12.24.09
Review of Pure Dead Magic
I read this book for the Middle Grade Reading Challenge. I think I got it from just book surfing on Amazon and it interested me when I read what the book was about.
Pure Dead Magic is about the Strega-Borgia family who live in Strega Schloss. The family consists of; Signor and Signora Strega-Borgia, their daughter Pandora, their son Titus, and their little baby Damp. There is also Strega-Nonna who is the great great great great great great grandmother to the family and freezes herself in a freezer (aka cryogenics) while she waits for the cure for old age. Also part of the family, are several pets (not the typical kind of pets like a cat or a dog. These pets include a yeti, a griffin, and a dragon to name a few examples.) The story starts off with Signora Strega-Borgia looking for the perfect nanny while the children attempt to scare her away (like they did with previous nannies). Signora Strega-Borgia is in a bit of a bind, she needs to go to her witchcraft classes and her husband is nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, little do they know that her husband has been kidnapped and he’s trapped with no place to go. The entire household is in chaos and you’re left wondering through the book as one thing happens after another, if all of this is going to work out in the end.
Chaotic is one word to really describe this book. Although it was fun to read what they all go through I think this book would have made a very interesting movie (should it ever go that way). Think of The Addams Family and their kookiness, mixed with a bit of style of Lemony Snicket and add in a bit of Mary Poppins and you get Pure Dead Magic. I enjoyed reading this book! it was a fun light read and there were particular parts of the book that actually got me laughing out loud. It is quirky and kooky and you could say even rather strange at first to read but once you get engaged into the storyline then the reading experience is quite fun.
The plot was certainly engaging, and by reading the first page it actually takes you into the book head first so be prepared. I liked it, yet on the other hand, I found it a little too engaging. It just seems like there’s just way too much going on and you have a hard time figuring out what’s happening, and it also feels like you need to take a real big deep breath right after each chapter. Sometimes it helps if there’s a small part in the book where everything just take a breather, and the action takes a break while we as readers sort things out with the storyline. The characters are likable and fun, no need for development, or any heavy duty stuff here. Like mentioned before, it’s a light read to take a break from the heavy duty ones.
Overall, a fast, light read, with a lot of room left at the end for several more books ahead. I’ll be picking them up whenever I need the urge to laugh or when I need to take a break from the heavier deeper books. Sometimes it’s good to read childrens novels just to take a break from the serious books and to enjoy the quirky kooky funny ones as well.
Overall I give it a 9 out of 10.
12.22.09
Review of Pride and Prescience
I’ve seen this book in some book blogs while blog hopping. It caught my eye as first, it was a cozy and recently I’ve been in a cozy mystery addiction and also it features the newly married Mr and Mrs Darcy! I’m also starting to like these Jane Austen spinoffs so this book practically gives me double the fix in two genres I’m starting to like a lot.
Pride and Prescience (or, a Truth Universally Acknowledged) has Elizabeth and Darcy newlywed and ready to enjoy their marriage when there’s sudden news; Caroline Bingley is also engaged to be married and the marriage is about to happen soon. Of course Elizabeth find this ill timed, it’s hardly a coincidence that Caroline probably planned this so she can have the limelight as well. Caroline is engaged to a rich and charming American who has decided to move to England and buy land and settle down. All seems well, until strange things happen, horses get spooked, accidents happens in carriages, sleepwalking, and even possible attempted suicide. Elizabeth and Darcy try to get into the heart of the matter, and find a sinister plot with things happening that can’t even be explained rationally.
This is one of the better cozies I have come across so far in my cozy mystery reading experience. It feels like you’re reading one of those old English gothic novels. It has a good mixture of supernatural mystery to satisfy those in need of a creepy but not so creepy experience, and there’s a good plot and regular mystery behind it, making you try to guess who is behind all of these strange coincidences. I liked it how they brought in most of the characters from Pride and Prejudice it was nice to see them once again, and to have Elizabeth and Darcy solving the mystery together can’t get any better than that. They both have the wit, and the sharp mindedness that brings them even closer together. Of course they have their disagreements as well, which is nice to see, as their arguing takes you back to the days when they didn’t get along at all in the beginning of Pride and Prejudice.
I’m happy to see not much drastic change has happened to most of the characters in the book. The scandal behind Mr Hurst seems believable and makes sense considering his vices. Naturally, it was nice to see Caroline hasn’t changed, until later in the book but there’s a reason for it as you will see if you pick up this novel. There are a few twists and turns in the plot to keep you guessing as to who might have been behind the entire plot, although I did figure it out eventually before it was said. That might have become a disappointment as I would have liked to have been surprised, but the action at the end (there’s a fighting sequence!) made up for it and proved to be exciting to read. I thought it was a good book, I was so interested in it, it didn’t take me that long to read, and the ending was satisfying despite it being a little obvious who was behind the plot. I thought the little addition of supernatural “forces” at work was a neat little addition. It was subtle and not too overpowering to make it seem ridiculous. It worked seamlessly with the plot and made it more exciting.
I will definitely be pursuing other books in this series, and I am hoping the second book after this will be just as good as the first one. Overall, a great read, perfect for those that love Darcy and Lizzy, but are in the mood for a cozy mystery as well. Give it a try! it was an exceptional read.
I give it a 9 out of 10.
12.15.09
Review of Pretty Little Liars
This is the first book of the Pretty Little Liars series. Luckily, while going to the local thrift store, I was fortunate enough to find number two and three so I can get a move on with this reading challenge. This book got me seriously hooked.
Pretty Little Liars circles around a group of girls; Spencer, Aria, Hanna, and Emily. Each of them has an awful secret which marrs their otherwise perfect life. What these girls have in common besides an ugly secret is their friendship with Alison who disappeared one night and was never found. Only until recently, the girls have been receiving odd texts, notes, and IM’s about their secret and about things that only them and Alison would know, and it’s mysteriously signed “A”. They now wonder, is it really Alison?
This book really kept me turning the pages. It was so interesting, especially when they started receiving the messages with information that only they had shared with Alison. It certainly did give off an air of paranoia and it was a bit on the creepy side. I also liked how one secret led to another, and to another to the point where everything is layered with secrecy. The girls do share one big one though called “The Jenna Thing” which is not really wholly explained, but from the small bits of information you get, it does seem like a real big ugly one.
Of all the girls in the book, I would say I like Hanna the most. At times I really do feel sorry for her as I don’t think she really knows who she really is yet and I sympathize with her. I do feel sorry for Spencer as well, although she did ask for it and brought it on herself. However it’s her family I really dislike since they do treat Spencer like dirt. The characters in the book aren’t really that deep or well rounded, but then again this book is meant to be a light fast read and really all you want is to get to the bottom of the plot, not worry about character development.
The plot is well done and very fast, it kept you going and kept you turning the pages until the very end, and even then it leaves off at a cliffhanger ending that makes you want to ask for more. The only thing I would have to dislike though, is the designer label name dropping that happens. It didn’t occur much in the beginning but it started to become a more common thing through the end. That bugs me. It bugged me the most when for the second time in my life a bloody thong was labelled (and it’s the same brand name too!) I wonder if both authors know each other and share tips on which kind of designer labels to add to their novels? hmm. I’m really hoping it’s not going to be an issue in the second book because as in the Blood Blood series, I dropped reading them because of the excessive designer label description (that’s one of the reasons why I dropped the series). I’m praying it won’t happen for this series. I really do have high hopes for this one, as it grabbed my attention, I loved it for the mystery and the creepiness and I really want to know about The Jenna Thing.
Overall, designer labelling aside, it was a great page turner and I recommend this book for those that want an interesting YA read that can be finished in a day.
I give it a 9 out of 10.
12.12.09
Review of The Virgin Queen’s Daughter
Alas! it’s been a while since I got a Tudor fix. This book gave me enough to last for a bit until the next time I pick up a book which features the Tudors. I really never thought about taking this book out of the library, it was on my list, but since I walked by it on the shelf and it was there for the taking I decided, why not.
The Virgin Queen’s Daughter by Ella March Chase, is a fictional take on a “What if” scenario: What if Queen Elizabeth had a child before she became Queen of England? what would have happened then? You follow the story through the point of view of Nell, the daughter of Lord and Lady Calverley who would rather spend her time with books instead of listening to her mothers’ training on how to become an efficient lady of the house. Nell finds herself with an once in a lifetime opportunity: to become a maid of honor within Elizabeth’s court. She agrees and against her mother’s wishes, goes, enchanted with stories of the Tudor court. Nell doesn’t realize that court life is filled with lies, deceit, backstabbing, and that it can be a dangerous life to lead as well.
I thought it was an interesting take on the life of Queen Elizabeth and the “what if” scenario. It never occured to me that such a thing could have possibly have happened. Who knows? this book explores it well and what I loved the most about it was the realistic account of court life during that specific time period. There was no romanticizing court life, it’s more cutthroat, like being in a lion’s den and no one is really safe from anybody. One little rumor and everything could fall like a pack of dominos lined up one after the other. It was certainly a very intriguing and interesting book I couldn’t find myself to put it down. It was well written, wonderful descriptions and to the point, court life was realistic and there is LOTS of intrigue. There is so much plotting going on you start feeling like Nell, and you feel you can’t trust anybody with any of your secrets in the court. It was an absolute fun and interesting read.
I liked Nell from beginning to end. She was so strong and although a bit headstrong and naive at times, she’s mature enough to learn from her mistakes and continue to stay strong. Her traits were admirable and inspiring. I liked her relationship to Gabriel as well. They did suit each other and although it was obvious he was trying to help her, you couldn’t help but mistrust him at the same time. He may seem very immature at first, and you share a dislike in him as Nell did at first, but as their relationship develops, you eventually accept him, and like him too. I also loved Nell’s friendship with Mary Grey although an odd pair at first, and probably friends because they were “outcasts”, Mary was probably one of the very few decent ladies in court (you’ll find the maids of honor are rather catty and hard to deal with).
Queen Elizabeth wasn’t the nicest Queen either in this book, and I liked how the book portrayed her. Sometimes it does get tiring of reading on how great she was, I’m sure she has her evil bad days as well. In this book you’ll find a much more mean, catty, jealous side to Elizabeth and not the wonderful regal Queen we’re so used to reading about.
The only criticism I can give to this book is, a little more historical information should have been given in the Author’s note. It might help to have a bit more of an introduction for those that aren’t too well versed with the history behind the Tudors.
Overall, a wonderful exciting intriguing book about life in Queen Elizabeth’s court, I definitely recommend this book to fans of Tudor England.
I give it a 9 out of 10.
12.11.09
Review of The Tale of Hill Top Farm
This is my very first mystery cozy I’m reading (among the millions of mystery cozies I’ve just discovered and want to read) this one caught my attention because I used to like the Beatrix Potter books when I was a kid (I myself had a copy of the Tale of Mrs Tiggy Winkle). Plus, it just looked like a fun read.
The Tale of Hill Top Farm is almost like two tales in one. The first one is among the humans. You follow Beatrix and other characters within this small little town in Sawrey. Beatrix had just bought and has decided to run a farm, in order to have some inspiration for her stories and drawings and to heal from the recent death of her fiance. Some meet her with a warm welcome, others disapprove of her actions and keep her at arms length. When Mrs Tolliver suddenly dies, under strange circumstances, the entire town is in an uproar. The other story is within the animals. There’s a small cast of animal characters; the town animals (consisting of cats, a dog, an owl, even a ferret) and Beatrix’ animals which are: a hedgehog, two rabbits, and a mouse. The town animals also attempt to solve the mystery in their own way.
This was a cute tale! I loved how they switched from the townsfolk and then to the animals. I really enjoyed how the animals got themselves “involved” in solving some of mysteries in the book. Mind you, the death of Mrs Tolliver was just one of the mysteries in this tale, there’s also a few other little mysteries within the big one that need to be solved and although not necessary it does add more substance to the book. The description and feel of rural village life is well done and beautifully written. I absolutely loved it and it really did feel as if you were there in the town with these people. Naturally, what isn’t a town without the endless drivel of gossip? you have your stereotypical characters: a gossip, a priest, the “liberated” woman who poses as a danger to society (OMG she rides a bike everybody! and wears pants!!), the pair of spinster sisters that live together, the list is endless.
The characters are very likable each in their own little way. I don’t think I have a particular favorite yet. Although I really do love the part where Beatrix defends someone, and comes out of her shell to say what’s on her mind. It shows Beatrix developing on her own without her parents following her every step with disapproval. I admire her independence and her steps to get away from her parents, and her new skill on how to say “no”. The animals are likeable as well I love Mrs Tiggy, she’s cute and lovable (especially when she curls up in a ball to sleep, with her little handkerchief covering her face) they each have their own personalities and again, I’d have to say, I don’t have a favorite, I like all of them.
The downside of this book; there’s no thrills or chills. When you get to the bottom of the mysterie(s) they’re not filled with that pack and punch as you find in regular ones. Although my favorite was the one in which the animals had solved one of the mysteries featured in this book. Since this is my first cozy one, I’m not sure if that’s the standard with these mysteries, is the finale always low key? so I wish there was a little more excitement in the end. It was all right though. I loved the description of village life enough that it kept me interested until the end. I admit there was a little bit of intrigue and mystery throughout the story but it wasn’t much and not what I quite expected. Again, I’ll let that pass considering it was my first cozy mystery.
Overall, a cute little tale of village life, their dramas and how the inhabitants of a little town deal with scandal, newcomers, and their mysteries. I definitely recommend this to fans of Beatrix Potter, and her tales. Definitely worth your time, especially to those cozy mystery fans out there.
I give it a 9 out of 10.
11.09.09
Review of The Thief Lord
I do have Inkheart and Inkspell by Cornelia Funke, but haven’t gotten around to reading them (they’re safe in a box ready for me to read whenever I want) but this one also caught my eye and I decided to pick it up as well. I do have a certain liking to anything to do with Venice. I think it’s a city I would love to visit one day.
The Thief Lord, by Cornelia Funke was originally written in German then translated into English. It covers the story of two boys, Prosper and Bo who have run away from their Aunt (who intends to have them separated by having Prosper going to a boarding school while Bo becomes their little trophy child). Running way to Venice (a city they intended to go to after hearing stories about the city from their late mother), they meet with The Thief Lord, a mysterious boy who with a small group of street children make a living by stealing and living in an old abandoned movie theater. There they life a hard, but comfortable life with The Thief Lord providing for them. Little do they know, the Thief Lord has a secret, and the two boys are finding themselves in a journey which will change their lives forever.
This book went by fast! I actually managed to get it started on Friday night, then continued for the rest of the day on Sunday and finished it! It was so interesting I just wanted to know what was going to happen next. At first though I had to admit I wasn’t sure what to expect with this novel. I was actually expecting a novel that was set in Venice back in the past, but surprisingly it actually took place in present day. Which didn’t really make it uninteresting at all, it suited the setting just fine. I really liked the idea of a group of street children surviving and treating it all like one big adventure after another under the leadership of The Thief Lord. Although putting this in a historical fiction setting would also be good as well, it still does well in the present day setting albeit differently but it doesn’t take long to get used to it.
The book was interesting enough, and the plot flowed through seamlessly. There was never a part in the book where I was bored. The chapters were short enough to keep you going and it was definitely a page turner. The majority of the characters were very likable although there were times where I wanted to smack Bo around a bit for being such a pest. Then again he played the role of little brother perfectly. I have to admit, Scipio had to be my favorite character. Especially after what happens to him near the end, I find that he has matured the most, but maintained his childhood self. I liked his character development the most. In the end though, all the children had matured and although it was sad to see everything change, it actually had quite a bittersweet ending. Why bittersweet? because I was just sad to see the story end with such likable characters.
Although a sequel might be tempting, I don’t think there should be one. The ending was complete and all questions were answered. Actually, I think a sequel might actually ruin it. The story is fine as is. This book was a great mix of fantasy, adventure, and a bit of drama.
Overall, a really nice quick read, which will take you to an adventure and you’ll ask yourself; Would you take a ride or not?
I give it a 9 out of 10.
11.04.09
Review of Heartsick
I’ve heard a lot about Heartsick by Chelsea Cain and really great reviews while blog hopping. It’s another one of those books I decided to pick up just because I was curious as to what was so great about it.
Heartsick by Chelsea Cain is about Detective Archie Sheridan, damaged and tortured, addicted to painkillers, and can’t seem to forget the famous Beauty Killer Gretchen Lowell who had him imprisoned and tortured for ten days. Turning herself in and is now in prison for life, Archie can’t seem to let go of this beautiful cold blooded killer and visits her once a week in the hopes of getting more information about her endless count of victims and providing closure to families who have lost loved ones in the hands of Gretchen. However there is another serial killer on the loose preying on young teenage killers and Archie is racing against time to catch this new killer while in the meantime trying to struggle to get rid of Gretchen’s influence and forcing himself to finally get back onto his feet and lead a normal life. On the other hand, we also have reporter Susan Ward who is in charge of this whole serial killer story and also trying to profile Archie. Little did they know, they are all somewhat connected in this huge web.
Woah. It was really good. What I like about it is there’s actually a female serial killer this time and she acts close to Hannibal Lecter with some minor differences. It sure is nice to see an evil female part though. It’s a refreshing sight instead of having females always being portrayed as victims. The plot got better and better through each chapter and it just seemed as if the book went by really quickly – perhaps because I was just too engrossed in the book. You get two different stories here in this book. You have the current case Archie is on, then you also have chapters in between where they are flashbacks of Archie when he was being held captive by Gretchen. They were gruesome and rather hard to swallow but it added a lot of depth into Archie’s character and explains to you why he is how he is. I thought that was pretty well done as it’s a great way of explaining his character and his behavior. Gretchen made a wonderful villain. Manipulative, cunning, cruel, sadistic, all in one very attractive package it was perfectly done and even in prison she still continues to fiddle with her puppet strings.
It wasn’t blatantly obvious who the culprit was behind the murders of the teenage girls, which was good, and it kept you guessing. What I liked was it wasn’t until the last minute when you actually found out who it was and by that time it was cleverly done that you wish you could have seen it in the first place. There were a few twists and turns with the final twist happening between Gretchen and Archie. I thought that was great and it left me asking for more.
No doubt there will be sequels and I see this as a promising series. I’m left wanting to know what’s going to happen in the next book. I’m definitely looking forward to reading it. The book however, did leave me with a lot of questions unanswered, particularly why Gretchen is what she is and how she came to be this way. It does drop hints here and there but nothing too specific or defined. Perhaps it’s to build up the mystery behind her character.
I do warn, some parts in this book are not meant for the squeamish. However those with a like for police serial killer novels, with a cat and mouse game and lots of twists do take this book and give it a chance. You won’t regret it. I’m glad again, for listening to my fellow book bloggers about this one. So far, we’re 2 for 2 
Overall a great start to a series, and I’m looking forward to more.
I give it a 9 out of 10.
09.11.09
Review of Crazy Beautiful
Crazy Beautiful
First! thank you Houghton Mifflin for providing me a review copy of this book. It was very much appreciated. Second, this is one of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen. For some reason it just calls out to me. I think it’s very well done.
Crazy Beautiful is told in two points of view: Aurora and Lucius. Both are new to the high school they’re going to. The difference? Lucius has no hands, due to a chemistry concoction gone wrong. So instead of hands, he has hooks instead (which freaks out the entire school population) except Aurora. In a modern day retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Crazy Beautiful explains love, redemption, and forgiveness.
It’s a short read. About 200 pages long. I absolutely loved this book. I immediately sympathized with Lucius and hated those that just assumed these whirlwind stories about him were true. Just because of his disability he’s immediately an outcast in the cruel world of High School. Both main characters were very well liked by me. I loved Lucius for being strong despite being a social outcast the minute he stepped on school grounds. I loved Aurora for standing up for what she believes in and even has the courage to stand up and tell her peers they’re wrong about assumptions they have made. Both characters are very strong, brave, and mature which makes them even more likable. I couldn’t stand Jessup (I can’t stand his name either). I just absolutely hated him and I was glad Aurora could see through his actions and was able to fend him off. (Yet another reason why I liked Aurora so much).
The plot is very short and doesn’t take too long to go through. It’s almost as if you’re watching a half hour TV high school show. Which isn’t that bad, mind you, although I would have like the story to develop a little more. That’s just me, as I’m used to reading longer novels. It seemed to just go a little too fast but at least there’s enough going on in this novel to make it flow and to keep the reader interested. There were parts that actually got me laughing out loud. Lucius has charming wit that enhances his personality and character, also his bravery in standing up against the most popular guy in the school also makes this an entertaining read.
Overall a good quick read. It does have certain parts that would qualify as a modern fairy tale. I enjoyed it very much and just wished it was just a bit longer as I thought there could be more to it. Lucius and Aurora made a wonderful couple and it seemed they were made for each other so it gave the romance a nice cozy feel to the story. Pick this up if you feel like reading something quick but also a light hearted read.
I give it a 9 out of 10.
09.06.09
Sunday Salon: Review of The Light of Burning Shadows
The Light of Burning Shadows
WOOT! I managed to get my goal done before midnight tonight! Two books done from my reading pile! yay! Anyway to start, before you decide to pick up this book, I strongly recommend reading the first one of this series, called A Darkness Forged in Fire, as the second one picks up right where it ended.
In this second book, we find the Konowa and his Iron Elves in persuit of his old squad of the original Iron Elves while at the same time, finding the next star and where it plans to land. However there’s a race to get the fallen star, as the Shadow Monarch (an elf witch) also has her sights to reach it for her quest towards absolute domination.
As with various fantasy epic series I’ve read, there are different story arcs in this plot. You have the main plot; to stop the Shadow Monarch. Then you have Konowa’s quest, which is to free him and his Iron Elves from this dreaded Blood Oath and to also recruit back his original Iron Elves army. Then you also have the interesting plot of Renwar, a soldier in the Iron Elves who has trouble with visions, and hears voices. He realizes he is different from the rest of them and wants desperately to end his Oath and free himself from his agony. True, this may seem like a lot to read, but it’s not confusing or muddled. Everything is clear and easy to understand so you won’t get lost while reading because eventually it all ties together in the end.
I loved this book. Although I sort of had to go back and jog my memory a bit I loved the action and the doses of comedy mixed into this story. There is plenty of action so you will not be bored with this book. I find it interesting this nice mix of cannons and muskets with magic and swords. It add a uniqueness to this type of fantasy story and in some ways it reminds me a lot of the Sharpe series (which I enjoyed reading as well). There were parts in the story where the dreaded realization hits you and you’re blindsided with a giant revelation or a surprise. I’ve been blindsided at least two or three times reading this book. Plus the ending was a total cliffhanger and I couldn’t believe it ended that way and I had to reread the last few pages to make sure I got it right (but I still couldn’t believe it ended like that)
I find myself very attached to some of these characters (I usually do with several characters while reading fantasy). You actually follow Renwar more in this story as he’s central to what’s been happening, and you see how he develops as a character. I like Yimt. He provided the comic relief but you knew he loved his squad and cared for each of them in his own way. It was too bad you don’t really read much of Konowa (not like the first one) as I like him a lot (he reminds me a lot of Richard Sharpe of the Sharpe series) but he’s changed and not necessarily for the better.
Overall a really good book. The plot moves quick and to the point. Unlike some series where when you reach the “middle point” of the series everything stands still then the series start to drag. Not with this one. You’re taken to the next stage with more surprises in store. I can’t wait for the third one.
I give it a 9 out of 10.
08.16.09
Sunday Salon: Review of Night of Flames
Night of Flames
Hooray! yet another review! You certainly feel a good sense of accomplishment when you finish books and review them. Anyhow…
First of all, thank you Mr Jacobson for being so nice for sending your book for me to review. Much appreciated as this was one of my first books received. *hearty applause* This book, Night of Flames, is one for fans of World War II era novels, or those simply interested in reading a book filled with drama and action.
Like some of the books I have read from this era, Night of Flames reflects the hardships people had to endure during this time; from hiding away and avoiding arrest, to desperately trying to survive through very difficult times, to leaving your home and finding another one hoping you’d be safe there, and to find your loved ones hoping they had survived.
These are most of the themes covered in this book.
You go through the book through the eyes of mostly Anna and Jan Kopernik. Jan, who’s a Polish officer and hesitantly becomes a member of the Resistance and spy, and Anna, his wife who then becomes a member of the Resistance in Belgium. There’s a few characters whom you share the point of view as well, but Anna and Jan are the main ones. Of the two, I like Anna the most. She turned out to be the stronger of the two and the most resourceful. (Examples include her having to get out of Poland with some friends and arriving at Belgium to survive and helping the Resistance). Having said that, you’ll find Anna goes through a lot but manages to come out of it alive (although mentally scarred, as you’ll see when you read the book). I don’t know what to say about Jan. There was really nothing he could have done better as his main goal through the book was to find Anna. I guess you could say he was strong as well; having to go through dangerous missions while not forgetting his main goal at the same time but I just find that I am emotionally more attached than Anna than I am of Jan for some reason, I suppose her character just developed a lot better. Speaking of characters…
Dieter Koenig will make you skin crawl, the hairs on your arms rise, and your stomach to heave. That’s all I have to say about that.
Plotwise; I love the plot. There were a lot of nail biting moments and plenty of action. This is definitely not a boring book. There’s not much deviation from the plot although I noticed the main focus was really on Anna and her part in the Resistance. Not to say Jan didn’t have an equal share in the plot..I suppose Anna’s part in the plot was just a little more exciting! Given the theme of the story, I’d have to say it was sad. The ending wasn’t really what I expected and left me with a sense of melancholy. Perhaps it was meant to be that way. Let’s just say the ending was rather, bittersweet. I’ll leave you to judge.
Overall a great book for the World War II history fan like I am. Definitely not one to be missed. Pick it up when you can. It’s a good read and the action will leave you turning page after page.
Check out the author’s website: http://www.douglaswjacobson.blogspot.com
I give it an 9 out of 10. (Yes…I love WWII stuff.)
