Okbo Lover

Okay it seems I hardly got any reading done this week. Shame on me. I’m not sure what it is, I do go through phases were reading slows down a bit and I think that’s just my brain telling me to take a break from it all and just vegetate for a moment (ie; playing facebook games for an hour, watching youtube stuff for an hour until your brain starts to empty out). So..that’s what I’ve been doing, emptying my brain of all its’ content as it’s dangerously getting full (it might explode!)

Anyway I’ve been focusing on A Vicious Circle by Mike Carey (Felix Castor no 2). I’d have to say at the moment it’s exciting and I’m pleased with how far I’ve been reading this one. It’s been pretty good and I’m halfway done and it’s so much better than the first book (refer to my review of  The Devil You Know).

Progress on Mockingjay has been slow. It’s not Gale anymore it’s bloody Peeta. Who the F is this cold blooded jackalope and what has he done with Peeta??? where was the Peeta that I knew and loved more than Katniss ever did??!!!! where the hell is he???? bring him back this instant! I’m nearing the end of this book and I’m dreading it. I already made my prediction and if I’m right I’m not going to be very happy with this book. You’ve been warned.

Okay! that’s it for now. I am going back to A Vicious Circle. It certainly fits into Halloween and the spooky rainy windy weather

Happy Halloween and here! have some chocolates!

Frostbite

The first book: Vampire Academy is recommended if you want to know what happened previously. Although Rose does summarize what happened in the first few chapters of Frostbite, it still helps to read the first one in full just so you have the understanding of the entire story.

It’s winter break at St Vladimir’s, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy’s crawling with Guardians – including Rose’s hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn’t bad enough, Rose’s tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason’s got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa’s head while she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy’s not taking any risks …. This year, St Vlad’s annual holiday ski trip is mandatory. But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price. (Taken from Amazon.ca)

As in the first book, Rose steals the show in this one again. I’d have to say I have never read a dynamic and exciting character as her. Her off comments, her toughness, and her thoughts elicited either a chuckle, or a cheer from me. I’d say Rose will be one of my favorite characters ever, and one of the most enjoyable to read.

This time around, the plot was good, although not as intriguing or mysterious as the first one. It still had its interesting moments though, and I thought the storyline with Rose and her mother was done very well. I rather like how Rose played tough, especially in front of her mom (with rather painful results) and her mom is exactly the same way. However both of them also have a soft side to them which neither will show to one another. Their relationship is awkward and they often clash because of their strong personalities and despite this, there’s a underlying deep respect. I thought Rose acted a little childish in this book though and it did get annoying in certain parts of the book. I’m glad Dimitri and her mother gave her a good telling off for her behavior however, how long it’ll take for Rose to stay that way one can never tell.

I absolutely LOVE the tension between Rose and Dimitri in this book. Wow! you can most certainly feel it and the emotions they’re feeling is plain to see. I absolutely love the way both of them are portrayed. Lissa and Christian make a great couple, although because they’re in many ways ‘perfect’ for each other, I think they’re not as exciting to read about than Rose and Dimitri. I am taking a liking to Lissa though, she’s starting to develop into her own character and not always having to hang off Rose all the time. I’m really liking the fact that she’s starting to go on her own and her personality is growing stronger. I’m hoping her character will get even more stronger in the next book.

The ending of this one was a bit of a shocker although shame on me for not seeing this one coming. I think Rose is about to overcome quite of few changes to her life. Whether that changes her personality, we’ll see in the further books to come. There’s isn’t much of a cliffhanger ending, but the particular story arc finishes and you’re basically prepared to read the next ‘episode’.

This book focuses more on Rose’s development, and it’s written well. The main plot advances just enough to keep the reader entertained yet at the same time, wanting us to keep on reading this fantastic series.

I give it a 9 out of 10.

Today’s question is: “What is the one bookish thing you would love to have, no matter the cost?”

- oh my…um…let’s see… you said one right? ok here goes:

The complete set of Jean Plaidy novels. Why?

1. They’re frakking hard to find. Even the reprinted ones.

2. I haven’t read all of them. In fact I only read one of them.

3. They remind me of my mom, and it’s a very happy memory for me.

Ever since she passed on a couple of years ago, I’ve been trying to read books she had read in the past, and I distinctly remember Jean Plaidy being one of her most favorites. I’d have to say although she didn’t share some of my interests in books (she didn’t understand my love for sci fi or fantasy but she loved the Warrior cat series!), I’ve so far liked what she read. I think it’s just another way of keeping her in my thoughts

Anyway! what’s your answer?

If you’re from the Hop thanks for stopping by! here have some pumpkin cupcakes! they’re fresh out of the oven.

The Fall

It is recommended you read The Strain before getting into this one. Events follow right after The Strain, and there’s no recall or a summary of what happened before in The Fall. Besides, if you don’t read The Strain you’re definitely missing out.

The vampiric virus unleashed in The Strain has taken over New York City. It is spreading and soon will envelop the globe. Amid the chaos, Eph Goodweather—head of the Centers for Disease Control’s team—leads a band out to stop these bloodthirsty monsters. But it may be too late. Ignited by the Master’s horrific plan, a war erupts between Old and New World vampires, each vying for control. At the center of the conflict lies a book, an ancient text that contains the vampires’ entire history . . . and their darkest secrets. Whoever finds the book can control the outcome of the war and, ultimately, the fate of us all. And it is between these warring forces that humans—powerless and vulnerable—find themselves no longer the consumers but the consumed. Though Eph understands the vampiric plague better than anyone, even he cannot protect those he loves. His ex-wife, Kelly, has been transformed into a bloodcrazed creature of the night, and now she stalks the city looking for her chance to reclaim her Dear One: Zack, Eph’s young son. With the future of humankind in the balance, Eph and his team, guided by the brilliant former professor and Holocaust survivor Abraham Setrakian and exterminator Vasiliy Fet and joined by a crew of ragtag gangsters, must combat a terror whose ultimate plan is more terrible than anyone has imagined—a fate worse than annihilation. (Taken from Amazon.ca)

I am wowed again by another fantastic book by these two authors. The action picks up where it left off and the story does take a turn for becoming more bleak. Yet the action sequences are very well written and it’s like as if you’re watching a horror movie instead of reading a horror book. There are plenty of moments that bring a chill to your spine, and moments where you’re wondering if a certain character has survived or not. There’s quite a number of cliffhanger moments making you want to read the book further. The descriptions are well done and leaves the reader to their imagination which makes the scenes more creepy and scary.

I really enjoyed the chapters in between the storyline where they focus more on Setrakian’s past. You do get a lot of questions answered and there’s more to his story than just a simple monster slayer. These parts I did like reading the most, and I wish there really was a small book just dedicated to Setrakian’s story and his life (those little chapter bits just weren’t enough for me). Zack annoyed me. Sure, he’s not over what happened with Kelly but he just ends up being stupid in the end. Yet in the climax of the book I expected something like that would happen, predictable but still fun to read.

The characters stay the same, and there are a few new additions but nothing major to change the impact of the story, despite this, be prepared for some drastic changes to the cast. I’m not sure if I’m happy with the way it ended but it does leave room for a lot more to happen. There is more blood and gore than the first book, so those who are squeamish are warned to either skip those parts or just skip the book all together as it’s more graphic and more detailed.

I’m anticipating the final book of this trilogy and I’m hoping it is every bit as good as this one and the previous one. It’s definitely a series to get into for those into horror and vampires but also for someone wanting something that’s a bit different from your typical vampiric horror. Give this trilogy a try, it’s definitely worth it.

I give it a 10 out of 10.

I know, I know. You’ve probably heard enough about Mockingjay and is probably sick of hearing all about this book. This isn’t a review though, it’s just my first thoughts on the book. So if you’re sick of it, have a cookie and move on, but if you want to sit down and listen have some cake and have a seat (watch the kitty).

I’m about 137 pages into the book and so far, it’s not what I thought it would be. Here I was, all excited, (even counting down the queue of people in line on twitter) and I have the book in my hands and started reading it. Hrm. My excitement and hype just died. I’m not sure why. It’s off to a bit of a slow start but it’s slowly building momentum. Katniss is even growing on me (I stated that I didn’t really like her as much, I was Team Peeta all the way) (still am in fact).

You know who bugs me?

Gale.

Gale; I don’t like you. Why? I don’t know but somewhere deep down inside of me you just scream “loser”. Your attempt so far at being a badass isn’t working and it’s making me dislike you more. Not to mention the fact that I think you’re a total homewrecker between Peeta and Katniss. They belong together and you’re just a bloody third wheel. On top of that, I still fail to see what Katniss sees in you? is it because you’re a total pushover and she can step on you and you’ll still lay in a puddle face down so she can step on you some more? argh go away, I really don’t like reading about you.

Perhaps he is the reason why Mockingjay isn’t doing so well with me.

Or…perhaps it’s because a great wonderful trilogy is about to come to an end and I don’t want it to.

Okay! thoughts? concerns? more dessert?

The Unusual Suspects

It is recommended you read the first book of this series: The Fairy Tale Detectives to understand the characters and plot better. The reader will have a much clearer understanding of the plot if you read the books in order.

In book two of the series, the Sisters Grimm start school at Ferryport Landing Elementary. Daphne’s lucky enough to get Snow White for a teacher—she loves little people—but poor Sabrina’s stuck with Mr. Grumpner and a class of mildly psychotic sixth graders. When Mr. Grumpner is found hanging in a spider’s web, it is up to the Grimms to find the Everafter who did it. If only Sabrina can get over her distrust of all fairy-tale folk. But how can she trust those who just might be responsible for the disappearance of her parents? (From Amazon.ca)

Very few books have managed to make me laugh. And I mean burst out laughing until your cry or until your guts hurt laugh. sure, I get a chuckle here and there from some books I’ve read in the past, but this one really got to me. I couldn’t stop laughing at some parts (the dodgeball part really did it in for me) and tears started coming down and my stomach hurt. It came to the point where I was told to keep quiet because I couldn’t stop laughing so much. I can’t remember a time where I enjoyed a book so much like this one.

The plot of this book was much better than the first one. There’s more mystery involved and with Puck, the humor is increased ten fold. Sabrina is still having a hard time adjusting and her rude behavior is still there, but whatever Puck does to her to upset her is justified in my opinion. I still find her disagreeable but I don’t dislike her as much as I did in the first book. Grandma and Daphne are still loveable as ever. The plot is certainly darker than the first one, and I like it. Although the culprit may have already been guessed, the plot still continues to be attention grabbing with some action, comedy, and magic scenes which is sure to keep the reader going.

The illustrations also add a nice visual stimuli for the reader, and I thought they were well done. The last drawing was a little creepy and gave me a bit of a chill but the way the ending was written, it certainly got me curious and I’m definitely going to continue reading this series. There is still the unanswered question regarding Daphne and Sabrina’s parents which I think is the main problem they’re trying to solve while other mysteries pop up in their way.

An extremely fun read, with lots of laughs, a lot of fun magic and mystery. This book is definitely recommended for all ages who love fairy tales and don’t mind a little twist to them. (Think Shrek). I wonder if others have laughed as much as I did while reading the dodgeball game scene.

I give it a 10 out of 10.

Today’s question is: “Where is your favorite place to read? Curled up on the sofa, in bed, in the garden?”

- since I moved into my apartment, we don’t (and still don’t) have much furniture so I have two places to read; at the dining room table with the laptop in front of me (bad idea as this is a distraction) or the bedroom. I prefer the bedroom it’s quiet and my cat is there half of the time keeping me company and snuggling against me it’s a perfect reading environment!

what about you guys?

if you’re from the Hop, hi! enjoy these pumpkin cupcakes!

Hound of Rowan

A word to the wise when reading this review. TRY very hard not think about Harry Potter. Yes, it’s difficult. I found it very hard not to think of Harry Potter while reading this novel despite its’ very close similarities.

Max McDaniels lives a quiet life in the suburbs of Chicago, until the day he stumbles upon a mysterious Celtic tapestry. Many strange people are interested in Max and his tapestry. His discovery leads him to Rowan Academy, a secret school where great things await him. But dark things are waiting, too. When Max learns that priceless artworks and gifted children are disappearing, he finds himself in the crossfire of an ancient struggle between good and evil. To survive, he”ll have to rely on a network of agents and mystics, the genius of his roommate, and the frightening power awakening within him. (Taken from Chapters Indigo).

It’s hard not to compare this with Harry Potter. However the stories are somewhat similar you just can’t help it. There are definitely some aspects of the book you often wonder to yourself if you’re just reading another version of Harry Potter. However there are some aspects of the book where the similarities end and there is a difference between the two books after all.

The storyline is interesting and although it has magical elements and mythology into the plot, there is no hidden magical world. The magic just stays hidden and the faculty of the academy do what they can to cover up chaotic moments with perfect excuses. It does work well and the charade is well played. What I did enjoy is the care of animals which is part of the school curriculum, and when the pairing of the animals to the students was described, I thought that was an interesting read. There was a lot of emphasis and description on the Academy itself – which was nice to read because although it is set in the real world, the school was like a different place altogether.

The story also tends to take a little darker turn than usual especially towards the climax of the book. It does get more interesting and the action is well done, the emphasis on Celtic mythology is mentioned and adds a nice little spin to the book. The Prophecy bit is a little tedious and overdone, but is to be expected to keep the series going. The arc with Max’s mother is what keeps me curious about this series. There’s obviously more to that part and I hope it will tie in nicely as the series progresses.

Character-wise, Max was all right. There wasn’t anything to dislike about him and his nemesis, Alex is your typical jerk. Max also has his own little circle of friends but neither of them really stood out for me. Although I thought David was rather interesting. Mum and Bob are the ones that stand out the most (the kitchen staff). I thought they provided the comic relief and were a fun read. I also liked the relationship between Max and his father. I thought it was nice to see a parent character play such a main role into the main character’s life. It’s something I don’t usually see in these kinds of novels and it’s definitely a nice change to see.

So, with this book you’ll either like it. Or absolutely hate it. Those that are absolute Harry Potter purists should not read this book. The similarities are VERY close and there are many (quite a lot actually) and reading it would probably make your blood pressure pop. However readers that are looking for something that is similar to the Harry Potter style should pick this book up. It’s good enough for me to continue reading this series, however there should be more effort on the author’s part to make things different and think of new creative ways to move the plot ahead. It doesn’t look good if the book is a total rehash of ideas that have already been thought of.

I give it an 7 out of 10.

This is my first book where I read about Napoleon and Josephine. I’ve heard so much about this history, but I never learnt about it. So, this is the first time I actually went into this part of French history. With some extra help from Wikipedia, I had enough background information to be able to read this book without being confused. (I learnt my lesson dearly…thank you, Wars of the Roses…). Some might find it helpful to read a bit of history first before going into a historical fictional novel. Some might have no problem at all and will just jump in and read. I prefer to know the facts first before reading fiction. It helps me to know who is who. (Especially with books that do not provide a family tree).

Born on the Caribbean island of Martinique, Josephine had an exotic Creole appeal that would ultimately propel her to reign over an empire as wife of the most powerful man in the world. But her life is a story of ambition and danger, of luck and a ferocious will to survive. Married young to an arrogant French aristocrat who died during the Terror, Josephine also narrowly missed losing her head to the guillotine. But her extraordinary charm, sensuality, and natural cunning helped her become mistress to some of the most powerful politicians in post-Revolutionary France. Soon she had married the much younger General Bonaparte, whose armies garnered France an empire that ran from Europe to Africa and the New World and who crowned himself and his wife Emperor and Empress of France. He dominated on the battlefield and she presided over the worlds of fashion and glamor. But Josephine’s heart belonged to another man–the mysterious, compelling stranger who had won her as a girl in Martinique. (Taken from Chapters website product description).

Wow Josephine. You’re quite saucy. Very saucy. I found it a little hard to like her. She seemed superficial, flaky, and although I’m sure she was a good mother, there was just something about her I could not sympathize with. Perhaps she’s just too much of a party animal for her own good. It annoyed me though, with her behavior towards Napoleon and when the tables turned on her she had the galls to say:

“I felt a pang, for until now I believed that he had been faithful to me. I knew I had no right to expect fidelity as I had a lover of my own. Yet the thought of my husband with another woman was surprisingly hurtful to me.”

Whatever Josephine. It’s okay if you act that way, but when someone does the same thing to you, you feel the right to whine and cry about it. Go find the next man on your list of many and move on. That is not to say that Napoleon was a saint. He was far from it and I just couldn’t understand why she put up with his horrible treatment. So, I really didn’t find any of the characters in the book that likable. Despite this though, I did enjoy reading this book. The history in it was well written and detailed. I liked the detailed setting of Martinique, and how it might have been back then. The descriptions on how chaotic France was during this time was good enough to give you the atmosphere and feel of the time and how horrible the Reign of Terror really was although, even then Josephine found a way to “have fun” it’s like she was on very strong Viagra medication all throughout this time, and throughout the book. I’d have to say at least there wasn’t much in terms of explicit scenes regarding her exploits. Otherwise I probably wouldn’t have read the book from cover to cover.

Regarding the “stranger” that she fell in love with on Martinique. I thought it was a little strange at first. Especially when she first meets this person. I didn’t think he actually existed (apparently, she was visited by someone while sleeping and it felt like a dream) that particular sequence got me wondering why was this included and what was the point? I wondered if maybe it had to do with the spiritual theme of Martinique and what the slaves believed in. However I thought that part was just unnecessary and even silly. It just didn’t need to be there. As the book progresses, the stranger is finally explained and the mystery surrounding him is lifted. It was a tolerable explanation, but at least I finally knew he actually existed.

Basically it boils down to this; I liked the book because of the history surrounding Josephine and Napoleon. The writing was good and the historical setting was excellent and definitely gave the reader a good sense of the scene and the events surrounding these two important historical figures. I believe Josephine’s exploits were just added to make the story more entertaining and more interesting.  However that’s where it fails. I think the reader would prefer reading more on Josephine’s volatile relationship with Napoleon instead of her wild escapades with other men. If the reader could ignore that (hard to do, as it’s mentioned a lot throughout the book) and just focus on the historical aspect of the book, you could say, that it’s a decent enough book to read.

I give it a 6 out of 10.

Reading has gone to a slow halt. (Damn you hockey. Damn you.) Then my social life decides to take over. I don’t like it when that happens. Not that I mind being out with friends. However when there’s books needing to be read and distractions are happening right left and center, it starts to get annoying. Then I start developing dangerous tics and then I evolve into this big red eyed man-eating dragon (I say man-eating because it’s usually the hombre that starts all these distractions!).

Anyway! Saturday I went to a library book sale! and I did manage to buy myself a large paper bag filled with books. It’s not a bad result, only that I wish I could go today (however social life is in the way and I must attend to that first.) So, while I was examining the shelves for anything that might have caught my eye I suddenly zoom in on a book which I’ve been curious to read for a while. Yet when I picked it up, it says in big bold letters: “ADVANCED READERS COPY”. Hrm.

Here’s what got me “hrmming”.

It’s taboo to sell ARC’s. I know it. Most of you should know and shame on you if you don’t *smacks hands with a wooden pointer* *that hurt didn’t it? good*. So now I’m wondering..does this taboo rule apply to libraries?

The book clearly reads: ‘Not for sale’ however, the proceeds do go to a good cause (the improvement of libraries). Should we as good book bloggers even donate these ARC’s to the library when they’re selling them once we turn around to read the next ARC?

Think about it. Let me know.