2011, Hyperion
I am still enjoying this series very much. Chima has managed to continue the characters in the Seven Realms series and added to the depth of most of them. The plot developments continue to engage the reader.
In The Gray Wolf Throne, the action picks up as Raisa ana'Marianna is hiding in Fetters Ford trying to stay hidden from her various enemies and survive long enough to return home. She hope to return to the capital city, Fellsmarch, and reunite with her mother, the queen. Raisa has reached the understanding that she and her mother together may have the combined skills necessary for a successful reign.
The rest of the book is an exciting quest as Raisa, Han, and Amon work together and separately trying to return to Fellsmarch and return Raisa to the line of accession to the Gray Wolf Throne. As always there is a wonderful combination of wizardry, woodsman-ship, military, and street-smarts. Every moment of reading is a pleasure and in many parts thrilling enough to get the reader's blood racing.
I am adding "gaming" as a tag for this book. I believe that students (and adults) who enjoy the role playing games will enjoy this book. It is one that I would recommend to any reader who enjoys quest based games.
I'm just beginning my semester so life is about to get busy. I am number eight on the wait list for the next, and final book in the series, The Crimson Crown. I will need to work hard the next few weeks so that when my name comes up I can put work aside to read.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Monday, January 14, 2013
Bone Bed, by Patricia Cornwell
2012
I am a devoted Cornwell reader, but was concerned by early reviews of her book. Consequently I used my Nook "read for free" option for this book. I'm afraid that I agree with the early reviews.
This began as a typical (and enjoyable) Scarpetta book. I was enjoying exploring her new offices and catching up with the other characters' lives in this repertoire series. Unfortunately the ending of the book was very unsatisfying. I think all the pieces were in place to have a typical race-to-the-finish ending, but it wasn't delivered. Cornwell finished the book most abruptly. It almost feels as if she had hit her publisher's deadline and tied it all up as quickly as possible.
I hope that the next Scarpetta book is finished a little more carefully. I will look for early reviews before I decide whether or not to purchase it.
Have you read this? I'd love to hear from my followers to see if I was alone in my disappointment. Leave a comment!
I am a devoted Cornwell reader, but was concerned by early reviews of her book. Consequently I used my Nook "read for free" option for this book. I'm afraid that I agree with the early reviews.
This began as a typical (and enjoyable) Scarpetta book. I was enjoying exploring her new offices and catching up with the other characters' lives in this repertoire series. Unfortunately the ending of the book was very unsatisfying. I think all the pieces were in place to have a typical race-to-the-finish ending, but it wasn't delivered. Cornwell finished the book most abruptly. It almost feels as if she had hit her publisher's deadline and tied it all up as quickly as possible.
I hope that the next Scarpetta book is finished a little more carefully. I will look for early reviews before I decide whether or not to purchase it.
Have you read this? I'd love to hear from my followers to see if I was alone in my disappointment. Leave a comment!
Eighth Grade Bites: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod #1, by Heather Brewer
This is a really refreshing story of an adolescent vampire, Vladimir, who is living with his human aunt and attending a human junior high school. It is a engaging read and offers a humorous look at a vampire surrounded by normies. Brewer keeps the reading going by adding a substitute teacher who appears to be possibly a dangerous "special powers" being. Readers want to continue reading to see if Mr. Otis is good or bad guy and to solve the mystery of his vampire father's life and death.
Unfortunately this book seems to be out of print. It is still possible to get the boxed set. I listened to it thanks to our library's audio book collection. There are graphic novels based on this book available.
The school library reviewer was not necessarily been kind to Brewer in his review of this first book, however Publisher's Weekly and Kirkus were more kind. My sense is that many junior high/middle school students would enjoy it. The humor will appeal to many of them. It is relatively uncomplicated, but offers an interesting look at a different interpretation of vampires within human society. I see great possibilities of contrasting the characterization of Vlad in this book and juxtaposing it with vampires in Twilight, Team Human,or The Mortal Instruments. I offers rich possibilities for exploration of both character development and mood/tone within literature.
As a devoted vampire literature reader, I also appreciate the many allusions to the traditions of vampire literature. Thus, it creates an opportunity to introduce students to a large literary community and literary analysis.
Unfortunately this book seems to be out of print. It is still possible to get the boxed set. I listened to it thanks to our library's audio book collection. There are graphic novels based on this book available.
The school library reviewer was not necessarily been kind to Brewer in his review of this first book, however Publisher's Weekly and Kirkus were more kind. My sense is that many junior high/middle school students would enjoy it. The humor will appeal to many of them. It is relatively uncomplicated, but offers an interesting look at a different interpretation of vampires within human society. I see great possibilities of contrasting the characterization of Vlad in this book and juxtaposing it with vampires in Twilight, Team Human,or The Mortal Instruments. I offers rich possibilities for exploration of both character development and mood/tone within literature.
As a devoted vampire literature reader, I also appreciate the many allusions to the traditions of vampire literature. Thus, it creates an opportunity to introduce students to a large literary community and literary analysis.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Cold Days: A Novel of the Dresden Files, by Jim Butcher
2012, ROC
My son and I read the Dresden Files books as they arrive. I saved this one for his Christmas present. He finished it in 3 days as did I (even while I was leveling up in WOW).
My son perhaps said it best "Everything you'd want in a Dresden book."
It is filled with magic and feats of daring combined with thoughtful explorations of motivations and politics. It is also infused with humor. Butcher is one of the few authors who continues to surprise me. My son agreed--we were both caught off-guard by the ending. I won't spoil it, but if you are able to anticipate what is to happen I will award you a badge of foresight.
This is a book I would easily recommend to adolescents. It particularly will fit students who are drawn to fantasy/adventure and quest literature. It could easily be used in coordination with game-based learning. There had been a video game (RPG) version as well as a one season television series. He also had a series of comic books based on the Dresden characters. For you graphic novel/comics students this would be a leveling up.
Why am I such a fan? First, Butcher himself has a great take on becoming a writer and the work ethic necessary to reach goals. Anyone who needs "inspiration" should look at what Butcher says about these topics. Secondly, Butcher has extremely complex characters. Although good and evil are at constant war, most of his developed characters have a mix. It is excellent character development and can help adolescents and young adults explore roles and decisions. Finally there is Harry Dresden himself. He's funny, in a way that will appeal to many readers, especially adolescent and young adult males. But, as a mature woman I can also appreciate the humor.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Butcher suggests that he's hoping for 23 books in the series. Cold Days is #14. I'll try and be patient while waiting. Maybe I'll try one of the comics to tide me over. But, I have a reading assignment--look for A Confederacy of Dunces in my next review. (My book club's choice.)
My son and I read the Dresden Files books as they arrive. I saved this one for his Christmas present. He finished it in 3 days as did I (even while I was leveling up in WOW).
My son perhaps said it best "Everything you'd want in a Dresden book."
It is filled with magic and feats of daring combined with thoughtful explorations of motivations and politics. It is also infused with humor. Butcher is one of the few authors who continues to surprise me. My son agreed--we were both caught off-guard by the ending. I won't spoil it, but if you are able to anticipate what is to happen I will award you a badge of foresight.
This is a book I would easily recommend to adolescents. It particularly will fit students who are drawn to fantasy/adventure and quest literature. It could easily be used in coordination with game-based learning. There had been a video game (RPG) version as well as a one season television series. He also had a series of comic books based on the Dresden characters. For you graphic novel/comics students this would be a leveling up.
Why am I such a fan? First, Butcher himself has a great take on becoming a writer and the work ethic necessary to reach goals. Anyone who needs "inspiration" should look at what Butcher says about these topics. Secondly, Butcher has extremely complex characters. Although good and evil are at constant war, most of his developed characters have a mix. It is excellent character development and can help adolescents and young adults explore roles and decisions. Finally there is Harry Dresden himself. He's funny, in a way that will appeal to many readers, especially adolescent and young adult males. But, as a mature woman I can also appreciate the humor.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Butcher suggests that he's hoping for 23 books in the series. Cold Days is #14. I'll try and be patient while waiting. Maybe I'll try one of the comics to tide me over. But, I have a reading assignment--look for A Confederacy of Dunces in my next review. (My book club's choice.)
Friday, December 28, 2012
The Exiled Queen, by Cinda Williams Chima
I continue to enjoy this series, The Seven Realms. It is fantasy with a medieval setting. Lots of horses and a feudal sort of society. Political intrigue and a struggle to retain/grasp power in the Seven Realms is the unfolding story. Although the plot line is familiar to fantasy readers, Chima does a nice job of making the story fresh with engaging characters who have enough development to keep sophisticated readers engaged.
The queen-to-be, Princess Raisa, has gone undercover to escape a planned marriage (I'm going to try and avoid spoiling the plot line of the first book, The Demon King. Meanwhile, the other major characters Han Alister, Hayden Fire Dancer, Amon Byrne, and Micha Bayar all end up together with Raisa (in disguise as Rebecca Morley) at the magic and military schools at Oden's Ford.
The love triangle (or is in a quadrangle?) between Raisa, Han and Amon continues with "doomed" love between them all. The fourth in the mix is Micha Bayar and he continues to play a part in the connection between the young protagonists in the book.
Of course there is magic involved. Han, Fire Dancer, and Micha are gifted magicians while Raisa and Amon are not. Much of the plot that keeps the reader going is how Han is learning about his magic and dealing with other magicians who would like to use him for their own purposes. Han has the Demon King's amulet as his magic "piece." The implication is that he is the heir to the Demon King's great powers. The Bayar's would like to regain the piece and its power.
While Han is learning about his magic, Raisa is learning about fighting and how to lead her country. There is a sort of "King Arthur" flavor to her learning about her kingdom in the role of a citizen rather than leader.
I will be finishing the series and will let you know if it falters. Otherwise, assume that I still find it worth recommending to young readers who enjoy fantasy. I think it would be a great recommendation to young adults who play World of Warcraft of League of Legends. The plot/settings will resonate with the video games they play and will encourage some reading.
The queen-to-be, Princess Raisa, has gone undercover to escape a planned marriage (I'm going to try and avoid spoiling the plot line of the first book, The Demon King. Meanwhile, the other major characters Han Alister, Hayden Fire Dancer, Amon Byrne, and Micha Bayar all end up together with Raisa (in disguise as Rebecca Morley) at the magic and military schools at Oden's Ford.
The love triangle (or is in a quadrangle?) between Raisa, Han and Amon continues with "doomed" love between them all. The fourth in the mix is Micha Bayar and he continues to play a part in the connection between the young protagonists in the book.
Of course there is magic involved. Han, Fire Dancer, and Micha are gifted magicians while Raisa and Amon are not. Much of the plot that keeps the reader going is how Han is learning about his magic and dealing with other magicians who would like to use him for their own purposes. Han has the Demon King's amulet as his magic "piece." The implication is that he is the heir to the Demon King's great powers. The Bayar's would like to regain the piece and its power.
While Han is learning about his magic, Raisa is learning about fighting and how to lead her country. There is a sort of "King Arthur" flavor to her learning about her kingdom in the role of a citizen rather than leader.
I will be finishing the series and will let you know if it falters. Otherwise, assume that I still find it worth recommending to young readers who enjoy fantasy. I think it would be a great recommendation to young adults who play World of Warcraft of League of Legends. The plot/settings will resonate with the video games they play and will encourage some reading.
Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wreded
2009, Scholastic
It pays to pick up random books at the library. One of the disadvantages of the "hold" system is that too often I just run in, pick up my holds, and leave. The stacks are a great place to be reminded of favorite authors and to make new finds.
I have been a passionate fan of Wrede's Enchanted Forest series (Dealing with Dragons etc.). I don't know how her works fell off my radar. She has three series out that I haven't read. It looks like I'll be spending some time filling in gaps in both this series (Frontier Magic) and the Regency Magic Series including Cecelia and Kate series and the Mairelon series (coauthored with Caroline Stevermer). I'm glad that I'm teaching YA lit in the spring. It will give me a good reason to explore these two series.
Wrede uses strong young women as her protagonists. In this book the main character, Eff (short for ??--Francine??--I'll fix this later!), is a twin to a 7th son of a 7th son. Her parents have managed to produce 14 children. Consequently she is number 13. Her uncle and several other family members are convinced that this is very unlucky and that she will bring doom upon all around her.
In part, because of this negativity, her parents decide to move to a college on the "frontier" where her father will teach and Eff will be freed of the negative expectations of her relatives.
Wrede has created an alternative history of the US. As I read it, she is paralleling the westward expansion in the US. The college is on the banks of the "Mammoth River" which I believe is the Mississippi. In this alternative world there is magic and Eff's father is a professor of magic at the university. It appears to me that the theme of the series relates to how cultures have combined in the US to create a new world (that is really new!, not just a salad of the cultures who have arrived here). Included is the challenge we all face with letting go of our expectations and seeing the world as it exists, rather than allowing our history to color or distort everything we see.
I am always impressed with Wrede's narrative skills. She slowly reveals the truth of her characters but keeps the reader going with "action" that intrigues. This is going to be a book I recommend to readers as a way to examine the "truth" of history. Although Wrede's world is fantasy, the alternative historical plot offers readers the opportunity to consider the truth of history. History is too often told by the "victor" and there are always alternative versions. Eff is a character that helps us consider how the "victors" in the US have perhaps overlooked some of the important elements of American History. She even throws in some gentle criticism of science and scientists.
A secondary theme that I suspect Wrede is exploring in this series is related to the magics that are present in the world. There are Aphrikan, Hirjer-Cathayan, and Avrupan magic traditions. I'll admit that it took me a while to do the phonics and understand that these might be considered African, Japanese-Chinese, and European magics. Regardless, Wrede does a good job of helping readers consider the value of embracing difference in any area of study (or world views).
I'll get back to you as I read the other books in this series.
It pays to pick up random books at the library. One of the disadvantages of the "hold" system is that too often I just run in, pick up my holds, and leave. The stacks are a great place to be reminded of favorite authors and to make new finds.
I have been a passionate fan of Wrede's Enchanted Forest series (Dealing with Dragons etc.). I don't know how her works fell off my radar. She has three series out that I haven't read. It looks like I'll be spending some time filling in gaps in both this series (Frontier Magic) and the Regency Magic Series including Cecelia and Kate series and the Mairelon series (coauthored with Caroline Stevermer). I'm glad that I'm teaching YA lit in the spring. It will give me a good reason to explore these two series.
Wrede uses strong young women as her protagonists. In this book the main character, Eff (short for ??--Francine??--I'll fix this later!), is a twin to a 7th son of a 7th son. Her parents have managed to produce 14 children. Consequently she is number 13. Her uncle and several other family members are convinced that this is very unlucky and that she will bring doom upon all around her.
In part, because of this negativity, her parents decide to move to a college on the "frontier" where her father will teach and Eff will be freed of the negative expectations of her relatives.
Wrede has created an alternative history of the US. As I read it, she is paralleling the westward expansion in the US. The college is on the banks of the "Mammoth River" which I believe is the Mississippi. In this alternative world there is magic and Eff's father is a professor of magic at the university. It appears to me that the theme of the series relates to how cultures have combined in the US to create a new world (that is really new!, not just a salad of the cultures who have arrived here). Included is the challenge we all face with letting go of our expectations and seeing the world as it exists, rather than allowing our history to color or distort everything we see.
I am always impressed with Wrede's narrative skills. She slowly reveals the truth of her characters but keeps the reader going with "action" that intrigues. This is going to be a book I recommend to readers as a way to examine the "truth" of history. Although Wrede's world is fantasy, the alternative historical plot offers readers the opportunity to consider the truth of history. History is too often told by the "victor" and there are always alternative versions. Eff is a character that helps us consider how the "victors" in the US have perhaps overlooked some of the important elements of American History. She even throws in some gentle criticism of science and scientists.
A secondary theme that I suspect Wrede is exploring in this series is related to the magics that are present in the world. There are Aphrikan, Hirjer-Cathayan, and Avrupan magic traditions. I'll admit that it took me a while to do the phonics and understand that these might be considered African, Japanese-Chinese, and European magics. Regardless, Wrede does a good job of helping readers consider the value of embracing difference in any area of study (or world views).
I'll get back to you as I read the other books in this series.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Drain You, by M. Beth Bloom
2012
This is one of the titles I learned about through "bookbub," an online notification system for value priced E-books. I've had relatively mixed results with this service. Some of the books are good reads, others not really worth the 0-4 dollars you pay for them.
I'm happy to recommend that this title as a promising new young adult series. It is about vampires but I find the characters and their development very intriguing and something innovative within the genre. The main character, Quinn, comes from a family of privilege in the Los Angeles area and is working part time as a punk/Goth/grunge clerk in a video rental store. (An element which is likely to date this book, in a few years readers are not going to remember what video rental stores were.) It took me a little while to become accustomed to Quinn's voice, but once I developed some hypotheses about how to read, I began to really appreciate her as a unique character.
Of course, Quinn falls for a vampire even though she has a very solid respectable young man who would like to be romantically involved with her. James, her vampire love interest, actually has a brother and sister with whom he lives. Set in the privileged, urban-punk/grunge milieu I can't really speak to the authenticity of the culture of that Bloom portrays. However, I can accept it as believable. I do wish that parents were not portrayed as quite so neglectful. Quinn's parents are preoccupied with their social events, although they are present and do seem to support and care for Quinn. Other parents in the book seem to have gone missing. James' parents are relatively famous anthropologists out on a "dig."
Bloom it is just beginning her career as a writer. As far as I can tell, this is her first published book. Although some have been critical about her character development, style, and plot development; I think that this will appeal to many young adult paranormal romance readers. She became relatively explicit about sexual encounters between Quinn and James. As a result, I cannot recommend this to all young adults (I would have to be selective and warn them about some brief "PG-16" scenes). However, even though the intercourse but is portrayed in some detail I don't believe it reaches unacceptable levels for mature adolescents. The parties that Quinn attends also include quite a bit of alcohol consumption and drug use is mentioned but not directly portrayed.
This is one of the titles I learned about through "bookbub," an online notification system for value priced E-books. I've had relatively mixed results with this service. Some of the books are good reads, others not really worth the 0-4 dollars you pay for them.
I'm happy to recommend that this title as a promising new young adult series. It is about vampires but I find the characters and their development very intriguing and something innovative within the genre. The main character, Quinn, comes from a family of privilege in the Los Angeles area and is working part time as a punk/Goth/grunge clerk in a video rental store. (An element which is likely to date this book, in a few years readers are not going to remember what video rental stores were.) It took me a little while to become accustomed to Quinn's voice, but once I developed some hypotheses about how to read, I began to really appreciate her as a unique character.
Of course, Quinn falls for a vampire even though she has a very solid respectable young man who would like to be romantically involved with her. James, her vampire love interest, actually has a brother and sister with whom he lives. Set in the privileged, urban-punk/grunge milieu I can't really speak to the authenticity of the culture of that Bloom portrays. However, I can accept it as believable. I do wish that parents were not portrayed as quite so neglectful. Quinn's parents are preoccupied with their social events, although they are present and do seem to support and care for Quinn. Other parents in the book seem to have gone missing. James' parents are relatively famous anthropologists out on a "dig."
Bloom it is just beginning her career as a writer. As far as I can tell, this is her first published book. Although some have been critical about her character development, style, and plot development; I think that this will appeal to many young adult paranormal romance readers. She became relatively explicit about sexual encounters between Quinn and James. As a result, I cannot recommend this to all young adults (I would have to be selective and warn them about some brief "PG-16" scenes). However, even though the intercourse but is portrayed in some detail I don't believe it reaches unacceptable levels for mature adolescents. The parties that Quinn attends also include quite a bit of alcohol consumption and drug use is mentioned but not directly portrayed.
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