The Siege of Macindaw

The Siege of Macindaw is the sixth book in John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series. 

"In this desolate northern fief, where can Will find the fighting men he needs to overcome the traitorous Sir Keren and his band of criminals? Across the border, the fierce Scotti tribesmen are waiting for the signal that Castle Macindaw is in friendly hands, and the way is clear to mount a full-scale attack. Time is running out. Will's courage and ingenuity - and the arrival of an old friend - may be the only things that stand in their way."

General Thoughts: It was a good ending to this little story arch. It's always fun to be able to see Horace come in to help Will especially when he isn't unexpected. And the strange cast of characters that end up helping will out for the actual siege is fun. I also liked Alyss throughout the whole event. While she is technically a damsel in distress, she does do a fair bit herself given her circumstances. 

<< Spoilers Ahead>>

Plot: This one, like many of John Flanagan's other books, is simple and straight forward. Take the castle, save Alyss, and watch out for the Scotti. But I like the way Will is able to succeed in taking the castle back over. Fear can be a powerful ally amongst the superstitious and I think he used it well. I like the fact that they also don't have magic in this world. It's all science and what have you which is different to many fantasy books out there now. I do like the nod, whether intentional or not, to Rapunzel with Alyss being in the tower and Will having to climb up to her to save her, though it didn't work the first time. 

Setting: Right now, I could do without the cold, but it works really well for the circumstances that Will finds himself in. I particularly like the change in cloak, obviously that happens in the first book but still. I like how John Flanagan, in general, uses the surrounding and environments in his stories to his advantage. In real life if going up against an imposing army you'd use the terrain to your advantage if you could and he often does that in his books. 

Characters: This book does have a strange range of characters and I think that is the point. We get all the outcasts to band together and made a difference. Is it a little odd that they are all just hanging out in the woods, yes, but he has to get his "mercenaries" from somewhere. I will say, though, that there isn't much in the way of growth from any of the characters in this arch that I can remember. I'm more like an Indiana Jones story where I know all the things already and I'm just going off on an adventure, not so much to learn something about myself. This can be okay at time. 

Spice: 1/5 Spicy Chilis. Alyss and Will like each other and he's working to get her freed, but there wasn't much time for more than a few flirtations. 

Writing Style: Again, Flanagan has a way of over describing the intents of his characters or giving us more of an explanation than we need when it comes to strategy. I know it bothers some, but I've looked over it and have just learned to accept that this is how he does it. I can enjoy the story anyway. 

Overall: It's a fun adventure. I wouldn't mind reading it again. 

The Smuggler's Treasure

 The Smugglers Treasure is an American Girl: History Mystery written by Sarah Masters Buckley.

"Sent to live with relatives in New Orleans during the War of 1812, eleven-year-old Elisabet determines to find a smuggler's treasure to ransom her imprisoned father."

General Thoughts: I was given a set of History Mystery books when I was a preteen and enjoyed this one. I wasn't much into reading so I didn't read many of the other books in this American Girl Series, but one can always go back and find a good book. I enjoyed the adventure part of this book and the fact that I hadn't read much in the way of historical books before and I've found that it still holds up pretty well. 

Plot: Elisabet's adventure in a new city, with new people, doing a job at her families bakery with busy, noisy customers, and seeing the differences between what she was as a pampered little girl (like some that she serves) and the waitress that she's become was fun to watch. It's amazing what hard labor will do when you have choice. What getting up early to do the job your assigned can do to change people's attitudes. I enjoyed the growth that Elisabet had throughout the course of the story. She does gain a friend who helps her on her adventure with potential ghosts and thieves and pirates. The treasure hunt and figuring out the clues to find the map was fun and, when I was younger, thrilling. 

Setting: When it comes to history and fantasy books, the setting is extremely important. One should easily get lost in the new city where you can "feel" the cobblestones or mud underfoot. I think Smuggler's Treasure does just that. The smells of the bakery, the rain, the darkness, sets the tone for the suspenseful moments and really help pull it through. 

Characters: Elisabet, as I said, has great growth through the story. She learns that she can do hard and at times scary things in order to do what she thinks will help her father. I liked the others in the bakery as well, in front of as well as behind the counter. They were memorable characters that even a year after reading it, I still enjoy thinking about. 

Spicy: 0/5. It's a children's book. No. 

Writing Style: I think it was well done. American Girl is not going to get newbies to write their books and Sarah Masters Buckley did a good job at setting tones, making likable characters, and developing an interesting story that was simple enough for me to read at 10 and enjoyable enough for me to read after age 30. 

Overall: I would read it again. I ended up gifting my niece a copy and hopes she enjoys it as much as I did. 

Icebound Land

 Icebound Land is the third book in the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan. 

"Kidnapped after the fierce battle with Lord Morgarath, Will and Evanlyn are bound for Skandia as captive aboard a fearsome wolfship. Halt has sworn to rescue Will, and he will do anything to keep his promise--even defy his King. Expelled from the Rangers he has served so loyally, Halt is joined by Will's friend Horace as he travels toward Skandia. On their way, they are challenged constantly by freelance knights--but Horace knows a thing or two about combat. Soon he begins to attract the attention of knights and warlords for miles around with his uncanny skill. Even so, will they be in time to rescue Will from a horrific life of slavery?"

General Thoughts and Plot: This was a very somber book comparatively to the other books in the series. Will and Evanlyn get taken as slaves and will gets addicted to drugs, Evanlyn must save them both and are very close to dying even with the help of new friends, Halt and Horace both have to go up against a really nasty warlord and John Flanagan doesn't sugar coat things as much as he potentially could have. We really get to see what dire straits they are all in and it's not looking good for any of them. It's a good story that flows well and really punches home the problems that happen with addictive substances. In the future it would be interesting to see if Will ends up coming face to face with the Warmweed again though that would be for another story. 

Setting: It is interesting the world that John Flanagan has let expand for us. The Viking culture and warmongering French-esque countryside were interesting juxtapositions and comparisons. Very different cultures and how then a English-esque-man would deal with such differences, with some moments needing to be more delicate than others.  

Characters: It was great to see Evanlyn's character development as she has had to grow in a different direction than she though she would have. Growing and having to really learn how to survive not just in a Viking-esque longhouse, but also out in the frozen wild. Will doesn't get as much development because he is incapacitated, but Horace gets a chance to step up as well because there are things Halt can't do. It was intriguing to see how Halt stood up to the King. The King knew what Halt was doing and didn't like how Halt wouldn't do as ordered but also didn't want to lose a friend for a rash rescue of sorts. Halt was willing to throw everything to the wind if it meant a chance at saving Will and Will could have been long dead for all he knew. 

Spice: 0/5 Spicy Chilis. There was none. Hopes for maybe some in the future. But nothing whatsoever because they were too worried about surviving to let anything kindle. 

Writing Style: Again John Flanagan is very tell-y. He tends to explain everything as opposed to showing us what is going on. Maybe, it has to do with the fact that he was writing for a younger audience so he felt he needed too, but even in the later books he "slips up" and does it fairly often. It is probably just going to be how he writes. While it isn't bad, it is kind of annoying. 

Overall: Not my favorite book of his, but still a solid read. 

Ella Enchanted

 Another retelling of Cinderella. 

Ella was "blessed," more like cursed, when she was a baby by a fairy named Lucinda to be Obedient, therefore she must do everything someone, anyone, tells her to do. She tries to fight against the curse going at it slowly or obnoxiously, but eventually she has to give in to whatever someone says. After her beloved mother dies, she is forced to go to finishing school with two nasty girls (who'd eventually become her step sister). On her way there, Hattie figures out that Ella has to be obedient and starts making her life miserable. She runs away, trying to find Lucinda to take the curse away (with the help of her own fairly godmother) but things don't go as planned. 

A simple, very fanciful retelling of the traditional story, it "fixes" a few of the things that modern audiences have problems with. Why didn't Cinderella leave? Why does she have to do what she's told? Why would the Prince marry her at the end without even knowing her? Historically, those questions wouldn't have mattered. Arranged marriages happened all the time and not being able to leave your home or position was obvious. But it gives our modern eyes reasons and explanations. 

I enjoy Ella and Char as a characters. I like the way their relationship is friendly and develops over the course of the story. Often we don't get that in a Cinderella story (which is why I think it is retold so much and why we get so many versions of it, the romance is open ended). I think their relationship is what makes this story. Yes, Ella goes on an adventure, but them together or their letters to each other is what really draws us through the story. 

Sapphire Blue

 The continuation of Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier happens two seconds after the conclusion of the first one. 

Gwen and Gideon get themselves and their fancy clothes back to the House of the Guardians, but Gwen's head is still spinning because he kissed her! and there is a new gargoyle hanging around who won't leave her alone. Maybe he can be of some use, though, when he's not making fun of her. Things are becoming more chaotic and confusing as her world shifts and sways with the new information Gwen keeps getting. Lucy and Paul are trying to get in contact with her, but she's constantly being told that they are dangerous, but are they or are the Guardians or the Count hiding things they don't want her to understand? Then there is Gideon who keeping flip flopping on if he's going to kiss her or scorn her and look the other way. Gwen is only 16, how is she supposed to deal with all of this? 

I enjoyed this one more than the first. Probably because we were more into the story and got a few more answers. I also enjoyed meeting Gwen's grandpa--makes me miss mine. 

I'm intrigued by the bad guy of the series. His motives are understandable and he seems cunning enough to almost get it done. Obviously he won't succeed, at least for long, but I want to know more about this ingenious, charismatic, narsisistic man. 

I can also understand why some people in their reviews give this series a bad time. Gwen, being sixteen, doesn't know what she's feeling and does get led on. She's not the "eat my dust," "all boys suck," "I can do everything myself" kinda girl which is getting shoved down everyone's throat. The "girl power" here is lacking and I think that makes it more believable. I remember being sixteen and seventeen and how windswept you can feel when you find out a boy loves you and kisses you. I remember needing "blowy-upy movies" for a bit after the first break up. It's hard and it's confusing and I think it's portrayed realistically here.

One reviewer in particular hated how Gwen forgave so easily and how she still fauns over Gideon, but didn't we all back then? We want that first love to be real so much that we do stupid things? The fact that everyone keeps commenting that they can see her affection for Gideon so boldly on her face is proof that she doesn't quite know what she's doing, because she has no idea how to hide it! I do believe *SPOILER* Gideon is being manipulative at the start, but I think this is more the romantic troupe of "it started out that way, but then I actually fell in love with you and it's real" like in How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days or other ones like that *end of spoiler.* 

I can't give this one a perfect 5 stars because it's ending was so abrupt again. I think it would have worked better as a single volume instead of three separate books. It would flow better I think. 

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

 My son read this one to me and it was a great experience. 

Hugo Cabret is alone. He lost his dad in fire and was given to his uncle's care, but his uncle has been gone for months leaving Hugo by himself. Well, him and the clocks he winds every day at the Paris Train Station. No one knows he's there and he is scared of being taken to an orphanage or being put in the Stations Inspector's "cage" so he stays quiet, taking his uncles paychecks but not cashing them, and steals to survive. He recently rediscovered an automaton that his father found and keeps close to his heart the notebook his father left behind. But after getting caught stealing a small mechanical mouse from a toyshop in the station, the notebook gets taken away from him by the shop owner and the struggle to get it back ensues. However, there seems to be something strange about this old toyshop owner, there is far more that he is not telling Hugo as to why he took Hugo's father's notebook in the first place. The shop owner's goddaughter and Hugo join forces to find the notebook and its significance. 

I think the thing I loved most about this book was the fact that my son was able to read it to me. He struggles in reading and the pictures that were drawn and old photos of movies helped make this come alive for my son. It intrigued him and didn't make him feel like "it's too hard." The words were more difficult than things he's accustomed too, I was going for a challenge, and far larger of a book than I'd ever read on his own. But he did it and enjoyed the story. 

The second thing were the pictures. It brought life and vivation to the story along with clarity to the reader who's never seen any of the old movies before. We were able to see the "man in the moon with a rocket in his eye" and the fairy lands that were made in the old films because the still frame pictures were there. There were cartoon-ish drawing of Hugo and Isabelle, Georges and people of the station which brought the story to live as well. 

I think this is a good book to start kids out on when talking about historical fiction. There are many parts in history that could be talked about, but movies and shows are obviously topics that kids can get very passionate about--as my son shows me on many occasions--and this story gives a fictional account of the beginnings of moving pictures. It was fun to talk with him about one of the first films, "A Train Pulling Into A Station" and how it scared people in the audience because they thought the train was going to run them over. We talked about other inventions and how things were so different and how far they've come. It's opened up avenues of older movies that he's never seen before, but where important when it comes to making movies. 

It also is a good starting point for introductions to Steampunk books that are out there. It opens up a mechanical world with automatons and that fact that clocks had to be wound often to keep them running. Steampunk and that alternate reality is a fun one, in my opinion, to dive into. (A good series I'd recommend is The Rythmatist and Misborn Era 2 starting with Alloy of Law all by Brandon Sanderson. They are the only steampunk books I've been able to really get into as of yet, but there are many on the TBR list.) 

It was much more of an adventure story or mystery that I thought it would be. Not much in the way of character development happened to the main character or Isabelle, but for "Papa Georges" he grew a little. He softened over the course of the story and was able to confront hard things in the past that had happened. I don't entirely know how much of it was "based on true events" and how much of the story was creative liberties by the author though. 

We both enjoyed the book and we'll be watching the movie soon, which I'm excited to show my son. 

Murder on the Orient Express

 Agatha Christie was made a Dame for a reason and I think Murder on the Orient Express was that reason. 

Complete strangers board a train, mingle for a few hours or days, and then go their separate ways. But then a murder happens and those who have nothing to do with each other are then all suspected to have murdered a horrendous man. So many clues. Too many clues. It was one of them, but which one? 

Murder on the Orient Express  has been made into many movies and so the story wasn't new to me. It was one that I wanted to read to say that I'd done it.  I am a major fan of Kenneth Branagh as he is a fantastic actor and brings so much more to each character he portrays (whether it is Hercule, Professor Lockhart, or King Henry IV), so to hear him give this presentation for all the many nationalities here was a treat. 

I enjoyed all the characters that were present here. There were many and at times could have been hard to keep track of, but Agatha Christie was able to keep them all fairly well clear. And while there were many clues and twists and turns throughout the story, she gave them to us in ways the kept it concise clear though we had to use our "little gray cells" to get the other ending like Poirot did--if people are that awesome to be able to actually do that anyway. 

I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the games and movies that came out of this series. Well done Agatha. Well done. 

City of Secrets

Children's graphic novels are sometimes the best. 

Ever Barnes' father was murdered four years ago and now hides out at an old theater turned town switchboard in order to protect his family secret. Hannah is an adventurous young girl, who's curious and seeks Ever out. When members of a secret society realize that Ever is still alive, Ever finds his life and his family secret and the whole city in jeopardy. 

This was a very fun and simple story that I honestly can't wait for the next one at the library. The artwork is well done, though when it comes to the clockwork mechanisms being a little clearer would be nice. 

Both Hannah and Ever were good characters with their own little character developments (as a good story needs). Learning to trust the right people and be your own person is always important. 

The ending with Hannah's parents and Ever was very simplified and odd--but for the "happy ending" was "needed," I guess. I liked the "secret" that was hidden in the safe. It was cool, though not at all what I expected to be this cities big, hidden secret. It helped the city at the end, but most defiantly not what I expected. 

Tris's Book

 The second book in Tamora Pierce's Circle of Magic series is verse pirates. 

Sandry, Tris, Briar, and Daja, after surviving an earthquakes weeks ago have discovered that their magics have weaved themselves with one another. they can now talk to each other in their minds and do more powerful spells. None of them has much control to their powers, but they are slowly studying  and trying to discover it. After the earthquake, some of the physical and magical barriers that kept their Temple home and the surrounding villages safe are in disrepair or in shambles all together, which makes it perfect time for pirates to try to make their way in and plunder the surrounding areas. These aren't normal pirates either. They have more mages and new technology that none of the Temple mages have seen before. These four may only be kids, but they are growing fast and their magics are growing faster. 

I enjoyed this one. It was high action and adventure with those subtle moments of teaching of the kids. Like Sandry's Book it seemed to go by very quickly where it probably would have been okay to join it with the first book in the series, but there was enough of a plot and story arch to make it okay at standing on it's own as part of the series. I suppose I just want more than these, seemingly, brief snippets that we get from the pages of this book. 

I've liked the growth that these characters are going through and how they are becoming their own people while still joining together to go great things. I like how they are willing to bend some of the adult rules as they try to help with these major problems that are affecting everyone. 

I am also very much ready for the next book. Bring it on. 

Anne of Green Gables

 Anne of Green Gables is a series I've never read before, but a set of movies that I loved. 

Anne is an orphan who is sent to live with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. Anne is known for her imagination, which throws the Cuthbert siblings for a loop. Always talking and getting lost in thought. Learning to live with this adventurous, airheaded, proud, red head has become they have ever had. 

It is a very simple and straightforward book. Not some grand adventure but the adventure of everyday life for a very imaginative girl. Dealing with school, friends, constant misunderstandings, and bitter rivals with boys are the plot of the book. 

The book is mostly about characters. Becoming friends with Diana, rivals with Gilbert, Matthew and Marilla. They are the moments she has with the people around her. 

This books a light and full of character. I very much love it. 

The "Anne of Green Gables" movie with Meagan Fallows is the best. They are the most accurate to the book. Meagan is a fantastic Anne who makes her endearing as well as accurate to the book. "Anne with an 'E'" is no such representation. I very much dislike that one and could only watch a few episodes before I very willingly put it down. 

Prince Caspian

 Prince Caspian is the fourth chronological instalment of The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis. 

The Pevensie's make a reappearence and magically find their way to Narnia again. But even though only a year passed while they were in England, more than 1200 years pass in Narnia. Everyone they knew is now gone and Cair Paravel is now in ruins. Many of the beasts don't talk anymore. They find that other human's have conquered Narnia and the imposter king in a horrid man who has tried to kill his nephew, the true heir to the thrown who has joined sides with the Narnians. Prince Caspian had heard of old Narnian stories from his nurse and from his Professor, and after an assassination attempt on his life he flees to the woods and finds the Narnian's he believed to have been extinct. In a desperate need of help, they blow Susan's old horn (which brings the children from England to Narnia) and are hoping Aslan will show up. 

I enjoyed this book. I liked the focus it had on Aslan and how he "doesn't do the same thing twice." So he's not going to be the one to bite Miraz  and kill him like he did the White Witch. He let them do it on their own even though he did end up waking the "resting" creatures at the end of the book. I like that it dove into the fact that only Lucy (who found Narnia in the first place) was able to see him, then the others --based on their faith in Aslan-- were able to see him later. There were many good discussion points for me and my son to talk about. It was great.

The characters could be filled out a little more, but we do still get the differences between each one. Nikabrik and Trumpkin are very different creatures. Same with all of the children. Each ahs their moment of growth, though some may seem very small. I enjoyed the subtle differences. 

I enjoyed it more than the movie in some ways while I liked the movie in others. I liked that there wasn't the bickering over "who's king" in the book. They are all Kings and Queens. In the book, they accept that and don't need fight or hazardously prove themselves to each other. They had more focus than they did in the movie. Though I did like how when they added the major difference between the book and movie (the siege on Miraz's castle) when they fight at the castle and do it on their own, Peter yells, "For Narnia!" and it fails miserably. But for the rest of the time, he relied on and fought "For Aslan!" and each time, they were victorious. That was also an interesting point to talk about with my son.  

 I found it a little sad that there seemed to be so little in the actual story. It went by so quickly and I wanted more. I'm glad there are more books. 

Circe

 Circe is a retelling of the goddess Circe in Homer's Odyssey. 

Circe is a minor goddess, daughter of the Titan Hileos. She is forgotten and ugly compared to the other nymphs and gods she associates with. She can't do anything that her father or mother, also a nymph, does. Circe waits at her fathers feet, forgotten at his counsels and therefor hears everything. The titans are angry with Zeus and the other gods telling them what to do. After her brothers and sister leave to be kings and queens of their own nations, she finds a mortal and falls in love him. To make it so he doesn't die she gives him magics to make him his "true self" and he becomes a god then forgets her. When she confesses to a crime she committed for that love, the gods exile her to the island of Aeaea where she considers it a lenient punishment (for freaking the gods out because of her magic, not for the actual crime itself) and enjoys her solitude away from the ever pompous, obnoxious, and boisterous gods, titans, and nymphs she calls family. While on her island, people come. Hermes brings her news, her sister beckons for her to help with her birth of the Minotaur, and a very few others. Sailors who have lost their way and men take advantage of her isolation. Too late for some magic, she turns them to pigs as she deems there is no other image more suitable for them than swine. More and more sailors breech her shores until one day Odysseus, the famed Greek hero, comes to her island. 

It was a very interesting book. Aside from Percy Jackson, I knew only the bare basics of Greek heroes let alone some of the "villains" of the stories. Circe is very much her own person. Curiosity, yet having bounds on it, is refreshing. And I think it was good to see the repercussions over centuries of deeds, good and bad. Because it is a new fictional piece, it doesn't stick to all of the mythology around her "accurately." There are some stories it completely negates and others it gives a turn to fit the narrative the author wanted. 

Circe was relatable is some instances. She was naive and then grew knowledgeable about the world around her and how the gods manipulated everyone. She understand that manipulation, then refused to be apart of it any more. She was able to weave her magics like she would a cloth, and later her words as well. Her threats became real. I also liked how she would do anything to protect that which was most important to her. 

I also appreciated the way Ms. Miller handled sex. In the story, there was quite a bit of it, but it was never graphic, which I very much appreciate. Even when she was raped by sailors it wasn't harsh (which some people might have problems with, but I don't). It isn't a story of her rape; it is a story of all of her life. She does deal with that moment and invites all the suckling pigs in for bacon and sausage which is pretty crazy and rather nuts, but there is more to someone's life than the injustices they are dealt. 

The other characters were enjoyable as well. They seemed like their own people, which I think can be tricky with "historical" figures, but it was well done. I did find the ending kind of odd in who her two daughters come from... and her other mythological children aren't mentioned. It's weird. It's odd. It's Greek Mythology. 

Please do enjoy it. 

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

 The second official book of the Chronicles of Narnia and the one that most people know. 

During the Bombing of London, the Pevensie children are sent to live at old Professor Digory Kirke (the Magician's Nephew). In his home in the country, Lucy finds a wardrobe and in the back of it is Narnia instead of the back of the wardrobe. Narnia, a whole new world covered in a thick layer of snow. Finding a lamp post and a faun. Once her siblings find their way in they find there is more than they thought. A witch is hunting them so they can't fulfill a prophecy and Aslan, the Mighty Lion, is coming back to face the witch. 

I enjoy this story, though sometimes the way C.S. Lewis writes can be hard some times and doesn't flow as "nicely" as the more modern writers do. But that just comes with the times. 

I love the metaphor for the Atonement of Christ. In explaining what was happening to my son and the parallels between Jesus and Aslan, I think it helped him better understand what Christ had done for us. I also like that at the end the all become Kings and Queens. Not one of them is subservient to another, just like I believe will be the case after Christ returns. I also enjoy how playful Aslan is with the children, and that the witch is absolutely terrified of him (which wasn't the case in the movie). 

Wayside School is Falling Down

This is one of the children's classics that I remember listening when my teachers just could not think of anything else to do with us crazy elementary school kids. 

Wayside School is a school that was built vertically instead of horizontally, like most schools are. At the top of the school on the 30th floor is Mrs. Jewls class with a very interesting assortment of children--as there are in most elementary school classes. These are their silly, punny adventures and the fears that come to life for so many elementary school kids. No one eats the lunch ladies food because it might do things to you, everyone in class keeps calling you the wrong name and you don't have the courage to correct them, picture day and looking weird in a suit, the scary basement in the building, the room/floor that doesn't exist, and that your school might fall down in all the natural disasters you can think of. 

Simply written with a whole cast of characters, this is one that early elementary school kids will enjoy without a doubt, and older kids (ie. adults) can reminisce too. 

I really liked how when we were introduced to someone they weren't just forgotten once "their chapter" was done. Instances and people were reapplied to the story and their quirks helped us remember who they were and the story they belonged in. Even Mrs. Jewls got her chapter, which made my son and I laugh. 

Great simple stories with a light dose of pun that probably escaped me when I was younger, so it was a great read now that I'm not in the second grade. ;) 

The Battle of the Labyrinth

Book number four in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. 

The Titan Lord Kronoss' armies are gathering and doing so quickly. Camp Half-Blood knows that the enemy needs to take the camp before they can take over Olympus, and that they are one of the only defenses left. Their numbers are dwindling, however, and the Titan's army is coming for them. One of the Labyrinth entrances are found inside the camps boarders. If Luke and the army were to find their way through, the boundaries that protect the camp wouldn't keep them safe. With Annabeth leading the way on her first quest, Percy and his friends dive into the labyrinth to find Daedalus and ask for his help in stopping the Titan's army from  passing through it. They also must make it through themselves without dying from he many traps and monsters and gods that call the labyrinth home. 

Out of all of the other books so far, this one seems the most dark. There seems so much more at stake along with the fact that most of it takes place underground which gives it that foreboding atmosphere. I would have appreciated more lighthearted moments to break the ice, especially for the younger audiences who would be reading this book. It reminds me of Harry Potter in a sense, because as Percy gets older and there are more troubling things the aura of the book gets darker and it almost makes me hesitate to read on with my son as he has actually shed tears in this book for certain characters. 

I do like the characters. I've always liked the characters. I do wish that there was a bit more character development, other then we are now deeply troubled. Nico matures. Grove isn't the scared satyr that he was in the first book, he is now able to stand taller than he did. Percy and Annabeth, though, seem just as confused as they had in the last book. There didn't seem to be large enough steps forward for them as I would like. It is the fourth book and they will make major steps, hopefully, in the last one, but this one seemed to be missing that still. 

I liked the idea of the labyrinth and the flashbacks for Daedalus and King Minos. I liked Daedalus as a character and that he even grew over the course of time. The complication between King Minos, Nico, Daedalus, and the others was engaging and gave us a feel for what was really going on. I also liked that the labyrinth gave us a new realm to be in instead of the struggle of "How do we cross the entire country again?" We were able to cross it and get all over the place without us struggling so horribly with that question again--it can get old. 

I do think that the ending of the battle at the end was kind of a let down, though. Simple, I guess, but "the thing" happened then suddenly they ran for it. I wanted more. "The thing" seemed to come out of no where without any type of foreshadowing or letting us as the readers know that it was even a possibility. It felt as though it were coming out of nowhere and then it worked. 

The rest of it though, without the darker atmosphere, was good. Between ranches, sphinx's, arenas, Calypso, King Minos, and many other fun adventures, it was a good book that kept us engaged though it did seem a tad long. But set up for the final battle always takes a little bit of extra effort. 

Read on! 

Where the Crawdads Sing

 Where the Crawdads Sing  is a phinominal book. I could not put it down so much that my ears hurt from listening to it for so long. Cassandra Campbell did such an amazing job with the reading of this audiobook. It is one where I would love to listen to it again. 

Kya is "The Marsh Girl." In the 1950's, after her mother left because of Kya's abusive father, her siblings all left. One by one. Then she was all alone, just a young girl with her abusive, often drunk father in their marsh shack far away from anyone. Eventually her father leaves her too and Kya is left all alone, left to fend for herself or die. With the basics of how to navigate the marsh and a very kind husband and wife who is willing to help her and fill up her gas tank for her boat, Kya lives. The town folk nearby don't want anything to do with her and she is laughed out of school for not knowing how to spell the word "dog." One friend she has, Tate, who teaches her to read and shows her the scientific way of looking at things, but even he leaves for college and she is left alone. As time goes by and she sees other people amongst the marsh--trappers, fishers, and local kids churning up the waves--she meets Chase Andrews, the towns handsome man. He entraps her in her loneliness and has found herself in the same position as her mom. Then one night, his body is found at the bottom of a tower and Kya is suspected of his murder. 

The way this book was written was very well done. Like I would have given this book a 5 star rating simply for it. The prose and little poems in it are fantastic. I even liked all of the biology stuff Kya got into that was in the story. They were pertinent to her character development and how Kya perceived the world around her and how she guessed that people reacted in similar situations. The characters are developed well enough--though some might be seen as bland or stereotypical, mainly the towns folk anyway. 

I loved the story. The fact that there are flashforwards until we can come to the "present" wasn't jarring like I anticipated. It flowed well and we weren't stuck with anyone I didn't want to listen to at all. I was interested in Kya and Tate; I was interested in the Sheriff and his investigation and trying to find out for myself if Kya or one of the other characters we were acquainted with had done it. I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the jury's verdict and the evidence that was given. It was a very engaging read that kept me wanting more. 

Like I said, I would have given this a 5 star, easy, except for two things that I don't like in the stories I read: descriptive sex and swearwords. It wasn't horribly descriptive, so I kept reading and finished the story. I'd rate it a PG-18, probably.  But it was defiantly farther than I appreciate with tastes of foreplay. And the swearwords, while applicable to the situation and not horribly over done, were still some $5 swear words there in a few places throughout the book. 

For those who don't care for those parts, like myself: be careful about chapter 18 and after that for a ways. If I were to actually get the book, I'd mark those parts out in my own copy (Don't you dare mark up a library book, y'all hear me!) For those who couldn't care less: go, read, enjoy. 

The Sea of Monsters

 The Sea of Monsters is book two in Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series. 

Percy was waiting for something to go wrong. He had been able to spend the whole school year without getting in trouble, so it was about time he did. He just wasn't anticipating Cannibal Cyclopes coming to his school as being what got him expelled. Then when he's finally able to get back to camp, Thalia's Tree the protects the camp has been poisoned and more monsters are able to get into the camp and has harmed many a camper. His friend Tyson is also somehow related to him which is like a punch in the gut. Charon is fired and the new camp counselor does not like Percy at all. Grover is also sending dream messages of help because a cyclopes has him captured in a wedding dress. The quest to save Grover and get the Golden Fleece has arrive, only it's not Percy's quest. How is he going to save his friend and the camp and watch out for Luke and the big sarcophagus that he's floating around with?  

It's a pretty good book. More monster mayhem erupts that Percy and Annabeth have to fight off. It's fairly similar to the first book in that it isn't until 'almost too late' that they remember who the bad guys are in this Sea of Monsters before they save themselves and there are constant monster fights. Differently though is that Percy grows with pretty much each encounter. He internalizes them and recalls them and the feelings he had through those experiences. He feels the lose of losing a friend, though I think it probably could have been a tad more heavy or emotional because lose of family members are real. Percy was sad, but he didn't grieve, which I think is important especially for young audiences--a grieving process would have been beneficial here, whereas Annabeth (I think) didn't even mention it as a condolence later.

I enjoyed Percy's character development. I do wish there was more development and character arcs for more than just him, though. Everyone else is kind of stagnant and stays as "the smart one," "the bully," "the kid," and so on. Luke, I guess gets some, but minimal. I want more from the other characters. 

My son enjoyed it, as I was reading it aloud to him, and actually cried a few time because he like the characters so much. 

We're reading onward! 

The Eleventh Metal

The Eleventh Metal is another short story from Brandon Sanderson, though this one is centered around the Mistborn series. This is a prequel story about how and why Kelsier started to become the way that he did throughout Mistborn.

We follow Kelsier as he is new to his mistborn powers and still trying to learn how to think like a mistborn. He has a teacher named Gemmel, who is referenced in Mistborn: The Final Empire. Gemmel is a mistborn himself and very quirky. He talks to himself (though it's possibly Ruin with whom he's conversing) and acts rather crazy. Kelsier can't get much of a handle on the man, though he sticks around the loon to gain as much knowledge as he can from the miser. They invade a Keep, much like it often happens in the rest of the series, and try to find something--though what Gemmel is looking for isn't completely clear. Inside Kelsier finds a new drive after his again which then starts out the beginning of the rest of the series.

I love reading about Kelsier. He is one of my favorite characters and I will read anything that Brandon Sanderson produces of Kelsier or of the Mistborn world. I love it all.

The Color of Magic

This very odd book is rather fantastic.

The story follows Rincewind, an "incompetent" wizard who only knows one spell, that's so powerful he doesn't dare use it, and Twoflower a former insurance clerk, now bumbling tourist who wants to see everything there is to see on the other side of Diskworld including tavern brawls, pirates, heroes, dragons, magic spells, and everything else that he's heard of from the docks. Oh, as well as Twoflower's luggage chest that walks on its own with about a hundred legs, and Death, who is spotted quiet often and is quite a character.

This book is a very well thought out Dungeons and Dragon's campaign (rolls of the dice included) with the most entertaining characters.

Terry Pratchett's writing style may not be for everyone, which is understandable because the way it describes things is rather obnoxious but in a humorous way. There were times when things happened and I had to go back because "What just happened?" As I said, it may not be for everyone but I laughed out loud and nearly fell over while I was jogging because of the way things were said or the weirdness of Twoflower.

I think the world that Terry Pratchett made is unique yet still has the basics of "typical fantasy." Magic, the Gods, Death, and pretty much the universe has been warped and changed to the delight and curiosity which is Twoflower and us as the reader. I mean, what fantasy world has dragons and jet planes? You tell me. ;)

While I was looking online a bit about this book, I found out that it is also a movie!!! WHAT!?! Starring Sean Astin, David Jason, and Tim Curry... I about died. The movie, I believe, is based on The Color of Magic and The Light Fantastic. The rest of the Disk World series and lore might be in it too, but because I haven't seen it, I don't really know for sure. I do plan on finding out though, just for a laugh because I'm sure Sean Astin will to a phenomenal job as the ridiculous tourist.

Wow.

Revelations in Context

A book in the published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Revelations in Context gives background stories and circumstances behind the Sections, or chapters, in the book Doctrine and Covenants.

There are many wonderful, insightful, and helpful sections and scripture verses in the D&C. It explains many doctrines that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want and need in the Church to help it function. This book give context to those revelations and more background to the people they were given to.

Each specific chapter in this book is written by a different person. Individual historians have studied and produced a simplified explanation behind what was going on at the time these revelations were given. They've dung into historical record and letters to get the true stories behind the questions asked. In each section heading of the D&C, we are given a brief explanation as to what is going on, this gives a much deeper, yet still simple, understanding of the circumstances the early Saints and pioneers faced.

I think it is a good reminder that Revelation comes step by step, little by little, here and there as we ask for it and as God deems us ready for it. There are times when people aren't ready for the changes that need to be made, so time is taken, challenges and trials are given, so then people may be ready. Some changes may seem stark and abrupt, other changes we might see if we are attuned and diligently study the works and scriptures and doctrines we are given.

It is an intersting read and if you're wanting to dig into history a bit, read on.