SPOILER-ENDED* I loved this book a lot, and I love that you can't forget about characters from past books because they come back. I love that the name of this book practically gives away everything that happens, in a sense, but unless you know what goes on you might not get the hint. This book redeems itself for the last book because there is a decent amount of action and suspense packed into it.
There are still some things that I wasn't too happy about. Now there are a few other enemies on the loose, how in the world are the Angels going to be able to defend themselves and survivors with all of them? It almost feels like there are too many enemies now, and I don't necessarily not like this, I just wonder if this series is going to end well because of it. I almost worry about the coming books because there is so much that could happen and I wonder if it is going to be too much at once, or not enough, like a couple of the other books. I also didn't like that this book ended on a "To be continued" note (like every single one of the books before it), because I wanted more, more annoying than an actual negative about the book. I also don't like the pompous asshats that take B and use her for sport to entertain themselves. It almost makes you think that if a zombie apocalypse where to take place, if people like them, or not like them, would do something like this to the surviving humans?
Shan has put himself in good graces with me after reading Gladiator. I am unsure about the rest of the series and what is to come, but I will continue to read the books (unless something happens and Shan completely puts me off of this series). I'd say the actual dislikes of this book to actual loves, the loves comes out as bigger and better. I still recommend this series to anyone and everyone who wants to read it, maybe you will love every book and that is perfectly okay. I am still at the point where I don't know if I want the whole series or just the books that I liked more.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Page Count: 160 pages (hardcover)
Price: $15
Next Book: Fear: 13 Stories of Suspense and Horror Edited by R.L. Stine
Thank you for reading!
~Jade
B knows what she wants to do, now. Fighting for the good side, for as long as she can. The zombies are everywhere and among them are mercenaries who have no sense of right or wrong. They lay a trap and B is taken. It will take just about everything that B has, to get out somewhat alive.
After putting down the last book I wasn't too sure if I wanted to read Gladiator right away or not. I decided to read the last book I did a review on, and afterwards I was ready to read this book. Now, I wished I had read this book right after Zom-B Baby, because Shan is in my 'good list' again. At first I was a little skeptical, because it seemed like this was going to be another filler book for the series. At about a third of the way into the book, things heat up. For the rest of the book it is nothing but constant problems arising for B and I kept reading until there was nothing left to read. B knows where she stands with the Angels, she doesn't want to get close with anyone and so she almost completely separates herself from them. They understand but they want her to know that they got her back no matter what. *SPOILER-ALERT* It takes for them to break her out of her battle to the death with zombies for her to realize that they need each other, but she gets there. *SPOILER-ENDED* I loved this book a lot, and I love that you can't forget about characters from past books because they come back. I love that the name of this book practically gives away everything that happens, in a sense, but unless you know what goes on you might not get the hint. This book redeems itself for the last book because there is a decent amount of action and suspense packed into it.
There are still some things that I wasn't too happy about. Now there are a few other enemies on the loose, how in the world are the Angels going to be able to defend themselves and survivors with all of them? It almost feels like there are too many enemies now, and I don't necessarily not like this, I just wonder if this series is going to end well because of it. I almost worry about the coming books because there is so much that could happen and I wonder if it is going to be too much at once, or not enough, like a couple of the other books. I also didn't like that this book ended on a "To be continued" note (like every single one of the books before it), because I wanted more, more annoying than an actual negative about the book. I also don't like the pompous asshats that take B and use her for sport to entertain themselves. It almost makes you think that if a zombie apocalypse where to take place, if people like them, or not like them, would do something like this to the surviving humans?
Shan has put himself in good graces with me after reading Gladiator. I am unsure about the rest of the series and what is to come, but I will continue to read the books (unless something happens and Shan completely puts me off of this series). I'd say the actual dislikes of this book to actual loves, the loves comes out as bigger and better. I still recommend this series to anyone and everyone who wants to read it, maybe you will love every book and that is perfectly okay. I am still at the point where I don't know if I want the whole series or just the books that I liked more.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Page Count: 160 pages (hardcover)
Price: $15
Next Book: Fear: 13 Stories of Suspense and Horror Edited by R.L. Stine
Thank you for reading!
~Jade
Friday, May 16, 2014
The Scot, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by Annette Blair (Large Print Edition)
This is the third book in the Accidental Witch trilogy by Annette Blair. With the title as it is, it's not a parody of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Unknowingly I read the third book, my mom had read it first and said that I had to read it as well. She didn't know there where two books before it either. If I can find the other two I will read them but if I can't, I can't.
A love that once was is broken against wills. The man, Rory MacKenzie Scottisch ancestor, sends a special, beautifully carved unicorn, as a piece of his eternal devotion. The clan's glory needs to be restore, and Rory is the man to do it. Though Victoria Cartwright got the key to the wardrobe through inheritance. Legend says only her ancestors' magic can reveal the treasure within.
As I stated before my mother told me that she wanted me to read the book. I did and I loved it. I was laughing the whole way through the book with Victoria and Rory going at each other. There is more to the story than just the unicorn. There is a curse on someone's family and on the other there are witches. Then the cat just attacks Rory a few good times, I laughed all the time. While I was reading the description of Victoria, however, I liked how Blair didn't make her a smaller person. She made it a point to make her curvy, and the triplets as well. It shows that even girls in books are curvy, curves are natural. If the other two books are like this one I definitely want to read them. I also like that there is so much more to each character then what little snippets you get. For those of you who have read this book, Brock was an interesting character..
A big part of the book was things happening to Rory because of Victoria rhyming, and it made me almost forget that there was even a plot to the book. I was just looking forward to what was going to happen next to Rory. It wasn't that big of a deal, but just something to note.
The Scot, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was a quick and easy read. I was laughing lots, and even aww'ed at a few spots. I recommend this to everyone, it is a "adult romance" book and there is a few sexual scenes. If you can handle less detailed sex then you are all good. As for owning this book, I wouldn't say that I would go out right now and buy it. If I had the money on me and I ran across it I might pick it up. Though I would get the original edition seeing as this copy is a large print.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Page Count: 389 (hardcover)
Price: ???
Next Book: Gladiator by Darren Shan
Thank you for reading!
~Jade
A love that once was is broken against wills. The man, Rory MacKenzie Scottisch ancestor, sends a special, beautifully carved unicorn, as a piece of his eternal devotion. The clan's glory needs to be restore, and Rory is the man to do it. Though Victoria Cartwright got the key to the wardrobe through inheritance. Legend says only her ancestors' magic can reveal the treasure within.
As I stated before my mother told me that she wanted me to read the book. I did and I loved it. I was laughing the whole way through the book with Victoria and Rory going at each other. There is more to the story than just the unicorn. There is a curse on someone's family and on the other there are witches. Then the cat just attacks Rory a few good times, I laughed all the time. While I was reading the description of Victoria, however, I liked how Blair didn't make her a smaller person. She made it a point to make her curvy, and the triplets as well. It shows that even girls in books are curvy, curves are natural. If the other two books are like this one I definitely want to read them. I also like that there is so much more to each character then what little snippets you get. For those of you who have read this book, Brock was an interesting character..
A big part of the book was things happening to Rory because of Victoria rhyming, and it made me almost forget that there was even a plot to the book. I was just looking forward to what was going to happen next to Rory. It wasn't that big of a deal, but just something to note.
The Scot, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was a quick and easy read. I was laughing lots, and even aww'ed at a few spots. I recommend this to everyone, it is a "adult romance" book and there is a few sexual scenes. If you can handle less detailed sex then you are all good. As for owning this book, I wouldn't say that I would go out right now and buy it. If I had the money on me and I ran across it I might pick it up. Though I would get the original edition seeing as this copy is a large print.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Page Count: 389 (hardcover)
Price: ???
Next Book: Gladiator by Darren Shan
Thank you for reading!
~Jade
Monday, May 12, 2014
Zom-B Baby by Darren Shan
This is the fifth book in the Zom-B series, I do have reviews up for the past four books (Zom-B, Underground, City, Angels). I do have the next book Gladiator, which either that review or a different one will be going up next. I do know that there are nine books already confirmed in the Zom-B series and depending on my mood, I should do a review for them. This review is going to be a little different from my others and you will see it once you start reading. I hope you all enjoy!
Being with the Angles for the past few months has been pretty awesome for B. They want to rid the evil dead from Earth, starting with what is around them. Though their mission isn't as simple as that. It is quite complicated, and B isn't sure that she wants to be apart of it all. So after a little pep talk she decides to go to the streets in London and find out whether or not she wants to believe in the mission and be apart of it. Along the way, nothing is easy and B finds herself in immense horror.
I didn't know what to expect with this book. These books are not very long, only a little over 150 pages, so what needs to happen needs to happen and pretty quickly. Things really went till last minute to get where they needed to go, which left the rest of the book pretty dry. I did get drawn in at first but once B left the Angles, the wondering and questioning tapered off. I almost wanted to put the book down, and not finish it. I just didn't really care to know what happened in the rest of the book, I knew that I could read Gladiator and know the little details that came from this book. I know I normally complain about what I didn't like after I say what I like about the book but I wanted this to be upfront. I assume that I am not alone with feeling the slight disappointment after finishing Baby, it was almost like another filler book for the series. I have said that about one of the other books and it makes the series as a whole less appealing to me.
I did like some things though. As usual Shan's attention to detail was amazing and I loved the Baby itself. It's creepy but not as creepy as Mr. Dowling, who makes no appearance in this story. I love how the Baby was the exact one that had haunted B's dreams before she became a revitalized. The painter, Timothy comes back for a short while, and I did like him from the first time he was introduced. Though that happiness of Timothy being back was short lived. I love how Shan doesn't stick with the usual "bad guy" stereo type. Rage shows some emotions this time around and really makes the reader look at him in a different light. Now, if Rage being emotionally is foreboding trouble from him, I got that loud and clear.
There were more things that I didn't like with this book, than I did like. I am just wondering what Shan is trying to get at with Mr. Dowling, Owl Man, Rage, B, the Baby, Dr. Oystein, and everything else. Even with how this book went I do recommend it to those who want a little more relaxed zombie book. There is only one big zombie eating scene. This series up till now has had it's ups and downs since I began to read. It is marked as a "Teen" book but adults could read this and get a kick from it as well. I own the first book and I really want to see how the series plays out before I decide whether or not I want to get the whole series or just the books I like.
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Page Count: 160 pages (hardcover)
Price: $15
Next Book: Either Zom-B Glatiator by Darren Shan or The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe by Annette Blair.
Thank you so much for reading!
~Jade
Being with the Angles for the past few months has been pretty awesome for B. They want to rid the evil dead from Earth, starting with what is around them. Though their mission isn't as simple as that. It is quite complicated, and B isn't sure that she wants to be apart of it all. So after a little pep talk she decides to go to the streets in London and find out whether or not she wants to believe in the mission and be apart of it. Along the way, nothing is easy and B finds herself in immense horror.
I didn't know what to expect with this book. These books are not very long, only a little over 150 pages, so what needs to happen needs to happen and pretty quickly. Things really went till last minute to get where they needed to go, which left the rest of the book pretty dry. I did get drawn in at first but once B left the Angles, the wondering and questioning tapered off. I almost wanted to put the book down, and not finish it. I just didn't really care to know what happened in the rest of the book, I knew that I could read Gladiator and know the little details that came from this book. I know I normally complain about what I didn't like after I say what I like about the book but I wanted this to be upfront. I assume that I am not alone with feeling the slight disappointment after finishing Baby, it was almost like another filler book for the series. I have said that about one of the other books and it makes the series as a whole less appealing to me.
I did like some things though. As usual Shan's attention to detail was amazing and I loved the Baby itself. It's creepy but not as creepy as Mr. Dowling, who makes no appearance in this story. I love how the Baby was the exact one that had haunted B's dreams before she became a revitalized. The painter, Timothy comes back for a short while, and I did like him from the first time he was introduced. Though that happiness of Timothy being back was short lived. I love how Shan doesn't stick with the usual "bad guy" stereo type. Rage shows some emotions this time around and really makes the reader look at him in a different light. Now, if Rage being emotionally is foreboding trouble from him, I got that loud and clear.
There were more things that I didn't like with this book, than I did like. I am just wondering what Shan is trying to get at with Mr. Dowling, Owl Man, Rage, B, the Baby, Dr. Oystein, and everything else. Even with how this book went I do recommend it to those who want a little more relaxed zombie book. There is only one big zombie eating scene. This series up till now has had it's ups and downs since I began to read. It is marked as a "Teen" book but adults could read this and get a kick from it as well. I own the first book and I really want to see how the series plays out before I decide whether or not I want to get the whole series or just the books I like.
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Page Count: 160 pages (hardcover)
Price: $15
Next Book: Either Zom-B Glatiator by Darren Shan or The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe by Annette Blair.
Thank you so much for reading!
~Jade
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Soulbound by Heather Brewer
Soulbound is the first book in the Legacy of Tril. There will be a second book, but it is going to be released as a ebook in the US. There is no talk yet of it being an actual book-book, but I am going to keep my fingers crossed because I do not own anything for ebooks, sadly. The release time is Fall 2015, so it is not too far away for those of you who are waiting. I hope everyone enjoys!
In Tril there are Barrons, Healers, and Unskilled. Barrons and Healers are bound together, for both are born at the same exact time. Healers do exactly as they are named, heal, and Barrons are to fight. Kaya isn't to keen on this idea, with being a Healer. She wants to be able to protect herself and anyone else who needs it. She is demanded to come to the Shadow Academy where it is against Protocol for Healers to fight, so in secret she learns. There is a war going on against the Graplar King, a man who uses the Graplars to kill. The poor Unskilled have no clue as to what is going on around them.
I have so many feels for Kaya, she is sixteen and has the weight of the world on her shoulders. She handles everything pretty well for her age and I applaud that. Being sucked in from page one I devoured this book to say the least. For being a 'Teen' book, it was a pretty damn good one. Brewer does not give too much detail as to body build, facial structure, height, and things of this nature. Of course you know that people (Barrons) are going to be pretty fit because they are training to fight, and have been for a good portion of their life. I do and don't like this. I like it because it leaves more up to the imagination, and the reader gets to have their own input in the story. There are some details put in just not a lot. I will say why I don't like this later on as usual. There is a bit of romance between Kaya and Trayton, the guy that she gets bound to not too long after entering Shadow Academy. Life there isn't too great for Kaya and the bits of romance help to calm things after you get ticked off right along side Kaya, because of people at Shadow Academy. For me there really wasn't a dull moment, something was always happening or being hinted toward. A lot of it wasn't crazy fast paced, which helped out because I didn't feel overwhelmed with everything going on. I know before I have said that I didn't like this but with Soulbound it balanced out nicely. You expect things to always be happening because of the war with the Graplar King, and the lurking Graplars. Soulbound isn't too predictable, but there are a few things that you may or may not guess some details to. Something else that I loved but by far not the last is the insert about Brewer at the end. "She was inspired by her daughter to write the Legacy of Tril series because the world needs more girls who can stand up for themselves always and kick some butt when necessary." I whole heartedly agree with this, because when necessary I believe that women should stand up for themselves and what they believe in.
As to why I don't like the lack of detail is because I like to picture the characters, and how the authors pictured them or described them. Now I am not too upset about this, to the point that it ruined my view of the book. I just had to get used to it after having every other book describe everything for me. Per usual I am miffed about the ending because it is the biggest cliff hanger and realization for three characters. I didn't see it coming though I thought something like it would happen. *SPOILER-ALERT* Kaya was told that her Soulbound Barron had perished, straight away you know that maybe that isn't true from the way that it is told to her. And the ending lets you know the truth for that but not why. *SPOILER-ENDED* I don't have anything else that I didn't like, I really enjoyed this book through and through.
Definitely do I recommend this to everyone, not just teens. There is so much more to this book, and I really enjoyed reading it. Brewer has a way of telling a story that really does draw you in. I want to own this book and any other books that may follow it. I can definitely see myself reading it over a few times and not getting bored with it. I will say that with the second book being published by a different company I am hoping that not too many things change. I do know sometimes an author has to change their original plans for their books once one company has published one book under their name, and another is going to pick up the rest of the books. Once there is a specific release date I will be sure to say something SO LONG as there are other books that I want to review coming out. Otherwise I will make a quick note in a review to come, so be sure to look out for that.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Page Count: 394 (hardcover)
Price: $17.99
Next Book: Zom-B Baby by Darren Shan
Thank you so much for reading!
~Jade
In Tril there are Barrons, Healers, and Unskilled. Barrons and Healers are bound together, for both are born at the same exact time. Healers do exactly as they are named, heal, and Barrons are to fight. Kaya isn't to keen on this idea, with being a Healer. She wants to be able to protect herself and anyone else who needs it. She is demanded to come to the Shadow Academy where it is against Protocol for Healers to fight, so in secret she learns. There is a war going on against the Graplar King, a man who uses the Graplars to kill. The poor Unskilled have no clue as to what is going on around them.
I have so many feels for Kaya, she is sixteen and has the weight of the world on her shoulders. She handles everything pretty well for her age and I applaud that. Being sucked in from page one I devoured this book to say the least. For being a 'Teen' book, it was a pretty damn good one. Brewer does not give too much detail as to body build, facial structure, height, and things of this nature. Of course you know that people (Barrons) are going to be pretty fit because they are training to fight, and have been for a good portion of their life. I do and don't like this. I like it because it leaves more up to the imagination, and the reader gets to have their own input in the story. There are some details put in just not a lot. I will say why I don't like this later on as usual. There is a bit of romance between Kaya and Trayton, the guy that she gets bound to not too long after entering Shadow Academy. Life there isn't too great for Kaya and the bits of romance help to calm things after you get ticked off right along side Kaya, because of people at Shadow Academy. For me there really wasn't a dull moment, something was always happening or being hinted toward. A lot of it wasn't crazy fast paced, which helped out because I didn't feel overwhelmed with everything going on. I know before I have said that I didn't like this but with Soulbound it balanced out nicely. You expect things to always be happening because of the war with the Graplar King, and the lurking Graplars. Soulbound isn't too predictable, but there are a few things that you may or may not guess some details to. Something else that I loved but by far not the last is the insert about Brewer at the end. "She was inspired by her daughter to write the Legacy of Tril series because the world needs more girls who can stand up for themselves always and kick some butt when necessary." I whole heartedly agree with this, because when necessary I believe that women should stand up for themselves and what they believe in.
As to why I don't like the lack of detail is because I like to picture the characters, and how the authors pictured them or described them. Now I am not too upset about this, to the point that it ruined my view of the book. I just had to get used to it after having every other book describe everything for me. Per usual I am miffed about the ending because it is the biggest cliff hanger and realization for three characters. I didn't see it coming though I thought something like it would happen. *SPOILER-ALERT* Kaya was told that her Soulbound Barron had perished, straight away you know that maybe that isn't true from the way that it is told to her. And the ending lets you know the truth for that but not why. *SPOILER-ENDED* I don't have anything else that I didn't like, I really enjoyed this book through and through.
Definitely do I recommend this to everyone, not just teens. There is so much more to this book, and I really enjoyed reading it. Brewer has a way of telling a story that really does draw you in. I want to own this book and any other books that may follow it. I can definitely see myself reading it over a few times and not getting bored with it. I will say that with the second book being published by a different company I am hoping that not too many things change. I do know sometimes an author has to change their original plans for their books once one company has published one book under their name, and another is going to pick up the rest of the books. Once there is a specific release date I will be sure to say something SO LONG as there are other books that I want to review coming out. Otherwise I will make a quick note in a review to come, so be sure to look out for that.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Page Count: 394 (hardcover)
Price: $17.99
Next Book: Zom-B Baby by Darren Shan
Thank you so much for reading!
~Jade
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