I'm not a gamer, but I still liked this creative virtual-reality-game-gone-wrong story from Velde. For her birthday, Giannine receives a gift certificate to a game arcade from her father, who's more out of the picture than in it. The gaming center is surrounded by protesters, who think fantasy and role playing are corrupting the youth. Giannine goes in anyway and starts to play "Heir Apparent," a game where the player has just been named the next king and has to survive till coronation. A few minutes into her first try, Giannine is informed that the protesters have damaged her gaming equipment. She must win the game in the next three hours or her brain will be cooked and she will die.
Despite the desperate situation she's in, Giannine remains funny and resourceful. You'll be laughing even while agonizing about whether she'll survive. It's a great book.
Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts
The Exiled Queen by Chima
Princess Raisa has escaped the kingdom with her guards and is on her way to warrior school to see the real world before she has to rule it. Her mother is in the power of the High Wizard, who's son wants to marry Raisa and become king. By the way, the son's at the school too. To top it off, she's dealing with impending civil war, a complicated love-hate relationship with her guard captain, and a wicked sense of homesickness. Nothing seems to be going well for her.
Han Alister has his share of troubles, too. His family and friends were killed by the High Wizard, he just found out he's a wizard, and he's been hired by the mountain clans as a sort of magical hit man. Coupled with the fact that the High Wizard's extended family is trying to kill him and a mysterious magical genius is possessing him, Han doesn't sleep well these days.
This book is a sequel to The Demon King. While bits of it are interesting, for the most part it seems like one of those books authors write in between the action - sort of like Tolkein's Two Towers (except not so boring) or Myer's New Moon (except not so horrible). I have a feeling the next one's going to be great, but this one didn't shine particularly bright on its own.
Han Alister has his share of troubles, too. His family and friends were killed by the High Wizard, he just found out he's a wizard, and he's been hired by the mountain clans as a sort of magical hit man. Coupled with the fact that the High Wizard's extended family is trying to kill him and a mysterious magical genius is possessing him, Han doesn't sleep well these days.
This book is a sequel to The Demon King. While bits of it are interesting, for the most part it seems like one of those books authors write in between the action - sort of like Tolkein's Two Towers (except not so boring) or Myer's New Moon (except not so horrible). I have a feeling the next one's going to be great, but this one didn't shine particularly bright on its own.
Fallen by Kate
Luce, short for Lucinda, has some problems. Other than seeing things and watching a boy she kissed burst into flame last summer, she has to deal with her new school, which is more like a jail for crazy teenagers. There she meets Cam and Daniel. Cam is attentive and sweet. Daniel is the poster boy for mixed signals. Luce is crazy for Daniel and feels like they've known each other before. A classic love triangle with some weird Milton "Paradise Lost" elements thrown in. It wasn't bad, but a whole lot of agonizing over which boy to choose. It got a little old.
Wicked Lovely by Marr
Aislinn has "the sight." She sees fairies. They're on the streets, in the pool hall, and definitely in the woods. What's more, they're mean, malicious, and sometimes scary. Aislinn knows the rules - don't look at them, don't talk to them, and stick to places with iron where they can't get you. That's part of the reason she hangs out with Seth, who lives in a converted train. The other reason is that Aislinn is crazy in love with him, but she's sure that's out of the question.
When Aislinn is stalked by two insistent fairies, one of whom is the Summer King, suddenly her precious rules don't apply. They follow her, manipulate the people she loves, and mess with her life. Once the truth comes to light, Aislinn's world is going to get a lot more complicated.
A bit gritty in places, this fairy story does a lot of things right. Marr did her homework before she wrote it, so there's a lot of authentic fairy lore in here. If you can get past the more complicated and lurid relationships, the book is pretty good.
When Aislinn is stalked by two insistent fairies, one of whom is the Summer King, suddenly her precious rules don't apply. They follow her, manipulate the people she loves, and mess with her life. Once the truth comes to light, Aislinn's world is going to get a lot more complicated.
A bit gritty in places, this fairy story does a lot of things right. Marr did her homework before she wrote it, so there's a lot of authentic fairy lore in here. If you can get past the more complicated and lurid relationships, the book is pretty good.
Need by Carrie Jones
After the death of Zara's beloved step-father, her mom ships her off to her step-grandmother's house in Maine, where apparently everyone is a crazy fast runner. There she is stalked by a mysterious man who leaves gold dust. She also becomes friends with a crazy fast runner/hottie who, it turns out, is a werewolf. The stalker is NOT a vampire (sorry Twilight fans), but a fairy king with "needs." See, he's queenless and unless Zara consents to accept the job, he's going to eat teenaged boys. Oh, and did I mention the fairy king is actually Zara's father? And that grandma is a werewolf (weretiger, actually) too? And so was dead old daddy dearest?
So other than the novel being based on a mythological Jerry Springer show, the fact that the heroine is a MORON definitely makes this a book to skip. She's that girl in the horror films that keeps doing stupid things and then wonders why she almost gets killed every other page. Bleah.
So other than the novel being based on a mythological Jerry Springer show, the fact that the heroine is a MORON definitely makes this a book to skip. She's that girl in the horror films that keeps doing stupid things and then wonders why she almost gets killed every other page. Bleah.
Fire by Cashore
Fire is a monster. She's a girl of unspeakable, unnatural beauty and has the ability to read and control minds. Because of these gifts, life is more than usually challenging for Fire. Common people either want to marry her or kill her. Those in power seek to use her. In a country where three different factions fight for control, Fire's very existence is a threat. When Fire is convinced to travel to the capital to help the king interrogate spies, Fire starts to believe in her ability to help her country and the need for her to do so.
Not quite as good as Graceling, Fire is still an interesting adventure. The character of Fire is complex, but, by the end, the family relationships are as convoluted as those on a Jerry Springer show.
Not quite as good as Graceling, Fire is still an interesting adventure. The character of Fire is complex, but, by the end, the family relationships are as convoluted as those on a Jerry Springer show.
The Iron King by Kagawa
Meghan Chase's 16th birthday is anything but ordinary. There's no cake, no car, no driver's license. Instead, her sweet little brother is swapped out with a faery demon, her best friend reveals himself to be a mythical creature, and Meghan learns her dad isn't a pig farmer, but a faery king. Meghan also wins a one-way ticket to the Nevernever, the land of faeries. There she must brave the weird and wild to rescue her brother and exchange him for the changeling at home.
I feel like this book didn't meet it's potential. The story's pretty good, the characters okay, but the romance is totally improbable. In the hands of a better publisher/editor, this book could really shine. Unfortunately, Harlequin Teen isn't exactly Harcourt Classics. My favorite part of this first novel is the depiction of the Nevernever. The descriptions are totally captivating.
I feel like this book didn't meet it's potential. The story's pretty good, the characters okay, but the romance is totally improbable. In the hands of a better publisher/editor, this book could really shine. Unfortunately, Harlequin Teen isn't exactly Harcourt Classics. My favorite part of this first novel is the depiction of the Nevernever. The descriptions are totally captivating.
The Mortal Instruments Series by Clare
Clary is at a New York dance club, grooving away with her friend Simon when she sees three strange teenagers marked with glittering tattoos attack and kill a boy in the back room of the club. Unlike a normal boy, however, the body disappears in a puff of black smoke. The three tattooed teens are shocked that Clary can see them - as Shadowhunters, hunters of rogue monsters, they should be invisible to mortals.
Clary, though, is no mere mortal. She doesn't know it, but she has a Shadowhunter heritage generations long. When Clary's mother is taken by monsters, Clary teams up with the Shadowhunters to save her. Her journey causes her to question reality, family, and every relationship she values. Clary's character takes a while to grow on you. The strangeness of some of the relationships in the book might be a turn-off for more conservative readers, but if you liked Harry Potter and Twilight, you'll probably enjoy this series.
Clary, though, is no mere mortal. She doesn't know it, but she has a Shadowhunter heritage generations long. When Clary's mother is taken by monsters, Clary teams up with the Shadowhunters to save her. Her journey causes her to question reality, family, and every relationship she values. Clary's character takes a while to grow on you. The strangeness of some of the relationships in the book might be a turn-off for more conservative readers, but if you liked Harry Potter and Twilight, you'll probably enjoy this series.
Graceling by Cashore
Graceling is Cashore's first book and it's honestly fantastic. In this fantasy world, certain individuals are graced, or given special abilities. Some may be amazing bakers. Some may hold their breath for an impossibly long time. Katsa's grace is killing. She's been able to kill a grown man with her bare hands since she was 8. Her uncle, the king, puts Katsa to work as his thug.
But Katsa is not just a killer. She and some friends create a resistance movement and fight against the stupidity and brutality of kings. Through her work for the resistance, Katsa meets Po, a graceling prince with amazing fighting abilities. The two develop a fierce friendship and eventually embark on a dangerous quest together.
All of the characters in the book are extremely well developed and believable. The action is intense, the plot enjoyable, and the themes of self-mastery and identity poignant. I was sincerely sorry to reach the last page. I hope Cashore keeps writing.
But Katsa is not just a killer. She and some friends create a resistance movement and fight against the stupidity and brutality of kings. Through her work for the resistance, Katsa meets Po, a graceling prince with amazing fighting abilities. The two develop a fierce friendship and eventually embark on a dangerous quest together.
All of the characters in the book are extremely well developed and believable. The action is intense, the plot enjoyable, and the themes of self-mastery and identity poignant. I was sincerely sorry to reach the last page. I hope Cashore keeps writing.
The Warrior Heir by Chima
This book, the first of The Heir series, is also Chima's first novel. It's an impressive work with likeable characters, lots of action, and an interesting twist on the world of wizards and magic. Jack is a high school boy who has to take medicine every day to avoid dying. Or so he thinks. When he forgets to take his meds before soccer tryouts, Jack discovers he has superhuman strength, something that his medicine was designed to suppress.
With the help of his friends and a crazy aunt, Jack discovers he is part of a secret magical world that's ruled by battling houses of wizards. Both houses gain control by pitting warriors against each other. The house with the winning warrior ruled until the next battle. Jack is a warrior, destined to fight or die for his house. Or is he? All of the books in this series are fabulous. Chima is definitely an author on the rise.
With the help of his friends and a crazy aunt, Jack discovers he is part of a secret magical world that's ruled by battling houses of wizards. Both houses gain control by pitting warriors against each other. The house with the winning warrior ruled until the next battle. Jack is a warrior, destined to fight or die for his house. Or is he? All of the books in this series are fabulous. Chima is definitely an author on the rise.
Sabriel by Garth Nix
After reading Shade's Children by Nix, I decided to try out his fantasy series to see if it was any better. While it wasn't as galling as Shade's Children, Sabriel, the first in Nix's Abhorsen series, was still a bit lackluster.
The premise is interesting enough. Sabriel is the daughter of a necromancer, a sorcerer who has power to revive or defeat the dead. This necromancer, known as the Abhorsen, is special. He's kind of the zombie fighter in the "Old World." He takes malicious dead back to where they belong. Unfortunately, a powerful dead creature traps the Abhorsen in Death and it's Sabriel's job to come and rescue him.
Sabriel's character is flat and a little boring. Nix is one of those men who can't convincingly write female characters. Because she's the only person doing anything in the beginning of the book, the first 200 pages are sluggish. In fact, I didn't actually get interested until the appearance of Touchstone, the main male character. He, at least, sounded like an actual person.
The premise is interesting enough. Sabriel is the daughter of a necromancer, a sorcerer who has power to revive or defeat the dead. This necromancer, known as the Abhorsen, is special. He's kind of the zombie fighter in the "Old World." He takes malicious dead back to where they belong. Unfortunately, a powerful dead creature traps the Abhorsen in Death and it's Sabriel's job to come and rescue him.
Sabriel's character is flat and a little boring. Nix is one of those men who can't convincingly write female characters. Because she's the only person doing anything in the beginning of the book, the first 200 pages are sluggish. In fact, I didn't actually get interested until the appearance of Touchstone, the main male character. He, at least, sounded like an actual person.
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